No faith in Trey Ball the hitter?Right. Sometimes prospects and draft picks don't work out. Get over Swihart, get over Trey Ball and Fab Melo and Chad Jackson, and move on.
No faith in Trey Ball the hitter?Right. Sometimes prospects and draft picks don't work out. Get over Swihart, get over Trey Ball and Fab Melo and Chad Jackson, and move on.
The Sox also gave 295 PAs against LHP last year to two outfielders who put up a combined .219/.282/.353 line.If it comes down to budget I can be convinced, but I don't think PT would be an issue for bringing in Gonzalez. With Cora's MO of giving everyone plenty of rest/days off I think it would be entirely workable to have Pedey, Holt and Marwin on the same roster.
Let's suppose that Pedroia manages 105 starts at 2B (which happens to be the total of Nunez and Kinsler's starts this year), we can give Brock 35 of the remaining starts and Marwin the other 22. I'd target 120 starts for Devers at 3B (he had 113 this year) which leaves 42 starts for our Brarwin platoon at the hot corner. The Pearland platoon at 1B might make 140 starts barring injury so that's another 22, Xander should hold steady at 130 at SS and the 4 OFs left 22 starts to others this year (Brock, Blake, Travis, Lin and Pearce) so that's a total of 160 starts for the Swiss Army pair before even accounting for the 233 PAs taken up by Hanley and Sam Travis.
Now granted Holt started 82 games this year and Gonzalez hit a career high of 136 so we're 58 starts short, but that's assuming no injuries anywhere to anyone beyond last year's occasional tweaks and scrapes to Xander, Mookie, et al. I think you could get away with promising Brock 60 - 80 starts and Marwin at least 100. Isn't that at least worth exploring?
Yes. Swihart has "Billy Beane Reclamation All-Star" written all over him.The Sox should trade Swihart to the A’s and give him a chance to follow in Lowrie and Reddick’s footsteps.
That's pretty unfair to Ben10 to lump him in with JBJ. .247/.301/.393 isn't great, but it's also not far off from league average and more than acceptable. JBJ was at .185/.260/.303, significantly worse. Up until this year, JBJ was fine against lefties though, while Ben10 had all of 164 PA... the same amount of PA he had this year.The Sox also gave 295 PAs against LHP last year to two outfielders who put up a combined .219/.282/.353 line.
But there's also the very real possibility Pedey isn't even playable.I think Marwin would want the bulk of starts, and without trading Pedroia I don't think we can assure that.
and I don't think Pedey is tradeable, so.... there's the blockade.
He had one monster year in 2017 but outside of that he looks like a slightly better Brock Holt. It seems the last things the Sox should be targeting is a super sub.I would pass on Gonzalez. His flexibility is appealing but his bat took a big step back this year and it seems like last year's numbers were a fluke. Of the non-Sox on the market, I am really only a fan of the catchers (Grandal and Ramos) and it seems very unlikely that the team is going to go that way.
He started 136 games last year but a typical 'starter' is anywhere from 100 - 150 games. Give him 50 games at 2B, 20 at SS, 30 at 3B, 10 at 1B and 20 in the OF and you're at 130. This would leave a bit less for Brock but enough to keep him playing regularly and leaves 1B with a full 152 games for the Pearland platoon plus keeps the 4 OFs engaged. And all that is assuming Pedey is relatively healthy and there are no other major injuries. Doesn't leave much for a 14th position player to do (e.g. Swihart, Lin, Ball or Travis) but in this day and age the norm is 13 so you can go with a 7-man pen.Gonzalez was/is a starter on the Astros. He just played different positions based on need. I sincerely doubt that he comes here to be a backup that plays a lot. I think he would want assurances that he is a starter.
Yes, but the trouble is that we probably won't know the answer to that question until it's too late to sign Gonzalez.But there's also the very real possibility Pedey isn't even playable.
Over 2017-18, Gonzalez and Machado have almost identical wRC+ (123 for MG, 122 for MM).He had one monster year in 2017 but outside of that he looks like a slightly better Brock Holt. It seems the last things the Sox should be targeting is a super sub.
