A Realistic View of 2023: Part II

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Plus he has 70 speed; he can run across the diamond and simply hand the ball to Casas.

 

 

That's what Bloom basically said about Story that would make up for his bum arm when he made the move to shortstop.

 

These sly Sox staffers probably devised an entire formula calculating ground ball velo vs. cross-infield footspeed to justify bad-armed post-shift positioning.

[moonslav59]

I'm not swayed by his hot start. The Sox aren't either. They haven't called him up yet. Valdez is the one up right now.

 

Some thought he might start the year in AA.

 

I don't disagree with a thing you said, here, but my point is that he appears to have played like he deserved being protected. Not being the first one called up only means others are more MLB ready.

[mvp 78]

Some thought he might start the year in AA.

 

I don't disagree with a thing you said, here, but my point is that he appears to have played like he deserved being protected. Not being the first one called up only means others are more MLB ready.

 

Does Valdez look more MLB ready? His glove isn't. We're seeing firsthand why the Sox were moving him around the diamond when he first got to WOO last year.

[mvp 78]

That's what Bloom basically said about Story that would make up for his bum arm when he made the move to shortstop.

 

These sly Sox staffers probably devised an entire formula calculating ground ball velo vs. cross-infield footspeed to justify bad-armed post-shift positioning.

 

The bad arm discounted contract! What a deal!

 

I have hope that Story can make the best of things, but he'll need to show it before he wins me over. I still think he should NEVER go back to playing SS.

[notin]

That's what Bloom basically said about Story that would make up for his bum arm when he made the move to shortstop.

 

These sly Sox staffers probably devised an entire formula calculating ground ball velo vs. cross-infield footspeed to justify bad-armed post-shift positioning.

 

Story’s arm got worse, but StatCast still had him throwing harder than Gold Glover Dansby Swanson.

[Old Red]

Does Valdez look more MLB ready? His glove isn't. We're seeing firsthand why the Sox were moving him around the diamond when he first got to WOO last year.

 

Valdez looks worse at 2B than Franchy did at 1B. Another plan coming together.

[mvp 78]

Valdez looks worse at 2B than Franchy did at 1B. Another plan coming together.

 

Someone at the TalkSox scouting department told me he was a good defender too! What gives?

 

Damn, I'm just going to have to listen to the biased lamestream media at SoxProspects who have always maintained that Valdez was horrible at 2B and that he has no defensive position.

[moonslav59]

Does Valdez look more MLB ready? His glove isn't. We're seeing firsthand why the Sox were moving him around the diamond when he first got to WOO last year.

 

The Sox brass thought so, and maybe it was close to a coin toss- maybe not.

 

To me, EValdez should be a DH, but how far do platoon DHs make it in MLB?

 

I'm not defending Hamilton- just that he is looking better, this year and maybe deserving of rule 5 protection.

[mvp 78]

The Sox brass thought so, and maybe it was close to a coin toss- maybe not.

 

To me, EValdez should be a DH, but how far do platoon DHs make it in MLB?

 

I'm not defending Hamilton- just that he is looking better, this year and maybe deserving of rule 5 protection.

 

I don't think any club was going to take Hamilton. The Sox aren't ready to put him on the MLB roster. If they are unwilling to use him when they desperately need to LIKE RIGHT NOW, then there was no reason to protect him. They should have protected Thaddeus Ward instead.

[Bellhorn04]

Capable fielding SS's aren't hard to find. Just trade for one sitting in AAA somewhere that can barely hit. Those guys tend to be dime a dozen.

 

That's what moon says about good-hitting first basemen.

[mvp 78]

That's what moon says about good-hitting first basemen.

 

I think it's much easier to find a good glove guy that can't hit. They just have to string together 30 days until Mondesi is back?

 

Arroyo can't hit and is a below average 2B IMO. Valdez can hit, but is a complete butcher at 2B. The best fit at 2B is Kiké. Just find another Yu Chang? He played in 4 orgs last year. Guys like him are around. Just go get another one.

 

Per BTV:

 

Nick Allen (OAK)

for

Lugo

 

DeJong (STL) + ?M

for

Whatever

[mvp 78]

Dubon would certainly look good at SS or 2B right now... Thanks Dave...

[Hugh2]

Someone at the TalkSox scouting department told me he was a good defender too! What gives?

