Thoughts on Adrian Beltre?

[Emmz]

I would just as soon stick with Lowell at 3B and let Lowrie move between 3B and SS as rest is needed for Scutaro and Lowell.

 

No. Just no.

 

Lowell is not at all viable at 3B, he's a huge liability on defense, and Lowrie is not to be counted on. Beltre is a MASSIVE upgrade over Lowell on defense, and could potentially be an offensive upgrade as well. He could definitely return to the 30+ HR plateau, something which I see him doing this season.

 

But Lowell at 3B? I think everyone has agreed that Lowell can absolutely not play anywhere on defense besides possibly first. That's the whole point of switching Youkilis to 3rd and having Lowell play first. However, this is much better.

[BSN07]

I like the signing. Beltre for on a one year deal is great.

[jacksonianmarch]

This is another hope and a prayer signing. He has all the tools, but he sucked (compared to his 2004) since he got to Seattle. I understand the stadium argument, but does that account for the drop in everything from elite level to average to below average level? It doesnt. He isnt the same player he was in 2004. But, if he can play good D, stay on the field for 140 games and put up an .800OPS he'll be useful. Regardless, this offense has taken another hit from Lowell to Beltre. The sox lineup doesnt scare me at all.

[BSN07]

This is another hope and a prayer signing. He has all the tools' date=' but he sucked (compared to his 2004) since he got to Seattle. I understand the stadium argument, but does that account for the drop in everything from elite level to average to below average level? It doesnt. He isnt the same player he was in 2004. But, if he can play good D, stay on the field for 140 games and put up an .800OPS he'll be useful. Regardless, this offense has taken another hit from Lowell to Beltre. The sox lineup doesnt scare me at all.[/quote']

 

Can you be anymore typical?

[VA Sox Fan]

Great news to get this morning! Very happy about getting Beltre.

[VA Sox Fan]

Can you be anymore typical?

 

What did you expect? I'd say typical and predictable. <_>

[a700hitter]

I like that this is a one-year deal. He will have lots of motivation to perform. They need to round out the roster with a middle IF and another OF and fill in the pen. Kotchman and Lowell are dead weight at this point. They need to go. Those roster spots can be put to better use. The bench should be: 1 MIF, 1 Utility IF, 2 OF, 1 Catcher. There's no room for Kotchman or Lowell.

[riverside sluggers]

I would just as soon stick with Lowell at 3B and let Lowrie move between 3B and SS as rest is needed for Scutaro and Lowell.

 

Sox want Lowrie to have at least a full season in Pawtucket. He needs to prove he can be healthy

[Dipre]

This is another hope and a prayer signing. He has all the tools' date=' but he sucked (compared to his 2004) since he got to Seattle. I understand the stadium argument, but does that account for the drop in everything from elite level to average to below average level? It doesnt. He isnt the same player he was in 2004. But, if he can play good D, stay on the field for 140 games and put up an .800OPS he'll be useful. Regardless, this offense has taken another hit from Lowell to Beltre. The sox lineup doesnt scare me at all.[/quote']

 

Who the f*** cares?

 

I think i speak for everyone else when i ask you to please shut the f*** up if you're going to spew your usual babble.

[Dipre]

Kotchman was never going to be the starting 1b. It would have been Youk' date=' with Lowell at 3B (as it should be).[/quote']

 

Lowell can't play defense.

 

The players we like aren't necessarily what's best for the team.

[VA Sox Fan]

Who the f*** cares?

 

I think i speak for everyone else when i ask you to please shut the f*** up if you're going to spew your usual babble.

