I think the bigger issue this offseason was platooning starters. How many bullpen games did we have in the last few years, and we started a rookie in the deciding game of last year because we ran out of SP, early was terrific but got let down by the second major issue to resolve, which was we have had the worst defence in baseball for a number of years. So those two issues I think were priorities, power RH and as third, and after Alonso who went really early the other options never stacked up. SP is one of the best in baseball now and with durbin story Mayer Contreras I think our infield defense has improved significantly from last year. I know this type is positive energy may rock the boat but that’s just my two cents.
At some point they have to let the young guys go, and see for a few months if they can adjust to hitting lefties. Mayer, abreu, Roman, Durbin, etc need to adjust or then you turn to platooning, but I don’t think the have been given the opportunity. If you build your model around developing the kids which they have then you need to let them develop.
I think my issue is starting games platooning at so many spots all the time. The Red Sox of the past limited platooning starters.
Last year we regularly platooned at 4 positions. (I’m going to not include catcher as a platooning spot nor a lineup spot in this argument because catchers just get platooned, period and did in the past for the Sox, too). 1B, 2B, 3B and RF/an OF spot. Out of 8 batting order spots not including catcher, that’s half the order. I’m going to include DH as a potential problem because I’m really basing this off the Red Sox success since 2004.
If you look back at those WS teams and the deep playoff run teams, platooning happens at maybe a spot, often SS. We almost always knew, barring injuries, who the undisputed LF, RF, CF, 1B, 2B, 3B and DH was. We also knew who would be pitch hit and ran for regularly later in the games, for key AB’s or situations.
Going into this season, we are much like we’ve been for about 5 years, definitely like how we were last year. We are gonna have a platoon spot in the OF, 2B, and DH for sure. And maybe 3B, that remains to be seen what might happen there.
What it all comes down to is you don’t have 8 everyday players to stick on the field. They might have 5. Yes, I get the OF is partially because of having 4 guys potentially everyday players but because of rooster mismanagement it’s moot.
Good points. If Mayer is on the roster he will definitely be a platoon. Also I’m not convinced Abreu will play every day. Duran and Yoshida also. We will see plenty of Sogard, Eaton, and IKF against lefties this year. The only good news is that we now have a full time 1B.
I think the bigger issue this offseason was platooning starters. How many bullpen games did we have in the last few years, and we started a rookie in the deciding game of last year because we ran out of SP, early was terrific but got let down by the second major issue to resolve, which was we have had the worst defence in baseball for a number of years. So those two issues I think were priorities, power RH and as third, and after Alonso who went really early the other options never stacked up. SP is one of the best in baseball now and with durbin story Mayer Contreras I think our infield defense has improved significantly from last year. I know this type is positive energy may rock the boat but that’s just my two cents.
At some point they have to let the young guys go, and see for a few months if they can adjust to hitting lefties. Mayer, abreu, Roman, Durbin, etc need to adjust or then you turn to platooning, but I don’t think the have been given the opportunity. If you build your model around developing the kids which they have then you need to let them develop.
I think my issue is starting games platooning at so many spots all the time. The Red Sox of the past limited platooning starters.
Last year we regularly platooned at 4 positions. (I’m going to not include catcher as a platooning spot nor a lineup spot in this argument because catchers just get platooned, period and did in the past for the Sox, too). 1B, 2B, 3B and RF/an OF spot. Out of 8 batting order spots not including catcher, that’s half the order. I’m going to include DH as a potential problem because I’m really basing this off the Red Sox success since 2004.
If you look back at those WS teams and the deep playoff run teams, platooning happens at maybe a spot, often SS. We almost always knew, barring injuries, who the undisputed LF, RF, CF, 1B, 2B, 3B and DH was. We also knew who would be pitch hit and ran for regularly later in the games, for key AB’s or situations.
Going into this season, we are much like we’ve been for about 5 years, definitely like how we were last year. We are gonna have a platoon spot in the OF, 2B, and DH for sure. And maybe 3B, that remains to be seen what might happen there.
What it all comes down to is you don’t have 8 everyday players to stick on the field. They might have 5. Yes, I get the OF is partially because of having 4 guys potentially everyday players but because of rooster mismanagement it’s moot.
Good points. If Mayer is on the roster he will definitely be a platoon. Also I’m not convinced Abreu will play every day. Duran and Yoshida also. We will see plenty of Sogard, Eaton, and IKF against lefties this year. The only good news is that we now have a full time 1B.