From the Pete Abe notes column coming out this morning. Not official yet but he must have heard something, and right now we know any type of hammy issue is going to be a precautionary DL this time of year.
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Kinsler to DL, Tony Renda called up
- Thread starter DeadlySplitter
- Start date
Tony Renda brings more viable versatility than the other potential healthy options.
Played first, second, third, left and right fields in Portland and Pawtucket this year.
Played first, second, third, left and right fields in Portland and Pawtucket this year.
I guess we need Holt to backup SS, so need Renda instead of Philips for the OF. What was the point of signing Philips now I don't get? If he doesn't get in now, he won't get in until rosters expand, if that.
Bad luck? What else could it be? It can't be a matter of conditioning or some other means of preventing muscle pulls/strains, at least not in a systemic way. Kinsler's been here, what, 3 days? I doubt if the training staff were doing something wrong, it would affect him so quickly (assuming of course that the Angels staff was doing something "right").
The point was to see if he had anything left and could contribute. He hasn't shown that to be the case and has had much difficulty himself staying on the field.
Philips hasn't exactly been great in his time in the minors (.204/.304/.327 in 56 PA with Pawtucket). They signed him to see what he might have. He doesn't have much.
3R walkoff HR in the 9th with 2 outs last night for BP. Seems like he's just starting to get into his groove. At least he has solid MLB experience. Renda has a negative career WAR, sub .500 career MLB OPS.
Renda is the proverbial hot hand. He had three hits (incl a HR) last night and has hit consistently since he signed (.346/.394/.505 in 198 PA).
Phillips had an OPS of .735 last season in ~ 600ABs in LAA/Atl. Pretty much the same stats the previous 2 seasons (lifetime .740 OPS).
After landing Kinsler, Phillips/Renda are pretty solid CAT insurance.
Can he be called up after being just sent down? I'm guessing yes because it's injury related but Idk.
The other thing about Renda over Phillips is that it’s easy to send Renda back down when Rafi comes off the DL. Wouldn’t you think if they brought Phillips up, he’d be expecting to stay up?
Bingo. Renda can be optioned, Phillips can't. I would think that if they wanted to bring Phillips up, it wouldn't be for a temp job (2-3 days until Devers can be activated) where they'd need to shuffle him back off the roster again. Unless this thing with Kinsler is more serious and keeps him out indefinitely, Phillips is likely stuck until 9/1, and even then they might not need to bring him up.
I doubt it. Cora said last night that when they have a full complement available that it likely wouldn't happen. Last night was a bit of a special circumstance.
Why can't Betts play 2nd for a day or two? He's a terrific athlete, and it seems like 2nd is safer than the outfield: less running and no walls to run into.
I get the possibility of a collision/being spiked at 2nd, but is that really more dangerous than hitting the wall or pulling a muscle running? Has anyone done a study on MLB injuries by position?
I think we have multiple cases of bingo as to why Renda and not Phillips.
1) With both Devers and Kinsler out (and X not 100%), Renda brings greater flexibility. Phillips has a little bit less flexibility having not played anything other than DH and 2B this season. [He did play 25 games at 3B for Atlanta last season.]
2) It's a couple of days and then down. Renda has options.
3) Renda is hitting better than Phillips. Since coming back from his stint on the DL (missing all of June), Renda is batting .343/.363/.519 over 25 games (4 in AA). While basically switching off between 2B and 3B.
If Kinsler was lost for more than 10 days, the calculus may have been different.
So, who goes on the 60-day DL to make room?
1) With both Devers and Kinsler out (and X not 100%), Renda brings greater flexibility. Phillips has a little bit less flexibility having not played anything other than DH and 2B this season. [He did play 25 games at 3B for Atlanta last season.]
2) It's a couple of days and then down. Renda has options.
3) Renda is hitting better than Phillips. Since coming back from his stint on the DL (missing all of June), Renda is batting .343/.363/.519 over 25 games (4 in AA). While basically switching off between 2B and 3B.
If Kinsler was lost for more than 10 days, the calculus may have been different.
So, who goes on the 60-day DL to make room?
Let me ask you this: Why would you willingly take your Gold Glove MVP caliber RF out of his normal position when you have other options available?
Betts played second last night only because they were trying to stay away from Bogaerts in the field. Given that Bogaerts went in and played defensively in the 8th, he may be available to play the whole game today. If so, Nunez at 3B, Holt at 2B and Renda on the bench means there's no need to play Betts in the infield again unless there are more injuries.
