Pablo Sandoval

[moonslav59]

POS vs RHP/vs LHP

3B: Moncada

1B: Shaw/Ram

DH: Pablo/Young

 

Moon I'm good with this....

 

Spend money on pitching staff....Can we entice Ziegler to leave his Arizona home and family to come pitch for Boston?

 

(And we are at this point because we gave Benintendi a look instead of sending him off to AAA. Moncada in the next player we need to have a look at. they are clearly cut above. Can't treat every player the same.)

 

There's a lot of flex in this alignment as Shaw and Pablo can back up 3B, HanRam or Pablo can back up 1B. Young backs up the OF. Moncada could also back up 2B. That leaves a back-up catcher (Vaz/Swi) and the nead for a back-up SS. I prefer Hernandez at SS and 3B, buy keeping him on the farm and Holt on the 25 man roster gives us added flexibility and depth ad Holt can act as the 5th OF'er.

 

[oldtimer]

I have great confidence Beni will be our FT LF'er going forward. He'll have some tough times here and there as all players do, but he will stick.

 

I also have great confidence in Moncada becoming a FT'er very quickly. The time table on his defense at 3B and his bat vs LHPs might be lagging from the rest of his total body of work, but I like his chances. The time table is up for debate and speculation, but in my opinion his bat vs RHPs and his base running skills are MLB ready right now. We'll probably see him in September for those two roles.

 

I don't want Moncada to make the 2017 opening day roster as a platoon player, if he continues struggling vs LHPs or as a DH if he is slow to competency on defense at 3B, but depending on how others are doing and off season acquisitions, he may have to begin as one and/or the other. It's not ideal for his development, but keeping top talent on the farm, when they are MLB ready in some areas may not be a luxury we can afford next April. Maybe Moncada plays winter ball as a 3Bman exclusively. That may help, but I also don't want to burn the kid out.

 

In no way have I ever been a Pablo fan, but I'm just saying we shouldn't count him out, even without any injuries or setbacks to Beni or Moncada. It may take more than a strong spring from Pablo to get his trade value to a marketable point.

 

 

Our 25 man roster has 13 field players and 12 pitchers. If Moncada makes the grade at 3rd and Benintendi sticks in left, then we have a choice at 1st of Shaw or Hanley. Assuming it will be Shaw (no given), then our lineup includes the following players

 

CF JBJ

RF Betts

LF Benintendi

1B Shaw

2b Pedey

SS Bogaerts

3B Moncada

C Leon

DH Rameriz (Not my favorite)

 

That's 9 of our 13 field players

We have to have a 2nd catcher Is it Vazquez?

We need a utility infielder or two Are they Holt and Hernandez or Holt and Hill

We need a 4th outfielder Is it Young

 

Since Holt can span both the outfield and infield positions, he is a more valuable Utility player. Hernandez can substitute at three infield positions and can handle SS if necessary, but needs to prove he can hit.

 

We will also have Swihart to decide on. Will he be available in May or June? If so he gives us another left hand bat, which we may well need.

 

With a strong hitting lineup top to bottom, we may be able to afford having players capable of playing field positions share the designated hitter role. No one is talking about Devers as yet and he may have to be traded along with other resources to strengthen our pitching. Watching Greinke get clobbered today should be another reminder that finding ace starting pitchers is a crap shoot.

[southpaw777]

Pablo needs to prove hes healthy and be productive in ST so we can move him. As long as Gms see he can field, throw, hit and isnt a fat tub of goo, Im sure there will be interest somewhere to work something out and move his fat ass out of Boston.

Moncada is officially now a 3b, as they made that move yesterday. He will get reps there the rest of the year and in Winter ball. I wouldnt bet on him starting in Boston to begin 2017...but I will say he could very well be our FT 3b before the year is out.

I like Hanley at 1b FT, even for next year. His head stays in the game, he actually likes he position and is really good. Shaw is looking more like a bench player for the corners or the OF if absolutely needed.

Swihart needs to start in AAA as the FT catcher with Vaz and Leon in Boston. His value is behind the plate.

DD will be busy as we could start seeing a logjam of sorts at certain positions...

