The Pedro Alvarez era at first base has officially begun as the former third basemen made his first start at first during the Pirates home series against the Braves.
The Pirates were forced to make the midseason switch after Alvarez committed 25 errors with 24 of them being throwing errors. The throwing difficulties have been compared to “Steve Sax syndrome”. Sax had a similar sudden problem throwing the ball across the diamond committing 30 errors during the 1983 season. However, Sax snapped out of his slump the next year leading the league in fielding percentage at his position.
For Alvarez, the move to first is a different world to him as he has never played the position before.
“It felt new the first time out there and it takes some getting used to,” said Alvarez. “It’s just a different angle, a different point of view and different responsibilities that come with the position, so it’s just new, it’s foreign.”
A position switch like this for a player usually comes during the offseason so he can gradually learn the position without too much stress. However, the Pirates could not wait until after the season because they need Alvarez in the lineup for his power bat and offensive ability to break out at any moment (36 HR /100 RBI in 2013). He has been learning the position only a couple weeks prior to his debut.
“We have been practicing over at first pretty vigorously with the intention of trying to get game ready as quick as possible, so the timing doesn’t surprise me,” says Alvarez. “I’m just eager and anxious to get the opportunity to go out there. Obviously, the speed of the game is a lot different when you’re in the game and it’s just going to be one of those things where after a couple of games I’ll be able to get used to it.”
Defense at third came natural for Alvarez due to his constant repetition at that spot. This is something he will have to relearn at first due to the different responsibilities the position brings. Most of it will come naturally, but other aspects of the position he will have to remember from practice.
“It’s the same kind of stuff you do since little league, but obviously now the only difference is at third it comes naturally because I’ve been there so many times, so many repetitions, and at first I just have to kind of remind myself to do certain things,” said Alvarez. “It didn’t come as easily because it’s my first time over there, but in term’s of things like cutoff plays, I know where I have to be. It’s just a matter of remembering to do it, but I feel pretty comfortable.”
Another change at first is how he handles runners when they reach base. At third Alvarez didn’t have to worry about a baserunner as much as he now does at first. He has to hold runners on, play behind them and make sure they don’t get a large enough lead to easily steal a base. It’s something you cant learn in practice.
“The thing I had to make the biggest adjustment with was just playing behind a runner and making sure I had visibility of the runner at the plate,” said Alvarez. “That’s something we really didn’t practice until we got to a game situation, so that was probably the only thing that I kind of had to make an in-game adjustment for.”
If Alvarez wants to succeed with the Pirates, he will have to take this opportunity and run with it.
(Photo Credit: Getty Images)
