All things Moncada

[moonslav59]

I don't necessarily agree - because the team did not "need" either. The Sox had been the top offense in the league by a good margin all season. Both of those positions could have been patchworked without derailing the party - especially with Leon's Ivan Rodriguez impersonation at the plate. I think they legitimately believed Benintendi could/would be one of their four best outfielders.

 

I'm not saying I think this, I was just saying, we don't really know.

[mvp 78]

[Slasher9]

if this was the "other place' i would have already started my "Trade Moncada" thread......

[bosoxmal]

The local television money is the best estimator of relative position - the Red Sox is huh-yooge. The Red Sox are rolling in it - and it's perfectly nice for ownership to want to make money. Nobody is asking them to make a stupid business decision. But the contracts are not shackling them from making a decision - the money is there. The counterfactual moon poses "imagine if we did not have albatross contracts - how much more money would we have" is a little silly. If we did not have those contracts, maybe the Sox would spend more, maybe it would go into the owners pockets. I don't think those contracts are any real impediment - aside from an impediment to ego.

And how many yachts, beach houses and Lear Jets does man need? Or, even want to keep track of?

[mvp 78]

And how many yachts, beach houses and Lear Jets does man need? Or, even want to keep track of?

 

So many that you never have to keep track of them again. You would want your yachts to be the loose change that is stuck under your couch cushions.

[cp176]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]415[/ATTACH]

 

never bet against a golden

[mvp 78]

never bet against a golden

 

Especially if it's a Golden Receiver.

[Maxbialystock]

I just read a short article that says Farrell is concerned about Moncada's ability to focus--which you can also read in the Sox Prospects article written before Moncada was promoted to Boston. Not just that easy grounder a week ago, but more recently as a pinch runner. 2 men out, Moncada on 1B, and a pop fly to short right. Moncada stops between 1B and 2B to see if the fly was going to be caught.

 

In the 2004 and again in the 2013 postseason the Sox kept what amounted to a pinch runner on their 25 man roster. I think they would like to do that with Moncada this year, but not if his mind keeps drifting as it does.

 

Goodness knows where his mind is because it's not on the game or learning how to hit a curve or improving defensively.

Edited September 11, 2016 by Maxbialystock

[Kimmi]

I'm excited about Moncada, but he doesn't appear to be ready, either skills-wise or mentally. No one should give up on him, but nor should anyone pencil him in as our starting 3B next year. I think he will need at least a 1/2 season, very possibly longer.

[oldtimer]

I'm excited about Moncada, but he doesn't appear to be ready, either skills-wise or mentally. No one should give up on him, but nor should anyone pencil him in as our starting 3B next year. I think he will need at least a 1/2 season, very possibly longer.

 

I agree fully. Maybe our base coaches need to speak Spanish , like dos fuera. Moncada is no esta listo at this time. I think he will make the grade but I also think he is by no means assured of starting at 3rd in April of next year.

[southpaw777]

I'm excited about Moncada, but he doesn't appear to be ready, either skills-wise or mentally. No one should give up on him, but nor should anyone pencil him in as our starting 3B next year. I think he will need at least a 1/2 season, very possibly longer.

 

agree 100% i still see some with him in at 3b for 2017. To me, he doesnt look ready in any way shape or form. thats also in no way shape or form a bad thing. he still needs winter ball and to start in Pawtucket. we still have Pablo to deal with and shaw is in the mix. no need to rush the kid who has just over 100 professional games in the US under his young belt.

theres still work to do on both sides of his game and Boston isnt the place for him to to that. His day will come.

[cp176]

agree 100% i still see some with him in at 3b for 2017. To me, he doesnt look ready in any way shape or form. thats also in no way shape or form a bad thing. he still needs winter ball and to start in Pawtucket. we still have Pablo to deal with and shaw is in the mix. no need to rush the kid who has just over 100 professional games in the US under his young belt.

theres still work to do on both sides of his game and Boston isnt the place for him to to that. His day will come.