 

:thumbsup:

[riverside sluggers]

This is another hope and a prayer signing. He has all the tools' date=' but he sucked (compared to his 2004) since he got to Seattle. I understand the stadium argument, but does that account for the drop in everything from elite level to average to below average level? It doesnt. He isnt the same player he was in 2004. But, if he can play good D, stay on the field for 140 games and put up an .800OPS he'll be useful. Regardless, this offense has taken another hit from Lowell to Beltre. The sox lineup doesnt scare me at all.[/quote']

 

Sox take another hit from Lowell to Beltre huh? Sox have a player that is better bet to play the length of the season/. While Beltre was limited to 112 games, cmon the guy had a busted testicle

 

From 2005-2009

 

Beltre (715 games)

751 for 2823 (.266 avg) 172 Doubles, 8 Doubles, 103 HRs, 396 RBIs, 192 Walks, 494 Ks, 49 for 73 SBs

 

Lowell (689 games) Past 2 seasons limited to 231 out of a possible 324 games

716 for 2526 (.283 avg) 176 Doubles, 5 Doubles, 83 HRs, 406 RBIs, 217 Walks, 312 Ks, 13 for 20 SBs

 

Lowell bests him in average, little bit more walks and K's less... but Doubles, Triples and RBIs are about the same./ Beltre has more pop especially at this stage of Lowells career, and Beltre is moving from SAFECO to Fenway Park. Beltre is more speedy around the basepaths, again with Lowells hip in question... it was just sad to see him run these past couple seasons

[Dipre]

You don't even need to take your time answering him. He was sure the Sox would trade Lowell and open the season with Kotchman at 1B, a notion i refuted several times.

 

Beltre/Youk is a massive upgrade over Kotchman/Youk, and since he wanted to squash any enthusiasm we might have had over the Beltre signing, he came up with that s***** post.

 

What a f***ing douchebag.

[rhet]

Jacko stated an opinion. He made some points that he believes are valid. Nobody knows whether he is right or wrong. Time will tell. So there's no reason to jump ugly with him. JMO.

[Dipre]

Jacko stated an opinion. He made some points that he believes are valid. Nobody knows whether he is right or wrong. Time will tell. So there's no reason to jump ugly with him. JMO.

 

Oh?

 

It's not the opinion.

 

The opinion would be valid if he hadn't stated he "knew Lowell would get traded and Kotchman would be the team's starting first baseman" a notion he stated multiple times.

 

But thanks for playing devil's advocate. It suits you well.

[Cocos Disciples]

The Red Sox have no balls when it comes to the 3rd base position.

[rhet]

Oh?

 

It's not the opinion.

 

The opinion would be valid if he hadn't stated he "knew Lowell would get traded and Kotchman would be the team's starting first baseman" a notion he stated multiple times.

 

But thanks for playing devil's advocate. It suits you well.

 

Well, that was the fallback plan, wasn't it?

 

Why is this s*** so personal with you?

[Dipre]

Well, that was the fallback plan, wasn't it?

 

Why is this s*** so personal with you?

 

I'd love to go back and forth with you on this, but i won't.

 

The fact that someone tries to destroy whatever little sense of satisfaction you might get from anything team related is as annoying as diarrhea at the office.

 

There is nothing personal,i don't even know any of you, so don't try to turn it into it, however, i would like to, just for once, read some good news about the Sox without a constant stream of "this is why it sucks".

 

Make of it what you will.

[Red Foreman]

This is another hope and a prayer signing. He has all the tools' date=' but he sucked (compared to his 2004) since he got to Seattle. I understand the stadium argument, but does that account for the drop in everything from elite level to average to below average level? It doesnt. He isnt the same player he was in 2004. But, if he can play good D, stay on the field for 140 games and put up an .800OPS he'll be useful. Regardless, this offense has taken another hit from Lowell to Beltre. The sox lineup doesnt scare me at all.[/quote']

 

 

Interestingly enough, the Yankees starting piching doesn't scare me at all.

[Dipre]

Interestingly enough' date=' the Yankees starting piching doesn't scare me at all.[/quote']

 

 

Well done.

[BoSox21]

I haven't really been following the thread but with the Beltre signing, where exactly does Lowell fit on this team provided the roster stays as is? Kotchman appears to be Youk's back up at first, Beltre will play third and Lowell clearly isn't suited to be a utility infielder.

[Dipre]

I haven't really been following the thread but with the Beltre signing' date=' where exactly does Lowell fit on this team provided the roster stays as is? Kotchman appears to be Youk's back up at first, Beltre will play third and Lowell clearly isn't suited to be a utility infielder.[/quote']

 

They're going to trade Lowell apparently.

