2017/18 Hot Stove Thread

[moonslav59]

Hey Moon, With JD, HanRam and Moreland all pretty much 1st baseman or DH's....(the OF is obviously pretty much taken up) how do you see them all getting AB's? Especially with JD saying he would rather play the field full-time. I'm very curious how this shakes out. Not a bad problem to have but you gotta figure they are hoping JD gets about 550AB's.

 

1) We make sure HRam does not vest, so he gets under 495. He should only be guaranteed a start vs LH'd starters.

2) Betts, JBJ and Beni get some rest. JBJ might ride the bench a little more than needed for rest, especially during his patented cold streaks. Beni sucks vs LHPs, so far, so perhaps he sits a few extra games here and there.

3) JD only has over 517 PAS once in his career. He might not get 650+ this year no matter how hard we try.

4) Moreland should never start vs LHPs. '

 

If it wasn't for Nunez needing some OF/DH PAs to get near 500, I don't see a problem, 3500 PAs for the 5 positions (OF, DH, 1B).

 

700 Betts

650 JDM

600 Beni

550 JBJ

525 Moreland

475 HRam_____

3500 Total

 

[moonslav59]

1) We make sure HRam does not vest, so he gets under 495. He should only be guaranteed a start vs LH'd starters.

2) Betts, JBJ and Beni get some rest. JBJ might ride the bench a little more than needed for rest, especially during his patented cold streaks. Beni sucks vs LHPs, so far, so perhaps he sits a few extra games here and there.

3) JD only has over 517 PAS once in his career. He might not get 650+ this year no matter how hard we try.

4) Moreland should never start vs LHPs. '

 

If it wasn't for Nunez needing some OF/DH PAs to get near 500, I don't see a problem, 3500 PAs for the 5 positions (OF, DH, 1B).

 

700 Betts

650 JDM

600 Beni

550 JBJ

525 Moreland

475 HRam_____

3500 Total

 

 

If Pedey never comes back, the issue of finding Nunez enough PAs goes away, but let's say the Pedey is out 1/3 of the season and gets 400 PAs. There's maybe 2000 PAs between 2B, 3B and SS, It could go this way...

 

400 Pedey 2B

600 Bogey SS

550 Devers 3B

450 Nunez 2B, SS, 3B

 

We could give Nunez more by reducing HRam's PAs at DH, Moreland's PAs at 1B, or any OF'ers PAs. Then, there's injuries.

[notin]

If Pedey never comes back, the issue of finding Nunez enough PAs goes away, but let's say the Pedey is out 1/3 of the season and gets 400 PAs. There's maybe 2000 PAs between 2B, 3B and SS, It could go this way...

 

400 Pedey 2B

600 Bogey SS

550 Devers 3B

450 Nunez 2B, SS, 3B

 

We could give Nunez more by reducing HRam's PAs at DH, Moreland's PAs at 1B, or any OF'ers PAs. Then, there's injuries.

 

Problems like this do have a way of working themselves out. Injuries is one way. And it's always possible one or two guys earn the right to sit on the bench due to poor performance...

[notin]

If we need a CF'er, we move JD to LF and Beni to CF.

 

Nunez can also play LF.

 

Or Betts to CF. But either way you have to re-arrange the outfield if Bradley gets hurt. It's probably what would happen, and it's not horrible or unprecedented. But sometimes it's just smoother to have the backup who can play the position...

[moonslav59]

Or Betts to CF. But either way you have to re-arrange the outfield if Bradley gets hurt. It's probably what would happen, and it's not horrible or unprecedented. But sometimes it's just smoother to have the backup who can play the position...

 

It makes no sense to bench Nunez or HRam, so Holt can play CF.

[Natick to NC]

I'm not holding Cora to it but he seems pretty intent on Hanley as the starting 1b until he proves otherwise ...He is slotting Hanley in the 3 hole ....Not going to lie ....I love this Cora guy already !!!!! Mookie,Benny,Hanley,JD can be outstanding ...Benny looks like he's bulked up .Would really get excited if Devers slots in at 5 and sticks ...Goosebumps thinking about that top 5 .........then Nuney ,Xander ,JBJ,VAZ that's one hell of a deep lineup .....hate saying this but Pedey assumes the pokey Reese late inning role if I'm the manager and we are rolling . Edited February 21, 2018 by Natick to NC

[Natick to NC]

Arieta is still out there ....just for kicks what would the Redsox have to unload to obtain what I think is a perfect complement to Sale and Price .....Think any takers for Porkchops full boat . Edited February 21, 2018 by Natick to NC

[Nick]

Arieta is still out there ....just for kicks what would the Redsox have to unload to obtain what I think is a perfect complement to Sale and Price .....Think any takers for Porkchops full boat .

