A Realistic View at 2021: Part I

[jad]

What does that have to do with Devers's defensive issues?

 

His apparent defensive issues are the reasons for the argument to get rid of him, no? (That's what was being discussed here.)

 

Its odd--when I saw him play a couple of times in AA, knowing nothing of him, his defense was fine; he seemed in a different league from the others (anyone who watches minor league bb knows what I mean here), and I just assumed his skills were defensive, and that his hitting was so-so. I would think that improving defense is something more easily learned than improving hitting.

[Bellhorn04]

His apparent defensive issues are the reasons for the argument to get rid of him, no? (That's what was being discussed here.)

 

No one is talking about getting rid of him. They're talking about moving him to first base or DH.

[notin]

No one is talking about getting rid of him. They're talking about moving him to first base or DH.

 

Apparently any talk of a player’s deficiencies or of changing his position is tantamount to trade banter...

[mvp 78]

No one is talking about getting rid of him. They're talking about moving him to first base or DH.

 

Honestly, with Swihart, we have no real idea what he's talking about anyway.

[moonslav59]

I'm not sure it's so much as Devers proving himself as much as going up to 30,000 ft and determining okay who is better 3B?

 

I can work hard every day and work on my putting game. I can become better at reading, etc. But I will never be as good as my buddy who just has the 'touch'. It doesn't make me a bad putter, just not as good as my buddy. I don't have that magical 'touch'. Maybe Dalbec has better 'touch'. MAYBE.

 

I’m perfectly fine with moving Devers to 1B, if he shows no improvement.

[mvp 78]

I’m perfectly fine with moving Devers to 1B, if he shows no improvement.

 

Next offseason, right?

[mvp 78]

@ThreeTwoEephus

BREAKING: Texas Rangers plan to open to full 40,518 capacity for 2 final exhibition games and Opening Day, with plans to have social-distanced sections available in subsequent games.

@ThreeTwoEephus

- masks will be required

- no tailgating allowed

- team is asking for “voluntary compliance” but refusal to comply will fall under the usual three-strike rule, just like excessive profanity, etc.

 

Will Fenway go to full capacity at any point this year?

[jad]

No one is talking about getting rid of him. They're talking about moving him to first base or DH.

 

Well, SG is talking about that, but it's possible most of us have him on "Ignore."

[jacksonianmarch]

@ThreeTwoEephus

BREAKING: Texas Rangers plan to open to full 40,518 capacity for 2 final exhibition games and Opening Day, with plans to have social-distanced sections available in subsequent games.

@ThreeTwoEephus

- masks will be required

- no tailgating allowed

- team is asking for “voluntary compliance” but refusal to comply will fall under the usual three-strike rule, just like excessive profanity, etc.

 

Will Fenway go to full capacity at any point this year?

 

With vaccines rolling out hard and outdoor transmission incredibly low, I’m expecting NY and BOS to open full venues by mid July. We should have enough vaccine to get herd immunity for April. It takes 6 weeks to get top level immunity and assume it takes 3-4 weeks to accelerate delivery and you’re in mid June at earliest, likely into July

[Bellhorn04]

Well, SG is talking about that, but it's possible most of us have him on "Ignore."

 

As best as I can decipher, SG is talking about moving him to DH.

[Tedballgame]

With vaccines rolling out hard and outdoor transmission incredibly low, I’m expecting NY and BOS to open full venues by mid July. We should have enough vaccine to get herd immunity for April. It takes 6 weeks to get top level immunity and assume it takes 3-4 weeks to accelerate delivery and you’re in mid June at earliest, likely into July

 

No way the they let that happen.

[mvp 78]

With vaccines rolling out hard and outdoor transmission incredibly low, I’m expecting NY and BOS to open full venues by mid July. We should have enough vaccine to get herd immunity for April. It takes 6 weeks to get top level immunity and assume it takes 3-4 weeks to accelerate delivery and you’re in mid June at earliest, likely into July

 

If I can get my vaccine before the end of the summer, I'll be happy. My wife is expecting it by the end of June, but I don't see it.

