Starting Shortstop 2011

[cbbosox]

If Lowrie starts how about Scutaro as backup infielder occasional DH against lefties?

[Dojji]

Waste of $5M. I'd rather deal him and invest in a replacement utility guy, or have Navarro on the roster to play utility.

[jacksonianmarch]

The sox will do better by starting Scutaro at SS, building up his value then dealing him off midseason. Right now, coming off the injuries and a season where he ended at 2b due to arm issues is going to limit any potential deals for him.

[DirtDog]

Orioles are loooking for a shortstop. Any chance we can pry a bullpen arm from them? Cla Meredith?

[Soxfan1]

Meredith is a FA.

[BSN07]

Orioles are loooking for a shortstop. Any chance we can pry a bullpen arm from them? Cla Meredith?

 

They traded for JJ Hardy yesterday I believe. I doubt they're interested.

 

SF, St. Louis, Cincy and a few other teams that nee a SS.I think Jacko is right though. They should start him and build his value and then trade him. Also doesn't drop everything into Lowries lap at once. I've always felt he was more of a super utility guy anyway. They can trade Scutaro in June/July, let Lowrie finish the season and have Lowrie and Iglesias split time there next season.

[TheKilo]

Scutaro will start, Lowrie will be the super sub. Also, Cameron is the RHH OF we need now that Crawford is on board some don't need Willingham.

 

A guy like Josh Fields, who rakes against LHP, and can play the corners and LF if needed, makes a lot of sense.

[Space Man]

Lowrie is the truth. I brought him up one time last year, and was pretty well flamed for it.

 

The dude had the wrist injury and an unfortunate bout with mono... He showed that he didn't forget how to rake, and when the go through Spring Training, there will be no way to not start Lowrie.

 

If we can get anything for Scoots, let's take it.

[Dojji]

Agreed. Let's get a guy who can play SS if Lowrie can't, but let's not obsess over his health, he's probably more likely to be fully healthy and effective next year than Pedroia is all things considered.

[Dipre]

Guess who views Lowrie as a super-sub instead of the starting SS?

 

If you guessed the Sox FO and manager Terry Francona, then you guessed right.

 

His health is an issue, and ignoring that because you have a hard-on for the guy is ridiculous.

 

If he wants the starting spot he has to earn it by producing and showing he can handle the rigors of everyday play.

[sandiegosoxfan]

I'm all for giving Lowrie a shot, but he can't hit right-handers based on his major league numbers. Anyone seeing it differently?

[Dojji]

Two questions to ask here. He's not as strong against righties as he is against lefties, but he's not competing against mirror double, he's competing against Scutaro, who isn't a very good offensive player. Also Scutaro is also righthanded, and has a slight platoon weakness of his own that puts his healthy .715 v. right in the same universe as Lowrie's injury-exaggerated .660 or so against right. And the comparison between Lowrie and Scutaro against lefthanders is frankly embarrassing.

 

Lowrie had a .823 OPS this year v. right this year, probably his first healthy sample since midseason 08, which was his rookie campaign anyway. SSS is playing a role, but "can't" is an overstatement. Playing down the significance of 08 and 09 because of the wrist injury, which we all know affects switch hitters' ability to hit differently based on which side of the box they're standing in, I'd expect him to have something of a platoon weakness, but I'd also expect him to put up about a .720-.750 OPS against his weak side which is about as much as Scutaro can do against his strong side.

[Dipre]

lol like clockwork lol.

[example1]

Lowrie should start all the time. IMO, he should play SS against righties and 3B against lefties, with Gonzalez/Youkilis playing 1B/DH to stay fresh and get Ortiz out of the equation.

[Dipre]

Lowrie should start all the time. IMO' date=' he should play SS against righties and 3B against lefties, with Gonzalez/Youkilis playing 1B/DH to stay fresh and get Ortiz out of the equation.[/quote']

 

That's actually a really good idea, with Cameron replacing one of the members of the Lefty OF squad.

[example1]

I doubt Youk/Gonzo would be against rotating between the DH or 1B spot either. They are arguably the two best offensive pieces on the team, so keeping them rested and healthy should be a priority.

 

Of course, if Lowrie has a big season he may not see why he would not just be the team's starting SS. He will have the chance to take over the SS spot full-time in 2012. If Iglesias takes it from him then this team is in good shape and Lowrie is the best sub in the league.

[sandiegosoxfan]

Any evidence Lowrie could hit well from the left side in the minors?

