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What Can Be Done to Fix the Sox?
redsox04071318champs
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 7, 2015 22:15:59 GMT -5
Don't see Bogaerts being extended. With Bora$ as his agent, with Bogaerts being 27 when he hits the free agent market, there's no way Boras will let him not go to free agency. Short of the Sox throwing at least $300 million his way, I don't see it. Scott Boras works for Xander Bogaerts, not the other way around. So you say. With Tek as the only exception I can think of, players hire Boras to maximize earnings potential and they know his style is to have big market teams compete in the open market, and Boras isn't going to have him sign an extension when the Yankees are there and there's very few commodities more valuable than a power hitting all-star 27 year old SS in the prime of his career. If Bogaerts wasn't thinking along those lines, Boras wouldn't be his agent. If you believe that Bogaerts is going to sign a below market extension with the Sox (the Sox don't give out record breaking extensions) and ignore what he can get elsewhere by simply waiting until he's 27, then I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you.
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redsox04071318champs
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 7, 2015 22:19:05 GMT -5
The shortstop who will succeed Bogaerts if he left for FA hasn't been drafted yet. A lot can happen in five years. I wouldn't put a lot of energy into trying to extend him, not only because Boras is his agent, but also because it simply is too in the future. Two or three years from now is the time to work on this if it still seems desirable. Perhaps, but I honestly think that SS might already be in the system. Javier Guerra is doing a lot to open eyes. He's not going to be Bogaerts with the bat, but he has a good glove and his offense is developing. He could very well profile as a regular SS with a decent bat and a great glove, and he might very well be a guy that pushes Bogaerts to 3b down the road or succeeds Bogaerts if he leaves via free agency.
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Post by mgoetze on Jul 7, 2015 22:20:15 GMT -5
If Bogaerts wasn't thinking along those lines, Boras wouldn't be his agent. Exactly, so don't blame Boras, he's just doing his job.
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Post by James Dunne on Jul 7, 2015 22:26:44 GMT -5
But Guerra might leave as a free agent someday too. Then who replaces him?? I hope the round-table decision makers aren't asleep at the wheel without a contingency in place.
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redsox04071318champs
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 7, 2015 22:31:28 GMT -5
If Bogaerts wasn't thinking along those lines, Boras wouldn't be his agent. Exactly, so don't blame Boras, he's just doing his job. I'm not "blaming" Boras. I'm stating the obvious. If Boras is your agent, you're playing out your contract unless you get some kind of Stanton deal. As a personal aside, that doesn't mean I have to like Boras. I find him nauseating and I believe he does what's in his own best interests, not necessarily that of his client. If his client is happy in place A, but he thinks that place B might give his guy an extra dollar, he's going to direct him to place B. Reminds me of when he tried to upstage the 4th game of the 2007 World Series by leaking that he was having A-Rod opt out of his deal. Tactless. In case you forgot, there are some who think that Boras got into Manny's head (not hard to do) and had him act up so the Sox wouldn't renew his options. It's not hard to connect the dots. So you can say that Boras does his job well. He's a great shark. Good for him. Don't have to like him, and I don't think I should have to backtrack because I don't think the odds of Bogaerts sticking around and signing a long-term deal before the 2019 season ends is good.
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redsox04071318champs
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 7, 2015 22:32:55 GMT -5
But Guerra might leave as a free agent someday too. Then who replaces him?? I hope the round-table decision makers aren't asleep at the wheel without a contingency in place. I'm sure there's an 8 year old tearing up the little leagues. Don't worry. He'll be a Red Sox when Guerra leaves.
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redsox04071318champs
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 7, 2015 22:47:47 GMT -5
Alright, we have now fixed the SS issues for the Sox for the next 20 years, so how about getting back to what needs fixing in 2015?
The weaknesses are pretty easy to diagnose. They're short two reliable starting pitchers. They could use bullpen help in middle relief so they don't burn out Tazawa or Ogando. They have the worst production at 1b. And RF production was weak until Holt solidified it, and catching offense was weak, particularly when the Sox had to play Leon.
The catching should be fine. Perhaps by September they could have a Swihart/Hanigan platoon. That should provide enough offense and defense that catching help isn't required.
Holt has done well in RF, and the Sox certainly have enough options between Victorino, Bradley, and Castillo, if Holt is needed elsewhere, so I wouldn't think wasting resources in RF makes any sense.
That leaves 1b. If the Sox believe that Napoli is nearing a hot streak any day now, then I guess they stand pat, but I have trouble thinking they can rely on that at this point. 1b is a glaring weakness. Internally they could move Holt to 3b and play Sandoval at 1b, which isn't an option I like. They could move Hanley to 1b, but they shouldn't now, and they won't. They could play Ortiz at 1b more often, but I think that would be a disaster waiting to happen. They could go with Travis Shaw, but I think he's more of a AAAA player. I think they might need to go outside the organization.
