Can Mike Carp be the Sox full time 1B in 2014

[marklmw]

Choo also sucks as a CF and would need to move to a corner OF. Personally, I love Victorino in RF, so don't really want to move him.

UN?, you thinking Choo in LF, JBJ in CF?

 

If Choo sucks as a CF which is his position it makes no sense to go after him since we have plenty of guys to play left. It is overkill for the price he will demand.

[User Name]

What are you talking about? Choo is a natural RF, not CF.

[Dojji]

Choo has played 4 games in right for every game he's played in center. If you have Victorino, Choo, and RF and CF available as jobs, Victorino is your CF.

 

This is what I would think. Choo would also make a very solid leadoff hitter with his OBP.

 

While true, Pedroia would make a better leadoff hitter than Choo, whose power I would rather use lower in the order.

 

It actually comes down to what we'd get out of Bradley, Victorino and possibly Nava. If Nava is playing, and all of those players are hitting to their ability, then Nava and Victorino are probably going to be your default 1-2 in some order and then you use your better power hitters deeper in the order. If Nava is not playing, and Bradley is hitting up to his ability, then some combination of Victorino and Bradley are probably your 1-2. If someone's struggling but still getting the playing time then you might have to move someone like Bogaerts or Choo up higher in the order, but that's unideal.

Edited September 26, 2013 by Dojji

[mvp 78]

An OF of Choo/JBJ/Vic or Choo/Ellsbury/Vic would be the terror of all things flying.

 

I'm a fan of either option.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Choo has played 4 games in right for every game he's played in center. If you have Victorino, Choo, and RF and CF available as jobs, Victorino is your CF.

 

JBJ plays CF over both of them.

[SoxFanForsyth]

I would hate to waste Choo's arm in LF at Fenway, though. That guy has an absolute rocket.

[jacksonianmarch]

You have Bradley waiting in the wings. You have LF locked in with Carp and Gomes as well as RF with Victorino. Signing Choo past 30 and losing a 1st rounder doesn't sound like the sox MO for a position that isn't a need.

[SoxFanForsyth]

You have Bradley waiting in the wings. You have LF locked in with Carp and Gomes as well as RF with Victorino. Signing Choo past 30 and losing a 1st rounder doesn't sound like the sox MO for a position that isn't a need.

 

The Sox aren't going to go into 2014 with Carp/Gomes, Bradley, and Victorino as an OF.

 

They're going to get a lot more offense out of their OF than that. Bradley will be a very good player, but he's going to have some lumps they'll need to swallow first, and that OF won't absorb them.

[dupree]

I can see BC going after both Ells and Choo and finally picking the better option out of the two. I hope Ells returns i really dont see the need for Choo, as he will block Gomes/Nava/Carp in LF, Vic is gonna be in RF for the next two years. So basically its the matter of CF and i can see BC going after Ells but if Boras asking price is too high then JBJ will get his chance i honestly dont seeing JBJ being an upgrade over Ells at all but if he plays good defense id be ok with him. I think if Ells comes back and has a good postseason and the Sox go far or win it all i dont see BC breaking the team apart to to get new faces in here. We know Ells works here, we dont know what Choo will be like plus i dont see a need for a corner OF unless his last name is Stanton but that is a dream and wont happen.

[Dojji]

JBJ plays CF over both of them.

 

I'm still taking a wait-and-see approach vis-a-vis Bradley. I really suspect there's going to be further growing pains there. He's talented, don't get me wrong, but he still hasn't had a ton of reps in the majors, and I'm not all for handing him a starting job sight unseen without a danged good Plan B.

[Dojji]

You have Bradley waiting in the wings. You have LF locked in with Carp and Gomes as well as RF with Victorino. Signing Choo past 30 and losing a 1st rounder doesn't sound like the sox MO for a position that isn't a need.

 

Hmm, Gomes and Carp, or Choo. Choo, or Gomes and carp.

