Mitchy Two Bags

[charlieoscar]

There have been a lot of columns about whether various players are performing as well as expected but I don't recall anyone saying anything about Mitch Moreland, who in his last 197 PA (171 AB) has managed to hit 3 doubles. And in his last 17 games (71 PA/63 AB) has batted .190/.261/.333/.594 with 4 RBIs.

He does have a rather pronounced split between facing RHP and LHP, so perhaps it is time to think about platooning him with Sam Travis.

 

[DeadlySplitter]

hasn't that platoon already been happening?

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

Broken toe probably isn't helping his stroke much

 

[charlieoscar]

Travis has started 9 games; Ramirez, 2; Moreland, 75. Admittedly the Red Sox have not faced many left-handed starters but all of Travis's starts have been against them; however, if a broken toe is hindering Moreland's batting one would think that rest and recovery might be better than watching his numbers spiraling downward. But Travis hasn't done all that well in the minors versus RHP, so maybe they need to look elsewhere since their original idea of using Hanley Ramirez there didn't work.

 

[Savin Hillbilly]

maybe they need to look elsewhere since their original idea of using Hanley Ramirez there didn't work.

You're suggesting the Sox make a trade for a first baseman?

 

[grimshaw]

Makes Frazier a better fit since he can also play 1B and spell Moreland occasionally.

Though 1B long term is something they'll have to think about at some point.

 

[Byrdbrain]

That would seem like an awful idea but also one that has no chance of happening.

He's gone cold whether it is due to his toe or something else it is hard to say. He has been platooned lately and I assume that will continue as long as Travis is on the roster.
Hopefully a few days off for the break will do him some good and he'll improve in the 2nd half.

Edit: I probably should have quoted SHB since this post was an answer to his.

 

[Zososoxfan]

Before the injury, Mitchy was slashing .285/.382/.495/.877 with a BABIP of .349. Since June 15, Mitchy is slashing .172/.248/.280/.527 with a BABIP of .191. The Sox were 37-28 (.569 WP) when Mitchy got hit and have gone 16-14 (.533) since. Definitely a large part of the problem with no clear answer in sight. Sox might want to consider a DL stint with Travis and Hanley covering 1B and getting healthier guys more ABs and regulars some turns at DH.

 

[j44thor]

Surely the pre-injury Mitch was a bit of a mirage given the inflated BABIP, still I'm sure the injury has set him back given his SLG% is nearly 1/2 of what it was pre-injury. Why they don't DL him instead of having him bat cleanup is a mystery.
That BABIP is probably not going to rise much until he can start driving the ball again.

 

[simplicio]

Before the injury, Mitchy was slashing .285/.382/.495/.877 with a BABIP of .349. Since June 15, Mitchy is slashing .172/.248/.280/.527 with a BABIP of .191. The Sox were 37-28 (.569 WP) when Mitchy got hit and have gone 16-14 (.533) since. Definitely a large part of the problem with no clear answer in sight. Sox might want to consider a DL stint with Travis and Hanley covering 1B and getting healthier guys more ABs and regulars some turns at DH.

Hanley's having a hard enough time being productive as is; I'd rather they keep him out of the field.

 

[Green Monster]

Hanley's having a hard enough time being productive as is; I'd rather they keep him out of the field.

Different schools of thought.....not sure where Hanley would fall into, but for some DHing is difficult (especially when slumping) since you have nothing to do but think about your previous AB. Playing defense provides a mental break. Not sure this is the case for Hanley but who knows

 

[joe dokes]

Surely the pre-injury Mitch was a bit of a mirage given the inflated BABIP, still I'm sure the injury has set him back given his SLG% is nearly 1/2 of what it was pre-injury. Why they don't DL him instead of having him bat cleanup is a mystery.
That BABIP is probably not going to rise much until he can start driving the ball again.

Mentioned this possibility in last gamethread, (and IANAD), but I wonder of his problems are'nt; from the injury anymore, which may well be healed, but from the adjustments he made to play through the injury. The suckage is the same, but a DL trip won't help if its the latter.

 

[The Talented Allen Ripley]

Hanley's made it very clear he wants no part of 1B.

 

[Savin Hillbilly]

Hanley's made it very clear he wants no part of 1B.

And his slash line is astoundingly similar to Moreland's so far this year. Who do you want at first, the .251/.342/.430 guy with pretty good defense, or the .255/.341/.438 guy with mediocre defense, who doesn't really want to play there anyway? I think that's a pretty easy question to answer.

I mean, the ONLY bright spot to Ortiz retiring, in terms of the Sox roster situation, was that it finally allowed us to play Hanley at DH where he belonged. And now people want to mess with that. This is why we can't have nice things.

 

[geoduck no quahog]

We need medical input. Perhaps Moreland's injury isn't "cured" by rest. It certainly doesn't seem to benefit from restraints of any kind (maybe a splint?).

If so, the only advantage of a DL stint would be roster flexibility. If his injury has hitting impact though, why wouldn't the team be playing Shaw and bringing Moreland in as the designated Marrero? It can't all be the LHH/RHH thing.

Simplest explanation is that the team doesn't think the injury has impact and they're just waiting for him to come out of a slump...and that handedness + defense overrides other considerations.

 

[joe dokes]

We need medical input. Perhaps Moreland's injury isn't "cured" by rest. It certainly doesn't seem to benefit from restraints of any kind (maybe a splint?).

If so, the only advantage of a DL stint would be roster flexibility. If his injury has hitting impact though, why wouldn't the team be playing Shaw and bringing Moreland in as the designated Marrero? It can't all be the LHH/RHH thing.

