Outfield Woes

With the injury bug seemingly hitting the Pirates routinely in the outfield, both Travis Snider and Jose Tabata seem to one up each other on groin/hamstring/muscle pulls, could the lineup we saw tonight be something that could be a usual occurrence? Specifically should the Pirates look to play Garrett Jones in the outfield, with Gaby Sanchez at first base, until the outfield situation stabilizes?

Based on the one game sample, it looks like a good idea and looking over the recent games it might prove to be the prudent path. Everyone and their mother knows that Jones is on fire right now. He is getting solid wood on each hit and his knocking the ball all over the place. Jones has to stay in the lineup as he is a solid play.

If Tabata cannot go, should they move Jones in his place and play Sanchez? First you have defensive trade offs. Jones is probably average at first and below that in the outfield, even with PNC Park helping in right. Sanchez is clearly a solid defensive first base option, which helps in off setting the move of Jones to the outfield.

Offensively, in the small sample size of being a Pirate, Sanchez has a better slash line than Tabata (.258/.313/.419 vs. .233/.303/.337). Tabata has not lit the world ablaze since his recall either, though slowly Sanchez has helped at the plate, especially recently with a home run and a couple of RBI.

Ideally I would want to have Jones at first with Sanchez playing in favorable matchups, but with the outfield being a bit of a crap shoot, it might be best to not trot out Tabata or Snider until they are ready. Until then, perhaps Garrett Jones will be seeing more time in right.