Yoan Moncada to be called up on Friday

[Stitch01]

The plan was to give him regular ABs' vs. RH's because the team thought he was ready to get regular ABS against RH and the third basemen on the roster have sucked. He should get everyday at bats against RH's. Given the expanded rosters, they can/should be liberal with PHs in high leverage spots if there is a good hitter available to PH.

He's had 14 plate appearances and is acquitting himself reasonably well in the field. He should start against RH's unless he goes 0-30 or starts kicking the ball around the infield all day. Bradford's article is preposterous.

 

[so good so good so good]

FWIW -- I see an overall minor league BB rate of about 13% (114/854; about the same rate if Cuba is included). And 13% at Portland this season (16% at Salem).
http://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.cgi?id=moncad000joh

That's 8% projected in MLB.

 

[E5 Yaz]

Bradford looks at a two-game period of poor offensive output, and questions a kid with less than a week in the majors.

Why isn't he looking at X's bad second half, or Bradley's, or Leon's inevitable tumble, or second-half Brock Holt, or Shaw or any combination thereof? Usually I like Bradford, but that was foolish.

 

[mauidano]

Bradford looks at a two-game period of poor offensive output, and questions a kid with less than a week in the majors.

Why isn't he looking at X's bad second half, or Bradley's, or Leon's inevitable tumble, or second-half Brock Holt, or Shaw or any combination thereof? Usually I like Bradford, but that was foolish.

Obviously he doesn't follow SoSH and the often used term; "Small Sample Size". BTW, he has a voice and delivery suited for print media. He had a poor output on the radio broadcast over the weekend. And that is no "SSS". Makes you really appreciate Joe Castiglione even more.

 

[BestGameEvah]

I like what I've read about easing Yoan into everything. Butter has already noticed some excessive glove action, a tendency to hold onto the ball a little too long, and will certainly fix the issues he has with balls hit straight at him (the error on Sunday) I copied this from the Yale baseball coach, whose twitter feed is a teaching feed:

 

[mfried]

I didn't get to watch yesterday's game - was Moncada as overmatched as Rob Bradford makes him sound here:

Moncada was completely overmatched yesterday. Fastballs, breaking pitches....you name it.

 

[Boggs26]

Moncada was completely overmatched yesterday. Fastballs, breaking pitches....you name it.

Though to be fair, so was most of the lineup

 

[joe dokes]

That's 8% projected in MLB.

Gotcha.

 

[dhappy42]

Bradford looks at a two-game period of poor offensive output, and questions a kid with less than a week in the majors.

Why isn't he looking at X's bad second half, or Bradley's, or Leon's inevitable tumble, or second-half Brock Holt, or Shaw or any combination thereof? Usually I like Bradford, but that was foolish.

I think the point Bradford is trying to make is that a team in a pennant race can't afford MLB development time for a struggling rookie. You can reasonably expect X, JBJ, Leon and Holt to regress to mean. You don't even know what Moncada's mean is.

I disagree with Bradford about this. One, Despite his 3 Ks yesterday isn't exactly struggling. Two, Shaw is not an obviously better option. If I were Farrell, though, I'd play it by ear instead of announcing Moncada as the starter from here on out. Too much pressure on Moncada.

 

[E5 Yaz]

I think the point Bradford is trying to make is that a team in a pennant race can't afford MLB development time for a struggling rookie. You can reasonably expect X, JBJ, Leon and Holt to regress to mean. You don't even know what Moncada's mean is.

I disagree with Bradford about this. One, Despite his 3 Ks yesterday isn't exactly struggling. Two, Shaw is not an obviously better option. If I were Farrell, though, I'd play it by ear instead of announcing Moncada as the starter from here on out. Too much pressure on Moncada.

Even if that was the point, the idea of citing it at all is foolish. If he hits well, they'll leave him in; if not, they'll sit him. He's hardly being thought of as a key to the pennant race offensively.

 

[O Captain! My Captain!]

I disagree with Bradford about this. One, Despite his 3 Ks yesterday isn't exactly struggling. Two, Shaw is not an obviously better option. If I were Farrell, though, I'd play it by ear instead of announcing Moncada as the starter from here on out. Too much pressure on Moncada.

