Are you assuming their 2 aces throw 0 pitches and their #3 misses a third of the season again? Because if so then yeah, but this isn't a bad roster at all if that doesn't happen.Anyone who expects this team to win in the mid 80s is delusional.
Are you assuming their 2 aces throw 0 pitches and their #3 misses a third of the season again? Because if so then yeah, but this isn't a bad roster at all if that doesn't happen.Anyone who expects this team to win in the mid 80s is delusional.
I hope you are right, but the Dodgers have always been willing to spend money in a way that the Red Sox seem...resistant too at the moment.Thing is, the shift from Dombrowski to Bloom is a significant one, but no less significant than the shift from Cherington to Dombrowski in terms of philosophy. Cherington by and large was a continuation of the Epstein era, which was predicated on building a base of home grown talent and flexing the team's financial might to fill in the gaps. And it was largely effective for a decade plus (3 titles in 10 years between the two GMs). I think handing the reins to Bloom is very much trying to go back to the Epstein/Cherington style of internal development and judicious use of financial advantages.
Worth noting that the trouble found during the transition from Epstein to Cherington and the transition from Dombrowski to Bloom are similar in one aspect...over-extending financially in a rush to win another title. First it was the signing of Crawford and Lackey and trading for Gonzalez (an unsuccessful spending spree), then it was the signing of Price and JD Martinez, and trading for Sale and Kimbrel, resulting in the greatest season in team history. Basically a departure from sound long term team building due to impatience on ownership's part.
I don't think the Rays are what ownership is trying to emulate. It's the Dodgers. It took a few years for Friedman to get the Dodgers where he wanted them. He benefited from the high priced veteran roster he inherited (results, in part, of the Punto trade) and a weak division to keep winning division titles as he built the organization he wanted. Bloom won't have the luxury in the AL East.
I agree. I also think one ancillary benefit that comes with having a lot of starters in the high minors with significant "reliever risk" is that we might end up with some young arms in the pen soon. We need health in the rotation and we all know Sale's optimistic timetable is July and that Eovaldi has pretty much never pitched a full season. It's not ideal, but this is not a bad roster.Are you assuming their 2 aces throw 0 pitches and their #3 misses a third of the season again? Because if so then yeah, but this isn't a bad roster at all if that doesn't happen.
There is spending money just because you can and spending money wisely.I hope you are right, but the Dodgers have always been willing to spend money in a way that the Red Sox seem...resistant too at the moment.
Because the Dodgers are currently the best team in baseball and were spending to win their first ring in 30 years and even if the Sox spent like drunken sailors they wouldn't be. Sox outspent everyone a few years ago when it made sense to while the Dodgers were unwilling to do the same.I hope you are right, but the Dodgers have always been willing to spend money in a way that the Red Sox seem...resistant too at the moment.
Opening day payroll rank by year...maybe not the perfect metric, but the 1st one I found.I hope you are right, but the Dodgers have always been willing to spend money in a way that the Red Sox seem...resistant too at the moment.
Since 1901, I found a few careers that parallel Cordero’s, through the first four seasons: At least 315 PAs through that time, Cordero’s career total, an AB/SO ratio worse/less than 2.6, close enough to Cordero’s 2.58, and all had to be done by age 25 at latest, which was Cordero’s age in 11/16 games he played last season. I also chose this because he’ll be 26 most of 2021 too given a September birthday.Both of them had K rates of 25%-27%, not 39%. David Ortiz was in the low 20s. There are a lot of smart people on this board, I think the better question is how many breakouts occur in the age 27 season for players with that kind of K rate. Of that list a few pages ago, how many have Cordero's profile? I don't the answer, I am seriously asking. Chris Davis maybe?
Power and speed is useless if strike three is in the catcher's mitt.
You misspelled Gilberto Jimenez (get back to me on Rosario when he demonstrates that he can hit minor league pitching).Hopefully we'll have extended them by the time Jeisson Rosario, who seems likelier to be our CF of the future than Duran, is ready.
Exactly. It's really not true that the Dodgers have thrown the cash around while the Red Sox have been penny pinchers. It's just that the Dodgers have largely avoided giving out albatross contracts (not so much because they don't give out big contracts, but just because their players seem to generally live up to them) while the Red Sox...haven't.Now how that payroll is used, of course...
