Where does Nixon fit in?

[MANNYHOF24]

I know there has been some discussion about this, but I wanted to bring it up since Trot could be playing on the next road trip. One thing is clear Willy Mo has to play every day. However I think Trot should split playing time with Coco, playing Pena in Center when Nixon plays. Trot had two very good months before slumping before the injury, and this time off could have been very good for him. He was probally fatigued from playing so much. I see him as a valuable part down the strech. Thoughts?

[yeszir]

Part of me wants to say he doesnt fit in, but another part of me knows that, being the type of guy he is, all of this speculation and talk of benching him might just drive him to play harder and better.

 

Nixon fits in wherever Tito decides he fits in, and that will undoubtedbly be the wrong decision according to the critics.

[MANNYHOF24]

Part of me wants to say he doesnt fit in, but another part of me knows that, being the type of guy he is, all of this speculation and talk of benching him might just drive him to play harder and better.

 

Nixon fits in wherever Tito decides he fits in, and that will undoubtedbly be the wrong decision according to the critics.

 

Yeah there is always somebody who could do Titos job better i suppose:rolleyes:

[jsinger121]

Nixon fits in on the bench. Coco and Pena are the future of this team and they should be playing right now in the pennant race. Nixon really didn't do much before he got hurt anyways. He could be a good pinch hitter though.

[MANNYHOF24]

Nixon fits in on the bench. Coco and Pena are the future of this team and they should be playing right now in the pennant race. Nixon really didn't do much before he got hurt anyways. He could be a good pinch hitter though.

 

did he have like 7 jacks and 35 rbis through May, thats not too bad, I think he is having a better season than Coco, and should split time with him, thats all im saying

[Sam Malone]

Remember when there were a lot of Sox fans who thought Theo was stupid trading Arroyo for Pena? Bronson has been struggling for almost the last two months. This from the Reds site:

 

Bronson Arroyo (9-8), so frustrated by a seven-week slump that he got his shoulder-length hair braided into cornrows two days earlier to try to change his luck. Instead, the All-Star pitcher matched his career high for homers allowed Thursday vs. the Cardinals and remained winless since June 19.

(Updated 08/10/2006).

[jsinger121]

did he have like 7 jacks and 35 rbis through May, thats not too bad, I think he is having a better season than Coco, and should split time with him, thats all im saying

 

Nixon has been in a slump for over a month and I would rather keep the lineup how it is right now.

[a700hitter]

He had been injured for some time before he hit the DL. When healthy, he is valuable in the lineup and in the field. He will see substantial palying time.

[RoyNHSox]

It’s really not fair for a player to lose their starting job because they spent time on the DL. With that said, Trot has to prove that he’s worthy of being used regularly. If it means he steps it up and performs better than what we saw in June and July, then it’s a win-win for him and the team. He’s at the end of his contract so maybe that extra incentive might come into play, to make himself more marketable.

 

But I agree WMP needs to play every day. And if it’s some kind of 3-way platoon involving him and Trot and Coco, then that works for me.

[a700hitter]

Nixon has been in a slump for over a month and I would rather keep the lineup how it is right now.

The lineup has been struggling lately. When he's healthy, he can fill the 5th slot. He hasn't been healthy for sometime.

[noonanberg]

nixon will be a good guy to have. who knows where he'll fit right now. i'm sure he'll DH now and then. he'll probly give pena and crisp, most likely crisp more than pena right now, the occasional day off. we'll see. i'm sure he'll fill in for manny once or twice too. i hate to say it because i love trot, but it looks like he's slowly fading from the sox.

[yeszir]

It’s really not fair for a player to lose their starting job because they spent time on the DL. With that said, Trot has to prove that he’s worthy of being used regularly. If it means he steps it up and performs better than what we saw in June and July, then it’s a win-win for him and the team. He’s at the end of his contract so maybe that extra incentive might come into play, to make himself more marketable.

 

But I agree WMP needs to play every day. And if it’s some kind of 3-way platoon involving him and Trot and Coco, then that works for me.

At the risk of sounding like a dickhead to a well loved long timemember of the sox, it's not about what's fair, it's about what's best for the team.

[jsinger121]

The lineup has been struggling lately. When he's healthy, he can fill the 5th slot. He hasn't been healthy for sometime.

 

Nixon is a joke as a 5th hitter. He has no power anymore and if Francona plays him more than WMP he is making a mistake.

[DUSTINMOHR4LIFE]

Nixon fits in on the bench. Coco and Pena are the future of this team and they should be playing right now in the pennant race. Nixon really didn't do much before he got hurt anyways. He could be a good pinch hitter though.

 

 

I agree. I'd rather have Wily Mo, who is slugging .549, as our #5hitter rather then Trot, who is slugging .426. I love Trot, but Wily Mo has shown that he is the better hitter and he deserves to start.

[Cocos Disciples]

Yeah no way Nixon starts, Pena has at 3 or 4 tools better than him. Nixon is a better fielder, and that might be it. I've seen Pena throw a couple, and he's got a pretty good arm. I don't know if this is correct or not, coming out of a big guy it just might look like a harder, longer throw, but 3 or 4 of Pena's tools are superior to Nixon. Nixon was a great player here, a dirt dog, loved by all, but his time here is done. As long as he isn't in pinstripes next year, give him a very loud ovation.

[RoyNHSox]

At the risk of sounding like a dickhead to a well loved long timemember of the sox, it's not about what's fair, it's about what's best for the team.

 

That’s basically my point. I don’t see him as quite the liability that some do, but if he comes back and still continues to under-perform, then by all means, bench him.

