Eric Thames ,kole Calhoun available

[Swiharts Ghost]

Cheap DH ? Edited November 5, 2019 by Swiharts Ghost

[notin]

Cheap DH ?

 

Calhoun is a good defender and inconsistent hitter. So not a DH.

 

Plus, JD Martinez didn’t opt out, so DH is not on Bloom’s radar...

[S5Dewey]

Cheap DH ?

 

This only works if they do what they should have done a year ago: Give JDM a 1st baseman's glove and tell him to learn to use it in the off season.

 

This is a win-win situation. JDM wants to be more involved in the defense, the Sox don't have a real 1B-man going into 2020 and the Sox want to keep his bat in the order. Pick up a good cheap DH to replace Mookie's offense and we're good to go.

 

Except for that pitching 'thing'. Ugh.

[notin]

This only works if they do what they should have done a year ago: Give JDM a 1st baseman's glove and tell him to learn to use it in the off season.

 

This is a win-win situation. JDM wants to be more involved in the defense, the Sox don't have a real 1B-man going into 2020 and the Sox want to keep his bat in the order. Pick up a good cheap DH to replace Mookie's offense and we're good to go.

 

Except for that pitching 'thing'. Ugh.

 

If these are the names involved, Thames already owns a 1b glove. It seems silly to rotate him to DH and JD to 1b.

 

I actually like Calhoun as a player when he is on. When he is that high OBP, good power, rifle-armed right fielder. If Betts goes, he would be a good solution, but I think the price tag might not work out...

Edited November 5, 2019 by notin

[jacksonianmarch]

Calhoun is likely to get somewhere in the $8-$10 mil range AAV on a 2-3 year deal. He isn't bad, he is just not worth the $14 mil option the Angels had on him, plus they are stacking cash to get Cole

[S5Dewey]

If these are the names involved, Thames already owns a 1b glove. It seems silly to rotate him to DH and JD to 1b.

 

I actually like Calhoun as a player when he is on. When he is that high OBP, good power, rifle-armed right fielder. If Betts goes, he would be a good solution, but I think the price tag might not work out...

 

I wasn't thinking about any player or players when I posted that. I was thinking more about trying to make JDM happy by making him more a part of the defense and at the same time inserting another bat into the order. Which IMO should have happened last year. As a 'kicker' it would also keep him in the order against NL teams without weakening our defensive outfield.

[notin]

I wasn't thinking about any player or players when I posted that. I was thinking more about trying to make JDM happy by making him more a part of the defense and at the same time inserting another bat into the order. Which IMO should have happened last year. As a 'kicker' it would also keep him in the order against NL teams without weakening our defensive outfield.

 

I think the Sox and their fans will find that pretty much every available bat worthy of DH consideration is probably a better option in the field than Martinez. And while Martinez might want to play some defense, he knew what he was getting when he decided not to opt out. He might be happier with a DH role than we realize...

[moonslav59]

Please! Do! Not! Put! JD! In! The! OF!

 

(Unless it's in NL parks, and even then, plan his days off for some of those days.)

 

He is not a good defender.

 

He is injury prone.

 

His bat is his value.

 

If he hated DH'ing so much, he'd have opted out.

[notin]

Calhoun is likely to get somewhere in the $8-$10 mil range AAV on a 2-3 year deal. He isn't bad, he is just not worth the $14 mil option the Angels had on him, plus they are stacking cash to get Cole

 

MLBTR predicts a 1 year $6mill deal for Calhoun.

 

One thing that will hurt him is he is a bit on the older side for a fist time free agent, so I would be surprised if anyone gave him aas much as 3 years.

 

If the Sox trade Betts, Calhoun and Yasiel Puig (1 year $8mill prediction on MLBTR) might be on the Sox radar for RF. Puig is obviously the better player, but neither is a consistent producer and Puig has a reputation for being a bit on the insane side. If the right moves are made to get under the tax line, the Sox are going to sign a free agent or two.

 

Two other names (not counting Scooter Gennett, who has his own thread) they might consider that did not make the Top 50 Free Agent list include Hector Rondon and Jonathan Schoop. Schoop is a power-hitting/weak bat/great glove infielder who happens to be one of a very small number of Dutch islanders playing in MLB, and has played on Dutch national teams with Xander Bogaerts. (Andrelton Simmons and Jurickson Profar are the other Dutch islanders.) If a reunion with any of his Dutch National Team teammates means anything to Schoop, Boston and Anaheim are his prime options...

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I like Calhoun, but only at half JBJ's salary and to play RF, with Mookie moving to CF.

