Stern to Pawtucket, Willie Harris to Boston

[riverside sluggers]

Since his 17 days are over & Sox want to see him get everyday playing time, Stern is being sent down to Pawtucket. Outfielder/infielder speedy Willie Harris will more than likely get the call-up.

 

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060419&content_id=1408879&vkey=news_bos&fext=.jsp&c_id=bos

[jsinger121]

That was the plan all along. Stern needs at-bats and will get them in Pawtucket and eventually he will be back up here later in the year.

[The Monster is my Mom]

i know it is necessary, but that's too bad for Stern.

[ORS]

I would have kept Stern up until Coco came back. He's got to be a better CF option than Willie Harris.

[a700hitter]

I would have kept Stern up until Coco came back. He's got to be a better CF option than Willie Harris.

Me too. I don't have a high opinion of Harris. He is not much of a hitter, and Stern is a better fielder with a better arm and more speed.

[NoPepper]

I would have kept Stern up until Coco came back. He's got to be a better CF option than Willie Harris.

 

You're right. Stern is also fast and bats lefty too. Until Crisp returns, Stern provides options off the bench in the field, pitch running etc. late in the game when he doesn't start against a RHP. I'd love to know why now and not after Crips comes back from the DL.

[mtbykr]

I would have kept Stern up until Coco came back. He's got to be a better CF option than Willie Harris.

 

 

Exactly! I understand they want to get him more consistant ab's but why not keep him up until coco is back. They probably plan to play Mohr in center for now and harris as the backup---at leas i hope so!

[Whos Your Papi]

Sterns defense lately alone should keep him on the roster until Coco comes back. I don't understand this move at all.

[mosox]

I'm going to agree with most here in that Stern should have stayed up until Coco comes back. This may be a case of the Sox over-thinking this situation instead of just going with their gut and keeping a solid glove in center, not to mention Stern's speed as a pinch runner.

[Beckett95]

Me too. I don't have a high opinion of Harris. He is not much of a hitter, and Stern is a better fielder with a better arm and more speed.

 

stern is the better fielder, but doesnt have better speed than Willie Harris.

 

But like most of you have said, Stern is the better option in CF untill Crisp comes back

[Cityofchampions33]

This doesn't make sense to me at all, I mean unless they see something in Willie tha we don't IMO Stern gives us more lineup balance and better defense. Stern has played great and IMO is the best 4th OF we got, over Mohr and Harris.

[mtbykr]

This just doesn't sit well with me. All i hear from Tito, Theo, and all the NESN people are how Stern's catch the other night wasn't what he should have done. (game ending catch in center with the bases loaded)

 

i know that it was risky and that if he misses it we are probably tied---but now with everyone ripping him for it and sending him to AAA; aren't we going to make him 2nd guess everytime he's out there in the field. He let his insticts take over and it worked---let's not start playing tricks with his mind!

[jsinger121]

This doesn't make sense to me at all, I mean unless they see something in Willie tha we don't IMO Stern gives us more lineup balance and better defense. Stern has played great and IMO is the best 4th OF we got, over Mohr and Harris.

 

They see a guy in harris that has speed and can play both infield and outfield

[Beckett95]

hes a better baserunner than stern and can play any position but C and P. Hes perfect to have on the bench as a late game pinch runner or defensive replacement.

 

Stern needs to be playing somewhere and it isnt in Boston as long as Coco's healthy. I like the move, but id rather it would have happened after Crisp comes back.

[hoefdj18]

i would have like to see stern stay up till coco got back. but i cant complain, by going down to the pawsox he will be able to play more and get a chance to work on his bat. thanks stern for filling in.

[riverside sluggers]

They see a guy in harris that has speed and can play both infield and outfield

 

That he is, 49 stolen bases in 61 chances. For defense, he has a .987 fielding %. Willie Harris had a clause in his contract that he could opt out if he wasnt called up by late April. Its been said that the Sox FO really likes what he brings, they bit the bullet and called him up not to lose him. In the end, this will be good for Stern who could possibly get a 400-500 AB season

[TheRivernator]

I agree with the sox move on this, did I really say that, lol. Stern started to nosedive at the plate and it could have killed his confidence if he stayed up and was hitting below .100 by the time he was sent down. Also, his situation the last 2 yrs prevented him from being sent to the minors, so he has stalled at his 23 yr old level. He is on the cusp and unfortunately for those Stern fans out there, is building his resume for a trade that will likely come this deadline or in the offseason. If they leave him on the MLB roster, they run the risk of exposing him and it will drop his trade value. He will be with another team come 2007, you just better hope that he keeps raising his stock and actually brings something back in return....

