A Realistic View at 2018: Part I

[notin]

How many times did you see Brentz play AAA in 2017? 50, 60, 70 games?

 

This year? Not at all. Did he suddenly learn defense as well as offense? How many times did you see him play?

[Larry Cook]

This year? Not at all. Did he suddenly learn defense as well as offense? How many times did you see him play?

 

I saw him play a lot in those previous years that he played, but none in 2017, and I thought his defense was average and his arm pretty decent.

 

He was always a guesser at the plate with a big wind swing, not very good at picking up the spin on the ball.

 

I think this year his shoulders were healthy because the bat speed returned to what it was a few years ago.

 

In my mind, he deserves an opportunity in spring training to win the 4th outfielder job, but we need to sign someone (Granderson for instance) for him to compete with.

[Spudboy]

This year? Not at all. Did he suddenly learn defense as well as offense? How many times did you see him play?

 

10-12 games.

 

You cream your shorts over your buddie's stats so go look at his numbers and you answer your own question.

[Slasher9]

Yes. I read on soxprospects.com it was just a minor injury.

 

No guns involved.

 

hahahaha. +2 points.

[moonslav59]

I saw him play a lot in those previous years that he played, but none in 2017, and I thought his defense was average and his arm pretty decent.

 

He was always a guesser at the plate with a big wind swing, not very good at picking up the spin on the ball.

 

I think this year his shoulders were healthy because the bat speed returned to what it was a few years ago.

 

In my mind, he deserves an opportunity in spring training to win the 4th outfielder job, but we need to sign someone (Granderson for instance) for him to compete with.

 

Granderson will likely be too expensive to be competition for the 4th OF slot.

 

I think Swihart, Holt and Lin will be Brentz's only competition in the spring. The job is his to lose.

[Jack Flap]

Gun to my head, I'd definitely say Brentz makes the 25-man roster to start next season. His 2017 performance showed he still has a few rounds left in the chamber, and one might even say Dombrowski shot himself in the foot by not calling him up in September...or perhaps Farrell was the one calling the shots on that one, and that decision may have helped put him in the line of fire. Who knows.

[moonslav59]

Gun to my head, I'd definitely say Brentz makes the 25-man roster to start next season. His 2017 performance showed he still has a few rounds left in the chamber, and one might even say Dombrowski shot himself in the foot by not calling him up in September...or perhaps Farrell was the one calling the shots on that one, and that decision may have helped put him in the line of fire. Who knows.

 

Raja Davis certainly did not help as much as anyone wished he would. Young never came around.

 

I doubt not calling up Brentz made much of a difference.

 

I'm okay with giving him a look this spring, and I'm not worried, if he fails. We'll still have Swihart, Holt and Lin who can hold down the fort until we acquire someone better.

[mvp 78]

It's always easy to find one. Which is why I'm so confused that they appear to be settling on Brentz...

 

He hit about .280 last time he was up in BOS. If he can keep that up with his new power profile, that's a pretty high value for a platoon 4th OF type.

[mvp 78]

This year? Not at all. Did he suddenly learn defense as well as offense? How many times did you see him play?

 

He's a bench bat. I'm not sure people fretted about Mike Carp's defense all that often.

[mvp 78]

I saw him play a lot in those previous years that he played, but none in 2017, and I thought his defense was average and his arm pretty decent.

 

He was always a guesser at the plate with a big wind swing, not very good at picking up the spin on the ball.

 

I think this year his shoulders were healthy because the bat speed returned to what it was a few years ago.

 

In my mind, he deserves an opportunity in spring training to win the 4th outfielder job, but we need to sign someone (Granderson for instance) for him to compete with.

 

Granderson? Nah. Too old and is a lefty bat. They need a right hand hitting 4th OF.

[mvp 78]

Raja Davis certainly did not help as much as anyone wished he would. Young never came around.

 

I doubt not calling up Brentz made much of a difference.

 

I'm okay with giving him a look this spring, and I'm not worried, if he fails. We'll still have Swihart, Holt and Lin who can hold down the fort until we acquire someone better.

 

Davis was a 37 y/o pinch runner. He wasn't brought in for his bat.

