Rafael Devers

[Kimmi]

Two dingers from Devers tonight and one from Beni. Hard not to get a warm feeling when these kids are putting on a great show. The problem is that it has been a lot of them and Nunez and not so much of the others. We need Pedey back for Holt and Betts and Bogaerts have to contribute more. They should be able to but aren't. Betts is having problems with pitches low and away while Bogey just has too much motion of his bat prior to swinging, in my opinion. Getting Pedey back and Betts and Bogaerts putting up some numbers makes this team very hard to beat, when anyone other than Fister pitches.

 

Yeah, Devers and Nunez seemed to give the offense a spark when they arrived, but now it seems that the spark might be short lived. As you said, we are mostly getting production from 3 guys. The other guys in the lineup need to start producing up to expectations. Devers and Nunez are not going to be this hot forever.

[Kimmi]

And the "realistic" expectation was that Devers shouldn't be in Boston in 2017. People doubting Devers were wrong then and they're wrong now.

 

Yes. We all know that you were right and others were wrong. We get it.

 

That said, I'm not sure who said that he shouldn't be in Boston in 2017, so I don't think that was the 'realistic expectation' of anyone.

[Kimmi]

Thank you. Maybe some NESN guy could bring out some film. Koxx in 1937 (left isde picture) and Devers90 years later hittin in the right handing slot. I guess synchronizing might be a problem, but they could slow it down! I'll keep waitin; if they ever do something like that I'd probably miss it anyway!

 

Good stuff Mal. That would be awesome.

[mvp 78]

Yes. We all know that you were right and others were wrong. We get it.

 

That said, I'm not sure who said that he shouldn't be in Boston in 2017, so I don't think that was the 'realistic expectation' of anyone.

 

It doesn't matter who specifically said it. It was said often enough.

 

Now that he's crushing HR's off 103 mph FB's, maybe we should stop bickering about needing patience for Devers and just say that he's pretty f***ing good.

[Bellhorn04]

It doesn't matter who specifically said it. It was said often enough.

 

Now that he's crushing HR's off 103 mph FB's, maybe we should stop bickering about needing patience for Devers and just say that he's pretty f***ing good.

 

And that our offense should now be good because we have a big bat anchoring it!

[mvp 78]

And that our offense should now be good because we have a big bat anchoring it!

 

It seems to be going pretty good now, which shows to me that they really needed EE's bat from April - mid July. It seems to be the missing ingredient in the formula that cause the Sox to not play very well for long stretches in the first part of the season.

[Kimmi]

It doesn't matter who specifically said it. It was said often enough.

 

Now that he's crushing HR's off 103 mph FB's, maybe we should stop bickering about needing patience for Devers and just say that he's pretty f***ing good.

 

He has been pretty good. Do you think he's going to continue on this pace? Do you think he will never go into a slump?

 

I am preaching patience with him, for when he inevitably hits that bump in the road, because he is good.

[Kimmi]

It seems to be going pretty good now, which shows to me that they really needed EE's bat from April - mid July. It seems to be the missing ingredient in the formula that cause the Sox to not play very well for long stretches in the first part of the season.

 

Actually, the existing players other than Beni are pretty much doing what they've been doing.

[FredLynn]

It doesn't matter who specifically said it. It was said often enough.

 

Now that he's crushing HR's off 103 mph FB's, maybe we should stop bickering about needing patience for Devers and just say that he's pretty f***ing good.

 

He has had 68 PAs. Early results are good, but it would be very unusual for a rookie to essentially jump from AA ball on one season and maintain the kind of results Devers has had so far. As someone else here said, its time for the other guys to start producing: Hanley, Bogaerts, JBJ etc.

[mvp 78]

He has been pretty good. Do you think he's going to continue on this pace? Do you think he will never go into a slump?

 

I am preaching patience with him, for when he inevitably hits that bump in the road, because he is good.

 

I don't think he's going to OPS 1.000+ every year. He's great, but not infallible. Just enjoy the ride. No reason to fret over being patient when he's knocking the cover off the ball now.