I'm not saying he can't. I'm telling you what Cora said. And there's really no reason to do it. Holt plays second, Nunez third.
And I really don't want JD in RF against the Yankees.
And yes, playing an unfamiliar position can lead to injuries. Can I introduce you to Blake Swihart?
Here is what Soxprospects has to say on Renda:
Scouting Report: Utility player with a short, stocky frame. Above-average hit tool. Line driver hitter with quick hands and minimal holes in his swing. Will jump on bad pitches but can also lay off balls out of the zone and work the count. Doesn’t strike out much. Hits to all fields. Smart at the plate. Minimal to no power -- essentially no home run power, but will hit some gappers and leg them out to doubles or triples. Fringe-average arm strength, but makes accurate throws. Passable defender, not stellar. Decent glove, limited range. Best suited as a second baseman, but also able to play third base, left field, and right field. Has even played first base in a pinch, but not the best fit for the position at his height. Drafted by the Dodgers out of high school, but opted to go to Cal-Berkeley. Played three seasons at Cal, winning the Pac-10 Player of the Year Award in 2011. Played in the Nationals, Yankees, Reds, and Diamondbacks organizations before signing with the Red Sox in April 2018. Played 32 major league games with the Reds in 2016, where he failed to impress at the plate. Profiles as an emergency depth utility player. Has the potential to stick around in a reserve role for an extended period if he could play up to his offensive potential when given the opportunity. Could be a valuable asset due to his versatility, baseball IQ, and makeup.
His minor league career slash line (he is 27 years old) is: .291/.358/.384 with 15 home runs in 7 seasons. 112 SB and 29 CS.
Scouting Report: Utility player with a short, stocky frame. Above-average hit tool. Line driver hitter with quick hands and minimal holes in his swing. Will jump on bad pitches but can also lay off balls out of the zone and work the count. Doesn’t strike out much. Hits to all fields. Smart at the plate. Minimal to no power -- essentially no home run power, but will hit some gappers and leg them out to doubles or triples. Fringe-average arm strength, but makes accurate throws. Passable defender, not stellar. Decent glove, limited range. Best suited as a second baseman, but also able to play third base, left field, and right field. Has even played first base in a pinch, but not the best fit for the position at his height. Drafted by the Dodgers out of high school, but opted to go to Cal-Berkeley. Played three seasons at Cal, winning the Pac-10 Player of the Year Award in 2011. Played in the Nationals, Yankees, Reds, and Diamondbacks organizations before signing with the Red Sox in April 2018. Played 32 major league games with the Reds in 2016, where he failed to impress at the plate. Profiles as an emergency depth utility player. Has the potential to stick around in a reserve role for an extended period if he could play up to his offensive potential when given the opportunity. Could be a valuable asset due to his versatility, baseball IQ, and makeup.
His minor league career slash line (he is 27 years old) is: .291/.358/.384 with 15 home runs in 7 seasons. 112 SB and 29 CS.
From what I have been reading, Betts likes to play second base (and probably prefers it to the outfield). He takes infield practice several times a week.
Five of the home runs have come this year, and his slash line this year is .353/.399/.529/.928. It is quite possible that he's made a leap in his hitting skills at age 27. To that end, I note that his ground out/air out ratio (GO/AO) this year is .67. That ratio has never been below 1 in Renda's career before this year.
Last night, what was the rationale for putting Pearce in right field instead of JD after Mookie went to second base? Would we have lost the DH moving forward because JD started the game as DH?
Yes DH would have been gone if that happened.
The expected play would have been to put Pearce at 2B where he has played and where he has been practicing.
Mookie played 2B because he's been bugging Alex to play in the IF and Cora figured it was time to throw him a bone.
The expected play would have been to put Pearce at 2B where he has played and where he has been practicing.
Mookie played 2B because he's been bugging Alex to play in the IF and Cora figured it was time to throw him a bone.
Yes - moving the DH to the field eliminates the DH spot in the lineup, so it is a non-starter
That is the rule. At the risk of derailing this thread, what is the reasoning behind that rule? Why don't they treat the DH like any other position and let people swap around? I am sure there is some rationale, I am just not aware of it.
Because, given the current injury situation, playing Betts at second strengthens the lineup considerably by allowing you to play both Pearce and Moreland.
That was a fluke injury, which is always possible in sports. To the extent it had anything to do with where he was playing, it supports my point that, if anything, playing the outfield is riskier than the infield.
