Let's get reasonable (moderate improvements to the roster)
- Thread starter Snodgrass'Muff
- Start date
Discussion of Pedey’s unclutchness made me look up the 2013 WS box. He was indeed fairly lame at the plate in that series: 5 for 24, .532 OPS, 1 rbi.
I had kinda forgotten just how insane Big Papi was, though: I mean I know he was MVP, but a 1.948 OPS?? Dude made a total of five outs in a six-game series (11 for 16 with 8 walks).
I had kinda forgotten just how insane Big Papi was, though: I mean I know he was MVP, but a 1.948 OPS?? Dude made a total of five outs in a six-game series (11 for 16 with 8 walks).
Love the work ethic and the obvious awareness that he has something to prove.
I was interested in the comments about hitting .350 vs. hitting 40 HR. As someone who first became aware of stats via Bill James, my first reaction was "of course it's better to hit 40 HR, you dingbat." But it turns out he's right--if you take Xander's Steamer projection and alter the hit numbers as needed to produce an otherwise-as-projected .350 guy and 40 HR guy, the .350 guy has a wOBA of .408, the 40-HR guy .405.
Statistically speaking, the argument for Papi being the greatest hitter in World Series (not post season) history is tough to argue with. Compare him to Reggie Jackson sometime. Among players with more than one WS appearance he may be tops.
Or Rafael Betancourt. Would have been even bigger if Skinner didn't brainfart in holding Lofton at 3rd.
And in 2013 ALCS G2, don't forget the RBI 2B against Scherzer to get it to 5-1 (for me, that was the "Russian's cut!" moment.
...and his two out hit in the 8th finished setting the table for Ortiz...
If I recall correctly, 1 of those outs came when he was robbed of a grand slam.
Look at the stats if he isn't robbed there.
In retrospect, it's equally crazy what a shitty ALCS Ortiz had that year. Other than one pretty big hit, that is.
Yep: [googling] it was the 2nd inning of Game 1. Didn't end up affecting the outcome — they won 8-1 — but Beltran needed every inch of the field and his reach to snag it.
Ortiz still got a sac fly out of it, but if that clears Beltran's glove, his 2013 WS OPS becomes 2.175 (12 for 17 with 2 doubles, 3 dingers, and 8 walks).
Bringing Nunez back to fill the Brock Holt role is something I would like to see. Nearly as flexible with a better bat and speed, Nunez also seems to perform better when pressed into duty for extended periods than Holt.
Acknowledging that as much as anybody has up to this point, on the flip side it's a little surprising that we haven't heard more reported interest in Nunez being out there.
I had assumed somebody out there would bite on his career year being legit. Maybe that just isn't going to be the case.
I’m hoping Swihart can fill the Holt role, super utility players are available at the deadline, let’s see what we have first.
I"ll take the slightly lower wOBA for 40 HR. A HR always generates runs. Certainty vs Probability
My guess is he is waiting for Moose and Frazier to sign. At that point he becomes the best third base option remaining. I would add Hosmer, but I don't think anyone would seriously entertain having Nunez play first.
That doesn't mean that he'll get one. I can see him getting 400 ABs in Boston this season. The Sox will need a second baseman to start the season with Pedroia likely out until at least late May.
Just curious, what has you hopeful that Swihart can fill in at 2nd, 3rd and SS at the major league level this season? IMO given how short MLB benches are I think the Sox (or any team) are best served to have this sort of player on the roster from day one rather than to have to look for one at the deadline.
Nunez had a nice couple of months in Boston, but I can't see why he'd be any kind of priority or even necessity when Marrero is out of options, Holt is still technically under contract, Hernandez should be healthy, and Lin is still around. Yes, he's an offensive upgrade over all of those guys, but I can't see that being enough of a difference-maker to justify the expenditure.
Swihart I've been assuming will be a throw-in when DD inevitably makes a trade of some kind since he's also out of options, but who knows.
As per the thread's title, I see Nunez as a moderate improvement. He possesses the flexibility that every team should seek as well as an offensive improvement over those mentioned and given the Sox offensive woes I would feel more comfortable with him pinch hitting over any of the others. I'm also not as concerned about him being pressed into an everyday role as I might be where some of the others are concerned, especially Holt. I also see Holt as having some value as a piece in a potential trade.
I don't see Nunez as being worth what it will take to sign him, in dollars and years, and as being that big an upgrade on what we otherwise have. His bat is probably better, but he loses most of that extra value with shaky D. And I don't see that we're going to have a regular need for a PH. I'd just as soon go with Marco/Marrero/Swihart. I'm undecided on Holt - I'm not sure how much of his problems last year were attributable to the concussion/vertigo problems, but I'm inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt for now. But that works both ways - if healthy, he might have some value as a piece in a trade.
I think they'll keep tabs on Nunez. There's a point where a one-year pillow contract would make sense for us, and given his knee injury, might end up being the best he can do. But otherwise, yeah, the Sox will likely roll with some combo of Hernandez/Holt/Marrero/Swihart out of ST...
Not sure what Nunez' market is because it's hard to tell how much teams will tolerate his poor defense.
Maybe the Mets or Braves at 3b, the Brewers at 2b. The O's, White Sox, Royals and Tigers have infield room too.
I think he'll get more years and be paid better elsewhere but he'll have to be patient.
Maybe the Mets or Braves at 3b, the Brewers at 2b. The O's, White Sox, Royals and Tigers have infield room too.
I think he'll get more years and be paid better elsewhere but he'll have to be patient.
I just learned that Jake Sisko (Cirroc Lofton), the son of Captain Sisko on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is Lofton's nephew. ...just off the wall