[mvp 78]

Actually, the existing players other than Beni are pretty much doing what they've been doing.

 

So if the other players are "doing what they're doing," but the Sox have gained almost an extra run per game by adding a big bat to their lineup, maybe EE was needed earlier in the season when they couldn't score any runs?

[mvp 78]

He has had 68 PAs. Early results are good, but it would be very unusual for a rookie to essentially jump from AA ball on one season and maintain the kind of results Devers has had so far. As someone else here said, its time for the other guys to start producing: Hanley, Bogaerts, JBJ etc.

 

The upper echelon of players don't tend to spend a long time in AAA (see: Trout, Harper, Bryant, Stanton). It's very atypical for a player to become a top tier player, but not unusual.

[moonslav59]

So if the other players are "doing what they're doing," but the Sox have gained almost an extra run per game by adding a big bat to their lineup, maybe EE was needed earlier in the season when they couldn't score any runs?

 

They also added Nunez during the same time. He's been a big part of the increased run production as well.

[mvp 78]

They also added Nunez during the same time. He's been a big part of the increased run production as well.

 

Nunez is just replacing Pedroia's production, no?

[moonslav59]

Nunez is just replacing Pedroia's production, no?

 

One could say Devers is (and then some). Plus, Nunez has done much better than Pedey.

 

Nunez has also played 3B and DH.

Edited August 15, 2017 by moonslav59

[cp176]

I'm not exactly sure when the "appropriate" time might have been to bring Devers up but once the Sandoval experiment ended it was really a no brainer. The alternatives were to continue to think that a 20 year old wasn't mature enough or had not been exposed to a higher level of baseball for a long enough time. or to go out and trade for a one year rental until Devers was ready. in my mind, both of those alternatives were a joke and hopefully were never given much consideration. Outside of simply leaving one our little punch and Judy hitters at third, moving Devers was the common sense move to make. We all know that he will experience ups and downs they all do. It is just that here when he enters a down period, people will undoubtedly post that he was brought up too soon out of desperation. With that arm, he could be our third baseman for a long time.

[moonslav59]

I'm not exactly sure when the "appropriate" time might have been to bring Devers up but once the Sandoval experiment ended it was really a no brainer. The alternatives were to continue to think that a 20 year old wasn't mature enough or had not been exposed to a higher level of baseball for a long enough time. or to go out and trade for a one year rental until Devers was ready. in my mind, both of those alternatives were a joke and hopefully were never given much consideration. Outside of simply leaving one our little punch and Judy hitters at third, moving Devers was the common sense move to make. We all know that he will experience ups and downs they all do. It is just that here when he enters a down period, people will undoubtedly post that he was brought up too soon out of desperation. With that arm, he could be our third baseman for a long time.

 

One could have argued we waited too long to bring Rice & Lynn up.

 

Devers is doing great. I'm fine with the way things have turned out with this choice.

[sk7326]

I'm not exactly sure when the "appropriate" time might have been to bring Devers up but once the Sandoval experiment ended it was really a no brainer. The alternatives were to continue to think that a 20 year old wasn't mature enough or had not been exposed to a higher level of baseball for a long enough time. or to go out and trade for a one year rental until Devers was ready. in my mind, both of those alternatives were a joke and hopefully were never given much consideration. Outside of simply leaving one our little punch and Judy hitters at third, moving Devers was the common sense move to make. We all know that he will experience ups and downs they all do. It is just that here when he enters a down period, people will undoubtedly post that he was brought up too soon out of desperation. With that arm, he could be our third baseman for a long time.

 

If you looked at the calendar - the West Coast trip after the ASB made the most sense. Miss a Yankee series, get his feet wet on the road in fairly low profile games.

 

I think what we've seen so far is that Dombrowski quickly identified Benintendi and Devers as the foundational guys in the system - with everybody else being fair game to go get premium major league stuff.

[MADSTORK]

Great start..

