Aviles

[wyo-sox]

What are your thoughts on Mike Aviles? I thought he played very hard when he had chances. Is he under contract with us? I think he will be very valuable as a guy on the bench that can fill in for different infield or outfield players, and he bats right which does not hurt with out left hitting heavy line up.

[Laser Show]

He's under contract. He's a great utility guy who can play virtually anywhere. He has the ability to start for stretches, but I wouldn't rely on him for extended periods.

[SoxSport]

Nice player--as long as they don't try to stick him in right field. He's an infielder.

[a700hitter]

He's a Randy Velarde -type player.

[Palodios]

What are your thoughts on Mike Aviles? I thought he played very hard when he had chances. Is he under contract with us? I think he will be very valuable as a guy on the bench that can fill in for different infield or outfield players' date=' and he bats right which does not hurt with out left hitting heavy line up.[/quote']

 

He'll probably be one of the several guys fighting for 3B this spring training.

[wyo-sox]

Competing with Youk- or do you think Youk will be traded?

[Palodios]

Competing with Youk- or do you think Youk will be traded?

 

Youk will get half-time at third. He is not playing the full year.

[SoxFanForsyth]

I really like Aviles, but he seems redundant if we still have Lowrie. If we trade Lowrie or Youkilis, then I'd say keep him. Lowrie hits LHP just as well (or better) than Aviles.

 

He's a solid back up player (probably a starter for some clubs), but not for the Sox. We would have to make room for him.

[wyo-sox]

I was told it was stupid, but last year I suggested when and if Lowries shoulder was healthy they should transition him to our right fielder. I still think that is a good idea, then have Aviles backing up Youk and Scut.

[Dojji]

He's what you want to have in a utility man.

[seabeachfred]

I was told it was stupid' date=' but last year I suggested when and if Lowries shoulder was healthy they should transition him to our right fielder. I still think that is a good idea, then have Aviles backing up Youk and Scut.[/quote']

 

Not stupid at all Wyo. I suggested the same thing on Sawxheads last Spring and got surprisingly good reaction from some there who thought it could be a good idea to get another RH bat in the lineup. The key to Lowrie is to keep him healthy, but the guy can flat out his LH pitching. I don't see any harm in giving him some work out there in both right and left field in ST next March, especially if Crawford is still s***ing the bed for the second year in a row. Again, though, the key to Lowrie is for him to get in shape and stay in one piece. After three years of in an out Dame Fortune should be smiling at him for about five or six years of good health.......we hope.

[mvp 78]

Lowrie makes JD Drew look like Lou Gehrig. The second his body runs into the outfield wall, his body would split in two like Herbie.

[Palodios]

I was told it was stupid' date=' but last year I suggested when and if Lowries shoulder was healthy they should transition him to our right fielder. I still think that is a good idea, then have Aviles backing up Youk and Scut.[/quote']

 

I heard this idea last year, and thought it was brilliant. He might be lacking the speed, but I think his arm should be okay for the field. As long as he turns out to be a middle of the pack defensive outfielder, that should be enough. The beauty of it is adding a guy with an exceptional RHH platoon split to a pile of four LHH OF.

[a700hitter]

Lowrie makes JD Drew look like Lou Gehrig. The second his body runs into the outfield wall' date=' his body would split in two like Herbie.[/quote']:lol: I'd give it until the second week of April, and he'd be out with some injury or incurable disease until September.

[mvp 78]

:lol: I'd give it until the second week of April' date=' and he'd be out with some injury or incurable disease until September.[/quote']

 

By "incurable" you mean Conjunctivitis, right? A bloody nose is a 15 day DL trip for Jed.

[a700hitter]

By "incurable" you mean Conjunctivitis' date=' right? A bloody nose is a 15 day DL trip for Jed.[/quote']The guy is frail. He looks frail. When he got mono, he looked like he belonged in a cancer ward. When healthy, he can swing the bat, and he can drive the ball surprisingly well for such a skinny frail looking kid. I think his role is as a super sub. I think he could thrive in that role. He can play all IF positions. If we could add some OF, and get him about 4 games a week, he could be very valuable. He can't play full time because he does break down.

[mvp 78]

He breaks down as a part time player. I'm not sure you can count on him as a reliable backup if he's not ready to fill in due to the sniffles.

[a700hitter]

He breaks down as a part time player. I'm not sure you can count on him as a reliable backup if he's not ready to fill in due to the sniffles.

In fairness to Lowrie, he has broken down when he starts playing full time. You are right. If he can't stay healthy in a part time role and be ready to play when needed, he's useless.

[Station 13]

In fairness to Lowrie' date=' he has broken down when he starts playing full time. You are right. If he can't stay healthy in a part time role and be ready to play when needed, he's useless.[/quote']

 

Anyone ever tells him to stop switch hitting? Maybe that affect his body. I recall reading he was feeling it hitting leftside. He was a RHH before learning to switch hit.

[SoxSport]

Competing with Youk- or do you think Youk will be traded?

 

A healthy Youks is one of the top 10-15 hitters in the league. Their cleanup guy, and one of their two RHd power hitters--counting Pedey. So he isn't going anyewhere, unless the Tigers want to trade Verlander for him.

Aviles is a utility player. He can play 2 or 3 infield positions. And can hit some. So he's valuable off the bench.

[ipot]

The 2 nice things: on Aviles' resume:

 

1. He DID hit over .300 in the 2 seasons he had over 400 ABs

2. He doesn't K very much, a contact hitter.

 

At worst, he'd be a good hitting back up infielder. At best, and this is a stretch, he could project as a Bill Mueller type....

[jopete19]

I watched him play in Omaha. Has some power, and like ipot said he doesn't K very much. He puts the ball in play. I'd love to see him start at 3rd and Youk DH. or switch on and off.