Kapler or Wily Mo?

[a700hitter]

SCM, you call it bashing; I call it something else. Look, if WMP becomes our next great power hitter all Red Sox Nation will rejoice. I just have this thing for strikeouts and I just don't think he will ever measure up to Big Papi and to compare him with David does nothing but add more pressure to Pena. If Papa Jack can keep working his swing to where he makes more consistent contact then we've hit the jackpot because we will need some right handed power to take the place of Manny Ramirez when he leaves after the 2008 season. I'm hoping for the best with Wily Mo, but maybe I am guilty of expecting the worst. Isn't that what most Red Sox fans have come to expect over the years?

He's going to get better. He's not going to get worse, and from what I ahve seen from him so far, he ain't bad now.

[SuperManny]

I don't think its going to come down to Kapler vs. WMP (first of all WMP would have to be traded to be off the team, which isn't going to happen). Harris is the dead weight here not either of these guys. Kap has hit well in his first couple of games back and Harris brings nothing (speed yes, but he doesn't use it right anyways). Harris will be moved before either WMP or Kapler I think. WMP is a lock either way, hes the only power hitting prospect the Sox have.

[MC Hammer]

Kapler vs. Willie Mo really doesn't make any sense as they both bring compeletly different things to the team, and can help more together than they could seperately. Willie Mo's use will be spelling whichever OF needs the day off, and pinch hitting. Kapler will be a defensive replacement and a pinch runner. It doesn't make sense to pick one or the other, because you need them both. Willie Harris on the other hand is a complete waste of a uniform.

[jsinger121]

SCM, you call it bashing; I call it something else. Look, if WMP becomes our next great power hitter all Red Sox Nation will rejoice. I just have this thing for strikeouts and I just don't think he will ever measure up to Big Papi and to compare him with David does nothing but add more pressure to Pena. If Papa Jack can keep working his swing to where he makes more consistent contact then we've hit the jackpot because we will need some right handed power to take the place of Manny Ramirez when he leaves after the 2008 season. I'm hoping for the best with Wily Mo, but maybe I am guilty of expecting the worst. Isn't that what most Red Sox fans have come to expect over the years?

 

He is definitely going to get better because Papa Jack is a great hitting coach and somehow Papa Jack has gotten Alex Gonzalez up to .260 as a hitter. Don't sell WMP short. The guy has extreme talent and corner power is the toughest thing to find in the major leagues.

[seabeachfred]

Jsing, once again you hit it on the head; yes corner power is the toughest thing to find in baseball, and Papa Jack is an excellent hitting coach. Yes, we are going to need a big power man to take Manny's place after 2008 because everyone knows he is leaving us as soon as his contract is up. Pena can be devastating at Fenway if he develops. It looks like Crisp will be in left and Jacoby Ellsbury in center with David Murphy the fourth outfielder to give each of them a rest. In a few years we will have Dustin Pedroia and Jed Lowrey and Jeff Natale in our infield and all are good hitters but very average with the power. What we should also be looking for is a power hitting catcher while we are about it.

[ahhchon]

The guy has extreme talent and corner power is the toughest thing to find in the major leagues.

 

LMFAO, you've got to be kidding me.

 

berkman, dye, gomes, vlad, magglio, soriano, carlos lee, dunn, manny, bay, swisher burrel, ibanez and holliday to name a few (2006 season only) wave hello!

 

that's not including power hitters who haven't mashed a lot this season. ie miggy, bonds wilson, matsui, abreu and sheffield.

 

OF power is probably the most abundant power position in baseball other than 1b.

 

john

[seabeachfred]

Ahhonn, I think Jsing was talking about the Red Sox quest for corner power. For some reason we have not signed any big boppers of late and that is why they drafted Jason Place in the first round. He is a power hitting outfield prospect who plays centerfield (a real rarity) but will probably be put in a corner outfield position if he develops into a Major Leaguer because we will have Jacoby Ellsbury playing that position for a long time starting in two years or so. We have guys in our system capable of hitting 20-25 homers, but no one projected to be a 40+ man---that is, as of yet.

