You realize that in regards to the service clock it is literally irrelevant if we assume he was going to make the team out of spring training next year right?
Benintendi talk
- Thread starter soxhop411
- Start date
Sure. What if he doesn't? He likely will but my question is the timing of this. Why now? Despite claims to the contrary I do understand the concept of easing a player in. But this just seems weird in regards to timing. How does this help the 2016 Boston Red Sox by having him up here rather than getting regular at bats in Portland or Pawtucket? When Young comes back Brentz gets sent down and right now Young is a better player on a contending team. Then you're realistically looking at AB as your 4th outfielder. I just don't see the point of bringing him up this week.
You're ignoring Benintendi's value as a PR, and it remains to be seen what playing time Young is going to get. Young's rehab also might take longer than expected.
I wouldn't be surprised if the platoon continues with Young, but Farrell is less likely to bring Benintendi off the bench for Young mid-game.
I wouldn't be surprised if the platoon continues with Young, but Farrell is less likely to bring Benintendi off the bench for Young mid-game.
You mean the Chris Young who is also a platoon player who hits lefties better than righties? Benintendi is more likely going to continue as the left handed hitter in a left field platoon going forward, not be relegated to 4th outfielder status. If your entire argument hinges on the unlikely event that the team called him up to sit while Chris Young starts full time, you aren't exactly standing on solid ground.
Benintendi has made appearances in 4 of the 5 games that have been played since the news broke that he was getting called up. He's started 2 of them. If we remove the first game as one he wasn't going to start no matter what since he had been traveling all day, he's started half of the games he's been truly available for. Literally everything we've seen, everything that's been said and everything we know about what's coming runs counter to your argument.
You are criticizing the organization for something that hasn't happened and isn't likely to happen going forward.
If you read my argument this is the first I've mentioned about Young. But also remember that Farrell likes his veterans so I wouldn't exactly assume that AB gets all those at bats vs righties either. All this back in forth and my main question still goes unanswered. Why this week? It literally makes zero sense to bring someone up as highly touted as AB is and then say they're part of a platoon as a way of easing them in when that entire week the team was facing nothing but lefties. I get easing the guy in when you're going against two lefties but at the time they were scheduled to face 3 in LA and I believe 2 in Seattle. Granted Rich Hill got scratched tonight and they decided not to throw one yesterday but that's luck. It doesn't make the decision any less puzzling.
Why not call him up for Tuesday let him get adjusted and ease him in with 1 start then let him go full throttle during the weekend? The timing is my argument. I don't think anyone here has a sound answer as to why this week made any sense to call him up to ease him in other than they wanted him to see big league life and play in 2 games on the west coast...it's a waste IMO.
He's played in 4 games thus far and is starting tonight. So let's drop the "brought him up to play in 2 games on the west coast" stuff. Even if it was with the expectation that he'd only start two games and maybe get into a third, so what? They ease him into action quietly on the road, let him catch his breath and get accustomed to being in the same big league locker room with legends like Ortiz before he has to deal with Fenway and the full compliment of local media (both writers and sports radio wonks).
They brought him up now because they came to the conclusion that Holt being the strong half of the LF platoon was no longer tenable. They decided that he is a significant improvement over Mike freaking Martinez on the roster. And a "slow" week in terms of potential playing time wasn't going to ruin him forever.
They brought him up now because they came to the conclusion that Holt being the strong half of the LF platoon was no longer tenable. They decided that he is a significant improvement over Mike freaking Martinez on the roster. And a "slow" week in terms of potential playing time wasn't going to ruin him forever.
Because Brock Holt is not a starting caliber player, never mind a starting caliber corner outfielder and the team was losing games and needed a jolt? Benintendi getting called up during a stretch where he doesn't have to start every day makes all the sense in the world. The heavy dose of lefties means they had an excuse to sit him here and there and let him get acclimated. But there being a lot of a lefties scheduled does not mean he wouldn't have started at all. As you've pointed out, he doesn't have a pronounced split.
You are arguing about a reality that never existed. Is it possible he wouldn't have played at all this past week if there were more lefties starting against them? Sure. Is it a given it would have played out that way? Not even close. They had the chance to break him in cautiously and decided to take it at a time when they desperately needed to add a left field bat.