Catcher - leon, Holiday, Vaz, Swihart, (Romanski)

3b Pablo, Shaw, Moncada, (Devers)

1b Hanley, Travis, Shaw

 

Pedey 2b

Bogey SS

Mookie RF

Hanley 1b

JBJ CF

Leon/Vaz C

Benni LF

Pablo 3b (until further notice)

Im betting this is what they are seeing as of right now for our starters in 2017

 

We also have a few utility types with Holt, Hill, Hernandez and Young...

Havent looked at the rule 5 guys yet, but I know a couple kids need to be protected, so that adds to the list.

 

There should be a decent amount of movement this winter.

Edited August 14, 2016 by southpaw777

[moonslav59]

Our 25 man roster has 13 field players and 12 pitchers. If Moncada makes the grade at 3rd and Benintendi sticks in left, then we have a choice at 1st of Shaw or Hanley. Assuming it will be Shaw (no given), then our lineup includes the following players

 

CF JBJ

RF Betts

LF Benintendi

1B Shaw

2b Pedey

SS Bogaerts

3B Moncada

C Leon

DH Rameriz (Not my favorite)

 

That's 9 of our 13 field players

We have to have a 2nd catcher Is it Vazquez?

We need a utility infielder or two Are they Holt and Hernandez or Holt and Hill

We need a 4th outfielder Is it Young

 

Since Holt can span both the outfield and infield positions, he is a more valuable Utility player. Hernandez can substitute at three infield positions and can handle SS if necessary, but needs to prove he can hit.

 

We will also have Swihart to decide on. Will he be available in May or June? If so he gives us another left hand bat, which we may well need.

 

With a strong hitting lineup top to bottom, we may be able to afford having players capable of playing field positions share the designated hitter role. No one is talking about Devers as yet and he may have to be traded along with other resources to strengthen our pitching. Watching Greinke get clobbered today should be another reminder that finding ace starting pitchers is a crap shoot.

 

All Hernandez has to do is prove he can hit better than Holt, which isn't that hard to do.

 

He's better defensively at SS and 3B. 2b might be close.

 

Holt should never be needed at 1b again.

 

Holt's value as a 5th OF'er is significant, but it will have to outweigh his defensive minus vs Hernandez at SS If Marco and Brock prove to be equal offensively, it's a close call to me. Swihart's return could allow for him being the 5th OF'er, which would take that plus away from Holt.

 

Pablo certainly would crowd the field, but that doesn't mean he's the one that might be traded, assuming he returns to health and is 15-25 pounds lighted next spring.

[moonslav59]

Pablo needs to prove hes healthy and be productive in ST so we can move him. As long as Gms see he can field, throw, hit and isnt a fat tub of goo, Im sure there will be interest somewhere to work something out and move his fat ass out of Boston.

Moncada is officially now a 3b, as they made that move yesterday. He will get reps there the rest of the year and in Winter ball. I wouldnt bet on him starting in Boston to begin 2017...but I will say he could very well be our FT 3b before the year is out.

I like Hanley at 1b FT, even for next year. His head stays in the game, he actually likes he position and is really good. Shaw is looking more like a bench player for the corners or the OF if absolutely needed.

Swihart needs to start in AAA as the FT catcher with Vaz and Leon in Boston. His value is behind the plate.

DD will be busy as we could start seeing a logjam of sorts at certain positions...

Catcher - leon, Holiday, Vaz, Swihart, (Romanski)

3b Pablo, Shaw, Moncada, (Devers)

1b Hanley, Travis, Shaw

 

Pedey 2b

Bogey SS

Mookie RF

Hanley 1b

JBJ CF

Leon/Vaz C

Benni LF

Pablo 3b (until further notice)

Im betting this is what they are seeing as of right now for our starters in 2017

 

We also have a few utility types with Holt, Hill, Hernandez and Young...

Havent looked at the rule 5 guys yet, but I know a couple kids need to be protected, so that adds to the list.

 

There should be a decent amount of movement this winter.

 

Shaw lead MLB in 1B UZR/150 from 2015-2016 (650+ innings). He's also a much better hitter vs RHPs than hanRam.

