Nava@1B

[Dojji]

Didn't get a chance to watch the game. How'd he look?

 

Heard Castig complimenting his D, and from the highlights he had a decent stretch on Middlebrooks' great barehand play. Overall, he wasn't noticeably bad, and I think that's all we were asking of him. But it looked from the little I saw, that it went actually a little beyond that and he wasn't visibly out of place defensively at 1B at all.

 

But I'm such a Nava homer that I want someone else's opinion.

 

Like to hope Nava can eventually make Carp obsolete so we can keep Iglesias, Drew and Ciriaco all on the roster. I don't want Iggy sent down. If Nava is still hitting a little and playing first and corner OF, we ought to have the versatility to keep all three MIF

[User Name]

Don't we have enough threads about the team's backup OF/1B? Seriously Dojji, cut it out.

[Spitball]

I am happy to see Nava can provide depth at two positions, but I am happier to see that the Sox don't expect Gomes to be anything more than a right-handed platoon.

[SoxSport]

Nava is a good hitter LHd, and probably fits in a platoon with Gomes. Vs Carp, the question is whether he can play 1B well enough. He's getting his chance. Gomes should get a shot there, too. Personally, I don't like outfielders moving to the infield. They aren't used to fast reaction on grounders. Shifting from 3B to 1B is probably the easiest transition.

[Bellhorn04]

(Stays the f*** out of this one.)

[RedSoxNC84]

(Stays the f*** out of this one.)

 

[Spitball]

(Stays the f*** out of this one.)

 

I guess I don't get this.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

Dojji, how much does Nava weigh?

[Jasonbay44]

What is the obsession with Nava? I mean I like the dude and think he's a solid backup, but damn lol.

[Whiteandnerdy42]

He is a solid backup, and he plays very well and reliably, even if he isn't the superstar of the sox.

[Palodios]

He's going to have a top 20 OBP against RHP. He has no power or speed, but the OBP is good enough for him to stick until we see some very good options become available. With an OF of Bradley, Vic, Ells, the 4th and 5th outfielders really don't need to play multiple OF positions, which is convenient for him.

 

Essentially, this argument has been done to death.

[BSN07]

It won't matter in a couple weeks when Ortiz is back. Nava's playing time at 1B will go way down. He has impressed enough with the bat to probably be part of a platoon in LF with Gomes once they send Bradley back down(I love the OF the way it is but he's not hitting and someone has to be bumped when Ortiz comes back).

[mvp 78]

It won't matter in a couple weeks when Ortiz is back. Nava's playing time at 1B will go way down. He has impressed enough with the bat to probably be part of a platoon in LF with Gomes once they send Bradley back down(I love the OF the way it is but he's not hitting and someone has to be bumped when Ortiz comes back).

 

Bradley goes down. Carp DFA'd 20 days later.

[BSN07]

Only is the Gomes/Nava platoon isn't working. JBJ will only be on the team is there is a starting role available. It doesn't make sense to have him as part of a platoon/bench player.

[Dojji]

Don't we have enough threads about the team's backup OF/1B? Seriously Dojji, cut it out.

 

We had no active threads about it actually, and I was asking a very specific question. 1B is a new position for Nava and he's a member of this team, therefore a germane topic of conversation on a Red Sox fan forum.

 

Right now we have two players who essentially do the same thing -- Carp and Nava. And of the two Nava is the better hitter. If Nava plays 1B well enough that we don't need Carp, that helps our roster flexibility a great deal. Probably to the point that we could stand to carry Iglesias, Drew and Ciriaco rather than having to trade Ciriaco or demote Iggy, so there is something at stake here.

[redsoxbeatz]

Don't we have enough threads about the team's backup OF/1B? Seriously Dojji, cut it out.

 

whats one more thread in a world of threads

[Dojji]

Only is the Gomes/Nava platoon isn't working. JBJ will only be on the team is there is a starting role available. It doesn't make sense to have him as part of a platoon/bench player.

 

Which is why I'd be glad to hear people's opinions of Nava at 1B. Napoli hasn't been off to a great start defensively, and I thought Nava looked solid with the little I saw of him there. If he's a positive surprise defensively, that could be important for us down the road. He's a much better hitter than Carp to be sure.

 

I think there's a chance Bradley gets sent back to the minors in a few weeks. He's struggling offensively, which really doesn't surprise me that much considering he's going from a partial season in AA straight to the majors. I'm not going to call him a spring training mirage but... I can see a scenario in which Bradley goes down, Gomes can't hack it defensively, and who does that leave?

 

I'm all for anything that keeps Nava's bat fresh right now. It could wind up being important.

[BSN07]

Which is why I'd be glad to hear people's opinions of Nava at 1B. Napoli hasn't been off to a great start defensively, and I thought Nava looked solid with the little I saw of him there. If he's a positive surprise defensively, that could be important for us down the road. He's a much better hitter than Carp to be sure.

 

I think there's a chance Bradley gets sent back to the minors in a few weeks. He's struggling offensively, which really doesn't surprise me that much considering he's going from a partial season in AA straight to the majors. I'm not going to call him a spring training mirage but... I can see a scenario in which Bradley goes down, Gomes can't hack it defensively, and who does that leave?

 

I'm all for anything that keeps Nava's bat fresh right now. It could wind up being important.

 

Nava is doing good, but he's not going to force Napoli off 1B. Nava is going to go into a platoon in LF most likely with limited 1B action unless someone goes down.

