A Realistic View at 2019: Part I

[Slasher9]

I think you convinced me.

 

I was thinking maybe a Chavis-Pearce platoon might work out better than a Moreland-Swihart/Holt/Chavis/Ockimey one.

 

i am 100% thinking that JDM will be RH platoon 1b next season. Pearce will not be resigned.

[notin]

I think you convinced me.

 

I was thinking maybe a Chavis-Pearce platoon might work out better than a Moreland-Swihart/Holt/Chavis/Ockimey one.

 

Typically a platoon has a left-handed hitter and a right-handed hitter. The only combos you have that work are Moreland-Chavis and Moreland-Swihart (although Swihart hits better from the left side).

 

Still it’s very possible a Moreland-Swihart platoon is what starts the season...

[moonslav59]

i am 100% thinking that JDM will be RH platoon 1b next season. Pearce will not be resigned.

 

That makes a lot of sense, but then who DHs vs LHPs?

 

Chavis? I doubt it. If so, then why not play him at 1B over JD?

Swihart? DH? Nope.

Nunez? Maybe, especially if Holt plays.

Pedey? Maybe.

 

[notin]

That makes a lot of sense, but then who DHs vs LHPs?

 

Chavis? I doubt it. If so, then why not play him at 1B over JD?

Swihart? DH? Nope.

Nunez? Maybe, especially if Holt plays.

Pedey? Maybe.

 

 

Maybe the Sox move JDM to 1b full time and sign Nelson Cruz to DH against everyone...

[moonslav59]

Typically a platoon has a left-handed hitter and a right-handed hitter. The only combos you have that work are Moreland-Chavis and Moreland-Swihart (although Swihart hits better from the left side).

 

Still it’s very possible a Moreland-Swihart platoon is what starts the season...

 

Chavis has shown signs of being a reverse split player or even vs both, but I doubt we anoint him our platoon guy before ST'ing.

 

I'm just not high enough on Swihart's bat to see him as any kind of 1B solution, even if just on the short end of a platoon.

[moonslav59]

Maybe the Sox move JDM to 1b full time and sign Nelson Cruz to DH against everyone...

 

Now we have 2 DHs, and playing in a NL park gets even more complicated.

[notin]

Now we have 2 DHs, and playing in a NL park gets even more complicated.

 

Nah.

 

Nelson Cruz is like 60. He can go sit on a park bench and feed pigeons during NL road games...

[jacksonianmarch]

And drop 35 bombs

[notin]

Chavis has shown signs of being a reverse split player or even vs both, but I doubt we anoint him our platoon guy before ST'ing.

 

I'm just not high enough on Swihart's bat to see him as any kind of 1B solution, even if just on the short end of a platoon.

 

I wouldn’t look too deeply into Chavis’ reverse splits in acseason when he had less than 200 plate appearances.

 

I’m not wild about Swihart as a platoon option but 1) he is here, and 2) Dombrowski apparently likes him...

[moonslav59]

I wouldn’t look too deeply into Chavis’ reverse splits in acseason when he had less than 200 plate appearances.

 

I’m not wild about Swihart as a platoon option but 1) he is here, and 2) Dombrowski apparently likes him...

 

I looked at the splits of Chavis in all his farm years.

 

I hope the faith in Swihart is not enough to slot him into a vital role on opening day.

 

I haven't given up on Swihart, but I don't think his hit toll is good enough to play 1B or dH, except in an emergency role.

 

[Bellhorn04]

I hope the faith in Swihart is not enough to slot him into a vital role on opening day.

 

I'm not sure what DD plans to do with Swihart, but Cora made it pretty clear he didn't really want to play him that much.

 

The only way something substantial opens up for Swihart would seem to be if they part ways with Leon.

[notin]

I looked at the splits of Chavis in all his farm years.

 

I hope the faith in Swihart is not enough to slot him into a vital role on opening day.

 

I haven't given up on Swihart, but I don't think his hit toll is good enough to play 1B or dH, except in an emergency role.

 

 

If Pedroia’s healthy, the Sox position players could already be set with Swihart, Holt, Nunez and Leon. If that’s the case, either Swihart is the RHH first baseman or Moreland is not platooned. If Pedroia is not healthy, either Holt or Nunez move to 2b and maybe the Sox can take on a real platoon partner for Moreland.

