2014 Roster Projections

[User Name]

I agree, but I would not be against acquiring someone like Denorfia. He is a versatile role player with on base skills against left handers. I can't imagine why the Padres would want to move him, though. I have advocated adding him in the past and have liked him since he surfaced with Cincinnati.

 

Seth Smith is displacing someone.

[lospunchados]

But it's the best available stat. He doesn't pass the eye test either, or the scouting report. Let's not kid ourselves, he's not adequate to play any games in RF, specially at Fenway. Notice how also most of the talk has been about getting a guy who can hit lefties well. That's because Nava can't hit lefties, Carp can't hit lefties, and JBJ is likely to have his share of struggles against them.

 

Bradley had a higher obp against lefties than righties last year. We should be about as good against lefties this year as last year. It's hillarious that we need a back up outfielder to hit against lefties. Nava had a higher average than gomes against lefties last year ( it wasn't good bt it was higher) though gomes had a slightly higher obp.

 

We will be vastly improved against lefties simply if JBJ doesn't fall on his face against lefties as we lost Drew and salty who against lefties hit -

 

Salty .218 avg .309 obp

Drew .196 avg .246 obp

 

A.J had a higher had a higher obp and average against lefties and Xander has killed lefties his whole career.

 

Yes Nava is a below average right fielder but he improved a lot from two years ago and I do think he passes the sight test as a competent back up for short periods of time. As it has been stated he played 50 games in right last year and managed fine. If they didn't think he did a good enough of a job as a fill in they would have signed Rajai Davis. If he can't do the job they won't let him ( remember Mirabelli getting a police escort in because people couldn't catch Wakefield).

 

I am all for getting depth but as i stated part of our depth is the 40 man roster and signing someone else means dropping someone off there and probably getting rid of Carp on the ML roster.

[User Name]

But it's the best available stat. He doesn't pass the eye test either, or the scouting report. Let's not kid ourselves, he's not adequate to play any games in RF, specially at Fenway. Notice how also most of the talk has been about getting a guy who can hit lefties well. That's because Nava can't hit lefties, Carp can't hit lefties, and JBJ is likely to have his share of struggles against them.

 

Bradley had a higher obp against lefties than righties last year. We should be about as good against lefties this year as last year. It's hillarious that we need a back up outfielder to hit against lefties. Nava had a higher average than gomes against lefties last year ( it wasn't good bt it was higher) though gomes had a slightly higher obp.

 

We will be vastly improved against lefties simply if JBJ doesn't fall on his face against lefties as we lost Drew and salty who against lefties hit -

 

Salty .218 avg .309 obp

Drew .196 avg .246 obp

 

A.J had a higher had a higher obp and average against lefties and Xander has killed lefties his whole career.

 

Yes Nava is a below average right fielder but he improved a lot from two years ago and I do think he passes the sight test as a competent back up for short periods of time. As it has been stated he played 50 games in right last year and managed fine. If they didn't think he did a good enough of a job as a fill in they would have signed Rajai Davis. If he can't do the job they won't let him ( remember Mirabelli getting a police escort in because people couldn't catch Wakefield).

 

I am all for getting depth but as i stated part of our depth is the 40 man roster and signing someone else means dropping someone off there and probably getting rid of Carp on the ML roster.

 

Bradley had less than 120 Pa's at the ML level. That's indicative of nothing. Nava didn't improve at all in RF last year, since his -14.0 UZR/150 was unsightly. You are missing the point. It's not about getting someone who can "hit lefties". It's about insurance for JBJ and Victorino, who is often injured. The ability to hit lefties should be required for practical purposes. There is no "vast improvement" here, albeit no Drew/Salty should help. What i find hilarious is that you essentially created an argument out of thin air though.

 

 

On Davis, they already have a backup earning 5 mill, would they have signed another one, who's also defensively challenged? I get the Carp love, i really do, but he's essentially the same player as Nava with a little less OBP and more power.

[Bellhorn04]

The Sox major question is what to do in CF and SS. I suspect the FO wants to go with the kids, JBJ and X. Products of their drafts. Farrell has the hots for Drew. We'll see what happens. They still will probably add an outfielder with speed and defense. Berry might be the guy. He did well down the stretch.

 

You're just testing us here, right?

 

X was not drafted, he was signed as a free agent.

 

And Berry's defence last year? Oh yeah, he handled those 4 chances he had last year just beautifully.

[a700hitter]

You're just testing us here, right?

