A Realistic View at 2017 Part III

[oldtimer]

Apparently, both shoulders were hurt this year. Maybe it is a chronic thing, and we can't expect any better going forward.

 

I've mentioned he might need surgery, and it wouldn't surprise me to see him get it this winter. That could help or hurt his 2018 numbers.

 

JF said early this season that HRam would not play 1B the rest of the season, but then he did--a little.

 

Who knows?

 

 

By the way Hanley has reacted, with the show of emotion and the slash across his throat gesture directed toward the bench, one can assume that he was very upset by being left out of a starting position during the first game. Nunez got hurt, but Hanley has been aggressively hitting since then. Could it be that it wasn't just his shoulders which were hurting but his attitude as well. With he and Moreland both hitting, the team looks different. One point made was that all 14 runs scored by the Sox in the first 3 games were driven in by players #5 in the order and beyong. Otherwise Bogey, pedroia, Beni and Betts have yet to drive anyone in. Maybe they can get going and make the team more threatening going forward.

[oldtimer]

Devers looks better at 3B because overall he's an improvement over what was there, but only on the offensive side of the ball. This team cannot have a player at 3B next year who's making wholesale errors. The idea of moving Devers to 1B and acquiring a real defensive 3B is beginning to gain some traction with me.

 

I have been thinking along that line for some time now as the kid is having severe problems with defense, especially throwing, and may be better suited to 1st.

[oldtimer]

We were willing to live with Pablo at 3B. But Devers is not good enough for US? IDIOTIC.

 

Focus guys, focus.

 

We need a power bat at 1B.

 

We need one or more power bats. One of those can be Devers but we should be flexible if there is a better option at 3rd.

[OH FOY]

I would be more worried about Devers if he didn't have the hands to play 3rd. You wont fix that, either you have it or you don't. Throwing is about the feet, 1 play yesterday, nobody get Altuve. He has to learn to eat it there, so that is about the brains. 20 years old, expect it. Got excited. He'll learn about clock in his head, he has more time to set himself up at 3rd to make accurate throws.

You can work on footwork, to make accurate throws. Patience and practice and playing.

Edited October 9, 2017 by OH FOY!

[cp176]

By the way Hanley has reacted, with the show of emotion and the slash across his throat gesture directed toward the bench, one can assume that he was very upset by being left out of a starting position during the first game. Nunez got hurt, but Hanley has been aggressively hitting since then. Could it be that it wasn't just his shoulders which were hurting but his attitude as well. With he and Moreland both hitting, the team looks different. One point made was that all 14 runs scored by the Sox in the first 3 games were driven in by players #5 in the order and beyong. Otherwise Bogey, pedroia, Beni and Betts have yet to drive anyone in. Maybe they can get going and make the team more threatening going forward.

I love Hanley's show of emotion with that slashing move as well, but I'm not quite willing to accept that I have any idea of what it means. I think that your interpretation of it would be the easy one to believe but once again, I don't know what is going on in that dugout. What I would say is that over the years I do think that he has changed. He doesn't have the same talents for sure that he had when he was younger, but I haven't seen or heard anything from him for quite some time as in a couple of years that leads me to think that he has anything but a pretty good team centered attitude. I think that he wants to win. We need him to see that ball and to hit the ball!

[Nick]

I love Hanley's show of emotion with that slashing move as well, but I'm not quite willing to accept that I have any idea of what it means. I think that your interpretation of it would be the easy one to believe but once again, I don't know what is going on in that dugout. What I would say is that over the years I do think that he has changed. He doesn't have the same talents for sure that he had when he was younger, but I haven't seen or heard anything from him for quite some time as in a couple of years that leads me to think that he has anything but a pretty good team centered attitude. I think that he wants to win. We need him to see that ball and to hit the ball!

 

Hanley has driven in 62 runs this year, tied for 5th in a 3 way. Only our catching and 3B positions have driven is less runs. He supports a .750 OPS.

 

Is he that f***ING stupid? Stats don't lie.

 

Everytime he swings and misses, I slash across MY THROAT towards the TV.

[moonslav59]

Devers will get better with the glove. And big boppers at 1B are easier to get than a big bopper at 3B with a good glove.

 

Usually, yes, but in terms of just a FA signing this winter, Moustakas is better than any 1Bman on the market.

[cp176]

Hanley has driven in 62 runs this year, tied for 5th in a 3 way. Only our catching and 3B positions have driven is less runs. He supports a .750 OPS.

 

Is he that f***ING stupid? Stats don't lie.

 

Everytime he swings and misses, I slash across MY THROAT towards the TV.

