Mike Napoli performance thread.

[RedSoxNC84]

It was a sh@# load! He is becoming a rally killer. If he doesn't start hitting I would start to platoon him with Carp.

 

Carp really needs more ABs.. He's proven he can hit, he's hit well in his limited playing time.. He just needs more starts to prove what he can really do, plus he couldn't hurt this lineup any more than Napoli could.

[seabeachfred]

The Sox have a lot of Yankees down the stretch, with the exception of Kuroda, most of those games should be fairly easy for the sox.. Cruising into the playoffs.

 

Sorry RSNC84, but that quote is both silly and dangerous. The Yankees have never been easy for the Red Sox and in fact, no team is easy for the Red Sox this year. The have to bear down every game they play and while they have played very well up to now they are not a juggernaut and I guarantee you the Yanks will come out with guns blazing this weekend. We have to bear down all the way---and especially against the New Yorkers.

[SoxSport]

Just when it looks like Nap needs a rest, he hits a dinger to tie the game tonite. He probably still needs a rest. The dog days of August are tough on 30+yo guys. Pedey could use a day off, too. Have these guys fresh for September. Can't help but recall '78, when Zimmer burned the team out by not resting his starters.

[a700hitter]

Just when it looks like Nap needs a rest, he hits a dinger to tie the game tonite. He probably still needs a rest. The dog days of August are tough on 30+yo guys. Pedey could use a day off, too. Have these guys fresh for September. Can't help but recall '78, when Zimmer burned the team out by not resting his starters.

Yep, Zim burned out the entire team. In the playoff game he had to resort to playing pot-bellied Bob Bailey.

[Bellhorn04]

Yep, Zim burned out the entire team. In the playoff game he had to resort to playing pot-bellied Bob Bailey.

 

Mind you it was a complete disgrace that Bailey was on the team throughout the season. He was as washed-up as washed-up gets. We did not have a good bench that year. Everything but.

[rjortiz]

Although he's slumping, Napoli has been a pretty decent signing for the Red Sox. He's been a good defender at 1B, while giving us average production for the position. He's been worth the $13 million they will end up paying him.

 

Seeing that there's really no alternatives on the free agency market, maybe with the exception of a gamble like Corey Hart, I wouldn't hate to bring him back at 2/24.

[a700hitter]

Although he's slumping, Napoli has been a pretty decent signing for the Red Sox. He's been a good defender at 1B, while giving us average production for the position. He's been worth the $13 million they will end up paying him.

 

Seeing that there's really no alternatives on the free agency market, maybe with the exception of a gamble like Corey Hart, I wouldn't hate to bring him back at 2/24.

He's not worth $13 million.

[rjortiz]

He's not worth $13 million.

 

He's a 2-2.5 win player. That's worth roughly $13 million on the open market.

 

Although, I should take back what I said about giving him $24 million. I doubt his defense is that good, and whether he'll be able to replicate it next year. I'd go 2/18.

[Navafan29]

Did anyone else notice how during his entire cold stretch, Napoli seemed to have slow bat speed? He was always right on the ball, but swung too slow. I even noticed him trying a lighter bat for one plate appearance.

[SoxSport]

Nap is showing he's a streak hitter, strikes out a lot, low average. He isn't a major force in the middle of the lineup, where their biggest weakness is. After Ortiz, you have a lot of guys with low OBP except for Nava, who isn't a power hitter. Bogaerts and Middlebrooks could be saviors here--especially against LHP. But it has taken them too long to bring them up. These guys have both been hot in AAA the past month or so. They could have helped earlier when the team was floundering against LHP. Soriano or Reynolds could have helped, but Cashman beat them to the punch. If they don't make the playoffs, these missed opportunities will be remembered.

[mvp 78]

Complain about OBP, but say that WMB could be a savior. Uh, what?

[SCM33]

Please just stop giving him at bats. He looks like hes cooked.

[Orange Juiced]

Napoli's ops on July 25 was .825. Since then here's his line:

 

21 g, 72 ab, 1 hr, 6 rbi, .139/.271/.236/.507

 

Ouch.

 

Last 7 games:

 

7 g, 23 ab, 1 hr, 2 rbi, .087/.160/.261/.421

 

Double ouch.

[SoxFanForsyth]

It almost makes you want to see how WMB can do over at 1B and stick Bogaerts at 3B, but then you're playing two players out of position.

 

I still think Napoli figures it out and has a monster September. If he can figure it out, and WMB can continue to hit, and we can have Bogaerts at SS instead of Drew vs LHP, this team could do well against lefties.

 

But that's a lot of 'ifs'

[SoxFanForsyth]

Just to be clear, I vehemently disagree with Middlebrooks moving to 1B as a long term solution. This would be more of an option until Napoli gets out of his funk, or until next year when we come down with Abreu.

[a700hitter]

It almost makes you want to see how WMB can do over at 1B and stick Bogaerts at 3B, but then you're playing two players out of position.

 

I still think Napoli figures it out and has a monster September. If he can figure it out, and WMB can continue to hit, and we can have Bogaerts at SS instead of Drew vs LHP, this team could do well against lefties.

 

But that's a lot of 'ifs'

I agree. It is always best to limit the number of players playing out of position.

[Thunder]

It seems like Nap's numbers are similar to Pedey's. Slumps happen. It's the dog days for heaven's sake. I like the way he's played this year overall.