 

There is still plenty of work to be done with Moncada for sure but I don't think he is as far away as some of you seem to think. Give him time or trade him this winter.

[cp176]

I just read a short article that says Farrell is concerned about Moncada's ability to focus--which you can also read in the Sox Prospects article written before Moncada was promoted to Boston. Not just that easy grounder a week ago, but more recently as a pinch runner. 2 men out, Moncada on 1B, and a pop fly to short right. Moncada stops between 1B and 2B to see if the fly was going to be caught.

 

In the 2004 and again in the 2013 postseason the Sox kept what amounted to a pinch runner on their 25 man roster. I think they would like to do that with Moncada this year, but not if his mind keeps drifting as it does.

 

Goodness knows where his mind is because it's not on the game or learning how to hit a curve or improving defensively.

 

Dave Roberts had just a little more experience methinks than Moncada. Putting someone with raw speed on the bases who has not learned how to play at the ml level is a recipe for disaster. Unfair to the kid. You obviously aren't very high on him. He is blessed with enormous talent. It is natural and needs to be refined. Most of us recognized that moving him up this year was an experiment. Listening to you criticize a prospect constantly for his lack of focus etc. is a little painful. You either give him time or you trade him. He is a prospect. Just a kid.

[oldtimer]

There is still plenty of work to be done with Moncada for sure but I don't think he is as far away as some of you seem to think. Give him time or trade him this winter.

 

No one is advocating trading him, but we are in a serious pennant race and he has struck out 9 times in a row and made bad running plays. Best to keep him as an observer and let him develop his game in winter ball.

[moonslav59]

My guess is they send Moncada to winter ball to improve at 3B and with fundamentals. By the end of spring training, we should know if he needs time at AAA. How Shaw and Pablo are looking/playing might force our hand.

[Spudboy]

Why does everyone keep insisting that Moncada has so much talent?

 

Has he shown to be talented in MLB? He has from all appearances very good athleticism. But it has not translated to skills that work well in MLB.

 

He is very young and worth waiting for at this point. Saying that he will be the 3rd baseman for the Sox in 2017 is wishful thinking or delusional.

 

He has a lot to learn before he gets to that point.

 

As things stand now, he is much closer to being another Castillo than becoming Bo Jackson.

[moonslav59]

Why does everyone keep insisting that Moncada has so much talent?

 

Has he shown to be talented in MLB? He has from all appearances very good athleticism. But it has not translated to skills that work well in MLB.

 

He is very young and worth waiting for at this point. Saying that he will be the 3rd baseman for the Sox in 2017 is wishful thinking or delusional.

 

He has a lot to learn before he gets to that point.

 

As things stand now, he is much closer to being another Castillo than becoming Bo Jackson.

 

Well, Sox management thought highly enough of him to give him a shot at 3B in the middle of a pennant race, so I'm not sure if it could be called "delusional" to consider him in the mix for the 3B job next year, especially when you look at how poorly Shaw has done over the last 2 months.

 

I'm not sure anyone is definitively penciling him in at 3B next year, but between him, Shaw and Pablo, I'd give him the inside edge vs RHPs. (I see chances are high for Shaw playing 1B vs RHPs and HanRam DHing vs RHPs. Young will DH vs LHPs)

 

[sk7326]

Why does everyone keep insisting that Moncada has so much talent?

 

Has he shown to be talented in MLB? He has from all appearances very good athleticism. But it has not translated to skills that work well in MLB.

 

He is very young and worth waiting for at this point. Saying that he will be the 3rd baseman for the Sox in 2017 is wishful thinking or delusional.

 

He has a lot to learn before he gets to that point.

 

As things stand now, he is much closer to being another Castillo than becoming Bo Jackson.

