2014 Roster Projections

[sk7326]

That's why you DON'T sign Drew. His best years are past; WMB's are in the future and most likely the immediate future. Drew is a standout defensive player but he cannot hit left handed pitching and his strikeout totals have gone through the roof the past two seasons. Middlebrooks has 30 home run power and those players don't grow on trees. Besides, Will has grown up in the Red So organization and has shown some real flashes of talent. We ought to see this through. Drew is a mercenary, his refusal to take the QO is proof positive of that. Of course, that was his right and privilege to do so, but now that the well has dried up for his talents he may want back in. To me we need WMB and Bogey on the left side of our infield for the next ten years. Don't feel sorry for Drew. Sooner or later Boras will sweet talk some team into dumping a wad of money on him, maybe Boras' favorite team, the Yankees.

 

Drew is 30 and a solid above average starting shortstop. That Drew wanted to see what the market was shouldn't be held against him (if I recall correctly - fans can switch team allegiances, so what's good for the goose ...). He's a pro - a pro who has been hurt a lot, but a pro.

[sk7326]

I was just reading the Mike Napoli Performance Thread. For someone who we needed back in 2014 at all costs we were not too happy with him throughout the season.

 

It's like Mark Bellhorn 2004 ... guys who strike out a lot can make fans angry. We're conditioned to think it's the worst thing a hitter can do. And walks are not treated with the reverence they deserve compared to singles by fans generally.

[marklmw]

It's like Mark Bellhorn 2004 ... guys who strike out a lot can make fans angry. We're conditioned to think it's the worst thing a hitter can do. And walks are not treated with the reverence they deserve compared to singles by fans generally.

The thread began on August 11 ... fairly deep into the season. It makes interesting reading.

[seabeachfred]

You could quit posting about your pre-Red Sox days as well. It makes me ill and I can't relate to it. You already promised before that you understood how we life long Sox fans feel and would stop bringing it up. That would be most appreciated.

 

This is what I don't understand VA. It is one thing to get upset when I bring up those days when I rooted against the Sox. All well and good and point taken. It bothers you. But for the life of me I cannot understand how bringing my childhood memories into the act could bother you at all. I did have a childhood and an exciting one where I saw some great baseball and some great baseball players. Ted and I bring that up now and then and that should NOT bother you and certainly not make you ill. You don't have to relate it but understand that some of us are older than you and we bring a whole warehouse of memories into the picture, and those memories are stirring and worth remembering and even sharing. I would suspect that if you picked up a good book about baseball in the Postwar Period into the 50's and early 60's you might find them very entertaining.

 

Now something that you might find interesting. Do you know if the Red Sox has won just THREE more games during the immediate PW (WWII) period they could have had a mini dynasty and no talk about any jinx and curse.......1--7th Game of the 1946 WS..2--Sudden Death one game playoff with Cleveland for the 1948 AL Pennant.....3.....One win in a two game series vs the Yankees at the end of the '49 season. Those wins give the Red Sox at least one WS Title and maybe two or three.

 

Last team to hit 300 as a team? The 1950 Red Sox (302). The only reserve ever to win an AL Batting Title? Bill Goodman, Red Sox 1950 (354)

 

Now doesn't that interest you just a tad?

[sk7326]

The thread began on August 11 ... fairly deep into the season. It makes interesting reading.

 

The slumps look bad when tons of strikeouts come with it.

[marklmw]

The slumps look bad when tons of strikeouts come with it.

August 11 we want to kick him to the curb ... October 30 we cannot live without him. Remarkable really.

[sk7326]

August 11 we want to kick him to the curb ... October 30 we cannot live without him. Remarkable really.

 

I know. I think Brad Stevens with the Celtics said something to that effect ... you are never as good or as bad as you seem at any given time (or something like that)

[marklmw]

I know. I think Brad Stevens with the Celtics said something to that effect ... you are never as good or as bad as you seem at any given time (or something like that)

 

I have this feeling ... call it an educated hunch ... Bogaerts will win the AL Rookie of Year in 2014 ... and he will be hitting before or after Ortiz by mid season.

