The Benintendi Thread

[Slasher9]

hopefully he plays as much winterball as Sandy Leon did last winter....

[Spudboy]

All Benintendi needs is a steady diet of MLB pitching.

 

Why work the kid to death when his skills are already MLB ready?

[Spudboy]

All Benintendi needs is a steady diet of MLB pitching.

 

Why work the kid to death when his skills are already MLB ready?

 

If anything, he should spend some time with Pedroia in Arizona becoming stronger and more fit for 162 + games.

[southpaw777]

Beni should do his regular offseason workout and get ready for ST. The kids bat is MLB ready and is a natural ballplayer. Sox have one of, if not possibly thee best OF in MLB with the three B's...i can see another 300 hitter with 20+ HR and a high obp with Beni, as can most...his prodcution in 2017 should help make up some of the loss of Papis bat, Along with a DH signing.

Looking forward to a full season of Benintendi, JBJ, and Betts as our very young, affordable, athletic, and productive OF.

[moonslav59]

Beni should do his regular offseason workout and get ready for ST. The kids bat is MLB ready and is a natural ballplayer. Sox have one of, if not possibly thee best OF in MLB with the three B's...i can see another 300 hitter with 20+ HR and a high obp with Beni, as can most...his prodcution in 2017 should help make up some of the loss of Papis bat, Along with a DH signing.

Looking forward to a full season of Benintendi, JBJ, and Betts as our very young, affordable, athletic, and productive OF.

 

Beni may have to go through some learning curves along the way, but it's hard not to be really encouraged by his small 2016 sample size in the bigs.

 

I'm super excited about him playing a full season in LF. We should get a boost from that position, but I'm not sure it will make up for a big chunck of our expected drop-off at DH. Our team cobbled together a 12th place finish in LF WAR last year (+2.0). We also had the 12th best LF OPS at .759, which was just .005 away from 9th best. That being said, when you break down last year's LF OPS, you can see room for significant improvement by replacing Holt and the scrubs with Beni and also a full season from Young (particularly against lefties). Holt got the most LF PAs by a lot.

 

.850 Young (227 PAs in LF)

.835 Beni (118)

.720 Swihart (74)

.705 Holt (324)

.690 Brentz (64)

.625 Castillo (8)

.176 LaMarre (6)

 

 

[southpaw777]

Beni may have to go through some learning curves along the way, but it's hard not to be really encouraged by his small 2016 sample size in the bigs.

 

I'm super excited about him playing a full season in LF. We should get a boost from that position, but I'm not sure it will make up for a big chunck of our expected drop-off at DH. Our team cobbled together a 12th place finish in LF WAR last year (+2.0). We also had the 12th best LF OPS at .759, which was just .005 away from 9th best. That being said, when you break down last year's LF OPS, you can see room for significant improvement by replacing Holt and the scrubs with Beni and also a full season from Young (particularly against lefties). Holt got the most LF PAs by a lot.

 

.850 Young (227 PAs in LF)

.835 Beni (118)

.720 Swihart (74)

.705 Holt (324)

.690 Brentz (64)

.625 Castillo (8)

.176 LaMarre (6)

 

 

 

And the great thing being that Beni hits very well against LH or RH pitching. His being PH for as much as he was last year was completely unnecessary IMHO. Hopefully Farrell realizes that and stops with the matchup ********. Not every player needs it.

[mvp 78]

Curse of the haircut... Season is over...

 

If he doesn't grow out his hair this offseason: wait until next year...

[moonslav59]

And the great thing being that Beni hits very well against LH or RH pitching. His being PH for as much as he was last year was completely unnecessary IMHO. Hopefully Farrell realizes that and stops with the matchup ********. Not every player needs it.

 

He looks like a keeper. He looks to be good vs lefties and righties, but the sample sizes are rather small. Here's what I found:

 

vs RHPs/vs LHPs

.990/.827 A(short) 32/92 ABs

1.066/.782 A (long) 60/14 ABs

.945/1.069 A (adv) 103/32 ABs

.865/.900 AA 194/43 ABs

His minor league sample sizes are 289 ABs vs RHPs and 181 ABs vs LHPs.

 

MLB: .984 vs RHPs in 85 PAs and .429 vs LHPs in 33 PAs.

 

Unless Young is used as our DH vs LHPs, I think we may see a LF platoon- like it or not.

