Now that the J.D. Drew era is over...

[Salty]

How would you fairly assess his 4 years here?

 

Personally, I never understood all the hate he received. Did he under-perform for his price? Sure. But with the guys around him he was never supposed to be THE guy, especially when it came to driving in runs. He got on base for the guys around him and played an excellent right field. That's one area in which I'll miss Drew... I have worries about Sweeney/Ross stepping into right. It can be an adventure out there with the wrong guy. We've been fortunate to have had Nixon and Drew out there for years. Last year was scary with Reddick, who I thought was just awful defensively.

 

I know people had gripes about his personality, how he was too quiet and such. Didn't really bother me. What did bother me was how he always seemed to get on base when all hope was lost, yet when they needed him on, he failed to. Certainly not in the postseason, but regular season definitely.

 

I don't think we'll necessary miss Drew (and definitely not his contract), but part of me thinks his OBP and OPS, 2011 aside, went under-valued.

[BigPapiEnFuego]

He will be missed. No one in the game could watch a 3-2 pitch go right down the middle of the plate like Drew could. No one.

[Emmz]

Up until his injury, he earned his money. As much as people like to trash him, the dude was good. He was an elite corner OF when healthy.

 

More than solid on defense, and his offense was among the best.

[Emmz]

Anyways, this thread will start a riot. I think the OP knew that.

[mvp 78]

He was fine. His pricetag was a little high, but the Sox should be able to afford to overpay players. He was garbage in 2011, but decent the other years if you ignore the salary.

[Bellhorn04]

He was fine. His pricetag was a little high' date=' but the Sox should be able to afford to overpay players. He was garbage in 2011, but decent the other years if you ignore the salary.[/quote']

 

Sums it up really.

 

One thing nobody can take away from Drew is that he performed well in the postseason. Everyone knows the Slam, but he had 19 postseason RBI for the Sox in 28 games.

[jung]

Drew is a good example of the elevated intensity of the post season. Opposing pitchers would pitch more carefully to hitters hitting in front of Drew. When they got to Drew with men on base, Drew became the guy that they were more inclined to pitch to as they were loath to walk him. Can't take it away from him though. He did come through many times in those situations. Make no mistake though. He was for the most part getting some good pitches to hit. He just did more with them in the post season than he did in the regular season.

[Emmz]

I don't think overpaying is really justified. But he really wasn't all that overpayed. I wouldn't consider it a bust or a good deal, but he was definitely satisfactory. I think a bust is when a player doesn't even approach expectations, so that label isn't really appropriate. Well over .800 OPS with Boston with good defense. It beats having a piece of s*** out there even if they can play 162 games. If Carl Crawford lives up to 85% of his salary, I will call it a success.

[BSN07]

He was a solid player and probably one of Theo's best big money signings. Which in itself isn't saying much. I never had an issue with him. Some people didn't like his laid back temperment. It didn't bother me. He was a solid RF and if the deal had to be made again I would fine with it. He had 2 good seasons, 2 ok seasons and one lost one. On a 5 year deal most teams would consider that a win.

[a700hitter]

Drew was an extremely talented player. He did everything well. He had a classic fluid style that made things looks easy and effortless which contributed to the perception that he didn't care. His biggest problem was that he couldn't stay on the field enough.

[Bellhorn04]

Drew was an extremely talented player. He did everything well. He had a classic fluid style that made things looks easy and effortless which contributed to the perception that he didn't care. His biggest problem was that he couldn't stay on the field enough.

 

I agree with all that.

[Muggah]

How would you fairly assess his 4 years here?

 

Personally, I never understood all the hate he received. Did he under-perform for his price? Sure. But with the guys around him he was never supposed to be THE guy, especially when it came to driving in runs. He got on base for the guys around him and played an excellent right field. That's one area in which I'll miss Drew... I have worries about Sweeney/Ross stepping into right. It can be an adventure out there with the wrong guy. We've been fortunate to have had Nixon and Drew out there for years. Last year was scary with Reddick, who I thought was just awful defensively.

 

I know people had gripes about his personality, how he was too quiet and such. Didn't really bother me. What did bother me was how he always seemed to get on base when all hope was lost, yet when they needed him on, he failed to. Certainly not in the postseason, but regular season definitely.

 

I don't think we'll necessary miss Drew (and definitely not his contract), but part of me thinks his OBP and OPS, 2011 aside, went under-valued.

 

While Drew was never the elite ballplayer Blunder promoted him as---he wasn't the worst we've had either. But that was par for the course when it came to Blunder judging talent.

 

The lasting impression of Drew that will be forever etched in my brain was him standing there emotionless when Ellsbury pulled off perhaps the most exciting play in baseball with his steal of home against the Yankees back in 09. Totally lifeless. Comatose.

[jacksonianmarch]

1 horrible season, 2 mediocre seasons, 1 awesome full season, and 1 awesome partial season.

