cp176

Sorry Emp I think that I missed your point here.Outside of just a few tweeks here and there my ideal lineup would not vary much from what coaches have been doing very successfully for many many years. The Red Sox have the opportunity to have some legit power bats hitting in the 3-4-5 spots. I think Alex Cora will take advantage of it because he believes it is the way to go and not because he doesn't want to rock anybody's boat.

I have not studied the metrics - shame on me I guess - but I am pretty sure that when it comes to defense Marrero is currently better than any of the other options. Please do not take this as me advocating for Marreo. I just don't think that you can totally overlook his infield defense. As for Swihart, I love the guy and truly think he will play a solid role for us this year, but it kind of seems to me that people here think that having him play positions at the ml level that he really has never played before will be simple for him. It won't be. One last thing - trying to turn Lin into an infielder outfielder is ridiculous. Our infield could profit from a good dose of defense.

No one has even come close to saying that people should not consider any metric that might help them make an educated decision. I certainly would but ultimately my mind would not be made up until I saw him play. It seems to me that people who have great great faith in metrics do not even think for one minute that there is any other way to even help evaluate talent. I think that that is very sad. With respect to your view on pitchers - 6 to 6.5 really - 4 to 4.5 absolutely I would have to see him throw before I made up my mind.

Honest to God Kimmi there are those among us who believe that a blend of analytical information coupled with a healthy dose of what has worked since the game was created is really the way to go. Guess I am one of those people. It just doesn't have to be one or the other.

Some of this is not new though at all. Coaches have been experimenting with lineup construction for as long as the game has been played. Having what some consider to be your best hitter hitting first really isn't a new concept at all.

Once again I think that is pretty much right on. Making any change just to prove a point normally turns out pretty pointless. I always have liked Alex Cora very much. Now I like him even more. I just happen to think that he knows how to coach and work with people. Some will say that his age makes a difference, I choose not to. He just seems to get it. Once again though what is this midwifeing the process all about? I know what a mid wife is but you have to explain that one to me. lol

Who the hell is this fangraphs guy Spud? His name seems to come up a lot here. He must have been a hell of a player. I'm going to check in with Pedroia just hear to what he thinks of him. lol

and how about that silly coach of ours even today talking about Martinez giving protection to our guys by being in that lineup. Being serious just for one second, he did say that he was not sure that protection does actually apply but seems good with the concept if for no other reason than Martinez's teammates believe in it. Call it whatever you like, believe in it or not, give absolute statistical evidence that it can not exist - our new enlightened Coach seems to think that it might. With a renewed interest in having power bats in the lineup doesn't it at least make any of you think that lineup construction might be a little similar to the way it has been for so many years before? I'm going with a big YES on that one. Power bats who can produce runs in the 3-4-5 spots.

That to me anyway is an excellent point that most people would never want to see happen. I like Leon and in a perfect world which we don't happen to reside in we would be able to keep them both. If that old phantom injury list doesn't strike, then somebody will just have to go. I don't think that the Sox are going to be in hurry to simply release anyone. Why should they be. Once again if Swihart is healthy he is going to stay. I also am not counting on a near split of the catching position this year.

midwifing the process? Has Swihart ever played third or for that matter first? If he continues to hit, Coach Cora is going to have to find a creative way of getting him some at bats for sure.

On the official Red Sox website

Ultimately there will be some decisions that have to be made. I have to think though that the potential for some poor infield play has to play a role in the front office thinking. Marrero looks like a very solid glove. Could have an impact on what happens to Holt as well as to Leon. It is a luxury to have 3 catchers two of whom are good but ...

This guy Cora just doesn't get it!!! I want some guy coaching this team who can teach our guys how to impact the ball plus pay extra attention to the Talksox Forum Board. lol

Bell - did you read the article I read? It was interesting.

Perhaps he thinks that he is our 5th best hitter or maybe he thinks that lineup construction isn't the big deal it is being made out to be here or maybe he just believes that this game is better suited to a blend of analytical info and old school concepts or maybe he is just his own man and will not be baffled by anyone's tiresome ********.

If you do know me Bell, you know that I am not likely to look this up! The perception that I have created for myself here is that I am not "all in" on analytical research thus in some minds that means that I could give two great big Maine toots about it. I think all of the positions on a baseball field come equipped with inherent danger. Not that it matters because I certainly can't quantify it but I do believe that Martinez is as likely to get injured making his way to the ballpark as he is by playing left field in Fenway. I thought that you would at least be happy that I figured out the auto correct! lol - If you have driven in Boston, you know exactly what I am saying.

stuff happens I guess - maybe left fielders are just numbskulls for the most part. And yes Bullhorn for sure Swihart would have been much safer if we had just left him behind the plate. lol - Hey now I see what that damned auto correct is Bellhorn!

I think that if he sees 40-50 games in left field he will be very happy.

I just read that Cora may in fact have JD hitting 3rd in the lineup. Is it possible that regardless of what the statistical evidence shows, that Alex Cora might know something about lineups and the game in general than preparers of the analytics?

The insinuation here is that I might not give any thought to defensive metrics and that is not right. The but is here that I would not make a definitive call until I actually saw him play. I certainly have not suggested ever that we break up our current outfield to play JD. I don't remember ever saying that you can know nothing about a player's potential to play a position until you have seen him play. I'm a little defensive here - I get that- but once again someone is trying to shape what I have written into what they want to hear. Oh well. I will just add that I just read an article in which Martinez actually said that one of the reasons he came to Boston was that he was going to get the chance to play in the outfield on occasion. And also this for the people who feel that it is predominantly about the analytics - Cora has recently said that JD may in fact hit third. No commitment being made at this time. If Martinez is one of our best hitters, why in the devil would Alex Cora say that he might occupy the 3 hole where according to some that is the spot saved for you 5th best hitter. He certainly has been schooled in all things analytical, I just don't get it.

Makes sense to me! I think that Cora can relate to both sides of the aisle.

It is great to see all of the stats that indicate what he has done. Now I am just ready to actually watch what he can do.

That is the way I would stack 3-4-5 but it would have 0 to do with the theory of having your 5th best hitter hit third. No one knows nor can really predict what any of these guys will do. You can certainly try to make educated guesses based on what they have done in the past. With respect to Hanley, I agree with him and what he said. He loves the idea of hitting in front of JD and one of the reasons is he believes he will see better pitches to hit. He has done this for a long time - I'm willing to buy into what he has to say.

Only because they traded Brentz.

Good to hear they are going to find the right place for Wright. Finally a real athlete out there!!!