Assuming Farrell can think that far.Have a feeling we will see a lot of Moreland in there when Devers is playing. Can't have two inconsistent fielders on the corners at the same time.
Assuming Farrell can think that far.Have a feeling we will see a lot of Moreland in there when Devers is playing. Can't have two inconsistent fielders on the corners at the same time.
Considering they're both platoon players vs. RHP, it'll work out that way anyways.Have a feeling we will see a lot of Moreland in there when Devers is playing. Can't have two inconsistent fielders on the corners at the same time.
It can be both. The start of his slumping coincides with the injuryWhy are we asssuming Moreland isn't hitting because of an injury? This is who he has been for most of the 6 years he's been in the majors. He started out hot and now he's cold, averaging to roughly what he averages.
People use/stop using toe taps all the time for timing. Not sure if he's one.I don't understand how the toe injury impacts his inability to recognize pitches.
It might look like inability to recognize, but if his foot hurts, he might be trying to cheat on what he hopes will be fastballs. That leaves him open to breaking stuff, which might look like failure to recognize. And then he starts to guess, which compounds things.I don't understand how the toe injury impacts his inability to recognize pitches.
Any hitter needs to keep their weight back, and in Moreland's case that involves more weight on his left foot (injured foot). If he is reluctant to do that for any reason, it will result in his weight shifting forward and will translate into an inability to drive the ball and the appearance of not recognizing pitches as he is "out on his front foot".I don't understand how the toe injury impacts his inability to recognize pitches.
I suppose hitting a meatball can be done on one leg. Perhaps just had some good fortune on location.IDK, was the foot still holding him back when he had that 3 homers in 3 games stretch after the injury?
I don't discount the possibility or anything, but you also can't just overlook that maybe Mitch Moreland is simply being Mitch Moreland. He had 2 really bad months last season too.
If he doesn't want people asking if he is hurt he could start playing like it.According to Moreland his toe/foot is fine and he is getting sick of answering questions about it.
I would clarify that a bit.They have extreme underperformance at both 1B and DH. They need a serious shake up in the lineup if they want to do anything substantial this year. You can't expect to win short series with a team that can get shut out multiple times in a series.
But, I mean the end goal here is a World Series right. We are have a 9 WAR starting pitcher, a 3 WAR closer, and the best starting rotation in the league. This team can throw the pill, they are just really suffering from corner infield production. You have to hope that Dever helps one of those areas, which honestly he can't hurt, then you have to go make a move for a left handed 1B who can actually hit a home run.I think we're looking at our first must-win of the season tonight. Pull out a W tonight, get Sale tomorrow, day off, then 9 game homestand.
DD will then feel more comfortable making the marginal moves we need in the lineup and in the bullpen without needing to make a ridiculous move. Plus we get to breathe in first place for at least another 3 days.
I doubt that whether Dombrowski -- who has been a major league GM since 1988 -- makes a "ridiculous" move will depend on the next 1, 2 or 5 games. Whatever he does -- smart, stupid, or in between -- will be based on a much larger body of work.I think we're looking at our first must-win of the season tonight. Pull out a W tonight, get Sale tomorrow, day off, then 9 game homestand.
DD will then feel more comfortable making the marginal moves we need in the lineup and in the bullpen without needing to make a ridiculous move. Plus we get to breathe in first place for at least another 3 days.
The goal in these 3 years is World Series or Bust. I think with the right moves to add power in the lineup and stability in the 8th that we'll be right there in the ALCS. Give me a 7 game series against Houston and let's see what happens.But, I mean the end goal here is a World Series right. We are have a 9 WAR starting pitcher, a 3 WAR closer, and the best starting rotation in the league. This team can throw the pill, they are just really suffering from corner infield production. You have to hope that Dever helps one of those areas, which honestly he can't hurt, then you have to go make a move for a left handed 1B who can actually hit a home run.
This team has only been shut out 8 times this season, or a little less than 8% of the time. The pitchers?This team needs A LOT more than just a marginal upgrade at 3B.
They have extreme underperformance at both 1B and DH. They need a serious shake up in the lineup if they want to do anything substantial this year. You can't expect to win short series with a team that can get shut out multiple times in a series.