 

X was not drafted, he was signed as a free agent.

 

And Berry's defence last year? Oh yeah, he handled those 4 chances he had last year just beautifully.

X was a free agent?

[jacksonianmarch]

Yes, an INTL signee.

[Dojji]

Product of our farm system, but yes, not a draftee.

[a700hitter]

Product of our farm system, but yes, not a draftee.

Are international signess considered free agents that can be signed by any team?

[a700hitter]

Interesting fact. It is also interesting that the author thinks that 55 years is a small sample size.

 

If the Red Sox don't re-sign Stephen Drew, they'll likely go into the 2014 season with Jackie Bradley Jr. in center field and Xander Bogaerts at shortstop, and that will be a gamble, given their inexperience, WEEI.com's Alex Speier writes. To find a World Series-winning team that had rookies as their primary starters at center field and shortstop, one has to go all the way back to the 1959 Dodgers, with Don Demeter and Maury Wills. That doesn't prove much, of course. A few decades' worth of World Series-winning teams isn't a huge sample size, and as Speier points out, the Red Sox have recently blended in young up-the-middle players in Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury and Jed Lowrie while still having very successful teams. But there may be value in having stability at tough defensive positions. Here are more notes from the East divisions.

 

[jacksonianmarch]

Yes a700. INTL FAs are up for grabs. Anyone who resides outside the US and PR are INTL signees and available for all teams to bid on

[Dojji]

Are international signess considered free agents that can be signed by any team?

 

Until there is an international draft, yes. Even the ones that aren't considered MLB-ready.

[SoxSport]

The chances of a team repeating a Championship the next year are very slim--no matter what it does. Who winds up playing SS or CF is probably irrelevant from that standpoint. Other factors will likely be more determining. For example, pitching and injuries. Plus other teams which have magical seasons, putting it all together, like the Red Sox did down the stretch last year.

 

Speier is just splitting hairs with overanalysis. He has to do this stuff for a living.

[Bellhorn04]

Speier is just splitting hairs with overanalysis. He has to do this stuff for a living.

 

Unlike us, who gladly do it for nothing.

[reYoukilis]

The chances of a team repeating a Championship the next year are very slim--no matter what it does. Who winds up playing SS or CF is probably irrelevant from that standpoint. Other factors will likely be more determining. For example, pitching and injuries. Plus other teams which have magical seasons, putting it all together, like the Red Sox did down the stretch last year.

I agree with this. If just a few things go wrong next year we could go from a plethora of pitching to being in trouble. And being in trouble with pitching has as much chance of shaking the confidence of Xander and Bradley than anything else seeing that they would then HAVE to produce.

[rjortiz]

Pitching depth is OK. Dempster, Webster, Ranaudo, and Barnes is pretty quality depth. I'm most worried about the lack of depth in CF/RF.

[User Name]

As we all should be.

[Palodios]

Its a bad sign when tthe Sox really need a guy like Darnell McDonald or Ryan kalish

[VA Sox Fan]

Red Sox are SO doomed in 2014........

[mvp 78]

Red Sox are SO doomed in 2014........

 

0-162

[VA Sox Fan]

0-162

 

Doomed as doomed can be....

 

2013 is an ancient memory.....

[Bellhorn04]

Doomed as doomed can be....

 

2013 is an ancient memory.....

 

Oh well, it was good while it lasted.

[VA Sox Fan]

Oh well, it was good while it lasted.

 

Yeah. Oh well.... ;)

[User Name]

It could be worse. We could have A-Rod.

[seabeachfred]

But it's the best available stat. He doesn't pass the eye test either, or the scouting report. Let's not kid ourselves, he's not adequate to play any games in RF, specially at Fenway. Notice how also most of the talk has been about getting a guy who can hit lefties well. That's because Nava can't hit lefties, Carp can't hit lefties, and JBJ is likely to have his share of struggles against them.

 

Bradley had a higher obp against lefties than righties last year. We should be about as good against lefties this year as last year. It's hillarious that we need a back up outfielder to hit against lefties. Nava had a higher average than gomes against lefties last year ( it wasn't good bt it was higher) though gomes had a slightly higher obp.

 

We will be vastly improved against lefties simply if JBJ doesn't fall on his face against lefties as we lost Drew and salty who against lefties hit -

 

Salty .218 avg .309 obp

Drew .196 avg .246 obp

 

A.J had a higher had a higher obp and average against lefties and Xander has killed lefties his whole career.

