outfield

[wyo-sox]

I still think it is to early to make any judgements but I am really happy with Ross and Sweeny. These boys seemed focused and play hard. Certainly taking advantage of their opportunity. I like the defense I've seen. Ryan has gone fot 10/25 with the bat. And I'm not sure about Codys numbers but man he CRUSHED that homer yesterday!

 

We bitch alot about over paid guys under performing here is quite the opposite for us to enjoy.

[SoxFanForsyth]

As soon as Ellsbury went down, I thought Sweeney should have been the leadoff hitter. Not only is he the hot hand, but he's also consistently had a .345-.350 OBP, and now hitting at Fenway, his average should jump up by around .010-.015, which would push him to a .355-.365 OBP guy.

 

I think Sweeney was a great "throw in" to the Bailey trade - Not going to hit a lot of homeruns but a line drive hitter with gap to gap power and a little speed.

[onlybereaved]

For right now, the only difference between Cody Ross playing CF in place of Jacoby that I anticipate is obviously offensive. Cody can cover the ground in CF and make plays, he could possibly even have a better arm than Ells.

 

I agree that Sweeney should be leadoff hitter opposed to Aviles. I don't mind our current OF - not like we have a choice at the moment.

[TutGadol]

For right now, the only difference between Cody Ross playing CF in place of Jacoby that I anticipate is obviously offensive. Cody can cover the ground in CF and make plays, he could possibly even have a better arm than Ells.

 

I agree that Sweeney should be leadoff hitter opposed to Aviles. I don't mind our current OF - not like we have a choice at the moment.

 

I have to disagree about Ross. I don't see how he can cover the same range as Elu, and while his arm might be better I think Elu has a better sense for the outfield and a better glove. I like Ross though, he gives the team some much needed pop against Lefties.

[mvp 78]

Defensively, I haven't seen anything in Ross that makes me think he's more than replacement level. He hits lefties (something this club needs) but his glove seems below average.

[SoxSport]

As soon as Ellsbury went down, I thought Sweeney should have been the leadoff hitter. Not only is he the hot hand, but he's also consistently had a .345-.350 OBP, and now hitting at Fenway, his average should jump up by around .010-.015, which would push him to a .355-.365 OBP guy.

 

I think Sweeney was a great "throw in" to the Bailey trade - Not going to hit a lot of homeruns but a line drive hitter with gap to gap power and a little speed.

 

Good point.

[jung]

As I said in some other thread I would really like to see the Sox dispense with carrying thirteen pitchers at this point. Seems to me that the staff does now have some definition which should allow them to cut back on the number of pitchers. That should then give then the opportunity to balance out the bench players so that V actually has some options.

[mvp 78]

As I said in some other thread I would really like to see the Sox dispense with carrying thirteen pitchers at this point. Seems to me that the staff does now have some definition which should allow them to cut back on the number of pitchers. That should then give then the opportunity to balance out the bench players so that V actually has some options.

 

They DFA'd Bowden and are now only carrying 12.

[wyo-sox]

As soon as Ellsbury went down, I thought Sweeney should have been the leadoff hitter. Not only is he the hot hand, but he's also consistently had a .345-.350 OBP, and now hitting at Fenway, his average should jump up by around .010-.015, which would push him to a .355-.365 OBP guy.

 

I think Sweeney was a great "throw in" to the Bailey trade - Not going to hit a lot of homeruns but a line drive hitter with gap to gap power and a little speed.

 

Seems like I remember reading Aviles is really good at reading pitchers to time his steal attempts. I wonder if that played into putting him in lead off?

[redsoxfan3]

I am not really big on batting Sweeney leadoff. I like the fact that he is getting on base and getting hits, but I like Aviles' speed at the leadoff spot. He is faster than Sweeney. Aviles is batting .290 through nine games. He is doing decent. If Craword comes back before Ells (hopefully Ells isn't out more than two months), then I could see us going with Crawford at leadoff, unless Aviles really is doing well. I am content with Sweeney, Ross, and McDonald as our OF right now. I am also not agaist looking to trade for someone. I know that a couple months ago if you told me the OF is going to be Ross, Sweeney, and D-Mac, I would have thought the FO is crazy. Ross can hit when he is hot. He is not a horrible option in CF. Sweeney is a big surprise. D-Mac will get better. I think we can get by with the OF that we have until both Crawford and Ells return. Hopefully that is sooner rather than later.