The difference being that Manny's bad season was *last* year. And it was sandwiched between 3/4 seasons where he had 6+ fWAR (including this year). Also, Machado is 3 years younger.2017-18:
*table*
Among many other differences, yes. I'm less trying to prove he's Machado-lite than attempting to reframe the narrative about his offensive production the past two years. I'd be less interested if he didn't have such a strong second half.The difference being that Manny's bad season was *last* year. And it was sandwiched between 3/4 seasons where he had 6+ fWAR (including this year). Also, Machado is 3 years younger.
The Red Sox also say you get to play with Alex Cora, which may have significance. Not only intangibly, but as a working model for how Marwin's been used in the past.You are Marwin Gonzalez. You are fielding offers from a few teams including the Red Sox. Let's assume the money is comparable so the decision comes down to plans for playing time and positioning. The Red Sox say "well, we can probably give you X games at 2B when Pedey needs a day, Y games at 1B to spell Mitch, maybe a few games in place of Devers at 3B, and probably a few starts in the outfield, but if someone gets hurt, you'll for sure play everyday in their place". And team X says "we want you to be our full time starting 2B and play 140+ games there, with maybe a few starts in left or SS mixed in as the need arises". Which way are you going to go?
Worked out well this year.I guess another question is are people comfortable with Nunez/Holt/Marco/Lin at second base next year?
Did it?Worked out well this year.
I totally see how he could get starter playing time by cobbling together the projected available time at all of the non-catcher positions plus playing time. My point is that this may be hard to accept from his point of view. Some team saying "we want you to be our starting 2B (or LF or whatever) but we will need to move you around a bit when guys need a day off" is different from them saying "look at this spreadsheet, we have plenty of PT for you".He started 136 games last year but a typical 'starter' is anywhere from 100 - 150 games. Give him 50 games at 2B, 20 at SS, 30 at 3B, 10 at 1B and 20 in the OF and you're at 130. This would leave a bit less for Brock but enough to keep him playing regularly and leaves 1B with a full 152 games for the Pearland platoon plus keeps the 4 OFs engaged. And all that is assuming Pedey is relatively healthy and there are no other major injuries. Doesn't leave much for a 14th position player to do (e.g. Swihart, Lin, Ball or Travis) but in this day and age the norm is 13 so you can go with a 7-man pen.
Right, and Pedroia is a potential improvement. The team is kind of held hostage.Did it?
I mean, I get it. Also, non-Pedroia, non-Kinsler second basemen (Holt/Nunez/Lin/Phillips) hit .258/.313/.364 over 515 PA in 2018. It's a potential area of improvement, one of maybe few.
He'll take over at 2B when Lowrie breaks again.Yes. Swihart has "Billy Beane Reclamation All-Star" written all over him.
In 143 PA against righthanders, Swihart had a line of .275 / .336 / .412.Swihart had an OPS+ of 65 in 207 PA, and he has not hit at any level since 2015. There is no evidence that he is a decent bat, I won't be upset if he is simply let go.
I'd really like to see Leon traded or released and Swihart take over 2/5 duties. He showed that when he has consistent starts, he's a solid catcher and a decent bat.
I agree Leon may be traded but to say an organization is smart because of it is ridiculous. Organizations have to do whatever their best opportunity is. This seems to be what alot of people think in the off season. That you can magically get whatever you exactly need. In fanworld you can do that so have at it, I guess.In 143 PA against righthanders, Swihart had a line of .275 / .336 / .412.
Sandy Leon had an OPS+ of 41 on the season; 44 against RH pitching. And, over the second half of the season, he went 11-116, with an OPS -- yes, OPS -- of 330.
By way of comparison, 26 NL Pitchers with at least 30 at bats had a higher OPS than 330 last season. To choose one at random, Zach Greinke's was 561.
If the Red Sox bring back Sandy Leon, they are not a smart organization. Given that they are a smart organization, I expect Leon will be traded or non-tendered.
Well, the issue with your statement is that they don't "need to magically get whatever they exactly need." All they'd have to do is release or trade Leon, as Swihart would be his direct replacement (and Swihart, hitting righties acceptably well, isn't the worst idea to somewhat platoon with Vazquez.)I agree Leon may be traded but to say an organization is smart because of it is ridiculous. Organizations have to do whatever their best opportunity is. This seems to be what alot of people think in the off season. That you can magically get whatever you exactly need. In fanworld you can do that so have at it, I guess.