[kreinbihl34]

With a Manny move he could stay in Boston. Trot is probably not going to be here next year, although he might resign a 2-3yr deal for about 2mil each. If Manny gets traded ad Trot leaves then Stern can jump right in Center move Coco to right and Wily Mo in left. Maybe San Fran? if Stern gets traded or Cards could use someone to replace Incarnaction (sp).

[BoSox21]

that sucks, I'm driving to Toronto on Saturday for the Sox/Jays game I would've really wanted to see my country's contribution to my beloved Sox. But it's nice to see he made a hell of an impression while he was with the big club

[TheRivernator]

With a Manny move he could stay in Boston. Trot is probably not going to be here next year, although he might resign a 2-3yr deal for about 2mil each. If Manny gets traded ad Trot leaves then Stern can jump right in Center move Coco to right and Wily Mo in left. Maybe San Fran? if Stern gets traded or Cards could use someone to replace Incarnaction (sp).

 

Manny wont get moved now. He costs way more than he is worth at his age, even if he puts up his usual numbers. Plus, if you put Stern in LF instead of having Manny out there, your offense would be Oakland A's circa 2004 horrible. With Ellsbury pushing the envelope and Coco a lock for CF, Stern is the odd man out.

[Ray10]

Not surprised to see this one and I'm happy they did it. Now Stern will get to play all the time and he can work on his game some more. I see him being with the Sox as a starter in the near future.

[26 to 6]

Thats a shame. Stern is one guy who I really like up there in Boston.

[NoPepper]

Willie Harris had a clause in his contract that he could opt out if he wasnt called up by late April.

 

This info explains a lot. Now I understand the move. Thanks.

[framinghamflyer34]

I think thats a poor move. You have to look at Stern's all around game. He was a decent hitter, a great fielder, and he had a passion for the game. He made some great catches in CF. So what if Harris was on the World Champs and has more major league experience? You have to look at each players all around game, not just on side of their game.

[Beckett95]

stern singled, doubled, walked twice, scored twice and had an RBI in his first game for pawtucket tonight

[a700hitter]

stern singled, doubled, walked twice, scored twice and had an RBI in his first game for pawtucket tonight

How did that piece of garbage, Willie Harris do in Pawtucket?

[riverside sluggers]

How did that piece of garbage, Willie Harris do in Pawtucket?

 

Sox sent Stern down so he could play every day, up to 500 ABs. A big reason was because he hasnt yet found his niche against major league pitching. Willie Harris isnt here to be a starter, just a utility guy. We're likely to see Dustan Mohr get the majority of starts until Coco gets back.

 

I like Stern too, but him getting everyday seasoning in the minors can only help him improve

[a700hitter]

Sox sent Stern down so he could play every day, up to 500 ABs. A big reason was because he hasnt yet found his niche against major league pitching. Willie Harris isnt here to be a starter, just a utility guy. We're likely to see Dustan Mohr get the majority of starts until Coco gets back.

 

I like Stern too, but him getting everyday seasoning in the minors can only help him improve

The every day seasoning could have waited another couple of weeks until Coco gets back. In the meantime, Stern would be getting every other day seasoning at the ML level.

[YanksHater213]

YanksHater213: jesus why the f*** didnt we keep stern instead of harris

devildots51101: well harris would have been a FA if we didnt call him up

YanksHater213: so what i dont give a s*** harris is so f***ing bad

 

Yeah, thats what I think of Willie Harris. 4 K's in 7 ABs is not even at a rate that Willy Mo could match.

[a700hitter]

Yeah, thats what I think of Willie Harris. 4 K's in 7 ABs is not even at a rate that Willy Mo could match.

At least Wily Mo is a power threat.