[harmony]

The 2018 Red Sox calendar has an interesting month:

 

https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-red-sox/2017/11/28/why-is-pablo-sandoval-on-a-2018-red-sox-calendar

[mvp 78]

The 2018 Red Sox calendar has an interesting month:

 

https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-red-sox/2017/11/28/why-is-pablo-sandoval-on-a-2018-red-sox-calendar

 

“It was not a mistake,’’ said Michelle Rand, senior brand manager for Turner Licensing.

 

Rather, it’s more a matter of not being able to predict the future. The deadline for the calendar is always the previous May, and in May of 2017, Sandoval was still a member of the Red Sox organization, just not a very productive one. It’s not an ideal time to forecast what a baseball roster will look like for the following season.

[notin]

He hit about .280 last time he was up in BOS. If he can keep that up with his new power profile, that's a pretty high value for a platoon 4th OF type.

 

But he won't.

 

His MLB career consists of about 90 plate appearances toover 3 seasons carried by an insanely unsustainable .416 BABIP in the face of a .301 xBABIP.

 

With normal luck, his .287 career batting average would plummet to .218.

 

That's less impressive for even a fourth OF profile, especially one limited to playing corner spots. The Sox would actually be better bringing in Peter Bourjos if that small sample is indicative...

Edited November 29, 2017 by notin

[Jack Flap]

I doubt not calling up Brentz made much of a difference.

 

For the record, I don't either - just wanted to cram a few bad shooting jokes into one post.

[Slasher9]

Gun to my head, I'd definitely say Brentz makes the 25-man roster to start next season. His 2017 performance showed he still has a few rounds left in the chamber, and one might even say Dombrowski shot himself in the foot by not calling him up in September...or perhaps Farrell was the one calling the shots on that one, and that decision may have helped put him in the line of fire. Who knows.

 

Charlton Heston would be proud.

[notin]

10-12 games.

 

You cream your shorts over your buddie's stats so go look at his numbers and you answer your own question.

 

So I guess you won't be answering my question.

 

I've seen Brentz play plenty of times. He's a corner outfielder with no shot at handling CF. He does have a good arm, but that is where his MLB skill set ends.

 

As a fourth OF he probably won't bring down this team. But if there is a need for him to play for an extended time, the Sox best hope is he can maintain the luck he had over his first 90 plate appearances. That he struggled for 4 full seasons in AAA, partially due to a couple injuries, doesn't and shouldn't lead anyone to believe he can make rapid adjustments to MLB pitching.

 

I think he makes the opening day roster. I don't think he will stay on it all year unless the outfield stays very healthy. Right now his biggest skill is the willingness to work for MLB minimum wage.

 

Did you ever see anything different in Brentz?

[mvp 78]

But he won't.

 

His MLB career consists of about 90 plate appearances toover 3 seasons carried by an insanely unsustainable .416 BABIP in the face of a .301 xBABIP.

 

With normal luck, his .287 career batting average would plummet to .218.

 

That's less impressive for even a fourth OF profile, especially one limited to playing corner spots. The Sox would actually be better bringing in Peter Bourjos if that small sample is indicative...

 

Travis Shaw was a better MLB hitter than a AAA hitter. You never know until they are given the chance.

[mvp 78]

So I guess you won't be answering my question.

 

I've seen Brentz play plenty of times. He's a corner outfielder with no shot at handling CF. He does have a good arm, but that is where his MLB skill set ends.

 

As a fourth OF he probably won't bring down this team. But if there is a need for him to play for an extended time, the Sox best hope is he can maintain the luck he had over his first 90 plate appearances. That he struggled for 4 full seasons in AAA, partially due to a couple injuries, doesn't and shouldn't lead anyone to believe he can make rapid adjustments to MLB pitching.

 

I think he makes the opening day roster. I don't think he will stay on it all year unless the outfield stays very healthy. Right now his biggest skill is the willingness to work for MLB minimum wage.

 

Did you ever see anything different in Brentz?

 

A 4th OF doesn't have to play CF for this team when all current starting OFers can play CF adequately. A big lumbering LF bat would be fine.

[moonslav59]

A 4th OF doesn't have to play CF for this team when all current starting OFers can play CF adequately. A big lumbering LF bat would be fine.

 

Yes, I'd feel fine with any of our OF'ers in CF.

[Maxbialystock]

Brentz the 29 year old minor leaguer whom soxprospects doesn't like? Yes, that one--but he also hit 31 dingers in 120 games at Pawtucket this year. Given our few dingers this year, he deserves a look.

