6/17 Gameday Thread: It’s Mata’s day and Faddah’s Day

Cottam, Duran, and Ortega making their Red Sox debuts. Cottam is the highest ranked draft pick so far to make his debut.

I suppose the "silver lining" is that 2/3s of his pitches were strikes. Small comfort!

Bobby Dalbec with another bomb, leading the Carolina League with 14 (and 10th in OPS, which is pretty impressive with a BA hovering just above the Mendoza line). Really wish he could figure out the contact issues, because 85 whiffs in 260 PA or so is just way too high, especially for A ball. Gotta hope something clicks for him, because the power is no-joke legit. On the bright side Espinal is 9th in the league in OPS with a terrific K rate, a BA over .300 with some pop (7 HR in Salem is pretty strong work), and good defense. Wondering when he gets the move to AA.

Also sad, but good to see: old friend X Basabe is having a very nice bounce-back year in his second go-‘round of high A, at .266/.370/.502 with 12/5/9 2b/3b/HR. Still just 21.

Dalbec isn't going to start pitching until its too late unfortunately.

I went to Norwich for the finale of the Lowell series. Pantoja was 89 to 92 with his fastball. He had trouble throwing his breaking pitches for strikes as four of them found the dirt in the first two innings. He then went almost exclusively to fastballs from the third inning on and did well. With two outs in the fifth, Alvarado laid down a perfect bunt down the third base line. Yorvin really had no chance to get him but still tried to make a play. He planted and did a 180 on his left ankle, throwing falling down. He had to be helped off the field but seemed to put some weight on it leaving so I don't think it's broken, but he may miss some time.

I didn't think Cottam looked out of place behind the plate. His throws to second seemed adequate between innings but were off on stolen base attempts during the game. His single in his first at bat was a swinging bunt to third that the third baseman didn't make a throw on.

Yeah, I have serious concerns but the kid’s gotta get his shot. He’s at an age-appropriate level. I mean, if he struggles for three years, you switch him up at 25. But not 22. 70-grade power (and the ability to get on base despite atrocious swing-and-miss) is uncommon, to say the least. I think he’s got real improvement coming. Whether it’s enough is another story. But he’s way too young to pull the plug.

As a counter example, look at Weems. Former 3rd rounder (?) who converted at 24/25 and has been pretty outstanding. Or Jerez. There’s no guarantee those conversion guys make it as pitchers, either. Give them their best shot, and change it up only if they PROVE they can’t make it as positional players.

You're assuming they have a better chance of making the majors in the latter role, though. If the player is even more of a longshot in the latter role, then no, you shouldn't switch him.

Your suggestion would only really apply as a theory in a situation where the team is developing a prospect on one side of the ball because of the higher reward, but the other side of the ball presents a better certainty of making the majors, or something like that. But in a hypothetical situation where a guy, say, has a 25% chance of making it as a third baseman and a 10% chance of making it as a pitcher, you'd be nuts to pull the plug on the former because the longer you wait the smaller the chance he makes it as a pitcher becomes.

In Dalbec's specific case, don't discount the fact that he has stated on the record multiple times that he strongly disliked pitching and was very happy not to have to do it anymore. That alone is a reason to wait until it's absolutely clear he's not going to cut it at third base before attempting a switch - you always need the player's full buy-in or it's not going to work. Looking back, for example, it's very clear that the program the Red Sox designed for Casey Kelly after he was drafted was designed to get his full buy-in to pitch rather than play shortstop.

Pretty much agree across the board with Chris.

It's a lot of "if" and how to maximize area under the curve (reward*chance of achieving reward). And it starts with the simple "starting him pitching at 22 means greater chance of MLB success than at 25" which isnt' even established. In my mind his strikeouts make him a 1% chance of making majors as a hitter, so my assessment is skewed from anyone who sees him as a possible hitter.

I will have *ZERO* problem embracing any success he has... would love to see it.