 

Hmm, doesn't sound like much of a decision, and I like both of Gomes and Carp. If we have to jettison Gomes to bring in Choo, then we jettison Gomes and bring in Choo.

 

i really dont see the need for Choo, as he will block Gomes/Nava/Carp in LF

 

As the forum's leading Nava fan, this is hillarious. If we replace Nava with a better player I won't care one jot about whether Nava is "blocked." Nava is a serviceable starting corner OF, turn him loose and he'll land on his feet somewhere in the majors after the year he's had. He's the sort of player Oakland snaps up after we turn him loose and makes us look silly for giving up on. But if we're replacing him with a guy as fundamentally sound and productive on both sides of the ball as Choo, I won't turn a hair.

Edited September 26, 2013 by Dojji

[SoxFanForsyth]

I'm still taking a wait-and-see approach vis-a-vis Bradley. I really suspect there's going to be further growing pains there. He's talented, don't get me wrong, but he still hasn't had a ton of reps in the majors, and I'm not all for handing him a starting job sight unseen without a danged good Plan B.

 

At some point you have to take the training wheels off, swallow the lumps, and be comfortable with a player based on his performance throughout the minors. Dustin Pedroia did the same thing as JBJ. Struggled badly initially, but the Sox stayed with him because he showed the ability to adjust and hit at a high level through the minor leagues.

 

When Pedroia was in AAA, he had an .810 OPS.

 

JBJ had an .842 OPS in AAA this year.

[Dojji]

No, SFF, at some point you do not have to take the training wheels off. Not in Boston when you can afford to have players in your 3 outfield positions that are capable of working someone else's position and a 4th outfielder good enough to start.

 

Maintain a high redundancy level at a given position any time you're working a rookie in. The Red Sox get that. It's why I expect them to go in hard to bring in a "utility" man to back up shortstop who could start at need.

[sk7326]

You just have to be strong about - wheeling out Trot Nixon and his .140 batting average in 1998 - sticking with Pedroia. And if you REALLY need a backup plan, then go to the trade market for it. We can sign some veteran chum for these positions - but it will almost certainly result in a downgrade, just one with some certainty. Certainly Bradley's .250/.320/.380 would be better than a veterans. The Sox will not just give a position to someone who has not earned it, but if you are giving the job to a kid, then you have to mean it and not have an itchy trigger finger about it.

[Dojji]

I wasn't around much in 98, but in 07 they were working Cora in around Pedroia until Pedroia found his feet. Pedroia still got his chances, but the two split time for most of April before Pedroia really started turning it on in May.

 

Fortunately Cora got hot for awhile and picked up the slack while Pedroia made his adjustments and got himself right, and Pedroia was ready to go by the time Cora glided back down to earth. That's redundancy working out the right way, it's how it needs to happen with Bradley.

 

The thing that concerns me with Bradley, is that the team seems to be using Bradley as a chip in the Ellsbury contract dispute, discussion, whatever word you want to use, rather than actually assessing Bradley as bradley. They're building a narrative about Bradley being able to replace Ellsbury right now, without actually proving that he can or has done, which makes me nervous that they might be overselling the kid. They've done it before.

Edited September 26, 2013 by Dojji

[SoxFanForsyth]

I wasn't around much in 98, but in 07 they were working Cora in around Pedroia until Pedroia found his feet. Pedroia still got his chances, but the two split time for most of April before Pedroia really started turning it on in May.

 

Fortunately Cora got hot for awhile and picked up the slack while Pedroia made his adjustments and got himself right, and Pedroia was ready to go by the time Cora glided back down to earth. That's redundancy working out the right way, it's how it needs to happen with Bradley.

 

Um. Pedroia played 20 of the Sox 23 games in April, 2007. The way they treated Pedroia in 2007 should be the exact same as Bradley in 2014. Make him prove that he can't do it.

 

Bradley is a lot like Pedroia in that, even when struggling offensively, they both provide well above average defense to contribute. If you give Bradley everyday playing time, he will figure it out.