 

I can't see HanRam playing 1B over Shaw vs RHPs, if Moncada wins the 3B job.

 

Maybe playing hanram at 1B vs LHPs will "keep his head in the game" enough to allow him to be a net plus.

 

I can't see Young sitting vs LHPs, so DH vs LHPs seems to be his spot to lose. Young has the 4th best MLB OPS vs LHPs over the past 2 years combined! Sitting him would be a crime. That means maybe HanRam can DH vs RHPs and play 1B vs LHPs, but with hanRams decline vs RHPs, maybe Pablo is a better choice vs righties.

 

[Spudboy]

A trail of bread crumbs and jerk chicken wings leading to a bluff?

 

Kinda Panda without a Cause.

 

I like it!

[a700hitter]

kinda panda without a cause.

 

I like it!

lol!

[Wade Boggs]

I think they will move on from panda and eat the rest of the contract. He has no value IMO on this team. If YM who's playing winter ball in the AZ league and does what we all think he will do, They still have Shaw, Hanley could always go back there. Let's just say they ink Beltran to be the DH, unlikely but just say they do, the panda has no spot. He lost 15 pounds since his last at bat @ toronto which was game 5... Thats 3 Pounds a month. Sorry , still think he's not taking things serious. Just cut him and eat the dough. Plus do you really think his fielding will get better with a year off. I say no.

[User Name]

They can't eat the dough. Sandoval already ate all of the dough.

[a700hitter]

they can't eat the dough. Sandoval already ate all of the dough.

lol!!

[Nick]

Our 25 man roster has 13 field players and 12 pitchers. If Moncada makes the grade at 3rd and Benintendi sticks in left, then we have a choice at 1st of Shaw or Hanley. Assuming it will be Shaw (no given), then our lineup includes the following players

 

CF JBJ

RF Betts

LF Benintendi

1B Shaw

2b Pedey

SS Bogaerts

3B Moncada

C Leon

DH Rameriz (Not my favorite)

 

That's 9 of our 13 field players

We have to have a 2nd catcher Is it Vazquez?

We need a utility infielder or two Are they Holt and Hernandez or Holt and Hill

We need a 4th outfielder Is it Young

 

Since Holt can span both the outfield and infield positions, he is a more valuable Utility player. Hernandez can substitute at three infield positions and can handle SS if necessary, but needs to prove he can hit.

 

We will also have Swihart to decide on. Will he be available in May or June? If so he gives us another left hand bat, which we may well need.

 

With a strong hitting lineup top to bottom, we may be able to afford having players capable of playing field positions share the designated hitter role. No one is talking about Devers as yet and he may have to be traded along with other resources to strengthen our pitching. Watching Greinke get clobbered today should be another reminder that finding ace starting pitchers is a crap shoot.

 

It definitely won't be Hill. He's a FA. Unless he pulls miracles in the playoffs this year.

[moonslav59]

I think they will move on from panda and eat the rest of the contract. He has no value IMO on this team. If YM who's playing winter ball in the AZ league and does what we all think he will do, They still have Shaw, Hanley could always go back there. Let's just say they ink Beltran to be the DH, unlikely but just say they do, the panda has no spot. He lost 15 pounds since his last at bat @ toronto which was game 5... Thats 3 Pounds a month. Sorry , still think he's not taking things serious. Just cut him and eat the dough. Plus do you really think his fielding will get better with a year off. I say no.[/QUOT

 

I'm not a Pablo fan at all, but he will get at least a look. 3 pounds a month is a safe amount to lose. Anything more than 5 and you'd likely be looking at an injury early in the year.

 

If he can lose 3-4 pounds a month until opening day, he could be a contendah.

Edited August 15, 2016 by moonslav59

[Dojji]

I can't trust Pablo to keep his word and do what he says he'll do. We've done that before, and the result was a player that I'm honestly convinced was at least 120 pounds overweight -- he promised to lose 20 pounds and came in looking like he'd gained 50. I don't have time for that nonsense more than once, either your word means something or it doesn't, and Pablo's doesn't.

