A Realistic View at 2017 Part II

[Jack Flap]

I want to find out what Travis can do as well, but I'm not sitting one of our best hitters this year (Moreland) or our best hope for a legitimate clean-up hitter going forward (HRam) at this point in the season.

 

I'm not sure I'd have called up Travis just to platoon, but that is what seems to fit best with him RIGHT NOW on the 25 man roster.

 

I wonder if we could use Moreland in a trade for a third base solution or some pitching later in the summer...I'm sure he does not have a ton of value, but his contract is hardly burdensome and he's been producing.

[mvp 78]

platoon with who? Moreland splits are pretty even.

this is a terrible move by FO. or as maybe it should be called - a panic move.

if they brought up devers that would have made more sense as there is actually a need at that position right now.

even his parents were shocked that Sammy boy was called up right now. if that doesn't scream "panic" i dont know what does.....

 

He's getting on base due to a higher walk rate vs lefties, but I don't know if that's sustainable for him. His power vs lefties is basically nonexistent. I'm fine with the platoon.

[devildavid]

MLB.com

 

By Quinn Roberts / MLB.com

 

BOSTON -- The Red Sox called up No. 3 prospect Sam Travis from Triple-A Pawtucket on Tuesday with the intention of him starting at first base against left-handers.

 

With a rested bullpen, Red Sox manager John Farrell said it was the right time to have the bench at full strength. To make room for Travis, the team optioned right-hander Hector Velazquez to Triple-A.

"He's been swinging well. There is some momentum with Sam," Farrell said. "The fact is, we are probably looking at four left-handed starters over these next four series, so we felt like it was an opportunity to add another right-handed bat...."

 

Sounds good to me. Moreland has been a plus overall but it can't hurt to platoon to try the kid out and see if he can produce. Run scoring has been an issue this season so might as well try to add some more punch against lefty opponents.

[a700hitter]

With a struggling offense, it is hard to justify carrying a below average first base bat.

[mvp 78]

Sounds good to me. Moreland has been a plus overall but it can't hurt to platoon to try the kid out and see if he can produce. Run scoring has been an issue this season so might as well try to add some more punch against lefty opponents.

 

And if Travis looks good now, maybe the Sox will be ok with giving him the fulltime gig next year.

[devildavid]

platoon with who? Moreland splits are pretty even.

this is a terrible move by FO. or as maybe it should be called - a panic move.

if they brought up devers that would have made more sense as there is actually a need at that position right now.

even his parents were shocked that Sammy boy was called up right now. if that doesn't scream "panic" i dont know what does.....

 

You need to look at Moreland's power splits. And don't forget that he was supposed to be sharing 1b time with Hanley which has not happened, probably to preserve Hanley's physical health.

[oldtimer]

With a struggling offense, it is hard to justify carrying a below average first base bat.

 

With the top four in the lineup seemingly producing now and little power in the lineup, I would keep Moreland, who is doing fairly well for the money, and try to find a 3rd base solutiion separately. Either try Devers now, which I advocate, or get a decent solution. Trouble is, anyone decent is probably big bucks and perhaps a further impact on our minors.

 

We also are not where we should be at center and have a glaring lack of depth in the pen. Henbree has been awful of late and Scott not a lot better. With Thornburg and Smith both out long term, what can Farrell do?

[Slasher9]

You need to look at Moreland's power splits. And don't forget that he was supposed to be sharing 1b time with Hanley which has not happened, probably to preserve Hanley's physical health.

 

he's had 25 AB's vs LHP. what should his power numbers be?

[Slasher9]

He's getting on base due to a higher walk rate vs lefties, but I don't know if that's sustainable for him. His power vs lefties is basically nonexistent. I'm fine with the platoon.

 

he's had 25 AB's vs LH pitchers. what should his power numbers be?

[mvp 78]

he's had 25 AB's vs LHP. what should his power numbers be?

 

6% XBH per PA vs LHP.

14.5% XBH per PA vs RHP.

[mvp 78]

he's had 25 AB's vs LH pitchers. what should his power numbers be?

 

I'm just stating a fact that he less more power against LHP. You can check his career stats to see it as well.

