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Chasing a Gold Glover: Ceddanne Rafaela
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Post by patford on Dec 30, 2022 22:48:28 GMT -5
I think the idea of Rafaela breaking camp with the team is crazy tbh, I mean I guess if there’s some sort of horrific plane accident then maybe it will happen You can absolutely ruin players by bringing them up too early. We shouldn’t be prioritizing marginal short terms gains over the bigger picture. He doesn’t have an approach yet. Do what’s best for him long term. The best way to premier a young unproven player is to bring them up to fill a slot where there is a need because someone is on the 10 day IL. Rafaela would be a good example of that because SS and CF are positions where defense is very important. What sometimes happens is a player comes up and does so well it's "impossible" to send them back down. There are players whose hit tool seems to play at all levels. In any event there is no huge pressure in a situation like that. When a young player is ruined or badly set back it's more common that they are plugged in and expected to start or play a big role.
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ericmvan
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Post by ericmvan on Dec 31, 2022 0:45:43 GMT -5
I think the idea of Rafaela breaking camp with the team is crazy tbh, I mean I guess if thereâs some sort of horrific plane accident then maybe it will happen You can absolutely ruin players by bringing them up too early. We shouldnât be prioritizing marginal short terms gains over the bigger picture. He doesnât have an approach yet. Do whatâs best for him long term. The best way to premier a young unproven player is to bring them up to fill a slot where there is a need because someone is on the 10 day IL. Rafaela would be a good example of that because SS and CF are positions where defense is very important. What sometimes happens is a player comes up and does so well it's "impossible" to send them back down. There are players whose hit tool seems to play at all levels. In any event there is no huge pressure in a situation like that. When a young player is ruined or badly set back it's more common that they are plugged in and expected to start or play a big role. This is a very savvy point. Bello doesn't seem to have been harmed at all by his premature stint. Mookie his rookie season hit .244 / .279 / .366 in 44 PA in hist first two callups. When he was called up for good he had a .566 OPS in his first 5 games ... and then went .318 / .400 / .492 the rest of the way, in 150 PA.
What's most interesting to me is how other players may affect Rafaela's immediate future. He clearly projects best in CF and less well at SS, but the offensive bar for the latter is much lower, and the difference is likely small. So if SS is your need, I don't think you'd hesitate to use him there until Meyer was ready. So how Kiké, the SS TBD, and Meyer all perform this year will have an impact on him this year. There's a scenario where Kiké is killing it again, the new SS is nothing special, and Meyer is progressing normally, where having Rafaela concentrate on SS is a no-brainer. There's a scenario where it increasingly looks like Kikéâs 2021 was not repeatable, the new SS is rocking it, and Meyer's ETA has moved up to early-mid '04, where Rafaela is in CF almost entirely. And of course there are a bunch of other combinations that would be less obvious to deal with.
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Post by awalkinthepark on Dec 31, 2022 1:09:06 GMT -5
I think the idea of Rafaela breaking camp with the team is crazy tbh, I mean I guess if there’s some sort of horrific plane accident then maybe it will happen You can absolutely ruin players by bringing them up too early. We shouldn’t be prioritizing marginal short terms gains over the bigger picture. He doesn’t have an approach yet. Do what’s best for him long term. Can you give an example of a player that was ruined because they were brought up to the majors too early?
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cdj
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Post by cdj on Dec 31, 2022 1:13:32 GMT -5
I think the idea of Rafaela breaking camp with the team is crazy tbh, I mean I guess if there’s some sort of horrific plane accident then maybe it will happen You can absolutely ruin players by bringing them up too early. We shouldn’t be prioritizing marginal short terms gains over the bigger picture. He doesn’t have an approach yet. Do what’s best for him long term. Can you give an example of a player that was ruined because they were brought up to the majors too early? Just immediately off the top of my head we certainly set Bradley’s development back by rushing him up. And that’s without any thought put into it Certainly didn’t help Craig Hansen either He doesn’t have an approach, he’ll get eaten alive by MLB pitching and it could impact his confidence. Let him at least figure out AA pitching before penciling him into the big league lineup. Im excited about him but let’s pump the brakes a bit
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Post by thegoodthebadthesox on Dec 31, 2022 1:21:00 GMT -5
Can you give an example of a player that was ruined because they were brought up to the majors too early? Just immediately off the top of my head we certainly set Bradley’s development back by rushing him up. And that’s without any thought put into it Certainly didn’t help Craig Hansen either He doesn’t have an approach, he’ll get eaten alive by MLB pitching and it could impact his confidence. Let him at least figure out AA pitching before penciling him into the big league lineup. Im excited about him but let’s pump the brakes a bit Also if you’re getting away from Sox-specific comps, Kelenic is kind of the modern poster boy for this.
