Travis Shaw

[jung]

We expected him to make all the plays on ground balls and he has done that. Still shaky on pop ups...still does not know which way to turn the glove to take throws while holding the bag. Those were always going to be the challenges and they still are. If he could not field ground balls we were really in trouble.

 

Plus he has not been challenged with making those plays on the bag late in games when the pressure is on. So if you want to take his ability to field ground balls as "its all OK" go right ahead. Everybody is entitled to their opinion.

Edited March 17, 2016 by jung

[mvp 78]

They aren't saying "he gets ground balls." They are saying that he is picking balls in the dirt and isshowing good footwork around the bag.

[a700hitter]

He is not going to win a gold Glove, and he will not make the highlight reel for his fielding, but he will hurt us less at 1B than LF. Edited March 17, 2016 by a700hitter

[jung]

They aren't saying "he gets ground balls." They are saying that he is picking balls in the dirt and isshowing good footwork around the bag.

 

I don't care what they are saying! Since when have I ever given a rats behind about what they are SAYING. What I can see is what I can see. He is making all the ground ball plays. He is as yet not comfortable or secure around the bag and not comfortable or secure fielding pop ups.

[sk7326]

I absolutely think we need Shaw to be playing regularly. I don't think we have enough pitching to hold teams down past Price and a super bullpen only helps you if you can hand it leads. Pablo looks flat terrible in the field and at the plate and other than Mookie, Travis and Sam, nobody is doing anything at the plate.

 

We have to get Shaw into the lineup while keeping Hanley in the lineup. As much as Hanley is not my kind of player, the Sox are forced to gamble on him. But we just have to get Pablo the hell out of the everyday lineup. There are just to many holes in this offense and trading out either Castillo for Shaw or Pablo for Shaw would appear to be a welcome improvement.

 

While these games mean little what does mean something is situational baseball in these games. Do you get the runner home from 3rd with less than two outs.....NO we don't. Do you get some runs out of bases loaded and one out. NO we don't. So while this will be the 7rth game in a row we are going to lose and the record itself is meaningless, what sits behind that record is not at all meaningless.

 

No, that doesn't matter either - just guys getting work in. What is that work? Are they really praciticing situational baseball? Altering approach and whatnot (for those situations). Or are they just trying to take good at-bats and see pitching. Honestly, 80% of the reason for the games is to generate gate revenue.

[Kimmi]

Hanley will just be fine based on what????? He might be. But to cavalierly say he will be makes little sense.

- He does not want to bat the DD wants him to bat....he MAY do it, but it is pretty obvious that he does not want to....Since when does Hanley do anything other than what Hanley wants to do?

 

The way Dombrowski wants Hanley to bat is the way he batted his entire career, until last season. It seems like last year he got a little "swing for the fences" happy, which is not the type of hitter Hanley has been throughout his career. Dombrowski just wants Hanley to go back to being the type of hitter that has made him a very good hitter. And he is a very good hitter, when healthy.

 

The point being, if that is they type of batter Hanley has always been, then saying that it is pretty obvious that Hanley does not want to return to being that type of hitter has no merit.

[Kimmi]

Hanley Ramirez was a credible downballot MVP choice as recently as 2013. He wanted to play in Boston so badly he was willing to try a position he was not wild about - to try to increase his durability.

 

Bat the way DD wants him to bat? Does Dombrowski not want walks and hard hits? That would be grounds to fire DD no? It is hard to say anything but Hanley is trying.

 

Not only was he willing to try a new position (twice), but knowing that he would not need to be as athletic playing in the OF, Hanley added quite a bit of bulk before the 2015 season to make himself stronger and, hopefully, more durable. Then this past offseason, Hanley was asked to trim down and lose some of that bulk, which he did. Hanley has done everything that has been asked of him.

 

Hanley has also asked Farrell, on several occasions, to stay in the game 2 or 3 extra innings.

 

 

And Hanley has asked Farrell on several occa

[Kimmi]

A tweet today from one of the beat writers:

 

If Hanley Ramirez takes this short and simple swing into the regular season, the Red Sox offense is going to be in good shape.

 

I know I keep saying this, but it's night and day watching Hanley at 1B compared to LF. Down and ready for every play. Looks like he belongs

[Kimmi]

No, that doesn't matter either - just guys getting work in. What is that work? Are they really praciticing situational baseball? Altering approach and whatnot (for those situations). Or are they just trying to take good at-bats and see pitching. Honestly, 80% of the reason for the games is to generate gate revenue.

 

You can take very little of what happens in spring training at face value.

[mvp 78]

A tweet today from one of the beat writers:

 

I think people have also decided that Hanley was going to suck at 1b before giving him a chance.

[Dojji]

you think? A lot of people are very VERY sour on Hanley for not succeeding in left field last year, and for things that are basically a consequence of him getting hurt. It doesn't help that he gets lumped in with Fatso Sandoval who may have legitimate off field issues that are going to hurt him again this year (namely his diet).

[Kimmi]

I think people have also decided that Hanley was going to suck at 1b before giving him a chance.

 

I think you're right. I was one who really didn't want to see Hanley at 1B, more because of his inability to maintain focus than for any physical reasons. I still have my doubts about his defensive ability there, but less so now than I did before ST. So far, he has proven me wrong.

 

I think there's a difference between having concerns about a player's ability to get the job done and not being willing to give a player the chance. Voicing concerns is fair game. Spewing vitriol and assassinating characters is not, IMO.

