Future infield

[MANNYHOF24]

Can someone give me a scouting report on Devon Marreo at SS? What if we shift boegarts to 3B, middlebrooks to 1B put Marrero at SS and Pedy at second for the next 5-10 years. What is the possibility of this happening?

[dupree]

That would be a nice projected infield for the next 5 to 10 years. But I just dont think the Red Sox will have an entire infield or outfield for that matter filled with home grown players. Sure it would be a nice heart warming story and is what all 32 clubs would love have is an entire team of home grown players. But this is the Boston Red Sox who have money to spend on big time free agents and trading for what is projected to be the the latest and greatest with the Yankees who dont seem to quit buying players and makiing moves to be a big market team right under the salary cap, the Sox aint gonna change from big spending and trading for outside the organization players anytime soon.

 

I would love to see a whole team of home grown guys but realistically i just dont ever see it happening, atleast not for us. Tho the infield you mentioned could be great if the reports of the prospects keep progressing and make it to the bigs, just keep in mind a propect looks good in the minors but they are still propects and havent made it to the show yet injuries do happen and block home grown players. Example: Ryan Kalish

[wyo-sox]

Can someone give me a scouting report on Devon Marreo at SS? What if we shift boegarts to 3B, middlebrooks to 1B put Marrero at SS and Pedy at second for the next 5-10 years. What is the possibility of this happening?

 

If that was to work out it would be great and free up lots of money to go after free agent pitchers.

[NYlove4BoSox]

In the AL East power at 1B is important, and as evidenced by our difficulty in filling that role this year, power is hard to find. I like the idea of moving WMB to 1st, as long as his power keeps up this year. Also I got the impression last year that he's going to be injury prone. I think he pulled a hammy rounding 2nd. So for both of those reasons he may be better for us at 1st.

[a700hitter]

Can someone give me a scouting report on Devon Marreo at SS? What if we shift boegarts to 3B, middlebrooks to 1B put Marrero at SS and Pedy at second for the next 5-10 years. What is the possibility of this happening?

What about Iglesias?

[a700hitter]

Can someone give me a scouting report on Devon Marreo at SS? What if we shift boegarts to 3B, middlebrooks to 1B put Marrero at SS and Pedy at second for the next 5-10 years. What is the possibility of this happening?

What about Iglesias?

[kapsis21]

What about Iglesias?

 

he definitely sucked last year at the plate. hoping he can figure out his timing at the plate this spring.

 

But i really like the idea if Marrero is decent at defense and has a little pop in his bat, and Middlebrooks to 1st makes more sense as i see him as a Longoria type player who can keep injuring his hamstring.

[Dojji]

solution in search of a problem if you ask me.

 

The infield we have is not our biggest problem. Gathering talent for the outfield and rotation are where our Gm has struggled the most.

[Whiteandnerdy42]

^ I agree with this; our main problems at the moment are the rotation and outfield strength, so let's wait on talking about the infield for a while.

[BSN07]

I've mentioned this scenario before. I don't think it's something they need to implement now. But it's an interesting thought for possibly next season or the season after. I agree if Xander can stick at SS he should. But if moving him to 3B helped the overall team they I don't think it should be overlooked. The Sox lack a power prospect for 1B. Middlebrooks is a solid 3B but he's not Lowell, Beltre, and Rolen level. So moving him to 1B wouldn't hurt his value to the team. Xander is the obvious candidate to move to 3B. Moving him to 3B would allow him to fill out physically without worrying(to extent, we don't need him going all kung fu panda) about damaging his fielding range. That would leave the defensive whiz and Marrero eventually at SS.

 

With a young homegrown infield taken care of the team would then be able to focus more resources on the COF(most of us expect Bradley to take over CF, not a given though) and the pitching staff.

 

So locking the IF up long term could actually be one of the things that helps the team sure up it's weaker cogs in the OF and P going forward.

[jacksonianmarch]

Marrero is a guy who they drafted because he has a low floor. He can play solid defense, he has no real power to speak of and might end up as a gap power guy at his best. He's never shown a lick of patience in either the collegiate or professional levels, so thus far his plate discipline isnt anything to write home about. He's very fast and can handle the bat well. He's a long ways off though, so I'd wait until you see what you're getting come mid season this yr in the long season leagues

[BSN07]

Marrero is a guy who they drafted because he has a low floor. He can play solid defense, he has no real power to speak of and might end up as a gap power guy at his best. He's never shown a lick of patience in either the collegiate or professional levels, so thus far his plate discipline isnt anything to write home about. He's very fast and can handle the bat well. He's a long ways off though, so I'd wait until you see what you're getting come mid season this yr in the long season leagues

 

I don't expect Marrero for 2+ seasons. I think they could go with Iggy at SS if need be. But that only works if Middlebrooks and Xander are both productive at the CIF and they get some power guys for the COF spots. That's probably the only way they can get away with a defense only SS.