[SoxSport]

I'd like to see Bradley get some experience in the post season. They will need him to back up Vic and Ellsbury who are not immune to injury. Those guys can go down at any time, and aren't really replaceable for speed and defense except for Bradley. I guess the rabbit Berry can be used, but he's primarily the pinch runner when they need a stolen base.

 

I see Dempster was used in the 9th last night. You figure he might be used in the setup or closer role in the playoffs if needed--especially replacing Tazawa.

[sk7326]

Um. Pedroia played 20 of the Sox 23 games in April, 2007. The way they treated Pedroia in 2007 should be the exact same as Bradley in 2014. Make him prove that he can't do it.

 

Bradley is a lot like Pedroia in that, even when struggling offensively, they both provide well above average defense to contribute. If you give Bradley everyday playing time, he will figure it out.

 

You need to have conviction to play Bradley and the ability to not listen to the WEEI callers or Globe writers if/when he struggles (this applies to Bogaerts too). The thing with Bradley is that his defense and his approach will allow him to contribute as long as he is hitting .240 or so (i.e. not a total offensive zero). He will draw enough walks to be able to at least not be an automatic out (the way Napoli was able to still cobble at bats together despite his wicked July swoon) while the other stuff is worked on.

[mvp 78]

Now that WEEI isn't the top ranked sports radio station and the Globe is owned by John Henry, these shouldn't be big concerns. Radio callers are nut jobs anyway.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Now that WEEI isn't the top ranked sports radio station and the Globe is owned by John Henry, these shouldn't be big concerns. Radio callers are nut jobs anyway.

 

I definitely listen to Dennis and Callahan, and then Mut and Merloni. Then, I flip it over to MLB Network Radio (Inside Pitch) with Stern and Bowden.

 

I still like EEI way more than the Hub, and I haven't gotten into the Herald radio, everytime I try to open the player it never plays.

[mvp 78]

If they replaced John Dennis (horrible human being) with Dale Arnold, I might listen more. Both of the midday shows are bad. Gresh and Zo are good with football, but nothing else. Both of the afternoon drive time shows leave a lot to be desired.

 

I like T&R a lot, but their riffs on Belichick, replays of previous days bits, and poor interviews leave a lot to be desired. Stick with the funny and axe Wallach.

[Palodios]

McCann seems like a better fit than Choo/Stanton right now, doesn't he? The Red Sox already have good options in the outfield, even moreso if they resign Ellsbury. Get McCann for one-two seasons at catcher, move him to DH/ 3rd catcher duties in the future. He's the kind of guy who helps your team in many ways, and you might not need to break the bank for him like you would with Choo.

[User Name]

It's indeed a lot easier to get a COF bat than a catcher.

[SoxFanForsyth]

It's indeed a lot easier to get a COF bat than a catcher.

 

Typically, yes. But over the next couple of years? The market is horrendous.

 

For years, the league would feast on free agents. Now, too many of them have come back and bitten the teams in the ass, so they're locking up their young players long term and not letting them hit the open market.

 

This is one of the major reasons that I think you go after Stanton, by the way, because you need that power bat when Ortiz is done and there's nothing out there to replace him.

 

2014 Free Agent Listing:

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/02/2014-mlb-free-agents.html

 

2015 Free Agent Listing:

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/02/2015-mlb-free-agents.html

 

For this upcoming offseason, hitters like Granderson, Ellsbury, Choo, Cruz, and Pence will run the market. But they're all 30-33 years old.

 

Next year, it's way more disgusting. Virtually nothing out there.

 

Either overspend in dollars on a 30+ year old player for 5-6 years, or you're going to have to give up some prospects for a player.

[sk7326]

The catcher market is virtually nil - this is why Salty is going to get a very handsome salary from somebody ... and why if the Red Sox were that team I would not be upset.

 

Corner outfielders - you can always find somebody decent, or (like Boston has) cobble together a FrankenLeftFielder platoon which does the job about 85% as well as a true stud at 25-50% of the cost.

