If we really have problems at second next year, remember this:

[Dojji]

 

LF: Beni

CF: JBJ

RF: JD

2B: The MVP

 

He was a pretty solid 2B before he was moved to the outfield, he's still got all the athleticism he ever had. If Pedey can't come back and the replacements are struggling, this is absolutely an option. Give him a few weeks to get used to doing it again and I have no doubt in my mind that Betts could transition admirably back to second base. What's more, with his bat, if he could play 2B every day it would probably raise his stock as a player. An elite infielder > an elite outfielder most of the time.

[jacksonianmarch]

You do t know if he will be a good defender. Let’s say he's average or below at 2b. Then you’ve downgraded RF and haven’t improved 2b defense

[S5Dewey]

 

LF: Beni

CF: JBJ

RF: JD

2B: The MVP

 

He was a pretty solid 2B before he was moved to the outfield, he's still got all the athleticism he ever had. If Pedey can't come back and the replacements are struggling, this is absolutely an option. Give him a few weeks to get used to doing it again and I have no doubt in my mind that Betts could transition admirably back to second base. What's more, with his bat, if he could play 2B every day it would probably raise his stock as a player. An elite infielder > an elite outfielder most of the time.

 

No no no no NO! While I believe that Mookie can play 2B and do it well, JDM is nothing more than a barely adequate outfielder. Putting him into one of the most difficult OF's to play in baseball would be a monumental mistake! One thing we should have learned by now is that Fenway Park demands having two outfielders with the skills and ability to play CF.

[Dojji]

You do t know if he will be a good defender. Let’s say he's average or below at 2b. Then you’ve downgraded RF and haven’t improved 2b defense

 

Betts was a very solid defender when he first came up. He had a good arm and excellent range, just like he has now in the outfield. He's out of practice so there might be a few initial mistakes but I have absolutely no doubt whatsoever that if called upon to do so, he would get the hang of it again.

 

Of course the ideal is always Pedroia retaking the job, but if that doesn't happen and other holes open we need Holt to fill... don't rule it out.

[Dojji]

No no no no NO! While I believe that Mookie can play 2B and do it well, JDM is nothing more than a barely adequate outfielder. Putting him into one of the most difficult OF's to play in baseball would be a monumental mistake! One thing we should have learned by now is that Fenway Park demands having two outfielders with the skills and ability to play CF.

 

Fine, then put Beni in center and JBJ in right and swap JD over to left field. Beni's a CF too, if you'll remember, even though he doesn't get the opportunity to show it off with Betts and JBJ on the roster.

[Bellhorn04]

We've really been over this idea a bunch of times. The team actually indicated it was being considered for Game 3-5 in the World Series but opted not to do it.

[moonslav59]

To me, this is a horrible idea.

 

RF defense is extremely important. We'd be going from the best to the worst in one stroke.

 

I like how Holt bulked up and looks more durable.

 

I'm hopeful Nunez gets his knee in shape.

 

Outside hopes like Pedey, Hernandez, Lin and Quiroz add to the chances 2B will be fine, as is.

[Bellhorn04]

To me, this is a horrible idea.

 

RF defense is extremely important. We'd be going from the best to the worst in one stroke.

 

I like how Holt bulked up and looks more durable.

 

I'm hopeful Nunez gets his knee in shape.

 

Outside hopes like Pedey, Hernandez, Lin and Quiroz add to the chances 2B will be fine, as is.

 

This is it. There are a whole bundle of possible solutions.

[notin]

Yeah!!!

 

Let’s take the best defensive outfielder in baseball and move him back to a position he hasn’t played in4 years so we can also put JDM in the outfield!!! We can weaken ourselves at 2 positions defensively at once!!

 

Also who’s the new DH?

[Sox75]

I like Holt at 2nd. Hope for Pedey to come back. Kinsley gone, and we look for a utility IF guy internally. I think having JD as a guy who plays in the OF several times a week to give guys rest is the best of all worlds. It keeps these guys rested, & works to help out with INEVITABLE injury in the OF. It keeps him sharp for NL games & the world series next year. I love having SP back next year, sharing duties with Mooreland. I wish they would work JD out all off season at 1st, making JD the ultimate OF / IF / DH SUPER-UTILITY mega-star!

[moonslav59]

Yeah!!!

 

Let’s take the best defensive outfielder in baseball and move him back to a position he hasn’t played in4 years so we can also put JDM in the outfield!!! We can weaken ourselves at 2 positions defensively at once!!

 

Also who’s the new DH?

 

Yes, weaken DH, too!

[moonslav59]

I like Holt at 2nd. Hope for Pedey to come back. Kinsley gone, and we look for a utility IF guy internally. I think having JD as a guy who plays in the OF several times a week to give guys rest is the best of all worlds. It keeps these guys rested, & works to help out with INEVITABLE injury in the OF. It keeps him sharp for NL games & the world series next year. I love having SP back next year, sharing duties with Mooreland. I wish they would work JD out all off season at 1st, making JD the ultimate OF / IF / DH SUPER-UTILITY mega-star!

 

Assuming Holt starts at 2B and Pedey never plays another game, we still have Nunez as our super utility IF'er. Both Holt & Nunez can play OF in a pinch as well as does JD.

 

I'm not worried about our bench with Holt (or Nunez) becoming a starter.

[notin]

Holt and Nunez held down the position from April until August. And this year, Quiroz might be healthier and be an option too...

[moonslav59]

Holt and Nunez held down the position from April until August. And this year, Quiroz might be healthier and be an option too...

