Rafael Devers struggles/triumphs and the future

[Maxbialystock]

Gotta look at the positives. No contact for judge means no GIDPs!

 

Actually, that was used on a game thread to explain why we needed JBJ playing--he was far more likely to K than to GIDP and would therefore conserve outs.

[Maxbialystock]

If the concern is teams pitching around Martinez to get to Devers, that can easily be handled by keeping them far enough apart in the lineup.

 

As for Devers, young player? Sure? Rushed? Sure. Best option at thrid in the organization? Yes. And if he needs o make adjustments, he isn't going to learn to hit MLB pitching anywhere but MLB.

 

Yep.

[notin]

We've seen him hit. He just needs to adjust like every player before him has had to.

 

And given how the team is playing through his struggles, we can afford to be patient with him while he does...

[mvp 78]

And given how the team is playing through his struggles, we can afford to be patient with him while he does...

 

Exactly. And I'd rather Devers than Nunez 9 out of 10 times.

[Station 13]

Chipotle ain't working anymore. What do you suggest Cora do to motivate Devers now?

[sk7326]

Chipotle ain't working anymore. What do you suggest Cora do to motivate Devers now?

 

motivation is not the problem. Just getting reps is.

 

Seriously, Devers would be the youngest player on SALEM this year

Edited June 5, 2018 by sk7326

[Slasher9]

Chipotle ain't working anymore. What do you suggest Cora do to motivate Devers now?

 

threaten.

[harmony]

motivation is not the problem. Just getting reps is.

 

Seriously, Devers would be the youngest player on SALEM this year

To be precise, Rafael Devers would be the youngest hitter on the Salem roster this year:

 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?id=2f397929

 

... although Salem has pitchers who are younger.

[Kimmi]

Gentlemen ( and gentlewoman ) allow me to say this.

 

f*** THE YANKEES

 

That is all.

 

That's all that needs to be said.

[Kimmi]

As far as Devers goes, patience, patience, patience.

[Kimmi]

As far as Devers goes, patience, patience, patience.

 

OTOH, the team is only 38-19 (.667) when Devers plays, but they are an undefeated 2-0 when Devers doesn't play.

[sk7326]

As far as Devers goes, patience, patience, patience.

 

Speier put it well. How can he work on his approach? Can he do it on the fly in Boston or does he need a tour in Pawtucket. Really there is no right answer - it's about Devers. He has played his way through struggles in 2016. (granted, a lower level)

[SoxnCycles]

OTOH, the team is only 38-19 (.667) when Devers plays, but they are an undefeated 2-0 when Devers doesn't play.

 

That seals it!

Send Devers down and salvage the season!

[Dojji]

While Devers will come around, I would like to note once again for the record that Travis Shaw once again has very impressive power numbers, is leading a first place team in HR and RBI, and has a positive dWAR in Milwaukee as the everyday third basemen.

 

We let a good one get away, there.

Edited June 6, 2018 by Dojji

[Station 13]

Dubon would be our best middle infield prospect as well. Dombrowski really destroyed our depth.

[Dojji]

Dubon is a utility guy. Not too worried about him. He's doing well right now in his second go round in AAA, and he's young, but I honestly don't see starter potential there

[moonslav59]

Dubon is a utility guy. Not too worried about him. He's doing well right now in his second go round in AAA, and he's young, but I honestly don't see starter potential there

 

Looking at each player traded one-by-one, your case could be made about just about everyone DD traded, except maybe for Moncada, Kopech and Margot, but the sheer number of prospects traded is astounding. The odds are that at least one of two of the "Dubons" or "Basabes" will likely go on to do something more than utility level play.

 

Prospects traded by DD (highest ranking achieved on soxprospects.com)

 

1 Yoan Moncada (Sale)

5 Michael Kopech (Sale)

7 Luis Ax Basabe (Sale)

21 Victor Diaz (Sale)

 

3 Manuel Margot (Kimbrel)

6 Javier Guerra (Kimbrel)

13 Allen Logan (Kimbrel)

24 Carlos Asuaje (Kimbrel)

 

2 Anthony Ranaudo (R Ross)

 

3 Anderson Espinoza (Pomeranz)

 

5 Deven Marrero (Josh Taylor)

 

5 Bryce Brentz ($$$)

 

5 Garin Cecchini ($$$)

 

9 Mauricio Dubon

12 Travis Shaw (not a prospect when traded for Thornburg)

24 Josh Pennington (Thornburg)

 

11 Shaun Anderson (Nunez)

NR Gregory Santos (Nunez)

 

12 Wendell Rijo (A Hill)

30 Aaron Wilkerson (A Hill)

 

13 Pat Light (Abad)

 

18 Luis Aj Basabe (Ziegler)

40 Jose Almonte (Ziegler)

 

18 J Callahan (A Reed)

20 Gerson Bautista (A Reed)

20 Stephen Nogoesk (A Reed)

 

21 Jonathan Aro (with Miley for C. Smith)

 

I might have missed someone, but my guess is that 1-3 players not named Moncada, Kopech, Margot & Shaw will become more than a utiltiy player in MLB at some point.

 

[sk7326]

The current state of the Red Sox farm system has to be evaluated in terms of the productivity of recent graduates and what the prospects got in trade. Every team has this - we'll see how the Red Sox address it. They're bringing in a lot more ceiling into the org this year which is good - the probability won't be great given where they draft but it's the best thing they can do.

