The Playoff Roster

[illinoisredsox]

I agree and he can PH and PR. Both may be of use in the playoffs.

 

Marrero was 1-12 this year (and hit .198 in Pawtucket); the idea that he can PH is ludicrous. PR sure.

 

None of the 3 can be relied on as hitters (although Hill and Hernandez are better than Marrero in that regard), so it comes down to what else can they give the team.

 

And let's be realistic, if the Sox are using a back-up SS in the postseason, they are fooked anyway.

Edited October 5, 2016 by illinoisredsox

[moonslav59]

As bad as some of our back-up players are offensively, they still may be better matched with a particular RP'er late in a game. Since Leon is slumping (.426 in the last 28 days) and Holt struggles vs LHPs (.350 OPS vs lefties), guys like Hernandez, Shaw, Hill and yes, maybe even (rarely) Marrero may be a a better batter in certain scenarios.

 

(Note: some are very tiny sample sizes)

 

OPS vs RHPs:

.764 Leon

.762 Holt

.762 Shaw

.668 Hernandez

.527 Vazquez

.500 Marrero

.376 Hill

 

OPS vs LHPs:

1.062 Leon

1.056 Hernandez

.804 Vazque.770 Hill

.750 Holaday

.509 Shaw

.350 Holt

.258 Marrero

 

Last 28 Days:

1.467 Holaday

.724 Holt

.708 Hill

.625 Vaz

.500 Marrero

.485 Shaw

.456 leon

.393 hanigan

.333 Hernandez

 

[sk7326]

Realistically Young is the first righty specialist off the bench ... and Hill is probably good enough for another. Really I am choosing Merrero for #25 only because I thin a defensive sub is going to be more valuable than anything else given the talent pool.

[moonslav59]

Realistically Young is the first righty specialist off the bench ... and Hill is probably good enough for another. Really I am choosing Merrero for #25 only because I thin a defensive sub is going to be more valuable than anything else given the talent pool.

 

I assume you have Young, Shaw, Hill, a catcher and Marrero as the last of the 14 position players.

 

Where and when do you see Marrero being needed on defense?

 

I can see us PH'ing Young (or Beni) first- for Leon or Holt. If it's for Leon, then Vaz or Holaday comes in. If it's for Holt, Hill would (could) probably come in (vs the lefty pitcher) and be in place for the lefty the next time around the order. If a righty comes in before Hill's PA, then we'd probably PH Shaw and keep him in.

 

I prefer Hernandez over Marrero, because we may need to PH for Shaw later, if another lefty is brought in.

 

[oldtimer]

I assume you have Young, Shaw, Hill, a catcher and Marrero as the last of the 14 position players.

 

Where and when do you see Marrero being needed on defense?

 

I can see us PH'ing Young (or Beni) first- for Leon or Holt. If it's for Leon, then Vaz or Holaday comes in. If it's for Holt, Hill would (could) probably come in (vs the lefty pitcher) and be in place for the lefty the next time around the order. If a righty comes in before Hill's PA, then we'd probably PH Shaw and keep him in.

 

I prefer Hernandez over Marrero, because we may need to PH for Shaw later, if another lefty is brought in.

 

 

I guess we have to wait for game time to see who made the 25 man roster. I too would pick Hernandez over Marrero.

[mvp 78]

I guess we have to wait for game time to see who made the 25 man roster. I too would pick Hernandez over Marrero.

 

I agree. I believe Hernandez has also spent a little time working on OF defense to add versatility. I don't believe Marrero's glove is a big step up from what else is on the roster and his bat is nonexistent.

[moonslav59]

I agree. I believe Hernandez has also spent a little time working on OF defense to add versatility. I don't believe Marrero's glove is a big step up from what else is on the roster and his bat is nonexistent.

 

Agreed, but of late, these guys' bats have been close to nonexistent as well:

 

2nd Half OPS:

.440 Hanigan

.500 Holaday

.571 Hernandez

.619 Shaw

 

Last 28 days...

.393 Hanigan

.456 Leon (That's sub Marrero territory!)

.485 Shaw (same here!)

.625 Vazquez

 

Last 14 days....

.127 Shaw (that's his OPS not his BA! He's 1 for his last 23.)

.269 Leon (2 for his last 28!)

.524 Yoiung

.576 JBJ

.580 Holt (supposedly our 3B savior)

.671 Pedey

.686 HanRam

 

 

 

 

[mvp 78]

Well, Hanigan and Holaday aren't going to come in to pinch hit for anyone. There purpose is to be a backup defensive catcher.

[moonslav59]

Well, Hanigan and Holaday aren't going to come in to pinch hit for anyone. There purpose is to be a backup defensive catcher.

 

Agreed, but my point is that although guys like Hill, Shaw, Hernandez and Marrero don't look like the PH'ing types, they may still represent an upgrade at bat over these slumping players (catchers).

