moonslav59

Let's assume DD will keep Devers and Travis, since 3B and 1B will be big holes next year. Let's also assume we keep Groome as good SP'ers are always in need. Here's what's left: Chavis 3B/DH/OF/2B? (Does seem like the most likely trade bait this summer or winter, despite the lack of power in our system at this time.) Chatham SS (Bogey may bolt to free agency at the time CJ is ready.) Ockimey 1B (If Travis stumbles, we may want to keep Josh around.) Lakins RHP (Is not having a good year.) Dalbec 3B (If Devers stumbles, Bobby might be our next best internal hope at 3B/1B.) Longhi 1B (Could be trade bait.) Anderson, Shawaryn, Mata, Hernandez, Beeks, Raudes P (One or two could be trade bait)

If his target time is late 2019 or 2020, there may be an opening at 2B by then.

I actually expected Pom to be a decent pitcher, but I still hated the trade and still do.

It's not a certainty. I could see Price pitching like a Cy Young candidate again, before his deal is over.

I wonder if Pedey could play 3B, but then again, we have no 2Bman then.

There are plenty of acceptable options at 3B without getting exotic. We don't need an all star and don't really have the assets to obtain one. What we need is adequacy at the third base position. An all star would be great but all we need 3B to be is something other than a sucking chest wound. Going back to an offseason idea of Moonslav's, picking up Todd Frazier from a White Sox club going nowhere would be a solid idea, I doubt he'd be too expensive considering he's on the last year of his deal on a losing team and the White Sox are considering a transition to Yoan Moncada at his position, and we've proven we can make fair deals with the White Sox. That looks like a deal that ought to be doable for a reasonable price in assets. Heck maybe the White Sox think they can save Blake Swihart. I'm not longer a supporter of trading for Frazier. He's having a bad year, and he's historically a much worse second half hitter. His defense is still solid. He's probably better than what we have, assuming Devers is targeted for 2018, so if we could get him for cheap, which is doubtful, I might consider him. Adrian Beltre is also a solid choice if the Rangers will spare him, he's made a strong return to their lineup after his injury and I think it's fair to say he's likely healthy, and he's been highly productive in Boston before. The Rangers are 1 game over .500 and not too far off wild card pace and they may consider themselves in contention, so that may not be an option at the deadline, but if they take a dive in the standings between now and 7/31 that becomes an option. Will be way too costly. Basically there's a couple things we can potentially do to increase our left side of the infield offense without screwing over an elite SS. If they fail then maybe it's time to go exocit, but the best roster moves are the ones that are least disruptive to the team, adding the most while subtracting the least, and if a veteran 3B is available, getting a SS instead fails that test. I'm not advoacting moving Bogey to 3B, like I was when we had Iggy, but a chance at greatly improving SS defense is nothing to ignore either.

You're ignoring the problem of maintenance. Staying at an acceptable level defensively takes a certain work ethic when you're not naturally built for the position. I think the scouts and I were wrong about Bogey not "being built to play SS." He has not "filled out". His current body type should not be a factor in improving his defense at SS.

The point was that he was horrible for most of the season. The word "most" might be debatable, but in my opinion, the word "horrible" was an accurate description of Shaw's play at the end of the season last year. His defense was surprisingly decent last year at 3B, but I'm not sure one could expect that to continue. By the way, his UZR/150 this year is at -9.3 (third worst in MLB). He really is much better at 1B. Here are his numbers: 2nd half: 59 games/193 PAs .194 7 23 (.619 OPS) Our 2017 3B numbers right now: 75 gams/286 PAs .198 7 29 (.568 OPS) Yes, Shaw looked slightly better over this year's clown carousel, but not by much. (Note: 59 games is not "most of the season".) Now, if you tighten up the sample size to just August and September, Shaw was no better than this year's 3Bmen: AUG: .542 OPS SEP: .602 OPS That was 150 PAs of .570 batting (.184 4 16). It's hard not to call that HORRIBLE!