 

Because of what he was able to do coming up basically on talent alone. (that's a pretty crazy slash considering) That he has stunk in his audition means nothing. Some guys had good auditions that did not take immediately (Bogaerts) down the line, and others had awful auditions which ended up working out pretty well the following season (that guy who plays second base). In some ways it is good he actually gets to see how far he is.

 

And the 3B audition was an interesting idea - the Sox did not "need" to do anything, but if Moncada could hang, the ceiling is very high. No worries.

[illinoisredsox]

Several years ago, te Giants brought up a kid who proceeded to start his career 0-12 and 1-26. 660 or so homers later, Willie Mays was elected to the Hall of Fame.

 

I'm not comparing Moncada to Mays, but patience people.

[Slasher9]

the last 2 posts have made me feel alot better.

thanks boys.

[Spudboy]

Fanboys.

[S5Dewey]

the last 2 posts have made me feel alot better.

thanks boys.

 

As with most things, we tend to compare what actually happens with our expectations. It's more than possible that our expectations were a bit too high, given that he's never seen a pitch in AAA.

 

He'll be fine. Not this year and maybe not until the ASB next year, but he'll be fine. He has too much talent and ability to NOT be fine.

[a700hitter]

Several years ago, te Giants brought up a kid who proceeded to start his career 0-12 and 1-26. 660 or so homers later, Willie Mays was elected to the Hall of Fame.

 

I'm not comparing Moncada to Mays, but patience people.

Willie Mays had already been a star in the Negro Leagues. It wasn't like he was an unknown prospect.

[sk7326]

Several years ago, te Giants brought up a kid who proceeded to start his career 0-12 and 1-26. 660 or so homers later, Willie Mays was elected to the Hall of Fame.

 

I'm not comparing Moncada to Mays, but patience people.

 

As I'll always note, Dustin Pedroia in 2006 was among the league's worst regulars during his pot of coffee. Things change, and kids change a lot all the time - it's why you sign them.

[S5Dewey]

Willie Mays had already been a star in the Negro Leagues. It wasn't like he was an unknown prospect.

 

Sidebar here:

It's reputed that Satchel Page was asked at one time, "Don't you wish you'd had a chance to pitch against the best players of your time?", and he replied, "What makes you think I didn't?"

[a700hitter]

Sidebar here:

It's reputed that Satchel Page was asked at one time, "Don't you wish you'd had a chance to pitch against the best players of your time?", and he replied, "What makes you think I didn't?"

I think Satchel was not just referring to the Negro League players, but he played against many of the white stars when he was in his prime as they barnstormed during the offseason. The white stars played the black stars in the offseason as the played in towns that didn't have MLB teams during the offseason.

[Maxbialystock]

Dave Roberts had just a little more experience methinks than Moncada. Putting someone with raw speed on the bases who has not learned how to play at the ml level is a recipe for disaster. Unfair to the kid. You obviously aren't very high on him. He is blessed with enormous talent. It is natural and needs to be refined. Most of us recognized that moving him up this year was an experiment. Listening to you criticize a prospect constantly for his lack of focus etc. is a little painful. You either give him time or you trade him. He is a prospect. Just a kid.

 

You can't read. I've said countless times I recognize his talent. That ain't an issue.

 

And can you honestly say that not tagging up on a two-out fly is advanced base running? Knowing to run on contact when there are two outs and you are on first base is basic little league stuff. He needs to wake up.

 

Of course we give him time. But at some point Moncada needs to show he's paying attention during games.

[Dojji]

Willie Mays had already been a star in the Negro Leagues. It wasn't like he was an unknown prospect.

 

Neither is Moncada.

[a700hitter]

Neither is Moncada.

But he hasn't played against MLB talent to the same degree as Mays had. Also, the situation with Mays was different. He did nt come up during a stretch drive but rather at the beginning of the season.

[Dojji]

You're seriously overthinking the analogy at this point a700, the overall point is that we have seen nothing from Moncada that will allow us to judge anything about his long term success or lack thereof.