Playoff Roster - 2018

[notin]

In the playoffs, defensive replacements and pinch hitting are more important than the 11th and 12th guy in the pen.

 

And getting key stolen bases. At least that's what Dave Roberts told me...

[Kimmi]

After reading this article, I'm 100% on board the Phillips hype train:

 

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

 

He strikes me as a really good guy who just wants to play baseball. I was hoping that he'd be able to get some meaningful at bats with the team, and not just some fluff playing time. Good for him!

[illinoisredsox]

However, I think MLB teams have stayed with 12 pitchers during the regular season for decades. That's still a lot because it leaves just 13 position players--9 for the lineup plus a spare catcher, outfielder, and usually 2 infielders. Those 4 subs have to cover 9 positions plus pinch hit, etc.

 

The other point to remember is that you don't just want 12 arms--if you do--in the postseason. You want 12 quality arms. And that's pretty hard to find on any MLB team.

 

With 11 you have a little more assurance of quality and you know for a fact that no way, no how will you have to inflict Pom on this team or this fan base.

 

Decades? Maybe a decade. Seems to me the 12 man staff began about 10 years ago. Before that, it was typically an 11 man staff. When I was a kid half a century ago, 10 man staffs (and 4 man rotations) were the norm.

[sk7326]

He strikes me as a really good guy who just wants to play baseball. I was hoping that he'd be able to get some meaningful at bats with the team, and not just some fluff playing time. Good for him!

 

So was Phillips' homerun the 2018 Boston Red Sox Bat-Flip of the year? I have not seen a better one.

[Fan_since_Boggs]

Agreed: Pomeranz can't be on the postseason roster.

 

B.Phillips is interesting. I wonder if Phillips might be the Red Sox best starting option at 3b in the playoffs? That is, he might give you better defense than the error prone Devers, along with more professional at bats, and Phillips might be a better offensive player than Nunez.

[oldtimer]

Agreed: Pomeranz can't be on the postseason roster.

 

B.Phillips is interesting. I wonder if Phillips might be the Red Sox best starting option at 3b in the playoffs? That is, he might give you better defense than the error prone Devers, along with more professional at bats, and Phillips might be a better offensive player than Nunez.

 

It makes sense to raise the subject. Phillips has multiple gold gloves I believe. Having Kinsler and Phillips would improve the defense. Phillips is a professional hitter as is Nunez. Clearly Phillips is better defensively than Devers and is a smart player who runs the bases well. I think the FO will need to watch the performance of these three, especially if there is a possibility of including Phillips on the PO roster.

[moonslav59]

However, I think MLB teams have stayed with 12 pitchers during the regular season for decades. That's still a lot because it leaves just 13 position players--9 for the lineup plus a spare catcher, outfielder, and usually 2 infielders. Those 4 subs have to cover 9 positions plus pinch hit, etc.

 

The other point to remember is that you don't just want 12 arms--if you do--in the postseason. You want 12 quality arms. And that's pretty hard to find on any MLB team.

 

With 11 you have a little more assurance of quality and you know for a fact that no way, no how will you have to inflict Pom on this team or this fan base.

 

We are talking playoffs not regular season.

 

We have 5 days off, play 2, have another day off, play 2, have another day off, play 1 and have another day off. That does not happen in the regular season.

 

11 pitchers has happened in the playoffs several times in the last decade for precisely the schedule shown above. For God's sake, the Sox went with 11 last year vs Houston. Not 2 decades ago. Last year! Not only did we go with 14 positional players, we left Chris Young off the roster!

 

Guess what? We weren't the only team to go with 11 in last year's playoffs: the Cubs did, too.

 

I think the Mets went with 11 in 2015. I'm sure there were more.

 

The playoffs are different. There is no 5th starter needed and more days off than at any time during a regular season stretch. It's a 12 man staff without your 5th starter available.

 

[moonslav59]

BTW, we used 15 positional players today.

[a700hitter]

Agreed: Pomeranz can't be on the postseason roster.

