2021 Spring Training Discussion

[moonslav59]

Teeny, tiny sample sizes, but the Sox have 3 of MLB's top 11 in OPS (4 in the top 22):

1. Nimmo 2.036
2. Duran 1.845
4. Dalbec 1.800
11. Munoz 1.318
22. Arauz .909

(To qualify, players need 1.86 PA per team game played.)

[Kimmi]

Cora wants to put speedy players in the first couple of spots so the thumpers can bring them in. Kike is one of those. I suppose Verdugo would also fit. Got to be a decent hitter to be batting up front as it doesn't help to be fast if your OBP is low.

I like Verdugo leading off. I understand what Cora is trying to do, I just don't agree with it. At all. Your speedy players have more value hitting in front of your singles hitters rather than in front of the big bats. If he had speed and a good OBP, then that might be a different story.

[Larry Cook]

Interesting that Hernandez has two errors already this spring and barely a peep about it, but if that was devers making those errors this spring there would be 800 posts calling for him to be moved to first base!!!

[moonslav59]

Interesting that Hernandez has two errors already this spring and barely a peep about it, but if that was devers making those errors this spring there would be 800 posts calling for him to be moved to first base!!!

It's early, but EHern has been a minus at 2B over his career.

He's much better as a CF'er, and wow, imagine that- we need a CF'er.

[Larry Cook]

It's early, but EHern has been a minus at 2B over his career.

He's much better as a CF'er, and wow, imagine that- we need a CF'er.

Why does kora keep playing him at second base?

[moonslav59]

Why does kora keep playing him at second base?

I'm a huge Cora fan, but I'm baffled.

I can see, if they had hopes in Cordero in CF, but putting EHern at 2B and Verdugo in CF, it weakens 3-4 positions.

Maybe his plan is Duran in CF.

BTW, I don't expect to agree with everything a manger does, and I trust he knows more than I do.

[notin]

It's early, but EHern has been a minus at 2B over his career.

He's much better as a CF'er, and wow, imagine that- we need a CF'er.

I suppose Dave "Never Finished Lower Than 1st Place" Roberts is guilty of the same egregious error, since Hernandez has played over 1,000 innings at 2B in the last 3 years and only 500 in CF.

While the Sox need a CF, the non-Hernandez canddiates for the position are better than the non-Hernandez candidates for 2B. I'd rather see Cordero-Verdugo-Renfroe in the OF and EHern at 2B than seeing Arroyo in the everyday lineup...

[moonslav59]

I suppose Dave "Never Finished Lower Than 1st Place" Roberts is guilty of the same egregious error, since Hernandez has played over 1,000 innings at 2B in the last 3 years and only 500 in CF.

While the Sox need a CF, the non-Hernandez canddiates for the position are better than the non-Hernandez candidates for 2B. I'd rather see Cordero-Verdugo-Renfroe in the OF and EHern at 2B than seeing Arroyo in the everyday lineup...

The choice is really Cordero and Renroe vs off-handed pitchers vs Arroyo/Chavis/Gonzalez.

A Renfroe-Cordero platoon is much better than each playing everyday.

Here are the career splits:

vs RHP
.786 Cordero (243 PAs)
.740 Chavis (168 PAs)
.732 Gonzalez
.717 Renfroe
.678 Arroyo (176 PAs)
.673 EHern

vs LHPs
.912 Renfroe
.820 EHern
.724 Gonzalez
.699 Chavis
.597 Arroyo (129 PAs)
.573 Cordero (72 PAs)

There are better offensive options based on some small sample sizes, but when you factor in defense, I'm not so sure keeping EHern at 2B is the best idea.

Okay, let's say Chavis starts in AAA, and we discount Marwin's trashcan-banging season and just compare Arroy0 (.678) to Renfroe (.717) vs RHPs. Is Renfroe really that much better, off handed, as to make up the difference on defense at 3-4 positions? (worse at 2B, RF, CF and maybe LF)

Versus LHPs, Renfroe and EHern are playing- no doubt. So, who is the next best? Fine, throw out Chavis and Marwin, again, and Arroyo still looks better than Cordero on offense, small sample sizes and all.

[moonslav59]

I suppose Dave "Never Finished Lower Than 1st Place" Roberts is guilty of the same egregious error, since Hernandez has played over 1,000 innings at 2B in the last 3 years and only 500 in CF.

Look at the OF'ers Dave had to choose from:

2018-2020 Innings in Dodger OF:
1926 Bellinger
1859 Pederson
1052 C Tavlor
987 Pollock
965 Puig
923 Verdugo
849 EHern
441 Betts

You don't see Cordero and Renfroe as belonging in that group?

[notin]

Look at the OF'ers Dave had to choose from:

2018-2020 Innings in Dodger OF:
1926 Bellinger
1859 Pederson
1052 C Tavlor
987 Pollock
965 Puig
923 Verdugo
849 EHern
441 Betts

You don't see Cordero and Renfroe as belonging in that group?

If the group includes Chris Taylor, why not?

Of course, the Dodgers already had Hernandez when they acquired Betts, Pollock, Verdugo and Taylor. Yet they still kept acquiring outfielders...