|
|
Post by ancientsoxfogey on Nov 8, 2013 8:58:50 GMT -5
First, congrats to the SoxProspects writers for an excellent "season in review" series. Well-written and insightful, and the series gained steam as the reviews worked their way up the ladder.
The Bogaerts review ended with the comment that his name should be written in pen in the 2014 lineup. Assuming that is true, a few questions for offseason rumination:
In what position in the lineup will Bogaerts begin the 2014 regular season?
In what position in the lineup will Bogaerts finish the 2014 regular season?
How long will it take until he is moved to his eventual final position in the lineup?
My picks: sixth, third, July 25.
|
|
|
|
Post by rjp313jr on Nov 8, 2013 9:35:01 GMT -5
Hard to answer without knowing who's on the roster. If Jacoby is back it changes things a lot vs if he's not. Farrell may like Victorino in the 6 hole after seeing the WS final lineups.
I'm just worried if Drew is back whether Farrell will play Xander everyday.
|
|
|
|
Post by ramireja on Nov 8, 2013 9:36:14 GMT -5
I'm thinking something similar but I'll go with: 6th, 4th, July 4th
I like him batting after Ortiz in the lineup and perhaps after a quasi-sluggish May he gets moved up in the order after a hot June. Fingers crossed.
|
|
wcp3
Veteran
Posts: 3,833
|
Post by wcp3 on Nov 8, 2013 10:25:45 GMT -5
I'm just worried if Drew is back whether Farrell will play Xander everyday. Why wouldn't he? I expect him to start out hitting 7th, end up hitting 5th and be your everyday shortstop. I have no idea why that clown Olney thinks Xander is a 3rd baseman all of a sudden. You would think adjusting to a new position that quickly would actually speak positively to his ability to play short? (Plus, I though he showed more than enough range and arm strength to be a shortstop.) |
|
|
|
Post by James Dunne on Nov 8, 2013 10:55:17 GMT -5
Farrell played Bogaerts every day in the World Series, I don't think there's any reason to worry about that at all. If Drew is back somehow, either Drew will be in something of a platoon scenario with Middlebrooks, or Bogaerts will start at 3B outright.
If Ellsbury isn't back there's a chance that Bogaerts bats second on opening day behind Victorino, but I think it's more likely to be the scenario wcp3 picked - 7th early in the season, 5th by the All-Star Break. Which he'll be at Target Field for.
|
|
|
|
Post by beasleyrockah on Nov 8, 2013 11:01:58 GMT -5
I'm just worried if Drew is back whether Farrell will play Xander everyday. Why wouldn't he? I expect him to start out hitting 7th, end up hitting 5th and be your everyday shortstop. I have no idea why that clown Olney thinks Xander is a 3rd baseman all of a sudden. You would think adjusting to a new position that quickly would actually speak positively to his ability to play short? (Plus, I though he showed more than enough range and arm strength to be a shortstop.) The way Olney phrased it showed he was clearly going off the old scouting reports of Bogaerts from 2-3 years back. I don't understand how someone who is constantly around the game can be so out of the loop since Bogaerts is a huge name, but it isn't surprising, I expect no content quality from the main talking heads at ESPN. |
|
|
|
Post by Kevin Pereira on Nov 8, 2013 11:05:24 GMT -5
If Ellsbury is gone, is it possible we see Pedroia leading off and Bogaerts hitting second? It seems like it's a plausible idea, but I'm not saying it's going to happen.
|
|
|
|
Post by jmei on Nov 8, 2013 11:10:14 GMT -5
Pedroia has mentioned more than a few times that he's uncomfortable hitting leadoff, and he's not a slam-dunk enough option that I'd want Farrell to stick him there over his own objections.
|
|
|
|
Post by James Dunne on Nov 8, 2013 11:11:41 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by Kevin Pereira on Nov 8, 2013 11:19:14 GMT -5
Another telling aspect of that piece is his willingness to move to the lead-off spot if needed. So, in other words, I wouldn't be surprised to see Pedroia lead off with Bogaerts behind him on a couple occasions in 2014. Definitely not a year-long idea on my part, anyways. |
|
|
|
Post by sturmrider on Nov 8, 2013 11:28:52 GMT -5
I have this fear after hearing the Sox have offered Drew a multi year contract. I still remember them trading Bagwell for Anderson. I could see Bogaerts starting in Pawtucket as the Sox worked on a deal to trade Middlebrooks. Though I am not certain of Middlebrooks ceiling I just don't know why they want to bring Drew back so much. This puts Bogaerts in limbo.
