A Realistic View at 2021: Part III

[notin]

Two very different sports. Baseball has an elaborate apprenticeship system which basketball doesn't have or, for that matter, need. The very best basketballers are ready for the NBA after high school, and the only reason why the NBA doesn't draft high school seniors is that in the past now and then they drafted--even as high as the #1 selection--lemons. Thus, these days it's rare when the NBA drafts anyone over age 22, whereas MLB would label a 22 year old on a MLB team (and not just in September) as a phenom.

 

Because MLB no longer wants to underwrite minor league teams to the degree they have in the past, AA and AAA players these days apparently aren't as ready for MLB as they were 5 years ago.

 

Nevertheless, there is absolutely no substitute for a pitcher or a hitter to hone his skills adequately by simply practicin' and practicin'. You gotta play in the real games against good pitchers who want to get you out or good hitters who want to knock you out.

 

Right now Dalbec is getting into games, which will definitely help him, and Duran is not, which is bad for him.

 

Duran is not getting into games because he is on the COVID-IL...

[moonslav59]

Discussion on player move to majors.

 

I've had arguments about when a player should leave college to join NBA when a NBA team tells you that you are being drafted. As an avid college basketball fan, my first inclination is always to say stay another year and develop your game.

 

The counter argument is why not develop your game while you're making money? NBA teams have the best facility, best coaches and best trainers. Coach to player ratio is almost 1 to 1. Wouldn't you develop just as well if not better going up against professionals day in day out, watch and learn even if you're not playing?

 

I was reading about Dalbec and how he is one of hardest working players on the team. Looking to improve his hitting. It's my contention that pitchers can work effectively on their craft in the minors better than the position players.

 

If Dalbec is demoted, he's going up against inferior pitchers. They are not major league pitchers that he's already faced and struggled against. Look at Cordero. He continues to demolish AAA pitching. He's done it twice before. What is he working on exactly? A pitcher can throw a certain pitch throughout the outing and develop that third pitch as an example. His stats may not be pretty but the organization is cognizant of the fact that he's working on a certain pitch. You can't do that as a hitter. You can't tell the opposing pitcher to throw certain pitch that HE'S having trouble with and would like to work on.

 

Sox did the right thing by keeping Dalbec with the parent club. He can work just as well at Fenway on his swings. I'm glad we kept him.

 

Nice post.

 

Maybe the idea is playing everyday against live pitching in AAA is better than taking batting practice in the MLs, but what is it 3-5 PAs a day?

 

Yes, pitchers have a better situation in the minors.

[moonslav59]

Dalbec is hitting over .300 the past month. Why is there still a question of where he belongs?

 

I think it was to make a point about sticking with someone, despite a long slump.

[moonslav59]

Duran is not getting into games because he is on the COVID-IL...

 

He wasn't much before either, especially after Scwarber got healthy enough to play.

[Nick]

Top 8 teams in AL are going up against each other. Let's see how much movement there is in three days.

[dgalehouse]

Have to love the signing of Jose Iglesias. Home at last.

[Elktonnick]

Have to love the signing of Jose Iglesias. Home at last.

Very nice signing

[moonslav59]

Top 8 teams in AL are going up against each other. Let's see how much movement there is in three days.

 

A sweep by anyone could really do some damage.

[Fan_since_Boggs]

I'm not a fan of the J.Iglesias signing. Defensive ability is usually the first thing to go, and Iglesias is at that age when a player's defense often declines. Thus, this isn't the slick fielding J.Iglesias we remember from his early days.

 

More troubling than a return to the norm at the dish, however, has been the decline in Iglesias’ glovework. He’s made 16 errors in 961 innings this year after making just 18 errors in 2393 innings from 2018-20 combined. Iglesias had never made more than 11 errors in a season but already has 10 throwing errors alone, in addition to six fielding errors. Defensive Runs Saved pegs Iglesias at a stunning minus-21 this season, while his Ultimate Zone Rating is a career-low minus-4.9.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/

 

The signing is OK while Arroyo and Bogaerts are out, but once they return I don't see a roster spot for Iglesias.