They have been shut out 9 times, which leads the major leagues in shut outs. Being shut out 8% of the time is a really bad thing. They just simply can't hit home runs, it's an issue that has to be addressed or they aren't going to make it in 2017.This team has only been shut out 8 times this season, or a little less than 8% of the time. The pitchers?
CC Sabathia twice
Francisco Lirano
Dylan Bundy
Masahiro Tanaka
Alex Cobb
Christian Bergman
Nick Pivetta
So the shutouts haven't exactly been an issue with being able to hit the top pitchers in the league. Seems like random variance to me.
"Only" 8 times? Actually, it is 9 times. And according to baseball reference, there have been 149 shutouts this year. So non-Sox teams are averaging 4.8 shutouts, the Sox have 9. The AL:This team has only been shut out 8 times this season, or a little less than 8% of the time. The pitchers?
CC Sabathia twice
Francisco Lirano
Dylan Bundy
Masahiro Tanaka
Alex Cobb
Christian Bergman
Nick Pivetta
So the shutouts haven't exactly been an issue with being able to hit the top pitchers in the league. Seems like random variance to me.
You've been watching baseball long enough to know this statement is complete nonsense.I see an ALDS series win as their absolute ceiling.
Their walk rate and K rate are basically identical to 2016, 9% and 18% respectively. Their BABIP is down from .320 to .303. Their ISO is down to .142 from .179.Lin is at best a 5th OF. Need someone with a little pop in the 4th OF role.
He could be a fine UI but that isn't going to move the needle all that much.
I'm wondering if it is the hitting philosophy/approach that is the issue or the talent.
Across the board Betts, Bradley, Bogaerts, H-Ram and Pedroia are all hitting for less power this year than last.
That is supposed to be the core of the offense and the first 3 should be in the prime of their careers.
Didn't realize they ranked at the bottom of the league there. Mea culpa. That said, I still don't think multiple shutouts per series is likely at all. But I don't disagree the offense probably needs a boost (I made that argument on the podcast this week, actually). I'm a fan of the contact over power approach, but I think a minimum amount of power is likely required for that to work. Bottom 5 in the league just isn't enough. If they were middle of the pack, it probably wouldn't be an issue (see the 2013 Red Sox).They have been shut out 9 times, which leads the major leagues in shut outs. Being shut out 8% of the time is a really bad thing. They just simply can't hit home runs, it's an issue that has to be addressed or they aren't going to make it in 2017.
To add to that...
I think my targets would be Yonder Alonso and Eduardo Nunez. Nunez should be had for next to nothing and you'd think given the market Yonder would be pretty affordable.
Those 2 really help the complexion of the middle and bottom of the lineup.
Don't think Alonso is the guy either. Can't our "need power" chips on a guy who came out of nowhere this year. If 1B is the problem it continues to be, I really think Duda is the guy. .300 ISO and 133 wRC+ last I checked would be far and away the best on the team.Either way, I'm not sure that Alonso is all that much more likely to be a better source of power than Moreland going forward. Certainly not enough so that I'd want to give up a decent prospect to find out. Plus, even if they can get him cheap, they need to either dump Moreland (which is fine if they think he isn't healthy or isn't likely to get back to the .450+ SLG guy he was through nearly the end of June), or be confident they can get him on the DL and keep them there until August is over. Or include him in the package heading to Oakland, I guess, but I don't see why Beane would want him.
I don't think there ever has been a firm and looking beyond the current hole "plan" for first post-Napoli.I'm still wondering about 1b full time. If Moreland was a stop gap for 1b/DH, was it for Travis or for someone else they had their eyes on in upcoming free agency or trade? If it's one of those guys in upcoming free agency - please God, go out and acquire him now.
If it's Travis - to this point he looks more like a move the line guy (.266/.330/.411 in AAA) than the power bat they need. If they were assuming the rest of the offense wouldn't fall too far off from last year, and they could live with modest production at a traditional power position, then they may need to rethink that given the rest of the roster.
