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Napoli: 'I Don't Feel Too Comfortable'
- Thread starter ponchsox
- Start date
As much as I enjoyed Napoli's performance this weekend, I'm curious to see if he can take it on the road this week. He obviously delights in torturing the Angels. If he can continue to swing the bat well, that is a huge lift to a team dying for someone to step up as the big bats have been largely silent. Also, Italian spelling of the word is peperoncini.
Very cool story about Napoli and kids signing his bat. Ethan got him hot when he signed Naps bat!
http://nesn.com/2015/05/mike-napolis-streak-traces-back-to-kid-signing-bat-in-red-soxs-dugout/
http://nesn.com/2015/05/mike-napolis-streak-traces-back-to-kid-signing-bat-in-red-soxs-dugout/
ponchsox said:
You get partial credit for starting the thread, but in my experience, the true contra-indicators are definitive statements like this:
ifmanis5 said:
Well done for both of you.
I miss all those guys and gals who were done with the Sox after 19 to 8, 10 years and 8 months ago. I hope they found peace.
Jeez, my brother in law gave up on them in October, 1986, never to return. Nothing but Pats and Bruins for him since. Nothing wrong with them, but three WS trophies, three parades...Lose Remerswaal said:
I'm don't mean to be inflammatory, but I'd argue that your BIL wasn't much of a fan in the first place. If it's in your blood, it's in your blood. You can't just turn the spigot off.Al Zarilla said:
Well, he sure acted like your typical avid, died in the wool Sox fan. Went to a ton of games, knew all the statistics of all the players, stuff like that. But, I know what you're saying.Ferm Sheller said:
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MentalDisabldLst
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Ferm Sheller said:
If ever there was an on-field series of events that would make true dyed-in-the-wool fans decide that following their team (And the sport) just wasn't for them, it'd be the denouement of the 1986 World Series.
I'll give the guy a pass on that one. It's not like he bailed after the 1999 ALCS or the 2012 season or something.
Before I became a baseball fan in the Pedro Martinez Era, I wondered how folks could immerse themselves in a team with a long losing record. Now I have barely suffered, but still, I have suffered some, having my day-to-day summer enjoyment dependent on the skills of twenty-five guys and support staff I've never met. And I can't quit them. So, it's an addiction, actually the only one I have. (Carrot cake doesn't count, does it?) I guess guys like Napoli (to get back to the thread topic) have a lot to do with it. Just as you are thinking you can't stand it, someone comes along and makes it fun again, if only for a while.Ferm Sheller said:
So is everyone still convinced that Napoli has turned the corner when it comes to hitting?
Following that huge homestand last month, he has batted 12-for-50 (.240) with only three XBH (2 doubles, 1 HR). He also has 17 Ks to 8 BB in that time. The walks give him a decent OBP, but his ability to draw walks hasn't really been an issue.
Following that huge homestand last month, he has batted 12-for-50 (.240) with only three XBH (2 doubles, 1 HR). He also has 17 Ks to 8 BB in that time. The walks give him a decent OBP, but his ability to draw walks hasn't really been an issue.
What are his numbers including that home stand? That's where most feel he turned the corner, yes? I get where you're coming from but you didn't really think he was going to keep that pace did you? Interesting side note and I'm not 100% on the numbers but I saw a graphic last night That shows Napoli hitting something like .380 with runners on base and around .120 with the bases empty.
Thanks for that. was closer on the bases empty than MoB. Not as interesting as I thought it was after a quick glance.
Something I noticed recently and would like to hear people's thoughts:
Napoli vs. RHP:
2011: .320/.407/.637
2012: .250/.365/.496
2013: .248/.353/.464
2014: .230/.339/.400
2015: .205/.300/.364
Here's my question: what's going on? Is it common for power hitting RH hitters to stop hitting RHP as they age? Is this a misleading trend that masks underlying dynamics? And if Napoli can no longer hit RHP... Does he still have a place on this team?
Napoli vs. RHP:
2011: .320/.407/.637
2012: .250/.365/.496
2013: .248/.353/.464
2014: .230/.339/.400
2015: .205/.300/.364
Here's my question: what's going on? Is it common for power hitting RH hitters to stop hitting RHP as they age? Is this a misleading trend that masks underlying dynamics? And if Napoli can no longer hit RHP... Does he still have a place on this team?
absintheofmalaise said:
And got a shout-out from Speier
Alex Speier @alexspeier 1h1 hour ago
Interesting stuff at @SOSHBaseball regarding strike zone expansion - specifically as it relates to Mike Napoli. http://bit.ly/1FIGMRS
How about all of the strikes right down the pipe that he either looks at or swings right through? He misses so many strikes that he would have crushed a couple of years ago. Guys just throw fastballs right by him.