Looks like Dr. Freud may have already paid you a call. (I know who you mean......)

 

[Zososoxfan]

And his slash line is astoundingly similar to Moreland's so far this year. Who do you want at first, the .251/.342/.430 guy with pretty good defense, or the .255/.341/.438 guy with mediocre defense, who doesn't really want to play there anyway? I think that's a pretty easy question to answer.

I mean, the ONLY bright spot to Ortiz retiring, in terms of the Sox roster situation, was that it finally allowed us to play Hanley at DH where he belonged. And now people want to mess with that. This is why we can't have nice things.

First, I didn't realize that Hanley said he didn't want to play 1B. That's astounding enough in its own right. But more importantly, I don't WANT to mess with that, but if a DL stint is merited for Mitch, then Hanley should be willing to play some 1B with Travis taking some if not most of the defensive work.

 

[geoduck no quahog]

Looks like Dr. Freud may have already paid you a call. (I know who you mean......)

Apparently, I need medical input.

 

[shaggydog2000]

First, I didn't realize that Hanley said he didn't want to play 1B. That's astounding enough in its own right. But more importantly, I don't WANT to mess with that, but if a DL stint is merited for Mitch, then Hanley should be willing to play some 1B with Travis taking some if not most of the defensive work.

Hanley says he CAN'T play first base because his shoulder injury is aggravated by throwing.

 

[sean1562]

honestly, i don't care how it affects "team chemistry", i hope we prevent ramirez's 2019 option from vesting. while obviously not as bad as the pablo signing, i don't see him bringing a ton of value for the rest of his stay here.

 

[Zososoxfan]

Hanley says he CAN'T play first base because his shoulder injury is aggravated by throwing.

Well shit then, huh? On the bright side and quite surprisingly to me, HanRam has been OPSing .900 since the LAA series beginning on June 23 which includes his last 8 ABs of 0 hits. So yes, let's not mess with him.

 

[Byrdbrain]

Travis sent down today to bring up Velazquez which makes complete sense with Moreland struggling and a lefty going tonight.
I'd rather Travis get regular playing time but the timing seems odd.

 

[johnnywayback]

Interesting. Hanley playing 1B tonight. If he can do that with any regularity, it gives them a lot more flexibility.

 

[nvalvo]

Today's lineup has Ramirez at 1B and Young at DH against a LHP — i.e., the original plan in the offseason.

But now it seems more significant. Maybe that JD Martinez rumor has legs.

 

[The Talented Allen Ripley]

Hanley's made it very clear he wants no part of 1B.

Interesting. Hanley playing 1B tonight. If he can do that with any regularity, it gives them a lot more flexibility.

<---Nobody knows anything, indeed.

 

[grimshaw]

Today's lineup has Ramirez at 1B and Young at DH against a LHP — i.e., the original plan in the offseason.

But now it seems more significant. Maybe that JD Martinez rumor has legs.

His fielding has really deteriorated the past two years, so DH or 1b does seem his future at some point. Though he may not thrilled to move out of the OF this close to free agency.

 

[Savin Hillbilly]

His fielding has really deteriorated the past two years, so DH or 1b does seem his future at some point. Though he may not thrilled to move out of the OF this close to free agency.

EDIT: Die, moot speculation.

 

[HriniakPosterChild]

Today's lineup has Ramirez at 1B and Young at DH against a LHP — i.e., the original plan in the offseason.

During the rain delay, NESN played tape of JF saying that Hanley at 1B is the new normal when facing a lefty starter.

 

[uk_sox_fan]

Today's lineup has Ramirez at 1B and Young at DH against a LHP — i.e., the original plan in the offseason.

But now it seems more significant. Maybe that JD Martinez rumor has legs.

If only.

 

[Zososoxfan]

On the ESPN broadcast last night, they pointed out that MM was leaning back and getting off balance on his swings. That certainly seems like evidence pointing towards a lingering injury or an involuntary adjustment thereto.

July numbers: .145/.264/.171/.435, 2 2B, 0 HR, 12 BB, 19 K.

 

[Van Everyman]

More like Mitchy Two Months, amirite?

More seriously, it's August now. I thought he put up fairly competitive ABs against Cleavinger last night. Let's see if he can start to get it together.

 

[Cesar Crespo]

He's been better of late. Over his last 6 games and 22 PA, he's slashing .400/.455/.950 with 5 2b, 2 HRs and 2bb/4k. SSS and everything but encouraging.

 

[Sandy Leon Trotsky]

Now, despite his horrible injury related slump.... Mitch almost at .800 OPS with 19 HR's. With his plus defense at the corner, DD has to really consider offering him another one year deal.
I actually imagine he'll get a 3 year offer for more overall money ($8m per?).... but he'd be worth offering a competitive one year deal again until we can better gauge the Sam Travis, Devers, Chavis situation

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

I can see going longer if they think he can work into the DH mix down the line.

 

[streeter88]

You know, I think the guy's toe is feeling better. After posting a .435 OPS in July, Mitchy Two Bags is slashing .347/.395/.680 in August, with 13 of his 26 hits in the month for XB (7 2B and 6 HR). Sox need to move him up in the order and get some people on base for him, because he is en fuego!

I would definitely be in favor of paying him at least 2 more years, maybe plus options - there has to be room on the Sox for a competent defensive 1B. Sox gave Hanley $88M for 4 years, at only one year younger than Mitch is now. And he is pretty close to where Hanley was in 2014 when that contract was signed.