2014 Roster Projections

[marklmw]

But playing him in LF? Seriously?

 

WMB has very good speed ... he can play 1B, 3B, 2B, LF and maybe even RF ... he is an exceptional athlete period. If he is requested by another team in a trade package there will be a reason for it.

[marklmw]

I love how some of you guys want MLB starting talent backing up all positions. It doesn't work like that. If they were good enough to be starters, they'd be elsewhere. We aren't going to be able to sign a talented guy and sell him that he will be coming off the bench. Who exactly do you guys want? Michael Young?

You are absolutely correct. Everyone wants a replacement for JBJ who is a young perfectly healthy player.

[User Name]

WMB has very good speed ... he can play 1B, 3B, 2B, LF and maybe even RF ... he is an exceptional athlete period. If he is requested by another team in a trade package there will be a reason for it.

 

Being a "good athlete period" doesn't mean he can play the OF if he's never played there professionally. Mike Trout is a "good athlete period" so why isn't he playing SS? He'd be more valuable there.

[User Name]

Aren't Lh 3b uncommon ? Finding quality replacements really isn't as easy as you make it seem. Cite 2011 all you want but the 2010 Red Sox didn't make the playoffs because they had injuries to position players and couldn't replace them. The Red Sox have one more starter than they did last year and an extra year of seasoning for several young arms. Plus Workman looks legit. They have depth at sp but none at if or of.

 

No they aren't. Yes it is. I will continue to do so, because as it has been repeated ad nauseum one more decent starter and the Sox make the playoffs in 2011, and this is absolutely indisputable, and 2010 was a Murphy's Law year. What's happening here is that you're overvaluing the difficulty of obtaining decent bench players, which is a hell of a lot harder than building SP depth. I don't understand how this fact can even be argued.

[marklmw]

Being a "good athlete period" doesn't mean he can play the OF if he's never played there professionally. Mike Trout is a "good athlete period" so why isn't he playing SS? He'd be more valuable there.

There are some positions were being a good athlete is not enough ... they take years of training and a certain type of agility. SS, C, CF, P are those types of positions ... I think you know this.

[Palodios]

No they aren't.

 

From what I understand, a third baseman generally has to throw from the right in order to throw out a runner at first. If they are throwing from the left, they have to recoil first, losing a valuable second or two. Eric Chavez is a rare example in that he throws righty but hits lefty. Are there others LHH 3B out there? I just don't think its exactly an easy platoon to fill.

 

As to the other points, time to agree to disagree.

[User Name]

There are some positions were being a good athlete is not enough ... they take years of training and a certain type of agility. SS, C, CF, P are those types of positions ... I think you know this.

 

That's the point. Some guys have a lot of trouble adjusting to, say, the OF after being IF for their whole careers. Even more so with a LF as tricky as Fenway, getting good reads in the OF can be tricky and not everyone can make the conversion Soriano and Braun did, and even they were god-awful for a couple years before fully acclimating.

[User Name]

From what I understand, a third baseman generally has to throw from the right in order to throw out a runner at first. If they are throwing from the left, they have to recoil first, losing a valuable second or two. Eric Chavez is a rare example in that he throws righty but hits lefty. Are there others LHH 3B out there? I just don't think its exactly an easy platoon to fill.

 

As to the other points, time to agree to disagree.

 

Eric Chavez, Justin Turner, Wilson Betemit, Chad Tracy are all guys who can play multiple positions, can play a decent 3B and bat LH with recent success against righties.

[DirtDog]

You can't play 2B, SS or 3B throwing lefty. But there are plenty of lefty or switch hitting infielders. Chase Headley is one of them. While his plate discipline may be better than Middlebrooks, I don't know if he is necessarily better. Had a huge down year last year too.

[marklmw]

That's the point. Some guys have a lot of trouble adjusting to, say, the OF after being IF for their whole careers. Even more so with a LF as tricky as Fenway, getting good reads in the OF can be tricky and not everyone can make the conversion Soriano and Braun did, and even they were god-awful for a couple years before fully acclimating.

IMO ... It is not a stretch to play WMB in LF. Give this guy a couple of months of fly balls and he will adjust. That being said he is still our starting 3B heading into the 2014 season. Gomes & Nava are still on our Roster so LF is occupied for the time being. Things can change greatly however should the Sox go after a Kemp or Stanton. I was not a big Stanton guy but the time might be right to go after him and extend him at the same time.

[marklmw]

I am fascinated how people react when your team loses players after winning a championship. Ell's has left and so we want to find an Ell's like replacement, Drew might be leaving as well so now we want to find a Drew type replacement.