[a700hitter]

Ross is a very useful platoon player, but not a full time player. Fenway may help him to be a better full time player, but he is not very good against RHP.

 

Sweeney has been a very pleasant surprise. Fenway may really help him, because he seems to like to take the ball the other way. I don't know about him having speed. He doesn't look very fast to me. He's a big guy, and sometimes those big boys don't seem to be going fast but their long strides are eating up turf.

 

DMac is still a AAAA player. We could use an OFer to get us through Ells absence. Right now Ortiz is on fire and carrying the team. When he cools off, the offense could go very flat. Nate Spears is not the answer.

[redsoxfan3]

Ross is a very useful platoon player, but not a full time player. Fenway may help him to be a better full time player, but he is not very good against RHP.

 

Sweeney has been a very pleasant surprise. Fenway may really help him, because he seems to like to take the ball the other way. I don't know about him having speed. He doesn't look very fast to me. He's a big guy, and sometimes those big boys don't seem to be going fast but their long strides are eating up turf.

 

DMac is still a AAAA player. We could use an OFer to get us through Ells absence. Right now Ortiz is on fire and carrying the team. When he cools off, the offense could go very flat. Nate Spears is not the answer.

 

I do agree with you about D-Mac. I am just saying I think we can get by until Ells and Crawford returns. I know that we do not know the extent to how long Ells is out. I have heard 6-8 weeks and that they do not know until more tests are done. I think the reports are that Crawford will return sometime in May (probably more towards the middle or end). If we can get both back by June 1st, then I will be happy. Realistically, it would not hurt this team one bit to go out and trade for someone to help us get by until they both return.

[JohnGreen2004]

If Ells is out more than 8 weeks the Sox are gonna need help. Marlon Byrd and Coco Crisp have been thrown out there. We should have a better idea soon of the extent of Ells' injury and time he'll be out.

[TutGadol]

I like Sweeny and Ross but the problem with them is that each of them can only hit one kind of pitchers (Righties or lefties). If we had Elu and Crawford healthy and they the two new guys could rotate in RF it would've been a very nice combo. but right now, meh.

[SoxSport]

I am not really big on batting Sweeney leadoff. I like the fact that he is getting on base and getting hits' date=' but I like Aviles' speed at the leadoff spot. He is faster than Sweeney. Aviles is batting .290 through nine games. He is doing decent. If Craword comes back before Ells (hopefully Ells isn't out more than two months), then I could see us going with Crawford at leadoff, unless Aviles really is doing well. I am content with Sweeney, Ross, and McDonald as our OF right now. I am also not agaist looking to trade for someone. I know that a couple months ago if you told me the OF is going to be Ross, Sweeney, and D-Mac, I would have thought the FO is crazy. Ross can hit when he is hot. He is not a horrible option in CF. Sweeney is a big surprise. D-Mac will get better. I think we can get by with the OF that we have until both Crawford and Ells return. Hopefully that is sooner rather than later.[/quote']

 

good [points, too. But Aviles has more pop than Sweeney, and could drive in more runs further down the lineup. Neither is a speedburner. Sweeney has a higher OBP, which is important for a leadoff batter. He gets walks. And he's actually hitting right now--unlike many of the best hitters in baseball.

[SoxSport]

If Ells is out more than 8 weeks the Sox are gonna need help. Marlon Byrd and Coco Crisp have been thrown out there. We should have a better idea soon of the extent of Ells' injury and time he'll be out.

 

Coco's salary may kill that. I understand he makes $14 mil? Byrd is more manageable salary-wise.

[JohnGreen2004]

I've been impressed with Ryan Sweeney so far. He will come back to earth but he could still be a productive bat at Fenway. Maybe one of those guys who thrive after a change of scenery? The potential is there.

[mvp 78]

Coco's salary may kill that. I understand he makes $14 mil? Byrd is more manageable salary-wise.

 

Coco $6M 2012, $7M 2013

[mvp 78]

Byrd $6.5 2012, FA 2013

[SoxFanForsyth]

The guy that's killing us right now is Darnell McDonald.

 

So rather than asking "If Ells is out for X amount of time, should we go get someone in a trade", it's more of a "Crawford will be back in 2-3 weeks, the schedule goes from extremely difficult to extremely manageable starting a week from today. Can we manage without Ells and Crawford for the next 2-3 weeks?"