 

That's one reason I suggested possibly carrying 3 catchers- just so we can PH for two of them and still have defensive coverage.

 

PH Young for the starting catcher in the 6th or 7th inning, and then PH Shaw or whoever in the 8th or 9th for the 2nd catcher.

[greenwell]

Sounds like Hernandez and Vasquez are in.

[mvp 78]

https://twitter.com/PeteAbe/status/784043236339875840

 

Playoff roster.

[mvp 78]

Marrero not on the roster.

 

Relief Pitchers:

Barnes

Ziegler

Pom

Koji

Kelly

Kimbrell

Ross Jr

[illinoisredsox]

No real surprises.

 

No Robbie Scott might be a mild one, but 6 innings pitched in September isn't much of a showcase. Can't really argue with the guys they took.

 

Vazquez as the second catcher might be the other minor surprise, but really, once Leon seized the starting gig, none of the back-ups did anything worth a darn all season, so it's as good a choice as any.

[mvp 78]

No real surprises.

 

No Robbie Scott might be a mild one, but 6 innings pitched in September isn't much of a showcase. Can't really argue with the guys they took.

 

Vazquez as the second catcher might be the other minor surprise, but really, once Leon seized the starting gig, none of the back-ups did anything worth a darn all season, so it's as good a choice as any.

 

Considering that there are murmurs about Vazquez lacking focus, it'll be interesting to note how much he is used.

[sk7326]

No real issues here - Hernandez vs Merrero is a matter of taste and Hernandez can at least MAYBE be useful with the bat.

 

Barnes over Hembree I also have no real issue with - although Hembree's outstanding numbers against righties made him more interesting to me in this sort of setting.

 

The real question will be how they plan on using Pomeranz - keep him for long relief/mop up (like they did with Dempster in 2013) or deploy him more meaningfully.

[S5Dewey]

No real issues here - Hernandez vs Merrero is a matter of taste and Hernandez can at least MAYBE be useful with the bat.

 

Barnes over Hembree I also have no real issue with - although Hembree's outstanding numbers against righties made him more interesting to me in this sort of setting.

 

The real question will be how they plan on using Pomeranz - keep him for long relief/mop up (like they did with Dempster in 2013) or deploy him more meaningfully.

 

I don't see a spot for him to start.

[oldtimer]

No real issues here - Hernandez vs Merrero is a matter of taste and Hernandez can at least MAYBE be useful with the bat.

 

Barnes over Hembree I also have no real issue with - although Hembree's outstanding numbers against righties made him more interesting to me in this sort of setting.

 

The real question will be how they plan on using Pomeranz - keep him for long relief/mop up (like they did with Dempster in 2013) or deploy him more meaningfully.

 

Choice of backup catcher was more to do with defense, since none of them set themselves apart at bat.

 

I liked Hernandez over Marrero as he looks more poised at bat, although neither has proven much in that respect at the ML level.

 

I would have chosen Hembree over Barnes but they are similar in many ways. Tazawa being left off is a little surprise but I can't criticize who was picked instead. I like having Pomeranz as he has looked pretty good having gotten a little rest.

 

We still are weak at 3rd base but other than that, we have our best lineup available either against lefties or righties. Now they need to execute.

[sk7326]

I don't see a spot for him to start.

 

It's not whether he starts - but whether they use him as a matchup lefty or a "2012 Lincecum" 6-out option

[oldtimer]

It's not whether he starts - but whether they use him as a matchup lefty or a "2012 Lincecum" 6-out option

 

He was used in medium relief and did the job pretty well. I wonder how much rest he will need between apprearances?

[moonslav59]

Choice of backup catcher was more to do with defense, since none of them set themselves apart at bat.

 

I liked Hernandez over Marrero as he looks more poised at bat, although neither has proven much in that respect at the ML level.

 

I would have chosen Hembree over Barnes but they are similar in many ways. Tazawa being left off is a little surprise but I can't criticize who was picked instead. I like having Pomeranz as he has looked pretty good having gotten a little rest.

 

We still are weak at 3rd base but other than that, we have our best lineup available either against lefties or righties. Now they need to execute.

 

I'd have taken Taz over Barnes and Hembree.

 

He looked pretty good at the end of the season. He also has playoff experience. The choice was not that big a deal, though.

[Maxbialystock]

I'd have taken Taz over Barnes and Hembree.

 

He looked pretty good at the end of the season. He also has playoff experience. The choice was not that big a deal, though.

 

I would have too, except for one thing. Tazawa is nothing when that forkball isn't working, and, unlike Uehara's splitter, he can't be sure it will work.

[moonslav59]

I would have too, except for one thing. Tazawa is nothing when that forkball isn't working, and, unlike Uehara's splitter, he can't be sure it will work.

 

It seemed to be working the last couple weeks, and Barnes has not been all that great for quite a while.