 

It was pretty telling that Kinsler kept starting, even when Devers returned and Kinsler slumped.

 

It makes you wonder how much confidence DD has in Holt/Nunez/Pedey/Quiroz/Hernandez/Lin going into 2019.

 

I think DD waits it out, and if needed, he'll get the next Kinsler in July.

[notin]

It was pretty telling that Kinsler kept starting, even when Devers returned and Kinsler slumped.

 

It makes you wonder how much confidence DD has in Holt/Nunez/Pedey/Quiroz/Hernandez/Lin going into 2019.

 

I think DD waits it out, and if needed, he'll get the next Kinsler in July.

 

Pedroia and Quiroz were injured last year. Pedroia did get his brief chance after

all...

[notin]

Yes, weaken DH, too!

 

But not defensively.

 

And really it’s an offensive gain if the new DH outhits the old 2b. But does it offset the defensive loss?

[Kimmi]

Fine, then put Beni in center and JBJ in right and swap JD over to left field. Beni's a CF too, if you'll remember, even though he doesn't get the opportunity to show it off with Betts and JBJ on the roster.

 

I really don't like the idea of JD being an everyday outfielder, nor do I like the idea of removing Betts from the outfield. My concern is not with whether Mookie could be a good defensive 2B, it's with the weakening of the outfield defense. Considerably so, IMO.

[Kimmi]

Yeah!!!

 

Let’s take the best defensive outfielder in baseball and move him back to a position he hasn’t played in4 years so we can also put JDM in the outfield!!! We can weaken ourselves at 2 positions defensively at once!!

 

Also who’s the new DH?

 

Hanley!

[Kimmi]

This thread is moot anyway.

 

Pedroia will be back and ready to go.

[moonslav59]

But not defensively.

 

And really it’s an offensive gain if the new DH outhits the old 2b. But does it offset the defensive loss?

 

A new DH would cost money and prevent money from being spent of pitching, in theory.

 

I'm not sure Chavis or Swihart at DH would outhit Holt/Nunez at 2B.

[notin]

A new DH would cost money and prevent money from being spent of pitching, in theory.

 

I'm not sure Chavis or Swihart at DH would outhit Holt/Nunez at 2B.

 

Which is another reason why it’s a bad plan.

 

No idea why Sox fans are so obsessed with getting Betts back to the infield...

[sk7326]

Let's put it this way - if the worst 2B becomes is a Holt/Nunez platoon that is fine. If you really want to, bringing back Ian Kinsler is perfectly fine too. (he had a reverse split last year which had all the makings of a fluke) But between Pedroia-Nunez and Holt we should be able to find 162 adequate games. Obviously healthy Pedroia is the best choice - still a 2-3 win player - but you obviously should not plan on that.

[Northern Star]

Anyone got Hanley's phone number?

[cp176]

Anyone got Hanley's phone number?

 

They would have to have Cora's number first and ask him if he would be willing to give that good old boy another try. lol

[cp176]

I don't think that there is even a slight chance that Mookie winds up back at second base. I also think that all 2 or 3 of the people here who have expressed a remote interest in seeing this happen will probably react just fine if our gold glover stays right out there in right field. Second base will not register much of a number on Cora's scale of pressing things that need to get done.

[Northern Star]

As I think some others have said, Mookie to 2B and JD to OF hurts two positions, three if you include DH. Not worth whatever you think Mookie brings defensively to 2B when we already have options and I'm sure we could pick up a stopgap dirt cheap if we had to.

 

The post reminds me of the kind of thread (not necessarily on here) where someone suggests trading two good position players for a pitcher. Now you've ripped open two holes in your everyday lineup for filling 1 position every fifth day. Doesn't make sense.

[Jasonbay44]

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/red_sox/clubhouse_insider/2018/07/jd_martinez_out_of_red_sox_lineup_after_wall_run_in

J.D. Martinez's injury adds to Tigers' woes

WWW.MLB.COM

---

KANSAS CITY -- The play looked innocent enough, J.D. Martinez crashing into the wall in the right-field corner of Kauffman Stadium chasing after a ball. When Martinez wasn't moving his right arm afterward, it was clearly serious.The result, a fractured bone in Martinez's right elbow, will keep the All-Star slugger

Tigers' J.D. Martinez exits with foot injury

WWW.MLB.COM

---

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Tigers right fielder J.D. Martinez left Saturday's 5-4 win over the Marlins after stumbling on a shoestring catch in the first inning. He was diagnosed with a mid-right-foot sprain after X-rays came back negative, and he will be re-evaluated on Sunday.Martinez made a highlight catch to end

Here are some good reasons why not to have Martinez in the outfield full time. This is just a few examples of him being injured in the field, and he apparently has been much more timid at fielding around walls since he broke his elbow for the Tigers, and I don't blame him.

 

Keep him at DH, leave the outfield alone. If anything, try JD at 1B, keep him away from the outfield if possible. Worst case scenario, we have Brock Holt who can play 2B fine.

[moonslav59]

Which is another reason why it’s a bad plan.

 

No idea why Sox fans are so obsessed with getting Betts back to the infield...

 

I think they just want to see the best line-up possible- damn the defense.

[cp176]

Who really are these fabled obsessed Red Sox fans? I have heard a few people suggesting it but they certainly didn't sound absolutely sold on the idea. This is what happens here.

[S5Dewey]

But not defensively.

 

And really it’s an offensive gain if the new DH outhits the old 2b. But does it offset the defensive loss?

 

If we're going to go that route we can also move JDM to 1st & trade Moreland for a new DH who hits better than Moreland.