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Post by jimed14 on Mar 2, 2018 14:49:34 GMT -5
I mean do you really think he thinks he’s going to displace anyone as a starter?
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Post by pedrofanforever45 on Mar 2, 2018 14:57:11 GMT -5
I mean do you really think he thinks he’s going to displace anyone as a starter? No, I just wish Swihart was the one displacing Martinez in the outfield when someone needs a day off. He's better than Martinez out there. Martinez should be the everyday DH. Rather than "hiding" Martinez in LF in Fenway, the Sox could possibly use Swihart in RF Fenway and it could be a strength for the Sox.
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Post by Coreno on Mar 2, 2018 17:48:20 GMT -5
Ehh. There's little things in there that tells me he still rather think of himself as a outfielder vs a DH right now. At the press conference he was sure to call himself a outfielder first and a DH second. When asked if he could benefit from watching more video from the dugout as a DH, he made sure to say- "Well, I did that as a outfielder too." It's something small and it doesn't affect anything, but it's disappointing to not hear him say- "I'll play anywhere, I just want to do what's best for the team." "I'm just thinking about taking how I take it every game, how I've been playing this game since I was a kid and continuing to do the same routine I've been doing, whether it's DHing or playing the outfield."
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Post by pedrofanforever45 on Mar 2, 2018 18:18:05 GMT -5
Ehh. There's little things in there that tells me he still rather think of himself as a outfielder vs a DH right now. At the press conference he was sure to call himself a outfielder first and a DH second. When asked if he could benefit from watching more video from the dugout as a DH, he made sure to say- "Well, I did that as a outfielder too." It's something small and it doesn't affect anything, but it's disappointing to not hear him say- "I'll play anywhere, I just want to do what's best for the team." "I'm just thinking about taking how I take it every game, how I've been playing this game since I was a kid and continuing to do the same routine I've been doing, whether it's DHing or playing the outfield." He listed himself as a outfielder first in the first question that was asked about the matter. He also went out of his way to say that it was part of the agreement that Dave told him he was going to see time in the outfield too. Either way, it's not that big of a deal.
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Post by fenwaythehardway on Mar 2, 2018 18:19:45 GMT -5
Either way, it's not that big of a deal. Accurate.
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Post by jerrygarciaparra on Mar 2, 2018 18:24:52 GMT -5
Playing offense and defense to just playing offense can't be an easy transition. I don't blame him for being honest about wanting to play the field.
Honestly, if playing him in the field a bit helps him at the plate, the Sox have to consider that.
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Post by pedrofanforever45 on Mar 2, 2018 18:33:29 GMT -5
Playing offense and defense to just playing offense can't be an easy transition. I don't blame him for being honest about wanting to play the field. Honestly, if playing him in the field a bit helps him at the plate, the Sox have to consider that. That's true Jerry, I'm hoping that after being adjusted to the DH role, he would like it more and realize how beneficial it is over time for him. Here's to hoping that at least.
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Post by fenwaythehardway on Mar 2, 2018 18:55:35 GMT -5
Playing offense and defense to just playing offense can't be an easy transition. I don't blame him for being honest about wanting to play the field. Honestly, if playing him in the field a bit helps him at the plate, the Sox have to consider that. There is such a thing as the "DH penalty", where players don't hit as well when they're DHing. mglbaseball.com/2013/12/09/pinch-hitter-dh-and-other-penalties-revisited/It doesn't apply to every player equally though. I doubt very much for instance that David Ortiz would have been a better hitter if he'd been playing the field. On the flip side, look at Frank Thomas's career numbers as a DH versus as a 1B, he clearly wasn't comfortable in the role at all.
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Post by jiant2520 on Mar 2, 2018 19:29:17 GMT -5
Not saying this is what happened to Frank Thomas, but in general, players usually transition to DH as they age and cannot play the field as well anymore. Since they are older and the bat speed is a tic slower, perhaps that is a reason their offensive numbers at DH are a bit less compared to their prime years in the field?