 

 

 

 

[southpaw777]

He looks like a keeper. He looks to be good vs lefties and righties, but the sample sizes are rather small. Here's what I found:

 

vs RHPs/vs LHPs

.990/.827 A(short) 32/92 ABs

1.066/.782 A (long) 60/14 ABs

.945/1.069 A (adv) 103/32 ABs

.865/.900 AA 194/43 ABs

His minor league sample sizes are 289 ABs vs RHPs and 181 ABs vs LHPs.

 

MLB: .984 vs RHPs in 85 PAs and .429 vs LHPs in 33 PAs.

 

Unless Young is used as our DH vs LHPs, I think we may see a LF platoon- like it or not.

 

 

 

 

 

Dont look at overall numbers...notice that his splits greatly improve as he makes his way up the ladder...THAT is what Im seeing...then when he was in Boston he didnt get as many opportunitities thus causing the inconsistency IMO. It certainly had something to do with it...there is not nearly enough of a smaple size for anyone to say he should be platooned....Farrell is clueless when it comes to that IMO.

Play Beni vs both LH/RH pitchers consistently and I think we will be very pleased.

[moonslav59]

Dont look at overall numbers...notice that his splits greatly improve as he makes his way up the ladder...THAT is what Im seeing...

 

I don't see it that way. I see numbers that are hard to figure out, but with small sample sizes, maybe we shouldn't even try.

 

He started out better vs RHPs than LHPs in low A ball, but he didn't even get 100 ABs vs RHPs and was just barely over 100 vs LHPs.

 

I'm not sure I'd call it an improvement in splits to flip the splits to being better vs LHPs, since there are more righty pitchers.

 

Then, although he did narrow the split differential between high A and AA, he was actually worse vs RHPs and LHPs in AA, so I don't call that "improving the splits".

 

Beni's 'improving the splits" was mostly a result of a complete and steady decline of his OPS vs RHPs at every level.

 

I don't know enough about Beni to know how he projects vs lefties and righties, but I'm sure the scouts and management have a better idea than we do.

 

...then when he was in Boston he didnt get as many opportunitities thus causing the inconsistency IMO. It certainly had something to do with it...there is not nearly enough of a sample size for anyone to say he should be platooned....Farrell is clueless when it comes to that IMO.

 

I think that it wasn't just Farrell that made this decision. It was the right decision. Young was our best hitter vs LHPs, and he was healthy when Beni got called up.

 

Play Beni vs both LH/RH pitchers consistently and I think we will be very pleased.

 

Iagree, unless we get a FT DH, and then Young HAS TO PLAY vs lefties. Maybe we can rest JBJ a few games vs lefties, but Beni will be the main guy on the bench.

Edited November 20, 2016 by moonslav59

[S5Dewey]

Just as a nagging thought during this off season...

 

Has it occurred to anyone but me that we're putting an awful lot of stock in Benintendi for 2017? This guy has about 100 AB's in 30 games. That seems like an awfully small samples size to have anointed him as our starting LF'er and sometimes leadoff hitter.

 

Some of us do, after all, have a proclivity to overrate our prospects!

[Dojji]

Not really. We have 2 distinct choices to replace Benintendi if he falters -- one being Swihart, the other being a Young/Holt platoon.

 

Neither of those options are as good on paper as Benintendi living up to the billing, but then again, that's just what depth options are.

[Beantowne]

Just as a nagging thought during this off season...

 

Has it occurred to anyone but me that we're putting an awful lot of stock in Benintendi for 2017? This guy has about 100 AB's in 30 games. That seems like an awfully small samples size to have anointed him as our starting LF'er and sometimes leadoff hitter.

 

Some of us do, after all, have a proclivity to overrate our prospects!

 

I agree that we need to temper our enthusiasm, but from what I saw last year. The kid has a pretty good command of the zone and doesn't appear to be overmatched. I can see him being a doubles machine at Fenway...

[S5Dewey]

I agree that we need to temper our enthusiasm, but from what I saw last year. The kid has a pretty good command of the zone and doesn't appear to be overmatched. I can see him being a doubles machine at Fenway...

 

Don't get me wrong, I like Beni and I think he'll do well this year. It's just that when I think about things that could go wrong having a prospect with 30 games and 100 AB's as our starter in LF is one of those places that's fraught with danger. IMO he's that 600 lb gorilla sitting on the coffee table that we don't want to talk about. The downgrade from the expectations we have for Beni and what we'd get from a platoon of Holt/Young is significant.

[Eddy Ballgame]

Just as a nagging thought during this off season...

