Tag Archives: Sam Travis

Red Sox – Mariners 2019 Season Opening Series Preview

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The defending champs face off against a stripped down Seattle Mariners team in a four game series starting today in Seattle. Here’s what to look for as the Red Sox kick off the 2019 season.

Pitching Matchups/Schedule (TV)

3/28 Chris Sale vs Marco Gonzalez 7:10pm ESPN/NESN

3/29 Nathan Eovaldi vs Yusei Kikuchi 10:10pm NESN

3/30 Eduardo Rodriguez vs Mike Leake 9:10pm NESN

3/31 Rick Porcello vs Wade LeBlanc 4:10pm NESN

Notable Numbers

Rookie Yusei Kikuchi pitched well in his Major League debut in his Japanese homeland last week, allowing 2 runs (1 earned) in 4.1 Innings against the A’s. Long time watchers of the Sox know this team can struggle against pitchers they see for the first time. This could be a very interesting match-up, because Nathan Eovaldi went 2-6 with a 5.14 ERA on the road last year.

Chris Sale had an insane .766 WHIP on the road last year (just another Bugs Bunny number from 2018), going 8-2 in those situations. But the most important number will be his average fastball velocity. A low 90s number means he’s on track, high 90’s (on average) means there isn’t a plan for his long term health, 80s may signal shoulder weakness.

J.D. Martinez has 2 Home Runs and hit .384 against the three Mariners starters he’s seen.

Edwin Encarnacion could be trouble. In 86 career at bats against the Red Sox starters, he’s hit .314 with 6 Home Runs and 17 RBI.

What To Watch For

The Bullpen: Alex Cora told us he would reveal the closer when the situation presented itself in the regular season. Will we see Brasier in the 8th, Barnes in the 9th? Will Cora deploy the bullpen based purely on match-ups regardless of the inning? We should know a lot more after this series.

Sam Travis: With Steve Pearce down, Sam Travis gets to face left-handed starters in the early part of the season. If he performs well with this chance he could guarantee a lot more playing time throughout the season. He’ll face three left handed starters in this series. He only hit .244 in Spring Training so he’ll have to pick it up quickly.

Expectations

The Sox went 4-3 against the surprisingly competitive Mariners last year. Since then the M’s have traded Robinson Cano, Jean Seguara, Edwin Diaz, and James Paxton. They also lost Nelson Cruz to free agency. That would be their best everyday players, their Closer, and their Ace. They’ve brought in replacements Edwin Encarnacion, Yusei Kikuchi and Hunter Strickland, but that’s a big step down. They’re riding high and feeling confident after sweeping the As 2 – 0 in Japan.

The biggest question for the Red Sox is how they will play coming off winning the World Series in 2018. Going on the road is never easy, but the Sox are still a juggernaut and should win three of these games at least. It feels like the team wants to make a statement. A split will be a disappointment.

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Sam Travis Should Be on the Opening Day Roster

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Opening Day is only a few days away, and teams are finally starting to shape the opening day roster. For the Red Sox, pretty much everything is set into stone except for the bench. Yesterday, Deven Marrero was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks, suggesting Brock Hold will be on the bench.

One of the candidates for the Red Sox bench that I was most excited about was Sam Travis. After a tough past few seasons battling injuries, he finally started to hit the ball this spring. I thought for sure he would be on the bench to start the season. However, recently the Sox optioned him to AAA Pawtucket. Here are a few reasons why he should be on the bench Opening Day:

Sam Travis FINALLY BREAKING THROUGH

As I mentioned before, Sam Travis had a tough road to this point. Up until recently he’s been plagued with injuries. However, this spring he has looked great at the plate. He has started to look like the Sam Travis that the Red Sox organization was so high on.

So far in 2018 Spring Training, Travis has hit .274 with six home runs and 17 RBI. He is the team leader in home runs and RBIs with those totals. A lot of people like to make the argument that Spring Training numbers do not mean anything and they aren’t important. But I do not think that these numbers are luck. The numbers that Travis has put up this spring is a direct result of him finally being healthy.

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WHO ELSE?

If this had happened before the trade of Marrero, I suppose it would have made a little more sense. But after that deal, I start to wonder who will actually be on the Red Sox bench.