IMO Bogaert's is going to have people saying Stephen Drew who by mid season. WMB is going to have a come back type of year. If I am wrong about one or the other we will still get by. Remember we played a good portion of the season last year with Holt and Snyder. As someone said on this site we cannot sign starters to be back up players just in case our starters do not work out.

[User Name]

IMO ... It is not a stretch to play WMB in LF. Give this guy a couple of months of fly balls and he will adjust. That being said he is still our starting 3B heading into the 2014 season. Gomes & Nava are still on our Roster so LF is occupied for the time being. Things can change greatly however should the Sox go after a Kemp or Stanton. I was not a big Stanton guy but the time might be right to go after him and extend him at the same time.

 

Well that's your opinion. It's not that easy playing a big-league level OF, even if it's LF.

[Palodios]

Neither Snyder or Holt had significant at bats last year. 50 a piece.

[marklmw]

Neither Snyder or Holt had significant at bats last year. 50 a piece.

 

Do you favor signing Drew?

[Palodios]

Do you favor signing Drew?

 

If he can be had for around 3/30 to 3/36, he makes a good amount of sense. Worse case scenario he's tradebait midseason.

[sk7326]

Aren't Lh 3b uncommon ? Finding quality replacements really isn't as easy as you make it seem. Cite 2011 all you want but the 2010 Red Sox didn't make the playoffs because they had injuries to position players and couldn't replace them. The Red Sox have one more starter than they did last year and an extra year of seasoning for several young arms. Plus Workman looks legit. They have depth at sp but none at if or of.

 

The Red Sox had multiple injuries to multiple position players - and their best ones. You lose two of the league's best offensive players - no team is equipped to make up for that. 2010 they were beaten up in a way that any team with that sort of problem would have been stuck with - no team can make up the quality the Sox lost. That it was one of Francona's best managing jobs to get 89 wins out of that group is clear.

 

The depth issue is overrated (depth is important, just as a house on fire concern now). They don't even really have to solve it in the offseason. Matt Stairs, Eric Hinske, Bobby Kielty types emerge during the season and can be traded for fairly painlessly, especially for a team with a LOT of prospect inventory like Boston. Another credible CF makes some sense ... perhaps someone to help in the corners if Drew is not re-signed.

 

Also, kicking the tires on true blue options at LF and C (neither is a need, both could be upgraded even with the moves made to date) and in the rotation is just being responsible as a GM. The Red Sox project to have 6-7 guys in most prospect top 100s (Cecchini, Owens, Webster, Barnes, Ball, Betts, Swihart) and more who are respectable (Ranaudo, Brentz, Vasquez, Merrero). Given the position of this franchise in the league - you only really expect a small number of these guys to actually be solutions for the future Boston Red Sox. This is obviously not a call to trade prospects for veterans - but the Red Sox have the wealth to be opportunistic.

[dupree]

But playing him in LF? Seriously?

 

Johnny Gomes, Jason Bay, and Manny played LF for us and i see WMB developing into a player like Jason Bay. But WMB is a better pure athlete than all the previous men that manned the monster. I dont think it is a far stretch to think he would rather well out there.

 

All i was trying to say User is i wouldnt package a deal around WMB to get an outfield bat. If the FO resigns Drew and creates a jog jam and WMB developes as the odd man out in the infield I would move him to the OF instead of trading him away. But i dont see Drew coming back so WMB will be at 3rd so no worries.

[marklmw]

Johnny Gomes, Jason Bay, and Manny played LF for us and i see WMB developing into a player like Jason Bay. But WMB is a better pure athlete than all the previous men that manned the monster. I dont think it is a far stretch to think he would rather well out there.

 

All i was trying to say User is i wouldnt package a deal around WMB to get an outfield bat. If the FO resigns Drew and creates a jog jam and WMB developes as the odd man out in the infield I would move him to the OF instead of trading him away. But i dont see Drew coming back so WMB will be at 3rd so no worries.

The Sox do not need Drew at what Drew will cost. He would be a nice luxury however.

[dupree]

I wonder what Micheal Young would cost?

[sk7326]

I wonder what Micheal Young would cost?

 

$2.99 including postage

[marklmw]

The Red Sox had multiple injuries to multiple position players - and their best ones. You lose two of the league's best offensive players - no team is equipped to make up for that. 2010 they were beaten up in a way that any team with that sort of problem would have been stuck with - no team can make up the quality the Sox lost. That it was one of Francona's best managing jobs to get 89 wins out of that group is clear.