I think they have little choice but to let Porcello straighten himself out, so that leaves one major opening and it won't be Kelly. I would think Wright could be an option, but I think Johnson will get a few starts and they'll either showcase him or look at him as a potential solution.
They'll most likely get a bullpen arm because it shouldn't cost them that much in talent to upgrade their middle relief so that Tazawa has some more help.
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danr
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Post by danr on Jul 8, 2015 11:19:57 GMT -5
I think you might be underestimating Shaw. He can't really be assessed until he gets more playing time with the Sox. He might turn out to be a solid major league regular if he gets a chance.
He has had a history of taking a while to adjust to each level, but he has adjusted. He has been just about the best power hitter in the entire system for the last couple of years. He has a good baseball pedigree. He has improved his defense at both third and first. He runs well. Overall, he has the fundamentals down pretty well.
I don't know if he can hold down the 1B job with the Sox, but I think there is a decent chance he could - or will - somewhere.
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Post by gregblossersbelly on Jul 8, 2015 11:26:26 GMT -5
If you want to help the team this year, pitching, pitching and more pitching. We're dead last in runs allowed in the AL. 400. Next closest is 383. Try to get guys whom will be here longer than the rest of this year. A good lefty reliever and Joe Kelly might help the pen.
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Post by Chris Hatfield on Jul 8, 2015 11:38:29 GMT -5
If you want to help the team this year, pitching, pitching and more pitching. We're dead last in runs allowed in the AL. 400. Next closest is 383. Try to get guys whom will be here longer than the rest of this year. A good lefty reliever and Joe Kelly might help the pen. Thing is, that pitching help would need to be better - and better enough to justify giving up whatever assets are needed to acquire it - than what the Sox could hope to get from Johnson, Wright, Kelly, Owens, Light and any of the other Pawtucket arms the rest of the year. Not saying that can't happen, but just that there's a higher bar to making such a deal than there otherwise might be in this situation.
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Post by jerrygarciaparra on Jul 8, 2015 11:38:41 GMT -5
Hey BC
"The Cueto gold The fine Dominican Make this staff a wonderful thing."
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Post by gregblossersbelly on Jul 8, 2015 11:49:52 GMT -5
If you want to help the team this year, pitching, pitching and more pitching. We're dead last in runs allowed in the AL. 400. Next closest is 383. Try to get guys whom will be here longer than the rest of this year. A good lefty reliever and Joe Kelly might help the pen. Thing is, that pitching help would need to be better - and better enough to justify giving up whatever assets are needed to acquire it - than what the Sox could hope to get from Johnson, Wright, Kelly, Owens, Light and any of the other Pawtucket arms the rest of the year. Not saying that can't happen, but just that there's a higher bar to making such a deal than there otherwise might be in this situation. I'd be happy with a lefty reliever. We need one now. And, we would have to acquire one in the off-season for next year if we don't get one now. I'd be fine with giving Brian Johnson a crack. Use Wright as the long man. Brng Kelly back up as a set-up guy. I'm not sure we go for a big-name starter this off-season. Cueto talk is a pipe-dream IMO. Try to build as dominant a bullpen as possible. Hope like hell Porcello bounces back and Clay stays healthy.
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Post by Chris Hatfield on Jul 8, 2015 11:52:58 GMT -5
Yeah, I think they were hoping Escobar could be that LHRP. But either rust or ineffectiveness are making him not look like an option.
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Post by mgoetze on Jul 8, 2015 12:47:22 GMT -5
I think you might be underestimating Shaw. He can't really be assessed until he gets more playing time with the Sox. He might turn out to be a solid major league regular if he gets a chance. He has had a history of taking a while to adjust to each level, but he has adjusted. He has been just about the best power hitter in the entire system for the last couple of years. He has a good baseball pedigree. He has improved his defense at both third and first. He runs well. Overall, he has the fundamentals down pretty well. I don't know if he can hold down the 1B job with the Sox, but I think there is a decent chance he could - or will - somewhere. I don't see him clearing the bar for a starting 1B job. For reference, the average 1B this year has hit .256/.331/.437 (112 wRC+). If Shaw has a major league future, it's got to involve playing 3B once in a while, at least in my mind.
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Post by gregblossersbelly on Jul 8, 2015 13:09:22 GMT -5
Yeah, I think they were hoping Escobar could be that LHRP. But either rust or ineffectiveness are making him not look like an option. What would you give up for Aroldis Chapman? I would think they want a close to MLB starter prospect and another arm. We could supply both.
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Post by arzjake on Jul 8, 2015 17:11:58 GMT -5
Yeah, I think they were hoping Escobar could be that LHRP. But either rust or ineffectiveness are making him not look like an option. What would you give up for Aroldis Chapman? I would think they want a close to MLB starter prospect and another arm. We could supply both. Cueto, Chapman..... The Farm! Cus your going to win the Division.
