Lowrie to the bigs

[jacksonianmarch]

I know this is old news, but anyone find this a bit interesting? With Casey being a solid 3b and youkilis at 1st with Cora backing them all up, it wasnt necessary for the sox to bring him up. They could have kept Corey on when they activated Timlin.

 

But with Lugo playing like s*** last yr and now him starting this yr as a defensive and offensive liability, anyone have a feeling that Lowrie may be getting an "audition" between 3rd and short and then potentially move Lowrie to SS if Lugo continues to be a defensive liability.

 

As I have said before, Lowrie is not considered to be a fantastic defender. Lugo has range on Lowrie, but if Lugo continues to misthrow and drop grounders, then its a moot point. I have a feeling that a s***** Lugo will open the door for Lowrie.

[TheKilo]

Lowrie is called up because of the injury to Cora. One more injury to Lugo/Pedroia and we were looking at Youks at 2nd or some s***.

[Anuj09]

Before finding out about Cora i thought the Sox should have brought up Carter instead of Lowrie to give Lowrie more ab's

[RobZombie]

Lowrie isnt' going to be here for a long period of time. Really they needed someone who could play all of the infield positions. Carter can barely play one.

[ManRam24]

not to be annoying or anything but casey at 3b???

[inkman]

not to be annoying or anything but casey at 3b???

 

I'm guessing he meant Youk at 3rd, and Casey at 1st.

[rician blast]

Not to be critical but "Man Ram" as a user name?

 

You got guts kid, although luckily this isn't the old BH forum.

[Cocos Disciples]

Not to be critical but "Man Ram" as a user name?

 

You got guts kid, although luckily this isn't the old BH forum.

 

...

 

I honestly have no idea if this is a joke or not. I mean I get the innuendo, but still.

[VA Sox Fan]

Cora to DL; Thurston up

 

Posted by Amalie Benjamin, Globe Staff April 16, 2008 03:33 PM

 

Alex Cora was placed on the 15-day disabled list today, retroactive to April 10 with a right elbow strain. Joe Thurston was called up from Pawtucket to take his spot.

[Jayhawk Bill]

Joe Thurston was called up from Pawtucket

 

From SoxProspects.com:

 

Scouting Report: Very good athlete with a lot of speed. Runs the bases well. Great clubhouse guy. At the plate, Thurston has a nice-looking swing, and his plate discipline has improved over the years. Below average power. Good range, adequate glove. In addition to playing 2B, Thurston can also fill in at SS and OF if needed.

 

Caveats: Thurston steals bases, but with a success rate barely over 50%. He actually peaked in walks per year back in 2000--his plate discipline is average and not improving. In 58 MLB AB over four different seasons he's hit .259/.286/.345, suggesting that he's a slap hitter with little plate discipline or power. Looking at his recent AAA stats I'd guess that he'd hit around .260/.300/.380, so I don't think that he'll surprise us much relative to his previous MLB work. Defensively, he's an adequate second baseman...that stuff at SS and LF was just 37 games at SS and 22 games in LF, plus four games in CF/RF.

 

From BP PECOTA:

 

 

Thurston has no PECOTA forecast--he isn't considered important enough to warrant one. He didn't even get a Marcel.

 

If Thurston does anything, we should consider ourselves lucky. Look for Tito to get him into a game very soon, as he tries to do with new guys...let's hope that he doesn't use him too much.

[SCM33]

Before finding out about Cora i thought the Sox should have brought up Carter instead of Lowrie to give Lowrie more ab's

 

Carter (25 years old now) will be one of those great all time slugging minor leaguers. Why would the Sox bring him up? He isnt a 1B (hasnt played a game there yet this year, and he was on pace to make about as many errors as Dr. Strangeglove last year. Our OF is already jam packed, so there really is no point. Plus, if the Sox thought so highly of him, they would have found a spot for him (just like they did with Pedroia at 24 years old, and just like they are going to do wit Ellsbury at 24 years old, like they most likely will do with Lowrie at 24 years old).

[BSN07]

Carter might have a better chance if he was a RH power hitter. But be LH, Fenway deminshes his only real big asset.

 

He will sit in AAA unless the Sox absolutely need him, most likely he will be dealt in part of some deal.

 

With Lowrie showing he has just as good of a bat as Lugo, and there D being pretty similar, does anyone see the Sox eating some of Lugo's contract and giving the spot to Lowrie and see what we can get for him?

 

Lugo+Coco+Carter(Sox eat 1/2 of Lugo's contract). That might bring in something decent:D

[SCM33]

Carter might have a better chance if he was a RH power hitter. But be LH, Fenway deminshes his only real big asset.

