The Benintendi Thread

[moonslav59]

Who does-JBJ...Mookie?

 

I'd sit Papi some, JBJ a little betts maybe one game and beni the rest.

[moonslav59]

.746 OPS, sub .400 SLG%. He can sit.

 

last I looked, I think JBJ has a .370 OBP vs lefties. We have very few hitters with .360+ OBPs vs lefties. I'd bat JBJ second vs lhp or first. I would rest him some too, but I hate to lose the defense.

[bosoxmal]

Maybe I don't hunt and scroll as much as I should. But, I wonder why I had to hear the Benintendi life story (a whiz bang from age 5) from Vin Scully? At various intervals, Scully ran thru his life story. Whiz bang here, all this and that someplace else. Based on that, I wouldn't worry much. Get him in there, and leave him there. I'd rather use Young as a PH, replacement for Bradley now and then, etc.

 

Right now, it's Ortiz and Hanley that are killing us. Hill and Shaw can be platooned and that won't hurt us. Bogaerts needs a week off. His head is not in sync with his swing, and it's affecting his fielding as well.

 

As long as we have three or four guys hitting at the same time, we can manage. It's that AH bull pen somebody put together that's KILLING us.

 

If they're going to keep gambling, they might as well take a shot at the blistered Rich Hill. Blisters don't last forever (I remember Williams' every single spring training. He never used a batting glove, and simpler suffered through the healing process). The Dodgers are pretty fed up with Hill, and might sell him. I wouldn't give a lot, but then it's not my money, is it?

[bosoxmal]

You're right. I would stick w/JBJ. He is what he is" a great outfielder, and off and on at the plate. I certainly would play Young against some lefties, and that has the advantage, also, of giving JBJ some rest. This is one helluva a long season.

[moonslav59]

Young blows everyone away v lefties. He has to start v them. Too bad he can't play 3B. Hill sucks! To

[Wade Boggs]

With Brentz being sent down to today , they recall Elias for a bullpen arm , its looks like Benintendi will be the starting LF for now. Could be short on the bench if Betts and Ortiz don't recover soon.

[SoxnCycles]

With Brentz being sent down to today , they recall Elias for a bullpen arm , its looks like Benintendi will be the starting LF for now. Could be short on the bench if Betts and Ortiz don't recover soon.

 

Hopefully, it's because they know neither injury is serious.

[Nick]

Really good article about Sox messing up Swihart situation for short term gain.

 

Best scenario would have been to put him back in AAA and work on his defensive catching.

 

We no longer need a left fielder. Young and Benintendi will have it covered in 2017 unless we can unload Young for a relief pitcher. Swihart needs to work on catching. His trade value has to be low right now.

 

I can see Pedey being out for long stretches over next 5 years. He just goes all out and I don't think his body is durable.

 

Need to have a Jesus meeting about Hanley. Are we simply trying to recoup some of his salary? Will he hit good enough to play 1B or DH for another 3 years?

 

What to do with Shaw? Pablo?

 

Our starting pitching is beginning to look good in comparison to our relievers. Only one doing well is a summer rental. Ugh.

[oldtimer]

 

Right now, it's Ortiz and Hanley that are killing us. Hill and Shaw can be platooned and that won't hurt us. Bogaerts needs a week off. His head is not in sync with his swing, and it's affecting his fielding as well.

 

 

?

 

I agree that Hanley is as you put killing us as he hasn't been hitting much at all. I am not sure why you say Ortiz is killing us and maybe I misinterpret your words here. Ortiz has been hitting the ball hard and in bad luck. Last night he walked 3 times and gave the likes of Hanley opportunities to do something. Nothing happened there. Hill and Shaw platooning against lefties/righties seems to make sense except Hill hasn't been hitting of late and Shaw does have more pop when he makes contact.

 

We do have some good hitters in the lineup, with Betts, Pedey, Ortiz, JBJ, Bogaerts (needs to make adjustments), Leon and Benintendi. To me, Hanley is the black hole and rally killer.

 

None of our lineup will matter unless we get better pitching.

[moonslav59]

Really good article about Sox messing up Swihart situation for short term gain.

 

Do you have a link?

 

Best scenario would have been to put him back in AAA and work on his defensive catching.

 

His bat was considered ML ready and maybe explode. We needed a LF'er badly. Vaz looked like he was in the lead for catcher of the future. I get the move, but I also can see how Swihart's value will always be highest as a catcher- even if not a good one defensively.

