WS Road Games--who makes room for JDM?

[S5Dewey]

My guess, along with most people's, is still that Jackie sits 2 games and Beni sits one.

 

I think it's a tough decision. Assuming that sitting Mookie is out of the question - which it should be - sitting JBJ weakens two defensive positions while sitting Beni only weakens one.

 

OTOH, JBJ's recent sample size would tell us that sitting JBJ makes the offense more potent.

 

Cora has to decide what he wants more of - offense or defense. Being maybe JBJ's biggest fanboy here I'd go for the stronger defense but that's just me.

[dgalehouse]

I think it's a tough decision. Assuming that sitting Mookie is out of the question - which it should be - sitting JBJ weakens two defensive positions while sitting Beni only weakens one.

 

OTOH, JBJ's recent sample size would tell us that sitting JBJ makes the offense more potent.

 

Cora has to decide what he wants more of - offense or defense. Being maybe JBJ's biggest fanboy here I'd go for the stronger defense but that's just me.

 

There is no doubt that Martinez and Mookie are both going to play. I don't think putting Mookie in center weakens the defense very much , if at all. We have seen Mookie play some great centerfield. Maybe he could play a great second base as well , but we don't know that.

[Kimmi]

I think it's a tough decision. Assuming that sitting Mookie is out of the question - which it should be - sitting JBJ weakens two defensive positions while sitting Beni only weakens one.

 

OTOH, JBJ's recent sample size would tell us that sitting JBJ makes the offense more potent.

 

Cora has to decide what he wants more of - offense or defense. Being maybe JBJ's biggest fanboy here I'd go for the stronger defense but that's just me.

 

I do not disagree with most of what you say. I hate that sitting JBJ would weaken two defensive positions.

 

That said, Cora has to go with the best overall alignment, not the best offensive one or the best defensive one, but the best one overall. IMO, that means sitting JBJ two games.

 

That said, I will not be upset if Cora decides otherwise.

[notin]

There is no doubt that Martinez and Mookie are both going to play. I don't think putting Mookie in center weakens the defense very much , if at all. We have seen Mookie play some great centerfield. Maybe he could play a great second base as well , but we don't know that.

 

It doesn’t weaken the defense in centerfield but it does in right...

[S5Dewey]

It doesn’t weaken the defense in centerfield but it does in right...

 

Just another thing we'll disagree on.

[Maxbialystock]

It is a tough choice, but right now I'm leaning toward sitting JBJ, moving Mookie to CF, putting JDM in RF, and leaving Beni in LF.

 

Why? Beni has the better bat, period. Defensively, Beni should continue to be fine in LF, Mookie should be fine in CF, and JDM has to play somewhere and RF is where he has played the most.

 

Mookie at 2b could also work, but is probably a little too bold at this juncture.

 

But you know the one really good thing about this decision? We don't gotta do nuthin'. Cora does, and he's pretty good at it.

[dgalehouse]

It doesn’t weaken the defense in centerfield but it does in right...

 

No doubt about that. If you want J.D.'s bat in there , you are going to give up some defense.

[Jason33]

No we find out who sits in LA.

[iortiz]

Id put Mookie at second. That would be a bold move by Cora.

[mediasrojas]

Whatever Cora decides to do is probably the optimal decision. At least that's about how everything has worked out this postseason. I'll just sit back and enjoy.

[moonslav59]

If it's the right move, I don't view it as "bold."

[cp176]

With a 2-0 lead in the series, I think that moving Betts to second would be a hasty decision and I hope he doesn't do it. Plus the fact, Kinsler really looks pretty decent to me right now. My vote - JBJ sits for the third game anyway. We shall see.

[moonslav59]

With a 2-0 lead in the series, I think that moving Betts to second would be a hasty decision and I hope he doesn't do it. Plus the fact, Kinsler really looks pretty decent to me right now. My vote - JBJ sits for the third game anyway. We shall see.

 

Kinsler has begun to look better at the plate after a pretty long stretch of looking pretty lost.

 

I really don't think the 2-0 lead in games should affect Cora's decision. He should and probably will put the best team out on the feel- the team that he feels gives us the best chance to win Friday night.

[cp176]

Kinsler has begun to look better at the plate after a pretty long stretch of looking pretty lost.

 

I really don't think the 2-0 lead in games should affect Cora's decision. He should and probably will put the best team out on the feel- the team that he feels gives us the best chance to win Friday night.

 

Me too - I hope you didn't interpret what I was saying as truly meaning anything else. I think that his best team out there right now would be with JD in right and Kinsler at second. I do love me some JBJ and I think Mookie is a super hero but moving him to second and sitting down a good second baseman who is producing at the plate would be a risky bold move and likely not his best team.

[SoxnCycles]

I think Cora should sit JD for game 3 and give his tweaked ankle a rest. Give him a break now, while you have a two game lead.

Sit JBJ for the next one (or 2, if necessary).

[cp176]

I think Cora should sit JD for game 3 and give his tweaked ankle a rest. Give him a break now, while you have a two game lead.

Sit JBJ for the next one (or 2, if necessary).

 

That might actually be a good idea. That would make as much sense as any of the other suggestions floating around.

[mvp 78]

I think Cora should sit JD for game 3 and give his tweaked ankle a rest. Give him a break now, while you have a two game lead.

Sit JBJ for the next one (or 2, if necessary).

 

I agree. Putting him in the OF may not be the greatest idea at this very moment. You can still have him pinch hit if the need arises.