 

Everyone here thinks Theo is god. god passed on him. I'm going to follow what god did.

Edited February 21, 2018 by Nick

[oldtimer]

1) We make sure HRam does not vest, so he gets under 495. He should only be guaranteed a start vs LH'd starters.

2) Betts, JBJ and Beni get some rest. JBJ might ride the bench a little more than needed for rest, especially during his patented cold streaks. Beni sucks vs LHPs, so far, so perhaps he sits a few extra games here and there.

3) JD only has over 517 PAS once in his career. He might not get 650+ this year no matter how hard we try.

4) Moreland should never start vs LHPs. '

 

If it wasn't for Nunez needing some OF/DH PAs to get near 500, I don't see a problem, 3500 PAs for the 5 positions (OF, DH, 1B).

 

700 Betts

650 JDM

600 Beni

550 JBJ

525 Moreland

475 HRam_____

3500 Total

 

 

If Hanley gets hot and needs to be played more ABs than expected, then what. Nunez was our best hitter last year and JDM needs to be in the lineup as much as he can stand.

[Bellhorn04]

If Hanley gets hot and needs to be played more ABs than expected, then what. Nunez was our best hitter last year and JDM needs to be in the lineup as much as he can stand.

 

As notin said above, these things always get resolved one way or the other.

[cp176]

If Hanley gets hot and needs to be played more ABs than expected, then what. Nunez was our best hitter last year and JDM needs to be in the lineup as much as he can stand.

 

If Hanley comes out of the gate strong, my guess is that Moreland will see fewer at bats. None of them need to play everyday. Cora will have to find ways to play Nunez, Ramirez, and of course Martinez on a very regular basis. It can be done. Mix and match and everybody gets a little time off. I really like what Cora has said about Ramirez. We need to find out what he has left.

[moonslav59]

Arieta is still out there ....just for kicks what would the Redsox have to unload to obtain what I think is a perfect complement to Sale and Price .....Think any takers for Porkchops full boat .

 

We'd have to unload whatever his AVV is minus about $4-5M. Holt is $2M. JBJ is $6M or maybe HRam could save us $6M out of his $22M. Anybody else would create a terrible hole, except maybe Pedey ($13M).

[moonslav59]

If Hanley gets hot and needs to be played more ABs than expected, then what. Nunez was our best hitter last year and JDM needs to be in the lineup as much as he can stand.

 

That's not a bad problem to have, but I hear you. There is a chance 3 of our 4 best hitters are JDM, Nunez & HRam. There's a good chance 2 of those might struggle, too, but let's assume they don't.

 

Pedey's return squeezes Nunez out of a position and PAs. If we DH Nunez, then JD squeezes out an OF'er (JBJ?). If we teach JD to play 1B, then HRam is squeezed.

 

Moreland looks like an expensive sub. If Pedey ends up being a sub, we're looking at over $20M on the bench for 3 guys: Pedey, Moreland & Holt.

[mvp 78]

I'm not holding Cora to it but he seems pretty intent on Hanley as the starting 1b until he proves otherwise ...He is slotting Hanley in the 3 hole ....Not going to lie ....I love this Cora guy already !!!!! Mookie,Benny,Hanley,JD can be outstanding ...Benny looks like he's bulked up .Would really get excited if Devers slots in at 5 and sticks ...Goosebumps thinking about that top 5 .........then Nuney ,Xander ,JBJ,VAZ that's one hell of a deep lineup .....hate saying this but Pedey assumes the pokey Reese late inning role if I'm the manager and we are rolling .

 

If Hanley is put 3rd, he won't last there very long. I think he's just saying this to prop up Hanley who may be worried at languishing behind Mitch and JD.

[mvp 78]

Arieta is still out there ....just for kicks what would the Redsox have to unload to obtain what I think is a perfect complement to Sale and Price .....Think any takers for Porkchops full boat .

 

Not a chance with Panda's dead money still on the payroll.

[mvp 78]

That's not a bad problem to have, but I hear you. There is a chance 3 of our 4 best hitters are JDM, Nunez & HRam. There's a good chance 2 of those might struggle, too, but let's assume they don't.

 

Pedey's return squeezes Nunez out of a position and PAs. If we DH Nunez, then JD squeezes out an OF'er (JBJ?). If we teach JD to play 1B, then HRam is squeezed.

 

Moreland looks like an expensive sub. If Pedey ends up being a sub, we're looking at over $20M on the bench for 3 guys: Pedey, Moreland & Holt.

 

HRam was one of the worst hitters on the club last year. Not sure why you think he'd be top 4 this year.

[moonslav59]

HRam was one of the worst hitters on the club last year. Not sure why you think he'd be top 4 this year.

