While he is certainly a defensive liability, the problem is minimized by the fact this is a high strikeout flyball staff... a circumstance that also hampers the defensive value of Izturis. The likely value of Lopez's bat, on the other hand, is worth a lot more than the difference in defense is likely to be. If our staff were composed differently, or our offense was likely to be strong enough to carry such a liability at the plate as Izturis, I might not be so strongly opposed to his starting job. Unfortunately, the reality of the situation is that his strengths are diminished in this setting, and his failures as a hitter are put even more strongly under the spotlight. The reality simply is that Lopez fits this team better than Izturis does.