Right, the Red Sox have obviously historically spent a lot of money. I was referring to "at the moment" which would be right now; where the Red Sox balked at re-signing their best position player in 40 years and then remained largely absent from the free agent process. I'll be very happy if the Red Sox open the checkbook again, and it is fine to rebuild the farm system and create a more flexible roster, but the Dodgers under Friedman have never been afraid to splash some cash around, and the Yankees certainly have not been hesitant either. I'd love it if the Red Sox could get on the path of smart scouting, optimal talent development, while also leveraging their big-market money into signing/retaining very good players at expensive rates. I'm nervous (again, perhaps illogically so) that ownership is also looking at a way where they can avoid that second part of the LAD/NYY system.Opening day payroll rank by year...maybe not the perfect metric, but the 1st one I found.
2020 Dodgers 2nd, Red Sox 3rd
2019 Red Sox 1st, Dodgers 4th
2018 Red Sox 1st, Dodgers 3rd
2017 Dodgers 1st, Red Sox 3rd
2016 Dodgers 1st, Red Sox 3rd
2015 Dodgers 1st, Red Sox 3rd
2014 Dodgers 1st, Red Sox 4th
2013 Dodgers 2nd, Red Sox 4th
2012 Red Sox 3rd, Dodgers 12th
2011 Red Sox 3rd, Dodgers 10th
2010 Red Sox 2nd, Dodgers 12th
Have to go back to 2003 for the last year Red Sox weren't in the top 4 in opening day payroll (they were 6th).
I guess my point is, yeah, the Dodgers might have spent a bit more over the last 8 seasons, but it's realllllly hard to complain about payroll as a Red Sox fan in the 21st century.
Now how that payroll is used, of course...
I think sampling variability and bias are at play with these comps here. Players with Cordero's frequency of play are likely to be injury prone and therefore drop out entirely. Injuries aside, future performance is probably too hard to predict when a player has only played 40 games at most in a given year.Since 1901, I found a few careers that parallel Cordero’s, through the first four seasons: At least 315 PAs through that time, Cordero’s career total, an AB/SO ratio worse/less than 2.6, close enough to Cordero’s 2.58, and all had to be done by age 25 at latest, which was Cordero’s age in 11/16 games he played last season. I also chose this because he’ll be 26 most of 2021 too given a September birthday.
Since that got me too big of a sample and included guys like Sano who had over 1,000 PAs, I limited it to the players who had sub 400 as well, for a similar sample size of work. If you want a bigger range of guys for PA samples, I’d be happy to do that as well. As I digress, Cordero aside, we’re left with seven players under my personal constraints:
1) Brett Phillips, the walkoff hero in Game 4 of the WS. Dude also has the fastest throw recorded in Statcast history. He’s a glove guy, first and foremost. Not the way Cordero will succeed.
2) Mel Stottlemyre. A pitcher. Nope. He is still the last AL pitcher to hit an inside the park grand slam though.
3) Hugh Bedient, a member of the 1912 World Champs, who wound up being the save leader for the Buffalo Blues in the Federal League in 1915, and never played at a major league level again. Another pitcher.
4) Adam Engel. Granted, all of his 336 PAs for this qualifier came in his rookie year, 2017. Very forgettable, below average MLB career with the White Sox until this past year at age 28, which might be ascribable to SSS. Most of the projection systems think so. The one I trust most, ATC, is also the most optimistic, relatively speaking, with a projected wOBA and wRC+ of .293 and 82, respectively.
5) Clay Kirby. More pitchers. Went 8 deep with a no hitter on July 21, 1970 against the Mets, when he was pinch hit for by Cito Gaston. Friars fans think this is their curse as to why they remain the only MLB franchise without one.
6) Melvin Nieves. Probably the ceiling of a guy like Cordero. Notably had two two home run games in his career, in both cases he homered from both sides of the plate. As you’d expect, decent career overseas, never much in MLB, but did stick around for sometime, until 1998. In seasons where he played 20+ games, or essentially 1995-98, his wRC+: 82, 98, 92, 96. Like Cordero, not much renowned for fielding either.
7) Brandon Allen, 10 total career games after this stretch in 2012. Washed out basically immediately, currently coaches in the Cardinals system.
So yeah. Historic precedent just isn’t here in the past 120 years for a guy to succeed like this. Best outcome that exists is a guy who provides league average batting over the next few seasons. No true outbreaks happened at all. Not that they should be expected anyway, but it’s just not happened.
Not saying you're wrong, but limiting the sample size to players under 400 PAs is a bit misleading in this instance because the lack of PAs has mostly been due to injuries, whereas with somebody like Brandon Allen he didn't get PAs because he just wasn't that good.Since that got me too big of a sample and included guys like Sano who had over 1,000 PAs, I limited it to the players who had sub 400 as well, for a similar sample size of work. If you want a bigger range of guys for PA samples, I’d be happy to do that as well.
