2014 Roster Projections

[BSN07]

I like Nava a lot but he's cringe worthy in RF long term. Occasionally I can stomach, but not on a regular basis.

[Spitball]

Good grief! We are talking about a back-up position here. The Red Sox won 97 games last year with Nava starting nearly 1/3 of the games in right field.

[Palodios]

The Red Sox had one more outfielder last year they used Bradley to backup Vic and ells when they were hurt. Giving ALL those abs to Nava would have been a disaster.

[rjortiz]

Good grief! We are talking about a back-up position here. The Red Sox won 97 games last year with Nava starting nearly 1/3 of the games in right field.

 

I don't think Daniel Nava was adding a lot to that when he was in RF.

[reYoukilis]

Quintin Berry anybody? His numbers in Detroit weren't terrible the year before last. The stats that stood out to me is the 21 SB's in 94 games. Add to that a 330 OBP and its something to consider. He was a CF'r though don't know how good.

[rjortiz]

Quintin Berry anybody? His numbers in Detroit weren't terrible the year before last. The stats that stood out to me is the 21 SB's in 94 games. Add to that a 330 OBP and its something to consider. He was a CF'r though don't know how good.

 

Maybe as minor league depth. He doesn't hit enough to play in the major leagues. .590 OPS over three seasons at AAA, and the high strikeout numbers suggest that he'd be even more hopeless in the majors.

[Spitball]

The Red Sox had one more outfielder last year they used Bradley to backup Vic and ells when they were hurt. Giving ALL those abs to Nava would have been a disaster.

 

Pal, I guess I am missing something. Nava had more plate appearances than any outfielder not named Ellsbury. He started 51 games in right field.

 

RjOrtiz, it worked.

 

reYoukilis, I like Quintin Berry but think he is better stashed at Pawtucket.

[rjortiz]

I'd give Grady Sizemore a minor league deal. Although, it's likely that his knee injuries have taken a lot out of him.

[rjortiz]

 

RjOrtiz, it worked.

 

 

Not because of Nava in RF.

[User Name]

Good grief! We are talking about a back-up position here. The Red Sox won 97 games last year with Nava starting nearly 1/3 of the games in right field.

 

Because Nava was forced to play so many games out of position last year in a season that we had a proven commodity in CF and Victorino in RF, with JBJ replacing Ellsbury and Vic a year older, a capable replacement becomes all the more important.

[Spitball]

Not because of Nava in RF.

 

They went to the World Series because of the sum of the parts. Nava's OPS+ of 128 trailed only Napoli's 129 and Ortiz's 160 of Red Sox players with at least 500 plate appearances. His defense was not great, but Nava did not hurt the Red Sox when he played.

[Spitball]

Because Nava was forced to play so many games out of position last year in a season that we had a proven commodity in CF and Victorino in RF, with JBJ replacing Ellsbury and Vic a year older, a capable replacement becomes all the more important.

 

They won last year with Nava playing significant time because of injuries to Ellsbury and Victorino. He was a back-up and he performed well in that role.

 

Help me remember a recent back-up outfielder who had a better year than Nava did in 2113. Darnell McDonald, Bill Hall, Jeremy Hermida, Scott Podsedenik?

[reYoukilis]

I like Nava and think he needs to play as much as he can. I think his value at the plate overshadows his shortcomings in RF. But also he may improve in this area over last year.

[rjortiz]

They went to the World Series because of the sum of the parts. Nava's OPS+ of 128 trailed only Napoli's 129 and Ortiz's 160 of Red Sox players with at least 500 plate appearances. His defense was not great, but Nava did not hurt the Red Sox when he played.

 

His WAR of 1.8 trailed every other Red Sox regular by a wide margin. He gave a lot of those runs back in the field.

[seabeachfred]

They won last year with Nava playing significant time because of injuries to Ellsbury and Victorino. He was a back-up and he performed well in that role.

 

Help me remember a recent back-up outfielder who had a better year than Nava did in 2113. Darnell McDonald, Bill Hall, Jeremy Hermida, Scott Podsedenik?

 

Right you are Spitball. Nava seems to be a story line for an overachiever who was able to do the job whenever and wherever called on. He hit 303, 12 homers and 66 RBI's besides his solid OBA. True, this coming season he's going to have to perform at least as well since Vic is a year older and still nursing an ailing back along with the possibility of Bradley having trouble hitting ML pitching on a consistent basis. Personally I have a lot of confidence in Daniel, and Dojii was right on the mark about him last off season. One piece of advice though. Do all of us a favor and never mention Darnell, Hermida or Pod again---and add Cameron Gathright, Lillibridge, Repko and Thomas to that list.

[User Name]

They won last year with Nava playing significant time because of injuries to Ellsbury and Victorino. He was a back-up and he performed well in that role.

