Jayson Stark: Drew 2nd most overrated player in baseball

[TedWilliams101]

The whole point is that Jones has been consistant. Jones has played at least 153 games each season while putting up big numbers. JD Drew hasn't even played 153 games in a single season once.

[TedWilliams101]

Ksushi, thats simply not correct. Jones doesn't strike out an aweful lot. He is a power hitter, power hitters strike out. Manny strikes out just about the same amount as Jones.

[CrespoBlows]

A .366 OBP isn't average. It's about 35 points above average.

[Beckett95]

$20 Trot hits .308 with 23 hrs and 75 RBI. Which is pretty much just as good.

 

i agree to this bet and i want the money by the end of the season

[redsoxrules]

il take that bet too

[Rdsxmbnt]

Stark really put this this article together poorly. He basically uses this season and the contracts handed out this offseason as his basis for determining whether they are overrated. Some Ill give him such as Pierre, Zito, Wickman, Suppan, etc. But hes kicking guys while they are down, we all know dam well guys like Drew, Abreu, Jones wouldnt appear on an overrated list when they are putting out .900+ OPS seasons (which most of them have for their careers), hes basing this list on 1/4 of a season. If he wants to talk contracts why not include guys like Lilly, Marquis, Meche, etc? Well you cant because they've pitched extremely well even if it is for 1/16 of their contract or whatever it is.

 

And people need to cut Drew some slack in his first season here. Hes been a pretty consistent .900 OPS hitter when hes healthy. Much like Beltran who was also a pretty consistent .850-.900 OPS hitter for KC. He goes to the Mets and in his first season and posts a .744 OPS season. Uh-oh, if you thought Drews contract was big, Beltrans is even bigger and I bet Mets fans all over were wishing they hadn't signed Beltran to this massive deal, while the fans with knowledge of a hitters ability knew he was a key canidate to bounce back. Did he? Oh yes and is one of the best CFs in baseball (id kill to have him in CF for us). So point is, even if it takes Drew a season to get settled in (and the season is still young) hes shown hes a fantastic hitter in his career, wayyyyy too early to write him off or say we wasted 70mil.

[TedWilliams101]

And people need to cut Drew some slack in his first season here. Hes been a pretty consistent .900 OPS hitter when hes healthy.

 

And when exactly IS Drew healthy? He has yet to play more than 146 games in a season. I mean, the guy is always injured. Thats the problem here. We aren't arguing that Drew is terrible when he is healthy. The issue is that he can't stay healthy.

[TheKilo]

And when exactly IS Drew healthy? He has yet to play more than 146 games in a season. I mean' date=' the guy is always injured. Thats the problem here. We aren't arguing that Drew is terrible when he is healthy. The issue is that he can't stay healthy.[/quote']

 

If not for a freak HBP he'd have played 140+ the last 3 yrs.

 

A HBP is not like a tweaked hammy or a strained muscle like an oblique or something.

 

What could he have done? The HBP broke his wrist.

[example1]

And when exactly IS Drew healthy? He has yet to play more than 146 games in a season. I mean' date=' the guy is always injured. Thats the problem here. We aren't arguing that Drew is terrible when he is healthy. The issue is that he can't stay healthy.[/quote']

 

146 games isn't too shabby. Trot Nixon hasn't played in more than 146 games in a season since 2002, and in 11 years he's only done it 2 times. JD has essentially done it 2 times SINCE 2002 (146 and 145 in a 4 year span, separated by two freak injuries).

 

This discussion needs to be had in 2 separate areas:

 

1) Is JD Drew a good enough player to justify the contract/long-term position when he is on the field?

 

2) Is JD Drew on the field enough--or will he be on the field enough--to make #1 relevant?

 

 

The answer to 1 is yes. His numbers and approach fit perfectly with this lineup and they are great. A guy with a high career OBP (.391) and some power (.500ish SLG) is just what any team ought to build around. The injuries of the past few years were unfortunate and random and the Sox saw no reason to keep them from signing him to a lot of money.

 

This FO is not known for spending friviously on injury prone stars, as Pedro and Damon indicate. They must believe that their training staff is better or that Drew is a safe bet or something, because in the past they simply haven't spent when they were really concerned about injuries and I don't think they did in this case.

 

Watch this guy play. He's just in a slump right now, but he's hitting the ball hard and is still getting on base at .350 overall. At the beginning of the season I was singing his praises and I predict that I will be again as a good signing. He's a good player and certainly not a bad 'middle man' to have in terms of skillset.

