Kirby Puckett played second base four times in his career, and three other times he appeared at shortstop. Roger Cedeno, when he was stealing bases and was actually valuable, once moved to second base late in a 1999 game for the Mets' Bobby Valentine. Even Mark McGwire got four official at-bats as a middle infielder. It's true, though he didn't actually don a glove and play the position. McGwire led off a bunch of times in road games when he was injured, just to get extra at-bats. Fernando Vina would then run out to play second base and bat after that. Matters just the same in fantasy as if he had played a whole game there.
While ESPN fantasy games rules state a player must have 20 games at a position from the previous year to be eligible at a spot, and 10 games in-season, not all leagues follow these rules. I've had a long-time league in which one game gets you eligible at a position, and while this can certainly be taken advantage of, it also can be quite fun. Pedro Feliz was an unwanted free agent in that league -- until he donned the catcher's mask and shin guards. Then he was a really valuable No. 2 catcher! Think about it. How many catchers hit 20 homers?
Position eligibility is pretty important in fantasy baseball, as it affects a lot of the way we think. If two players of equal value and statistical relevance are on the draft board in Round 5, wouldn't you take the shortstop over the outfielder? I would. Flexibility is also nice during a season. Players will get hurt, and if you can move Nick Swisher back and forth from the outfield to corner infield, it helps. Imagine what it was like being able to move a 50-homer guy like McGwire from first base to second base in fantasy? No more owning some no-hit middle infielder like Royce Clayton when you can move McGwire and sign Ben Broussard! Woohoo!
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Eric Karabell