My point was only that you can`t just get whatever you want, like going to a store and buying some pitching or whatever need the team has. If a catcher on the team will bring us back something decent, even a good low level prospect, I`d be happy. What I was objecting to was the statement that they are not smart if they bring Leon back. If they get more for either Vaz or Swihart, they may go that route but unless we know the details of a trade it`s just fun speculation, not stupidity.Well, the issue with your statement is that they don't "need to magically get whatever they exactly need." All they'd have to do is release or trade Leon, as Swihart would be his direct replacement (and Swihart, hitting righties acceptably well, isn't the worst idea to somewhat platoon with Vazquez.)
What we don't know is exactly how the team values Leon's game calling and defense. They obviously like both, but enough to hold onto him? That's the million dollar question.
I hadn't noitced that, but this isn't just a one year thing; over his career he's 274/329/404 against righties. You may be onto something.In 143 PA against righthanders, Swihart had a line of .275 / .336 / .412.
And they still played Leon and Vaz over him. I don't think they care for Swihart behind the plate.I hadn't noitced that, but this isn't just a one year thing; over his career he's 274/329/404 against righties. You may be onto something.
There is that. I'm just looking at his performance vs righties as something to latch on for a potential role, maybe a supersub who is also somewhere between a second catcher and an emergency catcher? Like, you are more aggressive about pinch hitting for the catcher because the second C getting hurt and having to come out of the game doesn't result in Mitch Moreland behind the plate?And they still played Leon and Vaz over him. I don't think they care for Swihart behind the plate.
Yeah, but there is Brock Holt. If Pedroia is healthy, it's hard to envision a role for Swihart. That's a big if. I don't think Leon is back regardless. It's a position you could save money on while possibly improving by signing some AAAA guy.There is that. I'm just looking at his performance vs righties as something to latch on for a potential role, maybe a supersub who is also somewhere between a second catcher and an emergency catcher? Like, you are more aggressive about pinch hitting for the catcher because the second C getting hurt and having to come out of the game doesn't result in Mitch Moreland behind the plate?
I was looking at that, too. It seems like you could put together a pretty decent catching situation where Vazquez takes 60-65% of the starts, including all starts against LHSP (career OPS against LHP: .669), and Swihart rests him, with the bulk of Swihart's starts coming against RHSP. Basically, a platoon.In 143 PA against righthanders, Swihart had a line of .275 / .336 / .412.
No one said that Boston could "magically get whomever they wanted" to play catcher. What they desperately need is a catcher that hits better than a pitcher. That can't be all that difficult to find.I agree Leon may be traded but to say an organization is smart because of it is ridiculous. Organizations have to do whatever their best opportunity is. This seems to be what alot of people think in the off season. That you can magically get whatever you exactly need. In fanworld you can do that so have at it, I guess.
Does a team that just won 108 games and a World Series with the catchers they have really "desperately need" a better hitting catcher? I can get behind the idea that it would be nice to upgrade the spot offensively, but let's not categorize it as a "desperate" need for the team. It's a want. It isn't a need.No one said that Boston could "magically get whomever they wanted" to play catcher. What they desperately need is a catcher that hits better than a pitcher. That can't be all that difficult to find.
It might save their staff some wear & tear if the lineup wasn't functioning with an essential pitcher's spot in it. And it would certainly help in NL parks to not have two pitchers hitting in the lineup.Does a team that just won 108 games and a World Series with the catchers they have really "desperately need" a better hitting catcher? I can get behind the idea that it would be nice to upgrade the spot offensively, but let's not categorize it as a "desperate" need for the team. It's a want. It isn't a need.
Funny, I've seen quotes from Dombrowski saying that carrying three catchers again next year is not out of the question.I think we've seen posted here that 3 catchers is not the plan for 2019
Did you have anybody particular in mind?I guess we dont NEED to improve on anything, but considering how terrible our catchers were last year, it seems like one of the easiest and cheapest ways to improve the team next season. Both of them were really terrible hitters, and average to above average defensively. There has to be another option out there that wont break the bank. Nobody is saying trade for Realmuto, just get someone that can make solid contact against MLB pitchers
I think the issue is finding a catcher who hits better than a pitcher *and* who is also a plus defender and handler of pitchers. I doubt other clubs are just ignoring or giving away players like that.No one said that Boston could "magically get whomever they wanted" to play catcher. What they desperately need is a catcher that hits better than a pitcher. That can't be all that difficult to find.