 

1) I did not say I think he will be. I said he could be, and he can.

2) I do not put as much emphasis on just last year's numbers. HRam has had some very good to great years in the last 4-6 years.

[moonslav59]

If Hanley is put 3rd, he won't last there very long. I think he's just saying this to prop up Hanley who may be worried at languishing behind Mitch and JD.

 

I'm sure that's one of the motives for saying it, but it's not a far-fetched idea.

 

Besides, I think the data suggest you put your 5th or 6th best hitter up 3rd, so that seems about right.

[mvp 78]

1) I did not say I think he will be. I said he could be, and he can.

2) I do not put as much emphasis on just last year's numbers. HRam has had some very good to great years in the last 4-6 years.

 

And he's had more than one bad year. He was dog s*** in 2015 too. If he's been bad 2 out of the last 3 years, there's a very good chance he'll be bad this year too.

[mvp 78]

I'm sure that's one of the motives for saying it, but it's not a far-fetched idea.

 

Besides, I think the data suggest you put your 5th or 6th best hitter up 3rd, so that seems about right.

 

For a lineup including Hanley, I'd go:

 

Betts

Beni

Nunez

JD

Devers

Xander

Hanley

JBJ

Vazquez

 

Hanley is a 7th hitter all day.

[cp176]

1) I did not say I think he will be. I said he could be, and he can.

2) I do not put as much emphasis on just last year's numbers. HRam has had some very good to great years in the last 4-6 years.

 

I think that Cora wants to win . That is a good thing. They have to find out early what Hanley has. Maybe it is a big if but if he has it then having him in the lineup will us win more games. It is that simple.

[mvp 78]

I think that Cora wants to win . That is a good thing. They have to find out early what Hanley has. Maybe it is a big if but if he has it then having him in the lineup will us win more games. It is that simple.

 

And if he sucks through April, they better DFA him.

[cp176]

And if he sucks through April, they better DFA him.

 

I would think and hope that they would at least sit him down. I think that from the sounds of things Cora gets it. It isn't simply because I agree with everything he has said that he will do to date either.

[mvp 78]

I would think and hope that they would at least sit him down. I think that from the sounds of things Cora gets it. It isn't simply because I agree with everything he has said that he will do to date either.

 

It's new territory with Cora for sure. None of us no for certain how he'll react or manage from game to game. Should be interesting. I hope it's better than Farrell's asleep at the wheel routine.

[cp176]

It's new territory with Cora for sure. None of us no for certain how he'll react or manage from game to game. Should be interesting. I hope it's better than Farrell's asleep at the wheel routine.

 

He just sounds a little less robotic to me. He sounds like a for real human and I like that. I'm sure that Farrell is also a good guy but he was as stiff as a board. I think that it is going to be ok to laugh and act like you are having fun this year. It is a privilege to be able to play at the ml level. It is ok to loosen up a little and enjoy it. I also like what he has said with respect to some subtle baseball differences as well such as he still wants aggressiveness on the base paths but we need to be a little less reckless.

[mvp 78]

He just sounds a little less robotic to me. He sounds like a for real human and I like that. I'm sure that Farrell is also a good guy but he was as stiff as a board. I think that it is going to be ok to laugh and act like you are having fun this year. It is a privilege to be able to play at the ml level. It is ok to loosen up a little and enjoy it. I also like what he has said with respect to some subtle baseball differences as well such as he still wants aggressiveness on the base paths but we need to be a little less reckless.

 

Honestly, former IF's are probably better at managing the game than a guy who'd hit the showers before the game was over.

[Bellhorn04]

And he's had more than one bad year. He was dog s*** in 2015 too. If he's been bad 2 out of the last 3 years, there's a very good chance he'll be bad this year too.

 

The Pollyanna take is that Hanley was hurt in 2015, healthy in 2016, hurt in 2017, healthy in 2018.

[sk7326]

Lineup:

 

LF: Benintendi

RF: Betts

DH: Martinez

1B: Moreland/Ramirez

SS: Bogaerts

3B: Devers

C: Vasquez

2B: Nunez

CF: Bradley

 

Yes, Vasquez at 8 or 9 is conventional. But I think having a decent chance to turn RBI opportunities over to Benintendi and Betts is a good idea. This allows them to be table setters without hampering their RBI opportunities too much.

Edited February 21, 2018 by sk7326

[Nick]

I appreciate everyone's line up input BUT

 

What part of Cora saying he wants to bat Betts and Beni at the top of the order don't you understand?

[Bellhorn04]

I appreciate everyone's line up input BUT

 

What part of Cora saying he wants to bat Betts and Beni at the top of the order don't you understand?

 

It's no use, a lot of people love playing here's my lineup for some reason.