[S5Dewey]

MLBTR predicts a 1 year $6mill deal for Calhoun.

 

One thing that will hurt him is he is a bit on the older side for a fist time free agent, so I would be surprised if anyone gave him aas much as 3 years.

 

If the Sox trade Betts, Calhoun and Yasiel Puig (1 year $8mill prediction on MLBTR) might be on the Sox radar for RF. Puig is obviously the better player, but neither is a consistent producer and Puig has a reputation for being a bit on the insane side. If the right moves are made to get under the tax line, the Sox are going to sign a free agent or two.

 

^^ In the running for Understatement of the Week^^

[Kimmi]

I wasn't thinking about any player or players when I posted that. I was thinking more about trying to make JDM happy by making him more a part of the defense and at the same time inserting another bat into the order. Which IMO should have happened last year. As a 'kicker' it would also keep him in the order against NL teams without weakening our defensive outfield.

 

I completely agree with this. I thought it made a lot of sense to do it last year, and I still think it makes a lot of sense. I would rather see JD at 1B occasionally then see him in the OF occasionally.

[moonslav59]

I completely agree with this. I thought it made a lot of sense to do it last year, and I still think it makes a lot of sense. I would rather see JD at 1B occasionally then see him in the OF occasionally.

 

I still would rather just have him play DH, except in NL parks. I do agree that 1B is better than the OF, and had we signed a RP'er instead of Pearce, maybe we'd have been better off this past year.

[Kimmi]

I still would rather just have him play DH, except in NL parks. I do agree that 1B is better than the OF, and had we signed a RP'er instead of Pearce, maybe we'd have been better off this past year.

 

I also would prefer that JD just DH. But because of playing in NL parks, why not let him get some reps at 1B?

 

Pearce ended up being a bust for this year, but signing a relief pitcher instead would have not made any difference in terms of getting to the postseason.

[Swiharts Ghost]

Please! Do! Not! Put! JD! In! The! OF!

 

(Unless it's in NL parks, and even then, plan his days off for some of those days.)

 

He is not a good defender.

 

He is injury prone.

 

His bat is his value.

 

If he hated DH'ing so much, he'd have opted out.

Lol relax this is if we trade but alll valid points .

[Swiharts Ghost]

This only works if they do what they should have done a year ago: Give JDM a 1st baseman's glove and tell him to learn to use it in the off season.

 

This is a win-win situation. JDM wants to be more involved in the defense, the Sox don't have a real 1B-man going into 2020 and the Sox want to keep his bat in the order. Pick up a good cheap DH to replace Mookie's offense and we're good to go.

 

Except for that pitching 'thing'. Ugh.

 

This is if we trade JDM .

[moonslav59]

Lol relax this is if we trade but alll valid points .

 

I'm coll and relaxws, until they put JD in the OF, then I'm on pins and needles.

[Swiharts Ghost]

I'm coll and relaxws, until they put JD in the OF, then I'm on pins and needles.

 

Your sneaky funny Moon

[Slasher9]

the fact that JDM didn't spend last offseason and ST working on 1b is criminal negligence by WTF!

i expect C-BlOOM! will fix this approach this coming year.

moon - keep an eye out for Sox personnel swinging by the TX Nokona factory picking up a couple Bloodline Pro Series P3's......

[moonslav59]

Your sneaky funny Moon

 

Sometimes the truth is damn funny!

 

[Behindenemylines]

I completely agree with this. I thought it made a lot of sense to do it last year, and I still think it makes a lot of sense. I would rather see JD at 1B occasionally then see him in the OF occasionally.

 

It would be in his best interest if JD became a serviceable first baseman. The Sox have a need, and it would open up the market for him next year when his opt out comes up again. Remember the Sox won a championship with Napoli at 1B.

[Swiharts Ghost]

It would be in his best interest if JD became a serviceable first baseman. The Sox have a need, and it would open up the market for him next year when his opt out comes up again. Remember the Sox won a championship with Napoli at 1B.

 

I respect you both but am I wrong in thinking they would be better served to just burn all his mitts ?

[moonslav59]

It's the team's best interest to keep JD's bat in the line-up at all costs. Keep him healthy.

 

After each games, they should wrap him in bubble wrap and put him in a padded room.

 

1B? OF? HELL NO!

 

(If we have to play him 1-2 games in a 3 games series in an NL park, so be it, but I'll be biting my nails down to the quick every game.)

[notin]

If JD never plays 1b and sits in the 6 games the Sox play in NL parks, it’s not a disaster.

[moonslav59]

If JD never plays 1b and sits in the 6 games the Sox play in NL parks, it’s not a disaster.