[jung]

Apparently, this year's effort with Iggy is to see if shortening his swing will yield more consistently good plate appearances....maybe begin the process of lifting him over the Medoza line.

[Dom]

Marrero drew 34 walks in 64 games last year. The year before that he walked more times than he struck out in college and he doesn't have a lick of patience? Someone obviously doesn't know what they're talking about.

 

That said, there's no reason to move Bogaerts. He's much more valuable right where he is and there's no guarantee second tier prospects like Marrero will ever be major leaguers.

[SoxSport]

I think they want to see Bogaerts play 3B a few games in the WBC. It could broaden their options.

For example, Iggy could hit .400 in ST, Drew could break his other ankle and Napoli's hip could force Middlebrooks to play 1B.

 

Stranger things have happened on the Red Sox.

[Dojji]

I'm guessing not actually. There seems to be a general consensus that if you can play SS, and your arm isn't on the light side for short, you can play third. Heck we had no compunction about trying Lowrie out there at the big league level despite the fact that his arm wasn't well regarded and he'd never played the position before professionally (and despite the fact that we had the opportunity to play the more experienced 3B Youkilis at third and Lowrie at first, if we'd really wanted to play it safe).

 

I don't think the franchise is in any doubt at all that, if they absolutely had to, they could ask Bogaerts to play third defensively.

[Dom]

I think they want to see Bogaerts play 3B a few games in the WBC. It could broaden their options.

For example, Iggy could hit .400 in ST, Drew could break his other ankle and Napoli's hip could force Middlebrooks to play 1B.

 

Stranger things have happened on the Red Sox.

 

Why would the Sox move Middlebrooks to first base when they have half a dozen backup first basemen? That would just create a need for someone who can play third.

[dupree]

Why would the Sox move Middlebrooks to first base when they have half a dozen backup first basemen? That would just create a need for someone who can play third.

 

The move for Middlebrooks to 1st would be to allow him to protect himself a bit more than the hot corner does against injury. Which makes sense but now Napoli is there and they wanted him on a 3 year deal before the hip was discovered and i expect Nap to be there next year and after that id say the Sox will be in the market for a righty power bat for 1st .Iggy is gonna be given a chance to hit in AAA until id say mid season if he cant hes trade bait and then Xander will get the nod at SS. In year 3 is when i think a lot of questins will be answered, if napoli comes back for his 3rd year and if they put someone in house at 1sto r if they go outside the organization and add a power hitter. After 1st is filled then the restt of the blocks will fall in place

[rjortiz]

The move for Middlebrooks to 1st would be to allow him to protect himself a bit more than the hot corner does against injury. Which makes sense but now Napoli is there and they wanted him on a 3 year deal before the hip was discovered and i expect Nap to be there next year and after that id say the Sox will be in the market for a righty power bat for 1st .Iggy is gonna be given a chance to hit in AAA until id say mid season if he cant hes trade bait and then Xander will get the nod at SS. In year 3 is when i think a lot of questins will be answered, if napoli comes back for his 3rd year and if they put someone in house at 1sto r if they go outside the organization and add a power hitter. After 1st is filled then the restt of the blocks will fall in place

 

It also would erase a lot of his value. He's not moving to 1B. They'll trade him before he goes there.

[jung]

Well if WMB is always going to be as iffy defensively as he has been so far at 3rd, I am not sure how much of a future he has there anyway. His throws are literally rolls of the dice even on fairly mundane plays. His glove hand has been a bit suspect as well but has not been nearly as unreliable as his throwing arm.

[Dom]

Middlebrooks had a reputation as an above average-good defender in the minor leagues. I wouldn't read too much in to a small sample size.

[jung]

Whatever WMB's reputation is, if he has continually used that same throwing motion from 3rd which is more like a 2nd baseman's motion, I doubt he has ever thrown any better than he is throwing now. I have no idea where he learned that but he needs to lose that sooner rather than later.

 

Throwing that way from as far away as 3rd, even if making an accurate throw, the ball is going to move all over the place. So far WMB has had outstanding defensive 1st baseman over there to bail him out. Napoli will be wearing his catchers shin guards over there taking WMB throws.

[kapsis21]

Whatever WMB's reputation is, if he has continually used that same throwing motion from 3rd which is more like a 2nd baseman's motion, I doubt he has ever thrown any better than he is throwing now. I have no idea where he learned that but he needs to lose that sooner rather than later.

 

Throwing that way from as far away as 3rd, even if making an accurate throw, the ball is going to move all over the place. So far WMB has had outstanding defensive 1st baseman over there to bail him out. Napoli will be wearing his catchers shin guards over there taking WMB throws.

 

yep i agree WMB was very erratic and AGon bailed him out more than a few times.

