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Post by JackieWilsonsaid on Apr 9, 2013 11:57:49 GMT -5
I recently listened to a semi famous baseball authority wax on about the future of MLB in the testing era and how Speed and D would become the dominant skill set.
Looking to maximize these two factors, I came up with the following lineup
projection for the Sox in 2015.
What says you?
1. RF - JBJ.
2. 3B - Cecchini
3. CF - Ells
4. 1B - Xan
5. DH - Lavarnway
6. LF - Brentz
7. C - Swihart
8. 2B - Marrero
9. SS - Inglesias
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Post by iakovos11 on Apr 9, 2013 12:57:49 GMT -5
Not sure the point of this? Is it a prediction?
Swihart won't be close to ready in 2015.
I'd be STUNNED if Cecchini is at 3b over WMB
Marrero won't be taking over Pedey by 2015 - and likely not ever (why waste is elite - or nearly elite - SS defense at 2b?)
Xander would be much better utilized in LF - or RF - if he's not sticking at SS
Ellsbury is not resigning with Boston. And even if he did, JBJ is a better CF. JBJ in CF and Ells in LF.
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Post by fenwaythehardway on Apr 9, 2013 17:36:16 GMT -5
Every single year, we have someone doing one of these "ZOMG! The Red Sox are going to have an awesome all-homegrown team in 2-3 years!" posts, and-- spoiler alert-- it never works out. A few years back, it was Lar Anderson at first, Michael Bowden in the rotation, Ryan Kalish in the outfield... etc. But prospects just don't work that way.
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Post by JackieWilsonsaid on Apr 10, 2013 20:28:42 GMT -5
I recently listened to a semi famous baseball authority wax on about the future of MLB in the testing era and how Speed and D would become the dominant skill set. Looking to maximize these two factors, I came up with the following lineup projection for the Sox in 2015. What says you? 1. RF - JBJ. 2. 3B - Cecchini 3. CF - Ells 4. 1B - Xan 5. DH - Lavarnway 6. LF - Brentz 7. C - Swihart 8. 2B - Marrero 9. SS - Inglesias There were a couple points to my post. There is no way this lineup ever occurs, understood. But the premise as stated was is the movement reducing power and increasing the importance of speed and d real? If so, what are the best options position by position? Perhaps this is of no import or interest. I find the premise fascinating |
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Post by fenwaythehardway on Apr 11, 2013 9:06:09 GMT -5
I recently listened to a semi famous baseball authority wax on about the future of MLB in the testing era and how Speed and D would become the dominant skill set. This is nonsense. The idea that testing only affects power is frankly absurd to me. Does Lance Armstrong look like a power hitter to you? Can we just not bother to test Olympic sprinters because, hey, there's no PEDs that help people run faster? Marlon Byrd served a 50 game suspension last year, did that bring power numbers down? Dozens of pitchers have been caught. And that's before we even get into the amphetamine ban; you know, those things that the speed-and-defense guys in the 70s and 80s took by the handful. There's so many facts that contradict this premise it's hard for me to even organize them all in a cohesive paragraph. But, Jeff Bagwell did have those ripping biceps, so yeah, we're probably seeing more speed and defense because of steroid testing. |
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Post by beasleyrockah on Apr 11, 2013 15:12:28 GMT -5
I disagree with the base assertion here, finding impact power bats takes on more importance as the ability gets more scarce.
With the caveat that I find these projections relatively pointless, I still don't understand the strategy here. The only guy the organization would be investing in long term would be Ellsbury. He has durability concerns, a skill set heavily reliant on speed that may not age well over the course of his next deal, and most important the Red Sox have a ready made replacement in JBJ. Instead, they'd put the inferior defender in CF and minimize JBJ's value by putting him in RF...all while banking on Ellsbury to be the middle of the order hitter he's only been for one (seemingly) fluke season.
The infield would be built around Iglesias and as a result decrease the value of both Bogaerts and Marrero by moving them to positions they don't need to be moved to. The two best building blocks (Middlebrooks and Pedroia) are forced out of the lineup with nothing to show for it. Why? It's a waste of assets in almost every possible way. The team should be built around Bogaerts, JBJ, Middlebrooks and Pedroia not Ellsbury, Iglesias, etc.
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Post by onbase on Apr 12, 2013 12:47:09 GMT -5
If the topic had been posted without a lineup, would the response would be less snarky?
How does increased testing impact the skill sets a team looks for in the draft and / or free agent market?
Not at all?
FTHW makes a good point about about PED's increasing speed as well as power.
But are there perhaps more players who can benefit from a power boost than from a speed boost?
If so, in the absence of testing, doesn't that change the balance of a lineup?
Beasley points out that power being scarce makes it even more valuable.
That may be true but doesn't it also mean you're likely to have fewer power guys in your lineup?
Do speed and D guys have more value if your lineup's power is concentrated in fewer players?
I think geting on base is still more important than speed, but first to third or scoring from first on a double do matter more in the absence of home run power.
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Post by fenwaythehardway on Apr 12, 2013 14:49:20 GMT -5
FTHW makes a good point about about PED's increasing speed as well as power. But are there perhaps more players who can benefit from a power boost than from a speed boost? If so, in the absence of testing, doesn't that change the balance of a lineup?There's any number of PEDs available that can enhance any number of physical attributes. This is all guesswork at best. I have no idea. I don't think anyone does, although that will do nothing to change the narrative. |
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