Why isn't Marco Hernandez getting a shot at 3b at bats?

Plympton91

bubble burster
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Oct 19, 2008
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A) they worked him out at 3B and he was a historically bad defender there?
B) He has a gaping hole in his swing that AAA teams haven't recognized or AAA pitchers can't expoit?
C) He has a bad attitude about switching positions and doesn't work on his defense there despite the obvious opportunity?
D) The Red Sox view him as a trade chip this winter and don't want to chance a bad BABIP induced weak-looking September eroding some of his value?
E) His atrocious walk rate signifies that major league pitchers would turn him into a poor man's Wilton Veras?
F) He keyed John Farrell's car the last time he was demoted?

Other options?
 
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Plympton91

bubble burster
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Oct 19, 2008
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G) He's not good?
Yeah, this one
I just don't buy it. A 23 year old SS with a 300 average, 130 ISO, and well above average speed over 400 AAA at bats and an even better age-appropriate line in AA is a potentially good baseball player.

Further, "not good," would be a huge improvement over the current "excruciatingly horrific" situation. at 3B right now.

Unless he can't play the position defensively at all, or has not displayed sufficient interest in learning it.
 

Drek717

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Dec 23, 2003
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Yeah, this one
In 50 ML PAs he's put up a .780 OPS. In AAA this year he's been hitting at a .787 clip.

Marco looks like a worthwhile ML prospect, at least as a utility infielder and spot starter.

But that said, I don't see the benefit of starting him over Shaw. Travis had an .818 OPS in July and so far has posted a .901 in September. He has been a very streaky player all year but good Travis is on a different level offensively than Hernandez. They were hoping Moncada would catch lightning in a bottle, he didn't, time to go back to what brought them and not get too cute while up three games.
 

soxfan121

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Dec 22, 2002
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I just don't buy it. A 23 year old SS with a 300 average, 130 ISO, and well above average speed over 400 AAA at bats and an even better age-appropriate line in AA is a potentially good baseball player.

Further, "not good," would be a huge improvement over the current "excruciatingly horrific" situation. at 3B right now.

Unless he can't play the position defensively at all, or has not displayed sufficient interest in learning it.
Oh. You don't buy it. That changes things.

Please show your work on this "excruciatingly horrific situation."

Further, the notion that any minor league player, especially one who's ceiling is utility infielder has "not displayed sufficient interest in learning" to play an infield position is... highly amusing.

F –
 

Cesar Crespo

79
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Dec 22, 2002
21,588
I just don't buy it. A 23 year old SS with a 300 average, 130 ISO, and well above average speed over 400 AAA at bats and an even better age-appropriate line in AA is a potentially good baseball player.

Further, "not good," would be a huge improvement over the current "excruciatingly horrific" situation. at 3B right now.

Unless he can't play the position defensively at all, or has not displayed sufficient interest in learning it.
Remember Yamaico Navarro? http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/navarya01.shtml Sometimes their skills just don't translate over. I'm with you that he should have been given a few more at bats, though.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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Jan 23, 2009
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Maine
Since Hernandez was recalled (8/25), Travis Shaw has put up a line of .278/.317/.500/.817. Granted some of that has been at 1B while Hill and Moncada have taken starts, but Shaw's performance has been good enough to make giving Hernandez (or any other LHH) some run at 3B unnecessary.
 

Buzzkill Pauley

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Jun 30, 2006
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In 50 ML PAs he's put up a .780 OPS. In AAA this year he's been hitting at a .787 clip.

Marco looks like a worthwhile ML prospect, at least as a utility infielder and spot starter.

But that said, I don't see the benefit of starting him over Shaw. Travis had an .818 OPS in July and so far has posted a .901 in September. He has been a very streaky player all year but good Travis is on a different level offensively than Hernandez. They were hoping Moncada would catch lightning in a bottle, he didn't, time to go back to what brought them and not get too cute while up three games.
I think this is it.

The Sox don't see Hernandez with the kind of occasional power that both Shaw and Hill have flashed at present, and Yoan Moncada is anointed the 3B of the future.

So unfortunately, Hernandez, as the Brock Holt of the future, is forced to give up playing time to the Brock Holt of the now, the 3B platoon of the now, and the 3B of the future.

He's a far better player than should have been expected in return for Doubront's wasted potential, but his best role is to make Marrero redundant by being competent on both sides of the game.
 

KillerBs

New Member
Nov 16, 2006
906
I agree Hernandez is an interesting player and at the same time it would be overly bold to give him regular ABs at 3B vs RHPs down the stretch. Whether he would deserve a spot on any potential play off roster is a more difficult question.

But what about Holt to take over the 3b job, at least vs RHPers and maybe FT, given how bad Hill has been. Can he handle it defensively? noting that Shaw has been a bit wobbly in this aspect of game too.

You can slice and dice Shaw's game logs a few different ways, but one of them is over the last 82 games, he is 217/277/379. Holt at 272/333/424 over his last 39 games fwiw.