He lost the starting job at the end of last year due to an almost unbelievably long slump. That wasn't a problem?

I never said Bogey is "not working" at SS. I was just talking about his defense not improving at all over his ML career. You'd think his dislike for playing 3B and his hard work ethic would have meant we'd see some growth on defense. One could argue there has even been slight regression on defense. Bogey's offense makes him a clear and significant plus at SS. His defense is not bad, and even though I have a very strong philosophy of having great defense at the SS position, I am not for moving Bogey to 3B for someone like Marrero or LIn. To me, his defense is "acceptable", but barely so.I'm not calling for DD to try and trade for a SS, so Bogey can be moved to 3B. Not at all. I see Devers as our future 3Bman and Bogey staying at SS for a long time, but if we ever do get a great fielding SS that can hit, I'd consider the move. (Note: I used the word "consider" not certainly would move him, too.)

At 5-10, Chavis is probably too short to play 1B. Our OF seems set for a couple more years. That leaves DH, assuming HRam can play 1B for the next 1-2 years. I could see Chavis being traded, maybe even this deadline, but I hope not. We need some power on this team, and he may be our best young hope.

I could have sworn it was on his other hand, when I read the first report, but I think you are right.

Agreed, but what can be done immediately to try and change things?

...[bogey is] motivated to be the best SS he can... I am not supporting the idea of moving Bogey to 3B this year, but I haven't seen his "motivation" helping improve his defense at SS over the last 2-3 years. If we had a great fielding SS who could hit better than any current 3B we have, I'd consider the move. We don't right now. Bogey is our SS for a while. Our best hope is for Devers to be promoted and succeed, we trade for a significant upgrade at 3B without giving up more top prospects or going over the luxury tax this season.

Innings at 3B this year: 223 Marrero 213 Pablo 139 Rutledge 72 Hernandez 8 Holt 4 Selsky 1 Vaz

There's been no light in the 3B tunnel this year. Choosing the lesser of all evils is not helping us win.

It's on his non throwing hand.

I agree. I called it "lack of fire", but maybe it's something else.

MLBTR...]\ Red Sox third base prospect Rafael Devers is making a case for a promotion in Double-A, but the team still isn’t ready to summon the 20-year-old to the majors, writes Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald. Devers, Baseball America’s 14th-ranked prospect, has slashed .289/.346/.550 with 14 home runs in 272 plate appearances this year and impressed Red Sox vice president of player development Ben Crockett along the way. “It’s been a really positive year,” Crockett said of Devers. “He’s learned a lot. Playing with older teammates, more experienced guys, it’s a different life experience. I think it’s been great for him. The staff, with manager Carlos Febles, has done a great job being consistent with him. He’s a great worker. He’s passionate and cares about what he’s doing.” Crockett’s glowing review aside, the Red Sox are hesitant to call up a prospect unless they know he’ll play every day, notes Mastrodonato, who suggests they’ll look to acquire a veteran third baseman by the trade deadline. Whether help comes in the form of a veteran or Devers, Boston is in serious need of aid at the hot corner. The club’s third basemen rank last in the majors in wRC+ (a pitiful 44) and fWAR (minus-1.3).

It might, if our 3Bman would ever get a hit when it counts. Before today's o for 3 from the 3B slot we had these 3B numbers: .199 7 29 .562 OPS Even someone hitting at .675 might have got us another win or two.

I've been expecting Betts to heat up at any moment. It hasn't happened. I'm okay with anyone getting critical about just about anyone on our offense, except maybe Bogey, Moreland and our catchers.

I hope to see him in mid July when I visit Maine for 3 weeks.

We've had less than zero production at 3B.

Even worse than other major injuries some of our players have had this season!

The mystery injury that David Price acquired during his start against the Angels on Saturday was revealed to be a cracked fingernail on the middle finger of his right hand.