[gojohn99]

I got my 1st dose, 2nd scheduled for March 23rd.

[notin]

If I can get my vaccine before the end of the summer, I'll be happy. My wife is expecting it by the end of June, but I don't see it.

 

My wife got her second dose yesterday. I remain unprotected...

[Swiharts Ghost]

Honestly, with Swihart, we have no real idea what he's talking about anyway.

 

Cheap shot but deserved from my past posts .I no longer take to starting a topic to spice things up for obvious reasons here .I standby saying Devers is better suited as a DH and I wouldn’t even give the kid a first baseman’s glove He has terrible instincts and his movement and footwork is that of Someone shaped like a weeble wobble or Phil Rivers take a pick .Devers can flat out Rake though and is a terrific person .

[mvp 78]

Cheap shot but deserved from my past posts .I no longer take to starting a topic to spice things up for obvious reasons here .I standby saying Devers is better suited as a DH and I wouldn’t even give the kid a first baseman’s glove He has terrible instincts and his movement and footwork is that of Someone shaped like a weeble wobble or Phil Rivers take a pick .Devers can flat out Rake though and is a terrific person .

 

His glove isn't the problem IMO. The problem is his arm. Maybe that gets rectified with a move across the diamond?

[moonslav59]

As best as I can decipher, SG is talking about moving him to DH.

 

He did say "send him down," but I think he went back and edited that out and just put move to "DH."

 

I'm not sure why he can't be fine at 1B, if he doesn't work out at 3B.

[moonslav59]

Cheap shot but deserved from my past posts .I no longer take to starting a topic to spice things up for obvious reasons here .I standby saying Devers is better suited as a DH and I wouldn’t even give the kid a first baseman’s glove He has terrible instincts and his movement and footwork is that of Someone shaped like a weeble wobble or Phil Rivers take a pick .Devers can flat out Rake though and is a terrific person .

 

He's got very quick reflexes and is faster than someone his size would be expected to be.

 

He was a plus on defense in 2019- the whole year. He was 22, then. Many players are barely in AA at that point.

 

If he was 26 or 27, you'd have a point.

 

Also, have you seen how slow many 1Bmen are in MLB, now?

 

Devers would be a plus 1Bman within 1-2 years, if he's moved there. He will not be a DH, until many years from now.

 

Now, can he become the next Pablito, as harmony keeps mentioning? Sure, but I doubt it.

 

He just turned 24. Give him another year like most 24-25 year olds get.

[Kimmi]

It's always been his throwing, not his range. Maybe it's a mental block? Maybe it's him not setting his feet?

 

I think a lot of it for Devers is mental. It's the same reason that he can make Gold Glove caliber plays, then turn around and boot the routine ones.

[Kimmi]

And if there are fans who follow the RS specifically because they enjoy watching Mookie, JBJ, Beni, Devers or anyone else? Screw them. This is the Tampa Way.

 

Stop.

[Swiharts Ghost]

He's got very quick reflexes and is faster than someone his size would be expected to be.

 

He was a plus on defense in 2019- the whole year. He was 22, then. Many players are barely in AA at that point.

 

If he was 26 or 27, you'd have a point.

 

Also, have you seen how slow many 1Bmen are in MLB, now?

 

Devers would be a plus 1Bman within 1-2 years, if he's moved there. He will not be a DH, until many years from now.

 

Now, can he become the next Pablito, as harmony keeps mentioning? Sure, but I doubt it.

 

He just turned 24. Give him another year like most 24-25 year olds get.

 

I see what you want from him I just don’t see 1b being a long term fit either .Why does everyone think 1b is so easy ? When you have short hops from third and short and tailing balls that you have to recognize immediately what to do how to position your body ? Man I don’t like Devers with a glove I’m dropping it now though it’s pointless .

[moonslav59]

I see what you want from him I just don’t see 1b being a long term fit either .Why does everyone think 1b is so easy ? When you have short hops from third and short and tailing balls that you have to recognize immediately what to do how to position your body ? Man I don’t like Devers with a glove I’m dropping it now though it’s pointless .

