A Realistic View at 2019: Part I

[S5Dewey]

It hasn't been mentioned this morning so it makes me wonder if anyone saw the ball come off Chavis's bat last night? he very well might have a big league bat. I realize of course (I guess) that he isn't likely to just hop in there at second base but a lineup that features Lin, Leon or Vazquez, and JBJ at the back end doesn't really seem to amount to much. I kind of hope he gets a chance.

 

I've seen Chavis hit in person and the ball jumps off his bat. I'm not going to speculate on how much of that is the result of PED's remaining in his system but right now he's the real deal offensively. If he can maintain this for the remainder of the season AND become solid with the glove he has a future in MLB.

[cp176]

It is a conundrum. If your pitching and your defense from top to bottom is good to outstanding, you for sure can work around offensive holes in the lineup. I like that type of baseball in general more than a one-sided reliance on just trying to outslug everybody. The Red Sox have maintained a good balance of both over the years but I get a little nervous seeing Lin projected as our second baseman until Pedroia either does or does not get back. Also, when and if he comes back, will he hit - it is a gamble. I think that Chavis will hit. It would be another gamble throwing him out there defensively but it might just be worth trying.

[oldtimer]

I've seen Chavis hit in person and the ball jumps off his bat. I'm not going to speculate on how much of that is the result of PED's remaining in his system but right now he's the real deal offensively. If he can maintain this for the remainder of the season AND become solid with the glove he has a future in MLB.

 

The word is that he will start today, presumably at 2nd base. He is 216 pounds and looks strong so doesn't need PEDs to hit the ball hard.

[MADSTORK]

Come July if our record 20 plus games under 500, do we become trade deadline sellers?

 

Porcello, Pearce and Bradley will probably not have much, if any value.

 

But, we could probably get decent prospects for Moreland and Martinez. And we could probably get very nice prospects for Betts!

 

 

And most say, Im nuts!

[Kimmi]

Our furnace failed yesterday and it won't get fixed until the parts come in, maybe Wednesday. Lat night got to 37 so I went to bed early, with the Sox ahead 5 to 4 after the Sox squandering a chance in the 8th for more runs. I saw the lineup of Bradley, Lin and Leon for the 9th and assumed we mght blow it. Nice to see Bradley actually got a hit and Chavis was used and came through. The Sox should find a way to strengthen the bottom of the order and why not give him a chance?

 

Chavis is not ready defensively. What position is he going to play?

 

He will get some playing time at 1B, 3B, or DH when others are given a rest, but isn't it nice to have a solid offensive option as a pinch hitter in a key situation like last night's?

[Kimmi]

The word is that he will start today, presumably at 2nd base. He is 216 pounds and looks strong so doesn't need PEDs to hit the ball hard.

 

If Chavis starts today at 2B, then I am re-instating my 'panic move' claim.

[cp176]

The word is that he will start today, presumably at 2nd base. He is 216 pounds and looks strong so doesn't need PEDs to hit the ball hard.

 

I hope that you right about using him at second. Finding out whether or not he can field that position is no more of a panic move than trying to find out if Lin can hit well enough to be in the lineup. I think that it is far better to have a solid defender in late game situations come off the bench then using him at the back end of a lineup that needs a little punch. It is an experiment using Chavis at second base for sure but we might be pleasantly surprised.

[notin]

If Chavis starts today at 2B, then I am re-instating my 'panic move' claim.

 

 

They’re also out of middle infielders on the 40 man roster...

[illinoisredsox]

Just temper your expectations of him defensively He has all of 5 games and ~40 innings at 2B in his professional career, all this year.

 

Yes, he was a ss in high school, but most of these guys were.

[mvp 78]

If Chavis starts today at 2B, then I am re-instating my 'panic move' claim.

 

C’mon....

[moonslav59]

FiveThirtyEight gives the Red Sox a 5 percent chance of winning the World Series:

 

https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2019-mlb-predictions/

 

... while FanGraphs gives the Sox a 5.1 percent chance of winning the World Series:

 

https://www.fangraphs.com/standings/playoff-odds

 

Wait a few weeks and then get back to me. Besides, 5% is not far from the leader, is it?

[moonslav59]

Chavis is not ready defensively. What position is he going to play?

 

He will get some playing time at 1B, 3B, or DH when others are given a rest, but isn't it nice to have a solid offensive option as a pinch hitter in a key situation like last night's?

 

He can DH as we rest JBJ, Betts, Beni of JD.

 

He might play some 3B, but I doubt he sees much time at 1B until Mitch reaches his mid summer swoon.

[Station 13]

If Chavis starts today at 2B, then I am re-instating my 'panic move' claim.

 

Replacing Pedroia and Nunez as they are injure is not a panic move. A panic move this early in the season is making inserting JD to RF and Mookie CF.

[moonslav59]

Replacing Pedroia and Nunez as they are injure is not a panic move. A panic move this early in the season is making inserting JD to RF and Mookie CF.

 

Pedroia, Nunez AND Holt!

[moonslav59]

Chavis' bat was ready last year.

 

He'll likely never improve enough at any position to be deemed ML ready on defense, so why not see what he's got?

 

With 3 infielders on the IL, this is far from "panic".

 

Also, I thought moving Travis Shaw to 2B was dumb for the Brewers, but he has not been a catastrophe.