 

Damn, I'm just going to have to listen to the biased lamestream media at SoxProspects who have always maintained that Valdez was horrible at 2B and that he has no defensive position.

 

Who, in their right mind, ever said Valdez is a good defender? I’ve never heard anyone say that. All I’ve ever heard is that he is going to have to hit to play at the MLB level because his defense has fringe average potential. As in, he has the ability to maybe not be a butcher if he really works hard at it. He’s a butcher right now

[moonslav59]

I don't think any club was going to take Hamilton. The Sox aren't ready to put him on the MLB roster. If they are unwilling to use him when they desperately need to LIKE RIGHT NOW, then there was no reason to protect him. They should have protected Thaddeus Ward instead.

 

I agree 100%. You are reading too much into my statement that his good start is making protecting him look better. I'm not saying "great" or better than ____- just better.

[moonslav59]

That's what moon says about good-hitting first basemen.

 

It's true on both.

[Bellhorn04]

It's true on both.

 

So you can name a good-hitting first baseman who's available right now for pennies?

[mvp 78]

Who, in their right mind, ever said Valdez is a good defender? I’ve never heard anyone say that. All I’ve ever heard is that he is going to have to hit to play at the MLB level because his defense has fringe average potential. As in, he has the ability to maybe not be a butcher if he really works hard at it. He’s a butcher right now

 

I'm not digging that old post up. I'm the TalkSox historian, not the TalkSox archaeologist.

 

Since various posters refuse to state specifically who the Bloom Brigade are, I'm not going to throw the Valdez is a good SS poster under the bus. Keeping it vague.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Who, in their right mind, ever said Valdez is a good defender? I’ve never heard anyone say that. All I’ve ever heard is that he is going to have to hit to play at the MLB level because his defense has fringe average potential. As in, he has the ability to maybe not be a butcher if he really works hard at it. He’s a butcher right now

 

Nobody. I watched him up close at a AAA game and said he looked like a competent professional that day, because he made the routine plays and even turned a DP.

 

If you watched yesterday's game, Valdez actually made one good play with quick hands and throw.

 

I'm not defending Bloom, but do you think Houston -- the club that goes to the ALCS every year by replacing Cole, Morton, Springer and Correa with prospects -- would deal an actual good player for a back-up catcher?

[mvp 78]

Also, nobody on here is in their right mind, ever.

[mvp 78]

Nobody. I watched him up close at a AAA game and said he looked like a competent professional that day, because he made the routine plays and even turned a DP.

 

If you watched yesterday's game, Valdez actually made one good play with quick hands and throw.

 

I'm not defending Bloom, but do you think Houston -- the club that goes to the ALCS every year by replacing Cole, Morton, Springer and Correa with prospects -- would deal an actual good player for a back-up catcher?

 

1. Is Vazquez only a backup?

2. Is Valdez an actual good player?

[mvp 78]

So you can name a good-hitting first baseman who's available right now for pennies?

 

Would Jesus Aguilar count? That's a dime a dozen type guy.

[mvp 78]

Nobody. I watched him up close at a AAA game and said he looked like a competent professional that day, because he made the routine plays and even turned a DP.

 

If you watched yesterday's game, Valdez actually made one good play with quick hands and throw.

 

I'm not defending Bloom, but do you think Houston -- the club that goes to the ALCS every year by replacing Cole, Morton, Springer and Correa with prospects -- would deal an actual good player for a back-up catcher?

 

Also, you were very certain that you saw him play shortstop, so I'm not sure you knew exactly who you were paying attention to since Valdez never played shortstop for Worcester. As Old Red would say, this scouting report is SUSPECT.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

1. Is Vazquez only a backup?

2. Is Valdez an actual good player?

 

1. He was in Houston.

2. He's a good enough player at something to make the majors...

 

... which brings up another tangent in the Bloom Era: in my old-guy memory banks, there haven't been as many players promoted by the Red Sox who looked so hopeless on defense as in the past four years. Maybe it's just because so many are groomed to play out of position: Dalbec, Franchy, Duran (at least his first two seasons), Kike at SS, Verdugo in CF, Duvall in CF, Valdez --

 

Hey, at least Wong leads AL catchers in dWAR!

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Also, you were very certain that you saw him play shortstop, so I'm not sure you knew exactly who you were paying attention to since Valdez never played shortstop for Worcester. As Old Red would say, this scouting report is SUSPECT.

