Red Sox Sign Masataka Yoshida

[mvp 78]

Fair enough, but I was looking at the changes made from only 2022 to 2023.

 

BTW, why does Renfroe keep changing teams, so quickly?

 

Body odor.

 

He'd look pretty nice back in Boston, but playing LF.

[moonslav59]

Body odor.

 

He'd look pretty nice back in Boston, but playing LF.

 

5 teams in 5 years must be putrid.

[mvp 78]

5 teams in 5 years must be putrid.

 

Chaim really hated the sub 600 OPS in the postseason?

[moonslav59]

Chaim really hated the sub 600 OPS in the postseason?

 

I think it was more the idea that the D needed improvement, which seemed to evaporate, this past winter.

 

 

You mentioned Renfroe in LF, and when we got him, I thought we'd have Dugo in RF and renfroe in LF. I wonder why that did not happen. The whole avoidance of Dugo in RF seems like a blunder.

[mvp 78]

I think it was more the idea that the D needed improvement, which seemed to evaporate, this past winter.

 

 

You mentioned Renfroe in LF, and when we got him, I thought we'd have Dugo in RF and renfroe in LF. I wonder why that did not happen. The whole avoidance of Dugo in RF seems like a blunder.

 

Dugo is more athletic now. Last year he had bulked up. He's able to play RF a little better now as he's trimmed down. I'd take him over Renfroe in RF in 2023.

[moonslav59]

Dugo is more athletic now. Last year he had bulked up. He's able to play RF a little better now as he's trimmed down. I'd take him over Renfroe in RF in 2023.

 

Good point, but maybe 2021, too.

[Old Red]

Dugo is more athletic now. Last year he had bulked up. He's able to play RF a little better now as he's trimmed down. I'd take him over Renfroe in RF in 2023.

 

He’s certainly made a couple of bad Renfroe type throws lately.

[Maxbialystock]

I think it was more the idea that the D needed improvement, which seemed to evaporate, this past winter.

 

 

You mentioned Renfroe in LF, and when we got him, I thought we'd have Dugo in RF and renfroe in LF. I wonder why that did not happen. The whole avoidance of Dugo in RF seems like a blunder.

 

Renfroe had a great arm and 16 outfield assists in 2021. He also had 12 errors.

 

I don't know about anyone else, but I kind of like the outfield we have right now and don't miss Renfroe one bit. When Duvall returns, it's going to be crowded out there with a left fielder, a right fielder, a lefty center fielder and a right center fielder.

[jad]

Renfroe had a great arm and 16 outfield assists in 2021. He also had 12 errors.

 

I don't know about anyone else, but I kind of like the outfield we have right now and don't miss Renfroe one bit. When Duvall returns, it's going to be crowded out there with a left fielder, a right fielder, a lefty center fielder and a right center fielder.

 

He also had one of the greatest OF plays in RS history, running into the ball that hit the fence, an almost certain triple and somehow, deflecting it off his body into the bullpen for a ground rule double. That's the sort of thing like speed--you just can't teach it.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

He also had one of the greatest OF plays in RS history, running into the ball that hit the fence, an almost certain triple and somehow, deflecting it off his body into the bullpen for a ground rule double. That's the sort of thing like speed--you just can't teach it.

 

What I suspected all along... Bloom got rid of him before scribes like us disclosed the scandal of the sham of his "awkward clunkiness," saving Pivetta, and making a hero out of Vazquez.

 

I actually tried that once playing centerfield. A long blast landed over my head and bounced away on an open field... with my back to the plate I gave it a little boot into the bushes and held up my hand for a ground-rule double. The ump wouldn't fall for it, and signaled home run. Moments like that explain why I just type about baseball nowadays.

[jad]

What I suspected all along... Bloom got rid of him before scribes like us disclosed the scandal of the sham of his "awkward clunkiness," saving Pivetta, and making a hero out of Vazquez.

 

I actually tried that once playing centerfield. A long blast landed over my head and bounced away on an open field... with my back to the plate I gave it a little boot into the bushes and held up my hand for a ground-rule double. The ump wouldn't fall for it, and signaled home run. Moments like that explain why I just type about baseball nowadays.

 

Ha ha! Yup. You had your shot!! But now? You have to live like the rest of us.

[notin]

He also had one of the greatest OF plays in RS history, running into the ball that hit the fence, an almost certain triple and somehow, deflecting it off his body into the bullpen for a ground rule double. That's the sort of thing like speed--you just can't teach it.

 

For the record, you can teach speed. You just can’t learn it…

[Hugh2]

While a lot of speed can't be "learned" you can definitely "teach" someone to become faster. Anyone can become faster. Some of us have the genetic capacity to be better runners than others, so some guys will just never be that fast. That doesn't mean they can't be faster. If you focus on explosive strength and have an exercise routine geared towards engaging fast twitch muscle fibers you can add speed/jump etc to your game. Anyone can, some people just have more fast twitch muscle than others who may have more slow twitch.

[moonslav59]

While a lot of speed can't be "learned" you can definitely "teach" someone to become faster. Anyone can become faster. Some of us have the genetic capacity to be better runners than others, so some guys will just never be that fast. That doesn't mean they can't be faster. If you focus on explosive strength and have an exercise routine geared towards engaging fast twitch muscle fibers you can add speed/jump etc to your game. Anyone can, some people just have more fast twitch muscle than others who may have more slow twitch.

