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Post by dmaineah on Oct 19, 2018 14:28:18 GMT -5
I'd like to know what everybody thinks Cora will do with JD in the NL Park & what you think he should do?
I think you give him a crash course at 1B and play him there. The Outfield stays the same.
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Post by iakovos11 on Oct 19, 2018 14:48:29 GMT -5
I'd like to know what everybody thinks Cora will do with JD in the NL Park & what you think he should do? I think you give him a crash course at 1B and play him there. The Outfield stays the same. What? You don't want him to bench JBJ??
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Post by klostrophobic on Oct 19, 2018 14:49:30 GMT -5
He's never once played 1B in his career. I don't think I'd want that. Either he has to be the best pinch hitter in the game or you can sit Bradley against LHP. Or Betts to second and JDM to LF. All options have some severe drawbacks of course. I'm good with Betts going to second, but can understand the concern, especially if Machado is on base.
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Post by marrcus on Oct 19, 2018 14:50:58 GMT -5
Outfield doesn't stay the same. I don't think JDM plays (1B). A lot depends on what leads they have, matchups et al. MVP/alcs has to sit in NL parks.
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Post by soxjim on Oct 19, 2018 14:52:07 GMT -5
How about Mookie playing 2b?
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Post by jimed14 on Oct 19, 2018 14:56:27 GMT -5
How about Mookie playing 2b? I'd put the odds of that happening at 10-1.
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Post by gregblossersbelly on Oct 19, 2018 15:19:35 GMT -5
JD plays LF. He might have been the second best player in baseball this year. And, is having a good playoffs. Maybe, sit Benny against a lefty. Kershaw??
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Oct 19, 2018 15:38:50 GMT -5
I'd like to know what everybody thinks Cora will do with JD in the NL Park & what you think he should do? I think you give him a crash course at 1B and play him there. The Outfield stays the same. That's something you try in spring training, not the World Series. Having JD Martinez at 1b is a great way to make the infield defense a lot worse. You can't take somebody that inexperienced and give him 4 days and expect him to be anything but terrible.
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Post by ghostofrussgibson on Oct 19, 2018 16:58:35 GMT -5
I'm really glad to see this thread. I was thinking about it at work today. Nice problem to have, primarily since JBJ just won the ALCS MVP. Didn't Boston put Ortiz at first some years back? That was his "normal" position if he had to play the field, so was Ortiz much better as a slow footed big guy at first than a more mobile JD? I'd be very leery of putting JD at first if he'd never played that role. Yes, he's a major league player and not some beer league softball player, but first base seems to have been a +++ from a defensive standpoint during these playoffs.
The solution? It's above my pay grade, but I'd consider trying Betts at second and putting JD in the outfield. Wasn't it the 68 Tigers who moved Mickey Stanley from the outfield to shortstop for the series? Was it due to injury or simply because Detroit's SS sucked? (Ray Oyler?)
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Post by humanbeingbean on Oct 19, 2018 16:58:35 GMT -5
How about Mookie playing 2b? I’m torn between wanting to see this *very* badly and being too nervous about some incident occurring at second base. You know Mookie would 100% want to, and Cora probably would want to in theory, but the risk probably isn’t worth taking, even though it makes good sense to try it out.
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Post by soxjim on Oct 19, 2018 17:34:33 GMT -5
How about Mookie playing 2b? I’m torn between wanting to see this *very* badly and being too nervous about some incident occurring at second base. You know Mookie would 100% want to, and Cora probably would want to in theory, but the risk probably isn’t worth taking, even though it makes good sense to try it out. I know. I just threw it out there. IMo Cora probably won't do it. He'll see how the series is going. Who is playing well etc. But I think it was James Dunne who made a post on the other thread-- to paraphrase - there is no surprise what Mookie can do. And per below Cora said he's not opposed to having Mookie play there but the article mentions maybe he was just being nice to Roenicke. ANyways, he doesn't have to play 2b in all 3. if there were 3. bosoxinjection.com/2018/08/04/red-sox-mookie-betts-playing-second-base/
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Oct 19, 2018 17:37:26 GMT -5
How about Mookie playing 2b? I had the same thought, but theoretically you'd be weakening two defensive positions, but that's theoretical. Who's to say that Mookie wouldn't be gold glove material at 2b?
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Oct 19, 2018 17:39:28 GMT -5
I'm really glad to see this thread. I was thinking about it at work today. Nice problem to have, primarily since JBJ just won the ALCS MVP. Didn't Boston put Ortiz at first some years back? That was his "normal" position if he had to play the field, so was Ortiz much better as a slow footed big guy at first than a more mobile JD? I'd be very leery of putting JD at first if he'd never played that role. Yes, he's a major league player and not some beer league softball player, but first base seems to have been a +++ from a defensive standpoint during these playoffs. The solution? It's above my pay grade, but I'd consider trying Betts at second and putting JD in the outfield. Wasn't it the 68 Tigers who moved Mickey Stanley from the outfield to shortstop for the series? Was it due to injury or simply because Detroit's SS sucked? (Ray Oyler?) I think it was because Ray Oyler hit .130 that year, and they did have 4 starting caliber OF with Kaline, Northrup, Horton, and Stanley. It worked out well as Stanley did a good enough job at SS.
