Listened To Pedey on WEEI annmnnnnnd

[Bellhorn04]

Mr No Fun has entered the chat.

 

Well, I don't really want you to self-ban. You're here rarely enough now as it is.

[vegasbob]

JD played four games at first base in his first year in the pros. He made two errors in four games -- that's a pace of 81 errors in a 162-game season.

 

Either he's afraid of playing there or they're afraid of him playing there.

 

To be a great hitter you need quick hands with the bat, which JD may well have. To play first base you need quick hands to handle rocket shots down the line and scoop skipping incoming low throws. My guess is that JD does not have quick fielding hands, only hitting hands. His history in the outfield would seem to indicate a degree of awkwardness, slow feet and not so quick reaction time. Let him be a great DH like Ortiz, while he's here.

[oldtimer]

If, by some miracle, he comes back and plays a lot, I think his bat may be okay. I'm worried more about his range and ability to turn the DP.

 

I am hoping that the Sox move ahead with developing a full time second baseman. There has been enough drama with Pedey for the last two years. Keep him arou nd on the 40 man but don't rely on him.

[moonslav59]

deal. but if he pulls a hammie or tweaks his back chasing down a flyball in the OF then im coming for you!

 

No. I want him only DH'ing with maybe a handful of games in the OF at NL parks.

[moonslav59]

I am hoping that the Sox move ahead with developing a full time second baseman. There has been enough drama with Pedey for the last two years. Keep him arou nd on the 40 man but don't rely on him.

 

Exactly.

 

The Sox should not, and I believe will not plan on 1 inning from Pedey. If he plays, then so be it.

 

We will not trade Chatham, Marco or Lin. I'm not sure if they seriously see Chavis as a long term 2B option, but in my opinion, his bat does not support him playing 1B, so maybe 2B is his best shot.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

To be a great hitter you need quick hands with the bat, which JD may well have. To play first base you need quick hands to handle rocket shots down the line and scoop skipping incoming low throws. My guess is that JD does not have quick fielding hands, only hitting hands. His history in the outfield would seem to indicate a degree of awkwardness, slow feet and not so quick reaction time. Let him be a great DH like Ortiz, while he's here.

 

Agreed. When a defender chases down fly balls, he usually uses foot speed to get to the ball and then sure hands to catch it. What is underrated about playing first base as opposed to outfield is that quick and coordinated feet often have to work in unison with quick and coordinated hands. Getting in position to field relays from right and center, and then making throws with your back to the plate is a big responsibility, too. Drummers would make good first basemen, from kicking pedals and flipping sticks at the same time.

[Slasher9]

No. I want him only DH'ing with maybe a handful of games in the OF at NL parks.

 

and how is this different then how i want him playing 1b in NL parks????

[Bellhorn04]

and how is this different then how i want him playing 1b in NL parks????

 

Like it or not, 1B is a change of positions involving different physical demands. He's never played there, not a single MLB game. Maybe he has been asked and has indicated that it's a bad idea.

[notin]

and how is this different then how i want him playing 1b in NL parks????

 

Didn’t you see Moneyball? When Billy Beane is telling Scott Hatteburg he is going to play 1b.

 

“It’s not that hard, Scott. Tell him”.

 

“It’s incredibly hard.”

[mvp 78]

Just put him at 2b. Moose and Shaw were able to do it.

[kenmeister]

Didn’t you see Moneyball? When Billy Beane is telling Scott Hatteburg he is going to play 1b.

 

“It’s not that hard, Scott. Tell him”.

 

“It’s incredibly hard.”

 

I hope they at least try, because putting JD at first solves so many problems. If he's squeezed out of DH by Pedroia, they'll be tempted to put him in left field with Beni switching to center. And then we still don't have a first baseman.

[mvp 78]

If Pedey is DH only, release him.

[notin]

If Pedey is DH only, release him.

 

And what does that accomplish?

[mvp 78]

And what does that accomplish?

 

Open roster spot for someone that can actually play. If Pedey is DH only, he’s a AAAA guy.

[notin]

Open roster spot for someone that can actually play. If Pedey is DH only, he’s a AAAA guy.

 

Or he is 60 day IL material, which means he does no take a roster spot...

[moonslav59]

Or he is 60 day IL material, which means he does no take a roster spot...

 

The only problem is not being able to be on the 60 day DL until opening day, but with our 40 man roster so shallow, it should not be a problem, unless Bloom starts wheeling and dealing for low cost players that need to be on the 40 man roster.