[mvp 78]

Brentz the 29 year old minor leaguer whom soxprospects doesn't like? Yes, that one--but he also hit 31 dingers in 120 games at Pawtucket this year. Given our few dingers this year, he deserves a look.

 

He was a 28 year old minor leaguer last year when his power developed. He seems to have a track similar to Brandon Moss who was a capable player from 28 - 31. All anyone is really saying is give him a chance.

[moonslav59]

He was a 28 year old minor leaguer last year when his power developed. He seems to have a track similar to Brandon Moss who was a capable player from 28 - 31. All anyone is really saying is give him a chance.

 

Yes, and our 4th OF'er should never play, unless someone gets hurt or needs a rest, and since all our OF'ers are pretty young, that may amount to 10-15 games total all year.

 

I know there's not much to talk about, but who are 4th OF'er is is a minor talking point.

 

I'm fine with giving Brentz a look.

[Spudboy]

So I guess you won't be answering my question.

 

I've seen Brentz play plenty of times. He's a corner outfielder with no shot at handling CF. He does have a good arm, but that is where his MLB skill set ends.

 

As a fourth OF he probably won't bring down this team. But if there is a need for him to play for an extended time, the Sox best hope is he can maintain the luck he had over his first 90 plate appearances. That he struggled for 4 full seasons in AAA, partially due to a couple injuries, doesn't and shouldn't lead anyone to believe he can make rapid adjustments to MLB pitching.

 

I think he makes the opening day roster. I don't think he will stay on it all year unless the outfield stays very healthy. Right now his biggest skill is the willingness to work for MLB minimum wage.

 

Did you ever see anything different in Brentz?

 

What was your question?

 

I read and heard that Brentz had redone his approach and swing and the results seem to indicate success with the changes. Will it translate to MLB at bats? Who the f*** knows? He is like most other players in that regard.

 

As for his defense, it is nothing outstanding but he is serviceable and I do not believe he will be a liability in left. I have never seen him play center and I am not sure about right.

 

In any case, he has an audition for a 4th of spot and he has earned that audition. He either makes it or he does not make it. I won't lose any sleep over his status one way or another.

[Kimmi]

He was a 28 year old minor leaguer last year when his power developed. He seems to have a track similar to Brandon Moss who was a capable player from 28 - 31. All anyone is really saying is give him a chance.

 

Agreed. He deserves a chance.

[moonslav59]

Brentz did hit 30 HRs in 2011 (A and A+), so it's not like he just learned how to hit. He also hit 19 HRs in 368 PAs in 2013.

 

Yes, that was long ago, and his lack of power in between was striking, but there is hope he can do it at the ML level.

[moonslav59]

With arguably 4 bench roles to be filled for opening day, we seemingly have too many players out of options.

 

C:

0 Leon

0 Swihart

(Jake Romanski not on 40 man roster)

 

IF

0 Marrero

1 Holt

2 Hernandez

2 Lin

(Quiroz not on 40 man roster)

 

1B

0 Swihart

1 Holt

2 Travis

(Chavis not on 40 man roster)

 

OF

0 Brentz

1 Holt

2 Lin

 

 

[moonslav59]

Travis Sawchik wrote...

 

"...reason a club might consider sacrificing a draft pick and/or international pool money for him [Moustakas] is that, unlike teammate Eric Hosmer — who is perhaps the greatest free-agent landmine in the class — Moustakas has demonstrated real improvement in his 20s and might continue to get better."

 

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/mike-moustakas-is-the-former-royal-you-want/

[Larry Cook]

Doesn’t moustakas want to play on the west coast?

 

Let the angels have him.

[oldtimer]

With arguably 4 bench roles to be filled for opening day, we seemingly have too many players out of options.

 

C:

0 Leon

0 Swihart

(Jake Romanski not on 40 man roster)

 

IF

0 Marrero

1 Holt

2 Hernandez

2 Lin

(Quiroz not on 40 man roster)

 

1B

0 Swihart

1 Holt

2 Travis

(Chavis not on 40 man roster)

 

OF

0 Brentz

1 Holt

2 Lin

 

 

 

I like Lin as our 5th outfielder and untility man. He has really good speed and could fill the role that Davis held last season but at a lower cost.