I have followed the Sox since the 50s they have never been an organization that promotes many rookies. I am always hearing about the failure rate of them. I love the Sox prospects site and keep hoping the view at the top is changing, but then I hear things like the Drew offer and it just makes me think of the bad old days. They have a few blips in their times and I wonder why they haven't figured out the kids do great when given the opportunity.
|
|
wcp3
Veteran
Posts: 3,833
|
Post by wcp3 on Nov 8, 2013 11:46:04 GMT -5
I have this fear after hearing the Sox have offered Drew a multi year contract. I still remember them trading Bagwell for Anderson. I could see Bogaerts starting in Pawtucket as the Sox worked on a deal to trade Middlebrooks. Though I am not certain of Middlebrooks ceiling I just don't know why they want to bring Drew back so much. This puts Bogaerts in limbo. I have followed the Sox since the 50s they have never been an organization that promotes many rookies. I am always hearing about the failure rate of them. I love the Sox prospects site and keep hoping the view at the top is changing, but then I hear things like the Drew offer and it just makes me think of the bad old days. They have a few blips in their times and I wonder why they haven't figured out the kids do great when given the opportunity. What in the world are you talking about? The Red Sox value their homegrown talent a lot. They're not trading Xander and he's not starting out in AAA. |
|
|
|
Post by beasleyrockah on Nov 8, 2013 11:48:14 GMT -5
I have this fear after hearing the Sox have offered Drew a multi year contract. I still remember them trading Bagwell for Anderson. I could see Bogaerts starting in Pawtucket as the Sox worked on a deal to trade Middlebrooks. Though I am not certain of Middlebrooks ceiling I just don't know why they want to bring Drew back so much. This puts Bogaerts in limbo. I have followed the Sox since the 50s they have never been an organization that promotes many rookies. I am always hearing about the failure rate of them. I love the Sox prospects site and keep hoping the view at the top is changing, but then I hear things like the Drew offer and it just makes me think of the bad old days. They have a few blips in their times and I wonder why they haven't figured out the kids do great when given the opportunity. Ah Red Sox fans. They just won their third World Series in ten years, be happy. This front office has nothing to do with the 50s-90s Red Sox. I feel bad for older Sox fans, you guys are clearly scarred for life. Enjoy the moment, the Red Sox are doing pretty good right now. |
|
|
|
Post by James Dunne on Nov 8, 2013 11:53:09 GMT -5
The 1970's and '80's Red Sox did a pretty awesome job promoting their own talent, too. The 1988 Red Sox division winners had an entirely homegrown starting lineup, as did the 1975 Red Sox AL Winners with the exception of their second basemen.
|
|
steveofbradenton
Veteran
Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
Posts: 1,826
|
Post by steveofbradenton on Nov 8, 2013 12:06:01 GMT -5
Victorino - 1st
Pedroia - in his comfortable #2 spot
Bogaerts - batting 3rd by the middle of June and for the rest of his Red Sox career
Ortiz - 4th....protecting the "kid"
Napoli - 5th
Xander will probably start out batting 6th with Gomes/Nava ahead of him, but when the weather turns hot we will "treated" to a real laser show.
I though, by the headline, this was going to be about which position (3rd or short) he was going to end up at. The way I see it: either Drew or Middlebrooks will be back, and that will dictate where Bogaerts plays. I can't see any kind of rotation with those 3 players. Drew will NOT sign up for anything resembling that situation. If Drew is brought back, Middlebrooks will probably be part of a big trade.
LOOKING forward to the XANDER ERA!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by sturmrider on Nov 8, 2013 12:21:41 GMT -5
Don't get me wrong I love the prospects and I hope the front office is looking at things differently. I don't think they would trade Xander, but I am definitely scarred and I am enjoying the moment. I just don't like hearing the Sox are offering Drew a multi year contract. Why? They have enough good prospects in the kids to cover both 3rd and SS.
I can see offering Salty a 2 year contract figuring Valdez and Swihart need a little time. I just don't see the need for Drew. I may be wrong I guess I will know next year. I was looking forward to Xander at SS, and Middlebrooks at 3rd for a couple of years, who knows still may happen. I guess I will wait and see what happens.