For example: I'd bet Hanleys numbers as a fielder are way better than as a DH. Same with guys like Jason Giambi, Albert Pujols, etc.
Or I am just off...
Either way, I personally don't put too much stock in the DH/field making a hitter better or worse at hitting. I think the DH will help a player stay healthier throughout the season, but not sure it makes them hit more or less.
My opinion of course.
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Post by Gwell55 on Mar 2, 2018 19:46:22 GMT -5
"I'm just thinking about taking how I take it every game, how I've been playing this game since I was a kid and continuing to do the same routine I've been doing, whether it's DHing or playing the outfield." He listed himself as a outfielder first in the first question that was asked about the matter. He also went out of his way to say that it was part of the agreement that Dave told him he was going to see time in the outfield too. Either way, it's not that big of a deal. Seems to me that he WILL be playing in the outfield regardless of which way we perceive it. After all their will be Sox-national league park games going on most the season and I'm sure you won't sit your best hitter on the bench for most of those.
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Post by jmei on Mar 3, 2018 9:09:40 GMT -5
Not saying this is what happened to Frank Thomas, but in general, players usually transition to DH as they age and cannot play the field as well anymore. Since they are older and the bat speed is a tic slower, perhaps that is a reason their offensive numbers at DH are a bit less compared to their prime years in the field? For example: I'd bet Hanleys numbers as a fielder are way better than as a DH. Same with guys like Jason Giambi, Albert Pujols, etc. Or I am just off... Either way, I personally don't put too much stock in the DH/field making a hitter better or worse at hitting. I think the DH will help a player stay healthier throughout the season, but not sure it makes them hit more or less. My opinion of course. The DH penalty analysis tries to control for that by comparing plate appearances within the same season. The idea is that it’s similar to the pinch-hit penalty. It’s hard to come in and hit when you haven’t been keeping yourself warmed up by playing the field.
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Post by dmaineah on Mar 3, 2018 11:32:14 GMT -5
J.D. Should be learning 1B & he should be the 1B going forward.
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Post by voiceofreason on Mar 3, 2018 11:40:58 GMT -5
Ppl here ar mentioning JDMs ability to take advantage of what they call a right field in Yankee Stadium. It seems as though the Red Sox hitters who had success and utilized it like David Ortiz or even Johnny Damon are few and far between. Of course I'm just picking the popular names off that list, and last year guys like Mitch Moreland and even AB we're the only guys who took consistent advantage. While I wasnt for JDs signing bc of the original dollar figures being thrown out, and mentions even on this site of getting rid of Jackie and moving JD into right field, I have to say I'm excited about his bat playing there. We all saw how he hit in Arizona lacing line drives all over the field. I was most impressed with how he was able to get fooled on breaking balls or high velocity, outside fastballs and line or flip them over the right field fence. Thin air or not. For him to produce the kind of Ops he did without taking walks and relying on slugging percentage was pretty impressive. Here's to hoping it's not a two-year 50 million dollar deal. If it isn't a 2 year 50 million dollar deal then that means he under performs or gets injured. Shouldn't we be rooting for him to mash and opt out? Then hopefully resign him because he likes it here and they have won a WS.
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Post by fenwaythehardway on Mar 3, 2018 11:45:38 GMT -5
J.D. Should be learning 1B & he should be the 1B going forward. Ideally Chavis or Travis takes a step forward their year and establishes themselves as the 1B of the future. Given his age and fragility, I'm pretty happy to leave JDM as the DH if he takes to the role.