 

He has had s***** year - I agree but I got no f***ing idea what that throat slash means at all and I don't care as long as he hits the ball like he did yesterday. I still don't think he is on the field for us next year.

[Nick]

He has had s***** year - I agree but I got no f***ing idea what that throat slash means at all and I don't care as long as he hits the ball like he did yesterday. I still don't think he is on the field for us next year.

 

I make extreme comments to just get a rise out of people.........

 

But if throat slashing was directed at JF for not starting game 1, then Hanley only needs to look at himself in the mirror. THAT was my real point. lol

[cp176]

I make extreme comments to just get a rise out of people.........

 

But if throat slashing was directed at JF for not starting game 1, then Hanley only needs to look at himself in the mirror. THAT was my real point. lol

 

Oh I know - and I agree with you but who knows what that knucklehead means when he does anything. I just like the fact that he has behaved.

[OH FOY]

Moustakas 3rd baseman, were set there.

 

https://kingsofkauffman.com/2017/10/09/predicting-spots-kansas-city-royals/

 

Anyway article says KC want to get more athletic at 3rd base, and will let him walk. He wants to go back to California. Contract 5 years 85 million, he signs with the Angels. When a guy wants to play closer to home only 1 way to sign him, pay him more than he is worth, or give him more years. Stay away from these contracts, they never work out, in long run.

Hosmer is their 1st priority, he'll resign with them.

Edited October 9, 2017 by OH FOY!

[Spudboy]

Devers will get better with the glove. And big boppers at 1B are easier to get than a big bopper at 3B with a good glove.

 

I say trade one of our stout relief corp to Milwaukee for Travis Shaw.

[Spudboy]

I would be more worried about Devers if he didn't have the hands to play 3rd. You wont fix that, either you have it or you don't. Throwing is about the feet, 1 play yesterday, nobody get Altuve. He has to learn to eat it there, so that is about the brains. 20 years old, expect it. Got excited. He'll learn about clock in his head, he has more time to set himself up at 3rd to make accurate throws.

You can work on footwork, to make accurate throws. Patience and practice and playing.

 

Very good post that sticks to facts and leave the emotion out of it.

[moonslav59]

Moustakas 3rd baseman, were set there.

 

https://kingsofkauffman.com/2017/10/09/predicting-spots-kansas-city-royals/

 

Anyway article says KC want to get more athletic at 3rd base, and will let him walk. He wants to go back to California. Contract 5 years 85 million, he signs with the Angels. When a guy wants to play closer to home only 1 way to sign him, pay him more than he is worth, or give him more years. Stay away from these contracts, they never work out, in long run.

Hosmer is their 1st priority, he'll resign with them.

 

Makes sense.

 

Maybe we trade for Donaldson or Beltre.

[Larry Cook]

Makes sense.

 

Maybe we trade for Donaldson or Beltre.

 

Any chance of trading for the Colorado 3rd baseman? He looks pretty good!

[devildavid]

Devers has the potential to be a good fielder. He has shown flashes of it already.

 

I have no problem with Hanley's attitude or production, when healthy. I just can't shake my pessimism about his long term ability to stay healthy.

[User Name]

Bum shoulders are usually career-altering. Look at Adrian Gonzales for proof of how a bum shoulder can permanently alter a hitter's ability to drive the ball.

[oldtimer]

Well, the season is officially over and the team acquitted itself well in Boston. A win and a very close loss. A couple of opportunities that we couldn't capitalize on (bases loaded no out and a double and two singles in an inning) for a run. Maybe an ill choice of pitch by Sale to Bregman and Kimbrell not sharp today. Lots of good memories and nothing to be humiliated by. Neither Pedey nor JBJ could get anything done offensively.

 

Some good young players going forward. The returning pitching is good. Adding a couple of solid power hitters and we may well return to the division series again next year.

[jad]

Well, the season is officially over and the team acquitted itself well in Boston. A win and a very close loss. A couple of opportunities that we couldn't capitalize on (bases loaded no out and a double and two singles in an inning) for a run. Maybe an ill choice of pitch by Sale to Bregman and Kimbrell not sharp today. Lots of good memories and nothing to be humiliated by. Neither Pedey nor JBJ could get anything done offensively.

 

Some good young players going forward. The returning pitching is good. Adding a couple of solid power hitters and we may well return to the division series again next year.

 

Agreed. Except for the last part: where are those "couple of solid power hitters" going to come from (it's not as if no other team is looking for them), and exactly where are they going to play? The RS won the division with the team they have, and when you look at the numbers, at any rate, hitting was pretty decent in the 4 games of the playoffs.