Obviously Brock Holt will be kept, who is also poised for a better season once that he is now healthy. Blake Swihart is also another guy that I believe will be on the bench to start the season. Just like Travis, he is putting up monstrous numbers to fight for his spot on the team, which he will more than likely get.

After those two, I really have no clue why anyone would want another option besides Travis. Realistically, the only other choice is Leon, which is understandable. You would not want to just have Vasquez and Swihart, two young catchers. It is always nice to keep a veteran at that position.

Considering that there are no other options besides those three, it looks like the Red Sox are running with three guys on the bench and eight guys in the bullpen. This is assuming they use a five man rotation.

You could make arguments for both sides, but I think the Red Sox are making a mistake here. I think Travis could have had the opportunity to give this team character and production to start the season. Hopefully he gets another chance at the major league level sooner rather than later.

 

Cover image courtesy of Baseball Hot Corner.

Sam Travis

Sam Travis at a Crossroads Entering 2018

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Spring Training so Far for Sam Travis

Last year the Red Sox had high hopes for Sam Travis. He hit well in the minors, and by some was seen as the first baseman of the future. That’s not how 2017 season went, and a year later Travis is unlikely to break camp with the Red Sox. He is blocked at first base by Hanley Ramirez and Mitch Moreland, who the Sox resigned to a two year deal in the offseason. The Red Sox have not given up on the Indiana product. He will need to bounce back at the plate and show more power. Travis will be one phone call away in Pawtucket and will be motivated to make it back.

Sam Travis

Photo Credit: Ap Photo/ Steven Senne

What Went Wrong in 2017

The Red Sox drafted Travis in the second round of the 2014 MLB draft. He didn’t have a lot of hype coming out of the draft but he was a polished bat. Travis moved quickly through the system and seemed poised to make his MLB debut in 2016. Travis was unable to do that as he tore his ACL in May of 2016 and didn’t play all season. This made 2017 a prove it year for Travis. He would make his MLB debut but failed to show that he was starter caliber. In Pawtucket he hit .270 which isn’t horrible but it was his worst season as a professional. He hit for little power something the Red Sox needed badly.

Sam Travis

Photo credit: Matt Stone

Prospects Behind Him

Last year Red Sox prospect Michael Chavis had a breakout season. He showed big time power as he hit thirty one homeruns between two levels. This made him the top first baseman and prospect in the Red Sox Minor league system . The Red Sox also have Josh Ockimey who has improved his offense and defense at first. Travis was once the first baseman of the future but now he has competition. Chavis has shown the power that Travis has lacked and the Red Sox need. This year is a big year for Travis as he must show the Red Sox why he deserves the job more than the other Red Sox prospects.

Sam Travis

Photo Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

What Happens If Sam Travis Can Put It All Together

The Red Sox haven’t given up on Travis yet. His road back to the majors hinges on an injury or underperformance from Moreland or Ramirez. Travis should make it back to the majors at some point this season. How long his stay is will be determined by his performance. His future isn’t secure as it once was but only he can change that. If he can hit with more power consistently then Travis could be the first baseman for years to come.

Why Logan Morrison is the Better Option

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The free agent first baseman isn’t the only power hitter waiting on a lucrative contract. But as he’s shown us before he can work on a small contract.

While Red Sox nation is still waiting on Dave Dombrowski to sign J.D. Martinez, there are other options available. One option that shouldn’t be overlooked is Logan Morrison. Last season with the Rays, he hit .246 with 38 homers and 85 RBIs. 

Even though the Red Sox have first base depth with Moreland, Travis, and Hanley, they need a power hitting righty to supplement Ramirez. He only needs 497 plate appearances for his $22 million vesting option for 2019. If healthy, that should be easily obtainable. Even though there’s a good chance the team could resign on a cheaper deal due to his lack of production and age.

Morrison would help provide in the home run department, as well as a leader the team has lacked. While veterans Dustin Pedroia and David Price didn’t step up as expected, both are committed for the long haul and willing to take charge. Morrison can also provide an above average glove at the position.

Last season, he had eight errors with a .993 fielding percentage with 1077.2 innings manning first base. Giving Moreland and Ramirez some well needed days off down the stretch. Which could be a key factor come playoff time due to the duration of the season. Time and time again depth has proven vital towards success of teams.

