Could Mookie Betts have an impact on 2014 Red Sox?

ALiveH

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The Red Sox have to have one of the worst offensive OFs in all of baseball right?  And, can't really argue SSS b/c between the 3 positions they've basically played a full season by now.  I know mgmt likes to hoard resources & I generally agree with their very disciplined & intelligent approach, but I would probably be looking to make a major upgrade to the OF via trade as the best chance to turn around the season. 
 
I love Mookie, but I don't think it's a great strategy to gamble that he can carry OF production this year.
 

gammoseditor

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ALiveH said:
The Red Sox have to have one of the worst offensive OFs in all of baseball right?  And, can't really argue SSS b/c between the 3 positions they've basically played a full season by now.  I know mgmt likes to hoard resources & I generally agree with their very disciplined & intelligent approach, but I would probably be looking to make a major upgrade to the OF via trade as the best chance to turn around the season. 
 
I love Mookie, but I don't think it's a great strategy to gamble that he can carry OF production this year.
 
According to ESPN MLB Team Stats sorted for splits and OPS by OF position:
 
LF - 14th
CF - 30th
RF - 30th
 
Also playing with the splits, against RHP we are 19th (across all positions).  Last year we were #1. We have gone from the best offense against RHP to the 19th best offense. 
 
edit: Against lefties we have gone from 5th to 16th. 
 

Reverend

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ALiveH said:
The Red Sox have to have one of the worst offensive OFs in all of baseball right?r.
 

 
 
gammoseditor said:
 
According to ESPN MLB Team Stats sorted for splits and OPS by OF position:
 
LF - 14th
CF - 30th
RF - 30th
 
Also playing with the splits, against RHP we are 19th (across all positions).  Last year we were #1. We have gone from the best offense against RHP to the 19th best offense. 
 
edit: Against lefties we have gone from 5th to 16th. 
 
Yep--and this happened with only one major roster move: swapping Ellsbury for Nava. I get that some regression to the mean could be expected, e.g. with Nava, but this is a pendulum swing more than regression. I don't think they'll mess with their plans for Mookie much based on randomness.
 

Reverend

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Savin Hillbilly said:
 
That's the most eccentric way to spell "Bradley" I've ever seen.
 
Er. Yeah...
 
Whenever I think about the situation, I find wondering how Nava fell apart so badly to be a much more compelling part of the issue. My bad.
 

ALiveH

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does anyone know how the red sox OF overall ranks this year in MLB OPS?  (not broken out by position)  I'm gonna guess pretty close to dead last.
 

Hatcher Steals Home

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ALiveH said:
does anyone know how the red sox OF overall ranks this year in MLB OPS?  (not broken out by position)  I'm gonna guess pretty close to dead last.
 
I would suggest Fangraphs, which shows the Red Sox OF OPS as 30th at .615.
 

The Mort Report

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I'm not completely sure of the rules when it comes to service clocks, but from what I understand, the super-2 date has apparently passed.  If the plan originally was to have him start 2015 on the roster, bringing him up now would basically start his service clock at the same time, correct?
 
We could all go on for days showing guys that fell flat on their face by being rushed too quick, then someone bringing up a player that succeeded with only minimal exposure.  Every player is different, and I don't think anyone can say for sure what will happen.  At some point don't you have to just call a player up and see how he handles it?
 

soxhop411

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RT @TimBritton: Laying out a plausible (I think) scenario in which Mookie Betts is promoted tomorrow: http://bit.ly/1uPVTmC
 
 
OAKLAND — The question was about Andres Torres, the veteran outfielder working out with short-season Lowell, and there wasn’t much of an update on the center fielder’s progress.
So John Farrell brought up Mookie Betts instead.
“I know Mookie Betts is swinging the bat well — not to create anything,” Farrell said.
Betts is indeed swinging the bat well for Pawtucket, with a remarkable game-winning single on Friday night to cap off a 10-pitch duel with Heath Bell with two outs in the ninth inning. In 17 games since being promoted to Triple-A Pawtucket, Betts is hitting .324 with a .403 on-base percentage. He hasn’t stopped hitting in the last 14 months.
Betts has also added significantly to his defensive versatility over the last month, playing the majority of his games in center field. Farrell suggested he could see time in right field as well.
“In center field, all reports are that the reads and the routes are good,” Farrell said. “We’re not ready to anoint him a regular center fielder or a regular outfielder. His athleticism certainly plays there.”
There’s no timetable for another promotion for Betts, but Boston’s flagging offense could use a spark.
“The fact he’s in Triple-A means he’s clearly on the radar,” said Farrell. “He’s doing everything he can to put himself on that track…. I’m not suggesting anything, other than that we recognize and watch what he’s doing daily.”
If Farrell won’t suggest it, we will. There exists a plausible scenario in which Betts is promoted rather soon, perhaps as quickly as Sunday. With Brandon Workmansuspended through Monday, the Red Sox are playing a man short, with 24 active players. They’ve maintained 12 pitchers, meaning their bench has been reduced to just three.
Farrell said he’s OK with that given the circumstances, but Boston could remedy that situation by optioning pitcher Rubby De La Rosa after his start Saturday. With Workman set to come off his suspension and with Clay Buchholz ready to come off the disabled list, the chances of De La Rosa making his next turn in the rotation seem slim.
So the Red Sox could send De La Rosa down and recall a bat from the minors. It can’t be Garin Cecchini, since he was just optioned Friday. It could be Alex Hassan, who’s lit up Triple-A since his major-league cameo and who is already on the 40-man roster.
Or the Red Sox could look for a spark by promoting Betts. After Grady Sizemore was designated, they don’t even need to make room for Betts on the 40-man. It could be a temporary move, with Shane Victorino due back later in the week.
Boston’s offense could obviously use a kick, and Betts possesses the diverse toolset to contribute, with a terrific approach at the plate and speed on the bases.
The Red Sox are facing lefty Tommy Milone Sunday; they’ve lost their last six games against southpaw starters. (They will see a trio of right-handers in Seattle.) Boston has shown a tendency to promote top prospects on the road, as it did last season withXander Bogaerts in San Francisco.