Batting Lineup

[Dalas21000]

I would like to see Marwin Gonzalez hit out of the number 2 spot based on the way he's been hitting.....I think Verdugo and Gonzalez should switch spots in the order based on the way the 2 have been hitting...Does any1 else see that?

[Kimmi]

Based on the way the two have been hitting in ST? No, I would not switch Verdugo and Gonzalez.

 

I'm still not convinced Kike should be in the leadoff spot, but I'll trust Cora to know what he's doing.

[Dalas21000]

Verdugo had a horrible spring training in my opinion, and he's still not hitting the ball, and they're still losing

[Dalas21000]

Marwin had a great spring training, hes showing he can hit the ball, and steal bases....Thats what you want from a number 2 hitter

[Dalas21000]

Verdugo looks like he's capable of doing nothing right now!

[Dalas21000]

The team needs a spark....some kind of change in the batting lineup....Pitching is doing a fairly good job, but they're not hitting the ball

[Dalas21000]

Also. Why is JD no longer our cleanup hitter???

[Dalas21000]

I think Bogaerts was a great #3, JD cleanup....It worked for years

[Kimmi]

As I posted before, changing the line up based off of ST games, or even worse, off of two regular season games would be a mistake.

 

The offense should not be a problem for this team.

[jacksonianmarch]

As I posted before, changing the line up based off of ST games, or even worse, off of two regular season games would be a mistake.

 

The offense should not be a problem for this team.

 

Agree with this. Just surprised Cora chose a poor defensive alignment for game 1 and then pivoted for game 2

[mvp 78]

Agree with this. Just surprised Cora chose a poor defensive alignment for game 1 and then pivoted for game 2

 

Well, Kiké mostly played 2b this spring. Not sure he didn’t see what was coming.

[Kimmi]

Agree with this. Just surprised Cora chose a poor defensive alignment for game 1 and then pivoted for game 2

 

I don't think it was a matter of Cora pivoting based off of the result of Game 1. He stated in ST that he was going to be using a number of defensive alignments. He doesn't have a set alignment.

[jacksonianmarch]

I don't think it was a matter of Cora pivoting based off of the result of Game 1. He stated in ST that he was going to be using a number of defensive alignments. He doesn't have a set alignment.

 

You experiment when you’re not expecting to win. The Sox have the makings of a good defense, but making the team good defensively will force some egos to check themselves.

 

Move Dalbec to 3b. He’s got a cannon and is generally respected defensively

 

Move Devers to 1b. Never an issue picking it. Issues are timidity, range and throws, something a 1b doesn’t have to worry about.

 

Move Kike to CF. The guy has played well defensively as a CFer

 

Keep Verdugo in RF. He played well out there in possibly the toughest RF in baseball.

 

This does leave 2b open as a problem area, but better to have one slot that’s troublesome than a whole field’s worth.

[mvp 78]

Dalbec is not respected as a 3b.

[jacksonianmarch]

Reports from the minors were very positive on his D. Did I miss something?

[mvp 78]

Reports from the minors were very positive on his D. Did I miss something?

 

“Average projection. Stiff.”

[jacksonianmarch]

“Average projection. Stiff.”

 

Ah. Okay, that’s problematic then.

[dgalehouse]

" Captain , if we just move these deck chairs over to this side , I think we will be able to avoid hitting the iceberg."

[guinness22]

What I worry about with Devers is the throwing becomes mental. If it’s not already. Like yesterday. Great stab but toss a lollypop over second. He Knoblauched it. If the kid starts to press and can’t settle down there may ultimately be no choice but to move him to 1B/DH. Still time though.

[moonslav59]

What I worry about with Devers is the throwing becomes mental. If it’s not already. Like yesterday. Great stab but toss a lollypop over second. He Knoblauched it. If the kid starts to press and can’t settle down there may ultimately be no choice but to move him to 1B/DH. Still time though.

 

I'm not sure they've worked him out at 1B any. It's not as easy a move as it may seem, and it's usually something done over the off season with players who have never played a new position, unless they can are in the minors.

 

I think it is sink or swim with Devers at 3B for 2021.

 

DH'ing him would mean playing JD in LF, Verdugo in CF and Renfroe in RF (or Cordero in CF and Verdugo in RF). I'm not for that idea, either, but it might be more doable than throwing Devers to 1B , cold turkey.

[guinness22]

I'm not sure they've worked him out at 1B any. It's not as easy a move as it may seem, and it's usually something done over the off season with players who have never played a new position, unless they can are in the minors.

 

I think it is sink or swim with Devers at 3B for 2021.

 

DH'ing him would mean playing JD in LF, Verdugo in CF and Renfroe in RF (or Cordero in CF and Verdugo in RF). I'm not for that idea, either, but it might be more doable than throwing Devers to 1B , cold turkey.