 

Help me remember a recent back-up outfielder who had a better year than Nava did in 2113. Darnell McDonald, Bill Hall, Jeremy Hermida, Scott Podsedenik?

 

You're missing the point. Nava is part of a platoon in LF. I'm not advocating for him not to play. I'm advocating for a backup who can play a decent CF as JBJ/injury insurance.

[RedSoxNC84]

Help me remember a recent back-up outfielder who had a better year than Nava did in 2113. Darnell McDonald, Bill Hall, Jeremy Hermida, Scott Podsedenik?

 

I'm not sure all of those guys are going to be around in 100 years...

[Dojji]

Because Nava was forced to play so many games out of position last year in a season that we had a proven commodity in CF and Victorino in RF, with JBJ replacing Ellsbury and Vic a year older, a capable replacement becomes all the more important.

 

Right.

 

To reword that just because it can be a bit confusing:

 

We had solid coverage with good main offerings at CF and RF last year and we still had to lean on a left fielder to start nearly 50 games in right. It exposed a weakness on the roster because we were forced to play a man in a position where he is defensively very shaky. The fact that we got away with it to a point does not change this. In fact, the fact that we now have a rookie in CF makes it all the more important that this team obtains, or finds a way to internally promote, a 3 position outfielder.

[SoxSport]

I think JBJ has the potential to be a better all around player than Ellsbury. Ells got 50SBs last year because Boras told him to, and he got the opportunity leading off with a manager who likes speed. If he had gotten 20SBs, he wouldn't have gotten $20 million. Bradley doesn't have to steal 50 bases--he has some pop. 20/20 would be nice in a year or two. He can also play defense. Glad to hear Ben likes JBJ. I do, too. I also like X at SS.

 

On Nava, I think he's a very good natural hitter. It showed in the minors. It's showing now in the majors. He has a great swing batted LHd, and he knows the strike zone. You don't teach that. In the field, he is average at best. A key depth piece in the lineup.

[Bellhorn04]

His WAR of 1.8 trailed every other Red Sox regular by a wide margin. He gave a lot of those runs back in the field.

 

Baseball-Reference graded him a 2.9 WAR with their formula. Split the difference and you get 2.35. For a salary of $500K, that's a great value.

[rjortiz]

Baseball-Reference graded him a 2.9 WAR with their formula. Split the difference and you get 2.35. For a salary of $500K, that's a great value.

 

Not arguing his cost per win. I'm just saying he's a horrible fielder, which negates some of his batting ability.

[Spitball]

Bradley's minor league slash has been .297/.404/.471. He may not replicate Ellsbury's stolen base rate, but he might have better on base skills. I realize there those who don't like it, but I am okay with the Red Sox outfield situation.

[User Name]

I'm a big Bradley fan, but that doesn't preclude me from seeing the reality of our OF situation. Bradley may bomb, Victorino may miss time. The Sox got away with playing two halves of a clear platoon in the OF at the same time, and that's something they should try to avoid in 2014.

[User Name]

Baseball-Reference graded him a 2.9 WAR with their formula. Split the difference and you get 2.35. For a salary of $500K, that's a great value.

 

If BB-ref's formula had a better defensive component his WAR would be much lower, and that is the point. Absolutely no one here is advocating for Nava not to play. Nava is half of a platoon, and should play to his strengths, which are LF at Fenway and facing righties. The point here is that getting a guy who can play all over the OF in case of injury or ineffectiveness becomes more important with the departure of Ellsbury because of Victorino's age/injury history and JBJ being a rookie. We're not trying to reinvent the wheel here.

[iortiz]

I'm a big Bradley fan, but that doesn't preclude me from seeing the reality of our OF situation. Bradley may bomb, Victorino may miss time. The Sox got away with playing two halves of a clear platoon in the OF at the same time, and that's something they should try to avoid in 2014.

 

Bradley is going to be better than Ells, I'm telling you.

[User Name]

I believe so too. The problem is that he won't be better next year. There will be growing pains, and he will need to adjust. That's why you create depth.

[iortiz]

I believe so too. The problem is that he won't be better next year. There will be growing pains, and he will need to adjust. That's why you create depth.

 

agreed, but I fully expect a 330+ OBP at least next year, we'll see.

[iortiz]

BTW, Doji said that JBJ's ceiling is De Jesus, didn't he? LOL!… he is the floor man! Edited December 29, 2013 by iortiz

[Spitball]

I believe so too. The problem is that he won't be better next year. There will be growing pains, and he will need to adjust. That's why you create depth.

 

So, who is available and what is the cost to improve on Nava? I really don't see anyone out there, but maybe I am missing something.

[iortiz]

So, who is available and what is the cost to improve on Nava? I really don't see anyone out there, but maybe I am missing something.

 

You have Carp, Gomes, Nava, Vic, JBJ; probably we need an extra arm… but IMO We'll be fine.