[Dom]

You don't move a 24 year old above average defensive third baseman to first base because he was a bit erratic with his arm slot as a rookie. He's fully capable of using a normal arm slot and he has a strong arm. Why make a problem where one doesn't exist? He's much more valuable staying at third base.

[BSN07]

You don't move a 24 year old above average defensive third baseman to first base because he was a bit erratic with his arm slot as a rookie. He's fully capable of using a normal arm slot and he has a strong arm. Why make a problem where one doesn't exist? He's much more valuable staying at third base.

 

Some are making it a problem. Some are just suggesting a move to 1B to make the overall IF better in the event one of Marrero or Iggy shows they can be a valuable SS it would make sense to try and get all 3 of Middlebrooks, Bogaerts and Marrero/Iggy in the IF.

[Dom]

Some are making it a problem. Some are just suggesting a move to 1B to make the overall IF better in the event one of Marrero or Iggy shows they can be a valuable SS it would make sense to try and get all 3 of Middlebrooks, Bogaerts and Marrero/Iggy in the IF.

 

The chances of Middlebrooks, Iglesias and Marrero all becoming successful major league players is remote. The chances of Middlebrooks and Bogaerts losing value if you move them from their current positions is almost guaranteed.

[seabeachfred]

Marrero drew 34 walks in 64 games last year. The year before that he walked more times than he struck out in college and he doesn't have a lick of patience? Someone obviously doesn't know what they're talking about.

 

That said, there's no reason to move Bogaerts. He's much more valuable right where he is and there's no guarantee second tier prospects like Marrero will ever be major leaguers.

 

Well said Dom!!!! I cannot understand why so many people are talking about switching players to different positions when we don't have to or should. Bogaerts is a hitter with power, is a decent shortstop and the guy has power. How often to you get a shortstop like that? Middlebrooks is a coming third baseman who ought to improve in all facets if his talent level develops as it should. We would have two 30+ home run hitters on the left side of our infield for a long time. Marrero, for those who aren't aware, didn't hit all that well at Arizona State and remember he was playing in the thin air and hitting with an aluminum bat and still be couldn't break 300 against mostly average college pitching. We also know that Iglesias simply cannot hit. Yes, he may turn it around but he has given no indication that he will. I would like to see how Travis Shaw does in AA Ball this season before we say we have no first base prospects and with our miserable finish last season we ought to have a high draft choice and could draft a slugging first baseman. For Middlebrooks and Bogey, I think we should leave well enough alone.

[Spitball]

You don't move a 24 year old above average defensive third baseman to first base because he was a bit erratic with his arm slot as a rookie. He's fully capable of using a normal arm slot and he has a strong arm. Why make a problem where one doesn't exist? He's much more valuable staying at third base.

 

Right. He is being underrated defensively here. After a very good defensive career in the minors, he started out slowly defensively in the major leagues. He made 9 errors in his first 56 games but none in his last 47 games.

[jung]

Look we all have eyes. All I am saying is that if WMB continues to throw from 3rd the way he threw last year, he will continue to have problems throwing across the diamond and he will no longer have Agons or Loney to bail him out like they did all last year. Frankly if it were that easy to stop throwing that way, it seems to me he would have already done it. Throwing that way from 3rd does not make sense for a high school ballplayer, let alone a MLer. So the fact that he was a rookie just does not wash.

 

On occasion last year, he would make a more traditional 3rd baseman's throw but that only made his usual throw more frustrating to watch. He would blow the easiest of plays from 3rd unless AGons or Loney either dug out or climbed the ladder for one of his errant throws. That does not mean he won't or can't change but it does make you wonder why he just does not throw from 3rd the way a 3rd baseman should most of the time as opposed to rarely.

[Spitball]

Look we all have eyes. All I am saying is that if WMB continues to throw from 3rd the way he threw last year, he will continue to have problems throwing across the diamond and he will no longer have Agons or Loney to bail him out like they did all last year. Frankly if it were that easy to stop throwing that way, it seems to me he would have already done it. Throwing that way from 3rd does not make sense for a high school ballplayer, let alone a MLer. So the fact that he was a rookie just does not wash.

 

On occasion last year, he would make a more traditional 3rd baseman's throw but that only made his usual throw more frustrating to watch. He would blow the easiest of plays from 3rd unless AGons or Loney either dug out or climbed the ladder for one of his errant throws. That does not mean he won't or can't change but it does make you wonder why he just does not throw from 3rd the way a 3rd baseman should most of the time as opposed to rarely.

 

Please elaborate. I have witnessed a lot of third basemen. I have coached and played third base.

 

Scott Rolen was easily the best I have witnessed, and he basically threw side arm. The same could be said for Buddy Bell who was a superior thid baseman. Mike Schmidt was great defensively and threw 3/4 and side arm much of the time. The key is not the arm slot but the footwork before the throw.