[Elktonnick]

I'm not a fan of the J.Iglesias signing. Defensive ability is usually the first thing to go, and Iglesias is at that age when a player's defense often declines. Thus, this isn't the slick fielding J.Iglesias we remember from his early days.

 

 

 

The signing is OK while Arroyo and Bogaerts are out, but once they return I don't see a roster spot for Iglesias.

 

Iglesias is a much better backup than anyone else on this club. Moreover I think he is playoff eligible.

[Fan_since_Boggs]

He isn't better than Arroyo.

 

I question whether he is even better than Arauz, who has a better glove than Iglesias.

[moonslav59]

I'm not a fan of the J.Iglesias signing. Defensive ability is usually the first thing to go, and Iglesias is at that age when a player's defense often declines. Thus, this isn't the slick fielding J.Iglesias we remember from his early days.

 

 

 

The signing is OK while Arroyo and Bogaerts are out, but once they return I don't see a roster spot for Iglesias.

 

It's a short term fix, IMO.

 

Yes, his UZR/150 was in steady decline before falling off a cliff, this season:

12.2

10.2

9.7

7.6

6.3

-8.7

 

His DRS over the past 3 years:

+5

-2

-21

[notin]

He isn't better than Arroyo.

 

I question whether he is even better than Arauz, who has a better glove than Iglesias.

 

Arauz also options remaining so he might be sent down. And Arroyo isn’t bench player…

[Elktonnick]

He isn't better than Arroyo.

 

I question whether he is even better than Arauz, who has a better glove than Iglesias.

 

Arauz sucks. He has stone hands. I have seen enough of Arauz to know he isn't that good a defender which is why Bloom picked up Iggy who can be an exceptional glove man. Iggy can be better than Arroyo or anyone else Boston has including Bogey on defense.

[moonslav59]

Arauz sucks. He has stone hands. I have seen enough of Arauz to know he isn't that good a defender which is why Bloom picked up Iggy who can be an exceptional glove man. Iggy can be better than Arroyo or anyone else Boston has including Bogey on defense.

 

Iggy has fallen off a cliff on D, this year.

 

How many Angel games have you watched?

[Elktonnick]

Iggy has fallen off a cliff on D, this year.

 

How many Angel games have you watched?

 

Iggy did the same in Detroit then he was tremendous in Cincy the following year. The rap on Iggy has been that he can be moody. He can have a great game then go in a funk. He would be risky as a starter but as a backup if properly motivated outstanding. There has never been a question about his physical skills. Quite frankly as a backup I'd trust more than anyone on the current roster to play middle infield.

[Fan_since_Boggs]

Arauz sucks. He has stone hands. I have seen enough of Arauz to know he isn't that good a defender which is why Bloom picked up Iggy who can be an exceptional glove man. Iggy can be better than Arroyo or anyone else Boston has including Bogey on defense.

 

Arauz is a solid defender. He isn't Ozzie Smith but solid and can play 2b, SS, and 3b, which is why he will be on the 40 man roster next year.

 

As far as Iglieses' defense goes, it sounds like you are relying on scouting reports that are 5-10 years old.

 

I guess Iglieses is better than T.Motter.

[Larry Cook]

Arauz is a solid defender. He isn't Ozzie Smith but solid and can play 2b, SS, and 3b, which is why he will be on the 40 man roster next year.

 

As far as Iglieses' defense goes, it sounds like you are relying on scouting reports that are 5-10 years old.

 

I guess Iglieses is better than T.Motter.

 

At this point, it looks like hang’em Chaim is looking for any healthy bodies that can contribute!

[Elktonnick]

Arauz is a solid defender. He isn't Ozzie Smith but solid and can play 2b, SS, and 3b, which is why he will be on the 40 man roster next year.

 

As far as Iglieses' defense goes, it sounds like you are relying on scouting reports that are 5-10 years old.