 

Without JBJ, I see JD playing about the same amount of games in the OF as 2019- maybe less.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Corner outfielders see sporadic action -- though a misplay can mean extra bases.

 

But a first baseman gets chances in virtually every inning, and is entrusted to secure automatic outs.

 

A skilled first baseman has good hands and reflexes to make scoops and stretches that save errors and subsequent pitches for the guy on the mound. Napoli started in the big leagues as a catcher. Ernie Banks was an MVP shortstop before moving to first. A lot of third basemen transition easily over to first: Youk, Tony Perez... cough, Bagwell.

 

A bad defensive ballplayer doesn't play first.

[notin]

Corner outfielders see sporadic action -- though a misplay can mean extra bases.

 

But a first baseman gets chances in virtually every inning, and is entrusted to secure automatic outs.

 

A skilled first baseman has good hands and reflexes to make scoops and stretches that save errors and subsequent pitches for the guy on the mound. Napoli started in the big leagues as a catcher. Ernie Banks was an MVP shortstop before moving to first. A lot of third basemen transition easily over to first: Youk, Tony Perez... cough, Bagwell.

 

A bad defensive ballplayer doesn't play first.

 

 

Actually it seems like first base is where most players who can hit but are poor defensive players get moved to. Most of the chances are throws intended to be caught, so it does tend to be the easiest position to play...

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Actually it seems like first base is where most players who can hit but are poor defensive players get moved to. Most of the chances are throws intended to be caught, so it does tend to be the easiest position to play...

 

It would seem that way -- just stand there and catch the ball -- but there is also a lot of nimble footwork required, holding runners on, a step and a dive on liners, moving to make good feeds in traffic to start DPs, taking and relaying cutoff throws from right and center. A really good first sacker can be a weapon, like Keith Hernandez pouncing on bunts.

 

The Yankees seemingly wasted their best defensive player at first in the playoffs, but that was partly so they could keep Torres' bat in the lineup at second base. Torres is not a bad defender, but it was DJ was who nominated for a Gold Glove at second, and now they're letting Gregorious go so Torres can move to short and DJ back to second permanently. Voit had a hernia, but fans worried all summer about whether they could trust him at first in a championship drive in October.

 

We rarely see contenders with bad first basemen. Dick Stuart's nickname was Dr. Strangeglove, but he could hit dingers, and Boston needed the draw. His '63/64 Sox finished 7th and 8th, 28 and 27 games behind. He made 53 errors. At first base!

[notin]

It would seem that way -- just stand there and catch the ball -- but there is also a lot of nimble footwork required, holding runners on, a step and a dive on liners, moving to make good feeds in traffic to start DPs, taking and relaying cutoff throws from right and center. A really good first sacker can be a weapon, like Keith Hernandez pouncing on bunts.

 

The Yankees seemingly wasted their best defensive player at first in the playoffs, but that was partly so they could keep Torres' bat in the lineup at second base. Torres is not a bad defender, but it was DJ was who nominated for a Gold Glove at second, and now they're letting Gregorious go so Torres can move to short and DJ back to second permanently. Voit had a hernia, but fans worried all summer about whether they could trust him at first in a championship drive in October.

 

We rarely see contenders with bad first basemen. Dick Stuart's nickname was Dr. Strangeglove, but he could hit dingers, and Boston needed the draw. His '63/64 Sox finished 7th and 8th, 28 and 27 games behind. He made 53 errors. At first base!

 

Actually it seems like there have been plenty of contenders with weak defensive 1b. The Yankees with Jason Giambi leaps to mind. Giambi fits the mold of a player who washed out defensively from other positions (2B and 3B) and settled in at 1B. Feddie Freeman had an uncharacteristic bad season at 1B for the NL East champion Braves.

 

Moreover, many players who were defensive disasters at other positions seem to settle in and become good 1B, and very quickly. Mark Teixeira was a horrific 3B when he came up, but he was a Gold Glove-caliber 1B. Mike Napoli is another. Although it is possible his reputation for being a defensive liability behind the plate stemmed from Mike Scioscia's attitude towards the position. But even if he wasn't as bad as advertised, he was far from an elite catcher. He WAS an elite 1B, however.

 

Heck, the namesake for this thread Eric Thames is an outfielder who washed out defensively, moved to 1B, and continued poor defensive play for a team that made the post-season this year and lost in the NLCS last year....

[Slasher9]

footwork is required but is an easily learnt skill. hence why WTF! should have him spend the past offseason and ST working on it. we shall see if it happens this season. i suspect it will.