With the lackluster free agency movement this year, It wouldn’t take much to ink him on a one or two year deal. He is willing to DH (unlike Martinez) and wouldn’t command top dollar. This would help in the recruitment of Bryce Harper, Manny Machado sweepstakes next offseason. Boston can be rest assured a playoff contending team, without the Scott Boras haste until next year.

 

Cover image courtesy of MLB- NBC Sports.

What to Make of the Mitch Moreland Signing

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Mar 21, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox first baseman Sam Travis (59) is tagged out by New York Yankees third baseman Ronald Torreyes (74) as he tries to steal second base in the third inning of a baseball game during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports

The Red Sox’s biggest splash of the off-season thus far has been signing Mitch Moreland to a 2 year, $13 million-dollar deal. The former Gold Glover hit .246 with an OPS of .769. “Mitchy 2 Bags” became a fan favorite and seems like a great guy to have in the club house. Fans are up in arms because of Dave Dombrowski’s “failure” to add a bat like Giancarlo Stanton or Eric Hosmer in this offseason. However, there is more than meets the eye with the extension of Mitch Moreland.

Eric Hosmer

Eric Hosmer is a name the Red Sox keep hearing this offseason. Many fans would love to see him added to the roster this season. Unfortunately, Hosmer is a Scott Boras client and will likely demand over $100 million-dollars, and could possibly receive $200 million. Do I believe Hosmer deserves that much money? Yes and no. I believe he deserves around $100 million, but $200 is far too much. Hosmer was the dictionary definition of consistent this season. He hit .318 with an OPS of .882 while playing in every single game. Hosmer capped it all off with a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger.

Hosmer is a better player than Mitch Moreland. There is no debate, but is he head and shoulders above Moreland? I don’t think so. While Hosmer is able to drive in more RBI’s and hit for a higher average, they both hit over 20 homers and play Gold Glove worthy defense. They are both grinders who play through injuries. They are both very similar players with very different price tags. Dave Dombrowski is saving $14 million dollars a year by signing Moreland instead of Hosmer.

Scott Boras

Both Dave Dombrowski and Red Sox fans are familiar with Scott Boras. Boras makes his clients money, most times more than what they deserve. Multiple Red Sox players have Scott Boras as their agent, including Rick Porcello, Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts, and Jackie Bradley Jr. Boras got Porcello $20 Million/ 4 years before Porcello even picked his number for the Red Sox. You can bet your bottom dollar that Boras will be getting above top dollar for Bogaerts and Betts. He might have to settle a little bit with Bradley, but that is a story for another time. Boras is already demanding $200 million for free agent target J.D. Martinez, and he will likely do the same for Hosmer.

Boras is no friend to the Red Sox or Dombrowski. Dombrowski inked Prince Fielder to a 9 year, $214 Million deal. Playing less than 90 games in two of the five years he served and being forced to retire makes that contract hard to swallow. Boras brings Boston into bidding wars that only the Yankees can win. He was able to secure big Red Sox contracts, such as Daisuke Matsuzaka (6 year/ $52 Million), J.D. Drew (5 Year/ $70 Million), and Jason Varitek ($ year/ $40 Million). Boras has led clients such as Johnny Damon, Jacoby Ellsbury, Mark Teixeria, and Alex Rodriguez to the Yankees.

All of those names, besides Johnny Damon, did more harm for the Yankees than good. As well as those contracts, Scott Boras has also manufactured overpriced contracts for Jayson Werth, Barry Zito, and Shin-Soo Choo. While it will be impossible to not deal with Scott Boras, having one less player to deal with is not such a bad thing.

Sam Travis

This season, Red Sox fans got a glimpse of Sam Travis in the majors. For anyone who frequents McCoy Stadium or Spring Training, like myself, they know how well Sam Travis can hit the ball.  Before tearing his ACL last season, Travis looked like he was the clear-cut future of 1st base for Boston. He certainly came back strong, but the future is a little murky. Just look at him mash this ball.