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cdj
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Post by cdj on Dec 31, 2022 1:23:35 GMT -5
Just immediately off the top of my head we certainly set Bradley’s development back by rushing him up. And that’s without any thought put into it Certainly didn’t help Craig Hansen either He doesn’t have an approach, he’ll get eaten alive by MLB pitching and it could impact his confidence. Let him at least figure out AA pitching before penciling him into the big league lineup. Im excited about him but let’s pump the brakes a bit Also if you’re getting away from Sox-specific comps, Kelenic is kind of the modern poster boy for this. x1000 Probably the peak example
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Post by keninten on Dec 31, 2022 1:50:16 GMT -5
It really depends on the player, some just thrive on pressure or being told they can`t do something (Pedroia) especially the top players. Conigliaro, Griffey Jr., A-Rod, Yount. Beltre, Kaline, Mantle, Harper just to name a few. The coaching staff has to recognize what each player has.
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cdj
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Post by cdj on Dec 31, 2022 2:38:48 GMT -5
It really depends on the player, some just thrive on pressure or being told they can`t do something (Pedroia) especially the top players. Conigliaro, Griffey Jr., A-Rod, Yount. Beltre, Kaline, Mantle, Harper just to name a few. The coaching staff has to recognize what each player has. Sure but those are all HOF talents that you just listed. Rafaela is probably going to be a lot of fun but there are clear holes in his game
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Post by wcsoxfan on Dec 31, 2022 9:59:01 GMT -5
It's always good for prospects (especially those on the 40) to get a shot at making the team out of spring training, but I believe in the 'hope for the best but plan for the worst' philosophy of roster building.
In terms of Rafaela, it only makes sense for him to make the team if the Red Sox believe he's a substantial upgrade to what they have AND believe the difference is worth sacrificing his long term team control.
If Rafaela is expected to be a star player, losing the extra half year (extra year minus time in AAA waiting for super 2 status to pass) of team control at a minimum salary is substantial (slightly lessened by new rules).
If Rafaela is to be a 2-war player, even right away, then he doesn't upgrade any position and would be a part-time player losing plate appearances and possibly hindering his development. Only Turner (age/DH) and the catchers project for less than 2-war among projected starters - assuming a full-time starting role/health.
Rafaela doesn't have many holes in his game. He primarily has a single hole, one that is worrisome but correctable (theoretically) with experience. If he can learn to lay off outside pitches he should be a starter, or perhaps a star. If he doesn't, he likely becomes a backup and/or up-and-down player. No need to rush him in my opinion - hopefully he makes improvements and is ready by mid-to-late 2023.
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Post by umassgrad2005 on Dec 31, 2022 11:06:26 GMT -5
Fire Bloom right now if he won't call up a guy because he wants to maximize a players 6 years! Huge difference between Casas and Rafaela. Ones an average type defender at 1B, which has the 2nd highest bar for a bat. The other can potentially play great defense at SS and CF, which gives him the 2nd and 3rd lowest bars besides catcher. Not saying I don't agree, I'm not rushing him because we could use him. Yet if he hits like last year again, he should be on a fast track to Boston. His path to being valuable is much easier than Casas because of his D at premium positions. Casas also has from what I've seen a very advanced bat for a guy who was playing minor league baseball and a refined approach at the plate, something Rafaela does not have nor is he very close to having it from what I can tell. I do agree that Rafaela either way offers value with his defense, I mean Grisham batted under .200 and still put up a little over 2fWAR based off just his defense. Still I see no reason to rush up a guy who has played a grand total of 71 games above A ball. I guess I could see how my comment may be portrayed as me saying keep guys down in the minors as long as possible which isn't what I am advocating for, hell if they think Rafaela is ready for opening day call him up. I'd be A-okay with it but like I said he really needs to work on his approach at the plate because if he continues to swing at just about every pitch he sees in or out of the zone pitchers are going to throw him junk and he's going to chase it a rate that won't let him add any value with his bat. He's not Casas, if he had that approach he'd be one of the best prospects in Baseball. He's been in system 5 years, 4 years of minor league experience. His approach is his approach. His first experience with advanced pitching didn't result in a huge jump in strikeouts. It actually resulted in his best season with his bat. So I don't know if I agree. If your theory was correct shouldn't he have seen a huge jump in strikeouts? There’s a difference in chasing pitches you shouldn't that with his plus bat speed he can hit versus chasing pitches you can't hit and leads to strikeouts. By all accounts the exact opposite happened, he made better contact with his bat than ever. I can't find minor league stat cast data on him, yet looking at the numbers I would expect it greatly improved. That's the key for him in my book. Quality of contact. If that continues into AAA, he's ready. He's basically at the same spot experience wise as Casas was. He's going to be a glove first player. You want to dream on upside maybe by his prime he adjusts over the years. Yet at this point I don't see more minor league baseball changing his approach if you haven't done that in 5 years.