I had thought Jimenez bulked up to a corner outfielder projection but this is a good point.You misspelled Gilberto Jimenez (get back to me on Rosario when he demonstrates that he can hit minor league pitching).
For a more modern look using Baseball Prospectus' Alex Chamberlain's model, fwiw, here the closest modern season comps for Franchy Cordero's 2018, the year he logged the most PAs, using wOBA, K%, BB%, barrels, launch angle and contact rate:Since 1901, I found a few careers that parallel Cordero’s, through the first four seasons: At least 315 PAs through that time, Cordero’s career total, an AB/SO ratio worse/less than 2.6, close enough to Cordero’s 2.58, and all had to be done by age 25 at latest, which was Cordero’s age in 11/16 games he played last season. I also chose this because he’ll be 26 most of 2021 too given a September birthday.
Since that got me too big of a sample and included guys like Sano who had over 1,000 PAs, I limited it to the players who had sub 400 as well, for a similar sample size of work. If you want a bigger range of guys for PA samples, I’d be happy to do that as well. As I digress, Cordero aside, we’re left with seven players under my personal constraints:
1) Brett Phillips, the walkoff hero in Game 4 of the WS. Dude also has the fastest throw recorded in Statcast history. He’s a glove guy, first and foremost. Not the way Cordero will succeed.
2) Mel Stottlemyre. A pitcher. Nope. He is still the last AL pitcher to hit an inside the park grand slam though.
3) Hugh Bedient, a member of the 1912 World Champs, who wound up being the save leader for the Buffalo Blues in the Federal League in 1915, and never played at a major league level again. Another pitcher.
4) Adam Engel. Granted, all of his 336 PAs for this qualifier came in his rookie year, 2017. Very forgettable, below average MLB career with the White Sox until this past year at age 28, which might be ascribable to SSS. Most of the projection systems think so. The one I trust most, ATC, is also the most optimistic, relatively speaking, with a projected wOBA and wRC+ of .293 and 82, respectively.
5) Clay Kirby. More pitchers. Went 8 deep with a no hitter on July 21, 1970 against the Mets, when he was pinch hit for by Cito Gaston. Friars fans think this is their curse as to why they remain the only MLB franchise without one.
6) Melvin Nieves. Probably the ceiling of a guy like Cordero. Notably had two two home run games in his career, in both cases he homered from both sides of the plate. As you’d expect, decent career overseas, never much in MLB, but did stick around for sometime, until 1998. In seasons where he played 20+ games, or essentially 1995-98, his wRC+: 82, 98, 92, 96. Like Cordero, not much renowned for fielding either.
7) Brandon Allen, 10 total career games after this stretch in 2012. Washed out basically immediately, currently coaches in the Cardinals system.
So yeah. Historic precedent just isn’t here in the past 120 years for a guy to succeed like this. Best outcome that exists is a guy who provides league average batting over the next few seasons. No true outbreaks happened at all. Not that they should be expected anyway, but it’s just not happened.
Huh? Both teams went through the same luxury tax reset that the Sox just went through within the last few years, they were certainly hesitant to go after the top guys. And the sox and yankees will likely have similar payrolls this year.Right, the Red Sox have obviously historically spent a lot of money. I was referring to "at the moment" which would be right now; where the Red Sox balked at re-signing their best position player in 40 years and then remained largely absent from the free agent process. I'll be very happy if the Red Sox open the checkbook again, and it is fine to rebuild the farm system and create a more flexible roster, but the Dodgers under Friedman have never been afraid to splash some cash around, and the Yankees certainly have not been hesitant either. I'd love it if the Red Sox could get on the path of smart scouting, optimal talent development, while also leveraging their big-market money into signing/retaining very good players at expensive rates. I'm nervous (again, perhaps illogically so) that ownership is also looking at a way where they can avoid that second part of the LAD/NYY system.
The Red Sox payroll this season is irrelevant to the discussion since I am not talking about the current payroll, but the direction that Bloom is going in. The Red Sox have a high payroll because of deals that were done pre-Bloom (Sale, JDM, Evoldi, etc.)Huh? Both teams went through the same luxury tax reset that the Sox just went through within the last few years, they were certainly hesitant to go after the top guys. And the sox and yankees will likely have similar payrolls this year.