 

There is no room for Pablo Sandoval right now. Even assuming someone like Sam Travis doesn't wow us this Spring, where is Pablo going to play? He's not a 3B anymore, he proved that last year by playing a couple innings at 3B and immediately getting hurt. I don't think even the best case scenario has Pablo going all the way back to full playing condition at 3B, and that's even assuming he keeps his word at all, which he's already proven indifferent to doing.

 

That being the case, why the hell even bother. Shaw breaks camp with Moncada in the wings and Holt on the bench. First base, Hanley breaks camp with any of Swihart, Travis or possibly even Moncada jockeying for his position and Shaw able to move over and cover first base ably. There is simply no need for Pablo Sandoval, nothing he can provide that someone else can't provide better and higher quality production in. The guy is done, at least as a Red Sox, and after 2015 and 2016 I just can't even begin to see any other big league team investing in the guy without a lot of hard work and convincing, and that even assumes that Pablo is capable of the sea change in his behavior that his agent last year tricked us into believing he could make.

 

 

Pleased the guy's losing weight though, that's important, it will help his transition into post-baseball life.

Edited August 15, 2016 by Dojji

[Dojji]

I think they will move on from panda and eat the rest of the contract. He has no value IMO on this team. If YM who's playing winter ball in the AZ league and does what we all think he will do, They still have Shaw, Hanley could always go back there. Let's just say they ink Beltran to be the DH, unlikely but just say they do, the panda has no spot. He lost 15 pounds since his last at bat @ toronto which was game 5... Thats 3 Pounds a month. Sorry , still think he's not taking things serious. Just cut him and eat the dough. Plus do you really think his fielding will get better with a year off. I say no.[/QUOTe]

 

I'm not a Pablo fan at all, but he will get at least a look. 3 pounds a month is a safe amount to lose. Anything more than 5 and you'd likely be looking at an injury early in the year.

 

If he can lose 3-4 pounds a month until opening day, he could be a contendah.

I think I hear an echo. Oh wait no, that's just what we were saying last year until Pablo showed up to camp looking like a cross breed between the Goodyear Blimp and the Michelin Man. No thank you, I've tried that brand of kool-aid before and don't like the aftertaste.

 

I don't even think a team desperate to justify a sunk cost would be dumb enough to just hand Pablo the reins after 2 years like these last 2. At best he breaks camp on the bench, and we saw how well he handled that this year. Frankly I wouldn't inflict Pablo's ass on that poor unoffending bench that works so hard for this team.

Edited August 15, 2016 by Dojji

[moonslav59]

Again, I'm not projecting greatness or even that he makes the team. I'm just saying he is going to get a look and possibly a chance. Unless we sign a big bat corner IF'er or DH, there is a spot for Pablo, if he wants it and earns it.

 

 

[Dojji]

No there isn't. Any spot made for Pablo will come at the expense of a more deserving player, probably a hard working benchie like Hernandez or Travis

[SoxnCycles]

No there isn't. Any spot made for Pablo will come at the expense of a more deserving player, probably a hard working benchie like Hernandez or Travis

 

If Pablo manages to lose the weight and work to get back into game shape, I'd say that's deserving of another shot at the position.

 

To say he's not to be allowed a shot is dumb.

[Dojji]

2 years. The man has had 2 years of shots. How many shots is this buffoon going to get?

[Wade Boggs]

What if YM starts raking in spring training. Do you take bats away from him. What do you do with Shaw. What if they sign a DH and want Hanley to play first. A shot, sure. Can't see him there for three years left of that contract. He can't play another position. He has bad knees to play first, no ladderell movement, no range. I know Napoli and HR have done it. I'd be surprised if he beat all those players i listed. The redsox want Moncada to be the third baseman . That's why they want him playing third base in the AZ fall league down there. Sort of like they did with Beni, moving him over to LF. His fielding is a work in progress, but he's learning. The same will be with YM.

[Spudboy]

2 years. The man has had 2 years of shots. How many shots is this buffoon going to get?

 

Exactly.

 

And Dojji, the tire guy is called "Biv".