[Bellhorn04]

One good power hitter is probably what we'll be getting.

[oldtimer]

Agreed. Except for the last part: where are those "couple of solid power hitters" going to come from (it's not as if no other team is looking for them), and exactly where are they going to play? The RS won the division with the team they have, and when you look at the numbers, at any rate, hitting was pretty decent in the 4 games of the playoffs.

 

Well, one of the corners should be open and perhaps an outfield position.

[harmony]

Looking ahead MLB Trade Rumors has projected 2018 arbitration salaries for all teams:

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/10/projected-arbitration-salaries-for-2018.html

 

... including the Red Sox:

 

Red Sox (15)

•Robbie Ross (5.099) – $2.0MM

•Joe Kelly (5.029) – $3.6MM

•Drew Pomeranz (5.013) – $9.1MM

•Josh Rutledge (4.090) – $700K

•Tyler Thornburg (4.057) – $2.1MM

•Brock Holt (4.052) – $2.0MM

•Xander Bogaerts (4.042) – $7.6MM

•Jackie Bradley (3.150) – $5.9MM

•Sandy Leon (3.149) – $2.1MM

•Steven Wright (3.089) – $1.2MM

•Mookie Betts (3.070) – $8.2MM

•Brandon Workman (3.036) – $900K

•Christian Vazquez (3.031) – $1.5MM

•Carson Smith (3.028) – $1.1MM

•Eduardo Rodriguez (2.130) – $2.7MM

 

The combined projected salary increases for Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts, Jackie Bradley, Drew Pomeranz and Eduardo Rodriguez total about $19.4 million.

[Station 13]

Looking ahead MLB Trade Rumors has projected 2018 arbitration salaries for all teams:

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/10/projected-arbitration-salaries-for-2018.html

 

... including the Red Sox:

 

Red Sox (15)

•Robbie Ross (5.099) – $2.0MM

•Tyler Thornburg (4.057) – $2.1MM

•Brock Holt (4.052) – $2.0MM

 

Probably not worth the investment for those trio.

[jacksonianmarch]

I could see the sox negotiating with Thornburg for a 1+1 contract

[jacksonianmarch]

Add the $19.4 mil and subtract Moreland and Young's salary and you are still up $7.4 mil from this season before making any moves and now without a 4th OFer and starting 1b. I think the expectations of this fan base need to be altered a bit. The sox have some work to do on their roster and very little in terms of hard cash or prospects to deal from.

[Kimmi]

We were willing to live with Pablo at 3B. But Devers is not good enough for US? IDIOTIC.

 

Focus guys, focus.

 

We need a power bat at 1B.

 

It depends on what alignment works best overall for the team. I am not condoning moving Devers just because his defense was shaky this year. I think he will improve. However, if the Sox can get a better deal on a better player for 3B than they can for a 1B, then by all means they should move Devers to 1B.

[harmony]

Add the $19.4 mil and subtract Moreland and Young's salary and you are still up $7.4 mil from this season before making any moves and now without a 4th OFer and starting 1b. I think the expectations of this fan base need to be altered a bit. The sox have some work to do on their roster and very little in terms of hard cash or prospects to deal from.

The $19.4 million figure accounts for only five of the 15 Red Sox players eligible for arbitration.

 

No team has more arbitration-eligible players than the Red Sox, according to the MLBTR lists.

[jacksonianmarch]

Guys, Devers is a thick bodied 3b who routinely f***s up in the field. He's a 1b long term. I do not think the sox should pay big money to occupy a position that Devers will be occupying in the next few years. The kid has an exciting bat for sure, but don't fool yourself. He's not a long term 3b.

[Kimmi]

Devers has the potential to be a good fielder. He has shown flashes of it already.

 

I have no problem with Hanley's attitude or production, when healthy. I just can't shake my pessimism about his long term ability to stay healthy.

 

I am hoping that Hanley is back next year and healthy enough so that his option kicks in for the following year. I believe that if he's healthy, he will be a solid hitter for us. That said, you have a very fair point about his ability to stay healthy.

[Kimmi]

Well, the season is officially over and the team acquitted itself well in Boston. A win and a very close loss. A couple of opportunities that we couldn't capitalize on (bases loaded no out and a double and two singles in an inning) for a run. Maybe an ill choice of pitch by Sale to Bregman and Kimbrell not sharp today. Lots of good memories and nothing to be humiliated by. Neither Pedey nor JBJ could get anything done offensively.

 

Some good young players going forward. The returning pitching is good. Adding a couple of solid power hitters and we may well return to the division series again next year.

 

Nice post oldtimer. I agree.