The 2B position

[SoxHop]

I agree - it really is about who can stay healthy.

 

I'm with you two on this one. No injuries please and we are stayin afloat at worst. Already the Wright injury could be drastic.

[moonslav59]

Moon does This mean 1 of Swihart ,Brock or Nunez is traded ? Seems like it .I love the BPhillips upgrade !! Wish I thought of it lol .Hows he against Leftys ?

 

It's going to take Phillips a while before he's "ready". If we do decide to call him up, we'll probably put Nunez on the DL or trade Swihart. That's my guess.

 

We could try a 2 for 1 deal like Swihart and Hembree (both out of options) for a better RP'er.

[Natick to NC]

He was still a slight plus on UZR/150 (+0.9) last year at 2B, but he's been -7 DRS two years in a row.

 

e's probably still better on D than Holt and Nunez, even though he's 37.

 

He hit .735 last year with 13 HRs, so he coudl prove to be an upgrade on offense.

 

I was hoping Nunez was the Pedey insurance we needed, but now it looks like he is just utility.

 

Great ok

[Natick to NC]

It's going to take Phillips a while before he's "ready". If we do decide to call him up, we'll probably put Nunez on the DL or trade Swihart. That's my guess.

 

We could try a 2 for 1 deal like Swihart and Hembree (both out of options) for a better RP'er.

l

 

All for it .Looked at his highlights from 17 .Guy has old man Power and can field in his sleep .

[moonslav59]

l

 

All for it .Looked at his highlights from 17 .Guy has old man Power and can field in his sleep .

 

He did hit 30 Hrs back in 2007, but he never hit over 21 any other year.

[Kimmi]

"Needs" is a relative term. Right now we have the second best record in baseball. We are second in the league in runs scored, second in OPS, and third in ERA. I would submit that while another bat would be a luxury our biggest need is to stay healthy. Do that and this team is constructed for a decent playoff run.

 

!!!

[Natick to NC]

Is it weird to be excited about BPhil ? I just think the guy may really get a jolt for playing here and his swing kindof is perfect for Fenway .More I think about this the more happy I am about this ...hey this may push Nuney to lock in and take off at the very least .

[a700hitter]

I was surprised to see that in his entire career that he has only played 6 games at Fenway in his career.

[oldtimer]

It's going to take Phillips a while before he's "ready". If we do decide to call him up, we'll probably put Nunez on the DL or trade Swihart. That's my guess.

 

We could try a 2 for 1 deal like Swihart and Hembree (both out of options) for a better RP'er.

 

Kind of a Sox FO insurance for 2nd base. Looks like the focus may go to relief pitching or a back up outfielder

[Kimmi]

Is it weird to be excited about BPhil ? I just think the guy may really get a jolt for playing here and his swing kindof is perfect for Fenway .More I think about this the more happy I am about this ...hey this may push Nuney to lock in and take off at the very least .

 

He's a good depth piece to pick up cheaply, just in case.

 

I know Lin didn't play well when he filled in for Bogaerts, but I still think he deserves a shot.

[moonslav59]

He's a good depth piece to pick up cheaply, just in case.

 

I know Lin didn't play well when he filled in for Bogaerts, but I still think he deserves a shot.

 

He'll always bring us plus defense, something Phillips might not be able to do anymore.

[oldtimer]

He'll always bring us plus defense, something Phillips might not be able to do anymore.

 

We still have Marco Hernandez as another 2nd base possibility. He had left shoulder surgery last year and then had followup surgery to remove some hardware this past February. Then he went on the 60 day disable list which would have put him back sometime in April but there has been nothing said about him. I would have expected him to resume baseball activities at some minor league level but have heard nothing. Shoulder surgery is very tough to come back from so I'm wondering what is happening.

[moonslav59]

We still have Marco Hernandez as another 2nd base possibility. He had left shoulder surgery last year and then had followup surgery to remove some hardware this past February. Then he went on the 60 day disable list which would have put him back sometime in April but there has been nothing said about him. I would have expected him to resume baseball activities at some minor league level but have heard nothing. Shoulder surgery is very tough to come back from so I'm wondering what is happening.

 

I've always been very hopeful about Marco, but I'm not counting on him for anything this year. Sad story.

[Jasonbay44]

Is it weird to be excited about BPhil ? I just think the guy may really get a jolt for playing here and his swing kindof is perfect for Fenway .More I think about this the more happy I am about this ...hey this may push Nuney to lock in and take off at the very least .

 

I have always been a huge Brandon Phillips fan. I'm not sure how much he has left in the tank, but It would be awesome to see him not only on the MLB roster, but do well.

[mvp 78]

Taking reps at 2b, 3b and 1b. Nunez replacement? Platoon with Holt?

[moonslav59]

Taking reps at 2b, 3b and 1b. Nunez replacement? Platoon with Holt?

 

All of the above plus replacing Swihart.

[S5Dewey]

So when Phillips comes up does he get the ML minimum?

[S5Dewey]

And in something totally unrelated to baseball, does anyone know why I have so much white space at the bottom of my posts, and what I can do about it?