[SeanJohn93]

Thank you young sir.....And that last sentence of yours speaks volumes about the wisdom you have at your youthful age. Wish I had that when I was around 20, or sometimes even now when I go off the handle when I'm attacked. So true, though....we are all Red Sox fans and love our team.

 

Who are you referring to?

[sk7326]

I have this feeling ... call it an educated hunch ... Bogaerts will win the AL Rookie of Year in 2014 ... and he will be hitting before or after Ortiz by mid season.

 

It is possible. My view of him will be defensively - is he adequate? I am not expecting great (which is fine, the Yankees have won titles with "adequate" defense). Offensively, how quickly will he make adjustments. If he can give a .270/.340/.400 sort of season with double digit homeruns - that would be a good start. But yes, you expect developmental leaps with guys like him who have conquered levels above his age level consistently. It's the "freshman playing with the varsity" thing.

[SeanJohn93]

By the way, there will be sledding available at Fenway. http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/red-sox/post/_/id/33759/sox-will-contruct-sledding-ramp-in-of

[marklmw]

It is possible. My view of him will be defensively - is he adequate? I am not expecting great (which is fine, the Yankees have won titles with "adequate" defense). Offensively, how quickly will he make adjustments. If he can give a .270/.340/.400 sort of season with double digit homeruns - that would be a good start. But yes, you expect developmental leaps with guys like him who have conquered levels above his age level consistently. It's the "freshman playing with the varsity" thing.

No ... no ... no ... I am thinking .305/.352/.450 with 22 HR's

[Spitball]

With the qualifying offer handicapping Drew's ability to sign elsewhere, he might come as a bargain. In my opinion, the Sox are better with Drew at short and Bogaerts at third. Middlebrooks is too streaky and does not get on base. I am not sure if he will improve his approach at the plate.

[seabeachfred]

Who are you referring to?

 

I was referring to Red So Fan For Life but you can take a bow if you want to Sean because your posts have been pretty damn good with some terrific insights that gave me pause to think of some alternatives to those ideas I've had about getting the team up to speed for next season.

[DirtDog]

We hardly have a solid sample on Bogaerts. While most would agree his ceiling is higher than WMB, let's temper expectations of him. Remember how we all felt awesome about Middlebrooks going into 2013.

 

The point is... young players = growing pains. There is a good chance one of WMB/Bogaerts/Jackie Bradley will fall flat on their face.

[Palodios]

It is possible. My view of him will be defensively - is he adequate? I am not expecting great (which is fine, the Yankees have won titles with "adequate" defense). Offensively, how quickly will he make adjustments. If he can give a .270/.340/.400 sort of season with double digit homeruns - that would be a good start. But yes, you expect developmental leaps with guys like him who have conquered levels above his age level consistently. It's the "freshman playing with the varsity" thing.

 

This would be more concerning to me if he didn't have such a good playoff run. Good pitching always beats good hitting, and yet he had a huge postseason -- a .900 OPS, 9 runs, 9 hits and 6 walks. He didn't seem to have much trouble with top talent major league pitching.

[SeanJohn93]

Red Sox are apparently talking to Japanese reliever Shinsuke Watanabe, a submarine right hander. His wind up is very unique. There is nothing quite like it. Watch how he starts his delivery with the awkward leg kick. Here is a youtube clip of him pitching.

[SeanJohn93]

They have just signed him to a minor league deal

[iortiz]

I wouldn't be surprised if an ump called it balk when he makes that move with his feet just before the throwing LOL! Edited December 12, 2013 by iortiz

[marklmw]

With the qualifying offer handicapping Drew's ability to sign elsewhere, he might come as a bargain. In my opinion, the Sox are better with Drew at short and Bogaerts at third. Middlebrooks is too streaky and does not get on base. I am not sure if he will improve his approach at the plate.

 

In basically one full season based on games played Middlebrooks has 32 HR's. This is including a very sub-par 2013 for the youngster. Drew is slightly above average in the field and from what I have seen Bogaerts has greater range. How many plays at shortstop are game changers ... the difference between a win and a loss. Not very many. Now how often does a HR make the difference in a game ... more often I think. Middlebrooks is twice as likely to hit a HR than Drew. He costs 1/20th of what Drew will cost and Drew like his big bro is fragile. People have a short term memory of last season regarding Drew and Napoli. Most all players have ups and downs throughout a season ... WMB and Bogaerts will as well but the potential is there.

