Jarren Duran

[L J]

Duran continues to be the proverbial elephant in the room. Above average left fielder. Good teammate in the dugout. Horrific batter, although he gets his fair share of sac flies. So what to do?

[moonslav59]

Just now, L J said:

Duran continues to be the proverbial elephant in the room. Above average left fielder. Good teammate in the dugout. Horrific batter, although he gets his fair share of sac flies. So what to do?

Platoon in LF.

Not sure about the good teammate, but I suppose he could be.

He stiffed his teammates when they went to TOR during covid.

 

[vegasbob]

11 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Platoon in LF.

Not sure about the good teammate, but I suppose he could be.

He stiffed his teammates when they went to TOR during covid.

 

Covid is about as relevant now as watching reruns of the 2011 season games.   Yes, the disease is present and all the governmental actions and shutdowns have been essentially discredited . Many Americans chose to follow common sense rejecting the hysteria and maybe Duran was one of them.

[mvp 78]

58 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

He stiffed his teammates when they went to TOR during covid.

How many people are left on the team from back then? Wong and Whitlock? Is anyone holding against Houck too? Probably not. 

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, vegasbob said:

Covid is about as relevant now as watching reruns of the 2011 season games.   Yes, the disease is present and all the governmental actions and shutdowns have been essentially discredited . Many Americans chose to follow common sense rejecting the hysteria and maybe Duran was one of them.

Let's avoid politics and mistruths about "all gov't actions."

Duran let the team down. There aren't many left from that team, so maybe it doesn't matter.

Events with fans have not helped his personna either. If he was my teammate thos events would  bother me.

[moonslav59]

23 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

How many people are left on the team from back then? Wong and Whitlock? Is anyone holding against Houck too? Probably not. 

What's the evidence that he is a "good teammate?"

I bet his teammates loved hearing him call a heckling fan a "fa**ot." 

[Duran Is The Man]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

Platoon in LF.

Not sure about the good teammate, but I suppose he could be.

He stiffed his teammates when they went to TOR during covid.

 

you can sure hold a grudge.

[moonslav59]

4 minutes ago, Duran Is The Man said:

you can sure hold a grudge.

It's not one issue or event. The guy was all over the map for years. He changed his stance and hitting approach more times than there were seasons played. He sucked on D then got better then sucked again and now is okay.

He's had multiple run-ins with fans- deserving of them or not.

The TOR road trip was but one issue with me.

He has had one great season and two partially good/great seasons. He can't be counted on for offense or defense. He can be the best baserunner in MLB history, but he is not even close to being that. His blunders are legendary.

We need hitting, this year and he's having as bad a season as his first one. He's not getting any better.

Are you saying he should play FT?

I thought I was being generous saying he should be platooned? Benching him for Yoshida/Jones in LF could be a better idea with Romy at DH FT. Romy is better vs LHPs and his 2025 numbers vs RHPs are better than Duran's now.

[mvp 78]

We haven't heard one complaint leaked from anyone about Duran's on or off field behavior. They must put up with him pretty well. We heard complaints about Casas from day one so we know players aren't shy about whining when they don't like someone. My guess is that they like Duran well enough and they can overlook some things that you are unable to since they have a personal relationship with him.

[moonslav59]

11 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

We haven't heard one complaint leaked from anyone about Duran's on or off field behavior. They must put up with him pretty well. We heard complaints about Casas from day one so we know players aren't shy about whining when they don't like someone. My guess is that they like Duran well enough and they can overlook some things that you are unable to since they have a personal relationship with him.

Sounds about right, although players are not quick to speak ill of a teammate, even if they think it. I'm not so sure players whine about others to the media.

He could very well be liked by most or all players- probably not if one was a gay player or cared about gay-bashing.

I don't see "evidence" of being a good teammate, but I do see some instances that could have caused some friction or a feeling of "why'd you say/do that and bring that sort of unwanted scrutiny to the team?" events.

I hope the guy can play like 2024 or even 2025. I hope he starts today. I cheer for him every time he comes up to bat. I don't think I'm holding a grudge to think he deserves to platoon in LF. His numbers indicate he should be benched or worse.

You are the short sample master. Duran has been bad for a pretty large sample size and is getting worse the shorter you make the sample size. Are you saying he should play FT? If yes, why?