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Post by jdb on Jul 8, 2015 17:38:05 GMT -5
At this point I'd bring up Johnson and give him two weeks of starts before the deadline to see if he could be that upgrade. Keep Kelly in AAA as close to Johnsons schedule as possible but if Johnson looks like he can be counted on switch Kelly to the pen for the stretch. This Yankee series' and trips to LAA and Houston will decide a lot though.
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Post by larrycook on Jul 8, 2015 22:43:05 GMT -5
At this point I'd bring up Johnson and give him two weeks of starts before the deadline to see if he could be that upgrade. Keep Kelly in AAA as close to Johnsons schedule as possible but if Johnson looks like he can be counted on switch Kelly to the pen for the stretch. This Yankee series' and trips to LAA and Houston will decide a lot though. With the Yankees having such a dominant lefty hitting lineup, seems Johnson should start a game against them.
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Post by okin15 on Jul 9, 2015 8:59:35 GMT -5
I think you might be underestimating Shaw. He can't really be assessed until he gets more playing time with the Sox. He might turn out to be a solid major league regular if he gets a chance. He has had a history of taking a while to adjust to each level, but he has adjusted. He has been just about the best power hitter in the entire system for the last couple of years. He has a good baseball pedigree. He has improved his defense at both third and first. He runs well. Overall, he has the fundamentals down pretty well. I don't know if he can hold down the 1B job with the Sox, but I think there is a decent chance he could - or will - somewhere. I don't see him clearing the bar for a starting 1B job. For reference, the average 1B this year has hit .256/.331/.437 (112 wRC+). If Shaw has a major league future, it's got to involve playing 3B once in a while, at least in my mind. First, it's horrifying that is a slash line which is so far above MLB average. Wherefore art though PED's?? (I mostly kid). Second, I will laugh at that "he runs well" comment, because he tripped over first base, but you're not wrong. Lastly, I think Shaw has a shot to be a platoon 1B this year for the Sox. At the very least, I think they ought to give him a little leash over the next few weeks to find out. They're not going to keep running Ortiz out in the field once the every-other-day-off schedule is done. Plus, that'll ease Napoli back into the lineup against LHP and lesser RHP (after the MFY series/ASB).
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Post by okin15 on Jul 9, 2015 9:03:24 GMT -5
Yeah, I think they were hoping Escobar could be that LHRP. But either rust or ineffectiveness are making him not look like an option. Yeah, him, or Breslow, or Layne, or Ross, or Owens. They built in redundancy, and it failed (just like right field). I wouldn't be horribly surprised if ERod ends up in the pen eventually this year, as he's probably on some sort of innings limit, right? Especially if they go to the playoffs.
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danr
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Post by danr on Jul 9, 2015 18:23:06 GMT -5
For some reason Shaw made me think of Brandon Moss. So I looked them up for comparison. Their minor league records are fairly similar. Moss was good defending RF early on but was converted to 1B by Oakland because Reddick took over RF. Shaw strikes me as the kind of player that Beane likes.
At this point Shaw has about half as many minor league at-bats as did Moss. Their minor league slash lines:
Moss .283/.355/.474/.829 238 2Bs, 30 3bs, 134 HRs, KBB rate: 2.29 Shaw .261/.360/.447/.807 117 2bs, 11 3bs, 69 HRs, KBB rate 1.55
Moss's edge in slugging appears due mostly to his triples, and somewhat higher BA. Moss also hit better in his early minor league years, with a BA of .287 after five minor league seasons. He did considerably worse later when he was bouncing back and forth between the majors and AAA. And then he suddenly started to hit well in the majors. He has hit 100 HRs in the past four seasons.
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nomar
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Post by nomar on Jul 10, 2015 8:50:18 GMT -5
Moss' raw power is better than Shaw's, and I think Moss has performed to his ceiling, which you can't expect everyone to do.
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Post by Chris Hatfield on Jul 10, 2015 9:01:26 GMT -5
I don't really think of them as similar at all. Moss was drafted as a high school outfielder who was more athletic and had move power potential. Shaw was drafted as a college third baseman who they would have immediately moved to first if not for Cecchini's injury in Lowell, although now he's much better back at third.
Moss was getting his at-bats at higher levels at a younger age. Consider that he hit better in Portland at age 21 than Shaw did at age 23. I don't think the comparison is too great there.
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Post by DesignatedForAssignment on Jul 10, 2015 9:19:55 GMT -5
I'd like to see a comparison done of Shaw and Moss to Freddie Lynn.
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steveofbradenton
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Post by steveofbradenton on Jul 10, 2015 9:34:03 GMT -5
I'd like to see a comparison done of Shaw and Moss to Freddie Lynn. LOL!! Lynn is my all time favorite Sox player. 1975 was a good year.
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