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2023 WooSox Defensive Alignment
ericmvan
Veteran
Supposed to be working on something more important
Posts: 8,925
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Post by ericmvan on Nov 26, 2022 0:25:49 GMT -5
A comparison between what I'd do and the current projection, with just a bit of suggestion for the latter. Me Projection
1B Valdez Aquisition
2B Duran Hamilton
3B Dalbec Koss
SS Kross Downs
LF Hamilton Duran
CF Rafaela Rafaela
RF Abreu Cook
DH Cook, etc. Valdez
1B / RF / DH. There's no way you send a guy with a 124 wRC+ in AA (and whom you just protected on your 40 man) back down to AA for his age 24 season ... just because you don't have an experienced AAA 1B and therefore need to acquire one. Instead, you have Valdez try to learn to play 1B for a year, which is all upside and no downside if you think he likely ends up as just a DH. In 2005 Sam Horn was still pissed that the Sox had done that to him and I'm sure he's still pissed.
2B / LF. Hamilton's entry here has LF as his likely best position. Would anyone disagree that Duran would be better at his old position, once he gets some rust off, than in the OF, where he doesn't seem to have made any progress? His quickness should give him adequate range at 2B, and with the shift banned, 2B returns to being more difficult than CF on the defensive spectrum ... and hugely more so than LF, the easiest position after 1B (as in, Hamilton looks like he can play there). The odds of him having more defensive value in LF than 2B are microscopic.
SS / 3B. I keep on coming up with a trade of Downs to accommodate all the additions, and Dalbec being optioned to AAA (because Hosmer has that bench spot), at least whenever no one in MLB is on the IL. Trading Downs allows Koss to play SS, where he really should be if AAA is going to be Utility Infielder Academy for him.
Thoughts?
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jimoh
Veteran
Posts: 3,972 
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Post by jimoh on Nov 26, 2022 7:43:33 GMT -5
A comparison between what I'd do and the current projection, with just a bit of suggestion for the latter. Me Projection
1B Valdez Aquisition
2B Duran Hamilton
3B Dalbec Koss
SS Kross Downs
LF Hamilton Duran
CF Rafaela Rafaela
RF Abreu Cook
DH Cook, etc. Valdez
1B / RF / DH. There's no way you send a guy with a 124 wRC+ in AA (and whom you just protected on your 40 man) back down to AA for his age 24 season ... just because you don't have an experienced AAA 1B and therefore need to acquire one. Instead, you have Valdez try to learn to play 1B for a year, which is all upside and no downside if you think he likely ends up as just a DH. In 2005 Sam Horn was still pissed that the Sox had done that to him and I'm sure he's still pissed.
2B / LF. Hamilton's entry here has LF as his likely best position. Would anyone disagree that Duran would be better at his old position, once he gets some rust off, than in the OF, where he doesn't seem to have made any progress? His quickness should give him adequate range at 2B, and with the shift banned, 2B returns to being more difficult than CF on the defensive spectrum ... and hugely more so than LF, the easiest position after 1B (as in, Hamilton looks like he can play there). The odds of him having more defensive value in LF than 2B are microscopic.
SS / 3B. I keep on coming up with a trade of Downs to accommodate all the additions, and Dalbec being optioned to AAA (because Hosmer has that bench spot), at least whenever no one in MLB is on the IL. Trading Downs allows Koss to play SS, where he really should be if AAA is going to be Utility Infielder Academy for him.
Thoughts?
Enmanuel Valdez: 5' 9" Jarren Duran: not one moment of his time in the outfield has suggested he has the skills to play in mlb the challenging position he played without distinction in college 5 years and 30 pounds of muscle ago. |
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Post by Chris Hatfield on Nov 26, 2022 11:54:05 GMT -5
I think you're reading way too much into the projection. Many of those guys are going to move around. Fitzgerald will play all over the diamond. And so on.
And yes, guys currently on the 40-man won't be around on opening day. But if everyone on that projection is still in the system, yes, I think they could potentially start Abreu in AA while things shake out so that he's playing every day rather than 4 out of 6. It's probably a toss-up fast gets clearer if they make room. As is, we have Duran, Rafaela, Crook, Fitzgerald, Koss, Granberg, Valdez, maybe Park, and maybe Hamilton all potentially in line for outfield innings. I'd rather the 40-man guy play every day, personally.