[Bellhorn04]

1 horrible season' date=' 2 mediocre seasons, 1 awesome full season, and 1 awesome partial season.[/quote']

 

Why do most people leave out postseason? Drew's postseason numbers are very good to excellent.

 

Nick Swisher, on the other hand, has put up excellent reg season numbers for the Yanks, but stunningly horrific postseason numbers.

[Dojji]

He helped us on the way to a World Series and gave us 2 other good years. That final year was part of the calculated risk with a players as fragile as Drew.

 

On the field and statistically, he was a match for Nixon. Nixon gets bonus brownie points for being a Red Sox draft pick but realistically speaking, give me those two players and a roster spot to fill, I'd pick Drew over the course of their careers. Nixon has as many people around the fandom who overrate him, as Drew has haters.

[jacksonianmarch]

SSS

[Dojji]

There's a gas leak around here somewhere. Watch yourselves.

[Bellhorn04]

SSS

 

2 questions:

-How many postseason games does it take to not be SSS.

-Should postseason games be given more weight than reg season games.

[mvp 78]

He helped us on the way to a World Series and gave us 2 other good years. That final year was part of the calculated risk with a players as fragile as Drew.

 

On the field and statistically, he was a match for Nixon. Nixon gets bonus brownie points for being a Red Sox draft pick but realistically speaking, give me those two players and a roster spot to fill, I'd pick Drew over the course of their careers. Nixon has as many people around the fandom who overrate him, as Drew has haters.

 

Nixon was way better in MVP 2004 than Drew. As both players no longer play for the team IRL, that's all that matters to me.

 

I just can't get hot and bothered over JD talk anymore. Might as well have a post about how we feel about Rich Garces, Ed Jurak, or Matt Young.

[Muggah]

Nixon was way better in MVP 2004 than Drew. As both players no longer play for the team IRL, that's all that matters to me.

 

I just can't get hot and bothered over JD talk anymore. Might as well have a post about how we feel about Rich Garces, Ed Jurak, or Matt Young.

 

Or Ernest Riles. They're all the same.

[Gringo]

Just reading the thread title made me smile...

[Spudboy]

Drew was an extremely talented player. He did everything well. He had a classic fluid style that made things looks easy and effortless which contributed to the perception that he didn't care. His biggest problem was that he couldn't stay on the field enough.

 

I endorse this post. Every word of it. And, I loved his swing. It was purdy....

[Eck20and8]

Glad both he and the GM who signed him are gone

[Spitball]

I will not miss J.D. Drew. He played an excellent right fielder and had a sweet swing, but he was not worth $14 million a year. He had trouble staying healthy and never drove in as many as 70 runs a season. He was basically Trot-Lite for far more money.

 

In fact, I have always been suspicious that his signing was part of some sort of extortion plan by Scott Boras involving the Red Sox interest in reaching an agreement with Dice-K.

[Dojji]

Trot lite? LOL.

 

Trot Nixon pretty much made his bread and butter here over a 3 year stretch during which he was actually one of the better players in the league -- right in the heart of the steroid era. We spent every season after 2003 saying "just wait until Trot gets healthy." At least Drew spread his productive years out over roughly a decade.

 

Nixon was so, so overrated.

[Salty]

I think Drew's injury problems were overstated a lot of the time. Obviously he had a rundown, horrible 2011 and he missed a decent amount of games in '08, but 140 in '07, 137 in '09 and 139 in '10 isn't exactly being injury plagued. Basically the guy had injuries derail one season in a Sox uni. The '11 campaign almost doesn't even count as he pretty much lost his job to Reddick and got written off. Who knows if he was even hurt all that time.

[Bellhorn04]

I liked Trot and Drew both, when they were on the field.

[InfernoOrangeSS]

Up until his injury, he earned his money. As much as people like to trash him, the dude was good. He was an elite corner OF when healthy.

 

More than solid on defense, and his offense was among the best.

 

I agree. I will never forget his grand slam against Cleveland in the playoffs. I think he took more criticism than he deserved because of his price tag. I always liked having him in RF and there was a time a few years ago when a lot of players were hurt and he carried the offense for a few weeks.

Not trying to start a war about him...just stating my thoughts.

[seabeachfred]

Nixon was way better in MVP 2004 than Drew. As both players no longer play for the team IRL, that's all that matters to me.

 

I just can't get hot and bothered over JD talk anymore. Might as well have a post about how we feel about Rich Garces, Ed Jurak, or Matt Young.

 

Matt Young---ouch!!!!!! That one hurt MVP. Matt pitched for my Senior Babe Ruth All Star Team in 1977 and won eight games, five by shutouts, to get our team the SBR World Series Title. I guess he got all his pitching greateness done before he got to the Red Sox but I will always been indebted to that young man. Of course, if I had been following the Sox back in the 80's when he signed and did nothing I might think a little different of him.

[seabeachfred]

Just reading the thread title made me smile...

 

Gringo, are you posting on some other board. I've seen that Bogart-like mug somewhere else.