A Realistic View at 2018: Part II

[Bellhorn04]

I'd like to give a little shout out to Brock Holt, whom nearly everyone here was against bringing back for a mere $2.2 million.

 

After the terrible time that he had last year with the concussion issues, he has bounced back fairly well and has come up with a few big pinch hits. Additionally, he seems to be a great presence in the clubhouse and just an overall good person. Anyone who gets nominated for the Roberto Clemente Award is okay in my book.

 

Good for him.

 

I think you have to give some kudos to Dombrowski for this too. It would have been easy to write Holt off after the miserable season in 2017. But Dombrowski showed $2.2 million worth of faith that he would turn it around.

[moonslav59]

I think you have to give some kudos to Dombrowski for this too. It would have been easy to write Holt off after the miserable season in 2017. But Dombrowski showed $2.2 million worth of faith that he would turn it around.

 

He also wanted as much Pedey insurance as he could have. I'm glad he didn't count on Marco Hernandez (again).

 

Not only was I wrong about us not needing Holt, we had to go out and get Kinsler and Phillips to get where we are now.

Edited September 16, 2018 by moonslav59

[oldtimer]

I had Holt in just about every trade suggestion I made. I guess my hopes for a Pedey return and a healthy Nunez out of the gate clouded my judgement. I also did not expect a .700 plus OPS.

 

He's been a key piece in this year's team. He was doing better than Nunez, but we kept playing Nunez more-- not a peep from Brock. He's a true team player who always gives is all.

 

I'm glad we kept him, but I can't promise he won't be in some of my trade suggestions this winter.

 

 

 

It was reasonable to think Brock might not return well from his concussion issues and add value to the team. I was skeptical about him as well. Holt has returned and has helped in many ways. Not to denigrate Nunez, he was making his way back from knee issues and only fairly recently showed signs of being fully healthy, according to Cora. I now believe both would help the team again next season as well in utility roles. Pedey will need help during the 162 game season and Devers is by no means a top 3rd baseman and is still developing.

 

We have a strong core back next season. Along with them, at catcher I would let one of our current guys go and try to sign a FA. Lecroy comes to mind. With that group we would need one more probably as a backup at 1st for Moreland. Let it be a contest with Swihart, Dalbac and Chavis having a shot.

[S5Dewey]

It was reasonable to think Brock might not return well from his concussion issues and add value to the team. I was skeptical about him as well. Holt has returned and has helped in many ways. Not to denigrate Nunez, he was making his way back from knee issues and only fairly recently showed signs of being fully healthy, according to Cora. I now believe both would help the team again next season as well in utility roles. Pedey will need help during the 162 game season and Devers is by no means a top 3rd baseman and is still developing.

 

 

Are we being unduly optimistic thinking that Pedey might be back at all? IMO there's a real possibility that his career is essentially over. (Don't shoot the messenger!!)

[moonslav59]

Are we being unduly optimistic thinking that Pedey might be back at all? IMO there's a real possibility that his career is essentially over. (Don't shoot the messenger!!)

 

I would plan on getting zero PAs from Pedey next year,

[S5Dewey]

I would plan on getting zero PAs from Pedey next year,

 

That's my thought too. Anything beyond that is a pleasant surprise.

[moonslav59]

That's my thought too. Anything beyond that is a pleasant surprise.

 

This then begs the questions, is Nunez (may be needed at 3B, too), Holt, Lin and Marco Hernandez (Quiroz) enough?

 

Do we bring back Kinsler, Phillips or sign someone else?

[Nick]

Can we just stick a fork in Pomeranz?

[a700hitter]

Can we just stick a fork in Pomeranz?

I thought that had already been done.

[Nick]

I thought that had already been done.

 

We keep using him.

[moonslav59]

Can we just stick a fork in Pomeranz?

 

I thought I noticed a fork sticking out of his ass out there on the mound today before he even threw one pitch.

[Larry Cook]

Can we really bring back Nunez, the one legged wonder next season.

 

I would feel much better with better utility infielder than Nunez next season,

 

Nunez is an injury waiting to happen,

[moonslav59]

Can we really bring back Nunez, the one legged wonder next season.

 

I would feel much better with better utility infielder than Nunez next season,

 

Nunez is an injury waiting to happen,

 

He's signed for another year ($4M).

 

I guess we could try to trade him, but I think we won't.

[Kimmi]

I think you have to give some kudos to Dombrowski for this too. It would have been easy to write Holt off after the miserable season in 2017. But Dombrowski showed $2.2 million worth of faith that he would turn it around.

 

Absolutely Bell. Good job by Dave.

 

On this move, Dombrowski and I completely agree.

