As Rick Rowand writes over on the .com Hanley should be playing now only when "every other position player on the team has broken something." Some might say it is inconceivable for a playoff team to start a DH with a .238/.320/.423 triple slash. And there really is no platoon split to argue for here.
So who should be the DH?
If Nunez is back and healthy and not playing elsewhere (X, of course, has his own questions) he is the obvious answer. His line is .312/.340/.458 (overall) and .319/.351/.534(!) with the Sox this year.
So have we made our decision then? Not remotely!
The extent of his knee strain is a big question mark. As is how much he will be needed to play elsewhere around the infield.
What about Sam Travis (.304/.381/.411)? He can both DH and play first. He's looked good/very good in small sample size (63 PAs). His numbers at AAA this year though have to give one pause .270/.351/.375. At this point, it's hard to expect much more than replacement level hitting from him. I want him to be fearsome, but I just don't feel it.
Chris Young? Against righties because of the split this year (even though for his career he has .116 higher OPS against lefties than against righties?) His splits are an issue I realize and I don't like confrontations.
Lin? Chris Sale (2017 .333/.333/.667)?
Or am I just stalling now and we are all the way back to giving Hanley some rest and hoping for the best?
So who should be the DH?
If Nunez is back and healthy and not playing elsewhere (X, of course, has his own questions) he is the obvious answer. His line is .312/.340/.458 (overall) and .319/.351/.534(!) with the Sox this year.
So have we made our decision then? Not remotely!
The extent of his knee strain is a big question mark. As is how much he will be needed to play elsewhere around the infield.
What about Sam Travis (.304/.381/.411)? He can both DH and play first. He's looked good/very good in small sample size (63 PAs). His numbers at AAA this year though have to give one pause .270/.351/.375. At this point, it's hard to expect much more than replacement level hitting from him. I want him to be fearsome, but I just don't feel it.
Chris Young? Against righties because of the split this year (even though for his career he has .116 higher OPS against lefties than against righties?) His splits are an issue I realize and I don't like confrontations.
Lin? Chris Sale (2017 .333/.333/.667)?
Or am I just stalling now and we are all the way back to giving Hanley some rest and hoping for the best?