[Palodios]

The catcher market is virtually nil - this is why Salty is going to get a very handsome salary from somebody ... and why if the Red Sox were that team I would not be upset.

 

Ruiz, Salty, McCann, Pierzynski. Catcher is actually one of the strongest areas in the FA market this offseason.

[Palodios]

Typically, yes. But over the next couple of years? The market is horrendous.

 

For years, the league would feast on free agents. Now, too many of them have come back and bitten the teams in the ass, so they're locking up their young players long term and not letting them hit the open market.

 

This is one of the major reasons that I think you go after Stanton, by the way, because you need that power bat when Ortiz is done and there's nothing out there to replace him.

 

2014 Free Agent Listing:

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/02/2014-mlb-free-agents.html

 

2015 Free Agent Listing:

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/02/2015-mlb-free-agents.html

 

For this upcoming offseason, hitters like Granderson, Ellsbury, Choo, Cruz, and Pence will run the market. But they're all 30-33 years old.

 

Next year, it's way more disgusting. Virtually nothing out there.

 

Either overspend in dollars on a 30+ year old player for 5-6 years, or you're going to have to give up some prospects for a player.

 

Here's a thought. Instead of Stanton, go after Granderson. He could be this year's Shane Victorino, and will be a helluva lot cheaper than Ellsbury. Plus, taking something from the Yankees is always fun.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Here's a thought. Instead of Stanton, go after Granderson. He could be this year's Shane Victorino, and will be a helluva lot cheaper than Ellsbury. Plus, taking something from the Yankees is always fun.

 

He'll be 33 coming off a broken wrist and playing in a park with a huge RF.

 

I'm not interested in Grandy.

[jung]

I definitely listen to Dennis and Callahan, and then Mut and Merloni. Then, I flip it over to MLB Network Radio (Inside Pitch) with Stern and Bowden.

 

I still like EEI way more than the Hub, and I haven't gotten into the Herald radio, everytime I try to open the player it never plays.

 

The only changes for the better at D&C have been the addition of Minnihan, at least a younger, more reasoned voice. In addition, they have finally been convinced to drop that OTHER topic for which they know nothing...politics. They are terrible. Each has an iron clad contract but I expect both will be gone when their contracts expire.

 

The M&M boys and that whack job Mike Adams is the best WEEI has to offer at present. Salk and Holly are also a pair of know-nothings. Holly is however better than Salk who is just grating. Spent too much time in the Pacific Northwest and I think he should have stayed there. Finally Felger and Maz at the other station each alone would be a disaster I think. However together they are not bad. They benefit from the lack of good choices in afternoon drive time.

 

D&C did sort of come out from behind the mask the other day in defending Holly's interview with Belechik. Holly got under Belechik's skin by asking just a dumb as dirt question and then following that up with a dumber than dirt question. D&C immediately jumped to Holly's defense rationalizing that irritating BB to that extent made "great radio". Thanks guys...as if I did not already know it. Great radio does not involve the exchange of worthwhile information or discussion of any merit. Great radio is defined as the ability to get under somebody's skin to such an extent that he reacts as you would expect any normal human being with important things to do to react when one of you idiots cannot even get it together enough to ask a coherent question.

[marklmw]

McCann seems like a better fit than Choo/Stanton right now, doesn't he? The Red Sox already have good options in the outfield, even moreso if they resign Ellsbury. Get McCann for one-two seasons at catcher, move him to DH/ 3rd catcher duties in the future. He's the kind of guy who helps your team in many ways, and you might not need to break the bank for him like you would with Choo.

 

McCann vs. Salty ... I think Salty will be re-signed. His defense seems to be improving ... throwing wise ... I have no facts to support this but in a recent game he threw out 3 runners. If he and his family enjoy living in the Boston Area will play a big role. Ortiz is an exceptional DH and perhaps the best ever but I would rather not have a full time DH and use the extra roster sport for a position player or arm. DH can be a great way to give some guys a day off and also bat right against left and visa versa.