And I'm a lifelong Yankees fan! Two of the players who are recipients of the Pinstripes' largesse are pitchers – the most vital position on the field, if you believe the maxim that good pitching defeats good hitting 90% of the time.
Mr. Suchet offers a performance of steely restraint, managing to convey the humanity in a man who must be one tough customer to have reached this vital position.
But now the Mets find themselves with a revolving door at shortstop because of — what else? — injuries, with six players seeing action at that vital position this season, including David Wright, who played six innings at short on May 28 against Philadelphia after Justin Turner sprained his right ankle.
The horses are assigned by lot, as is the strategically vital position of 10th rider, the "run-in jockey" who effectively starts the race, so there is plenty of scope for payoffs, a mercenary practice conducted more or less in plain sight, although Spender evidently doesn't see it as her job to investigate this, as such.
Some of the Cardinals' vital position players — Yadier Molina, Matt Holliday, David Freese, Jon Jay — were here in 2011, when they beat the Texas Rangers to win the World Series.
"Hesitancy or weakness on the part of the EU about its response will send precisely the wrong message and the UK has a vital position of responsibility in making sure that does not happen and instead that the EU and the US stand together in clear and united resolve.
We hold a vital position at the centre of the energy system.
Nick Robinson said Mr Fox occupied a vital position in the cabinet - having long been in charge of the defence brief in opposition - at a sensitive time when British troops are in action overseas, and the government is pushing through difficult cuts to military budgets.
"As a young lad he has room for development and at the same time has the experience we need in a vital position".