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Post by awalkinthepark on Dec 31, 2022 11:16:42 GMT -5
Can you give an example of a player that was ruined because they were brought up to the majors too early? Just immediately off the top of my head we certainly set Bradley’s development back by rushing him up. And that’s without any thought put into it Certainly didn’t help Craig Hansen either He doesn’t have an approach, he’ll get eaten alive by MLB pitching and it could impact his confidence. Let him at least figure out AA pitching before penciling him into the big league lineup. Im excited about him but let’s pump the brakes a bit How do you know JBJ would have struggled less at the major level if he had more time in the minors? That's why I don't buy the argument. I don't know how you can separate out 'struggling from being called up too early' vs. 'struggling because major league baseball is difficult'. Was Duran called up too early? Xander had an 81 wRC+ his rookie year as a 21 year old, was that because he was rushed or because he was just young?
I am not trying to say that Rafaela is ready right now, just that I don't really think anyone knows what rushing to the majors even looks like. There is absolutely development that happens at the major league level.
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Post by Chris Hatfield on Dec 31, 2022 12:02:38 GMT -5
Casas also has from what I've seen a very advanced bat for a guy who was playing minor league baseball and a refined approach at the plate, something Rafaela does not have nor is he very close to having it from what I can tell. I do agree that Rafaela either way offers value with his defense, I mean Grisham batted under .200 and still put up a little over 2fWAR based off just his defense. Still I see no reason to rush up a guy who has played a grand total of 71 games above A ball. I guess I could see how my comment may be portrayed as me saying keep guys down in the minors as long as possible which isn't what I am advocating for, hell if they think Rafaela is ready for opening day call him up. I'd be A-okay with it but like I said he really needs to work on his approach at the plate because if he continues to swing at just about every pitch he sees in or out of the zone pitchers are going to throw him junk and he's going to chase it a rate that won't let him add any value with his bat. He's not Casas, if he had that approach he'd be one of the best prospects in Baseball. He's been in system 5 years, 4 years of minor league experience. His approach is his approach. His first experience with advanced pitching didn't result in a huge jump in strikeouts. It actually resulted in his best season with his bat. So I don't know if I agree. If your theory was correct shouldn't he have seen a huge jump in strikeouts? There’s a difference in chasing pitches you shouldn't that with his plus bat speed he can hit versus chasing pitches you can't hit and leads to strikeouts. By all accounts the exact opposite happened, he made better contact with his bat than ever. I can't find minor league stat cast data on him, yet looking at the numbers I would expect it greatly improved. That's the key for him in my book. Quality of contact. If that continues into AAA, he's ready. He's basically at the same spot experience wise as Casas was. He's going to be a glove first player. You want to dream on upside maybe by his prime he adjusts over the years. Yet at this point I don't see more minor league baseball changing his approach if you haven't done that in 5 years. As we've said all year, the thing with Rafaela is that he has good enough bat-to-ball skills that when he chases, it translates to poor contract rather than whiffs, so he doesn't strike out at a bad clip. It's the type of profile that MLB and even Triple-A pitchers are going to be able to exploit much more effectively. As for "he's been in the system for five years, he is what he is," he's 22!! If he were born in the US and went to college, he'd be been drafted in 2022. You've been posting here long enough to know how that works with IFAs.
