I wouldn't go as far as to label it shitty, given a couple of those previously questionable 1 year guys last winter (Morrison, Lind, Reynolds, and *maybe* even Napoli) have gone on to look fairly passable this year. Which obviously isn't including Hosmer, Duda, or even Bruce if some team ends up bold enough to stick him there.Holt has played 16 games at 1b here so it's not like they are fully repulsed by the idea of a 5'10 guy doing it.
Given the shitty off-season 1b market, I approve. I can't imagine he gets here this year, but the timing is interesting given there is only a month left in the minor league season. and it's something he could have done during the AFL if they weren't trying to rush him.
I haven't see chavis play much in AA? Why do you think he's been rough at 3B?In any case, moving to 1b will really accelerate his time to the majors given how rough he has been at 3b and could reflect what they think about the free agent market.
If we're gonna care about this, shouldn't we be more concerned with wingspan and standing reach than head height?Chavis to learn 1B
Basketball man Add vertical jump in tryouts? Give me an athletic guy that can learn the footwork, etc. Last year, Hanley was seen stretching with the wrong foot on the bag, etc.If we're gonna care about this, shouldn't we be more concerned with wingspan and standing reach than head height?
Mostly from reading scouting reports.I haven't see chavis play much in AA? Why do you think he's been rough at 3B?
I see this consideration as prep work for getting Chavis/Devers potentially on the MLB roster in 2018 or 2019.
If they're going to trade him, sure. But the big club is in pretty good shape in right. First is a question mark going forward.The one thing I don't get here is taking a guy whose one universally acknowledged asset as a defender is his arm and putting him at the position on the diamond where that matters least. If he has a good arm but can't handle the balletic nuances of an infield position, there's an obvious position for him, and it's right field.
Ive interpreted the reports a bit differently. To me he sounds like an above average 3B arm with poor fundamentals. His limited range may not translate to fenway's RF.The one thing I don't get here is taking a guy whose one universally acknowledged asset as a defender is his arm and putting him at the position on the diamond where that matters least. If he has a good arm but can't handle the balletic nuances of an infield position, there's an obvious position for him, and it's right field.
The obvious position for him is 2b but he's blocked there too.The one thing I don't get here is taking a guy whose one universally acknowledged asset as a defender is his arm and putting him at the position on the diamond where that matters least. If he has a good arm but can't handle the balletic nuances of an infield position, there's an obvious position for him, and it's right field.
Don't be so sure. Pedroia turns 34 in two weeks. If you figure that Chavis is probably two years away from the big leagues, anyway, then that starts to look less like "blocked" and more like "succession planning".The obvious position for him is 2b but he's blocked there too.
I was thinking about this too when they put Pedey on the DL this week - he may not make it as a full-time 2B for the duration of his contract. Probably some time at DH. Any chance they try Pedey at 1B? Now THAT would be completely novel, someone that vertically challenged at First, but it might actually be outweighed by his great hands and footwork. I'd expect they go a more conventional route, but Pedey would probably rather play the field anywhere than have to DH more than occasionally.Don't be so sure. Pedroia turns 34 in two weeks. If you figure that Chavis is probably two years away from the big leagues, anyway, then that starts to look less like "blocked" and more like "succession planning".
This is what will probably happen. At least I hope so. But I started getting worried about how his knee is going to hold up when I heard the team talking like it's a problem that isn't going to go away, and that he's going to have to manage it going forward. Thankfully, it hasn't affected his defense at 2B, but it's definitely already had an impact on his base running.I can see Pedroia DHing once a week or so, but as long as he's not a liability defensively, he's going to play 2B as often as possible. He's to the point where he's not going to ever be a 150+ game a year guy again, but he's no where close to a point where changing positions needs to even be considered.
I was under the impression that the "manage it going forward" applied to the rest of this season, not necessarily the rest of his career. I expect it's something that can be repaired/alleviated surgically, and he'll do it the minute the season is over (like he did last year).This is what will probably happen. At least I hope so. But I started getting worried about how his knee is going to hold up when I heard the team talking like it's a problem that isn't going to go away, and that he's going to have to manage it going forward. Thankfully, it hasn't affected his defense at 2B, but it's definitely already had an impact on his base running.
I hope you're right, and that the problems he's having now are just the lingering effects of the Machado late slide, rather than an indication that the surgery last year didn't really fix the problem, or that it's not totally fixable. I thought the team's remarks were ambiguous enough that they left some doubt in my mind about that. But I love Pedey and what he brings to the team, so I'm really hoping that this is a short term (2017) problem.I was under the impression that the "manage it going forward" applied to the rest of this season, not necessarily the rest of his career. I expect it's something that can be repaired/alleviated surgically, and he'll do it the minute the season is over (like he did last year).
Does anyone think Pedroia's not going to demand to be buried in his spot near second base?I can see Pedroia DHing once a week or so, but as long as he's not a liability defensively, he's going to play 2B as often as possible. He's to the point where he's not going to ever be a 150+ game a year guy again, but he's no where close to a point where changing positions needs to even be considered.
Might as well bury the body right where it drops.Does anyone think Pedroia's not going to demand to be buried in his spot near second base?