[a700hitter]

It seems like Nap's numbers are similar to Pedey's. Slumps happen. It's the dog days for heaven's sake. I like the way he's played this year overall.

Not a bad player, but his power has been a big disappointment. I expected 25-30 bombs this year from him. He's a good fit in the bottom of the lineup, but not protecting Ortiz. Not worth $13 million.

[Orange Juiced]

Just to be clear, I vehemently disagree with Middlebrooks moving to 1B as a long term solution. This would be more of an option until Napoli gets out of his funk, or until next year when we come down with Abreu.

 

"When" we come down with Abreu? I hope you're right, but the last Cuban I wanted (the pitcher Miguel Gonzalez), the Sox lost out. So it's not at all clear to me that they're willing to pony up the bucks to get him.

 

Though next year there will be a glaring need and money to spend.

 

Here's a good article on the Abreu market: http://www.mlbdailydish.com/2013/8/17/4630970/mlb-jose-dariel-abreu-free-agent-market-yasiel-puig-yoenis-cespedes

[Orange Juiced]

Not a bad player, but his power has been a big disappointment. I expected 25-30 bombs this year from him. He's a good fit in the bottom of the lineup, but not protecting Ortiz. Not worth $13 million.

 

Agreed. It's a good thing that he's only signed for $5 million!!

[Behindenemylines]

If he was closer to 30 HRs you could live with the Ks. Now he is dealing with this foot problem, and the hip is still a concern long term. The one year contract is going to work out great for the Sox. Nap won't return in 2014 unless he has a September like he had in April and May. If he does come back it will be another one year contract the Sox will offer.

[SoxFanForsyth]

If he was closer to 30 HRs you could live with the Ks. Now he is dealing with this foot problem, and the hip is still a concern long term. The one year contract is going to work out great for the Sox. Nap won't return in 2014 unless he has a September like he had in April and May. If he does come back it will be another one year contract the Sox will offer.

 

Nap won't be back. Not with Corey Hart and Jose Abreu on the open market.

[a700hitter]

Agreed. It's a good thing that he's only signed for $5 million!!

The $5 million was guaranteed. There were incentives for playing time in his contract to protect the Sox against him missing too much time due to injury that will bring up his salary to $13 million, and he isn't worth $13 million.

[Orange Juiced]

The $5 million was guaranteed. There were incentives for playing time in his contract to protect the Sox against him missing too much time due to injury that will bring up his salary to $13 million, and he isn't worth $13 million.

 

Good catch. Here are some details:

 

http://nesn.com/2013/01/report-mike-napolis-contract-details-include-bonuses-based-on-plate-appearances-active-roster-days/

 

Speier reports that Napoli’s contract includes the following incentives that could increase the total value of the contract to $13 million in 2013.

 

Active roster bonuses: $500,000 each for 30, 60, 90, 120 days on the active roster

Plate appearance bonuses: $500,000 each for 300, 325, 350, 375 plate appearances: $1 million each for 400, 475, 550, 625 plate appearances

Catch-all bonus: If Napoli is active for a minimum of 165 days in 2013, he will get the full $8 million in incentives for a total of $13 million.

 

EDIT: And I'm really glad that the 3/39 deal got nixed.

Edited August 22, 2013 by Orange Juiced

[a700hitter]

Nap won't be back. Not with Corey Hart and Jose Abreu on the open market.

He has missed a lot of time with knee problems in the last couple of years. I don't know if he can hold up for an entire season.

[Behindenemylines]

The $5 million was guaranteed. There were incentives for playing time in his contract to protect the Sox against him missing too much time due to injury that will bring up his salary to $13 million, and he isn't worth $13 million.

 

No Nap has not been worth $13 million this year. There is nothing worse then an unproductive AB that ends in a K. He will have the Sox single season strikeout record if he continues at the pace he is on. I have no confidence in him to come through in a big spot.

[Orange Juiced]

No Nap has not been worth $13 million this year. There is nothing worse then an unproductive AB that ends in a K. He will have the Sox single season strikeout record if he continues at the pace he is on. I have no confidence in him to come through in a big spot.

 

How about an unproductive AB that ends in a double play? Aside from his 159 K, he also has 13 GIDP.

 

Dude makes a LOT of outs.

[Bellhorn04]

No Nap has not been worth $13 million this year. There is nothing worse then an unproductive AB that ends in a K. He will have the Sox single season strikeout record if he continues at the pace he is on. I have no confidence in him to come through in a big spot.

 

I don't mind seeing Napoli in a big spot if there are no outs or one out. But with two out, you would definitely rather see someone else up there.

[a700hitter]

I don't mind seeing Napoli in a big spot if there are no outs or one out. But with two out, you would definitely rather see someone else up there.

If there is a man on first with less than 2 outs, he is no my choice. Too many k's and a groundball is surely a DP. The relay can be walked over to first base.

[Bellhorn04]

If there is a man on first with less than 2 outs, he is no my choice. Too many k's and a groundball is surely a DP. The relay can be walked over to first base.

 

Napoli with runner on first, less than 2 out: 111 PA, .843 OPS, 33 RBI, 13 GIDP

Pedroia with runner on first, less than 2 out: 141 PA, .865 OPS, 25 RBI, 18 GIDP

 

Napoli hasn't been horrible in that situation. I would guess the GIDP rate is about average for a RH hitter with power. The strikeouts would certainly reduce the number of productive outs he has.