The Return of Pablo?

[moonslav59]

Ian Cundall ‏@IanCundall Sep 23

#RedSox 3B Pablo Sandoval got four at bats in the fall instructional league game today. Went 2-4 with two hard ground ball singles, K and F8

[a700hitter]

Ian Cundall ‏@IanCundall Sep 23

#RedSox 3B Pablo Sandoval got four at bats in the fall instructional league game today. Went 2-4 with two hard ground ball singles, K and F8

And 1 busted belt buckle.

[moonslav59]

By Brian MacPherson / @brianmacp

 

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Pablo Sandoval has progressed in his rehabilitation from shoulder surgery, so much so that the Red Sox have not ruled out his being an option in case of an emergency in the playoffs, Boston manager John Farrell said Saturday.

 

"If something were to happen that we can't forecast right now, does he make himself an option?" Farrell said. "That's logical. That door has not been closed."

 

 

Sandoval underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in early May, a procedure that the team said at the time would sideline him for the season. But Sandoval has gotten at-bats in two instructional league games in Fort Myers, Florida, and will play third base at some point after he gets clearance from a doctor, he said.

 

"I'm just focusing on getting better every single day," he said. "It's not my decision, those decisions, so the thing I'm focusing on is getting back on the field healthy to help my team."

 

"We're not getting too far ahead of ourselves here," Farrell said. "But, at the same time, I want to compliment him for the work he's put in, the way he's responded to the rehab, the way he's worked himself back into better condition. We're staying open-minded."

 

"I'm happy to be back with my teammates," Sandoval said, standing outside the Red Sox clubhouse at Tropicana Field. "The way they've been playing, I've been watching those games, and I know they've been having fun. To be part of this moment right now is exciting. It's exciting to be here with them."

 

Sandoval joining the Red Sox is not likely by any means, but he could represent an option in case of an injury to Travis Shaw, Aaron Hill or Brock Holt. That nobody has seized the third-base job, as Farrell made clear last week, only adds intrigue to the possibility of a Sandoval return.

 

Sandoval is in the second season of a five-year, $95 million contract. He hit .245 with a .292 on-base percentage and a .366 slugging percentage last season. That he could return in the playoffs, however, makes even more sense considering the fact that he won three World Series titles with the San Francisco Giants. He's a .344 career hitter in the playoffs.

[S5Dewey]

Now that Sandoval is on the road to rehabilitation, is it unreasonable to think that some team needing a 3B might be willing to take a flyer on him and pay 50% (or more) of his salary?

[Bellhorn04]

Now that Sandoval is on the road to rehabilitation, is it unreasonable to think that some team needing a 3B might be willing to take a flyer on him and pay 50% (or more) of his salary?

 

Possibly, but not until they at least see him play in some real games, I would think.

[kenmeister]

I'm not even sure Moncada starts 2017 in AAA. He might need time at AA still, finish up in AAA, continue in AAA at the start of 2018, and finally arrive for good sometime mid-2018.

[mvp 78]

I think he did enough in AA this year to let him start in AAA in 2017. 11 HRs in 45 games, .910 OPS, .379 OBP. Not sure he has much left to prove there.

[kenmeister]

I think he did enough in AA this year to let him start in AAA in 2017. 11 HRs in 45 games, .910 OPS, .379 OBP. Not sure he has much left to prove there.

 

How much of that was spent playing third base?

[mvp 78]

How much of that was spent playing third base?

 

He can't play 3b in AAA? Is playing 3b in AAA all that different from playing it in AA?

[moonslav59]

Now that Sandoval is on the road to rehabilitation, is it unreasonable to think that some team needing a 3B might be willing to take a flyer on him and pay 50% (or more) of his salary?

 

 

I'd guess maybe someone might pay 10-20%.

 

If he comes to ST'ing and looks good, and some contender loses their 3Bman to season-ending ijury, maybe then we could get 33-50%.

 

If he looks good in ST'ing, plays well for a few months and Moncada is ready for the FT job, maybe a deadline trade might get a GM to pay 50-70%, depending on how "good" he looks.

 

I think we keep him around until we know more about Shaw and Moncada.

[mvp 78]

What else is there to learn about Shaw?

[moonslav59]

What else is there to learn about Shaw?

 

If he's better than next year's Pablo.

 

If he can hit RHPs well enough to platoon.

[mvp 78]

If he's better than next year's Pablo.

 

If he can hit RHPs well enough to platoon.

 

I don't see him getting any better than he was this year. He seems to be a known commodity.

[sk7326]

I think he did enough in AA this year to let him start in AAA in 2017. 11 HRs in 45 games, .910 OPS, .379 OBP. Not sure he has much left to prove there.

 

Struck out nearly 40% of the time ... against AA pitchers. The swing and miss is real - there is a lot of work still at the plate. The numbers provide a sense of how crazy his ceiling is though.

[a700hitter]

If Pablo returns to form, big deal. He was never that good.

[mvp 78]

Struck out nearly 40% of the time ... against AA pitchers. The swing and miss is real - there is a lot of work still at the plate. The numbers provide a sense of how crazy his ceiling is though.

 

According to Soxprospects, it was less about swing and miss and more about him taking iffy strike calls.

[mvp 78]

According to Soxprospects, it was less about swing and miss and more about him taking iffy strike calls.

 

Also, his k% is 31% when adding in all plate appearances.

[sk7326]

Also, his k% is 31% when adding in all plate appearances.

 

I stand corrected - so basically he is striking out in Mike Napoli territory (his worst seasons). As I've noted before, how much of that is "can't" vs "conscious decision (Napoli)" is something which the scouting should answer.

[Spudboy]

If Pablo returns to form, big deal. He was never that good.

 

I agree.

 

I also think that the Sox will let him play in the Spring and that one thing will lead to another if he does not s*** all over himself.