Does announcing Moncada as starter put more pressure on him? I assumed Farrell did it so that Moncada wouldn't worry he would get sent to the doghouse after one bad game. Maybe that message didn't get across, but Farrell certainly seems to manage like he assumes giving players a good idea about their role helps them out.

 

[koufax37]

I'm not quite sure of the value of even 2017 Moncada, but I have seen enough to be very very excited about 2018-2022 Moncada. I'm happy to have him with the club to get some of the kinks out and get his feet wet, but I'm not yet sure how quickly he puts it together. He is just a year younger than Puig's explosion season and Cano's big rookie season. Cano had 800 AA/AAA AB's before his explosion, but Puig did not. If we get a lot more MLB ABs from him in 2016 and 2017 I think we need a fair dose of patience as some frustration will come with it, but I don't think he will structurally and long term be a high strikeout guy.

I think his swing plane and approach are solid, and right now he is leaving too much of the outside corner. As he adjusts, I think that will be less of a concern, and his weak spot will be up and in fastballs, which a lot of power lefties have on paper as their weak spot (Barry Bonds), but is a tough place for righties to challenge with little margin for error, so I look forward to that being his evolution if I am right. As for yesterday, Jackson had the hard slider going, which when he locates is a very tough pitch to lay off, and Moncada's tough day wasn't a big indictment of him, considering 11 strikeouts in seven scoreless innings for the team as a whole.

 

[dhappy42]

Does announcing Moncada as starter put more pressure on him? I assumed Farrell did it so that Moncada wouldn't worry he would get sent to the doghouse after one bad game. Maybe that message didn't get across, but Farrell certainly seems to manage like he assumes giving players a good idea about their role helps them out.

I think it depends on the player. Read recently that X (or Betts) said being in the dugout for awhile before starting helped them acclimate. Betintendi didn't seem to need it. I obviously don't know Yoan personally but he looks a bit overwhelmed. Different path than Betintendi. Big difference between coming up as a college superstar and a Cuban import.

 

[E5 Yaz]

Brian MacPherson ‏@brianmacp 3m3 minutes ago
Farrell: Moncada won't play Wednesday to "rebuild and regroup. ... He's seeing some things here for the first time."

 

[Rasputin]

Brian MacPherson ‏@brianmacp 3m3 minutes ago
Farrell: Moncada won't play Wednesday to "rebuild and regroup. ... He's seeing some things here for the first time."

Let him pinch run and work in the cage for a week. We'll be fine and he can acclimate a bit.

 

[SouthernBoSox]

Let him pinch run and work in the cage for a week. We'll be fine and he can acclimate a bit.

The issue is, this is who he is. Everyone who follows the minors said this was a distinct possibility. He isn't Benintendi in his approach and feasibility in jumping AAA. I think this is a player who just needs more time developing.

 

[Trotski]

M

 

[joe dokes]

The issue is, this is who he is. Everyone who follows the minors said this was a distinct possibility. He isn't Benintendi in his approach and feasibility in jumping AAA. I think this is a player who just needs more time developing.

Like with most guys at AA, this is probably true. (for all we know it may end up being true of Benintendi).
The likely reason Moncada was coming in at all was to replace absolute dogshit at 3B. so the bar was low. Now, given the last couple of days, maybe Shaw benefitted from sitting for a few and he comes back and is less dogshitty.

 

[Buzzkill Pauley]

Brian MacPherson ‏@brianmacp 3m3 minutes ago
Farrell: Moncada won't play Wednesday to "rebuild and regroup. ... He's seeing some things here for the first time."

Well, at least they recognize he's over his head at the plate.

Hopefully this experience means he'll have a good list of specific and concrete things to work on in the AFL and AAA after the season ends.

 

[SpaceMan37]

I think he's going to have to give up his patient approach to start his career anyway so he doesn't face as many two-strike counts. Both Xander and Mookie did that somewhat.

He's also going to have to be able to hit a curve ball.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

Now, given the last couple of days, maybe Shaw benefitted from sitting for a few and he comes back and is less dogshitty.

