I'm just curious about all the talk saying "Ian's ankle won't hold up in the OF" - I see this argument over and over and over...

Is this even a serious concern after off-season rest? If indeed it is, I'd be more inclined to say that 2b is a lot more stressful on an ankle: quick changes of direction, take-out slides, etc. I understand the argument for no Kins to the OF for other reasons...but this one doesn't make sense at all to me, it's illogical unless I'm missing something. Outside of climbing a wall or sliding feet-first into a wall (neither all that common), I don't see acceleration, straight-line running, then slow deceleration as being hard on an ankle in the least bit in comparison.

Enlighten me someone, if I am, in fact, in the dark...

You aren't in the dark. I don't think Ian transitioning to the OF would be a huge problem, at least not defensively. The problem comes offensively. His bat is worth a lot more as a 2nd baseman than it is playing in the outfield, where it's basically average.

He used his ankle as an excuse for his poor play ;last year. But it's strange he never got it repaired. Hmmm, must not have been that bad.

I've seen Hubz post this for awhile, I just don't know if he's aware of something I'm not. Not knowing what type of injury he has to the ankle it's hard to know for sure, but I agree that you would think it would take some of the lateral stress off the ankle. When he first injured it, it was called a high ankle sprain, but that may have changed or he possibly came back to soon and never allowed it to heal properly. I may remember wrong, but I thought when he originally hurt it, he said it wasn't as much an issue running the bases as it was on defense. But I don't remember for sure. He's had platelet injections this offseason and say's it's healed though.

I doubt it's going to happen because of the Cruz issue, but I think at some point in the next couple years Kinsler vacates 2B. Two years ago I thought he would go to the outfield when Profar was ready, now, while I don't know if it's the outfield or 1B, I think Profar stays at SS and Kinsler moves for Sardinas or Odor.

Injury to tendons, cartilage and ligaments,if stressed or weakened, don't self repair.
Damge is done and the area is weakened. Ian can wrap & tape, but it's a semi-fix.
He'll have good, better and playable days, but over time more damage can occur,
along with nerve damage to follow. The coin flip is whether the knife will help or hinder.
He's obviously living with the pain, discomfort and the lack of performance he once knew.

Or else he is faking it to garner sympathy for his miserable 2012 season.