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Post by dewey1972 on Jan 30, 2014 22:54:13 GMT -5
The flip side of that argument is that if the Red Sox don't think Betts can play shortstop, they're wise to shield him and not show other teams that. Having him and Marrero on the same team gives them an obvious and convenient excuse to do that. And with all due respect to Betts, the Red Sox had a chance to give him plenty of reps there in '13 when he played most of his innings with either Jose Vinicio or Nick Natoli at short. That may be a sign that the Sox just wanted to keep him hitting while he was comfortable at second base, but it might also just mean they think he's a second baseman. To me, alternating doesn't make sense. Marrero's value, and his path to the majors, is as a defensive shortstop. Betts' track is less obvious - I don't necessarily mean that as a negative, just that his career could go in several different directions and still be successful. Giving Betts some reps there once or twice a week when Marrero takes a day off (or is DH) is possible, but I don't think flipping the two between the positions is likely. EDIT: As Chris pointed out (and I forgot) Coyle is part of this discussion as well. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but I was under the impression that Marrero's defense is essentially big-league ready at this point. If that's the case, then it seems to me that alternating makes perfect sense. Marrero doesn't need the reps at short, he just needs the at bats to see if he can develop into a decent hitter. |
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Post by Guidas on Jan 31, 2014 12:04:18 GMT -5
In the podcast with Speier and Bradford, Keith Law says he thinks Webster is a reliever and as a starter his lack of control reduces him to a 2-pitch pitcher. Speier counters that he's had people in other orgs say he's the best Sox prospect next to Xander. audio.weei.com/a/86801959/keith-law-talks-about-his-top-100-prospects-of-2014.htmThe Sox front office really need to decide what they think he is if they want to maximize value and output. If they really think he's a number 1-2 starter who just needs a little refinement then of course you hold onto him. But if internally they see he is trending toward a reliever while other orgs looking from the outside are still dreaming him up to a #1 or #2, a trade for that kind of maximum return needs to happen before he becomes a pitching version of Lars Anderson. Really interesting podcast overall. One thing discussed are the potential developmental benefits to letting Bogaerts spend a little more time in AAA (and this did not include contract status) |
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Post by rjp313jr on Jan 31, 2014 13:37:15 GMT -5
What is the organization isn't sure and is torn on it? Sometimes it may be better to wait it out for the upside then to get what you can for him. Even if another organization is dreaming on him being a #1 or #2, you need to find one that is both so confident in that they'll give up something big for him AND that team will have to have something you want.
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Post by James Dunne on Jan 31, 2014 14:47:21 GMT -5
Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but I was under the impression that Marrero's defense is essentially big-league ready at this point. If that's the case, then it seems to me that alternating makes perfect sense. Marrero doesn't need the reps at short, he just needs the at bats to see if he can develop into a decent hitter. That would be the case if Marrero's path was on the Red Sox. My personal feeling is that he is a good bet to be traded within the next 24 months, and I think the Red Sox want that glove on display for as many scouts as possible. |
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Post by godot on Jan 31, 2014 15:22:45 GMT -5
James declaration on Marrero raises an interesting question, at least for me. Do they have a preset notion what they may want to do with a prospect like him or do they entertain various options and see how it plays out. For example, do they wait and see how X -Man handles the position, how Middlebrooks does, and whether there are other options than switching X- Man to third. Personally I feel it is open. They may need him at short.
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Post by moonstone2 on Jan 31, 2014 16:27:08 GMT -5
Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but I was under the impression that Marrero's defense is essentially big-league ready at this point. If that's the case, then it seems to me that alternating makes perfect sense. Marrero doesn't need the reps at short, he just needs the at bats to see if he can develop into a decent hitter. That would be the case if Marrero's path was on the Red Sox. My personal feeling is that he is a good bet to be traded within the next 24 months, and I think the Red Sox want that glove on display for as many scouts as possible. I wonder if the Red Sox or any other team really do that. The goal is obviously to help the farm system produce as much major league value as possible and worry about trades later. Besides, the scouts that regularly follow the Red Sox already know what he can do defensively. |
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Post by rjp313jr on Jan 31, 2014 16:50:27 GMT -5
James declaration on Marrero raises an interesting question, at least for me. Do they have a preset notion what they may want to do with a prospect like him or do they entertain various options and see how it plays out. For example, do they wait and see how X -Man handles the position, how Middlebrooks does, and whether there are other options than switching X- Man to third. Personally I feel it is open. They may need him at short. It's both. No team looks at a guy and says we are 100% going to trade him or keep him and if they do then they suck at their job. |
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Post by okin15 on Jan 31, 2014 17:39:27 GMT -5
Some tidbits: Alex Speier called Allen Webster the most polarizing player. Some of his sources had him as high as #2 on the Sox top ten, others had him out of the top 10. Law thinks he'll be a reliever. Law thought Betts was the most polarizing player. His pop-up status gave some of his sources an uneasy feeling, but he thought Betts' athleticism gives him an edge over Odor. Law praised Bogaerts' on base ability, but thought he's a little passive in hitters counts sometimes. He would like to see some more aggressiveness in hitting mistakes. He thinks Bogaerts is a legitimate shortstop. On the Bogaerts piece, it sounds like he's talking about the Bogaerts we saw in the Majors last year, and perhaps a little bit in Triple-A. Assuming that's how he meant the statement, I'm down with the characterization, but think it's because that's how Bogaerts was feeling out the level (after all, this is a second-hand representation of what he said - no disrespect to soxfanatic, but we've all played telephone and know how that goes). However, I think that's an inaccurate description if meant by anything beyond that. This is, after all, the same guy who walked once in 23 games at the end of 2012 while punishing pitches of all kinds, mistake or not. Law said he could even understand if they wanted him to go to AAA for a few weeks just to prove that he could be aggressive. I mean, if he looks lost or passive in ST, or after a little while in the majors, sure, but I gotta think playing on the big stage and feeling it all out had more to do with his "passivity" than anything else. I don't worry about his aggressiveness. He seems to have a good blend of that and patience. |
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Post by rjp313jr on Jan 31, 2014 20:05:59 GMT -5
Rodney found out how aggressive he could be the second time Bogey saw him. If there weren't a 36 ft wall 385 from home plate that ball may still be traveling. Smoke show.
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Post by JackieWilsonsaid on Jan 31, 2014 21:32:26 GMT -5
Law can be a dink.
In the World Series he was the sox second most dangerous hitter.
He is ready to protect Papi now in my humble opinion.
Let's get this party started!
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