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Post by m1keyboots on Mar 9, 2018 11:03:39 GMT -5
Ppl here ar mentioning JDMs ability to take advantage of what they call a right field in Yankee Stadium. It seems as though the Red Sox hitters who had success and utilized it like David Ortiz or even Johnny Damon are few and far between. Of course I'm just picking the popular names off that list, and last year guys like Mitch Moreland and even AB we're the only guys who took consistent advantage. While I wasnt for JDs signing bc of the original dollar figures being thrown out, and mentions even on this site of getting rid of Jackie and moving JD into right field, I have to say I'm excited about his bat playing there. We all saw how he hit in Arizona lacing line drives all over the field. I was most impressed with how he was able to get fooled on breaking balls or high velocity, outside fastballs and line or flip them over the right field fence. Thin air or not. For him to produce the kind of Ops he did without taking walks and relying on slugging percentage was pretty impressive. Here's to hoping it's not a two-year 50 million dollar deal. If it isn't a 2 year 50 million dollar deal then that means he under performs or gets injured. Shouldn't we be rooting for him to mash and opt out? Then hopefully resign him because he likes it here and they have won a WS. I see where your head's at, but I don't wish injury on anybody. Except for LeBron James.
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Post by jimed14 on Jun 1, 2018 16:13:39 GMT -5
At what point does management approach Boras and ask him how much more money it would take to get rid of the opt-outs in JD's contract? At the end of 2019 or so, which is when Boras will be asking the Red Sox for more money.
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Post by patford on Jun 1, 2018 17:36:12 GMT -5
Martinez is hitting so well that if he demanded to play SS I think the Sox should let him.
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Post by rjp313jr on Jun 2, 2018 5:18:42 GMT -5
It’s been a great 2 months but still only 2 months.
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Post by pedrofanforever45 on Jun 2, 2018 9:52:06 GMT -5
It’s been a great 2 months but still only 2 months. He's on pace for over 50 homeruns, the only thing that will slow him down is the durability and injuries (which has shown to be a problem in the past with Martinez). The DH position would help this out tremendously (or at least it should), but he plays the outfield a third of the time anyways. People know my feelings about that (once again, I think it's stupid, Blake Swihart should be the backup OF if he's here), but I won't post much about that take beyond just this.
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Post by rjp313jr on Jun 2, 2018 11:10:55 GMT -5
It’s been a great 2 months but still only 2 months. He's on pace for over 50 homeruns, the only thing that will slow him down is the durability and injuries (which has shown to be a problem in the past with Martinez). The DH position would help this out tremendously (or at least it should), but he plays the outfield a third of the time anyways. People know my feelings about that (once again, I think it's stupid, Blake Swihart should be the backup OF if he's here), but I won't post much about that take beyond just this. Right so nothing has changed since before he signed. He can opt out at 32 and go sign a big money longterm deal somewhere else if someone offers him a dumb contract.
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Post by pedrofanforever45 on Jun 2, 2018 11:13:37 GMT -5
He's on pace for over 50 homeruns, the only thing that will slow him down is the durability and injuries (which has shown to be a problem in the past with Martinez). The DH position would help this out tremendously (or at least it should), but he plays the outfield a third of the time anyways. People know my feelings about that (once again, I think it's stupid, Blake Swihart should be the backup OF if he's here), but I won't post much about that take beyond just this. Right so nothing has changed since before he signed. He can opt out at 32 and go sign a big money longterm deal somewhere else if someone offers him a dumb contract. I would be perfectly okay with giving Martinez a 4 year deal (with no opt outs) at age 32 if he were to accept to becoming a full-time DH in the next deal.
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Post by grandsalami on Jul 16, 2018 21:45:20 GMT -5
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Post by pedrofanforever45 on Jul 16, 2018 21:53:01 GMT -5
I'd be all for giving Martinez more years. Didn't care at all if the Sox would have given Martinez the extra year at the beginning of the original contract.
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Post by grandsalami on Aug 11, 2018 21:38:01 GMT -5
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Post by rjp313jr on Aug 12, 2018 0:51:35 GMT -5
All I remember about Cabrera’s triple crown season is Trout getting screwed out of an MVP award because of if.
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