[Elktonnick]

I must admit that I was one of those who thought HR would suck at 1st. However, after seeing play so far this spring I am ready to change my mind on that score. His play at first has been more than satisfactory. While he hasn't made any outstanding plays there, he hasn't ben called upon to do so. He has dug some low throws out of the dirt well. He saved Sandoval from making yet another throwing error. He handled Vasquez's pickoff play well. He does seem to be like some one learning to dance when it comes to his footwork around the bag but that will come with time. In short I think HR will do okay at 1st. He may not win the gold glove but if he hits especially well who knows he could surprise and actually do well in the All star voting

[a700hitter]

I must admit that I was one of those who thought HR would suck at 1st. However, after seeing play so far this spring I am ready to change my mind on that score. His play at first has been more than satisfactory. While he hasn't made any outstanding plays there, he hasn't ben called upon to do so. He has dug some low throws out of the dirt well. He saved Sandoval from making yet another throwing error. He handled Vasquez's pickoff play well. He does seem to be like some one learning to dance when it comes to his footwork around the bag but that will come with time. In short I think HR will do okay at 1st. He may not win the gold glove but if he hits especially well who knows he could surprise and actually do well in the All star voting

How did he look to you on pop-ups?

[mvp 78]

I must admit that I was one of those who thought HR would suck at 1st. However, after seeing play so far this spring I am ready to change my mind on that score. His play at first has been more than satisfactory. While he hasn't made any outstanding plays there, he hasn't ben called upon to do so. He has dug some low throws out of the dirt well. He saved Sandoval from making yet another throwing error. He handled Vasquez's pickoff play well. He does seem to be like some one learning to dance when it comes to his footwork around the bag but that will come with time. In short I think HR will do okay at 1st. He may not win the gold glove but if he hits especially well who knows he could surprise and actually do well in the All star voting

 

Jung, will you ignore this opinion as well?

[Dojji]

Of course he will. he has Made Up His Mind.

[mvp 78]

@scottlauber @Red Sox have pushed back seeing Travis Shaw in left field in order to get him more reps at third base, according... es.pn/1Rav3or

[Spudboy]

@scottlauber @Red Sox have pushed back seeing Travis Shaw in left field in order to get him more reps at third base, according... es.pn/1Rav3or

 

This is interesting. Does it indicate that the Sox are leaning towards Shaw being the starting 3b?

[Bellhorn04]

This is interesting. Does it indicate that the Sox are leaning towards Shaw being the starting 3b?

 

Today Shaw started at 3B and Pablo is DH'ing, so that's darn interesting.

[a700hitter]

Today Shaw started at 3B and Pablo is DH'ing, so that's darn interesting.

Shaw -- 3 Hits (2 Doubles) Sandoval -- 2 Hits (1 Double)

[mvp 78]

@redsoxstats Farrell on ESPN: "Decisions to be made about who plays 3B and how at bats shake out in LF. Loved Shaw saying he wants the job."

[Kimmi]

This is interesting. Does it indicate that the Sox are leaning towards Shaw being the starting 3b?

 

It indicates that Farrell is in "panic mode", much the same way Henry is.

[mvp 78]

Or Farrell just wants to let the better guy play?

[Kimmi]

Or Farrell just wants to let the better guy play?

 

Nope.

 

Shaw may end up being the better player, no doubt.

 

But he is in panic mode. He is all over the place this preseason.

[Kimmi]

And as I've said before, this "sense of urgency" that Farrell has is not necessarily a good thing.

[User Name]

I don't quite think you understand what the FO's actual problem with Pablo is. It's not personal. He showed up very overweight and he's a statue at 3rd (the bat is waking up hough). The better player needs to play. It hasn't been decided yet, but if it's Shaw in both sides of the ball, then he should be starting. It's common sense.

[mvp 78]

Nope.

 

Shaw may end up being the better player, no doubt.

 

But he is in panic mode. He is all over the place this preseason.

How is he all over the place?

[Elktonnick]

And as I've said before, this "sense of urgency" that Farrell has is not necessarily a good thing.

 

Farrell obviously realizes that he is on thin ice, as well he should be. I don't think however that the Shaw Sandoval competition is any more indicative of that then the more salient fact that his bench coach showed he could do a better job then he can. That would cause "panic" in any one.

[cp176]

Farrell obviously realizes that he is on thin ice, as well he should be. I don't think however that the Shaw Sandoval competition is any more indicative of that then the more salient fact that his bench coach showed he could do a better job then he can. That would cause "panic" in any one.

 

if Farrell saying that Shaw very well might be our starting third baseman is something that he is saying because he feels that his job is in jeopardy, do I ever wish that he had felt this way earlier. It really is what it is all about. wanting to win means playing your best players. There is no doubt in may mind that if Sandoval proves to be the best 3rd base option,he will be there. If Shaw beats him out, it won't be because Pablo is "chunky". It is not just lip service to say that the games played in April are just as important as the ones played in September. If your team has performed the way ours has for a few years now, a good start could be essential.

[Elktonnick]

if Farrell saying that Shaw very well might be our starting third baseman is something that he is saying because he feels that his job is in jeopardy, do I ever wish that he had felt this way earlier. It really is what it is all about. wanting to win means playing your best players. There is no doubt in may mind that if Sandoval proves to be the best 3rd base option,he will be there. If Shaw beats him out, it won't be because Pablo is "chunky". It is not just lip service to say that the games played in April are just as important as the ones played in September. If your team has performed the way ours has for a few years now, a good start could be essential.

As I said I don't think the Shaw Sandoval issue has anything to do with Farrell's state of mind or whether he is panicky. I think if he is anxious about his job it has more to do with his team's lousy record the past two years and the fact that is bench coach demonstrated that he can produce better results than Farrell can.

 

BTW Sandoval's being "chunky" has everything to do with his not playing a good defensive 3rd baseman.