In the brief 83 plate appearances this season, Travis slashed a line of .263, .325, and .342. Travis’ lack of homeruns was the most notable part of his call up. However, in his minor league career, Travis has only hit 29 long balls. Sam Travis could become a 20 homerun a season type of player if he could play everyday. By passing on Hosmer, the Red Sox are going to look to platoon Moreland and Travis at 1st base together. They are grooming Travis to be the future first basemen. Having a class act like Mitch Moreland as teacher is a great position to be in.

 

Follow Matt McGurn on Twitter: @MickGurn

RED SOX HOT STOVE: Who Could Be Leaving Boston

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Every morning I look out my window, see a dark gloomy sky and realize there is no baseball on for the next few months. I watched a rerun of the Red Sox getting spanked in Game 1, against the Astros, in the ALDS. Why? If you clicked on this article, much like myself, you’re missing baseball. Although the offseason is not that good, it’s not that bad since the Hot Stove for trade rumors is constantly on broil. Since this team is not the top World Series team going into the season, there are some pieces that need to be moved to get to that level. Here are some of the Red Sox players I can see packing their bags this offseason:

Sam Travis:

It’s sad to see Sam Travis on this list for me. Aside from any new acquisitions, he was the most talked about player all spring last year. He hit a hand full of home runs, and became the instant thought of power for the future, well before Devers. It certainly didn’t carry into the regular season. Travis hit .263, in only 76 at-bats. In those at-bats, the one stat that mattered most with Dr.Chill, is 0 HR. I personally believe we are going to have another year of Mitch Moreland being the first baseman due to his season last year. There still is a lot of value with Travis, and I could see him in a deal to get immediate power.

Christian Vazquez:

This one may seem strange for people who watched Christian Vazquez in 2017, but this is exactly why I could see him hitting the road. Vazquez hit a clean .290 AVG this year, and although he only hit 5 HR, I think I can remember each one. Two of them were walk-offs, and at home, Vazquez came to ball. At Fenway, the man hit .348 AVG, with an OPS of .905. Do you think Dave Dombrowski really thinks this can happen again? There seems to be a lot of value right now for Vazquez, than this time last year. While the stock for Christian Vazquez is up, I won’t be surprised to see him traded.

Ben Taylor:

For those of you who aren’t aware, Ben Taylor was the guy you saw some time around April, with the sick stache. Although his caterpillar might make it out of November, I wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t.  One of the top guys on this roster who has a secured job is Craig Kimbrel. If you asked me last year, I’d have said Taylor was safe due to a shaky year for Kimbrel. However, judging by the fact the flamethrower could be the reliever of the year in the AL, I think Taylor’s days are numbered. Taylor is one of the Red Sox top reliever prospects, and could bring a lot of value to a team with a struggling bullpen.

Eduardo Rodriguez:

Eduardo had quite the start to the 2017 season. At one point, he was in the All-Star conversations, and the number two to Chris Sale. Injuries have been the killer for E-Rod. After undergoing another surgery, I’m not sure how much longer this club can wait for his potential. E-Rod is only 24, and the signs of injury this early in his career could be alarming for most clubs. There are still teams out there willing to take a chance at what he can bring to a rotation. Even when healthy, finishing with a 4.19 ERA, it was disheartening to end the season. The wear and tear of the MLB season does not seem a good fit for E-Rod in Boston. Yuck.

Xander Bogearts:

Thirty-four. No, I am not talking about David Ortiz every one’s favorite home run threat, couldn’t be further from the subject. That is the number of how many games it took the two time Silver Slugger, Xander Bogaerts, to hit a home run this season. Maybe a batting average of .273 isn’t terrible, but for the player Xander should/could be, I really think that number should be higher. He only hit 10 home runs in a season.

Personally, I’m not sure what Xander’s value might be. If Xander does not hit well with a new hitting coach, and a new system of management in 2018, you have to think that’s the last straw. Xander is entering his year 26 season, where most players start to hit their prime.  I’m not sure if value is discussed with him on the phone, or in the locker room, but with a tool like Eduardo Nunez on the team now, it’s unclear if that value is in Boston.