 

The depth issue is overrated (depth is important, just as a house on fire concern now). They don't even really have to solve it in the offseason. Matt Stairs, Eric Hinske, Bobby Kielty types emerge during the season and can be traded for fairly painlessly, especially for a team with a LOT of prospect inventory like Boston. Another credible CF makes some sense ... perhaps someone to help in the corners if Drew is not re-signed.

 

Also, kicking the tires on true blue options at LF and C (neither is a need, both could be upgraded even with the moves made to date) and in the rotation is just being responsible as a GM. The Red Sox project to have 6-7 guys in most prospect top 100s (Cecchini, Owens, Webster, Barnes, Ball, Betts, Swihart) and more who are respectable (Ranaudo, Brentz, Vasquez, Merrero). Given the position of this franchise in the league - you only really expect a small number of these guys to actually be solutions for the future Boston Red Sox. This is obviously not a call to trade prospects for veterans - but the Red Sox have the wealth to be opportunistic.

 

It would be pretty awesome to add Stanton to our line-up.

RF: Stanton / Victorino

CF: Victorino / JBJ

LF: Nava / Gomes

Trade: Carp, Cecchini, Dempster, Swihart & Webster

[User Name]

Johnny Gomes, Jason Bay, and Manny played LF for us and i see WMB developing into a player like Jason Bay. But WMB is a better pure athlete than all the previous men that manned the monster. I dont think it is a far stretch to think he would rather well out there.

 

All i was trying to say User is i wouldnt package a deal around WMB to get an outfield bat. If the FO resigns Drew and creates a jog jam and WMB developes as the odd man out in the infield I would move him to the OF instead of trading him away. But i dont see Drew coming back so WMB will be at 3rd so no worries.

 

I get that. I'm just saying that trying to turn him into an OF (even if it's LF) is a terrible idea. If they signed Drew they could still get him plenty of ABs rotating him between 3B/1B and XB between SS/3B.

[dupree]

I get that. I'm just saying that trying to turn him into an OF (even if it's LF) is a terrible idea. If they signed Drew they could still get him plenty of ABs rotating him between 3B/1B and XB between SS/3B.

I agree with you as well User. I dont think it would be too far of a stretch for him too as far as athletic ability but i like him better at 3rd than any other position. I just hope the FO dont sign Drew and trade WMB away.

[SoxFanForsyth]

I get that. I'm just saying that trying to turn him into an OF (even if it's LF) is a terrible idea. If they signed Drew they could still get him plenty of ABs rotating him between 3B/1B and XB between SS/3B.

 

I agree. Having high quality positional redundancy is one of the major ways the Sox won the WS last year. They didn't get smoked by injuries because there wasn't a huge step down in talent. Since Middlebrooks is making league min, they can afford to keep him and Bogaerts and Drew.

[SoxFanForsyth]

As a side note, I'm seeing reports that Rajai Davis will sign soon. Reports are that it's between the Orioles and Red Sox.

 

Really hoping it's the Sox. If they can get Rajai and Drew, I call it an offseason.

[User Name]

I agree. Having high quality positional redundancy is one of the major ways the Sox won the WS last year. They didn't get smoked by injuries because there wasn't a huge step down in talent. Since Middlebrooks is making league min, they can afford to keep him and Bogaerts and Drew.

 

And also, the pitching. Gotta amass pitching depth. I like what they have in the upper Minors, but think they should sign at least one reclamation project to stash in the minors, see if they catch lightning in a bottle.

[SoxFanForsyth]

And also, the pitching. Gotta amass pitching depth. I like what they have in the upper Minors, but think they should sign at least one reclamation project to stash in the minors, see if they catch lightning in a bottle.

 

Where, though? The AAA rotation is already set. Ranaudo, Barnes, Webster, Workman, Hinojosa (that Cuban kid they signed back in October during the WS). Plus RDLR, too. And Owens is probably only 1/2 of a season away from Pawtucket.

 

Not sure where you would stash a reclamation project without hampering your prospect development.

[User Name]

Where, though? The AAA rotation is already set. Ranaudo, Barnes, Webster, Workman, Hinojosa (that Cuban kid they signed back in October during the WS). Plus RDLR, too. And Owens is probably only 1/2 of a season away from Pawtucket.

 

Not sure where you would stash a reclamation project without hampering your prospect development.

 

You sign a guy coming back from injury and let him work back into game shape. By the time he's ready to pitch, the logjam will have probably worked itself out.

[SoxFanForsyth]

You sign a guy coming back from injury and let him work back into game shape. By the time he's ready to pitch, the logjam will have probably worked itself out.

 

I understand what you mean by reclamation project, just not sure where you stick him. Portland?

[User Name]

I understand what you mean by reclamation project, just not sure where you stick him. Portland?

 

Yeah probably.