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Post by klostrophobic on Oct 19, 2018 17:41:21 GMT -5
How about Mookie playing 2b? I had the same thought, but theoretically you'd be weakening two defensive positions, but that's theoretical. Who's to say that Mookie wouldn't be gold glove material at 2b? I have zero doubt he'd be the best defensive 2B in baseball next year if that were the plan.
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jimoh
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Post by jimoh on Oct 19, 2018 19:02:28 GMT -5
How about Mookie playing 2b? I'd put the odds of that happening at 10-1. CF Mickey Stanley at SS for Tigers in 68!
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ianrs
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Post by ianrs on Oct 19, 2018 21:33:08 GMT -5
I think the idea of sitting Benny vs a lefty makes the most sense, then bring him in later as a defensive replacement. A RHP makes the decision harder, but still likely the best course of action. Thankfully we have home field advantage.
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Post by patford on Oct 19, 2018 22:13:24 GMT -5
Just in case people are not aware. Mookie said recently that he loves 2B. He was thrilled to get into the game where he played 2B and in fact suggested it. Not only that but he works all season long taking ground balls at 2B and 3B with the idea of being available if called. www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2018/08/03/years-later-mookie-betts-still-second-none/N4QKH82McaAPAIobZDMVFP/story.html“It was like a dream come true,” Betts said. “Haven’t been there since 2014. That’s why I take my ground balls, just in case.” Cora revealed Betts volunteers to play second and third. “He works at it,” Cora said. “He takes ground balls. He’s an athlete. This wasn’t a regular thing. Ian comes out and we want to stay away from Xander [Bogaerts] and Ron wanted to put him at second and I was OK with it.” Betts wasn’t reluctant to ask Roenicke for a chance to return to his old position. “I don’t know if he [Roenicke] told me. I kind of asked if I could go to second. He told me ‘Are you sure?’ I said,’Yeah.’ I put on my infield glove. He told me you’re at second. Before I went out on the field I asked him again, so you want me to go out to second? He said yes. I wasn’t really sure he wanted me to go to second, but I ran out there . . . it was fun.” He remembered the day in the minors when the Red Sox told him he needed to switch to the outfield. “I was kind of sad,” Betts said. “It’s something I had grown up playing and now I had to go do something else. [Friday night] was definitely a dream come true.”
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Post by jimed14 on Oct 20, 2018 8:47:17 GMT -5
How about Mookie playing 2b? I had the same thought, but theoretically you'd be weakening two defensive positions, but that's theoretical. Who's to say that Mookie wouldn't be gold glove material at 2b? He's not going to be gold glove material at 2B in the World Series. It takes a lot more than just taking a few grounders in practice.
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Post by FenwayFanatic on Oct 20, 2018 10:43:09 GMT -5
Considering Cora put Swihart at third this season one time I dont think its out of the question. Benintendi has kind of been struggling though so you could probably sit him and then bring him off the bench later.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Oct 20, 2018 13:37:08 GMT -5
I had the same thought, but theoretically you'd be weakening two defensive positions, but that's theoretical. Who's to say that Mookie wouldn't be gold glove material at 2b? He's not going to be gold glove material at 2B in the World Series. It takes a lot more than just taking a few grounders in practice. I know JimEd. I was being facetious. The point being that Mookie is so great you can never truly say there's anything he can't do.
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Post by jimed14 on Oct 20, 2018 14:36:21 GMT -5
Considering Cora put Swihart at third this season one time I dont think its out of the question. Benintendi has kind of been struggling though so you could probably sit him and then bring him off the bench later. He also put Vazquez at 3rd. But how many innings were we talking about? And these games are slightly more important.
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Post by greatscottcooper on Oct 20, 2018 15:27:41 GMT -5
I’m a big fan of putting your best 9 on the field. I’d sit Benintendi vs. LHP, and vs RHP I’d plug Mookie at 2nd and get JDM in the lineup.
You will still have plenty of opportunities to bat Kinsler, and AB in games they don’t start in these national league games.
The later of those two options is likely less popular and less realistic because Mookie hasn’t played 2nd in so long, but as I said, I’d play my best 9.
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Post by jimed14 on Oct 20, 2018 15:38:42 GMT -5
I’m a big fan of putting your best 9 on the field. I’d sit Benintendi vs. LHP, and vs RHP I’d plug Mookie at 2nd and get JDM in the lineup. You will still have plenty of opportunities to bat Kinsler, and AB in games they don’t start in these national league games. The later of those two options is likely less popular and less realistic because Mookie hasn’t played 2nd in so long, but as I said, I’d play my best 9. Offensively I guess. Imagine if JDM were in RF for the last few games in Houston.
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Post by terriblehondo on Oct 20, 2018 18:05:26 GMT -5
Just saw a headline that Cora said Mookie might play 2nd in NL park
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bosox
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Post by bosox on Oct 20, 2018 18:48:56 GMT -5
Just saw a headline that Cora said Mookie might play 2nd in NL park If they are facing the Dodgers, I would be on edge that Mookie would become a victim of a Machado illegal slide at some point. We've seen the Pedroia episode and Machado has revealed his ugly side in the Brewer's series. I think I would rather see JD in left in place of Beni. I would like to see JBJ patrolling CF in Dodger Stadium.
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