Welcome to Boston, Daniel Nava

[Dojji]

Good things always tend to happen when you get a switch-hitting kid with elite contact skills and a couple places you can play him.

[jacksonianmarch]

I'd refrain from the elite status for now Dojji. I love his swing, but he's 10 games deep into his career. Give him some time before calling him elite

[Dojji]

Jacko's talking the guy down -- there's a compliment if ever I heard one.

 

He's not elite I agree -- but he does have one elite tool and it's one of the most important ones of all.

 

It's like going to the goal in hockey. Good things happen when you make good contact, even if you do nothing else well.

[SoxSport]

The kid's great--he's going to stick. A bit of Pedroia there, I see, maybe more. Plays LF OK. Good play last night. Nice cut at the plate. Quick bat. Can he take a walk? Fundamentals look good.

 

Elite? Who the hell knows. Was Pedroia viewed as elite? Pedroia is a Hall of Famer, and nobody saw it coming.

[jacksonianmarch]

Dojji, I just have a complaint with calling his contact "elite". Elite to me is top 10 in the game, and I dont see that yet. He could be, but lets give him some more time.

 

Also, Pedroia is not a HOFer yet. Keeps this up, though, and he probably will be

[Dojji]

I said his contact skills were elite, not that Nava was elite. Obviously the jury's out on the total package, but that package is being carried on the basis of Nava's contact skills.

 

Jeeze, get a grip people. Lots of AAAA guys have one or two elite tools.

 

Also considering Nava's body of work in the minors, I think the burden of proof is on those who doubt the kid's contact skills, at least until more numbers come in.

[Spudboy]

Dojji, I just have a complaint with calling his contact "elite". Elite to me is top 10 in the game, and I dont see that yet. He could be, but lets give him some more time.

 

 

Also, Pedroia is not a HOFer yet. Keeps this up, though, and he probably will be

 

Que the Talksox Nazis! Where's the chart?

 

I said his contact skills were elite, not that Nava was elite. Obviously the jury's out on the total package, but that package is being carried on the basis of Nava's contact skills.

 

Jeeze, get a grip people. Lots of AAAA guys have one or two elite tools.

 

Also considering Nava's body of work in the minors, I think the burden of proof is on those who doubt the kid's contact skills, at least until more numbers come in.

 

Obviously it's way to early to project his longevity or performance. But he sure looks good so far. He has good batting mechanics. He's patient. He works hard to learn his position and has played very solid D in left. His unlikely path to the majors not withstanding, he's someone to watch.

[Dipre]

It's the TalkSox defense lawyer!!!

 

Oh wait, there are no defense teams.....

[jacksonianmarch]

And you pick a fight again. Seriously, will you f***ing grow up?

[Yaz Sideburn]

the first pitch he saw in the majors was one of the most entertaining moments of the season so far. i think we'd better until he's faced major league pitching for some time before we decide what kind of a player he is though

[Palodios]

Dan Nava >>> Nick Green.

 

Just saying.

[Spudboy]

Dan Nava >>> Nick Green.

 

Just saying.

 

Until he puts it to Heidi, how will we really know?

[Youk Of The Nation]

I liked Nick Green. I hope he catches on somewhere.

[Dojji]

Until he puts it to Heidi' date=' how will we really know?[/quote']

 

Spuddy, use your head. We already know he's an Erin Andrews guy.

[Dojji]

I liked Nick Green. I hope he catches on somewhere.

 

I think he does well enough for himself as a journeyman. I wanted him back last offseason but I can settle for Bill Hall.

 

I can't believe that he couldn't break the majors this year after proving he could be a half decent starting SS. That's just the kind of stodgy conservatism that kills dreams.

[Dipre]

And you pick a fight again. Seriously' date=' will you f***ing grow up?[/quote']

 

Wait, aren't you the guy who's a member of this website with the sole purpose of talking down the Red Sox and who's posting under his third username?

 

Someone needs to grow up all right.

[jacksonianmarch]

Who is the one driving people away? You fight with everyone

[Spudboy]

:lol:

[Dipre]

Funny.

 

The only reason why a certain someone is still around is because, unlike Dutchy, they didn't give up after being banned multiple times.

 

I also find the above post funny, from a guy who advocated Dutchy's banning, but protects Jacko like his daughter for doing exactly what Dutchy does with the annoyance multiplied by one thousand.

 

bbdoc/The Riv/Jacko, wake me up after your fifth user.

[Palodios]

Daniel Nava with 3 RBIs against Jimenez. Can we all agree that every once in a while, RBIs do actually have value?

[jacksonianmarch]

You can wake me up after your second. I'm pretty sure you'll be needing one soon...

[jacksonianmarch]

Daniel Nava with 3 RBIs against Jimenez. Can we all agree that every once in a while' date=' RBIs do actually have value?[/quote']

 

THEY'RE PRIMITIVE STATS!!!11!!1!!