Player | Batted Balls | | Barrel % | | Ave. Exit Velocity | | xwOBA | | Launch Angle |
Benintendi | 1,466 | 6.4 | 88.3 | .347 | 14.7 |
Cordero | 177 | 12.4 | 92.5 | .347 | 7 |
MLB Average | ... | 6.4 | 88.3 | .321 | 11.9 |
True, but how can you talk about the direction Bloom is going vis-a-vis the payroll when there are the roadblocks that exist in the current payroll? We can really glean nothing of what Bloom might do payroll-wise in, say, 2023 based on what he's doing now. The points being made about the payroll over the last 15-20 years is to counter the concern that they're headed in a "Rays" direction of constant roster turnover to maintain a low payroll. It's unfounded and probably not worth worrying about.The Red Sox payroll this season is irrelevant to the discussion since I am not talking about the current payroll, but the direction that Bloom is going in. The Red Sox have a high payroll because of deals that were done pre-Bloom (Sale, JDM, Evoldi, etc.)
I generally think this is fine, which is why I prefaced my concerns as likely illogical. I thought they might be worth a discussion, which is why I aired them.True, but how can you talk about the direction Bloom is going vis-a-vis the payroll when there are the roadblocks that exist in the current payroll? We can really glean nothing of what Bloom might do payroll-wise in, say, 2023 based on what he's doing now. The points being made about the payroll over the last 15-20 years is to counter the concern that they're headed in a "Rays" direction of constant roster turnover to maintain a low payroll. It's unfounded and probably not worth worrying about.
Given Jimenez's lack of HR power, if he can't stick in center then Duran probably is the CF of the future as he's demonstrated more with the bat than Rosario. With better speed to boot. (Rosario does look like a pretty good reserve OF prospect, though). However Jimenez seems to have held on to his speed despite his bulking up to 210 or so. So he definitely looks like the CF of the future with his gap power from both sides of the plate (and his arrival would allow Boston to move Duran for a big return).I had thought Jimenez bulked up to a corner outfielder projection but this is a good point.
Seriously. Bloom isn’t working on a blank slate. He inherited a team with 3 guys who have $20M or more/year contracts. With a ton of dead money as well. So yes, he’s working around the edges, clearly trying to improve the overall roster and 40-man while keeping overall payroll below the LT level, and will still have the team in the top 3 in payroll. I can’t understand the complaining about Bloom. Let’s see what he’s doing in 2023...True, but how can you talk about the direction Bloom is going vis-a-vis the payroll when there are the roadblocks that exist in the current payroll? We can really glean nothing of what Bloom might do payroll-wise in, say, 2023 based on what he's doing now. The points being made about the payroll over the last 15-20 years is to counter the concern that they're headed in a "Rays" direction of constant roster turnover to maintain a low payroll. It's unfounded and probably not worth worrying about.
I guess I'm a bit confused about how both past payroll & current payroll are irrelevant to a determination of the Red Sox willingness to spend.The Red Sox payroll this season is irrelevant to the discussion since I am not talking about the current payroll, but the direction that Bloom is going in. The Red Sox have a high payroll of deals that were done pre-Bloom (Sale, JDM, Evoldi, etc.)
But yeah, as others have mentioned, when you are paying $35m for David Price, Pedey & Manny not to play for you, it kinda messes with budgets in a luxury tax era, plus having your ace out half the year.Right, the Red Sox have obviously historically spent a lot of money. I was referring to "at the moment" which would be right now; where the Red Sox balked at re-signing their best position player in 40 years and then remained largely absent from the free agent process. I'll be very happy if the Red Sox open the checkbook again, and it is fine to rebuild the farm system and create a more flexible roster, but the Dodgers under Friedman have never been afraid to splash some cash around, and the Yankees certainly have not been hesitant either. I'd love it if the Red Sox could get on the path of smart scouting, optimal talent development, while also leveraging their big-market money into signing/retaining very good players at expensive rates. I'm nervous (again, perhaps illogically so) that ownership is also looking at a way where they can avoid that second part of the LAD/NYY system.
Yes. And who knows where the Sox right would be if the dodgers didn’t bail us out. (Success wise)I guess I'm a bit confused about how both past payroll & current payroll are irrelevant to a determination of the Red Sox willingness to spend.
But yeah, as others have mentioned, when you are paying $35m for David Price, Pedey & Manny not to play for you, it kinda messes with budgets in a luxury tax era, plus having your ace out half the year.
My point regarding historical spending (including spending 2 years ago) is that there is no reason to believe the Red Sox ownership will cheap out when it's time to strike.