[Slasher9]

right. every player not named Trout is going to have better stats one way or the other. first base offense is not a flipping problem for the Boston Red Sox. panic move. desperation move.

now if we are talking 3rd base? then it makes sense.

oh wait. sammy has 4 rbi in 29 AB's vs LHP. Mitch only has 6 rbi in 25 AB's vs LHP. my bad. you guys are right. i f***ed up and forgot about TalkSox math.

bench Mitch. forget platooning.... let Sammy play full time.

[devildavid]

I want to find out what Travis can do as well, but I'm not sitting one of our best hitters this year (Moreland) or our best hope for a legitimate clean-up hitter going forward (HRam) at this point in the season.

 

I'm not sure I'd have called up Travis just to platoon, but that is what seems to fit best with him RIGHT NOW on the 25 man roster.

 

I'm not putting too much hope in Hanley for this season or the future. Moreland has no power against lefties. Neither player should be considered part of the future of the team. Trying out Travis will do no harm and is not permanent. This is just to see what he's got. If it works out, that's great, if not, it's easy enough to send him back down.

[Bellhorn04]

I'm not putting too much hope in Hanley for this season or the future. Moreland has no power against lefties. Neither player should be considered part of the future of the team. Trying out Travis will do no harm and is not permanent. This is just to see what he's got. If it works out, that's great, if not, it's easy enough to send him back down.

 

Hanley is hitting 288/403/481 in May. Staying on the field is his main issue.

[mvp 78]

right. every player not named Trout is going to have better stats one way or the other. first base offense is not a flipping problem for the Boston Red Sox. panic move. desperation move.

now if we are talking 3rd base? then it makes sense.

oh wait. sammy has 4 rbi in 29 AB's vs LHP. Mitch only has 6 rbi in 25 AB's vs LHP. my bad. you guys are right. i f***ed up and forgot about TalkSox math.

bench Mitch. forget platooning.... let Sammy play full time.

 

Since when is giving a guy a few days off a panic move? I don't see the problem in trying to ease your #3 prospect onto the MLB squad.

[moonslav59]

platoon with who? Moreland splits are pretty even.

this is a terrible move by FO. or as maybe it should be called - a panic move.

if they brought up devers that would have made more sense as there is actually a need at that position right now.

even his parents were shocked that Sammy boy was called up right now. if that doesn't scream "panic" i dont know what does.....

 

Moreland has not done very well vs LHPs over his career. He's also rarely gone over 465 PAs in a season.

 

They may want to start just giving him a breather, so he can "last" all year.

 

I don't expect Travis to stay on the MLB roster, unless HRam never gets well enough to play 1B or Travis wows us.

[moonslav59]

I'm not putting too much hope in Hanley for this season or the future. Moreland has no power against lefties. Neither player should be considered part of the future of the team. Trying out Travis will do no harm and is not permanent. This is just to see what he's got. If it works out, that's great, if not, it's easy enough to send him back down.

 

Agreed.

[devildavid]

Hanley is hitting 288/403/481 in May. Staying on the field is his main issue.

 

And he hit 253/314/405 in April. I hope he has a better June than he did in 2016.

[Bellhorn04]

And he hit 253/314/405 in April. I hope he has a better June than he did in 2016.

 

He's a streaky fellow to be sure. As are many power hitters. I see no reason to be particularly down on him at this point in time though. His overall numbers for 2016 and 2017 are good.

[Slasher9]

Since when is giving a guy a few days off a panic move? I don't see the problem in trying to ease your #3 prospect onto the MLB squad.

 

my diatribe really began when a poster stated that the current player should be benched and that Sammy should be fulltime.

[Slasher9]

He's a streaky fellow to be sure. As are many power hitters. I see no reason to be particularly down on him at this point in time though. His overall numbers for 2016 and 2017 are good.

 

god forbid we miss out on one of his hot streaks. he can carry a team for a week or two....

[mvp 78]

my diatribe really began when a poster stated that the current player should be benched and that Sammy should be fulltime.

 

Well that's dumb. I'm fine with a platoon, nothing more.

[oldtimer]

And he hit 253/314/405 in April. I hope he has a better June than he did in 2016.

 

Having Hanley in the lineup and hitting with some authority would go a long way toward solving our current lack of power. Problem is he remains injured and I wonder about how motivated he is as well. Without him producing, our next most likely power bat currently in the lineup is Bradley in my opinion. Maybe his season is about to turn more positive.