[Kimmi]

It was reasonable to think Brock might not return well from his concussion issues and add value to the team. I was skeptical about him as well. Holt has returned and has helped in many ways. Not to denigrate Nunez, he was making his way back from knee issues and only fairly recently showed signs of being fully healthy, according to Cora. I now believe both would help the team again next season as well in utility roles. Pedey will need help during the 162 game season and Devers is by no means a top 3rd baseman and is still developing.

 

We have a strong core back next season. Along with them, at catcher I would let one of our current guys go and try to sign a FA. Lecroy comes to mind. With that group we would need one more probably as a backup at 1st for Moreland. Let it be a contest with Swihart, Dalbac and Chavis having a shot.

 

It was possible that Holt would not be able to return to full health, but IMO, this is the kind of deal you take a chance with. It's $2.2 million, which is nothing in baseball terms. If he stinks, it's fairly easy for a team to eat that contract. If he's healthy, then it becomes good value.

[dgalehouse]

Simply put , Brock Holt is a better ballplayer than many thought.

[oldtimer]

Simply put , Brock Holt is a better ballplayer than many thought.

 

And he appears to have returned to health.

[moonslav59]

Simply put , Brock Holt is a better ballplayer than many thought.

 

Yes, that is true, but so is this....

 

He's a .720 hitter who is not really a plus defender anywhere.

[oldtimer]

Yes, that is true, but so is this....

 

He's a .720 hitter who is not really a plus defender anywhere.

 

He has value as a utiliity player, not because he is a great defender at one position but because he is versatile and can play many. If he was a plus defender in one infield position, he might well have held that position as a everyday player.

[moonslav59]

He has value as a utiliity player, not because he is a great defender at one position but because he is versatile and can play many. If he was a plus defender in one infield position, he might well have held that position as a everyday player.

 

I understand that.

 

Plus, .720 is not bad even for many starters at 2b and 3B, including our own team.

 

Sox 2B: .671

 

Sox 3B: .697

 

Look, I'm glad we have him. I'm glad we kept him. I admit I was wrong.

 

My feeling last winter was that we no longer had a DH only DH, and the need for a super utility player who could play 7 positions was no longer that important anymore. I had also hoped Pedey would return after a couple months, Nunes would be healthy and Marco Hernandez or Lin could cover, if needed.

 

I'm glad my trade suggestion was not followed.

 

[S5Dewey]

This then begs the questions, is Nunez (may be needed at 3B, too), Holt, Lin and Marco Hernandez (Quiroz) enough?

 

Do we bring back Kinsler, Phillips or sign someone else?

 

Kinsler is getting ~$9MM this year and without doing the research I don't know how that compares to other 2Bmen. If he's looking for anything near that I wouldn't move on him until I knew what was up with Pedey.

[moonslav59]

Kinsler is getting ~$9MM this year and without doing the research I don't know how that compares to other 2Bmen. If he's looking for anything near that I wouldn't move on him until I knew what was up with Pedey.

 

We won't know much about Pedey until he gets out there, assuming he does.

 

I mentioned maybe signing LeMahieu. We might try Phillips but he's going to be another year older.

 

We'll find someone to add depth.

[Nick]

Yes, that is true, but so is this....

 

He's a .720 hitter who is not really a plus defender anywhere.

 

He has value on this Red Sox team. No more, no less.

 

What can you get for him in a trade? Not much.

[Nick]

We won't know much about Pedey until he gets out there, assuming he does.

 

I mentioned maybe signing LeMahieu. We might try Phillips but he's going to be another year older.

 

We'll find someone to add depth.

 

quite honestly, he should just retire. We're going to win 105+ without him. Let that sink in.

[Nick]

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/red_sox/2018/09/mlb_notes_red_sox_have_been_cornered_without_jose_abreu

 

Great read on what could have been with Abreu

[S5Dewey]

quite honestly, he should just retire. We're going to win 105+ without him. Let that sink in.

 

You're asking him to leave $40MM on the table. He signed what was viewed at the time as a hometown discount contract and those are usually signed as insurance against what's happened to him.

 

I appreciated the contract at the time. My only reservation about it then was that he may not be able to play for the duration of it because of the way he plays the game.

[moonslav59]

quite honestly, he should just retire. We're going to win 105+ without him. Let that sink in.

 

True, but I'd still rather have a healthy Pedey than Holt/Nunez/Hernandez next year.

[Nick]

I just think Dustin abused his body by giving 200% on a body that couldn't give 100%. It's pretty amazing what he's accomplished.

[moonslav59]

I just think Dustin abused his body by giving 200% on a body that couldn't give 100%. It's pretty amazing what he's accomplished.

 

I don't disagree. I have said, today, we should count on zero PAs from Pedey next year. I'm not giving up hope just yet, but we need to plan accordingly.

 

[Nick]

Interesting that Dalbec was both Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year. Devers, Chavis and Dalbec our future DH/1B/3B combo?