[riverside sluggers]

What we should also be looking for is a power hitting catcher while we are about it.

 

In the minor league section, there is a thread on Mark Wagner. Not yet saying he's going to be the next catcher, but is ranked as top catcher we have in the farm system. Hes having a very productive season in Single A Greenville. Probably headed for a promotion sometime this season.

[ahhchon]

Ahhonn, I think Jsing was talking about the Red Sox quest for corner power. QUOTE]

 

exactly. i quoted him. his exact words were "and corner power is the toughest thing to find in the major leagues"

 

which is not true at all. corner outfielders are generally big bats. the sox do have power corner bats too. manny would be one of them and in his healthy days nixon was considered a power corner.

 

john

[riverside sluggers]

Ahhonn, I think Jsing was talking about the Red Sox quest for corner power. QUOTE]

 

exactly. i quoted him. his exact words were "and corner power is the toughest thing to find in the major leagues"

 

which is not true at all. corner outfielders are generally big bats. the sox do have power corner bats too. manny would be one of them and in his healthy days nixon was considered a power corner.

 

john

 

What I believe what seabeach & jsing are trying to point out is the lack of "power" corner outfielders that are in the Sox farm system. Let alone drafting potential big bats are crapshoots because they could turn out to be just career minor leaguers

[monstah27]

Kapler is muy bueno!

[jsinger121]

Corner Power does not grow on trees and rarely gets to the free agent market. This is why the sox acquired Pena. The names you named are great ahhchon but they will likely never become available because alot of players are getting locked up early by their respective teams.

[seabeachfred]

RS, I'm going to have to start perusing the minor league threads on this website and others so I can get a complete lowdown on the prospects besides the one I know about. Thanks for the heads-up on Wagner.

[Cocos Disciples]

No way you can get rid of Pena, period. This guy could be the next Adam Dunn, 40 homers, low average and a lot of strikeouts. But before he got hurt, he showed signs of a real hitter, going opposite field, and not just swinging for the fences. If we do to him what we did to Papi, he could be a great hitter for years to come. Harris cannot hit, he can only run. That is valuable, as proven with Dave Roberts, but Pena has galaxies more potential.

[SCM33]

Ahhonn, I think Jsing was talking about the Red Sox quest for corner power. For some reason we have not signed any big boppers of late and that is why they drafted Jason Place in the first round. He is a power hitting outfield prospect who plays centerfield (a real rarity) but will probably be put in a corner outfield position if he develops into a Major Leaguer because we will have Jacoby Ellsbury playing that position for a long time starting in two years or so. We have guys in our system capable of hitting 20-25 homers, but no one projected to be a 40+ man---that is, as of yet.

 

Well, we do have a small amount of money invested in some guy named Manny Ramirez, and another no name playing RF who has been with the organization since 1993. So I guess you are right in a sense, its been 6 years when we signed a bopper to play corner OF, but he is one of the best in the game.

[SCM33]

No way you can get rid of Pena' date=' period. This guy could be the next Adam Dunn, 40 homers, low average and a lot of strikeouts. But before he got hurt, he showed signs of a real hitter, going opposite field, and not just swinging for the fences. If we do to him what we did to Papi, he could be a great hitter for years to come. Harris cannot hit, he can only run. That is valuable, as proven with Dave Roberts, but Pena has galaxies more potential.[/quote']

 

Agree again. I said before he is Trot Nixons replacement, that may not be the case next season, but sooner or later either Nixon will leave, or Manny's contract will run out and we will have a young guy with big power potential to step in either in RF or LF.

[seabeachfred]

SCM, too bad Manny and Nixon aren't about four or five years younger, otherwise this subject would not be necessary. As sit is, we have to start thinking about the future and that is why the Red Sox drafted Jason Place in the first round. He projects into a tremendous prospect, power, speed and a great body. Now if he only develops into the power the Red Sox think he is we could strike paydirt in about four or five years. With Pena and Papi still around then we would have decent power in the lineup and some good gap hitters to keep our offense clicking, guys like Ellsbury, Pedroia and Lowrie.