 

Has it occurred to anyone but me that we're putting an awful lot of stock in Benintendi for 2017? This guy has about 100 AB's in 30 games. That seems like an awfully small samples size to have anointed him as our starting LF'er and sometimes leadoff hitter.

 

Some of us do, after all, have a proclivity to overrate our prospects!

 

This kid has the best pure left handed swing I've seen in a Sox rookie since Fred Lynn, he has a terrific make-up and all the comments I've read about him indicate that the people in baseball who've seen him play think he's going to be a terrific player.

 

John Gibbons said that the ball sounded louder coming off of his bat than any player he saw in the American League last year. That's pretty lofty praise, especially when you consider the bats Gibbons had in his own line-up. I think that the only thing that could stop this kid from being a great player in this league is injury, but I understand why people might be a little tepid with their expectations.

[Dojji]

No one should sell out entirely for a kid who's only played ~30 games of big league ball. But the talent is there, and if he falters we have options, so we're in a good spot to be hopeful.

[Spudboy]

I can understand there being some concern.

 

Some.

 

But I suspect that Benni is closer to a "can't miss" prospect than Mookie was.

[Emp9]

Some notable former Golden Spikes Award Winners:

 

Will Clark

Jim Abbott

Robin Ventura

JD Drew

Pat Burrell

Mark Prior

Alex Gordon

Tim Lincecum

David Price

Buster Posey

Steven Strasburg

Bryce Harper

Kris Bryant

 

I say we give Benintendi, who has nothing left to prove in the minors, his chance. He's earned his way to starting. Now, of course, he needs to earn it to keep it that way. Simple as that.

[moonslav59]

I'm more worried about Beni's somewhat fragility or injury risk than his performance level risk.

 

With Young, Swihart and Holt/Moreland as emergency LF'ers, I think we'll be fine in LF.

 

I see a major increase in LF production and defense next year.

[Spitball]

I'm more worried about Beni's somewhat fragility or injury risk than his performance level risk.

.

 

I honestly don't think Benintendi has been fragile or injury prone in his college or professional career. He did spend time on the 15-day disabled list, but it is pretty typical for players to suffer minor injuries now and again.

[moonslav59]

I honestly don't think Benintendi has been fragile or injury prone in his college or professional career. He did spend time on the 15-day disabled list, but it is pretty typical for players to suffer minor injuries now and again.

 

I heard he got hurt his Freshman year at college and missed a few games here and there on the farm with little injuries. I can't find anything on google, but I seem to remember reading he had a couple minor injuries in his short time on the Sox farm.

 

I know he was on the inactive list with Portland for 4 or 5 days in July.

 

Maybe "fragile" was too harsh a word.

 

Edited January 5, 2017 by moonslav59

[notin]

I'm more worried about Beni's somewhat fragility or injury risk than his performance level risk.

 

With Young, Swihart and Holt/Moreland as emergency LF'ers, I think we'll be fine in LF.

 

I see a major increase in LF production and defense next year.

 

Let's let Benintendi get hurt a couple times before he gets the fragile label.

 

If he goes down, the options are unimpressive. Most likely a Holt/Young platoon. The outfield at Pawtucket doesn't provide much on the way of depth. The Sox could bring back Rusney Castillo, whose battled injuries himself and has a prohibitive salary. But that isn't likely due to the luxury tax. It's a shame because he might be their best outfielder in AAA. Although that isn't saying much given the other options are Allen Craig and Junior Lake.

 

So ... Holt/Young if any outfielder goes down. Not exciting...

[moonslav59]

Let's let Benintendi get hurt a couple times before he gets the fragile label.

 

If he goes down, the options are unimpressive. Most likely a Holt/Young platoon. The outfield at Pawtucket doesn't provide much on the way of depth. The Sox could bring back Rusney Castillo, whose battled injuries himself and has a prohibitive salary. But that isn't likely due to the luxury tax. It's a shame because he might be their best outfielder in AAA. Although that isn't saying much given the other options are Allen Craig and Junior Lake.

 

So ... Holt/Young if any outfielder goes down. Not exciting...

 

I admitted that "fragile" was "too harsh".

 

Our OF depth is a concern. Young is not really that bad vs RHPs, and I'd really like to keep Holt out of the OF.

 

Brentz, Castillo and Craig are frightening. If we have to add Castillo half way through the season, only half his salary would count against the luxury budget. It's a possibility, but not the best.

 

More likely, we'd go out and try to find the next de Aza, DMac, Podsednik, etc...