 

Of course, it’s only mid-November and Dombrowski does like trades, so the current roster of position players may not be the same as the one in March...

[moonslav59]

I'm not sure what DD plans to do with Swihart, but Cora made it pretty clear he didn't really want to play him that much.

 

The only way something substantial opens up for Swihart would seem to be if they part ways with Leon.

 

Yes, but I'm pretty sure that if Cora tells DD he doesn't plan on playing Swihart much, inless a catcher gets hurt, DD might look to trade Swihart.

[moonslav59]

If Pedroia’s healthy, the Sox position players could already be set with Swihart, Holt, Nunez and Leon. If that’s the case, either Swihart is the RHH first baseman or Moreland is not platooned. If Pedroia is not healthy, either Holt or Nunez move to 2b and maybe the Sox can take on a real platoon partner for Moreland.

 

Of course, it’s only mid-November and Dombrowski does like trades, so the current roster of position players may not be the same as the one in March...

 

If Pedey, Nunez and Holt are all on the opening day roster, and nobody is on the DL, I doubt Swihart makes the roster.

 

Holt can play 1B, but I think we'll try Chavis or acquire a platoon bat for 1B, instead of using Swihart there.

[notin]

If Chavis isn’t traded, I expect him to make his MLB debut next season.

 

Think Dombrowski cuts Swihart loose to make room for Pedroia? Didn’t he surprise the world and keep him in that exact same scenario last year?

[moonslav59]

If Chavis isn’t traded, I expect him to make his MLB debut next season.

 

Think Dombrowski cuts Swihart loose to make room for Pedroia? Didn’t he surprise the world and keep him in that exact same scenario last year?

 

True, but I think that was more about HRam and his contract and the rest was a smoke screen- perhaps to prevent a law suit.

 

I doubt they trade Swihart to keep Pedey, because Pedey is too sketchy, but trading Swihart to give Chavis a look could happen. We also have Lin, Quiroz, Ockimey and maybe Marco Hernandez available as the 25th man.

[notin]

Swihart could be traded and might be. Not for much. If the Sox do need to trade a non- starting player, Chavis is the most likely candidate to get anything back.

 

The HanRam release was going to happen regardless. (Cora publicly said it had to do with playing time.) Keeping Swihart didn’t avoid a lawsuit anymore than if the Sox had released him to keep Lin.

 

Anything can happen in the next 5 months. But as of now, Swihart appears to have a roster spot. And possibly even a role...

[Kimmi]

I hated the Moreland signing, then it looked good, then okay, then maybe not so good, then okay again.

 

I'd rather have Pearce over Moreland for 2019, if I had to choose just one, despite Pearce being on the wrong side of a platoon.

 

I don't think us having Moreland put any scare into JD and his contract negotiations.

 

 

I liked the Moreland signing from the beginning.

 

While it might not have put any scare into JD, IMO it did give Dombrowski the luxury of waiting JD out.

[Kimmi]

i am 100% thinking that JDM will be RH platoon 1b next season. Pearce will not be resigned.

 

Makes sense to me.

[moonslav59]

I liked the Moreland signing from the beginning.

 

While it might not have put any scare into JD, IMO it did give Dombrowski the luxury of waiting JD out.

 

I disagree. There was no luxury. We needed JD almost as much as he needed us. Moreland made no difference. There were 4-5 other good and cheap 1Bman on the market.

[sk7326]

I disagree. There was no luxury. We needed JD almost as much as he needed us. Moreland made no difference. There were 4-5 other good and cheap 1Bman on the market.

 

Moreland was fine - dollar for dollar we had one of the more productive 1B positions in the league.

[Bellhorn04]

Moreland was fine - dollar for dollar we had one of the more productive 1B positions in the league.

 

Excluding Hanley, obviously.

[moonslav59]

Moreland was fine - dollar for dollar we had one of the more productive 1B positions in the league.

 

He certainly did better than most of the other 1B options.