[SoxnCycles]

It's easy for the fans to just write off 60 mil.

Not so much for the FO.

[greenwell]

It's easy for the fans to just write off 60 mil.

Not so much for the FO.

 

What does $60M have to do with it? They're paying him that regardless. If he could help the team or there's any real chance of trading him for something, play him.

[Wade Boggs]

Your right Son inc. I agree. But keep in mind he's not a DD signing. I doubt regardless who ever is the manager next year , they will pay him all that money to sit on the bench. Plus with a Young having one year left on his contract he hits on days a LHP is starting. They have Chris Young to play. I know they play different spots,3b/ LF , but it's about roster spots. He doesn't fit. He just doesn't fit on the 25 man. A real nice guy. But not a fit. I liked him in the SF days, not so much the

Bo-sox days.

[SoxnCycles]

Your right Son inc. I agree. But keep in mind he's not a DD signing. I doubt regardless who ever is the manager next year , they will pay him all that money to sit on the bench. Plus with a Young having one year left on his contract he hits on days a LHP is starting. They have Chris Young to play. I know they play different spots,3b/ LF , but it's about roster spots. He doesn't fit. He just doesn't fit on the 25 man. A real nice guy. But not a fit. I liked him in the SF days, not so much the

Bo-sox days.

 

He's either in good enough shape to start, or he's be back in Ft Meyers.

They're not going to waste a roster spot on him, if he's unable to play.

[Nick]

What does $60M have to do with it? They're paying him that regardless. If he could help the team or there's any real chance of trading him for something, play him.

 

They need to go over the scouting report that okayed his signing. The guy should be fired.....was Ben pushing it?

[Wade Boggs]

See this is getting off the subject. Ortiz is the best DH that ever lived. They will not be another Boston athlete, him, Brady, who I love as a Pat ( lol) Bird, Orr, and on we go.. But with David retiring, maybe you keep the DH spot open and use it ,to give other players a day off from the field. For example if XB needs a day off ,have him DH, if Mookie leg is banged up let him DH one game... Called keeping people fresh, a day off from the field might help out mentally. Can't do it this year of course. If David O doesn't retire and wants to come back( highly unlikely ) the plan is called off.

[Nick]

Ultimately if Price's performance does not improve next year, then Henry will be a hard sell on any long term mega deals that's in player's favor (ie if I do good, I can get out, if I do bad, well you are the dummy for giving me all this cash) and the player is past his prime.

 

I rather live with Shaws of the world than waste freaking $90M on a fat ass.

[Wade Boggs]

Marketing PR move. They thought he be ok and get by. They needed a third baseman with Middlebrooks being a bust . He was the sought after player, it cost BC his job, who I was NOT a fan of. I thought he was to scared to trade some prospects not all just some, he hoards to many of them. It turns out he was right. I'll man up . I was wrong... Plus to sell Panda masks, like they did when he was on SF. It backfired. It didn't work. I doubt it will.

[Spudboy]

He's either in good enough shape to start, or he's be back in Ft Meyers.

They're not going to waste a roster spot on him, if he's unable to play.

 

Could they just DFA him if he is not lights out in spring training?

 

I don't fully understand how demotions and roster moves work exactly. But my guess is that Paplo would not get picked up and could then be sent to Pawtucket and be removed from the 40 man.

 

Maybe I have my head in my ass?

[illinoisredsox]

Could they just DFA him if he is not lights out in spring training?

 

I don't fully understand how demotions and roster moves work exactly. But my guess is that Paplo would not get picked up and could then be sent to Pawtucket and be removed from the 40 man.

 

Maybe I have my head in my ass?

 

Nope. As a 5+ year vet, he can refuse the minor league assignment; the Sox would then either have the choice of keeping him on the 25 man roster or releasing him outright. If he's released, I'm pretty sure somebody else would take a shot with him for the major league minimum (~$500K) and the Red Sox would be on the hook for the difference in salary (which would count against the luxury tax cap).

 

Castillo and Craig don't have 5 years of service, which is why that move works on them.

 

I don't see anyway the Sox get out of this contract without swapping it for another bad one.