 

We no longer need a left fielder. Young and Benintendi will have it covered in 2017 unless we can unload Young for a relief pitcher. Swihart needs to work on catching. His trade value has to be low right now.

 

True, but Young was hurt and Beni "wasn't ready".

 

 

I can see Pedey being out for long stretches over next 5 years. He just goes all out and I don't think his body is durable.

 

So, are you thinking Moncada stays at 2B maybe?

 

 

Need to have a Jesus meeting about Hanley. Are we simply trying to recoup some of his salary? Will he hit good enough to play 1B or DH for another 3 years?

 

$22M a year is too mjuch to spend on a 1B/DH who should only play vs LHPs (35% starts?), but with Castillo and Craig already dead weight and Pablo maybe soon to join that party, we may be stuck with HanRam. I'm all for trying to trade him, but not if we have to pay a huge chunk of his deal.

 

Last winter, I said I'd trade HanRam, even if he had a ,900 OPS this year, just ebcause I don't trust getting any consistency from him.

 

 

What to do with Shaw? Pablo?

 

Platoon HanRam and Shaw at 1B?

 

Platoon HanRam and Sandy at DH with Shaw at 1B?

 

Our starting pitching is beginning to look good in comparison to our relievers. Only one doing well is a summer rental. Ugh.

[sk7326]

Here's a theoretical question based on some speculative aspects that for arguments sake we will take as "givens":

 

Let's assume player A and player B end up being exactly the same player for the remainder of their careers and retire at the exact same age.

 

(Note: I know there are plenty of what ifs, but humor me and stick to just the scenario listed.)

 

Player A is called up in August after spending just about a year in the minors and jumps from AA to MLB. He struggles for 4 of his first 5 months, but then hits his stride in July 2017 and never looks back.

 

Player B is called up in August after spending about two years in the minors and is promoted from AAA after spending close a year there. He struggles for just 1 out of his first two months, but hits his stride in April of 2018 and never looks back.

 

Which do you choose?

 

Does it matter if your team is in a playoff race in 2017 and hopes to be in 2018 as well?

 

Please hold the what ifs and permutations to a minimum and try to answer the scenario given.

 

(This in no way is a projection on what Beni will do or might have done under different circumstances.)

 

Which do you choose if your team is not in a playoff race in 2017 but

 

 

Player A clearly - you are getting the value nearly a full season earlier! Fact is - there are ways to address his struggles so the team does not go to pot ... maybe he has an adjustment period and so he has to be a defensive sub or a platoon bat ... which would not be ideal, but the team can get back to "before" without much difficulty

[moonslav59]

Beni's one for his last 7.

 

It's clear Sox management has totally destroyed this gifted kid's ego.

 

They are the founders of stupidity.

 

[Kingface]

Am I missing something?? We needed a 1Bman…….so we converted HanRam to 1B. A move I was VERY against and have been proven VERY wrong (I think I'm the only one here who actually admits to being wrong BTW). He is playing solid defense at 1B, he is hitting .275 and will probably end the year off with 23HR's and about 100RBI's and an .800 or better OPS…….and we want to platoon and trade him? OK…….. Pretty sure HAnRam is one of the least of our worries going into 2017. Keep him at 1B and solve the real issues: Pitching and Catching. It's not rocket science…...

[mvp 78]

Hanley sux. Can't catch popups. No power.

[moonslav59]

Am I missing something?? We needed a 1Bman…….so we converted HanRam to 1B. A move I was VERY against and have been proven VERY wrong (I think I'm the only one here who actually admits to being wrong BTW). He is playing solid defense at 1B, he is hitting .275 and will probably end the year off with 23HR's and about 100RBI's and an .800 or better OPS…….and we want to platoon and trade him? OK…….. Pretty sure HAnRam is one of the least of our worries going into 2017. Keep him at 1B and solve the real issues: Pitching and Catching. It's not rocket science…...

 

You crack me up!

 

The first time you've ever admitted a mistake and the thing you identify as the mistake was probably the closest thing you got right in your whole post. Too funny!

 

Is this fine for a 1Bman in MLB?

 

.245/.320/384/.705

 

or

 

.251/.309/.404/.713

 

Well, those are Hanley's numbers vs RHPs in 2016 and 2015-2016 combined.