[Rodney Harrison]

If not for a freak HBP he'd have played 140+ the last 3 yrs.

 

A HBP is not like a tweaked hammy or a strained muscle like an oblique or something.

 

What could he have done? The HBP broke his wrist.

 

And if it weren't for that HBP, there's no guarantee he'd be a Red Sox.

[Mr Crunchy]

in 05 this front office essentially paid 19m for 1 year of another st louis free agent when we had a guy who wanted to stay here cheaper in cabrerra..

they did offer damon 4 years/40m and didnt they offer peter 4/54?? as well??

they paid lugo 36m the year after agon played the smoothest short stop here in my lifetime

this offseason they spent like mad and the funny thing is the people delivering were here to begin with and the hi profile free agents,even matsusaka,have yet to shine...

okijimna is another story altogether,hes the 07 version of the 03 papi story..

dice has been an inning eater and has a good record but i figure him for better #s as he adapts,20 wins with a 5 era isnt out of the question.

[TheKilo]

in 05 this front office essentially paid 19m for 1 year of another st louis free agent when we had a guy who wanted to stay here cheaper in cabrerra..

they did offer damon 4 years/40m and didnt they offer peter 4/54?? as well??

they paid lugo 36m the year after agon played the smoothest short stop here in my lifetime

this offseason they spent like mad and the funny thing is the people delivering were here to begin with and the hi profile free agents,even matsusaka,have yet to shine...

okijimna is another story altogether,hes the 07 version of the 03 papi story..

dice has been an inning eater and has a good record but i figure him for better #s as he adapts,20 wins with a 5 era isnt out of the question.

 

Lugo has less errors than AGon.

 

The Damon and Pedro moves look very shrewd right now.

 

Dice-K's peripherals are much better than his ERA indicates.

[Rdsxmbnt]

FWIW, going by winshares, Lugo is actually one of the best defenders this year. His 2.6 winshares puts him in 3rd in the MLB among SS and 4th most winshares of any position in MLB. Though his bat hasnt come around yet.

And Cabrera = no Ellsbury

 

And again fwiw, Pedro = no Clay Buchholz

 

And Dice-K is a very good pitcher, despite what his ERA tells you as Kilo mentioned. His streak over the past games has been very good (he was very sick last outing, I wont hold that against him). 18 wins and an ERA around 3.50 is my prediction for Dice in his first seaosn.

[a700hitter]

Lugo has less errors than AGon.

Gonzo has outperformed Lugo offensively.

The Damon and Pedro moves look very shrewd right now.

The Damon move has looked shrewd because even an injured Damon has outperformed both a healthy Crisp and a healthy Drew? Yes' date=' very shrewd indeed.

Dice-K's peripherals are much better than his ERA indicates.

Dice-K is a legit solid starter, but on this year's team he is firmly behind Schilling and Beckett. $100 million is a heckuva a lot to spend for a #3 starter, but I am glad they did.

 

Continue on with your FO Ballwashing.

[a700hitter]

And again fwiw' date=' Pedro = no Clay Buchholz[/quote']Clay Bucholz and Pedro in the same sentence...? Blasphemy!! Go wash your brain out with soap!

[TheKilo]

Gonzo has outperformed Lugo offensively.

 

Crunch said nothing of AGon's offense. Do you think he can sustain his current offensive pace?

 

The Damon move has looked shrewd because even an injured Damon has outperformed both a healthy Crisp and a healthy Drew? Yes, very shrewd indeed.

 

You want an injured CF right now? And again, Drew has proven he's a better player than Damon in the past.

 

Crisp could be patrolling CF next year at Fenway. Will Damon be in the Bronx?

 

Dice-K is a legit solid starter, but on this year's team he is firmly behind Schilling and Beckett. $100 million is a heckuva a lot to spend for a #3 starter, but I am glad they did.

 

I guess I can't argue here. I do think he'll have a better year than Schilling when everything is said and done.

 

Continue on with your FO Ballwashing.

 

Will do.

 

Clay Bucholz and Pedro in the same sentence...? Blasphemy!! Go wash your brain out with soap!

 

Buchholz was picked with the draft pick they got for not signing Pedro.

[CrespoBlows]

Gonzo has outperformed Lugo offensively.

 

Ballpark.

[CrespoBlows]

Clay Bucholz and Pedro in the same sentence...? Blasphemy!! Go wash your brain out with soap!

