Indeed. I should have said that the things I pointed out was just the start of a whole bunch of dominosIt also means no jbj and swihart unless you think the Sox would have been able to select them with other picks.
Indeed. I should have said that the things I pointed out was just the start of a whole bunch of dominosIt also means no jbj and swihart unless you think the Sox would have been able to select them with other picks.
A great debate.Resigning Beltre is an all-time great "What If...?" debate.
If he had been re-signed...
- Youks stays at 1B possibly extending his career which probably means...
- no trade for AGon, which probably means...
- no trading away of Anthony Rizzo which may mean...
- no Cubs WS
But with no AGon, maybe there is no Punto Trade, which may mean no 2013 WS victory
Beltre was a huge domino falling
It's going to be Rafael Devers by the end of next year. It's just a question of how quickly we get there.Seriously, who plays third in July?
Are you expecting Hernandez to get hurt?Seriously, who plays third in July?
Seems like Beltre could be available mid-seasonSeriously, who plays third in July?
Because somebody who has adjusted to how teams were pitching him in the second half of last year won't be able to make another one next time?No doubt. I had no problem with them letting Shaw go and expect him to crash back to earth.
Have you looked deeper into his numbers? Because they're looking pretty fluky. Much lower walk rate vs career (4.7%). Batting average on balls in play is .274 vs a career .297. Dramatically higher ISO (.283 vs .202), almost a 2 to 1 GB/FB rate, increased pull% (45.6% vs 40.3% career), hard hit rate equal to career average, and an impossibly high HR/FB rate (27.3%). So it doesn't look like he's really hitting the ball any harder/better, and his approach doesn't look very good, in fact he's mostly pulling ground balls which is a sign of a guy trying to add power and failing. It certainly looks like he just had some luck on a few fly balls and that is hiding the rest of his not impressive numbers.Because somebody who has adjusted to how teams were pitching him in the second half of last year won't be able to make another one next time?
Or do you think NL teams can't execute the "book" AL Teams had on him at the end of last season?
Travis Shaw will likely have a nice career as a platoon corner infielder. Somewhat like Brian Daubach or Troy O'Leary adjusting for the PED testing era. The Red Sox traded him for a relief ace. We still await that player's first regular season pitch in the AL East to see whether it was worth it.
Can you provide a source that talks about the adjustments he made? I'm interested in reading what he's changed since the second half of last year.Because somebody who has adjusted to how teams were pitching him in the second half of last year won't be able to make another one next time?
Both of whom were crucial in what was the 1999 team's finest hour: game 5 of the ALDS against Cleveland, featuring injured-Pedro in stellar relief.. . .Somewhat like Brian Daubach or Troy O'Leary adjusting for the PED testing era.
The plays I've seen him fail to make have been on just moderately hard hit grounders to his left just a few feet that any decent third baseman should make. They weren't very "third base specific" at all. It's almost like he's asleep out there, hard to believe I know.The Red Sox would be silly to trade anything for an incremental upgrade. Besides Panda,.Hernandez, Holt, and Rutledge... they have Matt Dominguez and Mike Olt floating around.the minors. They covered their bases for competence at the position. A larger upgrade... may be worth the expenditure.
As far as Hernandez's defense... it's important to remember he's largely been.a shortstop his entire career. So, there is still a learning curve there.
Witte has been way above average against lefthanders all the way through the minors. Earl Weaver might already have him platooning at 3B. But, Weaver didn't have to carry 12 pitchers.Devers could be an option after the all star break depending on how he does until then. I don't really understand the Marco love but he should be serviceable.
Jantzen Witte might see some time too in a break glass type of scenario.
He was also way older than his competition at every level. He'll get a cup of coffee somewhere though.Witte has been way above average against lefthanders all the way through the minors. Earl Weaver might already have him platooning at 3B. But, Weaver didn't have to carry 12 pitchers.
Moustakas looks like a good potential fit atm, especially if in terms of thinking beyond "serviceable" and while looking for ways to make this team better. LHH showing some pop, plus he'll still be on the right side of 30 this winter in the event our chickens don't hatch and we still find ourselves in the corner IF market. Which could translate out into rental + preview value.Dave Cameron suggesting in a Fangraphs chat the Sox could look at Mike Moustakas in his walk year.
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/dave-cameron-fangraphs-chat-5317/
My early read is that it'd be a buyer's market for third basemen. Most contenders, at least right now, are set.
Moustakas would be a good target. I could see Josh Harrison or Yangervis Solarte as other possible options if the Pirates struggle and the Padres haven't finished selling.Moustakas looks like a good potential fit atm, especially if in terms of thinking beyond "serviceable" and while looking for ways to make this team better. LHH showing some pop, plus he'll still be on the right side of 30 this winter in the event our chickens don't hatch and we still find ourselves in the corner IF market. Which could translate out into rental + preview value.
Assuming the Sox are finally ready to move past the Pablo Pipedream of course, and that the cost wouldn't too prohibitive.
Dave Dombrowski says "Hold my beer ..."Coming up with any interesting package that other teams can't beat blindfolded is the challenge though, since the cupboard is so bare.