 

That is a clear weakness on this team.Here's why: from 2015-2016, a team OPS of .713 at 1B would place you 25th out of 30 teams (down with the Phillies, Rays and A's. A .705 OPS would place you 26th- just below the Phillies. Versus just RHPs, HanRam would place 26th or 27th, and in fact the Sox are in 26th place in team OPS at 1B vs righties from 2015-2016.

 

Although our catching OPS has been pretty bad, until Leon came along, we still are placed 20th in team catching OPS. I know you love WAR (wink-wink), so here are those rankings:

 

2016:

C: 8th

1B: 8th

 

Papi retires this winter. Despite exceeding expectations on defense at 1B, HanRam is still a minus fielder. Whether we move up Moncada to 3B or acquire a corner IF'er, there's a good chance HanRam is moved to DH or another team this winter. There's plenty of reason to do so.

 

Then, next year, we can talk about how our DH is one of our weakest links.

 

[Kingface]

You crack me up!

 

The first time you've ever admitted a mistake and the thing you identify as the mistake was probably the closest thing you got right in your whole post. Too funny!

 

Is this fine for a 1Bman in MLB?

 

.245/.320/384/.705

 

or

 

.251/.309/.404/.713

 

Well, those are Hanley's numbers vs RHPs in 2016 and 2015-2016 combined.

 

That is a clear weakness on this team.Here's why: from 2015-2016, a team OPS of .713 at 1B would place you 25th out of 30 teams (down with the Phillies, Rays and A's. A .705 OPS would place you 26th- just below the Phillies. Versus just RHPs, HanRam would place 26th or 27th, and in fact the Sox are in 26th place in team OPS at 1B vs righties from 2015-2016.

 

Although our catching OPS has been pretty bad, until Leon came along, we still are placed 20th in team catching OPS. I know you love WAR (wink-wink), so here are those rankings:

 

2016:

C: 8th

1B: 8th

 

Papi retires this winter. Despite exceeding expectations on defense at 1B, HanRam is still a minus fielder. Whether we move up Moncada to 3B or acquire a corner IF'er, there's a good chance HanRam is moved to DH or another team this winter. There's plenty of reason to do so.

 

Then, next year, we can talk about how our DH is one of our weakest links.

 

 

Hehehe…….glad you recognized my tongue in cheek humor about me admitting I'm wrong.

 

I understand where you're coming from but keep in mind too that he has also driven in over 50 runs against RHP and has 10HR's vs RHP……so it's not like he's not producing in that spot. Pedroia has very similar numbers vs LHP but I wouldn't platoon him. HanRam has pretty respectable career #s vs RHP as well. Last year he was injured and not in the best of shape and this year he has been a bit off offensively but getting used to a completely new position can be tough for a guy in his early 30's. He has also come around as of late too.

 

As for Leon…..he's been a great surprise but I think we can both agree that he is not the full-time answer going forward into next year and we have weaknesses in the rotation with SEVERE consistency issues and the BP with no Koji, an aging Taz and Carson coming off TJS. My point is that next year I think they should put their resources to the pitching staff as HanRam at 1B may not be the most perfect solution…….it's far from the biggest issue.

[User Name]

What if Leon doesn't slow down offensively? What if something "clicked" like it did for Jose Bautista? We can't know for sure until he actually stops hitting, so we can't agree he's not the full-time answer going forward.......yet.

[Spudboy]

What if Leon doesn't slow down offensively? What if something "clicked" like it did for Jose Bautista? We can't know for sure until he actually stops hitting, so we can't agree he's not the full-time answer going forward.......yet.

 

Agreed.

 

No one expects him to hit .370 but what if he has changed his approach and he continues to make hard contact and loud outs? Most of his AB are pretty solid.

 

Can we at least consider that a guy who had previously hit .200 in only about 260 MLB ABs could "click"?

[Kingface]

What if Leon doesn't slow down offensively? What if something "clicked" like it did for Jose Bautista? We can't know for sure until he actually stops hitting, so we can't agree he's not the full-time answer going forward.......yet.

 

I agree that we should ride the horse as long as possible. However…..I'm not going to anoint somebody who has hit above .260 once as even CLOSE to the next Bautista.

[User Name]

No one's anointing him anything. The point is that we don't know if the improvement is real or a mirage.

[Kingface]

I actually do know……..it's a mirage. It will last a bit longer and then earth will hit him.