[jacksonianmarch]

I think Scutaro starts the season as your SS with Lowrie subbing in for him about twice a week. Then, if the sox stay healthy and if Pedroia shows no ill effects from his foot injury, Scutaro will be shopped. It makes no sense to install Lowrie as the starting SS right now as it kills your trade value for Scutaro. If everyone stays healthy and Lowrie shows he is ready for an escalation, then Scutaro gets moved

[BSN07]

What is Pedroia's status anyway? They shouldn't let him play until he is 100% IMO. Lowrie could be starting at 2B to begin the season.

 

If Pedroia is ok though, Scutaro will be the main SS to start. I expect Lowrie to be getting AB's at 2B/SS/3B to start out the season. I have always said I believe this may be the bet role for him. It will work well too when Iglesias takes over for Scutaro next season.

[jacksonianmarch]

I wouldn't be counting on Iglesias just yet. If he cannot hit, then Lowrie might end up being the SS of the future

[Dojji]

Any evidence Lowrie could hit well from the left side in the minors?

 

Even splits in the minors, he only showed any kind of platoon split after he got to the bigs.

 

If he continues to have this problem though he could possibly switch to a pure RHH, depending on whether the issue is mechanical or more with his eyes.

[Meh]

I wouldn't be counting on Iglesias just yet. If he cannot hit' date=' then Lowrie might end up being the SS of the future[/quote']

 

I got a weird feeling Sox unload money on Reyes. 6/125 or something. Reyes, Crawford, A-Gon, Youk, Pedo, Salty, Kalish and Ellsbury with a DH mixed in there.

[Dojji]

I'd happily give up my Lowrie fixation to bring Jose Reyes into a lineup that already had Carl Crawford and Jacoby Ellsbury in it. That lineup would be the terror and bane of catchers everywhere.

[SoxFanForsyth]

I got a weird feeling Sox unload money on Reyes. 6/125 or something. Reyes' date=' Crawford, A-Gon, Youk, Pedo, Salty, Kalish and Ellsbury with a DH mixed in there.[/quote']

 

Why would they drop a massive contract on Reyes when they have Lowrie and Iglesias waiting to take over, both for cheap cheap money?? Iglesias isn't great with the stick, Lowrie should be, but Iglesias is a gold glove caliber SS and the Sox have plenty of offense to hide his faults.

[jacksonianmarch]

The assumption of "plenty of offense" gets a lot of teams in trouble.

[Dojji]

Agreed. When you have a clear path to an upgrade, and you're the Red Sox, you put the foot down and don't let up. If we had Reyes, Lowrie would be fine in the sub role and Iglesias would be fantastic fodder for a future piece to flesh out a roster. I'm still not convinced he'll hit that much anyway (Igsy), and if he doesn't he's not quite dime-a-dozen but he's not a good AL East SS either, you need at least some offense from every position to compete in this division.

 

Luckily for us the Mets have spent themselves into dire straits so that we might even get a guy like Reyes. I'd be happy to offer them Iglesias and any 2 prospects not named Kalish to get it done this year if they'd bite. I love the idea of 3 50+ base stealers in the same lineup very much..

[Palodios]

The NL loves cheap defensive specialists:D

[Dojji]

Actually they don't. Most of the best offensive shortstops right now (all of them in fact) are National League players. They need to crowd as much offense into 8 positions as we do into 9 and it shows at 6 more than anywhere else. In fact the Jedi is probably a better trade piece with the NL than Iglesias really, unless the NL squad is convinced Igsy will hit.

[a700hitter]

If I'm a left handed pitcher and I see that Lowrie is playing for Ortiz, I'm really happy.

[jacksonianmarch]

Agreed. When you have a clear path to an upgrade, and you're the Red Sox, you put the foot down and don't let up. If we had Reyes, Lowrie would be fine in the sub role and Iglesias would be fantastic fodder for a future piece to flesh out a roster. I'm still not convinced he'll hit that much anyway (Igsy), and if he doesn't he's not quite dime-a-dozen but he's not a good AL East SS either, you need at least some offense from every position to compete in this division.

 

Luckily for us the Mets have spent themselves into dire straits so that we might even get a guy like Reyes. I'd be happy to offer them Iglesias and any 2 prospects not named Kalish to get it done this year if they'd bite. I love the idea of 3 50+ base stealers in the same lineup very much..

 

Kalish would be a necessity, IMO. Kalish and Iglesias would get it done, IMO. The Mets get to rebuild their roster with Kalish, who looks the part of a starting CFer in the bigs and get the opportunity to groom Iglesias. If he hits, then great, if he doesnt, then a defensive specialist at SS in the NL isnt as rough as it would be in the AL East