[Bellhorn04]

If it's the right move, I don't view it as "bold."

 

Does that mean bold moves are always bad moves?

[jung]

I agree. Putting him in the OF may not be the greatest idea at this very moment. You can still have him pinch hit if the need arises.

 

I think JD's ankle will be a factor. It has to be given how he was moving on Wednesday night. Probably a decision for Friday morning.

[OH FOY]

JD is not sitting. He'll be fine. 162 games, no problem, you cant let up on the Dodgers. Just watched his last at bat, and he was moving fine. Edited October 25, 2018 by OH FOY!

[mvp 78]

JD is not sitting. He'll be fine. 162 games, no problem, you cant let up on the Dodgers. Just watched his last at bat, and he was moving fine.

 

Sitting JD isn't letting the foot off the gas IMO. It's ensuring that a guy who pitches to contact (Porcello) has the right guys behind him.

[OH FOY]

He's not sitting. Your best run producer, for 1 at bat in a game. I don't think so. Your not going to be putting him in Defensive Reasons, he sits he get 1 PH. Your already weak Offensively at Catcher, and not counting Pitcher hitting. Edited October 25, 2018 by OH FOY!

[SoxnCycles]

He's not sitting. Your best run producer, for 1 at bat in a game. I don't think so. Your not going to be putting him in Defensive Reasons, he sits he get 1 PH. Your already weak Offensively at Catcher, and not counting Pitcher hitting.

 

If there's a chance he can't play in games 5, 6 or 7, I'd rather rest him now, with a two game lead.

[mvp 78]

He's not sitting. Your best run producer, for 1 at bat in a game. I don't think so. Your not going to be putting him in Defensive Reasons, he sits he get 1 PH. Your already weak Offensively at Catcher, and not counting Pitcher hitting.

 

BOS catchers in the WS: 3 for 7

LAD catchers in the WS: 0 for 7

[jung]

He's not sitting. Your best run producer, for 1 at bat in a game. I don't think so. Your not going to be putting him in Defensive Reasons, he sits he get 1 PH. Your already weak Offensively at Catcher, and not counting Pitcher hitting.

 

The reason this is a game day decision is to determine if JD is actually healing or not. Not healing probably gets him into game 3 as much as anything. If he is healing and you let him run around that RF in LA, then you probably condemn him to never getting enough healing time to run better than he was running Wednesday night. If he is not running any better on Friday morning then you might as well let him play and let him heal after Nov 1st because he is not healing fast enough to make a dif. If he is healing fast enough to make a dif, I would probably be inclined to hold him out of playing significant time in the field in game 3.

 

Think of it like Altuve's hammy. Was his hammy actually going to get better over the course of time left in the post season even if he rested? NOPE. So he played.

 

The speed of the track for Friday will have an impact as well. If it is a wet field, you are not likely to let JD run around that OF on a gimpy ankle because he will turn doubles into triples if not in the park HR's gimping around out there on a wet track with a bum ankle.

[OH FOY]

Looking everywhere, for issue on ankle, I see nothing. On BSJ (Boston Sports Journal), Sean McAdam asked how's ankle, and he said it is fine. I'm seeing nothing on this. Relax. Edited October 25, 2018 by OH FOY!

[mvp 78]

The speed of the track for Friday will have an impact as well. If it is a wet field, you are not likely to let JD run around that OF on a gimpy ankle because he will turn doubles into triples if not in the park HR's gimping around out there on a wet track with a bum ankle.

 

It doesn't ever rain in LA. What are you even talking about?

[OH FOY]

You have a bad ankle you would have hard time hitting, that last ball he hit was smoked.

[cp176]

Although I think the idea of letting JD get a few days off to rest the ankle isn't a bad idea, I doubt it happens if he is able to move just a little bit. The bigger question for me I guess is who plays second base? There is no doubt that JBJ is one of the best center fielders in the game but Mookie is damn close behind him. Martinez has played a solid right field for us (please don't waste your time trying to make me believe otherwise). Kinsler is a good second baseman who is comfortable playing beside Bogaerts and he is starting to hit. Mookie, no matter how talented he is, has not played that position in some time and throwing him out there thinking that it is an easy position to play is not right. It might happen I guess but I think that overall with Mookie in Center and Kinsler at second we are a stronger team up the middle then we would be if we played Mookie at second. Once again, it will be interesting to see if it happens and it probably will work out fine if it does.

[S5Dewey]

Although I think the idea of letting JD get a few days off to rest the ankle isn't a bad idea, I doubt it happens if he is able to move just a little bit. The bigger question for me I guess is who plays second base? There is no doubt that JBJ is one of the best center fielders in the game but Mookie is damn close behind him. Martinez has played a solid right field for us (please don't waste your time trying to make me believe otherwise). Kinsler is a good second baseman who is comfortable playing beside Bogaerts and he is starting to hit. Mookie, no matter how talented he is, has not played that position in some time and throwing him out there thinking that it is an easy position to play is not right. It might happen I guess but I think that overall with Mookie in Center and Kinsler at second we are a stronger team up the middle then we would be if we played Mookie at second. Once again, it will be interesting to see if it happens and it probably will work out fine if it does.

 

The bottom line is which is the better team,

1) JBJ in CF, JDM in RF and Mookie at 2b or

 

2) Mookie in CF, JDM in RF and Kinsler at 2B or

 

The third option of JBJ in CF, Mookie in RF, JDM in LF and Kinsler stays at 2B. ?

 

I like the 3rd option because it disturbs the defense as little as possible, but that's just me.