[mvp 78]

14 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

You are the short sample master. Duran has been bad for a pretty large sample size and is getting worse the shorter you make the sample size. Are you saying he should play FT? If yes, why?

Do you even read my posts? I've been saying that they need a LFer and he should be a bench guy the rest of the year. I don't even see him as strict platoon bat going forward. 

[moonslav59]

19 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Do you even read my posts? I've been saying that they need a LFer and he should be a bench guy the rest of the year. I don't even see him as strict platoon bat going forward. 

Yes, I remember that and thought of deleting my post as it has nothing to do with how his teammates view him.

My apologies.

[notin]

3 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

Do you even read my posts? I've been saying that they need a LFer and he should be a bench guy the rest of the year. I don't even see him as strict platoon bat going forward. 

I think theyre going to platoon him wuth Jahmai Jones, so as to continue that Red Sox tradition of elite left fielders - Williams to Yaz to Rice to Manny to Jarren and Jahmai.

It just flows…

[drewski6]

On 7/21/2026 at 3:07 PM, moonslav59 said:

What's the evidence that he is a "good teammate?"

I bet his teammates loved hearing him call a heckling fan a "fa**ot." 

Its certainly there.  Being liked by your teammates and making regrettable comments to fans arent exactly mutually exclusive.

They did like a photoshoot with like story and durran riding each other like donkeys. It was very cringe, but it shows a bond.  Also Duran was looked upon by teammates after the devers trade. He even repeated the company line.

Also, teammates like the spunk when its on their side.  If Im a second baseman for the sox , i like knowing that if you throw at my head, duran will be looking to throw some punches.

Duran is a good teammate.  But he has lapses in judgement, focus, hitting ability, fielding ability

[Maxbialystock]

On 7/21/2026 at 1:41 PM, moonslav59 said:

Platoon in LF.

Not sure about the good teammate, but I suppose he could be.

He stiffed his teammates when they went to TOR during covid.

 

covid was a real threat, especially before the vaccine became available--well after the 2020 season ended.  The only available remedies were physical separation and masks.    

As for platooning, that option has been available for two managers all season long and rarely used.  Duran is tied for the 3d most games played, 94, 2d most rbi's, 4th most total bases, most SB's--and has the third best DWAR among MLB leftfielders.  In July so far he is tied with Contreras for the most rbi's, 13

Little wonder he has not been platooned.  

 

 

 

[JoeBrady]

1 hour ago, drewski6 said:

Also, teammates like the spunk when its on their side.  If Im a second baseman for the sox , i like knowing that if you throw at my head, duran will be looking to throw some punches.

That's what I love about Contreras.  I am not advocating a violent lifestyle, but it doesn't hurt to have people at least a little uncertain around you.  And with Duran, I'm betting that some of them just love to watch him run.  He hasn't been doing as much lately, but the triple last night was pretty fun.

And lastly, I like having a least a couple of guys that like to spend time in the gym.  I know it is still controversial in BB, but I do like a lifting culture.

[JoeBrady]

1 hour ago, Maxbialystock said:

Little wonder he has not been platooned.  

He could be a platoon candidate.  His numbers against righties projects to about 26 HRs and 20/2 SB/CS.  He has a .598 OPS, but that's mostly due to a .220 BABIP.  His career BABIP against righties is .331.  I expect him to be okay++.

[moonslav59]

Duran has sucked vs LHPs for a long time. Only his big year saw decent numbers.

[drewski6]

3 hours ago, JoeBrady said:

That's what I love about Contreras.  I am not advocating a violent lifestyle, but it doesn't hurt to have people at least a little uncertain around you.  And with Duran, I'm betting that some of them just love to watch him run.  He hasn't been doing as much lately, but the triple last night was pretty fun.

And lastly, I like having a least a couple of guys that like to spend time in the gym.  I know it is still controversial in BB, but I do like a lifting culture.

On my buddys beer league softball team, my good buddy on the team quit drinking....He needed to...And everyone was happy that he did.  But also kind of missed the drunk/aggressive closer.  Other teams jsut talked less sh*t when he was there and lubed up.  

Dont piss off the drunk angry kid who throws a mid 80s slider.  You dont want that running in on you.

[drewski6]

A little scrum here and there is good for the sport.  I dont like when its all lets be besties with the other team.  Its okay to be a bit animalistic/tribal/rah-rah/passionate.