Andrew Benintendi:

*ONLY IF BOSTON GETS STANTON*

LET ME MAKE THIS VERY CLEAR, I don’t think anyone wants this to happen. Benintendi is one of the ROY finalists. Although he will probably not win the award, Benintendi didn’t have a terrible rookie season with the Red Sox. An average of.271, hitting 20 HR, and .776 OPS, is not as well as most thought he’d perform this year. Considering it was his rookie year at the age of 23, I’m not exactly upset with that performance. The bottom line is, Andrew Benintendi has top value out of the entire Red Sox roster. Defensively, he can be a threat, he has speed on the base paths, and is an all-around athlete.

Either Andrew Benintendi is a Sox player for life, or will be sent away for a power hitter from South Beach. It’s the difference between what this team wants in the future, or immediate present. Benintendi has three more years secured on his contract than Hot Stove favorite, Jackie Bradley Jr. If it were me, I’d rather give more around a package with JBJ, than settle for giving away Benintendi. If you’re a fan of Stanton being with the Red Sox, you may have to part ways with Benny Baseball. PRAY with me for JD Martinez.

Red Sox prospects To watch

Red Sox Prospects To Watch

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2018 Preview and The Prospects To Watch:

With the Red Sox offseason now in full force, we are going to hear a lot of information moving forward. The Sox found their new manager in Alex Cora. They still need to improve the offense. When Spring training begins, the young kids will get their time to shine. The future of the Sox is bright in the farm system. Five names fans should look for: Jay Groome, Michael Chavis, Bryan Mata, Sam Travis and Tanner Houck. These are the Red Sox prospects to watch.

Jay Groome:

Groome is the number one prospect in the Red Sox system. He was drafted 12th overall pick of the 2016 draft. He was the top prospect in the draft, but fell to the Red Sox due to sign ability concerns and his personality. Groome has the tools to be a top of the rotation starter, something the Sox have struggled to develop. The last Red Sox pitching prospect to make more than 20 starts in the majors, was Justin Masterson, who the Sox drafted in 2006. Masterson only lasted two seasons in Boston, then was traded to the Indians in 2009 for Victor Martinez. Groome’s curveball has drawn compassions to Clayton Kershaw’s, who has been one of the best pitchers in baseball in the last decade. The Sox would be more than happy if that comparison holds true.

Michael Chavis:

Chavis burst onto the scene last year when he hit 31 homeruns between Salem and Portland. The Sox drafted Chavis in the first round of the 2014 draft. He had struggled in the minors, and had never hit above .270 in his minor league career. Chavis is blocked by Rafael Devers at third base in the majors. If Chavis can continue to show the power like he did last season, it may be hard for the Sox to keep him in the minors.

Red Sox Prospects To watch

Bryan Mata:

Mata is the Sox second highest ranking pitching prospect. He is only 18 years old. The Red Sox signed him as an amateur free agent out of Venezuela in 2016. Last season Mata went 5-6, but showed impressive control. In 77 innings he struck out 74 batters while only walking 26 batters. While Mata doesn’t throw extremely fast, he has good control, and has quickly risen in the Red Sox minor league system at a young age.

Sam Travis:

Of all the players on this list, Travis is the only one with major league experience. The Sox were hoping Travis would take over first base last year, but things didn’t go as planned. In the minors, Travis hit for a high average and was able to get on base. He played in thirty-three games at the big league level but showed little power. While he did hit .263 in the majors last year, he dealt with injuries limiting his opportunities. The Sox still have high expectations for Travis, but will need him to show more power to earn a starting job in the majors.

Red Sox Prospects To Watch

Tanner Houck:

Houck is the third pitching prospect on this list. Like Groome, Houck has also been compared to another successful big-league starter. The Sox drafted Houck in the first round of this year’s draft. His pitches average 92-96 mph however he has topped out at 98 mph. Baseball America called him, “the second coming of Jake Peavy again with his velocity and location on his sinking fastball starting to rebound”. Houck has the potential to be a very good starter for the Red Sox, but must first improve his control. If he can, he could land in Boston very soon.

 Summary:

After last season, there will be many changes with the Red Sox. They need to add more power to the lineup and improve the bullpen. The Sox will look for help through free agency and trades. They will also look to the farm system. The Red Sox have given up many impact prospects to acquire stars such as Chris Sale and Craig Kimbrel, which has depleted the farm system. They still have talent in the minors, and these prospects are the ones to watch for a quick impact.