Opening Day to May 21 - 36 G, 146 PA
178/274/310 OPS of .584
May 22 to May 25 - 4 G, 16 PA
538/625/1538 OPS of 2.163
May 26 to June 9 - 4 G, 54 PA
217/333/348 OPS of .681
I stated this in the game thread last night. I know I might be cherry picking, but if you take those four games, Nap has been a disaster at the plate.
178/274/310 OPS of .584
May 22 to May 25 - 4 G, 16 PA
538/625/1538 OPS of 2.163
May 26 to June 9 - 4 G, 54 PA
217/333/348 OPS of .681
I stated this in the game thread last night. I know I might be cherry picking, but if you take those four games, Nap has been a disaster at the plate.
Article about Naps on MLBTradeRumors (which ref's SOSH article) but it had this in it, which is the first I've heard of this:
And a return to the Red Sox cannot be ruled out entirely, particularly given that Hanley Ramirez has rather emphatically rejected the concept of playing first base.
And a return to the Red Sox cannot be ruled out entirely, particularly given that Hanley Ramirez has rather emphatically rejected the concept of playing first base.
Napoli has terrorized the Angels since he and Scioscia didn't see eye-to-eye and was traded. All his damage came in that 3-game series vs. the Halos.BannedbyNYYFans.com said:
More to the point, what concerns me is what kind of pitchers Napoli hit 3 of those 4 HR off of.Hee Sox Choi said:
Maybe Napoli does hit the Angels better, but it didn't hurt that he ran into two LH starters in CJ Wilson and Hector Santiago. Doing a quick and dirty glance at the box scores for the Angels series, I believe Napoli went 3 for 4 with 3 HR (and 2 BB) against LHP and 2 for 5 with 1 HR (and 1 BB) against RHP, although people are free to correct me.
As I said earlier, I'm worried about Napoli's struggles against RHP, and even this binge of offense earlier this year, when viewed through this lens, could arguably reinforce the narrative.
Hee Sox Choi said:
He also rather emphatically rejected playing anywhere other than SS a few years back and moved to 3B reluctantly when forced...things can change.
It is amazing,though unsurprising, to me how Ramirez Ortiz Sandoval and even Rusney have been getting murdered by the boston beat while they have gotten next to nothing from their 1b this year. You are absolutely right in that fastballs are pumped by him with ease. The advanced stats aren't any better.Hee Sox Choi said:
The Red Sox have a lot of problems, but the relative collapse in production from 1b and a key cog in the middle really hurts. Now it is also true that Napoli's abysmal 1b numbers are somewhat clouded by the fact that the DH (power wise and against lefties) 2/3 of the OF C and 3b are performing badly offensively, but 1b is a higher offensive benchmark to climb and he's utterly failed in this task this year.
Red(s)HawksFan said:
Sure but even if he's 100% thrilled to play there, Hanley at 1B comes with risk. You want him there grudgingly?
How is it that the guy has managed to play SS, at least well enough to not get moved elsewhere, for 90% of his career, and now he can't even handle LF, and maybe not even 1B?
I agree that Napoli has gotten much less heat, but that may have to do with the fact that he's gone after this year. There's still a "WTF were they thinking?" factor going on with the new signings that is drawing a lot of the attention away from him.jimbobim said:
It's sort of like picking apart the Star Wars prequels with this team. You don't even know where to start
In terms of internal options, I think most of us were thinking before Vazquez went down (myself included) that Craig, Shaw, Nava (or even Swihart) would get a look if someone got hurt at 1B. Instead Shaw and Craig have been awful and awfuller, Swihart has been what he's been, and Nava is hiding on the DL. Everything has just been a big organizational fail that there are no viable alternatives waiting in house even to plug a replacement level hole.
It's like the whole lineup collectively went off of PEDs after the 2013 season.
AB in DC said:
And play who in his place? Nava's hurt, Craig flunked his first chance, Shaw is unlikely to do any better. Hanley Ramirez is not a serious option.
Napoli has a long leash simply by virtue of the fact that he has no viable backup. Maybe Craig gets called back up and he and Napoli go into a timeshare at the position. But barring a trade for a young/franchise first baseman, Napoli isn't going anywhere.
TheYellowDart5 said:
It's 1B! You go find a Morgan Burkhardt or whatever somewhere in the bushes. It doesn't even have to look like a good move on paper. Heck, the Yanks had about a dozen years of getting a hot month or two out of scrap heap guys.
Holt could play 1b. Or Holt to 3b and Sandoval to 1b. Or Hanley. Or Craig. Can't keep running Napoli out there esp vRHPers. He's been very bad for 300 ABs plus. His vaunted defense has declined. He's gone at the end of year. Thanks for everything Nap but time to move on. Let's just play Bradley Betts Castillo in OF every day and see what we got.