[a700hitter]

Nixon is a joke as a 5th hitter. He has no power anymore and if Francona plays him more than WMP he is making a mistake.

The last month and a half are not a good measure of what he can do. A strained left bicep will hurt power production. When he comes back, he should get the opportunity to show he is healthy and can still drive the ball. Despite the injury, his OBP was still impressive and very helpful in lengthening the lineup and wear down pitchers. Call him a joke is over-stating the case.

[Pesky]

You can't really platoon Nixon and WMP either, because Pena is killing righties, and sucking vs. lefties. Nixon is doing just as well vs. lefties and WMP is. Wily should start 5 days out of 6. Maybe a 3 way platoon, but without Cokes and WMP missing many days.

[yeszir]

That’s basically my point. I don’t see him as quite the liability that some do, but if he comes back and still continues to under-perform, then by all means, bench him.

I guess the question is do you just ouright bench him at the risk of missing out on potentially good performance, or do you sacrifice other good performance for a few games to see if Nixon can perform better.

 

That's actually worded really confusingly. In any case, we're at the point of the season where every game counts, so experimenting can become risky.

[jsinger121]

The last month and a half are not a good measure of what he can do. A strained left bicep will hurt power production. When he comes back, he should get the opportunity to show he is healthy and can still drive the ball. Despite the injury, his OBP was still impressive and very helpful in lengthening the lineup and wear down pitchers. Call him a joke is over-stating the case.

 

He couldn't drive the ball when healthy. Pena should be this teams everyday rightfielder from here on out because he is the future there not Nixon. Pena has shown he can handle the job. WMP has more HR already in less at-bats than Nixon.

[a700hitter]

He couldn't drive the ball when healthy. Pena should be this teams everyday rightfielder from here on out because he is the future there not Nixon. Pena has shown he can handle the job. WMP has more HR already in less at-bats than Nixon.

His power outage has been over the last month and a half before he was DL'd. There was a very noticeable drop-off in power production after the middle of June, which is when he said that he originally hurt his arm. He doesn't have the power of WMP. No one does, but he makes more consistent contact and works pitchers better than WMP. If he can get his share of extra base hits, he should get the majority of the PT.

[jsinger121]

His power outage has been over the last month and a half before he was DL'd. There was a very noticeable drop-off in power production after the middle of June, which is when he said that he originally hurt his arm. He doesn't have the power of WMP. No one does, but he makes more consistent contact and works pitchers better than WMP. If he can get his share of extra base hits, he should get the majority of the PT.

 

I'll trade a bit of OBP for someone who is more feared than Nixon. WMP is the better player than Nixon. It is that simple. Yes Nixon got hurt. It happens. But the Red Sox have a player playing right now who is better than Nixon and who should not go to the bench when Nixon gets back. Should Tom Brady have gone to the bench when Drew Bledsoe got healthy?

[a700hitter]

I'll trade a bit of OBP for someone who is more feared than Nixon. WMP is the better player than Nixon. It is that simple. Yes Nixon got hurt. It happens. But the Red Sox have a player playing right now who is better than Nixon and who should not go to the bench when Nixon gets back. Should Tom Brady have gone to the bench when Drew Bledsoe got healthy?

Against a good RH with a good breaking ball, WMP is still quite helpless. He has been feasting on bums right now. He will not feast on good pitchers that don't live in the middle of the plate. In a big spot against the other teams top reliever, I'd still be more confident with Nixon than WMP. WMP will be an offensive force eventually, and he is on his way, but Nixon is still a tougher out.

[jacksonianmarch]

Doesnt it all depend on how well Coco plays? If Coco plays well, the WMP should be in RF and Nixon to the bench. But if the sub .700OPS Crisp is hitting, well like the sub .700OPS Crisp, then shouldnt they try WMP in CF and have Nixon in RF, then use Crisp as a late inningdefensive replacement in CF?

[a700hitter]

Doesnt it all depend on how well Coco plays? If Coco plays well, the WMP should be in RF and Nixon to the bench. But if the sub .700OPS Crisp is hitting, well like the sub .700OPS Crisp, then shouldnt they try WMP in CF and have Nixon in RF, then use Crisp as a late inningdefensive replacement in CF?

They'll all get playing time, and that should keep them fresh and motivated down the stretch. Playing for your job can bring out the best in these guys.

[jacksonianmarch]

well I certainly think that Wily Mo has earned a spot in the lineup every day for now. I think Crisp is the one who should be the odd man out for now. By the way, Johnny really was better.

[TheKilo]

well I certainly think that Wily Mo has earned a spot in the lineup every day for now. I think Crisp is the one who should be the odd man out for now. By the way, Johnny really was better.

 

 

You don't think the hand injury had something to do with Coco's struggles?

 

Damon sucked for the second half last year, but gets a pass becuase he played hurt? Why can't Coco?

[Matt]

Wily Mo Pena is winning the job at RF as we speak. If this good play out of Wily Mo continues (which I believe it will), then Nixon is sure to be gone by next season.

[riverside sluggers]

did he have like 7 jacks and 35 rbis through May, thats not too bad, I think he is having a better season than Coco, and should split time with him, thats all im saying

 

Trot Nixon through the end of May had 5 HRs, 28 RBIs. His power is declining and everyone was expecting for him to get on the DL again, sure enough it happened. From a power corner outfielder, he has turned into a singles hitter who can now draw his fair share of walks! Wily Mo has more HRs and closing in on same ammont of RBIs in less games/ABs. Coco has also been heating up since the All-Star Break. Trot's credentials this season merits him to become a bench player/clubhouse guy for remainder of the season

[Jon_Papelboner]

He has lost his job.