[Dojji]

Did I say at any point that Nava was going to force Napoli off 1B?

 

Being able to back up there and be defensively solid is going to allow Napoli to back up there against righthanded pitching, which combined with whatever work he gets in the outfield, will help keep him fresh. I really think he has a chance to catapult over Gomes to replace Bradley if Bradley falters. As the lefthanded side of a platoon, the advantage in playing time would be his anyway.

[BSN07]

Did I say at any point that Nava was going to force Napoli off 1B?

 

Being able to back up there and be defensively solid is going to allow Napoli to back up there against righthanded pitching, which combined with whatever work he gets in the outfield, will help keep him fresh. I really think he has a chance to catapult over Gomes to replace Bradley if Bradley falters. As the lefthanded side of a platoon, the advantage in playing time would be his anyway.

 

Well you stated how Napoli was off to a slow start defensively and how Nava was doing surprisingly good. What were you trying to imply? Nava is not going to see any time at 1B when Ortiz comes back. Given everyone being healthy he is going to be going back to the OF full time and may occasionally see 1B in some emergency spot. I do agree he probably ends up platooning with Gomes in LF during AL games. I think at this point it's a pretty good guess JBJ will be heading back to the minors for more seasoning.

[a700hitter]

I wonder if there is any possibility that Napoli catches some interleague games to let Ortiz play first. If not, Napoli will probably sit against righties if they think Ortiz heel can withstand playing first base.

[BSN07]

I wonder if there is any possibility that Napoli catches some interleague games to let Ortiz play first. If not, Napoli will probably sit against righties if they think Ortiz heel can withstand playing first base.

 

idk I think in the inter leagues games it will go off SP matchups, RHP Ortiz plays 1B and Napoli sits, vs LHP Ortiz sits and Napolia plays. It's 20 games spread out through the whole season. It could work out that these just end up being rest days from some players.

[a700hitter]

idk I think in the inter leagues games it will go off SP matchups, RHP Ortiz plays 1B and Napoli sits, vs LHP Ortiz sits and Napolia plays. It's 20 games spread out through the whole season. It could work out that these just end up being rest days from some players.

I agree. That would be the best approach, but they may choose a cautious road with Ortiz so the heel doesn't flare up. I don't like our lineup with Ortiz and Napoli sitting on the same say so Napoli will have to play every interleague game if Ortiz can't take the field. I don't see Nava at 1B in interleague games.

[BSN07]

When is the first inter league series in an NL park?

[VA Sox Fan]

When is the first inter league series in an NL park?

 

5/29 & 5/30 2 game series in Philly.

 

Then not until 8/19-8/21 in SF and 8/23-8/25 in LA.

 

Finally 9/24 & 9/25 2 game series in Colorado.

[BSN07]

5/29 & 5/30 2 game series in Philly.

 

Then not until 8/19-8/21 in SF and 8/23-8/25 in LA.

 

Finally 9/24 & 9/25 2 game series in Colorado.

 

OK that's not bad. Looks like they could be getting some rest late in the season which is good if they are setting up for a possible PO run.

[Dojji]

Nava is not going to see any time at 1B when Ortiz comes back.

 

... if we still have both Carp and Bradley on the roster when that happens.

 

Nava's a better overall hitter than Carp. If he looks fine at 1B, Carp is officially redundant, he gets waived or demoted, and Nava takes over platooning with either Gomes or Napoli.

 

Taking the minority role in a platoonish situation with Napoli along with his outfield duties is probably the best case scenario for Nava. Since Napoli has that hip issue the team is going to want to rest him regularly, maybe give him 120 games on the year. If we time Napoli's rest days around facing RHP's and Nava takes most those and plays 40 games in the OF that's half time play, which seems to be what he's able to handle before wearing down.

 

I strongly suspect Carp isn't long for the roster, through little fault of his own. Hopefully he accepts assignment. That kind of depth at a vulnerable position is valuable. Not as valuable as having all of Ortiz, Drew and Iglesias on the roster though.

[User Name]

We had no active threads about it actually, and I was asking a very specific question. 1B is a new position for Nava and he's a member of this team, therefore a germane topic of conversation on a Red Sox fan forum.

 

Right now we have two players who essentially do the same thing -- Carp and Nava. And of the two Nava is the better hitter. If Nava plays 1B well enough that we don't need Carp, that helps our roster flexibility a great deal. Probably to the point that we could stand to carry Iglesias, Drew and Ciriaco rather than having to trade Ciriaco or demote Iggy, so there is something at stake here.

 

Yes because no life is worth living if it isn't spent thinking about a bench player with good on-base abilities. My bad.

[Dojji]

If you don't like this thread, you know where the "back" button is.

 

If you're going to wait for someone like me with an axe to grind, to start threads for you, then you don't get to gripe about what the threads we start are about. Feel free to offer your own original ideas and concepts for discussion once in awhile. Lord knows there's plenty of viable topics to discuss. Who comes into the rotation with Lackey down, the situation in middle infield, Will Middlebrooks' monster night last night, among many others.

 

 

While you're doing that, the issue I'm talking about is germane to the team and the forum, so if you're quite done trolling, I think I'd like to try and keep the thread on topic, mmk?

[User Name]

So anyone who considers your unhealthy infatuation with Nava more than a bit strange is trolling? Lol no.