Before these last couple of days Shaw had a 5 RBI game once Moncada came up to stir things up at 3rd. Competition usually brings out the best in players so maybe Moncada threatening Shaw's job will be the wake-up call he needed.

 

[Savin Hillbilly]

Like with most guys at AA, this is probably true. (for all we know it may end up being true of Benintendi).
The likely reason Moncada was coming in at all was to replace absolute dogshit at 3B. so the bar was low. Now, given the last couple of days, maybe Shaw benefitted from sitting for a few and he comes back and is less dogshitty.

I think there's a mistake about Shaw that a lot of us are making, which is to take every swing of his pendulum this year as the real Shaw emerging: he's awesome! (April/May), no, he stinks! (June), no, he's so-so! (July), no, he stinks! (August), instead of concluding that the real Shaw is a roughly league-average, but very streaky hitter. A league-average hitter is not "absolute dogshit," but if the streaks are long enough he can sure look like that for a while.

 

[DeadlySplitter]

he was a liability at the plate and even on the field in the stretch run, and Hill wasn't contributing much either, so it was worth a shot to try Moncada.

 

[Clears Cleaver]

Shaw would be a lot better without the high leg kick and massive stride. Of course a hitter who does that is going to be streaky, almost impossible to keep your timing.

 

[joe dokes]

I think there's a mistake about Shaw that a lot of us are making, which is to take every swing of his pendulum this year as the real Shaw emerging: he's awesome! (April/May), no, he stinks! (June), no, he's so-so! (July), no, he stinks! (August), instead of concluding that the real Shaw is a roughly league-average, but very streaky hitter. A league-average hitter is not "absolute dogshit," but if the streaks are long enough he can sure look like that for a while.

Fair enough. "Dogshit" was referring to his last 6 weeks or so. (I think I have less confidence in Shaw being league average over the longer haul, but that's for another day). My guess is that the combination of expanded rosters and some NL games (no Ortiz) AND Shaw in a down-cycle pushed the FO to try something. Maybe Shaw *is* on the upswing, or maybe, as HRB suggested, a little competition helped.

 

[Rasputin]

The issue is, this is who he is. Everyone who follows the minors said this was a distinct possibility. He isn't Benintendi in his approach and feasibility in jumping AAA. I think this is a player who just needs more time developing.

If that's the case--and it sure as hell might be--then he might still be able to contribute as a pinch runner and it behooves us to give him a shot at that before the post season.

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

If that's the case--and it sure as hell might be--then he might still be able to contribute as a pinch runner and it behooves us to give him a shot at that before the post season.

After today's little mis-step (which cost us nothing), I'd be a touch hesitant to use him in another pinch running spot with anything on the line.

I hope his slow start thus far is enough for folks to pump the brakes a bit on Moncada being on the Opening Day roster, let alone the starting third baseman. He's got more work to do in the minors before he's ready to be a big leaguer.

 

[DGreenwood]

After today's little mis-step (which cost us nothing), I'd be a touch hesitant to use him in another pinch running spot with anything on the line.

For those who weren't watching: He came in to pinch run for Ortiz. He was on first with two outs and a fly ball was hit to right. Instead of running with two outs he played it half way while waiting to see if it would be caught.

 

[Sampo Gida]

After today's little mis-step (which cost us nothing), I'd be a touch hesitant to use him in another pinch running spot with anything on the line.

I hope his slow start thus far is enough for folks to pump the brakes a bit on Moncada being on the Opening Day roster, let alone the starting third baseman. He's got more work to do in the minors before he's ready to be a big leaguer.

So what did you say in 2006 after Pedeys slow start.

Todays mis-step seemed to be because he did not know how many outs there were. Had to be some miscommunication somewhere. The 1B coach has to make sure the PR knows how many outs there are.

Moncada just has to get a few RBI's under his belt to relax a bit at the plate

 

[SoFloSoxFan]

Todays mis-step seemed to be because he did not know how many outs there were. Had to be some miscommunication somewhere. The 1B coach has to make sure the PR knows how many outs there are.