[Mr Crunchy]

Agree again. I said before he is Trot Nixons replacement, that may not be the case next season, but sooner or later either Nixon will leave, or Manny's contract will run out and we will have a young guy with big power potential to step in either in RF or LF.

 

or

he could be the bastard offspring of sam horn and phil plantier

[riverside sluggers]

Wily Mo in his rehab will be taking some time also to get to know 1st base, making it easier for Sox if they need to give Lowell or Youkilis a breather. Currently Loretta is the backup 1st baseman

[TheKilo]

Wily Mo in his rehab will be taking some time also to get to know 1st base, making it easier for Sox if they need to give Lowell or Youkilis a breather. Currently Loretta is the backup 1st baseman

 

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, wouldn't Ortiz be the backup first baseman?

[Cocos Disciples]

Well not if he is at DH, because if you remove your DH to play the field, the pitcher must hit.

[TheKilo]

Well not if he is at DH' date=' because if you remove your DH to play the field, the pitcher must hit.[/quote']

 

 

Or you play him at 1b to start the game...

 

 

I thought the whole deal was if Lowell or Youks needed a day off.

[riverside sluggers]

Correct me if I'm wrong, wouldn't Ortiz be the backup first baseman?

 

Only during games held at National League ballparks

 

I just think theyre trying to give him as many ABs as possible, so hes not sitting on the bench a lot.

[seabeachfred]

Don't say that Crunchman. We want to keep it positive around here. We Red Sox fans have had enough of that bad karma over the years; from now on it is blue skies and green lights ahead. Agreed???? I think Pena will be a decent player; I just don't know if he will ever hit for a good average. Power? He has that in abundance.

[yankthis]

That MO fella is a little bit too anxious at the plate. Kinda reminds me of the way Nomar used to swing at balls that nearly bounced in front of the plate, except this guy swings at pitches that the catcher has to lunge up for.

 

Sure, he's got potential. Let him develop it in the minors. Or let some other team put the "potential" on the field for major-league games.

[riverside sluggers]

That MO fella is a little bit too anxious at the plate. Kinda reminds me of the way Nomar used to swing at balls that nearly bounced in front of the plate, except this guy swings at pitches that the catcher has to lunge up for.

 

Sure, he's got potential. Let him develop it in the minors. Or let some other team put the "potential" on the field for major-league games.

 

With him signing a major league contract at such a small age by the Yankees, he doesnt have any options left. The Red Sox would have to place him on waivers. Almost guaranteed that he will be picked up by some other team.

[a700hitter]

They'll keep him on rehab assignment as long as possible, but then he will be back on the ML roster. In August, he will be valuable to spell Nixon and Ramirez.

[seabeachfred]

Yank, Riverside, and 700, you guys have pretty much said it all about Pena. He has no options left but if I know the rules of rehab, he can be sent down to Pawtucket or somewhere else for an indefinite time. That needs to be done so he gets to see a lot of pitches and works on his mechanics. I only hope we have a minor league hitting instructor who knows his stuff because he will not be around Papa Jack, who just may be the best hitting instructor around. Come to think of it, I don't know who our minor league batting coach even is. At any rate, let's make sure Wily Mo is ready before we bring him up in the stretch drive. When he spells Trot and Manny I want to make certain he can go in there and help the cause.

[Mr Crunchy]

i hope he can get 75-100abs in pawtucket

some serious serious hands on work on his patience

 

he did show signs of being able to go the other way or up the middle

theres no hurry in my opinion to get him back

[jsinger121]

Yank, Riverside, and 700, you guys have pretty much said it all about Pena. He has no options left but if I know the rules of rehab, he can be sent down to Pawtucket or somewhere else for an indefinite time. That needs to be done so he gets to see a lot of pitches and works on his mechanics. I only hope we have a minor league hitting instructor who knows his stuff because he will not be around Papa Jack, who just may be the best hitting instructor around. Come to think of it, I don't know who our minor league batting coach even is. At any rate, let's make sure Wily Mo is ready before we bring him up in the stretch drive. When he spells Trot and Manny I want to make certain he can go in there and help the cause.

 

Once he starts rehab I believe its either 20 days or 20 games before he has to be activated.