 

Here's a line from milb.com on Valdez' career fielding stats (the 2s are Games and Games Started, the 17 is innings, the 1.000 means he didn't make any errors there):

 

Minors Career - - Minors SS 2 2 17.0 7 4 3 0 1 -- -- -- -- 1.000

 

Nobody cares, but it looks like he's played every defensive position professionally except pitcher and centerfield...

 

link: https://www.milb.com/player/enmanuel-valdez-665839?stats=career-r-fielding-minors&year=2023

[mvp 78]

1. He was in Houston.

2. He's a good enough player at something to make the majors...

 

... which brings up another tangent in the Bloom Era: in my old-guy memory banks, there haven't been as many players promoted by the Red Sox who looked so hopeless on defense as in the past four years. Maybe it's just because so many are groomed to play out of position: Dalbec, Franchy, Duran (at least his first two seasons), Kike at SS, Verdugo in CF, Duvall in CF, Valdez --

 

Hey, at least Wong leads AL catchers in dWAR!

 

I don't understand the fascination that Bloom has in throwing s***** defenders out there over and over again. That is NOT the Rays Way. The Rays find players with utility that can play all over. They don't force utility onto players that don't have it. When the pitchers are mediocre or worse, don't make it harder on them by having a s*** show behind them.

[Hugh2]

Nobody. I watched him up close at a AAA game and said he looked like a competent professional that day, because he made the routine plays and even turned a DP.

 

If you watched yesterday's game, Valdez actually made one good play with quick hands and throw.

 

I'm not defending Bloom, but do you think Houston -- the club that goes to the ALCS every year by replacing Cole, Morton, Springer and Correa with prospects -- would deal an actual good player for a back-up catcher?

 

We have a back up catcher.

 

Also, Valdez likely ceiling is a bat first utility type or platoon player. Trading that potential value for immediate value might not be enough. Valdez doesn’t get you there.

[moonslav59]

Would Jesus Aguilar count? That's a dime a dozen type guy.

 

...and Y Gurriel signed for $1.2 dimes.

 

Bobby Dee might cost a nickel.

[mvp 78]

...and Y Gurriel signed for $1.2 dimes.

 

Bobby Dee might cost a nickel.

 

Yuli is 39 coming off an 85 wRC+ season. Tough to call him a good hitting 1B. His '23 Statcast page isn't happy with him either.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I don't understand the fascination that Bloom has in throwing s***** defenders out there over and over again. That is NOT the Rays Way. The Rays find players with utility that can play all over. They don't force utility onto players that don't have it. When the pitchers are mediocre or worse, don't make it harder on them by having a s*** show behind them.

 

Good point; the Rays are known for solid defense as a unit -- which is important for a team that prides itself on churning out endless pitching depth. If they're the heads on that coin, then Bloom's Red Sox are definitely tails.

 

As for whether good gloves are always available, just shake the ole baseball tree... 10 gloves fall out for every one bat. Fielding a line-up of fundamental professionals shouldn't be that costly, and it's the fastest way back to respectability. Maybe Bloom ignores it because according to him, rebuilding is unacceptable in the Nation.

[moonslav59]

Good point; the Rays are known for solid defense as a unit -- which is important for a team that prides itself on churning out endless pitching depth. If they're the heads on that coin, then Bloom's Red Sox are definitely tails.

 

As for whether good gloves are always available, just shake the ole baseball tree... 10 gloves fall out for every one bat. Fielding a line-up of fundamental professionals shouldn't be that costly, and it's the fastest way back to respectability. Maybe Bloom ignores it because according to him, rebuilding is unacceptable in the Nation.

 

They have had a few players not known for D, but not at C, 2B and CF. except maybe Yunel Escobar (SS: -19 DRS and -4.4 UZR/150)

 

Their biggest negative DRS from 2013-2022

-28 Yandy Diaz 3B

-20 Brad Miller SS

-19 Yunel Escobar SS

-12 Beckham SS

-12 Meadows RF

-10 As. Cabrera SS

-10 Wilk Myers RF

-9 L Morrison 1B

-8 W Ramos C

 

Same time frame, we have 11 players at -9 or more:

-50 Bogey SS

-44 Devers 3B

-21 Nunez 2B

-19 Swihart C

-15 Pablito 3B

-14 Duran CF

-14 HRam LF

-13 Plawecki C

-13 Dalbec 1B

-9 JD RF