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Post by umassgrad2005 on Dec 31, 2022 12:48:23 GMT -5
He's not Casas, if he had that approach he'd be one of the best prospects in Baseball. He's been in system 5 years, 4 years of minor league experience. His approach is his approach. His first experience with advanced pitching didn't result in a huge jump in strikeouts. It actually resulted in his best season with his bat. So I don't know if I agree. If your theory was correct shouldn't he have seen a huge jump in strikeouts? There’s a difference in chasing pitches you shouldn't that with his plus bat speed he can hit versus chasing pitches you can't hit and leads to strikeouts. By all accounts the exact opposite happened, he made better contact with his bat than ever. I can't find minor league stat cast data on him, yet looking at the numbers I would expect it greatly improved. That's the key for him in my book. Quality of contact. If that continues into AAA, he's ready. He's basically at the same spot experience wise as Casas was. He's going to be a glove first player. You want to dream on upside maybe by his prime he adjusts over the years. Yet at this point I don't see more minor league baseball changing his approach if you haven't done that in 5 years. As we've said all year, the thing with Rafaela is that he has good enough bat-to-ball skills that when he chases, it translates to poor contract rather than whiffs, so he doesn't strike out at a bad clip. It's the type of profile that MLB and even Triple-A pitchers are going to be able to exploit much more effectively. As for "he's been in the system for five years, he is what he is," he's 22!! If he were born in the US and went to college, he'd be been drafted in 2022. You've been posting here long enough to know how that works with IFAs. You'd say the same thing going from short season and A ball to AA no? The most advanced pitching he's faced to date and by the number it sure seems his quality of contact got better not worse. That's not a good sign? As I said quality of contact when he reaches AAA. It's like over a decade now, developmental time in minors as part of a major league club full-time is better than College. The Devers and Bogaerts reaching majors at young age was helped by entering the system at a younger age. Betts and Casas because they came from high school and didn't go to College.
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Post by thegoodthebadthesox on Dec 31, 2022 13:48:32 GMT -5
Just immediately off the top of my head we certainly set Bradley’s development back by rushing him up. And that’s without any thought put into it Certainly didn’t help Craig Hansen either He doesn’t have an approach, he’ll get eaten alive by MLB pitching and it could impact his confidence. Let him at least figure out AA pitching before penciling him into the big league lineup. Im excited about him but let’s pump the brakes a bit How do you know JBJ would have struggled less at the major level if he had more time in the minors? That's why I don't buy the argument. I don't know how you can separate out 'struggling from being called up too early' vs. 'struggling because major league baseball is difficult'. Was Duran called up too early? Xander had an 81 wRC+ his rookie year as a 21 year old, was that because he was rushed or because he was just young?
I am not trying to say that Rafaela is ready right now, just that I don't really think anyone knows what rushing to the majors even looks like. There is absolutely development that happens at the major league level.
Yes there is development that happens at the major league level but the point you’re missing is that Rafaela’s specific development should probably happen at the minor league level so he isn’t the worst hitter in the MLB which is a) not developing him and b) bad for the Red Sox who are trying to win games.
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Post by stevedillard on Dec 31, 2022 13:54:55 GMT -5
If our philosophy going forward is to rely on players' peak cost-controlled years, and walk away thereafter, let's not waste a year or two by having them fill in gaps on a bad roster and learn the ropes -- all at the cost of service time.
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Post by jodyreidnichols on Jan 1, 2023 8:32:57 GMT -5
It really depends on the player, some just thrive on pressure or being told they can`t do something (Pedroia) especially the top players. Conigliaro, Griffey Jr., A-Rod, Yount. Beltre, Kaline, Mantle, Harper just to name a few. The coaching staff has to recognize what each player has. Sure but those are all HOF talents that you just listed. Rafaela is probably going to be a lot of fun but there are clear holes in his game Rafaela is the real X factor of our farm system. Becuase of his versatile and elite defense if his offense can even be slightly above average, in the majors, he'd be an extremely vaulable player for us. or anyone for that matter. He does however chase pitches out of the zone. Is there a chance he's like the rare batter akin to Vladimir Guerrero (Sr.) who can consistently make good contact chasing bad pitches? If not then it is a big concern in his developement especially as he reaches the upper levels in the minors. Another observation I see commonly forgot or not understood by to many here is that even the best of the best prospects often take a while in MLB to find their own level. The great Ted Williams stated don't judge a hitter until he's had 1,000 at bats and don't judge a pitchers until he's pitched 500 IP. This means it takes about 2 years for batters and that used to be about 2 years for pitches, that's changed some. Far more often than not he's dead on. That said I'm confused with the optimism of Cassas season. I understand the optimism just not the timeline. Sure it could happen this season but chances are he takes until next season to find his own level and even that is optmistic regarding how quickly his bat approaches his ultimate ceiling. We shall see.