[a700hitter]

Hanley sux. Can't catch popups. No power.

And he can't throw.

[a700hitter]

I actually do know……..it's a mirage. It will last a bit longer and then earth will hit him.

Agreed. He will not hit .360 for the rest of his career or even the rest of the season, but for him hitting .260 with an OBP of 3.25 would be a big turnaround and enough to keep him in the big leagues. It is not as much of a long shot as you might think.

[moonslav59]

Hehehe…….glad you recognized my tongue in cheek humor about me admitting I'm wrong.

 

I understand where you're coming from but keep in mind too that he has also driven in over 50 runs against RHP and has 10HR's vs RHP……so it's not like he's not producing in that spot. Pedroia has very similar numbers vs LHP but I wouldn't platoon him. HanRam has pretty respectable career #s vs RHP as well. Last year he was injured and not in the best of shape and this year he has been a bit off offensively but getting used to a completely new position can be tough for a guy in his early 30's. He has also come around as of late too.

 

As for Leon…..he's been a great surprise but I think we can both agree that he is not the full-time answer going forward into next year and we have weaknesses in the rotation with SEVERE consistency issues and the BP with no Koji, an aging Taz and Carson coming off TJS. My point is that next year I think they should put their resources to the pitching staff as HanRam at 1B may not be the most perfect solution…….it's far from the biggest issue.

 

HanRam has always had a big L-R split. Pedey has not.

Career vs RHP/LHP

Pedey .797/.842

Ramirez .839/.909

Now that HanRam's numbers have declined, his numbers vs RHPs aren't close enough to his career numbers to justify being a plus at 1B vs RHPs. His fielding certainly doiesn't make up the difference either.

 

I agree Leon is not going to continue to rake like this, but I think he'll be good enough to be a plus next year, and with Vaz and Swihart in reserve, I like our catching future better than 1B.

 

I agree our biggest weakness now and this winter is the bull pen. Hopefully Carson Smith will be healthy and as advertised. Maybe Barnez and a converted starter (Kelly, Owens, Johnson...) can fill a key slot, but I still think we need 2 quality RP'ers.

 

Even with the addition of Pomeranz, I'd like to see us get an ace or solid #2 type. It would help us improve each slot by attrition and make ERod and Pomeranz fight for the 5 slot (barring injury to a top 3 starter.)

 

Here's how I rank our winter needs (weak areas):

 

1) 1/2 slot SP'er

 

2) Solid #2 Rp'er for 8th inning/back-up closer

 

3) Solid #4 RP'er

 

4) 3B/1B: I prefer 3B (Moncada?), so Shaw can play or platoon at 1B and HanRam/Pablo/Young and others can fight for the DH or 1B job.

 

5) 1B/DH- can probably be filled from within.

 

6) RP'er #6/7 (LOOGY)

 

 

[moonslav59]

I agree that we should ride the horse as long as possible. However…..I'm not going to anoint somebody who has hit above .260 once as even CLOSE to the next Bautista.

 

He's never really had a full chance, so never hitting above .260 may not mean much.

 

Plus, as user name said, maybe something clicked.

 

We'll know more by the end of the year, but even if Leon hits at a .700 OPS pace here on out, I'm not worried about our catching position at all, and certainly not more than 1B/3B/DH next year.

[Kimmi]

Agreed.

 

No one expects him to hit .370 but what if he has changed his approach and he continues to make hard contact and loud outs? Most of his AB are pretty solid.

 

Can we at least consider that a guy who had previously hit .200 in only about 260 MLB ABs could "click"?

 

As you said, he won't continue to hit .370, but he should be able to hit at an average level for an MLB catcher. With his defensive skills, if he can be average offensively, I'll take that any day.

[moonslav59]

,,,he won't continue to hit .370...

 

Maybe he can hit .380 next year!

[Kimmi]

,,,he won't continue to hit .370...

 

Maybe he can hit .380 next year!

 

LOL Wouldn't that be nice?

 

It's amazing how he kind of came out of nowhere offensively.

[a700hitter]

LOL Wouldn't that be nice?

 

It's amazing how he kind of came out of nowhere offensively.

it may be the biggest surprise of the season for the Red Sox.

[moonslav59]

it may be the biggest surprise of the season for the Red Sox.

 

To me, more than Wright, yes, but some seemed to think Wright and all knuckle ballers suck..