Sox call up Smith, Designate Martin.

[Cesar Crespo]

I didn't see this anywhere else. Apologies if already being talked about elsewhere.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/09/red-sox-activate-carson-smith-designate-kyle-martin.html

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

Will be interesting to see what he's got, if anything

 

[Cesar Crespo]

Carson Smith is also partly responsible for Bryce Brentz not getting a chance. Martin was the most obvious player to release but they needed to make a spot for Smith before Brentz. If the choice was between one of the two, I'd pick Carson Smith. Of course, that isn't the choice but I guess it would be bad form to release players in September in the middle of a pennant race.

 

[brandonchristensen]

Hoping for the best.

 

[kelpapa]

He's warming in the 32nd inning tonight at Fenway.

 

[Van Everyman]

He looked pretty good there. Nice slider.

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

Did this transaction happen during the game?

 

[Sox and Rocks]

Carson Smith is also partly responsible for Bryce Brentz not getting a chance. Martin was the most obvious player to release but they needed to make a spot for Smith before Brentz. If the choice was between one of the two, I'd pick Carson Smith. Of course, that isn't the choice but I guess it would be bad form to release players in September in the middle of a pennant race.

This is true, and something I hadn't considered in the Brentz debate. Still, though, there's plenty of dead wood on the 40 man that could easily be trimmed. Would anyone notice if brockholt was axed, aka a tree falling in an empty forest?

Smith's slider was impressive. Reminds me of Adam Ottavino's slider. Hopefully, though, Smith can control his better.

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

This is true, and something I hadn't considered in the Brentz debate. Still, though, there's plenty of dead wood on the 40 man that could easily be trimmed. Would anyone notice if brockholt was axed, aka a tree falling in an empty forest?

Millions of folks would notice.

And most knowledgeable fans would be ok with it if the plan for 2018 included Nunez instead of Holt. But with Holt's ability to play 7 positions he has certain value.

I'd also argue with "plenty of dead wood on the 40 man", considering most of them played/pitched last night!

 

[Sox and Rocks]

Millions of folks would notice.

And most knowledgeable fans would be ok with it if the plan for 2018 included Nunez instead of Holt. But with Holt's ability to play 7 positions he has certain value.

I'd also argue with "plenty of dead wood on the 40 man", considering most of them played/pitched last night!

Yeah, perhaps notice is the wrong word, as I certainly would and would rejoice.

Holt may play lots of positions, but his .500 OPS negates much of this value, no? He is entirely fungible.

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

This year, after his injury, his OPS has sucked.

 

[joe dokes]

Millions of folks would notice.
And most knowledgeable fans would be ok with it if the plan for 2018 included Nunez instead of Holt. But with Holt's ability to play 7 positions he has certain value.
I'd also argue with "plenty of dead wood on the 40 man", considering most of them played/pitched last night!

Playing 7 positions with an OPS+ of 80 might be useful. At an OPS+ of 35 it becomes considerably less so.
That said, I think releasing him in September to make room for a guy who wont pitch in any leverage (before the 18th inning) would be quite a shitty thing to do. Martin is unlikely to be claimed.

 

[shepard50]

(Everlasting thanks as always to Brooks Baseball)

He looked great. And pitched even better than his result.

Note the ball calls in the lower right. Those were strikes all night for homeplate umpire Marvin Hudson. Maybe he got tired...

 

[ehaz]

How did Smith look like tonight? Didn't get to see him pitch, but the ground balls and K looked promising. Were the singles hit hard?

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

He's a ground ball machine.