 

B.Phillips is interesting. I wonder if Phillips might be the Red Sox best starting option at 3b in the playoffs? That is, he might give you better defense than the error prone Devers, along with more professional at bats, and Phillips might be a better offensive player than Nunez.

Offensively, they are probably very equal, but Phillips has more power. Defensively, Phillips is the better glove man.

[moonslav59]

Phillips was not on the 40 man roster by September 1st. He cannot be eligible for the playoffs.

 

Makes you wonder why they didn't add him a few days earlier. It's not like Renda has a long future with the Sox.

[a700hitter]

Phillips was not on the 40 man roster by September 1st. He cannot be eligible for the playoffs.

 

Makes you wonder why they didn't add him a few days earlier. It's not like Renda has a long future with the Sox.

Is there an injury loophole?

[Station 13]

Phillips was not on the 40 man roster by September 1st. He cannot be eligible for the playoffs.

 

Makes you wonder why they didn't add him a few days earlier. It's not like Renda has a long future with the Sox.

 

Phillips is eligible via being with the organization on September 1st.

[moonslav59]

Postseason Eligibility

Definition

Per Major League Baseball's collective bargaining agreement, players must meet certain criteria in order to be eligible for postseason play.

 

Players must be on the 40-man roster, the 60-day disabled list or the bereavement/family medical emergency list as of midnight ET on Aug. 31 to be eligible for their respective clubs' postseason rosters. Consequently, players that are acquired via September trades or signed as free agents in September are ineligible for postseason play.

 

Clubs can petition the Commissioner's Office to add any player that was not on the 40-man roster as of Aug. 31 -- provided the player was in the organization on Aug. 31 and is replacing a player who has spent at least 60 days on the 60-day disabled list. The Royals were able to use this tactic to add Brandon Finnegan to their roster during the 2014 postseason, despite the fact that Finnegan was not on the 40-man roster as of Aug. 31.

 

Additionally, all players who have served part of a suspension for performance-enhancing drugs in a given season are ineligible for postseason play that year.

 

Does this mean Phillips could be added because of Pedroia?

[a700hitter]

Postseason Eligibility

Definition

Per Major League Baseball's collective bargaining agreement, players must meet certain criteria in order to be eligible for postseason play.

 

Players must be on the 40-man roster, the 60-day disabled list or the bereavement/family medical emergency list as of midnight ET on Aug. 31 to be eligible for their respective clubs' postseason rosters. Consequently, players that are acquired via September trades or signed as free agents in September are ineligible for postseason play.

 

Clubs can petition the Commissioner's Office to add any player that was not on the 40-man roster as of Aug. 31 -- provided the player was in the organization on Aug. 31 and is replacing a player who has spent at least 60 days on the 60-day disabled list. The Royals were able to use this tactic to add Brandon Finnegan to their roster during the 2014 postseason, despite the fact that Finnegan was not on the 40-man roster as of Aug. 31.

 

Additionally, all players who have served part of a suspension for performance-enhancing drugs in a given season are ineligible for postseason play that year.

 

Does this mean Phillips could be added because of Pedroia?

It seems that the Red Sox would have to petition the Commissioner, and there is precedent for adding a player in this manner.

[notin]

BTW, we used 15 positional players today.

 

But only because Cora started the game with the "B" lineup. If he plans on giving Betts, Bogaerts and Martinez days off in the playoffs, the entire question of who gets the 25th roster spot is completely moot...

[notin]

 

Does this mean Phillips could be added because of Pedroia?

 

Good thing the Sox didn;t trade him like someone wanted to

[Maxbialystock]

More than 11 pitchers is way more than enough, just as moonslav says: 4 starters and 7 relievers with lots of rest before the ALDS starts.

 

Based on WAR my four starters are Sale, Price, ERod and Porcello. And my seven relievers are Kimbrel, Brasier, Barnes, Workman, Kelly, Poyner, and Wright. I like lefties in the bullpen, thus Poyner (but definitely not Johnson). Wright is also good against lefties.