[southpaw777]

Beni should be fine. Expect a couple injuries because of how hard and all out he plays...it comes with the territory. We also picked up former Cubs OFer Junior Lake...not that hes all that impressive either, but then again most depth guys arent.

[Kimmi]

Beni should be fine. Expect a couple injuries because of how hard and all out he plays...it comes with the territory. We also picked up former Cubs OFer Junior Lake...not that hes all that impressive either, but then again most depth guys arent.

 

Beni should be fine. However, as others have pointed out, we are placing rather lofty expectations on a youngster who is largely unproven at the major league level.

[southpaw777]

Im sure some are, but I'm not. I do believe we will get good numbers from him but theres a book on him now. Maybe a smaller one but im sure some pitchers will look for weaknesses. I dont think he has many and I also think he has the ability to adjust quickly...all that said, I do believe we will get better overall production than we did last year.

[moonslav59]

I'm trying to temper my enthusiasm for Beni. I really love this kid!! I realize there could be some bumps along the road, but I look at it this way, our LF defense was not a plus last year, and Beni should at least improve that area. The offense does not need to be all that great to improve on last year's LF numbers:

.268 14 70 (.759 OPS)

 

Here's last year's crew:

PA Player OPS

222 Holt .759

190 Young .779

102 Beni .856

58 Brentz .615

51 Swihart .739

(If you take away Beni's 2016 numbers from LF, the differential widens.

 

Looking at other positions of change and doubt, there is some room for optimism as well:

 

Catcher: .665 OPS in 2016

271 Leon .840

181 Vaz .584

111 Hanigan .449

34 Holaday .454

23 Swihart .669

While it's easy to envision Leon "coming back to earth", I also see it being easy to envision a vast improvement on replacing Hanigan and Holaday's 145 PAs of about .450 OPS offense. If Z

Vaz could bring up his numbers from .584 to .650 or better, or if Swihart gets more PAs than 2016, we could easily see an improvement on .665, even with a 150 point drop by Leon.

 

3B .686 in 2016

Our 3B numbers were about the worst in MLB. It's hard to imagine getting worse, but it is possible. Replacing Shaw, Hill and Moncada with Pablo and maybe more PAs at 3B from Holt, Rutledge and Hernandez could be a big plus.

392 Shaw .753

119 Hill .519

39 Rutledge .572

38 B Holt .645

27 Hernandez .927

18 Moncada .572

7 Marrero .286

5 Pablo .200

 

DH 1.045 and 1B .807

With HanRam likely to DH vs RHPs and play 1B vs LHPs, Young to DH vs LHPs and Moreland to play 1B vs RHPs, we should expect a significant decline. However, it may not be as vast as we might imagine. Nobody can replace Papi, but we should have much better defense at 1B and an essential platoon by Young and Moreland may surprise many. Young has been one of baseball's best hitters vs LHPs, but we're not really adding him to the line-up. Beni's addition is actually what should be counted vs LHPs, as Young should DH not play LF vs lefties. Moreland has had some decent success vs RHPs, but he's been inconsistent and is far far below Papi's numbers vs RHPs. If we lose .200 at DH and HanRam gives us the same, I guess we can count on about an overall .100 to .150 point loss at these two positions combined. That's a lot, but a full year from Beni and a bunch of kids getting closer to prime, maybe we can end up scoring about the same as 2016.

 

 

[Nick]

Posters keep complaining about our OF depth.....question

 

what major league team has better 4 outfielders?

 

for negative nannies, do you go to 6 deep, in an emergency don't you think we'll either acquire an OF or move Swihart there?

 

If you are talking about the farm system then I agree......also there are many here that thought Holt could start in LF.

[harmony]

Pardon this Seattle fan who can't stop comparing Red Sox and Mariner players.

 

FanGraphs Depth Charts projects 2017 WAR of 1.6 in 560 plate appearances for rookie Andrew Benintendi and 1.7 in 525 plate appearances for rookie Seattle outfielder Mitch Haniger.

 

Steamer projects 2017 WAR of 1.4 in 518 plate appearances for Benintendi and 1.4 in 440 plate appearances for Haniger.

 

ZiPS projects 2017 WAR of 2.2 in 535 plate appearances for Benintendi and 1.9 in 517 plate appearances for Haniger.

 

Steamer600, which assumes 600 plate appearances for each hitter, projects 2017 WAR of 1.6 for Benintendi and 1.9 for Haniger.

 

It should be interesting to see how each rookie develops.

[Spudboy]

And how do the other outfielders compare for both teams?