 

Seattle, Texas and Minnesota all appear to be interested.

[rician blast]

This is another hope and a prayer signing.

 

couldn't agree more with the statement above...you are hoping and praying that Beltre performs at 2009 levels and that the signing turns out to be a poor one.

 

I have real concerns about what he'll bring to the table, but let's face it...Lowell is NOT viable as Sox starting 3B, AND it's a 1 yr deal...given the FO goals and, to a large extent, self-imposed constraints, the deal kinda makes sense.

[Dipre]

couldn't agree more with the statement above...you are hoping and praying that Beltre performs at 2009 levels and that the signing turns out to be a poor one.

 

I have real concerns about what he'll bring to the table, but let's face it...Lowell is NOT viable as Sox starting 3B, AND it's a 1 yr deal...given the FO goals and, to a large extent, self-imposed constraints, the deal kinda makes sense.

 

Early candidate for post of the year.

[TheMino007]

But weren't you the one saying Lowell is still a viable option at 3B?

 

Why aren't you disappointed then?

 

He is viable for 100 games a year if used right, but viable doesn't mean he is a better defensive option than Beltre. Beltre is a gold glove caliber guy at 3B, I never denied that. I still firmly believe that the offensive numbers Beltre will put up won't be better than Lowell's if Lowell played in Fenway for 81 games a year. Offense doesn't get any better, but the overall defense does with this move. Plus its for one year, I was unhappy with being tied up with this guy for three years or whatever he is looking for. He's playing for a big contract, so he'll try his best, I like the move for one year.

[Dipre]

He is viable for 100 games a year if used right' date=' but viable doesn't mean he is a better defensive option than Beltre. Beltre is a gold glove caliber guy at 3B, I never denied that. I still firmly believe that the offensive numbers Beltre will put up won't be better than Lowell's if Lowell played in Fenway for 81 games a year. Offense doesn't get any better, but the overall defense does with this move. Plus its for one year, I was unhappy with being tied up with this guy for three years or whatever he is looking for. He's playing for a big contract, so he'll try his best, I like the move for one year.[/quote']

 

See, where we differ is, that i don't think Lowell is viable at third even for 100 games, his defense has simply eroded to the point of ridicule, and for a team that will be based around pitching and defense next year, solid defense at the hot corner is a must, and Lowell simply can't provide that anymore. Not even for 100 games.

[Emmz]

No, he just can't play 3B at all. There's a reason people have been saying move Youk to third and Lowell to first, because that would be a much better option than having Lowell at 3rd. Absolute liability now on D.

[Dojji]

Honestly, I'm kinda warming to the idea. I certainly recognize the value of good defense, and Beltre will at least be a good defender. if he regains his power he can probably contribute at the bottom of the order. With Drew, Youkilis, Martinez, Ortiz, and Hermida/Cameron all viable to hit ahead of him you can crowd him down to the 7 or 8 hole unless it's obvious he deserves to hit higher so it's not like we're penciling him in for the 4 hole.

 

And it has the virtue of being pretty much a 1 year deal anyway, so that's a plus.

[Dipre]

Honestly, I'm kinda warming to the idea. I certainly recognize the value of good defense, and Beltre will at least be a good defender. if he regains his power he can probably contribute at the bottom of the order. With Drew, Youkilis, Martinez, Ortiz, and Hermida/Cameron all viable to hit ahead of him you can crowd him down to the 7 or 8 hole unless it's obvious he deserves to hit higher so it's not like we're penciling him in for the 4 hole.

 

And it has the virtue of being pretty much a 1 year deal anyway, so that's a plus.

 

And at less than 10 million to boot. So not only do the Sox get the player they wanted. They screw Boras in the process. It's win-win!

[BSN07]

How many games do you have to miss to qualify for the following season "Comeback" player of the year award? If Beltre qualifies, he wins hands down. My first prediction of the year

 

I think Beltre will have a "surprising" season.