What we do know is that he's played in four out of five games and will be starting his 3rd out of 6 tonight. That's WITH a heavy dose of lefties. He's going to get plenty of playing time.
You are arguing about a reality that never existed. Is it possible he wouldn't have played at all this past week if there were more lefties starting against them? Sure. Is it a given it would have played out that way? Not even close. They had the chance to break him in cautiously and decided to take it at a time when they desperately needed to add a left field bat.
What we do know is that he's played in four out of five games and will be starting his 3rd out of 6 tonight. That's WITH a heavy dose of lefties. He's going to get plenty of playing time.
The Red Sox schedule as of last Tuesday would have had them facing a lefty that night, TBD on Thursday, and the same 3 Dodgers starters they ended up with this weekend. They knew the Mariners had traded Miley, but not who was taking his place, and that the Dodgers had traded for Hill, but not when they'd be starting him.
Yeah sure, "hardly worth worrying about."
That's what FDR said when he first started getting headaches.
After the first few games, it definitely looks like he's ready to be included as the 4th "Killer B" for Boston.
Really excellent to see him hit line-to-line and go with the pitch.
I expect he'll be hitting 2nd for the Sox come next June.
Really excellent to see him hit line-to-line and go with the pitch.
I expect he'll be hitting 2nd for the Sox come next June.
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Need to wait until the book on him makes the rounds...then see if he adjusts. He's certainly made the case in the minors and college.
Let's give him 60+ at bats.
Let's give him 60+ at bats.
His swing is mechanically perfect. He's as technically sound as any prospect we've seen in a long time. It's a lot of fun to watch
Ortiz has already dubbed him a future superstar. I doubt that, but think he is going to be a very solid, consistent player. Ceiling a bit lower than the other three Bs, but an incredibly appetizing addition.
How does him being in Portland or Pawtucket "help the 2016 Boston Red Sox" exactly? I can't fathom questioning bringing up a young OF who is clearly knocking on the door (would be up in a ~month regardless) when the team desperately needs an OF during a stretch of 860 games without a day off.
I see Mookie and I see Beni and I think nice, efficient, no extraneous movement, and certainly no looping swings. I see JBJ and X and I see the not so good aspects. This is not to say that JBJ and X won't get back on track, but it may be harder for them than for guys with great fundamentals. If White Sox or other teams scouts concluded they'd accept a package with Benintendi as the center-piece (I don't know, did any team?) I can certainly see why. Praise be no trade happened.
I think that the fact that he was called up the day after the trade deadline passed is the key piece, not the opponents, not the home/away, not the pitchers' handedness. I think that DD kept him out of the Majors as that would likely kept the "don't get the clock started" aspect in play for potential trade partners. I think that if the trade deadline had been July 25, he would have been called up on July 26. I think DD has recognized for some time that AB is the best LF option in the Sox system but that being said, if AB might have returned a Chris Sale, and his staying off the ML clock was a factor in that, DD was wiling to wait to bring him up.
I agree -- with both Betts and Benintendi it's easy to project a future 1-2 combo (or 2-1) at the top of the order, because both of them are currently showing some super quick wrists and excellent contact ability.
Of course, it's a long, long road to achieve consistency, but that's a nice problem to have.
Bogaerts and Bradley each show a nice sweet stroke when going well, too, but aren't right now. Hopefully that starts turning around soon.
I'm starting to think Betts needs to be in the 3 hole, but yea, pretty much any order of those guys is going to work.
Bogaerts
Benintendi
Betts
Moncada
Bradley
All can hit, all have the ability to hit for power, all have speed, all except for Moncada are above average defenders. Moncada may grow into his position defensively whatever that may be. But yeah, this has potential to be a dynastic top 5.
By then I hope Swihart is a really nice hitting catcher, and that Shaw is a solid 20 hr, .280 guy, and that Travis is mashing with the big league club.
My ideal lineup 3 years from now:
Benintendi
Betts
Bogaerts
Moncada
Bradley (maybe swap Moncada and Bradley if you really prefer R-L-R in the middle)
Travis
Shaw
Pedroia (he won't like being 8th but I think all those other guys will be better above him by then)
Swihart
You rotate the DH among the guys who need a "day off". Have competent backups, and away we go. Maybe Devers is there instead of either Shaw or Travis.
Really like this kid. His swing and approach remind me a lot of...gulp...Ellsbury. It's early but I agree he would slide well into leadoff with Betts 2nd or 3rd.
