22 replies to this topic

[TheoShmeo]

Darnell McDonald, who was placed on the 15-day DL May 13 with a strained right oblique, was back in the clubhouse after completing his third rehab assignment at Pawtucket Monday. He played all nine innings in center field and went 0 for 3 and was hit by a pitch in a 6-4 loss to Norfolk.

“Today he said he could play, but he’s not 100 percent,’’ Valentine said. “I told him I’d like him to be 100 percent. He’s on the disabled list, so by the time he comes back, we’d like to have a player who is capable to go full-bore physically.’’

Valentine said McDonald would likely return to Pawtucket for another rehab start.

http://www.bostonglo...kWWK/story.html

From those lines in today's Sox Globe notes article, one might conclude that Darnell will regain his spot on the team when he's 100% ready to play.

Is that actually the case? And if so, why? Or is Bobby's insistence that he be "100%" code for a delay tactic or some other indication that Darnell isn't going to be reinstated so soon.

Thus far in 2012, his numbers in 56 at bats -- .179/.277/.357 -- look a lot like his early numbers from last year. Despite barely hitting his wife's weight early on in 2011, Tito gave him regular playing time against lefties and thereby turned Josh Reddick into a platoon player. Perhaps in part due to an excellent showing in Spring Training, Bobby has also given Darnell some early time against lefties, though that time had dwindled before Darnell's recent "injury."

If no one in the existing outfielder group gets hurt (and that seems like a cruel joke given the MASH unit this team has been thus far), who would go if they brought Darnell back? Sending Nava down in favor of Darnell seems unthinkable given Nava's production and insertion into the lead off spot last night. And despite all the dirt dog jokes, Podsednik has been quietly productive thus far. His sample size is painfully small, but if nothing else, I'd like to see them ride the hot hand and his defense looks good. It's harder to mount an argument for Marlon Byrd, and maybe he's the answer, but I still like his all around game more than Darnell's.

In sum, what are they going to do when Darnell is ready to play and what should they do?

[JimBoSox9]

If they want to keep McDonald instead of Byrd, I will lose exactly zero sleep over it. Shit is shit, regardless of the relative odor. Neither one should be more than a Jacoby injury placeholder.

If they want to keep McDonald instead of Posednik, I'd think that's a bad move but one that's unlikely to have an impact worth going crazy about.

If they want to keep McDonald instead of Nava, storm the gates, riot and pillage.

[Rudy Pemberton]

Getting rid of Byrd seems like the move here. Among the three; Podsednik is the best choice as a pinch runner, and he can get a bunt down. Byrd and McDonald can't hit righties, Podsednik is much weaker vs LH. I have a hard time seeing why anyone would keep Byrd over McDonald or the Podfather.

[Lose Remerswaal]

If they want to keep McDonald instead of Byrd, I will lose exactly zero sleep over it. Shit is shit, regardless of the relative odor. Neither one should be more than a Jacoby injury placeholder.

If they want to keep McDonald instead of Posednik, I'd think that's a bad move but one that's unlikely to have an impact worth going crazy about.

If they want to keep McDonald instead of Nava, storm the gates, riot and pillage.

Getting rid of Byrd seems like the move here. Among the three; Podsednik is the best choice as a pinch runner, and he can get a bunt down. Byrd and McDonald can't hit righties, Podsednik is much weaker vs LH. I have a hard time seeing why anyone would keep Byrd over McDonald or the Podfather.

Agreed.

No reason to discuss further

[Plympton91]

Prior to the beaning last season, Marlon Byrd was a much, much, much superior player to McDonald. Byrd is likely still somewhat better defensively. But, over his recent career, McDonald is an 800 OPS guy against LHers. And we don't know how long you give Byrd to get over the beaning. That's a hard decision, not an easy one.

[Yaz4Ever]

If they want to keep McDonald instead of Byrd, I will lose exactly zero sleep over it. Shit is shit, regardless of the relative odor. Neither one should be more than a Jacoby injury placeholder.