 

Ya I should have clarified. Not talking 21. Agree he is 3B for this season. Just meant as JD comes off the books and looking to the future.

[moonslav59]

Ya I should have clarified. Not talking 21. Agree he is 3B for this season. Just meant as JD comes off the books and looking to the future.

 

I've felt all along this was the year Devers proves he belongs at 3B or not. I liked the idea, because he had shown long stretches of being a plus-range 3Bman who had some throwing issues that were okay, at times and brutal at other times.

 

Those who think he cannot play 1B are being very pessimistic. 1Bmen do NOT need great or accurate arms. I think Devers can be a plus 1Bman in a very short time.

 

He may DH in his mid 30's.

[guinness22]

I've felt all along this was the year Devers proves he belongs at 3B or not. I liked the idea, because he had shown long stretches of being a plus-range 3Bman who had some throwing issues that were okay, at times and brutal at other times.

 

Those who think he cannot play 1B are being very pessimistic. 1Bmen do NOT need great or accurate arms. I think Devers can be a plus 1Bman in a very short time.

 

He may DH in his mid 30's.

 

Agree with all of this.

[jacksonianmarch]

I've felt all along this was the year Devers proves he belongs at 3B or not. I liked the idea, because he had shown long stretches of being a plus-range 3Bman who had some throwing issues that were okay, at times and brutal at other times.

 

Those who think he cannot play 1B are being very pessimistic. 1Bmen do NOT need great or accurate arms. I think Devers can be a plus 1Bman in a very short time.

 

He may DH in his mid 30's.

 

Devers has the chops to be an excellent 1b. He has smooth hands and for a 1b, would have plus range. His issues seem mental mostly now and he should physically age out of 3b anyway.

[oldtimer]

I've felt all along this was the year Devers proves he belongs at 3B or not. I liked the idea, because he had shown long stretches of being a plus-range 3Bman who had some throwing issues that were okay, at times and brutal at other times.

 

Those who think he cannot play 1B are being very pessimistic. 1Bmen do NOT need great or accurate arms. I think Devers can be a plus 1Bman in a very short time.

 

He may DH in his mid 30's.

 

I wonder how Devers reacts to this idea of 1st base or DH. He must have thoughts and if they conflict with the suggested moves does that drive him away from Booston?

[moonslav59]

I wonder how Devers reacts to this idea of 1st base or DH. He must have thoughts and if they conflict with the suggested moves does that drive him away from Booston?

 

If he sucks at 3B, this year, I can't see why he'd be against the idea.

[Maxbialystock]

" Captain , if we just move these deck chairs over to this side , I think we will be able to avoid hitting the iceberg."

 

Exactly.

 

Kimmi has written meaningfully about batting orders, but I remain a skeptic. Better hitters toward the top of the order makes sense because they might get an extra at bat, but just one. And even then I have seen lineups that worked with good hitters late in the order.

 

Most laughable of all is arguing about who should bat 2d when the odds are he will bat second one time in a given game.

[mvp 78]

I wonder how Devers reacts to this idea of 1st base or DH. He must have thoughts and if they conflict with the suggested moves does that drive him away from Booston?

 

He's DH or LF. They have a ton of guys that can play 1B. The best defensive 1B they have is also their #1 prospect.

[notin]

Exactly.

 

Kimmi has written meaningfully about batting orders, but I remain a skeptic. Better hitters toward the top of the order makes sense because they might get an extra at bat, but just one. And even then I have seen lineups that worked with good hitters late in the order.

 

Most laughable of all is arguing about who should bat 2d when the odds are he will bat second one time in a given game.

 

The argument about batting second for the best hitter is actually in line with your first point - more plate appearances. Basically, the argument is every spot a hitter moves up in the order nets him 18 more plate appearances. Obviously that would mean putting the best hitter at leadoff, but with someone like Bogaerts it also would mean that he comes up with a lot fewer baserunners on (re: RBI opportunities). The downside of moving up a great hitter too far is that there is a potential reduction in these opportunities. hitting behind the 7-8-9 hitters creates the fewest. One gets more hitting behind the 8-9-1 and even more hitting behind the 9-1-2. etc.

 

But putting him in the second hole is a nice sweet spot between maximizing his plate appearances while still having him come up with a decent amount of runners on base. Yes, hitting 3rd gets more RBI chances, but the logic is the 18 more PA outweigh that difference, probably very slightly...

[notin]

He's DH or LF. They have a ton of guys that can play 1B. The best defensive 1B they have is also their #1 prospect.

 

To be fair, Devers is an unknown defensive commodity at first base, and might even be better than Casas given the opportunity. After all, Casas was moved off 3b for a reason, too...