On outfielders, speed and throwing arms

Josh Willingham:
Right field or
 left field?

Ron Gardenhire has hinted this spring that he's keeping an open mind on his outfield alignment. The plan is to have Ben Revere in left, Denard Span in center and Josh Willingham in right.

For a variety of reasons, mostly relating to lineup flexibility, I favor that alignment. But that is far from a universal consensus; some think Revere's superior range should be deployed in center. Willingham has mainly played left field since moving out from behind the plate; he's willing but cautious about shifting to the other side.

Gardenhire sounds deferential to the veteran newcomer on this. The key to this decision, however, ought not be what Willingham wants, but what he can or can't do -- specifically, can he move well enough to cut off balls hit into the corner and prevent doubles (or singles) from becoming triples?

Rule of thumb:

• If you can run and throw, you play center field.
• If you can throw but can't run, you play right field.
• If you can run but can't throw, you play left field.
• If you can't do either, you play first base.

But that right-field corner thing complicates that simple description. There are no right fielders as fast as the fastest left fielder; if they're that fast and can throw, they play center. But there are also no right fielders as slow as the slowest left fielders, because there are more extra bases to be given away on the right field line.

Michael Cuddyer and Jason Kubel weren't fast, but they threw well enough that they weren't invitations to triples. I don't know how good Willingham's arm is; since he used to be a catcher, it ought to be decent. And it seems unlikely that he can be slower than Kubel.