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Post by Soxfansince1971 on Nov 27, 2022 0:24:58 GMT -5
I think you're reading way too much into the projection. Many of those guys are going to move around. Fitzgerald will play all over the diamond. And so on. And yes, guys currently on the 40-man won't be around on opening day. But if everyone on that projection is still in the system, yes, I think they could potentially start Abreu in AA while things shake out so that he's playing every day rather than 4 out of 6. It's probably a toss-up fast gets clearer if they make room. As is, we have Duran, Rafaela, Crook, Fitzgerald, Koss, Granberg, Valdez, maybe Park, and maybe Hamilton all potentially in line for outfield innings. I'd rather the 40-man guy play every day, personally. I wonder what is on the mind of the FO as they may need to whittle down the 16 AAA / AA players currently on the 40-man. I could see Duran, Dalbec, Downs, Ort, and Seabold all being traded for players lower in the minors that will not need to be added to the 40-man for a year or two. This will leave the spots open for SS, RF, and some pitching on the MLB Red Sox. |
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Post by costpet on Nov 27, 2022 11:44:07 GMT -5
I would put Duran back at 2B where he was drafted. He obviously can’t handle CF or any other OF position. Let him get comfortable at 2B then concentrate on getting on base. With his speed he could be very valuable to the club, but needs to find his natural spot.
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Post by orcoaster on Nov 27, 2022 12:38:29 GMT -5
I reread Duran's SP scouting report. I'm guessing this was written in spring training 2022. It certainly is spot on. Here's the fielding report for convenience sake:
Field: Potential below-average defender. Has the speed and athleticism teams look for in center field, but has struggled with the more skill-based aspects of the position since converting from second base during his pro debut. Unlikely to be able to handle center field in a full time capacity at the major league level and is a better fit in left field given his arm and the uniquely spacious right field at Fenway Park. Has improved what was initially a very slow first step in the outfield, but still struggles with initial reads and doesn’t take the most efficient routes. Speed can cover for some of his poor reads, but still is not a natural outfielder. First moved to right field, where the line to the plate was similar to that at second base, before converting full-time in 2019 to center field, with the hope his speed could allow him to develop tremendous range. At second base, showed soft hands and fluid actions, though athleticism was somewhat wasted.
We shouldn't be surprised that Duran has turned out to be a "below-average defender". He's occassionally worse than that. However, is there hope that his "soft hands and fluid actions" can still play up at second? Could the new rules bring his "wasted athleticism" into play? Worth a shot.
Why was he ever moved off of second in the first place? How was his defense there at the time?
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Post by ematz1423 on Nov 27, 2022 12:48:47 GMT -5
I do have to ask for the folks saying put Duran back at 2nd. They've obviously seen him struggle with OF all the way up the chain. Don't you think if the sox thought the answer was to slide him back to 2nd and he could even be just slightly below average there they'd have tried it? His speed and power combo would seemingly really play up at 2nd more so than LF.
It seems to me that if they thought he could play a remotely decent 2nd base they'd have started having him play there at least a little bit already. At least build up his ability to be a utility player at this point since it's hard for me to see him being an every day OF for the Red Sox.
I still have some optimism for Duran that he can catch on and put up a few solid/good seasons elsewhere I just don't see it being in Boston anymore.
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Post by orcoaster on Nov 27, 2022 12:59:26 GMT -5
I do have to ask for the folks saying put Duran back at 2nd. They've obviously seen him struggle with OF all the way up the chain. Don't you think if the sox thought the answer was to slide him back to 2nd and he could even be just slightly below average there they'd have tried it? His speed and power combo would seemingly really play up at 2nd more so than LF. It seems to me that if they thought he could play a remotely decent 2nd base they'd have started having him play there at least a little bit already. At least build up his ability to be a utility player at this point since it's hard for me to see him being an every day OF for the Red Sox. I still have some optimism for Duran that he can catch on and put up a few solid/good seasons elsewhere I just don't see it being in Boston anymore. Maybe they just really, really wanted him to become an outfielder because they already have so many options at second and not many outfielders? You would think a super fast guy with an average arm could become a decent/good outfielder. Who knew Duran has HamRam instincts out there? You don't know until you try, I guess. If Duran could have handled the switch he would have become much more valuable. Meanwhile back at second, I do wonder what the "soft hands and fluid actions" were all about. If he could become an average/good second baseman, he could become valuable again. But he would have to improve his other baseball skills as well -- base stealing, swing and miss, OBP, and so forth. I just don't see Duran as a very good ballplayer. I don't see how he helps the Red Sox win games in the future. I do agree that there may be some potential there that could be unlocked for another team. If another team sees him as a average/good defender at second (Look at his athleticism play up under the new rules!) maybe they offer Boston something for him. |
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