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jimoh
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Post by jimoh on Jan 1, 2023 8:42:09 GMT -5
Sure but those are all HOF talents that you just listed. Rafaela is probably going to be a lot of fun but there are clear holes in his game Rafaela is the real X factor of our farm system. Becuase of his versatile and elite defense if his offense can even be slightly above average, in the majors, he'd be an extremely vaulable player for us. or anyone for that matter. He does however chase pitches out of the zone. Is there a chance he's like the rare batter akin to Vladimir Guerrero (Sr.) who can consistently make good contact chasing bad pitches? If not then it is a big concern in his developement especially as he reaches the upper levels in the minors. [...] I'm pretty sure that scouts and interviewed Red Sox people have said repeatedly that the problem with his pitch selection is that he far too often swings at pitches he can only hit weakly.
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Post by maxwellsdemon on Jan 1, 2023 10:38:03 GMT -5
So to sum up: Rafaela's floor seems to be JBJ in center field AND Jose Iglesias at shortstop. Let's be realistic, the best mlb pitchers will give him trouble, but not all of them. And if/when he improves his approach as he matures he has an All Star ceiling. To me he is an untouchable asset except in an overwhelming exchange for a top mlb talent. Could he flame out? Absolutely. But I sure don't want to be saying in a couple of years "Why can't we get players like that?"
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jan 1, 2023 11:16:33 GMT -5
So to sum up: Rafaela's floor seems to be JBJ in center field AND Jose Iglesias at shortstop. Let's be realistic, the best mlb pitchers will give him trouble, but not all of them. And if/when he improves his approach as he matures he has an All Star ceiling. To me he is an untouchable asset except in an overwhelming exchange for a top mlb talent. Could he flame out? Absolutely. But I sure don't want to be saying in a couple of years "Why can't we get players like that?" Yup, 2 capable CF playing CF and RF for the Sox at Fenway is always ideal, as JBJ and Betts were phenomenal. Not hard one day down the road a few years to imagine Rafaela playing like JBJ defensively in CF and Miguel Bleis taking his exciting bat and CF skills to RF. Obviously Rafaela will reach Boston first as Bleis is a long way away, but it's a realistic dream to have.
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Post by thegoodthebadthesox on Jan 1, 2023 11:26:56 GMT -5
So to sum up: Rafaela's floor seems to be JBJ in center field AND Jose Iglesias at shortstop. Let's be realistic, the best mlb pitchers will give him trouble, but not all of them. And if/when he improves his approach as he matures he has an All Star ceiling. To me he is an untouchable asset except in an overwhelming exchange for a top mlb talent. Could he flame out? Absolutely. But I sure don't want to be saying in a couple of years "Why can't we get players like that?" That is absolutely not the FLOOR
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Post by maxwellsdemon on Jan 1, 2023 16:57:40 GMT -5
I believe I said he could flame out, which would be his floor. However if he can hit .210 with his D he on an mlb roster and of its 225 he's a starter in a league where 240 was league average. SO yes, his floor is he never makes it at all, but if he does then he is a combination of JBJ and Iglesias (maybe not quite in that class as ss but close) both of whom have/had careers based on their gloves not their bats. But if you deliberately tried to ignore the point I was making which included the qualofication and decided you'd rather then nevermind.
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Post by thegoodthebadthesox on Jan 1, 2023 20:12:06 GMT -5
I believe I said he could flame out, which would be his floor. However if he can hit .210 with his D he on an mlb roster and of its 225 he's a starter in a league where 240 was league average. SO yes, his floor is he never makes it at all, but if he does then he is a combination of JBJ and Iglesias (maybe not quite in that class as ss but close) both of whom have/had careers based on their gloves not their bats. But if you deliberately tried to ignore the point I was making which included the qualofication and decided you'd rather then nevermind. No, you just worded the post terribly lol. A scenario in which he is as good as those two guys defensively at their respective positions is the ceiling.