 

He will sit in AAA unless the Sox absolutely need him, most likely he will be dealt in part of some deal.

 

With Lowrie showing he has just as good of a bat as Lugo, and there D being pretty similar, does anyone see the Sox eating some of Lugo's contract and giving the spot to Lowrie and see what we can get for him?

 

Lugo+Coco+Carter(Sox eat 1/2 of Lugo's contract). That might bring in something decent:D

 

 

I would love to see that scenario......but there are a few problems:

 

Lugo is a hog, even if the Sox eat half of the money, how many teams want to pay that much for a below average SS, who should not be an everyday player.

 

Crisp almost falls in to the same category. He is making good money for what he actually produces offensively.

 

Carter is an unknown, an aging unknown at that. At 25 years old, without a defensive position, I would think that limits them to AL teams only, and it is too early to tell who is in it, or out of it....plus, a smaller market team may be interested in Carter, but not paying the salaries of Lugo and Crisp, so I think that type of package hurts them. Add in the fact that the Sox need BP help, as just about every team does......and those teams competing for the playoffs will not deal BP pitchers, and small market teams wont pay those salaries........all this adds up to one big mess.

[Jayhawk Bill]

Carter might have a better chance if he was a RH power hitter. But be LH, Fenway deminshes his only real big asset.

 

He will sit in AAA unless the Sox absolutely need him, most likely he will be dealt in part of some deal.

 

With Lowrie showing he has just as good of a bat as Lugo, and there D being pretty similar, does anyone see the Sox eating some of Lugo's contract and giving the spot to Lowrie and see what we can get for him?

 

Lugo+Coco+Carter(Sox eat 1/2 of Lugo's contract). That might bring in something decent

I would love to see that scenario......but there are a few problems:

 

Lugo is a hog, even if the Sox eat half of the money, how many teams want to pay that much for a below average SS, who should not be an everyday player.

 

Crisp almost falls in to the same category. He is making good money for what he actually produces offensively.

 

Carter is an unknown, an aging unknown at that. At 25 years old, without a defensive position, I would think that limits them to AL teams only, and it is too early to tell who is in it, or out of it....plus, a smaller market team may be interested in Carter, but not paying the salaries of Lugo and Crisp, so I think that type of package hurts them. Add in the fact that the Sox need BP help, as just about every team does......and those teams competing for the playoffs will not deal BP pitchers, and small market teams wont pay those salaries........all this adds up to one big mess.

 

I disagree.

 

Let's contrast, for each player, BP MORP* vs. salary over the obligated period...completely discounting Carter's arb years for simplicity and, to be conservative, rounding to the nearest million.

 

Carter: + $3 million

Crisp: + $10 million

Lugo: - $9 million

 

Lugo at half of the money: + $5 million

 

Carter appears to be a ready-made lethal weapon against RHP who, regrettably, cannot play defense well...but his damage would be limited at first base and nil at DH. IMO, Boston should have David Ortiz on the DL and Chris Carter on the roster right now against right-handed starting pitchers. If he hit .300/.360/.500 vs. RHP as I'd expect, you might feel differently.

 

Crisp, setting aside the positive MORP, is a superb defensive CF. As the numbers demonstrate, he's very far from a throwaway.

 

Lugo isn't worth his contract. He IS worth over half of his contract--despite our high standards, he's a valuable shortstop.

 

Carter + Crisp + Lugo (half salary) is worth a very, very good player...a best pre-free agency player for most MLB teams, were the talent to fit. Let's not diminish the talent of our team's ballplayers through some perversion of hubris--Carter, Crisp and Lugo can all contribute to a contending team.

 

 

 

* MORP: Money Over Replacement Player, or the contract value of the player on the free agent market.

[SCM33]

What will happen with him? He is obviously ready for the show, but of late Lugo has decided we will start hitting. Does he get sent down?

 

If he is demoted, his performance certainly does not justify it.

[jacksonianmarch]

Ride the hot hand. If anything, Lugo is upping his trade value.

[TheKilo]

What will happen with him? He is obviously ready for the show, but of late Lugo has decided we will start hitting. Does he get sent down?

 

If he is demoted, his performance certainly does not justify it.

 

What do you want him to do then, rot on the bench?

[SCM33]

What do you want him to do then' date=' rot on the bench?[/quote']

 

You answered my question, with a question.

[jacksonianmarch]

You ride Lugo while he is hitting. Lugo has a dimension that Lowrie doesnt in his burning speed. You are also paying Lugo 8 mil a yr while Lowrie can be sent down and stop the clock on his service time, effectively keeping him cheaper.