Hanley certainly is a serious option. He can't play a credible LF. So give him a 1B mitt and the rest of this wasted year to learn how to do it under Buttetfield and Pedroia, I say. May as well regroup for 2016.TheYellowDart5 said:
Platoon Napoli and Ortiz, since no one would take the former for anything of value, and the latter may as well hit #500 here next season.
Buzzkill Pauley said:
Hanley Ramirez can barely play leftfield and has no experience playing first. What is there to suggest that he could be even a competent first baseman right now? His only viable defensive position is DH; anything other than that is inviting disaster.
It's a strange situation--though he was never a good SS, he managed to be competent enough to stay there.
Why he can't handle left field is a mystery, and it makes one think he can't handle first base.
What a terrible signing.
(regarding Hanley)
Why he can't handle left field is a mystery, and it makes one think he can't handle first base.
What a terrible signing.
(regarding Hanley)
The skills necessary to track fly ball routes appropriately, including slice/hook at the corners, aren't the same as fielding liners, grounders, and throws.TheYellowDart5 said:
By which I mean, as a lifelong infielder, Hanley may well be suited to being a mediocre 1b rather than an execrable LF.
I don't think the Hanley signing was bad at all. He's on pace for 35 HRs. Could you imagine this lineup without the threat of a healthy Hanley? It would be sad. There isn't much in the free agent market for the next few years so getting a legit bat was smart. It probably never dawned on them that Hanley would be so bad in the OF. I'm quite shocked that someone as athletic as he is can't play the OF. But he did bulk up so he could hit more jacks.
I said this about the OF, but I can't imagine a guy who can handle SS not being able to handle 1B. But who knows at this point.
I said this about the OF, but I can't imagine a guy who can handle SS not being able to handle 1B. But who knows at this point.
It's also just possible that Hanley is one of those people who needs to be in the thick of the action to stay focused. Maybe things are a little too slow out there in the OF, and a move back to the IF would keep him more plugged into the game.
(Hey, I said possible, not plausible. Honestly, the thought of Hanley at first gives me hives, but it does seem like at some point we're going to have to entertain the idea of somebody besides Napoli there.)
(Hey, I said possible, not plausible. Honestly, the thought of Hanley at first gives me hives, but it does seem like at some point we're going to have to entertain the idea of somebody besides Napoli there.)
Maybe it takes more than a third of a season to learn how to play outfield in the major leagues?
The things people are willing to be patient about and excuse the front office decision making and the things they are not patient about and criticize confuse me.
The things people are willing to be patient about and excuse the front office decision making and the things they are not patient about and criticize confuse me.
Not in the way you likely mean, in the mold of a Strasburg/ Harper who people saw as the likely 1/1 from a season away.twibnotes said:
Next year's draft is supposed to be much better, but building through the draft requires patience, which seems to be in short supply around these parts.
I'd like to see them find a guy who falls through the cracks, like Steve Pearce did last year, or CJ Cron did with the Angels, or Ben Paulsen is doing this year. I don't know why they can't find those AAAA types to fill holes and get hot for half a season. Speaking of Paulsen . .he could be available when Morneau comes back. They'll have a logjam with Rosario as well.
Adam Lind is another good trade target for this year and next since no one is in the pipeline.
Anyone but Napoli right now.
Adam Lind is another good trade target for this year and next since no one is in the pipeline.
Anyone but Napoli right now.
Other guys have made the adjustment much more quickly and he's only shown slight improvement over the year. Usually, a player who is this bad is not allowed to play the new position in meaningful games. We also have some inkling (maybe true, maybe not, but it fits with Hanley's rep) that he's not giving as much effort as he should be. The Sox excuse was "oh, he didn't get as many balls hit to him in spring training as we'd like..." but that is pretty lame.Plympton91 said:
Just on this team Betts and Holt have shown they can switch positions with much greater ease. It might take Hanley more than a third of a season to learn outfield, but that's a knock on Hanley.
Buzzkill Pauley said:
This is my hypothesis too, although I'll cop to having a bit of experiential bias: I played 2B/3B throughout high school, and then got moved to RF under the presumption I was athletic enough to handle it. I simply had no instincts for tracking fly balls and the types of fading liners that spray towards the corners. You saw something similar when we experimented with Kevin Youkilis in the outfield -- despite being an adept infielder, he simply couldn't hack it in LF, even on a fill-in basis. I don't know that it's a question of athleticism, so much as it is reads off the bat. A half second of hesitation is very often the difference between an out vs. extra bases.
I have to believe if Hanley was passable at both SS and 3B, he'd do OK at 1B, and I think we should find out sooner than later. For better or worse, he's part of our long-term plans, and Napoli very obviously is not.