 

The answer, I think, is yes.

 

Starting in 1 week from today, the next 22 games will look like this:

 

3 @ MIN (63-99 in 2011)

4 @ CHW (79-83 in 2011)

3 v OAK (74-88 in 2011)

3 v BAL (69-93 in 2011)

3 @ KC (71-91 in 2011)

4 v CLE (80-82 in 2011)

2 v SEA (67-95 in 2011)

 

That gets us through May 15th. That will be 4.5 weeks from Ellsbury's injury, so he will need another 1.5-3.5 weeks to get back. But regardless, Crawford will be back in the middle of that stretch, and our OF will be Crawford, Ross, and Sweeney. That outfield will be able to get it done.

 

Keep in mind, this team had the best offense in baseball last year, and the RF had a .652 OPS, and the LF had a .723 OPS.

 

With the additions of Sweeney and Ross, and if Crawford can return to form, the Sox outfield offense as a whole, while not being as good as 2011, could easily get close to being as good as 2011.

 

All that to say - there are other areas that need improvement more than the OF unless a situation arises where Ellsbury will miss significantly more time than anticipated right now.

[SoxSport]

Byrd $6.5 2012' date=' FA 2013[/quote']

 

More attractive to the FO than Crisp. They only want a guy for this year.

I doubt they want to pay Byrd $6.5 mil, though.

[SoxSport]

The team is loaded with mediocre veterans with no upside. They need a few of those young kids with upside sitting in Pawtucket.

[JohnGreen2004]

I have to agree a prospect from Pawtucket would provide a spark but the outfield position isn't a big strength at the upper minor league level. Nava's performed best from an offensive standpoint so maybe but the lower level has more talent.

[SCM33]

Something that I thought I would throw out there.....

 

We are getting solid production between Sweeney and Ross right now, and Byrd doubled his hit total for the year in 2 games.....with Ellsbury and Crawford on the mend, would anyone like to see them bring in Vlad Guerrero as a RH bat off the bench?

 

He isnt playing for anyone right now, so hed probably be pretty cheap, a million or less. Just a suggestion a as a RH bench bat only, since he has not been able to play a position for almost 3 years now.

 

Dmac serves no purpose on this team and there is no use for Thomas or Anderson on the roster. Is carrying a bat of the bench less important than those guys?

[RedSoxNC84]

Something that I thought I would throw out there.....

 

We are getting solid production between Sweeney and Ross right now, and Byrd doubled his hit total for the year in 2 games.....with Ellsbury and Crawford on the mend, would anyone like to see them bring in Vlad Guerrero as a RH bat off the bench?

 

He isnt playing for anyone right now, so hed probably be pretty cheap, a million or less. Just a suggestion a as a RH bench bat only, since he has not been able to play a position for almost 3 years now.

 

Dmac serves no purpose on this team and there is no use for Thomas or Anderson on the roster. Is carrying a bat of the bench less important than those guys?

 

Isn't Vlad in trouble with the law in the Dominican republic right now?

[SoxSport]

I have to agree a prospect from Pawtucket would provide a spark but the outfield position isn't a big strength at the upper minor league level. Nava's performed best from an offensive standpoint so maybe but the lower level has more talent.

 

Is Nava doing well in Pawtucket? That kid is a mystery. Looks like he should be a great hitter.

 

They'll be OK for awhile with Ross, Byrd and Sweeney.

[SoxSport]

I checked the Pawsox stats. The big hitters down there right now are Middlebrooks (8 HR, 1.2 OPS) and Gomez (6 HR, 1.1 OPS). Gomez plays 1B.

[a700hitter]

Is Nava doing well in Pawtucket? That kid is a mystery. Looks like he should be a great hitter.

 

They'll be OK for awhile with Ross, Byrd and Sweeney.

Nava is just not MLB caliber. If we see him again on the Red Sox MLB 25 man roster, it will be some evidence that the FO is not making a big effort to get the 2012 team to the post season.

[Station 13]

Nava seriously? his 15 minutes fame is over.

[kapsis21]

Nava seriously? his 15 minutes fame is over.

 

question, what do these guys get paid when they are playing in the minors? is there a minimum salary for minor league players?

I am planning to start a thread about minor leagues unless there is already one out there with some information..