 

I guess Iglieses is better than T.Motter.

 

Iggy has been hurt. I saw him play enough with Baltimore when he is healthy and when his head is right he is better defensively then anyone on this team including Bogey.

[Nick]

Why does Cora continue to use Josh Taylor so early in the game? I think he does come in during high leverage situations but I'd like to see him pitch in later innings.

[notin]

At this point, it looks like hang’em Chaim is looking for any healthy bodies that can contribute!

 

He’s probably minutes away from signing some unemployed guys like Addison Russell and Daniel Descalso…

[dgalehouse]

It wasn't long ago we had a really great defensive outfield.

[notin]

It wasn't long ago we had a really great defensive outfield.

 

Even that outfield would be worse if Bradley went down with COVID…

[mvp 78]

He’s probably minutes away from signing some unemployed guys like Addison Russell and Daniel Descalso…

 

Nah.

[notin]

Nah.

 

Well he has a lot of issues, but at least he doesn't have COVID (as far as I know)...

[mvp 78]

Well he has a lot of issues, but at least he doesn't have COVID (as far as I know)...

 

I'd rather they just keep guys like Lopez up than bring in Russell.

[Nick]

There will be time to reflect on what transpired in next 25 days or so in November.

 

Yesterday's game is over and there's really no point in discussing it.

 

Everyone here know what the issues are. We are what we are and we can't change it. We scored 10 runs yet still lost.

 

It's becoming clearer by day having both JD and Schwarber in the lineup at the same time will hurt our defense.

 

It appears Kike will be one of first to return. He will solidify our defense in CF. Added bat to what looks to be a run scoring unit will further enhance our ability to score.

 

I'm waiting anxiously for Darwinzon to return. We need more depth, even if it's mediocre.

 

We knew Sale would not win every single game regardless of who's fault it was. It just isn't going to happen.

 

Toronto is surging and we have no answers for them since we won't face them again. All we can do is to win and stay ahead of them.

 

We're starting what could arguably our best three starters as of now.

 

Not sure exactly when it happened but the Rays are the best team in AL East. And maybe it's not even close.

[notin]

There will be time to reflect on what transpired in next 25 days or so in November.

 

Yesterday's game is over and there's really no point in discussing it.

 

Everyone here know what the issues are. We are what we are and we can't change it. We scored 10 runs yet still lost.

 

It's becoming clearer by day having both JD and Schwarber in the lineup at the same time will hurt our defense.

 

It appears Kike will be one of first to return. He will solidify our defense in CF. Added bat to what looks to be a run scoring unit will further enhance our ability to score.

 

I'm waiting anxiously for Darwinzon to return. We need more depth, even if it's mediocre.

 

We knew Sale would not win every single game regardless of who's fault it was. It just isn't going to happen.

 

Toronto is surging and we have no answers for them since we won't face them again. All we can do is to win and stay ahead of them.

 

We're starting what could arguably our best three starters as of now.

 

Not sure exactly when it happened but the Rays are the best team in AL East. And maybe it's not even close.

 

 

No. Not having a capable CF hurt the Sox defense. Verdugo wasn’t in CF to squeeze both bats in the lineup. He was in CF because there were no other options to play out there except Franchy Cordero.

 

Maybe instead of Iglesias or Motter, the Sox should have held on to Delino DeShields. Or called up Jeisson Rosario..

Edited September 7, 2021 by notin

[mvp 78]

No. Not having a capable CF hurt the Sox defense. Verdugo wasn’t in CF to squeeze both bats in the lineup. He was in CF because there were no other options to play out there except Franchy Cordero.

 

Maybe instead of Iglesias or Motter, the Sox should have held on to Delino DeShields. Or called up Jeisson Rosario..

 

I'm not sure how the Sox are able to let go of anyone at this point.

[notin]

I'm not sure how the Sox are able to let go of anyone at this point.

 

Music to Taylor Motter’s ears…