 

Yes Nava is a below average right fielder but he improved a lot from two years ago and I do think he passes the sight test as a competent back up for short periods of time. As it has been stated he played 50 games in right last year and managed fine. If they didn't think he did a good enough of a job as a fill in they would have signed Rajai Davis. If he can't do the job they won't let him ( remember Mirabelli getting a police escort in because people couldn't catch Wakefield).

 

I am all for getting depth but as i stated part of our depth is the 40 man roster and signing someone else means dropping someone off there and probably getting rid of Carp on the ML roster.

 

Correction:----We haven't "lost" Drew yet even though we most definitely should in my opinion. Farrell has the kind of "hots" for him that Francona had for the fast deteriorating Jason Varitek who twice looked like he had played his last game for the Sox only to be brought back for three more years of pretty inept playing after a couple of months. With all the concern about not having too many players having problems with lefties it sounds even more significant that we have enough RH batting in our lineup this coming season. Drew and Salty were totally inept against southpaws and if we want to put less pressure on Bradley in 2014 as he tries to adjust to ML pitching, I think it is very important that we have enough right handed hitters to cover for him in case he gets off to a slow start----and that does NOT mean Drew.

[seabeachfred]

Oh well, it was good while it lasted.

 

Doom and Gloom already? I don't think so. Most of the guys here are trying to piece together the best combo(s) we can come up with so we can get to the Playoffs against next season. I see our team as a solid contender for the AL East, and though it will be a tough nut to crack, we're strong enough to get the job done and once there who knows how far we can go? The thing that concerns me is all this talk about having too many youngsters in the lineup. Well talent trumps experience every time in my book, and so we have WMB, JBjr and Bogey in the lineup....so what? There is plenty of experience to help the along. I would say Victorino, Pedroia, Ortiz, Napoli, Gomes, Ross, and most of the pitching staff can shepherd the kids along, and don't be surprised we get some real thunder from the first two guys, and Jackie won't be a slouch either.

[Spitball]

This is an interesting article about the new approach by the Oakland A's and their recent success. It is the most interesting read I have found since Money Ball. I hope you take the time to read it.

 

http://regressing.deadspin.com/a-decade-after-moneyball-have-the-as-found-a-new-mark-1489963694/@reubenfb

[User Name]

Are you seriously comparing Stephen Drew to an over-the-hill Jason Varitek Fred? LMAO.

[lospunchados]

Bradley had less than 120 Pa's at the ML level. That's indicative of nothing. Nava didn't improve at all in RF last year, since his -14.0 UZR/150 was unsightly. You are missing the point. It's not about getting someone who can "hit lefties". It's about insurance for JBJ and Victorino, who is often injured. The ability to hit lefties should be required for practical purposes. There is no "vast improvement" here, albeit no Drew/Salty should help. What i find hilarious is that you essentially created an argument out of thin air though.

 

 

On Davis, they already have a backup earning 5 mill, would they have signed another one, who's also defensively challenged? I get the Carp love, i really do, but he's essentially the same player as Nava with a little less OBP and more power.

 

FOr JBJ i was talking about his minor league stats (.383 obp vs. lefties). I didn't make up an argument, you said that Nava can't hit lefties,I was saying you are right, but he actually hit lefties better than a number of players on the team.

 

Nava is a below average right fielder but as I said i think they hop he will only play there sparingly. Manny only had one season for the redsox above -20 in leftfield ( and i know manny was a way better hitter than nava ) . If you believe he can't that's fine but who do you want to get rid of then, and who do you want to add?

[User Name]

Carp (who i like but is Nava light, and is below average defensively everywhere he plays), add a guy like Chris Denorfia/Justin Ruggiano and call it an off-season.

[seabeachfred]

Are you seriously comparing Stephen Drew to an over-the-hill Jason Varitek Fred? LMAO.

 

Only in a matter of speaking where the managers are concerned. Francona was fully in Jason's corner even though he was breaking down completely by June of every season from 2008 on, yet we resigned him on two occasions, one for two years and one for one season even though no other team even gave him a sniff. Farrell seems to have the hots for Drew as Tito did Tek, and Drew hasn't had a sniff from another team either. I suppose there the comparisons could end because Drew does have four or five years left while Jason was really finished by the end of 2008. Still, it doesn't shed my opinion one iota that we should go with a left sided infield of Bogaerts and Middlebrooks. We don't need Drew and he only impedes the progress of WMB who I'm still convinced has some real value to the Red Sox in the power and run producing department.