[OH FOY]

Dubon was having a great season till he got hurt, 23 game hitting streak, and ready for call-up. But, done for season. Hitting .343 at time of injury. Edited June 6, 2018 by OH FOY!

[S5Dewey]

Where's Lin?

[OH FOY]

Pawtucket doing OK. Last night 1-5 with 3 K's, hitting .263. Edited June 6, 2018 by OH FOY!

[S5Dewey]

Pawtucket doing OK.

 

Then why isn't he in the conversation for 2B if Pedey doesn't come back strong?

[notin]

I might have missed someone, but my guess is that 1-3 players not named Moncada, Kopech, Margot & Shaw will become more than a utiltiy player in MLB at some point.

 

 

Asuaje was the starting 2B for the Padres for a while. But yes, most of these guys might have already peaked.

 

Beyond those already mentioned, Dubon and Basabe (CWS) look like the best bets to me to become actual starting major leaguers...

[notin]

Then why isn't he in the conversation for 2B if Pedey doesn't come back strong?

 

Probably because Holt and Nunez are already holding down the fort.

 

If either starts struggling like Devers or Vazquez, Lin starts to enter the conversation...

[mvp 78]

Then why isn't he in the conversation for 2B if Pedey doesn't come back strong?

 

Can only have 25 men on the roster.

[moonslav59]

Asuaje was the starting 2B for the Padres for a while. But yes, most of these guys might have already peaked.

 

Beyond those already mentioned, Dubon and Basabe (CWS) look like the best bets to me to become actual starting major leaguers...

 

I think Espinoza and Dubon still have a chance at shining at the ML level. Maybe 1 out of the rest might amount to something valuable.

 

Moncada (.772with 7 SB in 50 games)

Kopech (struggling despite an 11.8 K rate)

Margot (struggling this season)

Asuaje (struggling in MLB but .800 in AAA)

Dubon (.922 in AAA)

Basabe (.859 in A+)

Espinoza (injured)

 

Logan Allen is in AA now and is only 21. He's been under 3.75 for 3 years in a row. His K rate has been over 10 the last 2 years.

 

 

Gerson Bautista has pitched for the Mets this year. Callahan pitched for them last season.

 

Shaun Anderson is 23, but he's doing fine at AA. He's seen hi K rate rise and BB/9 fall.

 

The other Basabe is at .866 in A/A+ this year.

 

Josh Pennington is doing well in single A.

 

(I haven't checked every player traded, but someone might surprise us.)

 

[moonslav59]

Then why isn't he in the conversation for 2B if Pedey doesn't come back strong?

 

Quiroz is another thought (1.016 with Portland).

[S5Dewey]

I think Espinoza and Dubon still have a chance at shining at the ML level. Maybe 1 out of the rest might amount to something valuable.

 

Moncada (.772with 7 SB in 50 games)

Kopech (struggling despite an 11.8 K rate)

Margot (struggling this season)

Asuaje (struggling in MLB but .800 in AAA)

Dubon (.922 in AAA)

Basabe (.859 in A+)

Espinoza (injured)

 

Logan Allen is in AA now and is only 21. He's been under 3.75 for 3 years in a row. His K rate has been over 10 the last 2 years.

 

 

Gerson Bautista has pitched for the Mets this year. Callahan pitched for them last season.

 

Shaun Anderson is 23, but he's doing fine at AA. He's seen hi K rate rise and BB/9 fall.

 

The other Basabe is at .866 in A/A+ this year.

 

Josh Pennington is doing well in single A.

 

(I haven't checked every player traded, but someone might surprise us.)

 

 

But the bigger question is would you undo some of those trades and watch the Yankees run away with the AL East in 2018?

[FredLynn]

But the bigger question is would you undo some of those trades and watch the Yankees run away with the AL East in 2018?

 

Exactly. Yes, DD has pretty much leveled our farm system, but on the other hand this team is on a pace to win 112 games. While we aren't likely to win that many games, by any estimation we seem to be a very good position to go deep in the playoffs. Hard to argue with the results so far.

[moonslav59]

But the bigger question is would you undo some of those trades and watch the Yankees run away with the AL East in 2018?

 

I was firmly against the Kimbrel and pom trades. As closer costs have sky-rocketed, the Kimbrel trade looks better than at the time of the deal. I'd undo the Pom trade, despite the Espinoza surgery- but that is based on hindsight and Pom's current status. All-in-all, both deals helped us in the win now mode we were in- no doubt. Their control time is nearly up, so if we get no ring, one could argue for an undo, again, in hindsight.

 

I liked the Thornburg trade at the time, so saying I'd undo that one seems hollow, but if we're talking hindsight, of course I'd undo it.

 

I'd undo the Price signing, but I certainly understood why we did it and wasn't against it at the time. He was the best pitcher available at a time we greatly needed one.

 

The Sale trade was the one I dreamed of and schemed of for years.

 

I have never been against trading top prospects, and I wanted Ben/DD to trade some. I'd have preferred trading for Quintana over Pom, Thornburg, Smith and Kimbrel, but it's hard to know if that was ever even an option.

 

Again, I'm fine with the totality of DD's moves. I'm glad we are and will be highly competitive for a 4-5 year window. I'd have tried to keep a few more prospects, but it is what it is and I'm going along with the plan. However, I'm not going to sugar coat my beliefs about the trouble our team will be facing by 2020 or 2021.