It wasn't because Mookie was bugging Cora, it was because they asked Pearce and he said he was more comfortable in RF than at 2B. So Mookie moved to the infield instead. Not that Mookie wasn't prepared. He does take groundballs every day.
Interesting I hadn't heard that about Pearce, I did hear Cora mention that Mookie bugs him all the time to play infield.
Of course Cora was ejected prior to this happening so it had nothing to do with him anyway.
Mookie won't be playing there today or likely ever again barring an emergency.
He is now an outfielder who can help out on the infield in a pinch.
The bolded is correct IF Xander's hand is OK enough for him to hold the bat. He didn't appear till the 8th yesterday because there was little chance he'd have to hit.
I'm hoping it's rained out to give X (and Rafi) another day off.
Strengthen the offensive lineup, yes?
Because you definitely downgrade the OF defense. And probably downgrade 2b defense (assuming Holt)... Although this downgrade may not be as large as the OF. (And, it is possible, the downgrade at second with Mookie isn't even a downgrade except for rust and reps.)
Pedroia to the 60 to make room for Renda.
I’m hoping they get it in. Momentum is ours, their arms are tired, and it’s not everyday there’s an opportunity to subject an undercooked Yankee prospect to a drubbing in a division race.
Ruben Tejada getting destroyed at second base by Chase Utley (although Tejada was playing SS I believe) and our own Dustin Pedroia by Machado are examples of horrendous injuries that can happen at the second base bag. Sure, an outfielder can get severely injured running into a wall or into a teammate, but what’s the higher frequency/ higher risk? I’m sure Mookie’s not used to the timing aspect of double plays at second either because it’s been so long.
So, does Mookie want to go back to 2B when Pedey hangs it up?
So, does Mookie want to go back to 2B when Pedey hangs it up?
According to this article, RF is the least injury-prone position, but 2B is third. Apparently we should be more concerned when he's moved to CF than 2B.
Seems like a legitimate question. Going into 2019 with Nunez as the full-time second baseman is a pretty bad bluff. Having Markus Lynn as an option there opens up our FA options a bit.
2B
Cabrera, Dozier, Forsythe, Kinsler, LeMahieu, Lowrie, Murphy, Walker
RF
Cargo, Harper, Markakis, McCutchen, Pollock
Everyone's gonna talk about Harper, but the smart signing would be A.J. Pollock, who I'm pretty sure grew up a Red Sox fan in Hebron, Connecticut.
Well, I think one reason is that the DH spot has to be the same spot in the lineup for the entire game as it appears on the manager’s card. So, if the DH switched with a position player you really can’t adhere to that rule. If DH spot is batting fourth and you put JDM in the field you need another DH at that point because JDM is no longer the DH. So, you’d effectively let a player move in the batting which obviously you can’t do.
But I guess that just makes the question why the DH has to have a fixed position in the lineup.
This article was published before the Chase Utley rule, which—Pedroia notwithstanding—has surely decreased injury risk among second basemen.
Yeah, if you have a 2B that can OPS 1.000, it’s a huge advantage given the relative availability of outfielders who can hit pretty well. Also, remember the pool of outfielders is far greater because lefties can play the outfield but not second base.
There's a second baseman you've left of your list of options. One who's under team control through 2021. Sure, he's on the DL at the moment but they can't exact move forward with a free agent signing aimed at replacing him without knowing his status.
Ruben Tejada getting destroyed at second base by Chase Utley (although Tejada was playing SS I believe) and our own Dustin Pedroia by Machado are examples of horrendous injuries that can happen at the second base bag. Sure, an outfielder can get severely injured running into a wall or into a teammate, but what’s the higher frequency/ higher risk? I’m sure Mookie’s not used to the timing aspect of double plays at second either because it’s been so long.
So, does Mookie want to go back to 2B when Pedey hangs it up?
In addition this past Wednesday, the Mets second baseman had his leg fractured in a game against the Nationals. I think it was Zimmerman who executed a take out slide to prevent a double play..
So yeah, i want our Gold Glove MVP candidate to stick to the outfield where he belongs.
So, does Mookie want to go back to 2B when Pedey hangs it up?
In addition this past Wednesday, the Mets second baseman had his leg fractured in a game against the Nationals. I think it was Zimmerman who executed a take out slide to prevent a double play..
So yeah, i want our Gold Glove MVP candidate to stick to the outfield where he belongs.
I'm not asking about in the off-season. I'm asking about... Today. Where you would be replacing the best defensive RF in the game with Pearce or JD.