Moncada just has to get a few RBI's under his belt to relax a bit at the plate

When Yoan arrived, the coaching staff decided he would get significant playing time and Farrell said as much publicly. That has not been carried out. It would seem that there are two options then:

1. The coaching staff has decided that they miscalculated and after reconsidering, decided he was not ready for significant playing time in a playoff run.

2. Moncada is ready, and the coaching staff from the decision makers all the way down to the first base coach are wrong.

You can go with 2 if you want, but I'm going to go with 1 for now.

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

So what did you say in 2006 after Pedeys slow start.

Todays mis-step seemed to be because he did not know how many outs there were. Had to be some miscommunication somewhere. The 1B coach has to make sure the PR knows how many outs there are.

Moncada just has to get a few RBI's under his belt to relax a bit at the plate

I've been saying since before he was called up that Moncada needed more time in the minors regardless of what role he plays and how well he does in September. Nothing to do with what he's done since the call up. He was called up in reaction to Shaw and Hill sucking more so than because they think he's ready.

Pedroia came up in 2006 having spent a year and a half excelling in Pawtucket. He was ready despite his slow start after his initial call up. There's no comparison between the two.

 

[reggiecleveland]

What bothers me is the public nature of how this young player has been hadled with so much in the public.

1. Annouced as taking Shaw's job
2. Then followed by the public losing of that job
2. JF today talking to reporters about unhappiness over baserunning mistake.

 

[HriniakPosterChild]

The 1B coach has to make sure the PR knows how many outs there are.

I've heard of minor league managers who would fine guys on the bench who couldn't correctly ace the single question pop quiz: "What's the count?"

Of course, that was back in the bad old days.

 

[Rovin Romine]

What bothers me is the public nature of how this young player has been hadled with so much in the public.

1. Annouced as taking Shaw's job
2. Then followed by the public losing of that job
2. JF today talking to reporters about unhappiness over baserunning mistake.

Hey, although John Farrell has no feel for the tempo of a game, he's absolutely great at this stuff.

(More seriously, I'm not sure there's a worse way to handle your #1 prospect.)

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

DOB was talking about Moncada originally thinking he was going to go right to the big leagues when he was signed. Part of that is not understanding the system and how good the MLB is, and part is his extreme confidence.
I think this will be a good learning experience for him, and he'll better understand what he needs to work on in the minors to achieve his goal of MLB stardom. For long term success, some short term failure isn't the worst thing in the world.

 

[Van Everyman]

Also, if Moncada can't mentally handle what has gone on to this point, he might not be long for Boston.

The guy he should probably be talking to is Hanley, who had a similar if decidedly worse reputation for arrogance, stunk up the joint in his cup of coffee at the big league level in 2005 and then went on to ROY and batting title honors in FL.

 

[Cesar Crespo]

Also, if Moncada can't mentally handle what has gone on to this point, he might not be long for Boston.

The guy he should probably be talking to is Hanley, who had a similar if decidedly worse reputation for arrogance, stunk up the joint in his cup of coffee at the big league level in 2005 and then went on to ROY and batting title honors in FL.

Yeah, those 2 PA in 2005 for Hanley...

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

Yeah, those 2 PA in 2005 for Hanley...

So bad they had to throw him into a deal for Guillermo Mota and some other flotsom roster filler just to be rid of him.

 

[Hee Sox Choi]

worse reputation for arrogance

I have heard one interview with Moncada which was done by Kiley McDaniel. Moncada came across as shy and humble and pretty damn likable. Just because he's nervous/scared/overwhelmed/naive, it shouldn't be taken as arrogance. Not knowing the # of outs is pretty dumb, but a 21-year old kid from Cuba playing in front of 48,000 people, and on national TV, might have got in his head a little bit.

Until I actually HEAR or read something he says as arrogance... I don't consider him thinking he would go straight to the majors as arrogance but rather as being naive and not knowing the MLB and minor league structure.

 

[twibnotes]

What bothers me is the public nature of how this young player has been hadled with so much in the public.

1. Annouced as taking Shaw's job
2. Then followed by the public losing of that job
2. JF today talking to reporters about unhappiness over baserunning mistake.

This is where I am. The club erred in publicly saying it was his job. No upside there at all.

