A First New World Problem

"Dude, that's a First World problem." 

What a great new aphorism. It elegantly observes that most of the irritations in our lives are mere inconveniences borne of the luxury we have, to forgo the daily need to fill our bellies, elude predators and find shelter from the elements.

The pièce de résistance though, is the ignorance of the saying. These are not First World problems because we don't live in the First World. We live in the New World, which is why Africa and much of Asia is the Third World. The First World is places like Bohemia, Saxony and Prussia.

In any case, the Washington Nationals are now suffering a very first world problem, with the return of Bryce Harper from injury. Harper, who slots in at left or center, has been spelled by Ryan Zimmerman, his predecessor as "face of the franchise." Once a Gold Glove third baseman, Zimmerman has arm issues that make long throws to first problematic. 

No problem. Zimmerman has been enjoying the outer pasture in Harper's stead and stud rookie Anthony Rendon has taken his big stick to the hot corner. Until now. 

With Harper's return, Nats skipper Matt Williams has some decisions to make. If he returns the phenom to left, does he sit Zimmerman and his lifetime 34 wins against replacement (at age just 29) or does he slot him back at the manager's old position? If Zimmerman is back at third, does Rendon sit or move to the keystone -- which he played in the minors-- in place of Danny Espinosa? Espo's not much at the dish but he's a nifty fielder, partly responsible for the team's league-best ERA.

Or does Zimmerman stay put, Harper slide to center and Denard Span take a seat? Like Espinosa, Span's not getting it done at the plate, but the team would take a defensive hit from moving him. Maybe Harper should bump Zimmerman who should bump Rendon who should bump Espinosa who should bump Ian Desmond at short. That would get the left handed (or switch-hitting) bats of Harper, Espinosa and Span (as well as first baseman Adam LaRoche and catcher Jose Lobaton) into the lineup against righties.

In fact, every team would like this issue with its lineup. The Red Sox have to send David Ortiz to play in first base traffic during interleague games. The Tigers can't hide Miguel Cabrera's concrete shoes because Victor Martinez isn't fit for fieldwork. And God help us: Adam Dunn has taken his glove out onto the diamond 28 times this year -- eight of them, in the outfield. So Washington's extreme flexibility is refreshing.

Sensibly, the Nats seem to be employing the "every available option" approach. Sometimes Span will come in as a defensive replacement. Some games will see Espinosa on the bench. Harper and Zimmerman will get a break now and then to limit their injury opportunities and pinch hit when needed. Interleague games will provide more options. And all the nine guys into eight slots will become irrelevant as soon as one of them inevitably tears a pull, quads an oblique or hamstrings flu-like symptoms.

It all spells less playing time for bench warmers Nate McClouth and Kevin Frandsen, but neither is even replacement value in a combined 250 plate appearances this year. If anything, the nine-into-eight dilemma strengthens Washington's biggest weakness -- its bench.