[moonslav59]

Dustin Pedroia is also hopeful of a minimum IL stint as he recovers from his latest knee problem, telling media (including Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald) that his injury was “just a weird freak thing” rather than a more serious setback. The Red Sox second baseman explained that his cleat caught in the dirt while he was swinging during Wednesday’s game, leading to an ominous-sounding popping feeling in his knee when it failed to turn along with the rest of his body. Given that knee injuries have limited to Pedroia to just nine games since the start of the 2018 season, he admitted that the pop “more kind of scared me than anything….We’re going to let it calm down for a few days and it should be all right. It just twisted the wrong way.” Given Pedroia’s recent injury history, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Sox wait beyond the 10-day minimum to activate him from the IL. In the opinion of Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe, the team should give Pedroia more minor league rehab time before his return, as Pedroia had only a four-day stay in the minors during his first rehab stint this season and looked shaky at the plate once he reached Boston’s MLB roster.

[Nick]

Dustin Pedroia is also hopeful of a minimum IL stint as he recovers from his latest knee problem, telling media (including Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald) that his injury was “just a weird freak thing” rather than a more serious setback. The Red Sox second baseman explained that his cleat caught in the dirt while he was swinging during Wednesday’s game, leading to an ominous-sounding popping feeling in his knee when it failed to turn along with the rest of his body. Given that knee injuries have limited to Pedroia to just nine games since the start of the 2018 season, he admitted that the pop “more kind of scared me than anything….We’re going to let it calm down for a few days and it should be all right. It just twisted the wrong way.” Given Pedroia’s recent injury history, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Sox wait beyond the 10-day minimum to activate him from the IL. In the opinion of Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe, the team should give Pedroia more minor league rehab time before his return, as Pedroia had only a four-day stay in the minors during his first rehab stint this season and looked shaky at the plate once he reached Boston’s MLB roster.

 

Yawn....who gives a f***. He's a damaged good. I'll get excited when he learns to stay on the field for 3 f***ing straight games.

[SCM33]

The word is that he will start today, presumably at 2nd base. He is 216 pounds and looks strong so doesn't need PEDs to hit the ball hard.

 

Chavis looks like he can bench press second baseman, not be playing 2B.

[moonslav59]

Yawn....who gives a f***. He's a damaged good. I'll get excited when he learns to stay on the field for 3 f***ing straight games.

 

I hear ya.

 

I'm not ready to totally count him out, but we should not plan on another inning or PA from him.

[Maxbialystock]

I don’t understand the fuss over Pedroia. Seriously. He did nothing last year and the Sox had a stupendous year.

[Nick]

I don’t understand the fuss over Pedroia. Seriously. He did nothing last year and the Sox had a stupendous year.

 

I agree.....

 

I want him back but I'm not going to lose sleep over him.

 

He has a serious knee condition......he can't be counted.

[Kimmi]

They’re also out of middle infielders on the 40 man roster...

 

Two days ago, Cora states that Chavis is not ready to play 2B.

 

Yesterday, Cora states that Chavis will not be playing second base. That will be Lin's job until Holt/Nunez return. Chavis will DH, PH, or play 1B or 3B.

 

Later that day, Chavis hits a double which leads to the Red Sox winning the game.

 

Today, Chavis is playing 2B.

 

Panic move.

[Kimmi]

Replacing Pedroia and Nunez as they are injure is not a panic move. A panic move this early in the season is making inserting JD to RF and Mookie CF.

 

We have Lin, who would most surely solidify the middle infield defense.

[Kimmi]

@PeteAbe

4h4 hours ago

 

#RedSox starters first 13 games: 8.79 ERA.

 

#RedSox starters last 9 games: 3.21 ERA.

[a700hitter]

Two days ago, Cora states that Chavis is not ready to play 2B.

 

Yesterday, Cora states that Chavis will not be playing second base. That will be Lin's job until Holt/Nunez return. Chavis will DH, PH, or play 1B or 3B.

 

Later that day, Chavis hits a double which leads to the Red Sox winning the game.

 

Today, Chavis is playing 2B.

 

Panic move.

Smart move.

[oldtimer]

@PeteAbe

4h4 hours ago

 

#RedSox starters first 13 games: 8.79 ERA.

 

#RedSox starters last 9 games: 3.21 ERA.

 

Was it insufficent activity in ST? I certainly don't know, but it is a plausible idea.

[cp176]

Smart move.

 

Absolutely. People might question the move I guess but considering it a panic move in my estimation means that there might be someone better suited for the job - there isn't. Lin at best is a defensive utility player replacement type. Good to have for sure but...

[moonslav59]

Heck, we played Bogey at 3B smack in the midst of a playoff run after just 10 games at 3B in the minors.

 

It's not panic: it's just what you do when your top 3 guys on the 2B depth chart are on the IL.

 

It was a choice of offense vs defense.

 

Today, Cora chose defense.

 

Maybe his statements were made before he found out one of our 2Bman wouldn't be ready by today.

[dgalehouse]

Two days ago, Cora states that Chavis is not ready to play 2B.

 

Yesterday, Cora states that Chavis will not be playing second base. That will be Lin's job until Holt/Nunez return. Chavis will DH, PH, or play 1B or 3B.

 

Later that day, Chavis hits a double which leads to the Red Sox winning the game.

 

Today, Chavis is playing 2B.

 

Panic move.

 

At times , there seems to be a bit of disconnect between Cora and the front office.

[moonslav59]

At times , there seems to be a bit of disconnect between Cora and the front office.

 

True, but Cora chooses who to play at 2B: Lin or Chavis.

 

When he said Chacis would not play 2B, was he expecting some other choice being made by DD? Was he expecting Nunez or Holt to be beck by today?