Lineup in NL Park for WS

[Marbleheader]

Cora has some decisions to make when it comes to losing the DH in the World Series (which is one of the most ridiculous things in all of sports, but I'll save that rant). With Bradley coming up big in the ALCS, is he still the prime candidate to sit? In the second half, the Red Sox played in NL parks:

7//30@ PHI: JBJ sat
7/31 @ PHI: Betts sat
9/3 @ATL: JBJ sat
9/4 @ATL: Benintendi sat
9/5 @ ATL: Betts sat

The World Series is obviously different, as Cora just used it as an opportunity to give guys a day. Betts is not going to sit. The outfield defense was hugely important in the ALCS, but I have a hard time seeing them use Martinez as a PH only in any game.

 

[NYCSox]

JD is an adequate OF though. He's not in the same league as the regulars but decent enough. If it's the Dodgers and there is some combination of Kershaw and Ryu in the middle games, I could see JBJ and AB each sitting once with JD sitting in the third game (say Buehler). If it's the Brewers well who the eff knows with them?

 

[Old Fart Tree]

It was easier to sit JBJ when he wasn’t on a tear like this. Edit: although is it true he was only 3 for 15? If so shit, he sure made them count.

 

[Dahabenzapple2]

Easier decisions if there are lefty starters in any of the 3 games but I can’t see JD sitting in any game.

 

[McBride11]

Don't envy Cora on this move.
I think you see between 10D and JBJ who continues to hit the first 2 games, if Jackie Hot Streak (TM) continues then Beni take 3 game off and maybe JBJ game 4. Could depend on pitching matchups too depending on who goes which games and which guy hits them better.

Or does Mookie still have his 2b mitt?!?

 

[Pozo the Clown]

Or does Mookie still have his 2b mitt?!?

If the unimaginable happens and the Sox are down 0-2 when it heads to the NL park, Cora would need to consider this.

The Sox are gonna sweep, so nothing as creative as this will be required.

 

[joe dokes]

Don't envy Cora on this move.
I think you see between 10D and JBJ who continues to hit the first 2 games, if Jackie Hot Streak (TM) continues then Beni take 3 game off and maybe JBJ game 4. Could depend on pitching matchups too depending on who goes which games and which guy hits them better.

Or does Mookie still have his 2b mitt?!?

Mickey Stanley found his SS mitt in time for the '68 Series.
https://www.mlive.com/tigers/index.ssf/2018/08/15_minutes_of_fame_lasts_lifet.html

 

[Ale Xander]

As I have been informed, he's never done it in MLB, but you have 4 days to teach JDM to play 1B.

But really I think Beni takes game 3 off. Then depends if JBJ is still on his "hot" streak or not.

But if this game goes 5+, JBJ and JDM will also miss one game as a starter.

Let's wait until we know what the NL team is, to research their splits against the probable starters, and know what stadium we're playing in for 3-4, and 5 if necessary.

 

[pedro1918]

I don't see this as any kind of question. ALCS MVP JBJ sits. Benintendi, Betts and JD in the OF. When the Red Sox are up late, JBJ comes in and Mookie goes to right.

I'm not sure the handedness of the pitcher even matters. JD and Mookie play.

 

[Buzzkill Pauley]

Or does Mookie still have his 2b mitt?!?

Only an option at all, IMO, if the WS is against the Brewers. Machado is a dirty player and would definitely find a way to spike him.

Easiest way is to go up 2-0 at Fenway, then adjust to the hot hand. If Beni looks worse than JBJ at the plate in those two games, let Holt play 2B and hit 2nd. If JBJ looks worse, then go the easy route and just shift Mookie over to CF.

 

[Curt S Loew]

As I have been informed, he's never done it in MLB, but you have 4 days to teach JDM to play 1B.

Yeah. It's not that hard.

 

[TheYaz67]

Yeah. It's not that hard.

Ron Washington: It's incredibly hard.

 

[AB in DC]

If Devers is playing 3B then there's no way JDM can play first. You need someone who can scoop his errant throws.

 

[nvalvo]

Milwaukee, if they get that far (and I think, as most do, that it will be LAD) is tricky to matchup against because of their reliance on their high-end bullpen arms and willingness to jettison SP quickly. A long and deep bench will be a key attribute in those games.