Fenway is like a minor league team in the Dodgers organization, in a sense. (Manny/Beckett-Agone/Betts)Yes. And who knows where the Sox right would be if the dodgers didn’t bail us out. (Success wise)
Is your argument that, since we have a top-3 payroll already, we should be willing to spend whatever it takes, regardless of the value proposition or long-term ramifications, to win 90-plus games? Or is it that, if we don't think we're going to win more than 85 games, we shouldn't bother having a top-3 payroll?Fenway is like a minor league team in the Dodgers organization, in a sense. (Manny/Beckett-Agone/Betts)
I don't get how so many people in this thread seem ok with a top-3 payroll team getting to 85 wins being regarded as a success.
I don't think anyone's regarding it as "success" so much as reality. To get this team to 95+ wins would require spending in excess of 2018 levels. Two real problems with that at the moment are a) who could they sign this winter to make up that kind of deficit and b) luxury tax penalties aren't conducive to creating long term success.Fenway is like a minor league team in the Dodgers organization, in a sense. (Manny/Beckett-Agone/Betts)
I don't get how so many people in this thread seem ok with a top-3 payroll team getting to 85 wins being regarded as a success.
Unlike the yankees opening day payroll which decreased for 5 straight years from 2015-2019 until they got Cole? There's really no reason to think that the Sox going forward won't spend big on certain players when it makes sense to do so.The Red Sox payroll this season is irrelevant to the discussion since I am not talking about the current payroll, but the direction that Bloom is going in. The Red Sox have a high payroll because of deals that were done pre-Bloom (Sale, JDM, Evoldi, etc.)
There was a similar logic being discussed when Boston acquired Wily Mo Pena in the immediate post-steroid era, with value being placed on natural raw power guys.Maybe the deadening of the ball is all the more reason to grab guys who this would seemingly not affect?
Right. This is what LA did with the Punto trade. They blew everyone else out of the water in 2013, with payroll leading #2 NY by about $30M. They won 94 games, but got bounced by the Cards in round 1.I don't think anyone's regarding it as "success" so much as reality. To get this team to 95+ wins would require spending in excess of 2018 levels. Two real problems with that at the moment are a) who could they sign this winter to make up that kind of deficit and b) luxury tax penalties aren't conducive to creating long term success.
They had no realistic path to what you would consider success in either 2020 or this year. So yeah, with this current roster winning in the mid 80s and hopefully making the playoffs where anything can happen when you have a great ace would be a decent version of success.Fenway is like a minor league team in the Dodgers organization, in a sense. (Manny/Beckett-Agone/Betts)
I don't get how so many people in this thread seem ok with a top-3 payroll team getting to 85 wins being regarded as a success.
Wait, didn’t NY’s payroll go up in 2019? And would have again in 2020 except that it was prorated? Side point, I know, but just fact checking, I guess.Unlike the yankees opening day payroll which decreased for 5 straight years from 2015-2019 until they got Cole? There's really no reason to think that the Sox going forward won't spend big on certain players when it makes sense to do so.
I don't disagree that it isn't compelling baseball, but the difference is that these guys are all likely platoon guys and you can play the match ups more.I agree 100% with this and would add that "Three True Outcome" baseball is also painful to watch.
You're right, their 25 man roster payroll went down in 2019 because they had everyone on the injured list, my badWait, didn’t NY’s payroll go up in 2019? And would have again in 2020 except that it was prorated? Side point, I know, but just fact checking, I guess.
I haven't posted on here in a long, long time, so I don't know you, but this argument qualifies you to be a member of the Trump Impeachment Defense team. Making a cursory statistical comparison of the 2020 Rays (or for that matter, the 2020 Sox) in the same sentence as the 2018 Sox is absurd.The 2018 team was 9th in the league in HRs and first in the league in slugging so it’s not like they were some small-ball team (those don’t really exist anymore).
And in terms of strikeouts, the Rays by far led the league in Ks last year and won the AL pennant.
I totally get where you are coming from in terms of aesthetics, but it’s a proven path to success. It’s also worth noting that the Sox actually had the third highest BA last year, so it seems reasonable to me that Bloom may feel it’s ok to take a small step back in that department if it means increased power.
Sure, obviously the ideal is a team that hits a lot - for power and average - walks a lot, doesn't strike out a lot, is pretty fast, etc. That's basically what we got in 2018 and obviously that team was way better than the 2020 Rays.I haven't posted on here in a long, long time, so I don't know you, but this argument qualifies you to be a member of the Trump Impeachment Defense team. Making a cursory statistical comparison of the 2020 Rays (or for that matter, the 2020 Sox) in the same sentence as the 2018 Sox is absurd.