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Post by dcb26 on Jan 1, 2023 20:19:06 GMT -5
SO yes, his floor is he never makes it at all, but if he does then he is a combination of JBJ and Iglesias (maybe not quite in that class as ss but close) For me, this is the part I disagree with. His CF defense gives him a relatively high floor, but I think you are are underrating JBJ and Iglesias or overrating Rafaela if you see it as a forgone conclusion that he can have one of their careers (nevermind both/at two different positions) just by having a batting avg in the .200 - .240 range. Related, does anybody have a good feel for his overall ss defense at this point? I see plenty of reports about his OF defense but see and hear a lot less about ss, aside from a few highlight-reel plays
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Post by maxwellsdemon on Jan 1, 2023 21:53:33 GMT -5
When scouts and managers are saying that he is already one of the best CF in baseball (note not minor leagues, but all of baseball) I will take them at their word in which case he is already in a class with JBJ. Shortstop is more of stretch admittedly. But if he hits in that range he is with Bradley (career BA 227, OBP 306) Iglesias a different spread with a BA of 279 but OBP of 319. Again, I raised the possibility that he might flame out, but that only happens if/when he get to mlb and can't reach the Mendoza line. He is faster and more athletic than either of the comps I've given ever were so, yes if he hits at even somewhat below average for mlb then those guys are very arguably his floor. We will know, and soon, if that is the case.
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Post by soxinjersey on Jan 1, 2023 22:43:36 GMT -5
I found these two stat lines interesting:
G AB R H D T HR RBI BB K AVG OBP SLG OPS 77 275 57 78 12 2 13 52 49 63 .284 .395 .484 .879
71 284 45 79 15 6 12 50 16 62 .278 .330 .500 .830
If you enjoy looking at these kinds of things, as I do, you might recognize them as 1) Casas's stats at Portland in 2021 where he spent most of the year (with 33 AB at Worcester) 2) Rafaela's numbers at Portland in the second half of 2022 after putting up an OPS of .962 at Greenville in 197 AB in the first half of the season. Rafaela was perhaps a half-year older than Casas at this point in his career but had played only one previous season in full-season ball. Casas accumulated his numbers in his third year of full-season ball.
When I noticed the similarity, I was surprised because Rafaela's glove is usually mentioned before his bat and yet (by a little) he out-slugged Casas at Portland at essentially the same age, in a season in which Casas performed at a high level.
What, if anything, can we make of these numbers? My initial reaction was to think back to last off-season and how contributors here imagined Casas's role on the 2022 Sox. As I remember, most people expected to see Casas in Boston sometime in mid-season (June-July) perhaps a little sooner rather than later. I know that was my hope. We'll never know the Sox's plan because his mysterious ankle injury kept him out of action for a couple of months, about the time we might have expected him to be called up to Boston. In September, he made close to 100 PA. Is it unreasonable to hope for a similar timetable for Rafaela this coming season if he performs well in Worcester in the first half of the season? I hope to see him in July.
One striking difference between the records of Casas and Rafaela: Casas throughout his career has been consistently successful, better than I expected before I looked at the numbers. As many here have emphasized, he has been especially good at controlling at-bats and compiling high OBP's (whereas Rafaela rarely walks). For Rafaela, in contrast, nothing in his early career foreshadowed this break-out season, which is what makes it so intriguing and perhaps problematic. Will he be another Antoni Flores/Gilberto Jimenez, or is he for real? It seems foolish to rush him before testing his progress for a half-year in Worcester, but if he performs well there, I certainly hope to see him in Boston at some point in 2023. In this winter of discontent, the Sox have to hope that young players will reignite fan enthusiasm, and Rafaela apparently plays a style which could help do so.
How do the Sox help a player like Rafaela develop? That's what interests me the most because I'm not sure how well the Sox do this kind of thing. Obviously, I know nothing about what they have done or not done, but I hope they identify what has enabled Rafaela to make his remarkable jump and help him stay on the same track while refining his talents. If he has mostly found his own way (as many athletes I have known have done), let him continue to do so. He clearly is an aggressive hitter who impacts the ball. Don't take that away from him in an effort to make him fit some kind of organizational philosophy. I'm guessing (of course), but I suspect that many of Bobby Dalbec's problems come from trying to reduce his K rate instead of maximizing what he does best: hitting for power. Most athletes that I know have tapes going through their minds, and they are often counter-productive. As long as Rafaela is successful, let him be himself because his tapes are working.
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