If they want to keep McDonald instead of Posednik, I'd think that's a bad move but one that's unlikely to have an impact worth going crazy about.

If they want to keep McDonald instead of Nava, storm the gates, riot and pillage.

Pretty simply stated.

[mabrowndog]

I think they'll DFA McDonald, and he'll clear waivers and wind up in Pawtucket until he's needed again. I see very little chance he gets claimed by a competitor.

[mfried]

Pretty simply stated.

Valentine will not discard his lead off hitter for Darnell. Byrd or Podsednik are more likely, though the Lh-hitting SP has better speed and more utility. Byrd had a good day yesterday, including an excellent catch. In sum, as I predicted a month ago, we have a logjam of outfielders which will increase with the return of Ross, Crawford and Ellsbury. Looking ahead I'm dreading the moment we have to lose Nava for Crawford. For now I think Darnell is destined for DFA.

Edited by mfried, 31 May 2012 - 06:41 AM.

[Savin Hillbilly]

Valentine will not discard his lead off hitter for Darnell.

"His lead off hitter" might be a tad bit hyperbolic; he's been hitting leadoff for all of three days. And it's irrelevant anyway. They're not going to make roster decisions based on the batting order. At least I hope not.

Back in 2010 Nava was an .875 OPS hitter for his first 93 PA, and a .544 hitter for his next 95. So the club has some justification for taking his current performance at somewhat less than 100% of face value. I like Nava, but I won't be shocked, or heartbroken, if the decision is to send him down.

[TheoShmeo]

"His lead off hitter" might be a tad bit hyperbolic; he's been hitting leadoff for all of three days. And it's irrelevant anyway. They're not going to make roster decisions based on the batting order. At least I hope not.

Back in 2010 Nava was an .875 OPS hitter for his first 93 PA, and a .544 hitter for his next 95. So the club has some justification for taking his current performance at somewhat less than 100% of face value. I like Nava, but I won't be shocked, or heartbroken, if the decision is to send him down.

Bobby has started Nava every day (or almost every day) since he's been up. He's spoken very highly of him, his work ethic and his contributions. He recently moved him to lead off for a few games. And even if you're right and they suspect that he's going to trend downward as he did two seasons ago, the fact is that his descent hasn't begun yet and managers routinely ride the hot hand as long as it remains hot.

Darnell, on the other hand, contributed very little when he was on the team and was seemingly put on the DL without much of an injury.

Even if that's fantasy and Darnell was truly hurt, I think it would be pretty stunning if Nava was the one to go when Darnell is ready (unless Nava has started to suck when that time rolls around).

I hope Dog and others are right and they simply DFA Darnell.

[trekfan55]

"His lead off hitter" might be a tad bit hyperbolic; he's been hitting leadoff for all of three days. And it's irrelevant anyway. They're not going to make roster decisions based on the batting order. At least I hope not.

Back in 2010 Nava was an .875 OPS hitter for his first 93 PA, and a .544 hitter for his next 95. So the club has some justification for taking his current performance at somewhat less than 100% of face value. I like Nava, but I won't be shocked, or heartbroken, if the decision is to send him down.

Does he have options?

If he does there is a possibility that they send him down using their usual "keeping players" strategy. But if he doesn't and someone has to be exposed to waivers I'm pretty sure Darnell should be the one.

[Buzzkill Pauley]

Does he have options?

If he does there is a possibility that they send him down using their usual "keeping players" strategy. But if he doesn't and someone has to be exposed to waivers I'm pretty sure Darnell should be the one.

Nava has one option remaining, as he was off the 40-man roster to start this year.

So if the Sox keep him in the show all season, he will still have one option left next year, too.

[trekfan55]

Nava has one option remaining, as he was off the 40-man roster to start this year.

So if the Sox keep him in the show all season, he will still have one option left next year, too.