 

He may be the starting 3rd baseman in 2017.

 

Ugh.

[Spudboy]

Struck out nearly 40% of the time ... against AA pitchers. The swing and miss is real - there is a lot of work still at the plate. The numbers provide a sense of how crazy his ceiling is though.

 

Yup.

 

The kids is very raw. He needs rep where he won't be overwhelmed. AA is the best place for him to advance his technique in any and all phases of the game.

 

If he seems to have caught on, move him to Pawtucket.

[a700hitter]

I agree.

 

I also think that the Sox will let him play in the Spring and that one thing will lead to another if he does not s*** all over himself.

 

He may be the starting 3rd baseman in 2017.

 

Ugh.

And he can gain all of the weight back in season. Pete, you give a lot of good Boston restaurant recommendations on TalkSox. You should probably hold back on that in case he is lurking.

[moonslav59]

I don't see him getting any better than he was this year. He seems to be a known commodity.

 

Well, he was .764 vs RHPs with 12 HRs and 41 XBHs in just 372 ABs vs RHPs.

 

That's borderline acceptable for a 3Bman. The problem is whether Shaw is the 2016 Shaw or the 2nd half 2016 Shaw.

 

I'm leaning towards somewhere in between, but I suppose there may be more to find out. I'm not counting on Shaw to be our 3B savior. I never did. I was down on Shaw even when he was doing well, due to his struggles in AA and AAA. However, I'm not counting him out of a platoon role at 3B with spotty work at 1B when needed, maybe a late inning defensive replacement for HanRam at 1B occasionally.

 

Most of my conjecture about 3B is going on the assumption that we will not acquire a 3Bman. We may try to pick up a player with one year of control (T Frazier?) to see if he can "bridge" us to Moncada or Devers. Otherwise, I look at it this way: Shaw has as good a chance or better as Pablo, Hernandez, Rutledge, Travis, Marrero or even a converted Swihart.

 

Edited September 27, 2016 by moonslav59

[moonslav59]

If Pablo returns to form, big deal. He was never that good.

 

Never?

 

The guy had a .943 OPS in 633 PAs in 2009.

 

He had a .909 OPS a couple years later.

 

Yes, that seems like ages ago, but couldn't "form" at age 30 be over .800?

 

He also has a .935 playoff OPS in 167 PAs over 13 series.

 

Look, I'm not Pablo fan. I hated the signing day one. He had declined for 3 straight years before signing here. He's grossly overweight. His decent fielding was in decline as well. That's the negative.

 

It's hard to find anything positive. I'll try. The SF Giants are thought to be a pretty smart club, They really wanted Pablo back and were upset he left. He's only going to be 30 next year. Players have had resurgences older than that. He knows he has sucked and people are angry, frustrated or worse about him. If the guy has just an ounce of pride under all that blubber, maybe he can (has been) work very hard to turn around his career.

 

I'm not hopeful, but I'm not hopeful about Shaw either. I have serious doubts Moncada will be our starting 3Bman opening day. That leads me to think we need to keep an open mind about all our 3b contenders, until or unless we bring in an outsider.

 

[a700hitter]

Never?

 

The guy had a .943 OPS in 633 PAs in 2009.

 

He had a .909 OPS a couple years later.

 

Yes, that seems like ages ago, but couldn't "form" at age 30 be over .800?

 

He also has a .935 playoff OPS in 167 PAs over 13 series.

 

Look, I'm not Pablo fan. I hated the signing day one. He had declined for 3 straight years before signing here. He's grossly overweight. His decent fielding was in decline as well. That's the negative.

 

It's hard to find anything positive. I'll try. The SF Giants are thought to be a pretty smart club, They really wanted Pablo back and were upset he left. He's only going to be 30 next year. Players have had resurgences older than that. He knows he has sucked and people are angry, frustrated or worse about him. If the guy has just an ounce of pride under all that blubber, maybe he can (has been) work very hard to turn around his career.

 

I'm not hopeful, but I'm not hopeful about Shaw either. I have serious doubts Moncada will be our starting 3Bman opening day. That leads me to think we need to keep an open mind about all our 3b contenders, until or unless we bring in an outsider.

 

He has had 2 good seasons out of 9 seasons, with the most recent being 6 years ago. I don't consider that type of performance to be realistic going forward. He has a career .790 OPS at age 29 -- nothing that great.

[moonslav59]

He has had 2 good seasons out of 9 seasons, with the most recent being 6 years ago. I don't consider that type of performance to be realistic going forward. He has a career .790 OPS at age 29 -- nothing that great.

 

I don't disagree, but this is different than saying he's never been any good.

 

Besides, .790 is actually a pretty significant upgrade over Shaw, especially 2nd half Shaw. Pablo's career split vs RHPs also blows Shaw away and is more than respectable (.835). Shaw is .753 v RHPs.

 

I'll take .790 from Sandoval as a platoon 3Bman vs RHPs at age 30. I'm not saying I expect that, but right now, that might be the best we can get from anybody currently on the roster..

[Spudboy]

Fatboy should play in the Puerto Rican winter league or something equivalent. He needs AB and reps in the field to have the best chance of playing well in ST.

 

I bet he decides to check into am all-inclusive resort that has 24 hour buffets instead.

[User Name]

VWL. He's played occasionally.

[Slasher9]

his postseason numbers are epic. activate him right now and see what he can do the final 5.

(my assumption is he can be on the postseason roster because he was DL)....

[a700hitter]

his postseason numbers are epic. activate him right now and see what he can do the final 5.

(my assumption is he can be on the postseason roster because he was DL)....

Good plan.

[Slasher9]

Good plan.

 

i hear you. but we have brought people in "late" that have helped us get to parades before. it's not like he's supplanting Mike Schmidt.....