Indeed. I should have said that the things I pointed out was just the start of a whole bunch of dominos
New and Improved--Pablo Sandoval, 3B
- Thread starter Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat
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A great debate.
I'm on the "we shoulda kept Beltre" side of it and don't accept the argument that keeping Beltre would have meant not winning the WS in 2013. Of course, there's no way to prove it either way.
Pretend, for a minute, the Sox had re-signed Beltre instead of trading Casey and Rizzo plus two for Gonzalez. They'd have likely traded Middlebrooks, near peak value, and kept Rizzo, who was the second piece in the trade for Gonzalez. Casey was the headliner.
Assuming the Sox topped the Rangers' offer, roughly $100M/6, Beltre would have been playing 3rd for the Sox through last year. Imagine an infield of Rizzo-Pedroia-Bogarts-Beltre with Benintendi-JBJ-Betts in the outfield. Imagine last year with that line-up, with, say, Josh Reddick in LF.
Woulda, coulda, shoulda...
Anyway, to meander back on topic, letting Beltre leave Boston was a history changer in many ways, but one thing's for sure, if the Sox had re-signed him, we wouldn't even be having this discussion about Sandoval and how third base is the Sox's biggest problem.
It's going to be Rafael Devers by the end of next year. It's just a question of how quickly we get there.
Marco's 4 errors in 7 starts at 3b have been demoralizingly Pabloesque...
Looks like a pretty mediocre fielder and even if he "replicates his minor league numbers" we're talking about a guy with a career Ops of 717 in the minors. I'm beginning to fear that what Marco will be best known for eventually is the wildly optimistic analysis of him by Bill James, which was so outrageous that it might someday be recognized as the first sign of that man's inevitable decline into old age (for those who didn't read it, he suggested that he wouldn't trade Marco for Bryant, Mercado, Donaldson or Arenado)..
It would be nice for trader Dave to look for a minor trade to upgrade the position.With our top prospect a third basemen he doesn't need to make a blockbuster and it wouldn't take much to improve on what we have...
Looks like a pretty mediocre fielder and even if he "replicates his minor league numbers" we're talking about a guy with a career Ops of 717 in the minors. I'm beginning to fear that what Marco will be best known for eventually is the wildly optimistic analysis of him by Bill James, which was so outrageous that it might someday be recognized as the first sign of that man's inevitable decline into old age (for those who didn't read it, he suggested that he wouldn't trade Marco for Bryant, Mercado, Donaldson or Arenado)..
It would be nice for trader Dave to look for a minor trade to upgrade the position.With our top prospect a third basemen he doesn't need to make a blockbuster and it wouldn't take much to improve on what we have...
The Red Sox would be silly to trade anything for an incremental upgrade. Besides Panda,.Hernandez, Holt, and Rutledge... they have Matt Dominguez and Mike Olt floating around.the minors. They covered their bases for competence at the position. A larger upgrade... may be worth the expenditure.
As far as Hernandez's defense... it's important to remember he's largely been.a shortstop his entire career. So, there is still a learning curve there.
As far as Hernandez's defense... it's important to remember he's largely been.a shortstop his entire career. So, there is still a learning curve there.
On the whole, 3B production has been down this season so far. It's a black hole for probably half the teams in the league. Those getting production from third will be loathe to part with those guys.
Because somebody who has adjusted to how teams were pitching him in the second half of last year won't be able to make another one next time?
Or do you think NL teams can't execute the "book" AL Teams had on him at the end of last season?
Travis Shaw will likely have a nice career as a platoon corner infielder. Somewhat like Brian Daubach or Troy O'Leary adjusting for the PED testing era. The Red Sox traded him for a relief ace. We still await that player's first regular season pitch in the AL East to see whether it was worth it.
Dave Cameron suggesting in a Fangraphs chat the Sox could look at Mike Moustakas in his walk year.
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/dave-cameron-fangraphs-chat-5317/
My early read is that it'd be a buyer's market for third basemen. Most contenders, at least right now, are set.
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/dave-cameron-fangraphs-chat-5317/
My early read is that it'd be a buyer's market for third basemen. Most contenders, at least right now, are set.
Have you looked deeper into his numbers? Because they're looking pretty fluky. Much lower walk rate vs career (4.7%). Batting average on balls in play is .274 vs a career .297. Dramatically higher ISO (.283 vs .202), almost a 2 to 1 GB/FB rate, increased pull% (45.6% vs 40.3% career), hard hit rate equal to career average, and an impossibly high HR/FB rate (27.3%). So it doesn't look like he's really hitting the ball any harder/better, and his approach doesn't look very good, in fact he's mostly pulling ground balls which is a sign of a guy trying to add power and failing. It certainly looks like he just had some luck on a few fly balls and that is hiding the rest of his not impressive numbers.
Can you provide a source that talks about the adjustments he made? I'm interested in reading what he's changed since the second half of last year.
Both of whom were crucial in what was the 1999 team's finest hour: game 5 of the ALDS against Cleveland, featuring injured-Pedro in stellar relief.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CLE/CLE199910110.shtml
The plays I've seen him fail to make have been on just moderately hard hit grounders to his left just a few feet that any decent third baseman should make. They weren't very "third base specific" at all. It's almost like he's asleep out there, hard to believe I know.
Devers could be an option after the all star break depending on how he does until then. I don't really understand the Marco love but he should be serviceable.
Jantzen Witte might see some time too in a break glass type of scenario.
Jantzen Witte might see some time too in a break glass type of scenario.
Witte has been way above average against lefthanders all the way through the minors. Earl Weaver might already have him platooning at 3B. But, Weaver didn't have to carry 12 pitchers.
He was also way older than his competition at every level. He'll get a cup of coffee somewhere though.
Moustakas looks like a good potential fit atm, especially if in terms of thinking beyond "serviceable" and while looking for ways to make this team better. LHH showing some pop, plus he'll still be on the right side of 30 this winter in the event our chickens don't hatch and we still find ourselves in the corner IF market. Which could translate out into rental + preview value.
Assuming the Sox are finally ready to move past the Pablo Pipedream of course, and that the cost wouldn't too prohibitive.
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Moustakas would be a good target. I could see Josh Harrison or Yangervis Solarte as other possible options if the Pirates struggle and the Padres haven't finished selling.
Harrison may be best if Holt is out long term since he can play 2B and the OF as well. He's at 10.5 mill per through 2020, but there are buy out options for 2019 and 2020.
Solarte's contract is cheaper (4 mill next year) and then he also has buy out options in 2019 and 2020. He'd probably be tough to get without giving up a decent package.
David Freese is another guy who has played well and maybe the easiest and most realistic to pick up.
Coming up with any interesting package that other teams can't beat blindfolded is the challenge though, since the cupboard is so bare.
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