[Bellhorn04]

And in something totally unrelated to baseball, does anyone know why I have so much white space at the bottom of my posts, and what I can do about it?

 

It's mainly the sig line. Everyone with sig lines has the same deal.

[jacksonianmarch]

Phillips is Pedroia insurance. Nunez has been terrible. Holt gets exposed when he plays regularly. If Pedroia cannot come back (which I wouldn’t be surprised about), then I think Phillips is your starting 2b come playoff time

[S5Dewey]

It's mainly the sig line. Everyone with sig lines has the same deal.

 

Aha! Thanks!

[notin]

So when Phillips comes up does he get the ML minimum?

 

Depends on the terms of the contract...

[moonslav59]

Phillips is Pedroia insurance. Nunez has been terrible. Holt gets exposed when he plays regularly. If Pedroia cannot come back (which I wouldn’t be surprised about), then I think Phillips is your starting 2b come playoff time

 

I'm hopeful the beefing up, off season workout regime Holt is coming off of, will help him to not fall off a cliff like he seems to do every summer/fall.

 

On Nunez, I still think it is all related to his knee, and I think the Sox will try to give him a long period of rest at some point maybe after the Yankee series) by putting him on the DL. That will also give Phillips a chance to show how much he's got left in his tank.

 

I'm not as worried about 2B as many are, but I have concern.

[Spudboy]

I'm hopeful the beefing up, off season workout regime Holt is coming off of, will help him to not fall off a cliff like he seems to do every summer/fall.

 

On Nunez, I still think it is all related to his knee, and I think the Sox will try to give him a long period of rest at some point maybe after the Yankee series) by putting him on the DL. That will also give Phillips a chance to show how much he's got left in his tank.

 

I'm not as worried about 2B as many are, but I have concern.

 

I wonder how long it will take for Phillips to be deemed MLB game ready? He is going to Ft. Myers and then to Pawtucket, I think.

 

Has he kept himself in shape? Has he been hitting in a cage?

 

I can see him struggling at the plate early on.

 

We shall see.

[notin]

I wonder how long it will take for Phillips to be deemed MLB game ready? He is going to Ft. Myers and then to Pawtucket, I think.

 

Has he kept himself in shape? Has he been hitting in a cage?

 

I can see him struggling at the plate early on.

 

We shall see.

 

Between Holt, Nunez, Lin, and Pearce, the Sox should have a decent amount of depth to give what’s left of Brandon Phillips time to get ready.

 

Personally I think Phillips is not as good as Holt at this point in his career

[vegasbob]

I've been thinking about this quite a bit. Money wise not sure. But I really hope he knows when to call it a career and end it. If he lingers much more and doesn't return and help, it becomes a sad sob story.

 

I would think it is almost assured that even if Pedey does not play again this year or the knee inflames on another restart that he will be at 2019 ST in Ft. Myers and give it a try. The guy will not just walkaway from the opportunity or the money to be commercial about it. If he could play 110-120 games with some effectiveness, he will be out there trying to do so.

[moonslav59]

I would think it is almost assured that even if Pedey does not play again this year or the knee inflames on another restart that he will be at 2019 ST in Ft. Myers and give it a try. The guy will not just walkaway from the opportunity or the money to be commercial about it. If he could play 110-120 games with some effectiveness, he will be out there trying to do so.

 

I wonder if he ever realizes he's done, he'll retire like Dempster did and forgo the rest of his contract, thereby freeing up some budget space.

[dgalehouse]

I wonder if he ever realizes he's done, he'll retire like Dempster did and forgo the rest of his contract, thereby freeing up some budget space.

 

Doubt it. Fools like Dempster don't come along too often.

[oldtimer]

I wonder if he ever realizes he's done, he'll retire like Dempster did and forgo the rest of his contract, thereby freeing up some budget space.

 

We are competing with the Yankees and Astros to be sure. Up and down their lineup they have very good hitting talent and their pitching is also good. No doubt they will try to improve. In the Yankees case they have quite a bit to trade for a starter and I am not sure what the Astros need, probably relief pitching. Meanwhile we still have question marks in our lineup, particularly at 2nd base and Pedroia's return is questionable. He may not return at all or if he does he may be a shadow of himself. Our relief pitching also could use a boost. We all know the issues. Not much trade bait and no real luxury tax limit flexibility. It is what it is and DD has tried to react as well as he can with Phillips and Pearse. Quality older players who might help us for the 2nd half of the season and not the following year. Let us hope we can do enough pretty much with who we have now to advance in the playoff.

[jacksonianmarch]

You guys are done upgrading. Bringing in Pearce got you right up to the final threshold. Phillips is a minor league signing, and if his guarantee is above the minimum, that might put them over too (although I doubt it). The sox team is who they are. I anticipate Phillips will be starting at 2b a lot. I also anticipate the sox sitting JBJ against lefties with Pearce moving to LF and Beni moving to CF. You got some guys who aren't auto-outs. Tonight, though, the lineup with Nunez-Devers-Vasquez-Bradley is not good. 1-12 with a HBP.