Can Robert Andino Be An Everyday Shortstop?

Occasionally, MTD will swing by and answer questions posed by beat writers who have too much time on their hands.

Matt Vensel of The Baltimore Sun was recently wondering if Robert Andino can be an everyday MLB short stop after the Orioles were left with Andino and Cesar Izturis as the only available options after JJ Hardy went down with the, oh so popular, oblique injury...

Andino has made the most of his opportunity, validating manager Buck Showalter's decision to put him on the Opening Day roster as a utility infielder.

In eight games, Andino is batting .318 and he has a .400 on-base percentage. Both marks are tops on the team. He has also shown flashes of brilliance defensively.

After shaking the Magic 8 Ball, and subsequently waiting later to ask again because it's a jerk, MTD's answer is no. He cannot be an everyday shortstop. In 465 career plate appearances, Andino has recorded a .231/.281/.318 line. He might be above average with his glove but at, in a few days, 27-years-old he's unlikely to get to second base more than you did when you were fourteen and then again when you were eighteen.

PECOTA agrees that Andino doesn't have much of a major league career projecting him with another sub .300 OBP for 2011. This might be some very disheartening news to several of Andino's friends and family.