 

Focus on the Pedro the Red Sox didn't bring back. (05-09 version)

[Mr Crunchy]

i dont pay a lot of attention to anything that goes on in maine or rhode island but clay buchholz(sp) looks like hes ready to take the next step

 

and people

comparing agons offense to lugos at this stage of the season is premature

and please dont compare the gloves,agon is unreal,lugo is very human

 

sure

the damon and petey deals look good now only becuase teams in ny were able to outspend us but we offered significant years and dollars that werent accepted

damon was arguably nys mvp last year and petey may have been the difference in our 05 campaign(may have)

both men are in pain now

and both are wearing NY hats

[Rodney Harrison]

Ballpark.

 

Isn't Great American slightly larger than Fenway?

[Rdsxmbnt]

Clay Bucholz and Pedro in the same sentence...? Blasphemy!! Go wash your brain out with soap!

 

Completely missed the point. Im certainly not talking about Pedro in his prime, im talking about the 2004 Pedro that we let go, who was still a pretty good SP but certainly not an ace in the AL anymore and had lost velocity. Instead of paying 14mil a year for him for the next 4 years we have Buchholz who we got as compensation for losing him. I dont think its a stretch at all for me to take my chances with Buchholz rather than pay an injury-riddled Pedro Martinez 14mil till hes 37 years old.

[ORS]

Isn't Great American slightly larger than Fenway?

Fenway is still a hitter's park, but not to the degree that GA is. Ever since they added the .406 club seating, the HR factor has been below 1 every year, so the park added power no longer exists. I think the extra structure blocked out the help from prevailing winds. GA's HR factor has been over 1 during that time.

[a700hitter]

Crunch said nothing of AGon's offense. Do you think he can sustain his current offensive pace?

Does anyone really think that Lugo is a better fielding SS than Gonzo?

You want an injured CF right now? And again' date=' Drew has proven he's a better player than Damon in the past.[/quote']In his very limited playing time. I'll take the gamer that will play 155 games for me every year and kick start my offense.

Crisp could be patrolling CF next year at Fenway. Will Damon be in the Bronx?

Yes, if he is healthy, and even injured he is better than Crisp is when healthy.

[a700hitter]

Focus on the Pedro the Red Sox didn't bring back. (05-09 version)

Bucholz and Pedro in the same sentence is blasphemy. I don't care if Pedro gets killed by a bus tomorrow and never returns. Let Bucholz get to the majors before we use his name in the same post. I realize that a direct comparison was not being made, but please let's not use their names in the same post under any circumstances.

 

Edit: I don't think anyone should throw dirt on Pedro at this point until we see what happens when and if he returns. If he comes back to a playoff bound Mets team, he could be a very key post season component of that team.

[SCM33]

Bucholz and Pedro in the same sentence is blasphemy. I don't care if Pedro gets killed by a bus tomorrow and never returns. Let Bucholz get to the majors before we use his name in the same post. I realize that a direct comparison was not being made, but please let's not use their names in the same post under any circumstances.

 

Edit: I don't think anyone should throw dirt on Pedro at this point until we see what happens when and if he returns. If he comes back to a playoff bound Mets team, he could be a very key post season component of that team.

 

Agreed. Clemens may be the greatest pitcher of this generation, or of all time....but nobody ever put together a stretch like Pedro did. Studs come through all the time. Sometimes they work out sometimes they dont.....but how many of them can you actually say were great? How many can honestly get compared to the greatest SP in RedSox history? Pedro holds quite an impressive distinction considering the great arms that have donned the red and white uniform.

 

.....and Pedro has earned the right to say whatever he wants. If Reggie Jackson (not a HOF in my opinion) can still throw his unwanted opinion around even though he retired 20 years ago, then Pedro should be able to as well. His numbers and career allow him to do so.

[TheKilo]

Bucholz and Pedro in the same sentence is blasphemy. I don't care if Pedro gets killed by a bus tomorrow and never returns. Let Bucholz get to the majors before we use his name in the same post. I realize that a direct comparison was not being made' date=' [b']but please let's not use their names in the same post under any circumstances.[/b]

 

Edit: I don't think anyone should throw dirt on Pedro at this point until we see what happens when and if he returns. If he comes back to a playoff bound Mets team, he could be a very key post season component of that team.

 

But you just did.

[a700hitter]

But you just did.

Clever...not!

[schillingouttheks]

Clever...not!

 

This is NOT clever.

[jacksonianmarch]

This suit is NAUGHT BLACK.

 

This suit is BlackNot

 

This suit is Black...pause....NOT

 

This suit is black.........................................................................................................................................................................NOT

[a700hitter]

This is NOT clever.

...and this is pointless and unnecessary.