If anyone was wondering when/whether Swihart finally gets to play, I'd guess against Milwaukee. In fact, if Wright is feeling better and Milwaukee is the matchup, I wonder if you don't swap Wright for Hembree *and* Workman, and add Lin.

edit: I left out my entire point, which was that games in Miller Park take a bit of the drama out of the choices of who starts, because you know the bench players are likely to get in the game.

 

[tims4wins]

If Devers is playing 3B then there's no way JDM can play first. You need someone who can scoop his errant throws.

Exactly. JDM is not playing 1B.

I could see Mookie at 2B for one NL game, probably not a Porcello start though.

 

[geoduck no quahog]

Let's start with this: JDM versus...

Kershaw: 3 / 8 - 1 HR
Ryu: 2 / 7
Buehler: 0 / 0
Hill: 2 / 9 - 1 HR

Gonzalez: 1 / 5
Miley: 2/6 - 1 HR
Chacin: 6 / 16
Woodruff: 0 / 0

Not a lot of data.

Quick look at Benintendi or Bradley yields no usable info.

Guess other things will prevail. I can't see sitting JDM for anyone.

a. What's Dodger Stadium CF like? Miller Park?
b. Do you even consider sitting Betts against a RH starter? (no)
c. Is RF in Dodger's Stadium any big deal?

Benintendi - Betts - JDM versus
JDM - JBJ - Betts

Miller Park has a 1.011 Run Park Factor (I assume this is a relevant stat?)
Dodgers Stadium: 0.872
Fenway: 1.078

Outfield Area (Nationals = 0.00)
Miller Park -0.01
Dodgers Stadium -0.02
Fenway -0.15

For whatever that's worth.

 

[ookami7m]

For everyone projecting against the Brewers: Gio Gonazlez is out - removed from the NLCS roster and won't be eligible for the world series regardless.

 

[nvalvo]

Dodger Stadium's outfield is regular and not especially deep, but it's one of the West Coast parks that plays very differently at night than during the day due to the "marine layer," cool wet air that rolls in off the ocean around 5 PM. The same phenomenon affects the ballparks in SF, SD, and Seattle, and even the Big A.

Then again, I just found this fascinating read, a collaboration by a physicist and a baseball writer, on whether this little bit of baseball conventional wisdom is even real: https://physics.csuchico.edu/baseball/Pubs/MarineLayer.pdf

 

[joe dokes]

If anyone was wondering when/whether Swihart finally gets to play, I'd guess against Milwaukee. In fact, if Wright is feeling better and Milwaukee is the matchup, I wonder if you don't swap Wright for Hembree *and* Workman, and add Lin.

.

Didn't Wright have surgery?

 

[nvalvo]

Didn't Wright have surgery?

No?

 

[Papelbon's Poutine]

Milwaukee, if they get that far (and I think, as most do, that it will be LAD) is tricky to matchup against because of their reliance on their high-end bullpen arms and willingness to jettison SP quickly. A long and deep bench will be a key attribute in those games.

If anyone was wondering when/whether Swihart finally gets to play, I'd guess against Milwaukee. In fact, if Wright is feeling better and Milwaukee is the matchup, I wonder if you don't swap Wright for Hembree *and* Workman, and add Lin.

edit: I left out my entire point, which was that games in Miller Park take a bit of the drama out of the choices of who starts, because you know the bench players are likely to get in the game.

Tangent, but I don’t even know why they’re carrying Swihart right now. He won’t have played in 3 weeks by the time of game 1, id almost rather they just drop him and add Lin for pinch running if they won’t even use him for that.

OF situation I think you have to sit Benny unless JBJ looks like crap in first two games. JD and Mookie aren’t sitting and I highly doubt Mookie plays second (although I’d love it). #richpeopleproblems

 

[shepard50]

No?

S Wright Dodger Stadium split:

1G 31 Batters Faced 1BB 9Ks 3H .103 BAA

SSS and all but still....

 

[shepard50]

Tangent, but I don’t even know why they’re carrying Swihart right now. He won’t have played in 3 weeks by the time of game 1, id almost rather they just drop him and add Lin for pinch running if they won’t even use him for that.

OF situation I think you have to sit Benny unless JBJ looks like crap in first two games. JD and Mookie aren’t sitting and I highly doubt Mookie plays second (although I’d love it). #richpeopleproblems

Doesn't carrying the extra catcher allow for more flex in PH in NL stadiums?

