Does JD Martinez own a first baseman's glove?

[sk7326]

Having JDM being able to play 1B seems like such a natural move that I've been amazed that it hasn't happened before. I don't see any downside to it for anyone. He's a relatively big guy @ 6'3" & 220 lbs so he has the natural size for it and he's a good athlete.

Moving him to 1B could make JDM into a full-time player on the Sox without weakening our OF on "rest days" for the B's, it would make everyone available on interleague days, and it would build JDM's value on the market if/when he opts out by making him more versatile. In addition, he wants to p/ay defense and if he's not going to do that on the Sox as long as the B's are roaming the OF.

 

Win/Win/Win.

 

I would not be surprised if the Sox look at this seriously this spring.

[jacksonianmarch]

I would not be surprised if the Sox look at this seriously this spring.

 

I’d be more inclined to say it is gonna happen.

[Dojji]

Nobody ever asked Papi to lose weight.

 

They didn't have to. There was a period of time in 06-07 when Papi did have a very thick middle but he had some kind of heart trouble in the 06 season and after that he took responsibility for his body on his own and slimmed down without needing to be prompted by the team.

[sk7326]

I’d be more inclined to say it is gonna happen.

 

I would not be surprised. JD signed late enough in the FA period that the Red Sox signed contingencies - there was just not really a job opening at 1B, and I am not sure how much chance they had to work with him at all. That is a non-issue this year.

[moonslav59]

If JD can play 1B, we probably won't sign Pearce, but there still remains a gap.

 

At NL parks, it's easy: JD plays 1B, but if JD plays 1B in AL parks vs LHPs, who DH's?

 

We still need a bat better than Swihart, Nunez, Holt or Devers (if Nunez is at 3B some).

 

Maybe we wait to see if Pedey could DH and play a little 2B, before we make the choice to acquire someone or re-sign Pearce.

 

[Kimmi]

The concern is that Devers has actually put on a fair bit of weight in the last 18 months. His listed playing weight is 237, and we know that those statistics tend to be understated. If he gets much over 250, he's going to have to switch over. A 6'0" guy is going to struggle to carry that much weight at a position that requires a high level of athleticism and that struggle will lead to injuries. And he's only 22, that weight figure is going to go up slowly but steadily as he progresses through his late 20s and into his 30s, and that's even if he works like mad to stay fit.

 

Hopefully Devers doesn't go full Pablob, but the dude is already heavier than Edwin Encarnacion, and as he fills out, he's going to slow down.

 

He'll be at 1B by age 27 if things go on at this rate.

 

I do agree that Devers will eventually move to 1B, I just don't think it will be this season.

 

That said, you make a fair point about Devers' weight. I don't think it's a concern or an issue yet, but it is something for the Red Sox conditioning staff to keep an eye on.

[Kimmi]

If JD can play 1B, we probably won't sign Pearce, but there still remains a gap.

 

At NL parks, it's easy: JD plays 1B, but if JD plays 1B in AL parks vs LHPs, who DH's?

 

We still need a bat better than Swihart, Nunez, Holt or Devers (if Nunez is at 3B some).

 

Maybe we wait to see if Pedey could DH and play a little 2B, before we make the choice to acquire someone or re-sign Pearce.

 

 

The Sox should bring Hanley back.

[radatz17]

Kimmi,

 

Good thought! But, for what reason?

[Kimmi]

Kimmi,

 

Good thought! But, for what reason?

 

Well, kind of a moot point now that Pearce is re-signed.

[moonslav59]

Well, kind of a moot point now that Pearce is re-signed.

 

NL parks still present issues that might be helped a little, if JD could play 1B.

[Kimmi]

NL parks still present issues that might be helped a little, if JD could play 1B.

 

No doubt. I still think JD should take reps at 1B.

 

My post about a moot point was in regard to bringing Hanley back.

[notin]

NL parks still present issues that might be helped a little, if JD could play 1B.

 

If it doesn’t happen, I wouldn’t sweat it.

 

The Sox play what? Nine games in NL parks each year? If JD or one of the outfielders sit for nine games, it won’t be the Kiss of Death for this team. It would be nice to have him play 1b in the World Series. But then from what we saw of Cora this year, he seems to have no problem with a player making his MLB debut at 1b in the World Series...

[Dojji]

NL parks still present issues that might be helped a little, if JD could play 1B.

 

No, really no.

 

Honestly, if JD has to be bad at a position I would much prefer him to be comfortably bad. We tried this experiment in reverse with Hanley and it did not end well. JD might be mediocre in the outfield but at least he knows how to be mediocre in the outfield. He's comfortable playing there and knows what to do, even if he doesn't always have the tools to execute. That's good enough for me. I would far, far inconvenience Beni or JBJ a few times a year than risk this experiment for rather little gain.

 

It's the old adage, better the devil you know. And while offensive competence is always finite, defensive incompetence is effectively potentially infinite. I just don't see any gain to offset the risks here.

[notin]

No, really no.

 

Honestly, if JD has to be bad at a position I would much prefer him to be comfortably bad. We tried this experiment in reverse with Hanley and it did not end well. JD might be mediocre in the outfield but at least he knows how to be mediocre in the outfield. He's comfortable playing there and knows what to do, even if he doesn't always have the tools to execute. That's good enough for me. I would far, far inconvenience Beni or JBJ a few times a year than risk this experiment for rather little gain.

 

It's the old adage, better the devil you know. And while offensive competence is always finite, defensive incompetence is effectively potentially infinite. I just don't see any gain to offset the risks here.

 

So no on moving JD to first - a position about half of the starters in MLB learn at the Major League level - but yes on moving Mookie to second, a position he hasn’t played in years because he’s been establishing himself as the best defensive RF in the game today?

[Kimmi]

No, really no.

 

Honestly, if JD has to be bad at a position I would much prefer him to be comfortably bad. We tried this experiment in reverse with Hanley and it did not end well. JD might be mediocre in the outfield but at least he knows how to be mediocre in the outfield. He's comfortable playing there and knows what to do, even if he doesn't always have the tools to execute. That's good enough for me. I would far, far inconvenience Beni or JBJ a few times a year than risk this experiment for rather little gain.

 

It's the old adage, better the devil you know. And while offensive competence is always finite, defensive incompetence is effectively potentially infinite. I just don't see any gain to offset the risks here.

 

Well, it's not something you would want to throw JD into out of the blue in the middle of the season. He could be taking grounders during the off season. Let him take reps at 1B throughout spring training and throughout the season. Cora is the master of selling these types of changes to the players, so I'm sure JD would be fully on board.

 

Just because JD wouldn't be needed to play 1B, that doesn't mean he can't play there periodically throughout the season. He could play there to give Moreland or Pearce a rest, where one of them could be the DH.

 

I think it makes a lot of sense.