 

90% of his errors are throwing, so 1B seems obvious, if he can't fix the arm issues. Throwing issues at 1B are not as much of an issue.

 

He's got a plus glove and range. That's not just my opinion. The data backs it up. Believe what you want, but he's no where near as bad as you think he is.

 

If he was a 24 year old in AA, you'd say give him more time, but you are penalizing him for being called up at such a young age. He showed growth from year 1 to year 2 and from year 2 to year 3. He regressed in 2020, but that was one Eff'd up short season. A few mishaps in ST'ing is not reason enough to bump him to DH, where we are paying someone $22M to play, and JD can't play anywhere else but DH.

 

There is no other option but to jerk him to 1B with less than 3 weeks to opening day. I'd argue that is no option, either.

 

Live with it. If he sucks on D this year, the move to 1B- not DH- will be obvious and successful. Book it.

[harmony]

90% of his errors are throwing, so 1B seems obvious, if he can't fix the arm issues. Throwing issues at 1B are not as much of an issue.

Of Rafael Devers' 74 career errors, 38 were scored fielding errors and the remaining 36 throwing errors:

 

https://www.fangraphs.com/players/rafael-devers/17350/stats?position=3B#fielding

 

Last year Devers had five fielding errors and nine throwing errors.

Edited March 11, 2021 by harmony

[moonslav59]

Of Rafael Devers' 74 career errrors, 38 were scored fielding errors and the remaining 36 throwing errors:

 

https://www.fangraphs.com/players/rafael-devers/17350/stats?position=3B#fielding

 

Last year Devers had five fielding errors and nine throwing errors.

 

I was exaggerating, but half your errors being throwing is probably way more than the norm. In other words, 38 "glove errors" is likely lower than the norm.

 

9-5 last year, SSS in all, is astounding.

 

(BTW, where do you find that info?)

[jad]

As best as I can decipher, SG is talking about moving him to DH.

 

OMG, are you asking me to review all those posts only to find out I may have mis-read them??? What a world! What a world!

[jad]

Stop.

 

?? Why? Because the three players I most liked watching play were let go? Are you telling me I shouldn't be annoyed at that? If fans don't care about human players, what are they supposed to care about? Team OPS?

[moonslav59]

?? Why? Because the three players I most liked watching play were let go? Are you telling me I shouldn't be annoyed at that? If fans don't care about human players, what are they supposed to care about? Team OPS?

 

Beni was one of the 3 you most liked watching?

 

(Not being critical- just wondering why.)

[harmony]

I was exaggerating, but half your errors being throwing is probably way more than the norm. In other words, 38 "glove errors" is likely lower than the norm.

 

9-5 last year, SSS in all, is astounding.

 

(BTW, where do you find that info?)

Click on the link and look under the columns for E (errors), FE (fielding errors) and TE (throwing errors).

 

Since 2015 teams have posted FE/TE ratios all over the place:

 

https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=3b&stats=fld&lg=all&qual=0&type=0&season=2020&month=0&season1=2015&ind=0&team=0,ts&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&startdate=&enddate=

[moonslav59]

Click on the link and look under the columns for E (errors), FE (fielding errors) and TE (throwing errors).

 

Since 2015 teams have posted FE/TE ratios all over the place:

 

https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=3b&stats=fld&lg=all&qual=0&type=0&season=2020&month=0&season1=2015&ind=0&team=0,ts&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&startdate=&enddate=

 

Thanks.

 

So, the league average FE vs TE at 3B since 2015 is 53.2%.

 

Devers has been at 51.3%, so just slightly more throwing errors than the average (1.9% more).

 

My point is still somewhat valid, but no where near what I thought or implied it was, even by exaggeration.

 

[moonslav59]

The Sox ST'ing Hit Machine has slowed the last couple days, and these sample sizes are really way too small to read anything into them, but it is nice to see a few of our hitters really busting out early:

 

OPS

1.788 Kike

1.451 Dalbec

1.413 Downs

1.366 Duran

1.337 Chavis

1.140 Munoz

1.000 Jimenez