 

[Snodgrass'Muff]

Moncada should get into every game situation they can find for him... during blowouts. He has a lot of work to do before he's ready, and that's fine. He's enormously talented and I'm fairly confident in his ability to get there. That he's not there yet isn't an indictment so much as an acknowledgement that he is young and inexperienced. Get him playing time when it's safe to do so, send him to the AFL, start him in Pawtucket next year and make him earn his next call up.

In the mean time, they are in a super-tight race for the division with three other teams. Maximize your chances of winning by keeping the mental gaffe-prone rookie out of big spots.

 

[mwonow]

Shaw today: 0-5. error. And looked absolutely horrible. He wasn't a threat to drive the ball at all - weak contact up in the air.

I get "Maximize your chances of winning." I don't think Shaw delivers that, though. Brockholt at third and Young in LF, even against a RHP, would be a serious improvement; when Beni's back, even better. And if someone other than BH needs to be at third, well, Moncada might not be the answer, but Shaw definitely isn't either.

 

[InsideTheParker]

Until I actually HEAR or read something he says as arrogance... I don't consider him thinking he would go straight to the majors as arrogance but rather as being naive and not knowing the MLB and minor league structure.

Iglesias had the same misconception, and regarded his being in the minors as a demotion. Isn't that strange, though, that no one in the organization thought to clarify the situation for these kids?

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

Iglesias had the same misconception, and regarded his being in the minors as a demotion. Isn't that strange, though, that no one in the organization thought to clarify the situation for these kids?

How would they know he had this misconception, unless he told them? Which he undoubtedly didn't.

 

[strek1]

Shaw today: 0-5. error. And looked absolutely horrible. He wasn't a threat to drive the ball at all - weak contact up in the air.

I get "Maximize your chances of winning." I don't think Shaw delivers that, though. Brockholt at third and Young in LF, even against a RHP, would be a serious improvement; when Beni's back, even better. And if someone other than BH needs to be at third, well, Moncada might not be the answer, but Shaw definitely isn't either.

So we're going to see this type of comment everytime Shaw has a bad game? The guy might also drive one 450 feet for a three run homer too. This is a pennant race not the AZ fall League. Moncada will get his chance again.

 

[richgedman'sghost]

So bad they had to throw him into a deal for Guillermo Mota and some other flotsom roster filler just to be rid of him.

They traded Hanley to Miami in the Beckett and Lowell deal. He won Rookie of the Year for the Marlins the next year. Perhaps you were thinking of the Coco Crisp for Andy Marte deal?

 

[Tito's Pullover]

They traded Hanley to Miami in the Beckett and Lowell deal. He won Rookie of the Year for the Marlins the next year. Perhaps you were thinking of the Coco Crisp for Andy Marte deal?

Mota was the Nick Punto of the Beckett/Lowell trade. He was then spun to Cleveland in the Crisp deal. Pretty sure RHF's tongue and cheek were in close proximity for that post.

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

Shaw today: 0-5. error. And looked absolutely horrible. He wasn't a threat to drive the ball at all - weak contact up in the air.

I get "Maximize your chances of winning." I don't think Shaw delivers that, though. Brockholt at third and Young in LF, even against a RHP, would be a serious improvement; when Beni's back, even better. And if someone other than BH needs to be at third, well, Moncada might not be the answer, but Shaw definitely isn't either.

So you would leave Shaw on the bench after his 2 for 3 with a 3 run HR on Wednesday and his 1 for 3 with a BB and SF on Friday??

 

[nighthob]

So we're going to see this type of comment everytime Shaw has a bad game? The guy might also drive one 450 feet for a three run homer too. This is a pennant race not the AZ fall League. Moncada will get his chance again.

I'm not sure what Moncada has to do with it when he's advocating moving Holt to third and letting Young play full time until Benintendi returns.

 

[strek1]

I'm not sure what Moncada has to do with it when he's advocating moving Holt to third and letting Young play full time until Benintendi returns.

Perhaps because of the title of this thread? As far as the proposal - I like Holt too but it just so happens he had a great day. The next time Brock goes 0-4 and has a bad day in the field then he'll probably be back to advocating Moncada get another chance. Too much kneejerk thinking here.