[Palodios]

Middlbrooks in 167 career games -- .254 .294 .462 .756 with 32 HR, 168 strikeouts.

Trumbo in 159 games last year -- .250 .299 .469 .768 with 34 HR, 184 strikeouts.

 

Very similar numbers from these two guys.

[marklmw]

This would be more concerning to me if he didn't have such a good playoff run. Good pitching always beats good hitting, and yet he had a huge postseason -- a .900 OPS, 9 runs, 9 hits and 6 walks. He didn't seem to have much trouble with top talent major league pitching.

 

Good point. Hitters pad their stats in games that are already decided. In the playoffs you are not facing the #4 and #5 SP's but you are throughout the regular season. Many of the 4's and 5's on lesser teams would not even be on the roster for the better teams. If you have heard Xander in an interview you will see that he is relaxed and he seems to play relaxed as well.

[sk7326]

This would be more concerning to me if he didn't have such a good playoff run. Good pitching always beats good hitting, and yet he had a huge postseason -- a .900 OPS, 9 runs, 9 hits and 6 walks. He didn't seem to have much trouble with top talent major league pitching.

 

Small sample sizes, not a lot of big league tape on him ... if it comes as easily over the marathon as it did in the tournament - it's because he is really that good. I think the slash line I noted would be a very successful rookie season, and I think there's a good chance he exceeds it. And playing shortstop will be an uphill battle for him - it's the only question mark on his scouting dossier.

[EXman369]

Worried about Xander at Shortstop for his longterm health. It seems like larger Shortstops have trouble staying on the field. (Tulo,Hanley,Nomar, A-rod) and the list goes on and on. SS just makes the body break down, especially for larger players.

[marklmw]

Middlbrooks in 167 career games -- .254 .294 .462 .756 with 32 HR, 168 strikeouts.

Trumbo in 159 games last year -- .250 .299 .469 .768 with 34 HR, 184 strikeouts.

 

Very similar numbers from these two guys.

Absolutely amazing. We have a player with a very high ceiling, at a very affordable price and fans are talking about trading him away. You would have to narrow the field down to players with 35+ HR potential and how many are there?

[User Name]

That theory makes very little sense. Guys like Jeter, Ripken, Escobar and Hardy are all bigger guys who've played SS for significant periods of time without significant position-related issues. Xander isn't even that big, since he's tall, but not heavy. The only reason there have been doubts about his SS play is range.

[SoxSport]

Worried about Xander at Shortstop for his longterm health. It seems like larger Shortstops have trouble staying on the field. (Tulo,Hanley,Nomar, A-rod) and the list goes on and on. SS just makes the body break down, especially for larger players.

 

Lots of lanky SSs in history with long careers. Think back further--before the steroid era.

Drew, by the way, is also a lanky SS.

[Bellhorn04]

Middlbrooks in 167 career games -- .254 .294 .462 .756 with 32 HR, 168 strikeouts.

Trumbo in 159 games last year -- .250 .299 .469 .768 with 34 HR, 184 strikeouts.

 

Very similar numbers from these two guys.

 

The scary number with Middlebrooks is his K to BB ratio. It's about 5 to 1. That is horrendous. Trumbo's is also terrible but it did improve somewhat in 2013.

[SoxSport]

Red Sox are apparently talking to Japanese reliever Shinsuke Watanabe, a submarine right hander. His wind up is very unique. There is nothing quite like it. Watch how he starts his delivery with the awkward leg kick. Here is a youtube clip of him pitching.

 

Interesting. The left leg doesn't move towards 1B, so maybe he's OK. It moves directly behind him.

[marklmw]

The scary number with Middlebrooks is his K to BB ratio. It's about 5 to 1. That is horrendous. Trumbo's is also terrible but it did improve somewhat in 2013.

No doubt ... WMB makes Napoli look like a contact hitter. He needs to strap on the elbow guard and get on the plate like Victorino does ... he is a sucker for the outside breaking ball off the plate ... every catcher in the league knows this now.