[Spudboy]

THEY'RE PRIMITIVE STATS!!!11!!1!!

 

:lol:

[example1]

Does Nava have a chance of sticking on this team long term?

[jacksonianmarch]

I love his swing. Had no idea he had such a nice, even swing. I bet he settles out as a David Murphy type.

[Dojji]

Define "stick."

 

If you mean "start," he has a small window of opportunity. Drew will be in the last year of his deal, so will Cameron, so Nava should get every opportunity to audition for either RF, or for LF with Ellsbury moving back to CF. In particular I'd like to see how he handles right field -- that's his best bet because if he tries to stick it out in left Theo's going to replace him with Carl Crawford, or failing Crawford whatever big thumper he can get his hands on the first chance he gets. In right field that's harder so he has a better chance to prove himself above average and keep a starting job. He'll have to hit and keep hitting though.

 

But if by "stick" you just mean "stick on the roster" I think he's got a great chance play a role similar to Kevin Youkilis in 2005 (except obviously in the outfield) and "stick" in that sense -- and then his future is determined by whether and how much he hits.

 

Basically if he keeps hitting opportunities will open for him o play on the basis that Theo isn't stupid and wants to win. No one's going to lay out a red carpet though. He's going to have to earn every AB and defensive appearance he gets.

[example1]

Define "stick."

 

If you mean "start," he has a small window of opportunity. Drew will be in the last year of his deal, so will Cameron, so Nava should get every opportunity to audition for either RF, or for LF with Ellsbury moving back to CF. In particular I'd like to see how he handles right field -- that's his best bet because if he tries to stick it out in left Theo's going to replace him with Carl Crawford, or failing Crawford whatever big thumper he can get his hands on the first chance he gets. In right field that's harder so he has a better chance to prove himself above average and keep a starting job. He'll have to hit and keep hitting though.

 

I meant instead of getting the thumper/big name.

 

Pretending, just for a second that Nava emerges as a .365/.490 kind of hitter, would they still need to spend the absurd money that a corner OF gets on the open market? How reasonable is an .855 OPS in MLB? Probably not super reasonable, but his MiLB stats and current performance say it's definitely possible. He could just be a player who matured late and to whom hitting the ball comes easily at any level. He's got a good eye and makes great contact and hits from both sides of the plate.

 

He seems to be the offensive player that Jed Lowrie never turned into, and he could save this team a lot of money by being the on-going LF. This season Carl Crawford is at .369/.493. He obviously adds something with his speed and defense, but if Nava can produce those numbers at a fraction of the cost then the money could be spent where it is more needed.

 

I'm interested to see how far Theo is willing to go with him over the next few years, especially with guys like Kalish and Reddick behind him to fill in if/when needed. Established corner OFs are really expensive and I will wouldn't be shocked if Carl Crawford is largely ignored by the Red Sox.

 

The other obvious option for Nava would be a trade. Jacko listed David Murphy above. I think Nava is a better hitter than Murphy but Murphy was ultimately "useful" in a trade for a big name player. It's true that player didn't really work out, but David Murphy probably wasn't going to start for the Sox. Nava could have pretty good value as an immediate addition to a team. He could be a player that SD would be interested in, with their knowledge of the Sox development system and familiarity with Nava himself.

[Dojji]

You make points I'm inclined to want to agree with, but I still think Nava has a better chance to stick in RF than LF if he can hack ir defensively. Look around the league, there's a *lot* of makeshift right fielders out there right now, it's a surprisingly shallow position. An .855 LF is OK, an .855 RF is a strong asset.

 

I would like to see him get regular chances in right and see how he handled the right field corner. It would really help both him and us out if he could play there.

[example1]

You make points I'm inclined to want to agree with, but I still think Nava has a better chance to stick in RF than LF if he can hack ir defensively. Look around the league, there's a *lot* of makeshift right fielders out there right now, it's a surprisingly shallow position. An .855 LF is OK, an .855 RF is a strong asset.

 

I would like to see him get regular chances in right and see how he handled the right field corner. It would really help both him and us out if he could play there.

 

I think the Sox have drafted OFs with the knowledge that RF in Fenway is hard. I see Kalish going there eventually. He's a CF at heart, has a decent arm and good speed. Reddick could be a better RF too, with a good arm. Nava isn't particularly fast and has an average arm. I see LF as his more obvious spot, especially with Drew in RF for now (though I can also see the Sox making Drew a regular DH to keep him healthy over the next year after Papi is gone).

[jacksonianmarch]

Before projecting if he has a chance, you need to see where he settles out. I have a feeling he is gonna get a ton of PT with Ellsbury being a ways away and with Cameron probably going down for an extended period of time soon (he looks terrible right now). So we'll see what kind of player he is.