Joe McDonald: Duran coming up
- Thread starter budcrew08
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How do you know that a player's status doesn't result in greater demands? Or maybe better said - that it "isn't a thing" that established players are more likely to make demands about playing time than less established players? Have you been in a major league clubhouse? It seems quite natural that with more status comes more agency/confidence to ask for things - damn it's a universal work place phenomenon (as an aside: NBA star players can get their coach fired - the 12th man on the bench cannot). Rookies or fringe players likely feel less agency or "space" to "gripe" than a star player. Do you really believe that Chavis is going into Cora's office bitching - or that Devers (or his agent) wouldn't start bitching if he were suddenly a part time player?? We know JD has some issue with not playing the field more and I'm sure he communicates as much. Do you think Danny Santana complains about anything? He knows he'd be cut from the team in an instant if he did.
Now you are almost certainly right that all kinds of behind the scenes stuff happens that we don't know of; and certainly all players want to be at the center - their livelihoods are effected by playing time and a chance to excel. Though not all players are assholes like Jay Payton. I think many players understand a bit of personal sacrifice is necessary in a championship stretch run, and if the team is winning they are on board - would prefer to share playing time and win a championship than get all the playing time and not win one. Some players do see the big picture. And finding high character guys IS part of the equation for wise general managers ...*
The reason that a guy like Payton stands out is the huge gulf between his self-perception (and subsequent demands) and what he was actually capable of contributing: he was bitching but it was all ego, he didn't have the goods to back it up. Meanwhile, the 2004 team had gorgeous depth - with Millar, Mientkiewicz, Kaplar, Nixon, Reese, Roberts mixing in and out in the stretch run - I bet you they were all on board.
* - Many years ago, via a gig I had, I spent some time with Joe Dumars when he was president of the Pistons. He had recently traded for Rip Hamilton. I said to him, "that's a good trade you made, I love Hamilton's game." And Dumars said, "yeah, he's also a great guy - really excellent clubhouse presence." And I asked, "is character an important part of what you consider when acquiring a guy?" and Dumars said, "Oh, yes, essential." And I asked, "Is that why you traded Jerry Stackhouse?" And Dumars, ever the diplomatic, just shrugged his shoulders ....
Since you asked, yes, I actually have been in quite a few major league clubhouses, although that's irrelevant to the discussion.
No - I think it's entirely relevant! I'm certainly operating on conjecture and observations of human nature, and not the observed workings of major league clubhouses. I am more than happy to here your actual observations of this stuff (sincerely)! ...
He never should have signed with the Sox if he was gonna be unhappy with a part-time role. He had to know what he was getting into.
...I know. I was lurking on the board at the time. I was leaning into the joke. Sorry for reviving such an old joke.
Someone has to defend Jay Payton (a little). The Red Sox did not SIGN Payton, they TRADED for him in a deal that sent Dave Roberts to San Diego. Payton was a starting player, with 1,100+ plate appearances over the previous two seasons. On paper, he was an excellent acquisition. He could serve as a RH platoon partner for Nixon, as well as CF insurance for Damon, who was entering his walk year. Payton was signed through 2006. The Red Sox didn't play him very much, and he reacted petulantly, basically forcing his way out of town. And, of course, Nixon wound up getting hurt not long after his departure.
huh? How is it remotely extreme? Am I missing something?
He's hitting for way more power vs R.
vs R: .248/.351/.564
vs L .321/.400/.554
I guess if you want to call that extreme.
Yelich/Harper have been the best the past few seasons, but it's really not a thing.
These are the past 20 years of lefty vs lefty stats. https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/splits-leaderboards?splitArr=1,3&splitArrPitch=&position=B&autoPt=true&splitTeams=false&statType=player&statgroup=2&startDate=2000-07-16&endDate=2021-07-15&players=&filter=&groupBy=career&sort=16,1
Many of the guys who hang in vs lefties are just damn good hitters anyhow. Duran is still in small sample size range. And vs major league lefties, it's very likely that gap will close if not become a normal split.
I’m really Hungry, like the wolf I suppose, to see Duran in action in the major leagues. FU Yankees for the delay. You’re no friends of mine.
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Is there anyone out there to start a new thread? Someone else not me, please.
Duran not in the starting line up tonight according to the Globe ... anyone know why? Seems very odd to me to bring him up then immediately have him ride the pine ...
Montgomery is starting for the Yankees. Duran's gonna sit against LHP for the time being, it would appear.
sorry - meant to add this to above, but something went haywire!:
Some indication - in the public record at least - that no one will be griping, from the Globe:
"Arroyo’s homer came in the first game since Jarren Duran’s call up — a move that may mean more time for Kiké Hernández and less for Arroyo at second base. But the productive reserve insisted his homer wasn’t a statement.
'I’m here to win baseball games for the Boston Red Sox and I’m going to do that any way I can,” Arroyo said. “I’m never going to complain about guys who are going to come up here and contribute to our success.'"
and -
“'I’ve said it before and I’ll say it for the rest of my life, I don’t want to take anything away from this team,” Houck said. “Whatever they call upon me to do, that’s what I’m going to do.'”
I think, too, with Arroyo apparently getting reps at first, we could potentially be seeing six players rotating across five positions (Verdugo, Duran, Renfroe, Hernandez, Arroyo, Dalbec) ... plenty of playing time, then, and built in rest.
Some indication - in the public record at least - that no one will be griping, from the Globe:
"Arroyo’s homer came in the first game since Jarren Duran’s call up — a move that may mean more time for Kiké Hernández and less for Arroyo at second base. But the productive reserve insisted his homer wasn’t a statement.
'I’m here to win baseball games for the Boston Red Sox and I’m going to do that any way I can,” Arroyo said. “I’m never going to complain about guys who are going to come up here and contribute to our success.'"
and -
“'I’ve said it before and I’ll say it for the rest of my life, I don’t want to take anything away from this team,” Houck said. “Whatever they call upon me to do, that’s what I’m going to do.'”
I think, too, with Arroyo apparently getting reps at first, we could potentially be seeing six players rotating across five positions (Verdugo, Duran, Renfroe, Hernandez, Arroyo, Dalbec) ... plenty of playing time, then, and built in rest.