What bothers me is that if the Sox employ their usual "keep the most players" strategy then Nava will be sent down to AAA and the Sox OF would be McDonald, Byrd, Posdednik, and Sweeney.

[Lose Remerswaal]

What bothers me is that if the Sox employ their usual "keep the most players" strategy then Nava will be sent down to AAA and the Sox OF would be McDonald, Byrd, Posdednik, and Sweeney.

This might be changing -- they've DFA'd at least 4 guys this year (Bowden, Exposito, Spears, Justin Thomas)

[Plympton91]

This might be changing -- they've DFA'd at least 4 guys this year (Bowden, Exposito, Spears, Justin Thomas)

Only when they had to.

I think Nava's second hot streak in the big leagues probably earns him some additional rope to have a cold streak like in 2010 without being banished to the minors for a full season and quarter. It's not like his .544 OPS over his last 80 or so plate appearances in 2010 is all that rare even for established major league regulars. The guy seems to have excellent plate discipline and average or slightly better contract skills, particularly from the left side. He's also better defensively than he was last time, at least to the naked eye. I'd keep him as a fifth outfielder and LH pinch hitting option that EV had argued the team needed all winter. I like Darnell too as a platoon partner for Sweeney, but Byrd seems to almost as good against lefties even in his diminished state and plays a much better CF. Darnell DFA is the right decision, even if somewhat bittersweet.

[TheoShmeo]

So why is Darnell on this team again? Other than designated blowout pitcher, I don't see much of a role for him.

[Buzzkill Pauley]

So why is Darnell on this team again? Other than designated blowout pitcher, I don't see much of a role for him.

He got Bard out of the rotation!

[Rasputin]

So why is Darnell on this team again? Other than designated blowout pitcher, I don't see much of a role for him.

At the moment it's because you don't discard a player until you have to. With Bard going down, they don't have to. When someone takes his spot in the rotation, they'll have to.

[TheoShmeo]

At the moment it's because you don't discard a player until you have to. With Bard going down, they don't have to. When someone takes his spot in the rotation, they'll have to.

That makes perfect sense.

I just hope that Bobby doesn't feel the need to get Darnell in the line-up since he's up. And I suspect that he will.

[Rasputin]

That makes perfect sense.

I just hope that Bobby doesn't feel the need to get Darnell in the line-up since he's up. And I suspect that he will.

Of course, there's the Byrd, Podsednik, issue too.

[maufman]

Sweeney isn't going anywhere, so unless two of Ellsbury/Crawford/Ross are gone for the season, there's only room for two of Pods/Nava/McDonald/Byrd in the long run, at most.

Pods' glove in CF gives him the inside track on one of those two spots. Nava should be given every chance to win the other; his remaining option offers flexibility if the five guys ahead of him are all healthy simultaneously. (I'm not holding my breath.)

Byrd and McDonald both figure to be waived by the end of July. I don't particularly care which one goes first.

[Red(s)HawksFan]

Sweeney isn't going anywhere, so unless two of Ellsbury/Crawford/Ross are gone for the season, there's only room for two of Pods/Nava/McDonald/Byrd in the long run, at most.

Pods' glove in CF gives him the inside track on one of those two spots. Nava should be given every chance to win the other; his remaining option offers flexibility if the five guys ahead of him are all healthy simultaneously. (I'm not holding my breath.)

Byrd and McDonald both figure to be waived by the end of July. I don't particularly care which one goes first.

Let's not forget Kalish is sure to force his way into the mix fairly soon. He's just moved up to Pawtucket and has a HR tonight. In your scenario (which makes plenty of sense), he may bump Podsednik out.

[Rasputin]

Let's not forget Kalish is sure to force his way into the mix fairly soon. He's just moved up to Pawtucket and has a HR tonight. In your scenario (which makes plenty of sense), he may bump Podsednik out.

Nah, if he isn't going to play regularly he should go down to AAA.