 

If we do go after a big bat, we have to be careful not to make another high cost mistake. Just looking at the Rangers, who also have a high payroll, they have Odur, Napoli and Gallo all hitting in the 200 range or below. I think Frazier also falls into that range. Do we really want a 190 hitter who gets 25 home runs for the year? Whoever we get should be able to be plugged into 3rd base as that is our weakest current position. Marrero has solved the fielding issue but will never be a solid hitter. Devers is close and a low cost possibility. The FO doesn't think he is ready yet so who does that leave?

 

Going back to the preseason, some of our astute posters thought Holt should be traded as his value to other teams was greater than to us. We hesitated to make that move and lost as Holt is just another injured player with a questionable future. Looking at what we have as trade bait, and it isn't much and we also need relief pitching and possibly a 5th starter (4th if Price doesn't make it back).

[cp176]

my diatribe really began when a poster stated that the current player should be benched and that Sammy should be fulltime.

 

Thanks for the shout out here but nah you probably don't understand me so good. Once again, i'm not sure it was a good move to bring him up but no I am not too excited about 5 home runs and 23 ribbies coming out of our so called run producers. Could Travis help us out here, I don't know but if he only plays once every 3 or 4 days we sure as hell won't know and it will hurt any chance of his future development.

[cp176]

Well that's dumb. I'm fine with a platoon, nothing more.

 

 

Think I really said Sammy full time?

[cp176]

Think I really said Sammy full time?

 

Nah - just checked out my own posts. Never said Sammy goes full time.. Never said anything about "benching" any current players. Someone seeing want they want to see I guess. Happens all the time.

[Nick]

I don't care what we gave up for Sale..........it's a must see TV.

[oldtimer]

I don't care what we gave up for Sale..........it's a must see TV.[/quote

 

I was reaady to give up on the Sox with sale behind after pitching well yet again. Bottom of the 7th and wham. Alot of singles, walks, a wild pitch, ground rule double, sac fly and 7 runs. Sale now has a cushion and probably a well deserved win.

 

One thing bugged me early in the game. Rameriz put a 9 pitch out on Perez. Young took a 4 pitch walk. Beni came up and I had a sinkking feeling he would swing at the first pitch and worse hit into a double play. A 14 pitch inning instead of probably over 20. Perez was effective so getting pitch count up was important. I guess having young players means they sometimes fall into traps. He did get a hit and a sac fly so he is coming along well. Travis also had a nice first game.

[Slasher9]

I wouldn't platoon him. it is another one of the overused concepts. Let's find out if he can hit!

.....

[devildavid]

I wouldn't platoon him. it is another one of the overused concepts. Let's find out if he can hit!

 

If he plays FT, who sits?

 

HRam?

 

Moreland?

 

It really would i think depend on who is hitting. I'm not a big fan of either HR or Moreland. Since it appears that the only place for Ramirez appears to be the dh, he would not be playing everyday. The primary point that I was making is that even though platooning players based on the righty lefty concept is solid, i still think that it gets over used. i want to find out if this 23 year old can hit. I am ok with a manager actually deviating from the current gold standards.

 

Throwing in the towel? really - not how I see it. Maybe you don't understand me so good. I think that Sam Travis might be better than what we are yarding out there daily. So let's see, you must not be in favor of playing any of these kids right? Let's leave all of these guys down on the farm to help our minor league franchises be successful. What do you think - trade a few more of them for some seasoned veterans?

 

ok I will temper my enthusiasm a bit but it is a move that I see as a little confusing. I won't change my thinking with respect to using him maybe what once every three or four days with some pinch hitting jobs thrown in will show. i'm sure that he is happy to be called up. my question really is why? If he has been called up to provide us with a better source of run producers then he needs the opportunity to prove himself. Playing sporadically probably will not do it. With all of that, just for the record, I'm really not a big Hanley fan and I think that Moreland ultimately gives us some depth.

 

Nah - just checked out my own posts. Never said Sammy goes full time.. Never said anything about "benching" any current players. Someone seeing want they want to see I guess. Happens all the time.

 

So what exactly did you mean by all this?