Yes the 70's and 80's had a brief spell when they went with the kids and those were some of the most exciting teams. I guess I tend to like watching the kids come up I have friends who keep telling me most prospects don't work out. Though I know this is true I have always felt if you don't give them the chance they won't work out for you. Sorry for the damper it was just the early EEI broadcast with this talk that got to me.
|
|
|
|
Post by fenwaythehardway on Nov 8, 2013 12:21:46 GMT -5
I have this fear after hearing the Sox have offered Drew a multi year contract. I still remember them trading Bagwell for Anderson. I could see Bogaerts starting in Pawtucket as the Sox worked on a deal to trade Middlebrooks. Though I am not certain of Middlebrooks ceiling I just don't know why they want to bring Drew back so much. This puts Bogaerts in limbo. I have followed the Sox since the 50s they have never been an organization that promotes many rookies. I am always hearing about the failure rate of them. I love the Sox prospects site and keep hoping the view at the top is changing, but then I hear things like the Drew offer and it just makes me think of the bad old days. They have a few blips in their times and I wonder why they haven't figured out the kids do great when given the opportunity. What in the world are you talking about? The Red Sox value their homegrown talent a lot. They're not trading Xander and he's not starting out in AAA. I'm legitimately baffled as to why everyone seems to think Will Middlebrooks matters. The Red Sox made their preferences obvious during the playoffs. If Drew comes back, he starts every day at shortstop, Bogaerts starts every day at third, and Middlebrooks does something else. |
|
|
|
Post by sturmrider on Nov 8, 2013 12:31:05 GMT -5
Where Xander bats I would say 6th with the hope he moves up to 3rd by the Allstar break.
|
|
|
|
Post by semperfisox on Nov 8, 2013 12:33:32 GMT -5
I definitely think we'll see him start at 6 or 7 in the lineup. I'd be shocked to see him move up early in the lineup so soon. Maybe by mid season he moves up a couple of spots due to production.
|
|
|
|
Post by jmei on Nov 8, 2013 12:35:24 GMT -5
By the way, there is no report that the Red Sox have offered Stephen Drew a multi-year contract. There is a report that Stephen Drew is likely to turn down the one-year $14.1m qualifying offer in favor of searching for a multi-year deal on the free agent market.
|
|
|
|
Post by mredsox89 on Nov 8, 2013 12:42:24 GMT -5
By the way, there is no report that the Red Sox have offered Stephen Drew a multi-year contract. There is a report that Stephen Drew is likely to turn down the one-year $14.1m qualifying offer in favor of searching for a multi-year deal on the free agent market. This. I thought I was missing something when people kept talking about the Sox having offered a multi-year deal. He will get one somewhere, and considering it's now widely reported that he has, or at least will turn down the offer, it's a big score for the Sox. Got a great season out of him, won the WS, now get a pick, and allow Xander to likely start at SS |
|
|
|
Post by sturmrider on Nov 8, 2013 12:42:39 GMT -5
It just may be Bradford I was listening to him argue this morning with either Mutt or Merloni and he was talking about a report the Sox are working to sign Drew to a multi year contract. Just may be my age showing I don't always get things right. Sorry. I just enjoy seeing the kids play and always will.
|
|
|
|
Post by mattpicard on Nov 8, 2013 13:01:06 GMT -5
As mentioned already, it's pretty hard to predict his lineup placement when you don't know the other parts.
Victorino
Pedroia
Ortiz
Napoli?
Nava
Bogaerts
Third base?
Catcher?
Bradley?
While you may be inclined to believe Farrell will bat him seventh at first, I'm struggling to see enough acquisitions to justify putting him that far down (and that's assuming Napoli is back, which is far from a sure-thing). One thing I'd love to see in 2014 is Pedroia going back to the 2-hole full time, where he's as good as it gets.
I'm wary of Victorino in the leadoff spot (the guy really doesn't walk, and I'm not sure how much stock you can put into his HBPs inflating his OBP going forward), so I'm really hoping to see JBJ surpass some expectations and move into that spot full-time sometime in the season. Of course, that would probably create a 1-2-3 of JBJ-Vic-Peds, pushing everyone else down when you account for Farrell's likely hesitance to make Victorino a #7 hitter. My guess, considering all of the loose factors right now, is Xander is in the 6-hole opening day (if he's lower, it's hopefully indicative of us having a surprisingly impressive offseason with offensive additions), with a strong possibility of him being in the 3-4-5 spots if/when he's consistently a top 3 offensive performer for us.
|
|
|
|
Post by dmaineah on Nov 8, 2013 13:23:26 GMT -5
5th
5th
start of the season
and he plays 1B for the next 15 years
Drew is the better shortstop & Middlebrooks is the better 3B
|
|
|
|
Post by nothingball on Nov 8, 2013 13:44:39 GMT -5
5th 5th start of the season and he plays 1B for the next 15 years Drew is the better shortstop & Middlebrooks is the better 3B I've been refreshing this page for 10 minutes waiting for someones reply... So, in the famous words of Cris Carter: "C'Mon, man..." |
|