 

That leaves 14 position players:

 

Betts RF

Beni LF

JDM DH

Bogey SS

Moreland 1B

Kinsler 2B

Devers 3B

Leon C

JBJ CF

 

Vazquez C

Swihart C

Pearce 1B

Nunez 3b/SS/2B

Holt IF/OF

 

We've only seen Phillips in one game, but still--he's got four gold gloves; he played well at Pawtucket this year with an OPS over .800; 2b and 3b have not been real strengths this year. Of those five "subs" above, I think Swihart might be the one least needed. Hopefully, the remaining 21 games will help clarify this.

[Bellhorn04]

It seems that the Red Sox would have to petition the Commissioner, and there is precedent for adding a player in this manner.

 

'Petition the Commissioner' strikes me as funny for some reason. Does this mean you have to craft a nice little begging letter like it's a tax appeal or something?

[SoxnCycles]

So was Phillips' homerun the 2018 Boston Red Sox Bat-Flip of the year? I have not seen a better one.

 

Yup, that swing and lean was a thing of beauty.

[OH FOY]

Sean McAdam says Phillips is eligible for Post-Season. According to him he says he was in the Organization by Aug. 31, and that is all that matters.

Here's another article.

https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/red-sox/does-brandon-phillips-fit-red-sox-playoff-picture

Edited September 6, 2018 by OH FOY!

[SoxnCycles]

'Petition the Commissioner' strikes me as funny for some reason. Does this mean you have to craft a nice little begging letter like it's a tax appeal or something?

 

If it were the NFL, that's exactly what it would have to be.

[mvp 78]

Sean McAdam says Phillips is eligible for Post-Season. According to him he says he was in the Organization by Aug. 31, and that is all that matters.

Here's another article.

https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/red-sox/does-brandon-phillips-fit-red-sox-playoff-picture

 

That's all I was saying.

[OH FOY]

That's all I was saying.

 

Didn't see it, sorry.

[cp176]

I would be stunned if Devers was not on the playoff roster. I like Phillips and Kinsler as well. they both can catch the ball and throw the ball but still not keeping Devers on the playoff roster? Nope - I don't see that one at all. Maybe I guess but I don't see it.

[notin]

'Petition the Commissioner' strikes me as funny for some reason. Does this mean you have to craft a nice little begging letter like it's a tax appeal or something?

 

Is it always about accounting with you?

[OH FOY]

My Play-off bubble guys, Positional only.

Phillips

Swihart

Vazquez

Devers

Out of these guys, 2 only play 1 Position. Could be the difference.

Edited September 6, 2018 by OH FOY!

[sk7326]

Sean McAdam says Phillips is eligible for Post-Season. According to him he says he was in the Organization by Aug. 31, and that is all that matters.

Here's another article.

https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/red-sox/does-brandon-phillips-fit-red-sox-playoff-picture

 

Right - basically the playoff eligible players are iirc

 

The 40-man roster as of Aug 31 + Anybody on the 60 day DL (and their slots if they actually cannot play)

 

So Phillips can be added to a playoff roster easily.

[sk7326]

My playoff roster

 

STARTERS:

C: Leon

1B: Moreland

2B: Kinsler

3B: Devers

SS: Bogaerts

LF: Benintendi

CF: Bradley

RF: Betts

DH: Martinez

 

BENCH:

 

Swihart, Holt, Nunez, Pearce, Phillips - a really interesting, versatile bench. Now I wish we had a pure outfielder - but absent that another "veteran bat" like Phillips works nicely. It is possible the Sox will carry 12 pitchers, but 11 is my strong preference.

 

 

PITCHERS

 

STARTERS: Sale, Price, Eovaldi, Porcello

PEN: Rodriguez, Kelly, Barnes, Brasier, Hembree, Workman, Kimbrel

 

I am working on the assumption we will play the Yankees in the ALDS. If we play Oakland, we swap Eovaldi and Rodriguez. The Yankees have been the league's best offense against lefties - so it makes sense to have a 2nd righty in there. (and, obviously tiny sample size, but Porcello and Eovaldi did nicely against NYY last time out) Wright swapping out somebody is not a terrible idea.

