2015 Red Sox In-Season Thread

[a700hitter]

Check out this tweet from Brian MacPherson during last night's game:

 

Cherington did not sound like the plan is to move Ramirez or Sandoval to another position in the second half. His words: "We're more focused on how we continue to help guys in the spots they're in show us what they can do, figure out what their ceilings are."

 

I'm shaking my head trying to comprehend this. He's talking about $183 million of talent here. We're helping them, seeing what they can do and figuring out their ceilings?

let me spell it out for everyone. Cherington is a moron.

 

Edit: before everyone gets mad at me, a moron is smarter than an imbecile or idiot. I was leaning toward imbecile, but I decided not to be unkind.

Edited August 7, 2015 by a700hitter

[Northern Star]

Check out this tweet from Brian MacPherson during last night's game:

 

Cherington did not sound like the plan is to move Ramirez or Sandoval to another position in the second half. His words: "We're more focused on how we continue to help guys in the spots they're in show us what they can do, figure out what their ceilings are."

 

I'm shaking my head trying to comprehend this. He's talking about $183 million of talent here. We're helping them, seeing what they can do and figuring out their ceilings?

 

what a tool.

[Kimmi]

Check out this tweet from Brian MacPherson during last night's game:

 

Cherington did not sound like the plan is to move Ramirez or Sandoval to another position in the second half. His words: "We're more focused on how we continue to help guys in the spots they're in show us what they can do, figure out what their ceilings are."

 

I'm shaking my head trying to comprehend this. He's talking about $183 million of talent here. We're helping them, seeing what they can do and figuring out their ceilings?

 

To be fair, Panda's defense has never been as bad as it was this season. He has always been an average to slightly above average defender. We should see better defense from him next season. I think the Sox need to require a conditioning/dieting program for him during the offseason as well as in season.

 

As far as Hanley goes, perhaps it's more of a lesser of two evils type of thing. As I've posted before, I really do not want Hanley at 1B. He may be more of a natural infielder, but he is not mentally in the game enough to play that position well, IMO. I think he would be more of a liability at 1B than in LF. You would also hope that with a year's experience under his belt that he would get better. Either way, the FO should insist that he work on that defense during the offseason.

 

None of the scenarios look that great as far as Hanley's defense goes. You just have to hope for improvement. I was hoping for a JBJ, Betts, and Castillo outfield, but it's looking more and more like JBJ just cannot hit big league pitching.

[a700hitter]

To be fair, Panda's defense has never been as bad as it was this season. He has always been an average to slightly above average defender. We should see better defense from him next season. I think the Sox need to require a conditioning/dieting program for him during the offseason as well as in season.

 

As far as Hanley goes, perhaps it's more of a lesser of two evils type of thing. As I've posted before, I really do not want Hanley at 1B. He may be more of a natural infielder, but he is not mentally in the game enough to play that position well, IMO. I think he would be more of a liability at 1B than in LF. You would also hope that with a year's experience under his belt that he would get better. Either way, the FO should insist that he work on that defense during the offseason.

 

None of the scenarios look that great as far as Hanley's defense goes. You just have to hope for improvement. I was hoping for a JBJ, Betts, and Castillo outfield, but it's looking more and more like JBJ just cannot hit big league pitching.

Paul O'Neil on the Yankee telecast last night noted how Hanley just doesn't look natural at all in the outfield. He doesn't move like an outfielder. He is clearly out of position. I don't think you can fix that.

[Kimmi]

Paul O'Neil on the Yankee telecast last night noted how Hanley just doesn't look natural at all in the outfield. He doesn't move like an outfielder. He is clearly out of position. I don't think you can fix that.

 

That might be the case. I certainly don't expect him to become a good outfielder. With work, however, he should be able to improve enough where he is not an overall liability. Jeter played horrible defense at SS for years but was good enough offensively to make him a HOFer. And no, I'm not saying that Hanlley is a HOFer.

[a700hitter]

That might be the case. I certainly don't expect him to become a good outfielder. With work, however, he should be able to improve enough where he is not an overall liability. Jeter played horrible defense at SS for years but was good enough offensively to make him a HOFer. And no, I'm not saying that Hanlley is a HOFer.

Jeter was an infielder who just aged and lost agility and ability. He had instincts. Also, an error or misplay in the infield is a single and an error in the outfield is usually extra bases. The difference here is that Hanley is just not an outfielder.

[Kimmi]

Jeter was an infielder who just aged and lost agility and ability. He had instincts. Also, an error or misplay in the infield is a single and an error in the outfield is usually extra bases. The difference here is that Hanley is just not an outfielder.

 

That's not the point. The point is that a team can overcome bad defense at a position and a player can be an overall great player despite poor defense.

[Bellhorn04]

Hanley has a minus 1.2 fWAR right now.

[Elktonnick]

let me spell it out for everyone. Cherington is a moron.

 

Edit: before everyone gets mad at me, a moron is smarter than an imbecile or idiot. I was leaning toward imbecile, but I decided not to be unkind.

 

Actually Cherrington fits Albert Einstein's definition of Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

[Kimmi]

Hanley has a minus 1.2 fWAR right now.