The 2018 Sox were a great team, perhaps the greatest baseball team we've ever seen. They were a great team in April, May, June, July, August, September AND October. They achieved that consistency by being smart, adaptable hitters, and doing everything else well. They dominated in the post-season without their only great pitcher.
Most all-or-nothing teams are streaky, crush mediocre pitching, and ride the coattails of their pitching staffs into the post-season. There have been four exceptional teams in the past 20 years - the Giants, Astros, Dodgers and Red Sox and the one thing they all have in common is balance. If hitting a gazillion HRs a year were the key to success, the Yankees would win every year.
As others have said. PTBNL are not what they used To be. Especially in the covid era.
there has been no MILB season in a year. So if you announce and finalize the trade/players now you are trading for wildcards even if they played in the hodgepodge MILB “season” last year.
because those players would have either played in that so called “MILB season” last Year or have not played in professional baseball in a year.
either way scouting reports for most MILB players are probably pretty outdated and I bet they(bloom/Sox) want to see how these players actually perform in legit MILB action (against other teams and not scrimmages) prior to actually trading for them. Because right now how the scouting report says they performed in 2019 could be worse or better than how they will perform this year especially with a year off for most of them.
“There was an effort on my end to just try to get the ball in the air more,” Benintendi said. “At the time, I think that’s where the game was, and it might be getting away from that a little bit now, but it was about power.”
Even though the sample size was small, Benintendi’s 2020 season was even worse. He looked lost, tinkering with his stride. He wasn’t quick to the ball, either. In 52 plate appearances, he hit just .103, striking out 17 times, before missing the rest of the shortened season because of a right ribcage strain.
On Thursday, Benintendi acknowledged he had broken ribs, too,
Benintendi said he worked tirelessly this offseason to return to his previous form. He’s gotten back to more of a lean frame, and also worked with Red Sox hitting coaches Tim Hyers and Peter Fatse last month in an effort to correct the holes in his swing.
“I kind of understand the player I am, the player I want to be,” Benintendi said. “Physically, I feel back to where I need to be.”
If I didn't know any better, with all of these arm injuries you'd think Cordero is a pitcher, not an outfielder.
Looking forward to your info on who these prospects are that give the Sox only that small bump in rankings.We have traded Andrew Benintendi for Wily Mo Pena Redivivus and enough prospects to move us from 25th to 23rd place in farm system rankings.
I think part of it was him starting to bulk up in 2018, and then injuries last year.I'm not especially high on Marwin and still I think that is a great trade from the BOS side, and that's even before the prospects are announced. Check out Benintendi's free fall in average sprint speed rankings year by year, yikes:
Or, the Red Sox GM convinced two major league teams to give up possible major league baseball players for a guy with Joe Charbonneau's career arc.We have traded Andrew Benintendi for Wily Mo Pena Redivivus and enough prospects to move us from 25th to 23rd place in farm system rankings.
Remy having to pronounce that is worth it alone.I'm really hoping that we (and the Boston media corps) could dig a little deeper than Wily Mo Pena for possible Franchy comps.
As I recall, the talk radio goons heaped so much ridicule on Wily Mo in 2006 that the Fenway crowd would often serve him ironic cheers whenever he'd take a pitch for a ball. That didn’t happen to Eric Hinske or Doug Mirabelli that year, though both posted higher K rates, and it eluded Mike Napoli (32.4% in 2013) in his time here too. Chavis and Dalbec have equally high whiff rates and have never been compared to Wily Mo Pena on this board, according to search results.
That kind of player can be frustrating, but there are many in the game today with K rates at or above 30 percent. Quite a few are stars (Gallo, Lowe, Judge, Sanchez, Hiura, Sano, Baez, others). I'd really like to see a player like Franchy Cordero have a chance to succeed here, even though he may strike out a lot and has a name that New Englanders find strange. That seems much less likely if media and fans decide out of the gate that he's a target for ridicule.
Player (Season) | xwOBA | K% | BB% | Exit Velocity |
Franchy Cordero (All) | .347 | 34.9% | 8.9% | 92.5 mph |
Brandon Lowe (2019) | .345 | 34.6% | 7.6% | 91.6 mph |
Miguel Sano (2017) | .349 | 35.8% | 11.2% | 92.3 mph |
MLB Average | .321 | 21.8% | 8.3% | 88.3 mph |