 

Contract / fWAR in 2018

$144M/8 Hosmer -0.1

$60M/3 Santana 1.9

$16M/2 Alonso 0.7

$13M/2 Moreland 0.6

$8.3M/2 P Alvarez -0.2

$6.5M Morrison -0.7

$4M/1 M Adams 0.8

$3.5M/1 Duda 0.0

 

3B?

$6.5M/1 Moustakas 2.4

 

I'm sure glad we didn't go with Hosmer like a few here wanted.

 

I was pushing hard for Moose and Squirrel...I mean Duda, which wouldn't have been all that great, unless Moose switched to 1B.

 

Edited November 15, 2018 by moonslav59

[notin]

He certainly did better than most of the other 1B options.

 

Contract / fWAR in 2018

$144M/8 Hosmer -0.1

$60M/3 Santana 1.9

$16M/2 Alonso 0.7

$13M/2 Moreland 0.6

$8.3M/2 P Alvarez -0.2

$6.5M Morrison -0.7

$4M/1 M Adams 0.8

$3.5M/1 Duda 0.0

 

3B?

$6.5M/1 Moustakas 2.4

 

I'm sure glad we didn't go with Hosmer like a few here wanted.

 

I was pushing hard for Moose and Squirrel...I mean Duda, which wouldn't have been all that great, unless Moose switched to 1B.

 

 

Mountain Matt Adams is a free agent this year. Think he can be had for $4mill again?

[moonslav59]

Mountain Matt Adams is a free agent this year. Think he can be had for $4mill again?

 

Nope.

[cp176]

Moreland has been and is a perfect fit for the Red Sox. There may be any number of players who put up better numbers but was their character which includes a heavy dose of no ego and team first attitude on a par with his. Dombrowski and Cora get it. They understand that there is a lot more to consider than individual numbers when putting a winning team together. To me, Moreland represents a great example of something that is really important to have.

[Bellhorn04]

Moreland has been and is a perfect fit for the Red Sox. There may be any number of players who put up better numbers but was their character which includes a heavy dose of no ego and team first attitude on a par with his. Dombrowski and Cora get it. They understand that there is a lot more to consider than individual numbers when putting a winning team together. To me, Moreland represents a great example of something that is really important to have.

 

Agreed. And he's an excellent pinch hitter-most notably in WS Game 4 of course.

Edited November 15, 2018 by Bellhorn04

[moonslav59]

There are good character guys who do better than Moreland, but has been a net plus at his salary. I've softened my stance on him a lot since last year. I guess it's hard for me to get past my idea that 1B should be a highly productive offensive position.

 

With a pretty balanced line-up and team, it's okay, but I'd still like to see more.

 

I'm hopeful our catching position can add 100+ points to their collective 2018 OPS of .533.

 

Our .658 OPS at 2B may be improved upon as well, but I'm not counting on Pedey to do it. (I'm not giving up hope, either.)

 

I'd say the 3B OPS of .711 should be the easiest to improve. I'm looking for Devers to bust out next year or 2020.

 

I'm pretty sure we'll see a dip at another position or two, but we may see an even better offense next year, even if we don't bring back Pearce.

[notin]

I’m fine with Moreland for now even if they don’t get a platoon partner for him. But I reserve the right to change my position on him if he has a .650 OPS in June...

[cp176]

There are good character guys who do better than Moreland, but has been a net plus at his salary. I've softened my stance on him a lot since last year. I guess it's hard for me to get past my idea that 1B should be a highly productive offensive position.

 

With a pretty balanced line-up and team, it's okay, but I'd still like to see more.

 

I'm hopeful our catching position can add 100+ points to their collective 2018 OPS of .533.

 

Our .658 OPS at 2B may be improved upon as well, but I'm not counting on Pedey to do it. (I'm not giving up hope, either.)

 

I'd say the 3B OPS of .711 should be the easiest to improve. I'm looking for Devers to bust out next year or 2020.

 

I'm pretty sure we'll see a dip at another position or two, but we may see an even better offense next year, even if we don't bring back Pearce.

 

I've watched Moreland now for 2 years. Who are these guys with the character and attitude of Moreland? I watch Red Sox baseball so I'm actually not trying to argue with you. Do you watch and follow these other guys well enough you think to make that statement?