 

I realize that and it's unbelievable. Look at his WAR every other year. He has always been a very good player despite poor defense.

[Bellhorn04]

I realize that and it's unbelievable. Look at his WAR every other year. He has always been a very good player despite poor defense.

 

Hanley and Sandoval both having negative WAR's has to make you wonder if Farrell isn't a significant part of the problem. You have to wonder if these guys have their heads in the game.

[Elktonnick]

Hanley and Sandoval both having negative WAR's has to make you wonder if Farrell isn't a significant part of the problem. You have to wonder if these guys have their heads in the game.

 

Of course Farrell is a significant part of the problem. Look at his Toronto record as well as the one here. If it weren't for 2013 he would be fired.

[RedSoxNC84]

Of course Farrell is a significant part of the problem. Look at his Toronto record as well as the one here. If it weren't for 2013 he would be fired.

 

His record here so far is 216-217. Under .500 with a championship. That record is likely only going to get worse.

[Northern Star]

We should see better defense from him next season.

 

Based on what? A year older with no motivation to lose weight.

 

And the Sox can't require anything that's not in his contract. They should have thought about this at the time they signed him.

[Northern Star]

Hanley's getting big bucks for someone who's 82nd in OPS.

[Kimmi]

Hanley and Sandoval both having negative WAR's has to make you wonder if Farrell isn't a significant part of the problem. You have to wonder if these guys have their heads in the game.

 

Yes it does make you question Farrell and the rest of the coaching staff. With the extent of the underperformances this season, you have to wonder.

[Kimmi]

Based on what? A year older with no motivation to lose weight.

 

And the Sox can't require anything that's not in his contract. They should have thought about this at the time they signed him.

 

Based on the fact that he has never been even close to this bad defensively at 3B before. Hopefully, having played so poorly this season, he'll have the motivation to lose weight and come to camp in better condition next season.

[a700hitter]

Hanley and Sandoval both having negative WAR's has to make you wonder if Farrell isn't a significant part of the problem. You have to wonder if these guys have their heads in the game.

 

If there is even the slightest possibility that Farrell is part of the problem, he should be gone already. The manager always goes first, because it is easier than firing the entire roster.

[Behindenemylines]

Based on the fact that he has never been even close to this bad defensively at 3B before. Hopefully, having played so poorly this season, he'll have the motivation to lose weight and come to camp in better condition next season.

 

The Sox are probably hoping they can find a taker for him this winter.

[Northern Star]

Saw Hanley's misfield in last night's game. For the love of CHRIST get him out of LF. If that means off the team and eating a huge part of the contract, do it. Ben needs to be fired for signing him for LF and not 3B, on top of the other 2 or 3 reasons for dismissal. I'll buy some pressure to sign Panda, but Hanley was the wrong piece to bring in and shoehorn into LF. Especially with getting Castillo. Now we know (big surprise) that he can't learn a new position from scratch at this point of his career.

[cp176]

Saw Hanley's misfield in last night's game. For the love of CHRIST get him out of LF. If that means off the team and eating a huge part of the contract, do it. Ben needs to be fired for signing him for LF and not 3B, on top of the other 2 or 3 reasons for dismissal. I'll buy some pressure to sign Panda, but Hanley was the wrong piece to bring in and shoehorn into LF. Especially with getting Castillo. Now we know (big surprise) that he can't learn a new position from scratch at this point of his career.

 

logical thinking - Ramirez is definitely the square peg in the circular hole here.

[SoxHop]

Yes it does make you question Farrell and the rest of the coaching staff. With the extent of the underperformances this season, you have to wonder.

 

If these million dollar experienced players need a coach to baby sit them so much that they can't perform up to an average ability player......... then it isn't totally the coaches fault....

[Northern Star]

Bres-blow, amirite?

[SoxHop]

It's on the players....... then on the people that couldn't recognize that these people need super duper coddling and signed them.

[Behindenemylines]

Ramirez can not be your LF in 2016. Dombrowski needs to move him or Sandival or both. After pitching these are the next to problems to solve.

[Bellhorn04]

Ramirez can not be your LF in 2016. Dombrowski needs to move him or Sandival or both. After pitching these are the next to problems to solve.

 

I think they should move one of Hanley or Panda, whoever can be moved for the least cost.

[User Name]

Move Panda, put Hanley (who can at least hit) back at 3B.

[Behindenemylines]

logical thinking - Ramirez is definitely the square peg in the circular hole here.

 

He is a DH with a team that already has a DH for 2016. After finding a top of the rotation starter DD has to figure what the Sox are doing with Ramirez.

[sk7326]

Ramirez can not be your LF in 2016. Dombrowski needs to move him or Sandival or both. After pitching these are the next to problems to solve.

 

Hanley at 3B ... which he should be able to handle, and maybe even be good at. Move Sandoval whose ceiling is just not that high. Make those two fixes, and you'll find that the pitching gap will be easier to close too.

[a700hitter]

He is a DH with a team that already has a DH for 2016. After finding a top of the rotation starter DD has to figure what the Sox are doing with Ramirez.

Ortiz is likely to vest for 2017 too, so there is no DH spot for Hanley until the last year of his contract.