 

[Duran Is The Man]

17 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

A little scrum here and there is good for the sport.  I dont like when its all lets be besties with the other team.  Its okay to be a bit animalistic/tribal/rah-rah/passionate.

 

hell yeah bro. 

[moonslav59]

Pedro's OLAY moment.

[Maxbialystock]

3 hours ago, JoeBrady said:

He could be a platoon candidate.  His numbers against righties projects to about 26 HRs and 20/2 SB/CS.  He has a .598 OPS, but that's mostly due to a .220 BABIP.  His career BABIP against righties is .331.  I expect him to be okay++.

Perhaps he could, but then how do you address the fact that neither manager chose to platoon him?  I ain't no expert, but those two are.   He's played 16 of 17 games in July and tied with Contreras for most rbis with 13 and with an OPS of .528.  He missed on game in July, on the 1st, and the Sox lost 10-2 to the Nats.  

[moonslav59]

3 minutes ago, Maxbialystock said:

Perhaps he could, but then how do you address the fact that neither manager chose to platoon him?  I ain't no expert, but those two are.   He's played 16 of 17 games in July and tied with Contreras for most rbis with 13 and with an OPS of .528.  He missed on game in July, on the 1st, and the Sox lost 10-2 to the Nats.  

We didn't have many other options to platoon with Duran. He and Yoshida both bat lefty, as does Anthony.

Brez made sure to not give Cora  RHB option other than Romy, who plays 1B/2B/DH.

Refsnyder did platoon with Abreu in 2024 and some for both in 2025, but was hurt for much of the year.

[JoeBrady]

1 hour ago, drewski6 said:

A little scrum here and there is good for the sport.  I dont like when its all lets be besties with the other team.  Its okay to be a bit animalistic/tribal/rah-rah/passionate.

 

I couldn't agree more.  Meetings where everyone agrees, and are nice to each other, use to drive me crazy.  I think camaraderie is great, and let's all grab a beer after the work.  But if we spend two hours arguing about the best aspects of competing ideas, I leave the meeting pretty stoked.

[JoeBrady]

13 minutes ago, Maxbialystock said:

Perhaps he could, but then how do you address the fact that neither manager chose to platoon him?  I ain't no expert, but those two are.   He's played 16 of 17 games in July and tied with Contreras for most rbis with 13 and with an OPS of .528.  He missed on game in July, on the 1st, and the Sox lost 10-2 to the Nats.  

Like Moon said, we didn't have many good RH alternatives.  They gave Eaton some innings, but that didn't really work.

But imho, part of it was that we wanted to get Duran rolling, and sometimes that can only be done playing fulltime.  Someone like Duran in particularly.

[Maxbialystock]

2 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

We didn't have many other options to platoon with Duran. He and Yoshida both bat lefty, as does Anthony.

Brez made sure to not give Cora  RHB option other than Romy, who plays 1B/2B/DH.

Refsnyder did platoon with Abreu in 2024 and some for both in 2025, but was hurt for much of the year.

My point is that Breslow foresaw that he just might need Duran as an option.  That has paid off handsomely on defense and even at the plate.  

[cp176]

Kind of a tough call with Duran for sure right now but personally I’m ok with him out there.  In general, I don’t like the concept of platooning and going lefty righty. The team has something going right now and for the present I wouldn’t mess with it much.

[jad]

19 hours ago, JoeBrady said:

That's what I love about Contreras.  I am not advocating a violent lifestyle, but it doesn't hurt to have people at least a little uncertain around you.  And with Duran, I'm betting that some of them just love to watch him run.  He hasn't been doing as much lately, but the triple last night was pretty fun.

And lastly, I like having a least a couple of guys that like to spend time in the gym.  I know it is still controversial in BB, but I do like a lifting culture.

Then you are advocating a violent lifestyle.    

Give an example of how it helps 'to have people a little uncertain around you.'   

[mvp 78]

15 hours ago, drewski6 said:

On my buddys beer league softball team, my good buddy on the team quit drinking....He needed to...And everyone was happy that he did.  But also kind of missed the drunk/aggressive closer.  Other teams jsut talked less sh*t when he was there and lubed up.  

Dont piss off the drunk angry kid who throws a mid 80s slider.  You dont want that running in on you.

Nobody is throwing an 80 mph softball slider FWIW.