He said he'd never play there again after he did the splits and got hurt in one of his only games at first for Gigantes.I always thought they'd move Sandoval to 1B to take advantage of his most excellent hitting as his defense declined.
I'm almost always wrong.
They aren't upgrading at catcher. They're all in on the all glove no bat duo this year (at least). And I think Devers can basically give the team what they would have been expecting out of a Todd Frazier trade. Roughly a league average bat with below average OBP and above average SLG. Of course, the reason he was called up so early is so that they can get a look at him for a week to see if he shows signs of being capable of doing that, allowing them to focus elsewhere with the August waiver-wire deadline being the safety net for Devers starting off well but collapsing after a couple of weeks.Right now there are 3 holes in the lineup. 3B, 1B, and C. If Devers answers our prayers, we still need to fill one of the other two. Which one will be messier to fill? I don't know.
Agreed, as much as I don't like it, they're sticking with this crew at C. I think a Duda/Reed trade would be ideal for both parties. It'll probably take Chavis or Dalbec + an arm and a throw in, but for the rest of the year those two would solidify our biggest needs.They aren't upgrading at catcher. They're all in on the all glove no bat duo this year (at least). And I think Devers can basically give the team what they would have been expecting out of a Todd Frazier trade. Roughly a league average bat with below average OBP and above average SLG. Of course, the reason he was called up so early is so that they can get a look at him for a week to see if he shows signs of being capable of doing that, allowing them to focus elsewhere with the August waiver-wire deadline being the safety net for Devers starting off well but collapsing after a couple of weeks.
So that basically leaves 1B, and I think you are right that Duda is probably the best option available there, but it's Dombrowski so who knows? He could pull off a Joey Votto trade that no one sees coming and it shouldn't be shocking. That's just how he operates. If they decide they are going to plug a better bat into 1B, I'm guessing it'll be someone who isn't getting much attention.
I also think they'd like to upgrade the pen if they can. Best case scenario is that Devers is ready to contribute offensively, they find a relatively cheap option at 1st, another in the pen and can trade for a less interesting league average-ish bat in August if they need to.
Duda at ~3M left + Neshek at ~2.75 (or Reed at ~3.5 left) would make me feel a lot better and would leave around 4-5M to spend on an August deal or two without going over.
I'm not that bullish on Brentz. OPS by month: .607, .794, 1.161, .809. Looks like an .800ish AAA hitter with a hot month and a cold month to me.I always wondered why teams weren't more progressive in trying guys like Bryce Brentz at 1b. It's not like you can really screw up his development. He isn't on the 40 but clearing a spot shouldn't be an issue. If he sucks, you just release him. The last 224 PA, he is hitting .328/.406/.667, with a respectable 25bb/43k and an absurd 32 extra base hits, 17 of those HRs. See if he can ride it out.
He's 28 and in his 6th season in AAA. It's not about being bullish. It's about not really having anything to lose. Just like trying Rusney Castillo at 3b.I'm not that bullish on Brentz. OPS by month: .607, .794, 1.161, .809. Looks like an .800ish AAA hitter with a hot month and a cold month to me.
Pretty much this - though to me it's more along the lines that he was formerly decently regarded with plus power potential and this is the first he's slugged over .500 since 2011 when he was a top 10 Sox prospect in a deeper system.He's 28 and in his 6th season in AAA. It's not about being bullish. It's about not really having anything to lose. Just like trying Rusney Castillo at 3b.
It's entirely possible.Would Brentz be any worse that Chris Young?
I have a feeling just about everything is being considered by a full staff of seasoned professionals. Try not to worry so much.I have a feeling that first base isn't even being considered and that really worries me.
Barring an extremely noteworthy 1B acquisition this is probably spot on. It would be one thing if Moreland had sucked all year or didn't want to be here, but essentially screwing him over a bad month and in the name of a Lucas Duda isn't really how this ownership generally operates (regardless how much I would really really like to see it happen anyway, mind you). If he can't go back in a trade the forced DL or bench him stuff isn't happening either.I have a feeling that first base isn't even being considered and that really worries me.
Okay great, should we keep posting or just shut the board down?I have a feeling just about everything is being considered by a full staff of seasoned professionals. Try not to worry so much.