Also:
Swihart Split as Substitute (versus starter):

48 PA BA .348 OBP .375 SLG .457

 

[joe dokes]

No?

Ahhh.

The last I'd seen he was going to. I didn't know it was indefinite:
https://www.masslive.com/redsox/index.ssf/2018/10/steven_wright_injury_boston_re_12.html

Even beyond the difference in their success, Hembree is clearly on Cora's "emergency or blowout" list. If Wright really can pitch, he should replace Hembree.

 

[Savin Hillbilly]

Easier decisions if there are lefty starters in any of the 3 games but I can’t see JD sitting in any game.

There will certainly be lefty starters if we end up playing the Dodgers, since 3 of their 4 playoff starters are lefties. It's a question of whether Buehler will be pitching in Fenway (in which case it'll be all LHP in LA) or not. Which I think depends on whether it goes 6 or 7 (since if I've got their rotation straight, Buehler would start a game 7).

The Brewers situation is murkier--do we know who's likely to be starting for them, aside from Chacin and Miley, if they get to the Series?

 

[tonyandpals]

I'm assuming if they put Wright on the roster, and he re-injures himself or is ineffective ("re-injures" himself), he can be replaced?

 

[joe dokes]

I'm assuming if they put Wright on the roster, and he re-injures himself or is ineffective ("re-injures" himself), he can be replaced?

Yes, but only with another pitcher.

 

[Seabass]

I think Mookie's going to start at second on the road. He got six innings at 2B this year, he played 14 games at second when he was a rookie and he came up as an IF. This isn't like throwing a 32 year old Miguel Cabrera back at 3B and crossing your fingers that nothing is hit more than six inches to either side of him -- Mookie's an elite defender and I have no doubt he can handle it.

The best line up, both offensively and defensively, has Mookie/JBJ/Beni/JD in it. The Sox can have them all play every game, so they should just do that.

 

[lexrageorge]

If there are games in Dodger Stadium, they can use Wright as a pinch runner again.

 

[mikeford]

Dodger Stadium is huge. I'd rather bench Benintendi and go with our best defensive lineup possible that includes JD playing the field.

Also if they wanna get wild with it, i don't hate the idea of Betts playing 2nd.

 

[tonyandpals]

Dodger Stadium is huge. I'd rather bench Benintendi and go with our best defensive lineup possible that includes JD playing the field.

Also if they wanna get wild with it, i don't hate the idea of Betts playing 2nd.

Compared to Fenway, I guess so. But I think it's on par (12th) with the rest of the league.



edit: That said, I am okay with Mookie at 2B.

 

[Mugsy's Jock]

I’m not a fan of Mookie trying to turn two with headhunter Machado bearing down on him.

With all love and respect to JBJ, whose ALCS contributions went beyond the XBH also to include some tremendous grind-em-out at bats, Cora has demonstrated that when it comes to field players, past performance is no guarantee of future playing time. Sending BROCKHOLT to the bench after hitting the cycle is recent proof. I think Beni sits once and JBJ twice if they’re in Chavez Ravine.

On another front, I hope they keep Swihart active and his presence may be more meaning in an NL park where there are more PH opportunities.

I also like adding Wright for Workman if he’s healthy. Having a staff-saver who can go every day is more valuable than ever.

 

[dhappy42]

Don't envy Cora on this move.
I think you see between 10D and JBJ who continues to hit the first 2 games, if Jackie Hot Streak (TM) continues then Beni take 3 game off and maybe JBJ game 4. Could depend on pitching matchups too depending on who goes which games and which guy hits them better.

Or does Mookie still have his 2b mitt?!?

As great as Mookie is in RF, I’ve been arguing that he should be getting some playing time at 2B ever since it became clear Pedroia was out for the season.

Edit: But since he didn’t during the season, there’s no way he should now.

 

[Byrdbrain]

JBJ sits, Mookie will not play 2B.

 

[shaggydog2000]

Wouldn't Mookie starting his first game at 2B since 2014 in the WS, contributing a few amazing defensive plays, and getting the winning hit be the most Mookie thing possible? Ok, maybe he'd have to solve a rubiks cube on the field in 30 seconds, bowl a perfect game after the win, and get named to the national cricket team the next morning, but it would be a great start.