[oldtimer]

The pennant now seems highly probable for us, but not yet a certainty. Too many big games ahead before we clinch. It does seem more cogent to talk about the playoff roster in detail with just a few weeks left. Moon has done his usual detailed and fact backed attempt at a list and I mostly agree with him. I do think our experienced guys who DD brought in this year have helped us a great deal to get where we are. They tend to be former excellent defensive and offensive players who haven't lost that much even though they are in their 30's, some late 30's. Their experience shows in good at bats, base running and awareness in the game. The FO should make decisions dispassionately, based on who gives us the best chance of winning going forward. It may be hard for them to avoid the favorite son syndrome or worrying about pissing off a guy you definitely want back next year. They need to do their job and I think they will.

 

I now there are arguments for 11 or 12 pitchers and that impacts what field players we can keep on the roster. I subscribe to the idea of 11 pitchers.

 

My approach is to look at the roster from the depth point of view as i list below:

 

Outfield: No mystery there but no Holt)

 

Betts (Right), JDM, Swihart

JBJ ©, Beni (Fenway), Betts (away)

Beni (Left), JDM (Fenway), Swihart

 

Infield: Some questions

 

Moreland (1st) right handed pitching, Pearse left handed pitching, Swihart, Holt

Kinsler (2nd), Phillips (if available), Holt (Pedroia is just not prepared enough to make it in my opinion)

Bogaerts (SS), Phillips (if available), Holt

Phillips (3rd) if available, Nunez (close second), Devers (maybe for left handed bat)

 

Catcher: Hard discussion here in my view

 

Leon, excellent defense, familiarity with pitchers, ability to handle knuckle ball, but very weak hitter

Vaz, solid catcher, weak hitter but better than Leon

Swihart, decent catcher, lacks familiarity with staff, better hitter than the other two.

 

DH:

JDM, best in league, Pearse, Swihart, Holt

 

You might have noticed I have listed 15 field players but only 14 can make it. Who falls out? A catcher, a third baseman, or do we sustain an injury in the last few weeks?

 

Pitchers: (Starters)

Sale

Price

E-Rod

Porcello

 

Pitchers: (Relief role)

Kimbrel

Brasier

Barnes

Kelly

Wright (Long Relief)

Eovaldi (Long Relief)

 

Who is #11? Need a lefty (Pom, Johnson or Poyner), Include Hembee and forget about a lefty. Tough choice. There are others righties, such as Workman who might be chosen in front of Hembree. Personally, neither Pom or Johnson seem reliable so is it Poyner?

 

I certaintly don't have all the answers but looking at the choices with depth in mind clarifies what is at stake.

[Bellhorn04]

My playoff roster

 

STARTERS:

C: Leon

1B: Moreland

2B: Kinsler

3B: Devers

SS: Bogaerts

LF: Benintendi

CF: Bradley

RF: Betts

DH: Martinez

 

BENCH:

 

Swihart, Holt, Nunez, Pearce, Phillips - a really interesting, versatile bench. Now I wish we had a pure outfielder - but absent that another "veteran bat" like Phillips works nicely. It is possible the Sox will carry 12 pitchers, but 11 is my strong preference.

 

 

PITCHERS

 

STARTERS: Sale, Price, Eovaldi, Porcello

PEN: Rodriguez, Kelly, Barnes, Brasier, Hembree, Workman, Kimbrel

 

I am working on the assumption we will play the Yankees in the ALDS. If we play Oakland, we swap Eovaldi and Rodriguez. The Yankees have been the league's best offense against lefties - so it makes sense to have a 2nd righty in there. (and, obviously tiny sample size, but Porcello and Eovaldi did nicely against NYY last time out) Wright swapping out somebody is not a terrible idea.

 

Thread closer.