 

Who taught Duran better instincts and how to better track flyballs?

[notin]

Who taught Duran better instincts and how to better track flyballs?

 

You can’t teach instincts. That’s the definition of instincts…

[mvp 78]

Who taught Duran better instincts and how to better track flyballs?

 

Kyle Hudson. He is being taught to be less timid on defense.

[moonslav59]

You can’t teach instincts. That’s the definition of instincts…

 

Then, what happened?

 

It can't be just learning how to track flying objects.

[mvp 78]

Then, what happened?

 

It can't be just learning how to track flying objects.

 

He's being taught to be more aggressive. It has nothing to do with "instincts."

[moonslav59]

He's being taught to be more aggressive. It has nothing to do with "instincts."

 

To me, a big part about instincts is sensing, perhaps by seeing pitch location and bat angle, where the ball is going to be hit and already leaning towards that direction or getting a lightning quick jump on the ball hit while also choosing the exact right path from your first step.

 

It seems Duran has improved on this, but it's hard to see from a TV.

 

I'm not arguing he was taught instincts, but they sure seem to have improved.

 

"Aggressiveness" can explain some of it, like going all out after sinking line drives or balls hit behind you, but it seems to be more than that.

[Old Red]

He's being taught to be more aggressive. It has nothing to do with "instincts."

 

If he was only doing it with the bat I would say a little suspicion might be in order since it’s quite a turnaround, but he’s improved chasing fly balls too instead of butterflies.

[mvp 78]

If he was only doing it with the bat I would say a little suspicion might be in order since it’s quite a turnaround, but he’s improved chasing fly balls too instead of butterflies.

 

I was talking strictly about his defense. He's working with the new Sox OF coach mentioned above.

[Old Red]

I was talking strictly about his defense. He's working with the new Sox OF coach mentioned above.

Sorry I’m still flummoxed, and pissed at the C’s game last night. I should have stayed home, and watched the Red Sox.

[notin]

Then, what happened?

 

It can't be just learning how to track flying objects.

 

Sure it can.

 

Coach little league. You have 10 year olds who run under the ball and then try to follow it(which NEVER works). By the time they’re 12, some of them can actual do the high lever calculus involved in determining where the ball is (approximately) going to land and run directly to that spot. It’s straight up learning…

[moonslav59]

Sure it can.

 

Coach little league. You have 10 year olds who run under the ball and then try to follow it(which NEVER works). By the time they’re 12, some of them can actual do the high lever calculus involved in determining where the ball is (approximately) going to land and run directly to that spot. It’s straight up learning…

 

I'm saying the improvement seems like it is not just related to tracking better.

 

It seems like his instincts have improved.

 

Anticipation, quickness of first step and the direction of that first step.

 

[Maxbialystock]

I was talking strictly about his defense. He's working with the new Sox OF coach mentioned above.

 

Stunning comment about Kyle Hudson coaching Duran on defense--and very credible.

[Maxbialystock]

Sure it can.

 

Coach little league. You have 10 year olds who run under the ball and then try to follow it(which NEVER works). By the time they’re 12, some of them can actual do the high lever calculus involved in determining where the ball is (approximately) going to land and run directly to that spot. It’s straight up learning…

 

I'm left eye dominant and have no stereoscopic vision, but the brain adapts and finds ways to acquire some depth perception. So I've never had a problem shooting a basketball or tracking fly balls (in the outfield or at SS). But I always fail the stereoscopic vision test and, when playing basketball, have a problem seeing players to my right.

[Maxbialystock]

He's being taught to be more aggressive. It has nothing to do with "instincts."

 

Isn't it possible that being more aggressive translates to trusting his instincts--by which I mean the brain's ability to calculate where a fly ball is going--more?

[moonslav59]

Perhaps what I, and perhaps others, have always thought of as "instincts" was not really so.

[mvp 78]

Stunning comment about Kyle Hudson coaching Duran on defense--and very credible.

 

The question was asked, I responded. If you don't like my answer, I don't know what to tell you.

 

https://theathletic.com/4434579/2023/04/20/jarren-duran-second-chance-red-sox/

 

On the defensive side, Duran worked diligently last season in the second half and then into this spring with new outfielders coach Kyle Hudson on his pre-pitch routine. Duran, a career infielder who switched to the outfield in 2019, was playing too timidly.

 

“His jumps are a lot better, he’s moving,” Cora said. “One thing we noticed, as an infielder you’re always moving, and he played his whole life in the infield and then in the outfield he was so cautious about moving and it’s the other way around, just get going. You want him to get going, so he’s actually had a great pre-pitch. When the ball is hit he’s moving already.”

 

That’s helped Duran get to more balls and be in a better position even if he takes a less-than-ideal route. If he’s already moving, his speed will help him catch up to the ball.

 

“I was getting stuck because I didn’t want to make the imperfect read so I would wait for the ball and by that time, it was too late,” he said. “They’ve been telling me to be athletic and keep moving and that’s what I’ve been doing.”

[mvp 78]

Perhaps what I, and perhaps others, have always thought of as "instincts" was not really so.

 

I think good defense combines athleticism, instinct and preparation. I think they are 3 different things.