Not a matter of IF he will slump, but when.

 

Error was costly leading to the 2 run HR monday night.

 

No doubt, he looks like a great player!

[mvp 78]

@alexspeier

 

Farrell described Devers' defense as 'better than anticipated,' suggesting that he's been 'solid average to a tick above.'

 

Well, he does have a positive defensive WAR.

[moonslav59]

If you looked at the calendar - the West Coast trip after the ASB made the most sense. Miss a Yankee series, get his feet wet on the road in fairly low profile games.

 

Great point.

 

Also, with 4 errors in 141 innings, we can see why there was a little concern over his readiness on defense.

 

I love the call-up. I said all along, I trust Sox management to know when "when" is. I think they nailed it dead on.

 

Sure, one can argue about how badly our 3Bmen did before the call-up. We can all wonder "what if..." until the cows come home, but we're in first place. Devers looks as comfortable as any mid-season call up could possibly look.

 

No complaints here.

[moonslav59]

@alexspeier

 

Farrell described Devers' defense as 'better than anticipated,' suggesting that he's been 'solid average to a tick above.'

 

Well, he does have a positive defensive WAR.

 

He's made some "plus plays" for sure.

 

I like what I'm seeing on both ends.

[Kimmi]

I don't think he's going to OPS 1.000+ every year. He's great, but not infallible. Just enjoy the ride. No reason to fret over being patient when he's knocking the cover off the ball now.

 

I always enjoy the ride. I think I am the least fretting person on the board.

[Kimmi]

So if the other players are "doing what they're doing," but the Sox have gained almost an extra run per game by adding a big bat to their lineup, maybe EE was needed earlier in the season when they couldn't score any runs?

 

Were we in first place before we got Devers and Nunez? It the answer is yes, the Encarnacion was not needed. Again, he would have been nice to have, but not at the expense of the luxury tax penalty because he was not needed.

[Kimmi]

If you looked at the calendar - the West Coast trip after the ASB made the most sense. Miss a Yankee series, get his feet wet on the road in fairly low profile games.

 

I think what we've seen so far is that Dombrowski quickly identified Benintendi and Devers as the foundational guys in the system - with everybody else being fair game to go get premium major league stuff.

 

If I'm not mistaken, you were saying that this would be the ideal time to call him up well before he was actually called up. If so, good call.

[bowman]

The Judge is in a funk, as all players sooner or later will experience. It's part of the growing process. Devers no doubt is the real deal. Been a while since we had a kid with a swing like his and at such a young age.

[cp176]

If you looked at the calendar - the West Coast trip after the ASB made the most sense. Miss a Yankee series, get his feet wet on the road in fairly low profile games.

 

I think what we've seen so far is that Dombrowski quickly identified Benintendi and Devers as the foundational guys in the system - with everybody else being fair game to go get premium major league stuff.

 

What I will also say is that I am very glad that Devers was not traded earlier. i feel the same way about Mookie. Whoever the GM was who had the foresight to hang on to these guys ( throw Benintendi and JBJ in there as well) did us good! I actually do think I know who that GM was but due to my advancing age, his name has slipped my mind. (LOL)

[cp176]

If you looked at the calendar - the West Coast trip after the ASB made the most sense. Miss a Yankee series, get his feet wet on the road in fairly low profile games.

 

I think what we've seen so far is that Dombrowski quickly identified Benintendi and Devers as the foundational guys in the system - with everybody else being fair game to go get premium major league stuff.

 

 

Agree - it just seemed like the right time. Good common sense!

[bowman]

With Devers at 3b, we really don't have much to bitch about. We could upgrade 1b/dh with a guy with more power and maybe another starter but overall were in pretty good shape unless the injury bug hits us. I know its a touchy subject, but I really don't miss Pedroia in the line up. No doubt he has a great glove, but Nunez hits, runs, and so far to me is a piece we were really missing on this team.

[BstHcpr]

http://deadspin.com/rafael-deverss-home-run-broke-this-yankees-fan-1797816331