Priceless.Might as well bury the body right where it drops.
His defense is worth more than his bat. That's been the story with him 4 out of the last 5 years, and some years by quite a bit. If his knees are so bad that his defense falls off to a net negative, I have a hard time seeing how he would provide any value as a DH. He is going to be playing 2B until he retires.This is what will probably happen. At least I hope so. But I started getting worried about how his knee is going to hold up when I heard the team talking like it's a problem that isn't going to go away, and that he's going to have to manage it going forward. Thankfully, it hasn't affected his defense at 2B, but it's definitely already had an impact on his base running.
I'm having trouble wrapping my head around the idea that Pedroia is playing like that on bad knees which just really set in for the first time.His defense is worth more than his bat. That's been the story with him 4 out of the last 5 years, and some years by quite a bit. If his knees are so bad that his defense falls off to a net negative, I have a hard time seeing how he would provide any value as a DH. He is going to be playing 2B until he retires.
Face down on the home plate side of first base would be my guess.Might as well bury the body right where it drops.
That was a nice game by Brock, but does he have to bat at the top of the lineup when he plays?Pete AbrahamVerified account @PeteAbe 55m55 minutes ago
Brock Holt starts in LF. Gets on base three times, throws a runner out. Good wake-up call that nobody can take their spot for granted.
Take it for what it's worth, but here are the pitching lines for some of Montgomery's games this year:Great photo!
So, the Red Sox got 2 hits off of Jordan Fucking Montgomery last night and 2 hits off Chapman, with nothing in between. That can't be lost in the victory celebration and Sale performance.
The Red Sox also hit a number of lasers to the outfield off Montgomery that happened to find gloves. He easily could have not lasted 4 innings with that batted ball profile and the 3 walks.Take it for what it's worth, but here are the pitching lines for some of Montgomery's games this year:
Apr 23, at Pit: 6.0 ip, 7 h, 2 r, 2 er, 2 bb, 5 k
May 23, vs KC: 6.2 ip, 2 h, 1 r, 1 er, 0 bb, 6 k
Jun 3, at Tor: 6.0 ip, 3 h, 0 r, 0 er, 3 bb, 5 k
Jun 9, vs Bal: 7.0 ip, 5 h, 2 r, 2 er, 1 bb, 8 k
Jun 26, at Chi: 7.0 ip, 5 h, 1 r, 1 er, 1 bb, 8 k
Jul 25, vs Cin: 6.2 ip, 2 h, 1 r, 1 er, 1 bb, 6 k
Aug 5, at Cle: 5.0 ip, 3 h, 1 r, 1 er, 0 bb, 7 k
Aug 13, vs Bos: 5.1 ip, 2 h, 1 r, 1 er, 3 bb, 4 k
It's not like he's not capable of shutting teams down. He's not a bad pitcher. And the Yankee bullpen is outstanding.
I'd flip the two Bs at the top of the order, but otherwise it's perfect.How do people feel about this lineup combo?
Nunez
Betts
Benintendi
Devers
Ramirez
Moreland
Bogaerts
Leon
JBJ
A good point. But I see this as similar to the differences in height versus standing reach in basketball measurements. The height measured to the top of the head is less important than standing reaching since basketball players generally like to rebound using the hands, not their heads.Garvey was 5'10" and he did ok
Except it's RRLLRLRSL. I'd switch Devers and Hanley.I'd flip the two Bs at the top of the order, but otherwise it's perfect.
They don't have a combine for the baseball draft that I know of, so even if teams did measure that, it wouldn't be publicly available.A good point. But I see this as similar to the differences in height versus standing reach in basketball measurements. The height measured to the top of the head is less important than standing reaching since basketball players generally like to rebound using the hands, not their heads.
Similarly, in this case, being 5' 10" is fine if Chavis has a good standing reach, which is what will count for catching throws to him that are high.
I could not find Chavis' standing reach. Indeed, they may not even measure this in baseball.
Logic says there has to be an increase in run prevention.Since the ASB the Sox have had the second-lowest wRC+ in the American League. Remove Devers/Nunez and they'd probably be bottom of the barrel. How the heck has this team won so many games with such a pathetic offense?
1990's Braves didn't have a powerfull offenseSince the ASB the Sox have had the second-lowest wRC+ in the American League. Remove Devers/Nunez and they'd probably be bottom of the barrel. How the heck has this team won so many games with such a pathetic offense?
Pretty much. They lead the majors in runs per game (6.27) over the last 15 games.Logic says there has to be an increase in run prevention.
Dont forget that they also had their roughest stretch of the season in mid July, and the offense picked up some after that. The post ASB number might be skewed by that really shitty stretch. [based on observation not analysis]
Scoring a ton of runs isn't the only path to winning games. Preventing runs does the job too. They have a +96 run differential, good for fourth best in the league (Yankees +114, Indians +128, Astros +159). There's only one more team in the AL with a positive run differential, and that's the Rangers at +26.Since the ASB the Sox have had the second-lowest wRC+ in the American League. Remove Devers/Nunez and they'd probably be bottom of the barrel. How the heck has this team won so many games with such a pathetic offense?