 

[Savin Hillbilly]

JBJ sits

Why JBJ and not Benintendi?

Since August 1, and including postseason play, JBJ has a .261/.348/.484 slash line, including 7 HR, 16 doubles, 2 triples and 22 walks, in 210 PA. Over the same time frame, Beni has a .271/.331/.373 slash, with just 2 HR, 17 doubles, no triples and 20 walks, in 251 PA.

Granted, JBJ is streaky as hell and there's no guarantee he won't turn into an offensive pumpkin. Benitendi has been, and may continue to be, the more reliable hitter of the two over the long haul. But two and a half months is a pretty long haul, and JBJ has been clearly the better hitter of the two over that time -- better plate discipline, though with worse contact, and much more power. Wouldn't you stick with that, especially since as good a defender as Beni is, JBJ is even better?

 

[Byrdbrain]

It wouldn't shock me if it was Benny and it may end up being matchup dependent. It would shock me if Mookie played 2nd or JDM played 1st.

 

[brandonchristensen]

This could be the first time that we set up our rotation to make sure Porcello hits in the NL.

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

The JD to first shit needs to stop. People talking about that sound like idiots.
This isn't a video game.

 

[AB in DC]

Why JBJ and not Benintendi?

Check the splits against LHPs. JBJ has been noticeably worse than Benintendi all year, so if we're facing Hill and Kershaw in LA, I think JBJ has to be the odd man out.

 

[Al Zarilla]

We’ve seen Mookie take what, one ground ball at second base in a game and he went down on one knee for that one. But, as others have pointed out, it’s turning double plays that is a big differentiator of second basemen, and when is the last time Mookie’s done one. Plus, Machado, if it’s the Dodgers, but at least Utley is not on their roster, I don’t think. Or, it could be anybody. A lot of players probably don’t even know what is a “legal”’slide and what isn’t. Finally, Mookie at second removes the best right fielder in the game, from the game.

 

[DeadlySplitter]

The JD to first shit needs to stop. People talking about that sound like idiots.
This isn't a video game.

and Mookie to 2nd isn't a video game move?

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

and Mookie to 2nd isn't a video game move?

Sure. Just a different, infinitesimally slightly less idiotic one.

 

[NJ_Sox_Fan]

How can anyone possibly think JDM sits ever?

 

[NJ_Sox_Fan]

Double post

 

[Savin Hillbilly]

Check the splits against LHPs. JBJ has been noticeably worse than Benintendi all year, so if we're facing Hill and Kershaw in LA, I think JBJ has to be the odd man out.

True, but JBJ has been better than Benintendi over the past three years (77 vs. 71 wRC+). One season vs. LHP is a very tiny split, barely over a hundred PA.

 

[joe dokes]

How can anyone possibly think JDM sits ever?

A bathroom joke would fit nicely here. But only because my wife is out of town and Dogfish 90 now comes in 6 packs.

 

[Papelbon's Poutine]

Doesn't carrying the extra catcher allow for more flex in PH in NL stadiums?

Also:
Swihart Split as Substitute (versus starter):

48 PA BA .348 OBP .375 SLG .457

Sure, but if they weren’t going to use him in ALCS to run or pinch hit, whats the point of carrying him? The more relevant stat, imo, is his ABs, which is 0. Cora is clearly punting on any offense out of catcher, so I guess one could argue that that would be the same thing, but I’d rather just have a PR. I don’t see much coming out of him as a PH at this point and they have enough flexibility to cover that, should he choose to pinch hit.

 

[DJnVa]

and Mookie to 2nd isn't a video game move?

It's a product of a long wait til Game 1 and the fact that he's at least played it as a professional.

Oh, and it's fun to think about.

 

[joe dokes]

Sure, but if they weren’t going to use him in ALCS to run or pinch hit, whats the point of carrying him? The more relevant stat, imo, is his ABs, which is 0. Cora is clearly punting on any offense out of catcher, so I guess one could argue that that would be the same thing, but I’d rather just have a PR. I don’t see much coming out of him as a PH at this point and they have enough flexibility to cover that, should he choose to pinch hit.

Otoh, he's been willing to pH for the catcher and may not want to leave himself without a backup, esp since Swihart is slightly more useful than those 3rd catchers that Bobby Cox used to have on his playoff rosters.