 

I'm usually thinking we should make some 2 or 3 for 1 deals this time of year, but we may see some 1 for 3 deals this winter.

[notin]

The only problem is not being able to be on the 60 day DL until opening day, but with our 40 man roster so shallow, it should not be a problem, unless Bloom starts wheeling and dealing for low cost players that need to be on the 40 man roster.

 

I'm usually thinking we should make some 2 or 3 for 1 deals this time of year, but we may see some 1 for 3 deals this winter.

 

I don't see the Sox having 40 man roster issues.

 

Even with Pedroia currently on the roster, they still only have 34 players on it.

 

And those 34 players include Sam Travis, Brian Johnson, Trevor Kelley, and Bobby Poyner. Even if these players were claimed, there is nothing special there. Not to mention, Heath Hembree, Jackie Bradley, and Sandy Leon also still have spots along with questions about their return. And Josh Osich has a spot.

 

That's nearly a quarter of the occupied slots taken by players who are not coming back or are not difficult to replace.

 

Counting the six spots already vacant, I'm not too worried if Pedroia has to spend a month or two on the 40 man roster. I also doubt the Sox need 15 spots to add worthy minor league players...

[mvp 78]

Or he is 60 day IL material, which means he does no take a roster spot...

 

That’s different. Someone above was mentioning “what if Pedey pushes JD off of DH”.

[notin]

That’s different. Someone above was mentioning “what if Pedey pushes JD off of DH”.

 

Well, given that the Sox are reportedly going to move Bradley and Betts and have no minor league outfielders ready to play at the MLB level not named Rusney, if Pedroia goes to DH, it would probably push JD to the outfield. While not ideal defensively, the Sox don't have a ton of other options right now.

 

I know there will be additions, but as of today, if Pedroia plays DH and Martinez plays, say, LF, is that better or worse than having Martinez at DH and Cole Sturgeon in LF?

[mvp 78]

If they are moving on from 2 OFers, I bet they bring in some cheap replacements the way the Rays always do.

[S5Dewey]

I hope they at least try, because putting JD at first solves so many problems. If he's squeezed out of DH by Pedroia, they'll be tempted to put him in left field with Beni switching to center. And then we still don't have a first baseman.

 

...or a center fielder.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

The Sox' new admin -- since most are the old admin -- can't be counting on a single at bat from Pedroia, and have to view anything they get as a bonus. A realistic scenario is to hope he can spend the season in uniform and act as a defacto infield coach, like he did in '18. That way he could help any forthcoming depth acquisitions in their transitions.

 

As for JD, expect less outfield time than ever, like maybe 20 games, just enough to be ready so he can stay in the lineup in a few inter-league road games.

 

There's just no way Bloom is coming into his first year and not trying to build a contender for 2020 -- and repeating the mistakes of his predecessor's previous regime.

[notin]

If they are moving on from 2 OFers, I bet they bring in some cheap replacements the way the Rays always do.

 

I certainly hope so.

 

Right now, the only name mentioned was Jake Marisnick, and even then no one is certain how interested the Sox really are.

 

But if the Sox still have a good OF, they aren't going to bench Martinez to let Pedroia DH. And that's with assuming Pedroia can do that much.

 

Now if the plan is to trade Martinez, and let Pedroia DH, that's different (and unwise). But they certainly wouldn't be trading Martinez just to clear a place to play for Pedroia...

[mvp 78]

It’s not even Thanksgiving. Can’t worry about the names thrown around right now. They’ll get it done.

[notin]

It’s not even Thanksgiving. Can’t worry about the names thrown around right now. They’ll get it done.

 

It's 25 degrees in Chicago today. Forgive me if I keep thinking it's January...

[moonslav59]

It's 25 degrees in Chicago today. Forgive me if I keep thinking it's January...

 

Isn't it usually -10 with the wind chill in January?

 

(I used to live in Milwaukee and went to college in South Bend.)

[mvp 78]

It's 25 degrees in Chicago today. Forgive me if I keep thinking it's January...

 

81 here. Baseball’s over?

[notin]

81 here. Baseball’s over?

 

Can you send me like maybe 20 or 30 degrees?

[mvp 78]

Can you send me like maybe 20 or 30 degrees?

 

Hell no. My pool would get too cold.

[notin]

Hell no. My pool would get too cold.

 

Buy some skates...