Btw, I still get tricked when I see the "BREAKING" when I see the thread, thinking there's something new.
Btw, I still get tricked when I see the "BREAKING" when I see the thread, thinking there's something new.
I absolutely love how he just goes with the pitch. Takes what is given to him. Doesn't try to pull everything and uses all fields. Fantastic swing.
His swing reminds me a little of that guy who was probably the greatest Yankees killer prior to David Ortiz. It's a name that makes every Yankees fan woozy, nervous, and break out in hives. If Benintendi goes on to have a similar career, we will be very, very happy. Who am I talking about?
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I think Hanley stays in the lineup for at least another year or two. Next year, something like this, with Ramirez, Shaw and Travis rotating as DH:
Betts
Benintendi
Bogaerts
Pedroia
Ramirez
Bradley
Shaw/Travis
Leon
Moncada
Leon, you say? Yeah, I'm not ready to dismiss his revamped hitting a fluke. Not saying he's the next David Ortiz or that he'll hit .300 next year, but right now he's the best catcher in the organization and he's only 27.
Shaw really has little respect... other than a stretch where it seems he was playing with a mild injury (enough to affect his hitting) the guy has been an above average defender and an above average offensive guy from 3rd (Eric Van-ning his "injury" time).
I think Shaw's power will grow and grow and we'll have another Youk like player moving between 1st, 3rd and DH next season with Hanley until Moncada comes up then 1st and DH the next two seasons until Devers comes up.....
Benintendi thread?
I think Shaw's power will grow and grow and we'll have another Youk like player moving between 1st, 3rd and DH next season with Hanley until Moncada comes up then 1st and DH the next two seasons until Devers comes up.....
Benintendi thread?
Farrell has said that AB will start all three games vs the Yankees.
And, some of you will be happy to know that Benintendi said one of his favorite things
about getting called up is being able to slide head first!
And, some of you will be happy to know that Benintendi said one of his favorite things
about getting called up is being able to slide head first!
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Travis had a season ending injury, and wasn't exactly lighting it up in his half-season at Pawtucket before that so, barring an injury, I can't see Travis hitting the majors before September of next year.
Travis Shaw has several mountains to climb to reach Youk-like production. From '07-'11, Youk had an average OPS+ of 136 with a 3-year stretch of 144, 146, 157. The guy was an MVP candidate during that time. I don't think Shaw has that kind of ceiling, but would love to be wrong.
I think it's totally reasonable to think that Shaw can reach .290/.350/.500/.850 levels. Combine that with above average defense, and that's a really nice major league player.
Probably getting off topic, but always fun to look at next year.
Shaw is having a decent season, but a lot of that is SSS defensive value because the wRC+ is at 105. He destroyed the league for a month and a half but his first and second half have stabilized to that number. I don't think Shaw has a starting job since that offense just doesn't play up enough for a move to 1B or DH. That's also not addressing what they ultimately end up doing with Sandoval and when and where Moncada plays when he's up for good.
He's a cheap league average bat who can play the corners but should sit against lefties. That's worth something in a trade (mid tier prospect? Power arm?), but I think he's hit his ceiling at age 26.
It is nice that their biggest need next year, aside from catcher, is offense at 1B/DH. And it's not even really a need, just an area they can upgrade.
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850 sounds like quite a stretch to me at least on a consistent basis. He's been in the 800 range during the last two seaosns after a 674 AAA season. The only time in Shaw's 6-year professional career he exceeded 850 was when the majority of his AB's were in high A.
Farrell should show the whole team a head first slide Buster Posey took into third last night. Apparently, the dirt coming into third from second was heavy/wet, so he didn't slide much, instead face planted into the bag , bruising up his face and jamming the thumb on his throwing hand. The violence of it could have caused a neck injury too. Can't find a video of it. I hate head first slides like most here.
You think it's "totally reasonable" that Travis Shaw can be an .850 OPS guy (with the levels you noted) despite having only reached that once in the minors AND knowing the following:
.290 average--only 20 AL'ers
.350 on base--only 24 AL'ers
.500 slugging--only 21 AL'ers
.850 OPS--only 16 AL'ers
Yeah, I saw that this morning> Geez! Poor Buster.
Pillar is now on the DL with a thumb issue, and he may need surgery!
