Jackie Bradley Jr.

[jacksonianmarch]

Through 50 games and 232 PA, Bradley is hitting .376/.496/.573.

 

That's ridiculous. This guy isn't being challenged at all. It's like he's playing freakin tee ball right now as an adult.

 

If this kid can fly through the system like it looks like he's going to, he may be able to fill in the void that Ellsbury will leave when he is gone in 2014.

 

I love Ellsbury and all, but if we have a kid who plays top notch defense and can get on base at a high clip (around .380-.400 OBP), swipe around 30 bags, and hit for some gap power, I see no reason in paying Ellsbury $180mm when we can instead use that money toward a top line pitcher and let a guy like Bradley come up and play.

 

Seems like it's moving toward a natural transition. Lets hope it continues.

 

SFF, if Ellsbury proves he can replicate last season, then you pay him the money. A perennial 30-30 guy with the chops to hit .320 and bring 40-70+ steals to the game is rare. I doubt he can return to that level of prominence, though, and his hard nosed style keeps getting him hurt. But if he can play a full yr next season and put up the same line as 2011, you try to keep him around

[Station 13]

In a suspended game, Bradley collected 2 hits, including his 26th 2B.

 

Hitting . 388

 

this guy is a machine.

[Station 13]

Bradley leads the Carolina League in most everything

 

http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=l_bat&lid=122&sid=l122

[SoxFanForsyth]

In a suspended game, Bradley collected 2 hits, including his 26th 2B.

 

Hitting . 388

 

this guy is a machine.

 

Want to hear something even more amazing??

 

He has virtually no split.

 

Vs RHP: .390/.497/.604

Vs LHP: .381/.500/.524

 

Ridiculous.

 

He's gotta be a top 50 prospect in the mid-season update.

[Station 13]

All Bradley does is absolutely own Salem. Another 2 hit and 2 walks game.

[jacksonianmarch]

I know exactly why Bradley is still with Salem. They are 3 games out of 1st and if you clinch the first half top spot, you get a playoff spot. The Sox do need to appease their partners and fan bases. My guess is that when the first half is either clinched or apparent they wont win it, Bradley will move on to AA

[SoxSignatures]

But who sits in Portland with the crowded OF of Brentz, Linares, Tejeda, Hazelbaker and Hissey? There isn't a lot of playing time to go around there. While Bradley absolutely deserves the promotion, sometimes the politics of dealing with these kids fragile egos has to come into play. What would make sense is to move Linares back to AAA, then you'd create a spot for Bradley in Portland. Of course that moves the log-jam to AAA where Kroeger and Bermudez aren't exactly flourishing.

[kapsis21]

I know exactly why Bradley is still with Salem. They are 3 games out of 1st and if you clinch the first half top spot' date=' you get a playoff spot. The Sox do need to appease their partners and fan bases. My guess is that when the first half is either clinched or apparent they wont win it, Bradley will move on to AA[/quote']

 

i think he deserves to get promoted to AAA.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Chris Mellen of SoxProspects.com just said via twitter that Jackie Bradley's defense is actually even better than Lin's defense.

 

That's a big, big statement.

[jacksonianmarch]

Chris Mellen of SoxProspects.com just said via twitter that Jackie Bradley's defense is actually even better than Lin's defense.

 

That's a big, big statement.

 

I think they might be pumping his tires a little. I think Bradley is one of the sox prospects primed for a trade, to be totally honest, assuming the sox are going for it

[SoxFanForsyth]

Zero chance that the Sox trade Bradley unless it's for an ace like Felix. Barnes, Bradley, and Bogaerts are the 3 untouchables in the Sox farm. With Ellsbury a near certainty to leave for FA, Bradley will be a natural transition into CF for the Sox. High OBP, plus speed, gap power, and elite defense. Perfect leadoff hitter.

 

Anyway, I just heard a podcast with Alex Speier and Keith Law. Law said that he was incredibly impressed with Bradley's plate discipline. When Speier heard Law say that, he said "I recently spoke to Bradley about that, and he said the reason he's so disciplined is because he is incredibly comfortable to hit with 2 strikes. He decided after his freshman year of high school that he simply would not swing at pitches unless he had 2 strikes on him so that he could become comfortable as a hitter with 2 strikes."

 

That's incredible. And now he's OBP'ing nearly .500 in A ball. Law said that it's not just that he's facing inferior talent, but that his discipline would translate into higher levels, it's that good.

[Station 13]

Bradley been promoted to AA. Salem is off the next 3 days.

[jacksonianmarch]

Zero chance that the Sox trade Bradley unless it's for an ace like Felix. Barnes, Bradley, and Bogaerts are the 3 untouchables in the Sox farm. With Ellsbury a near certainty to leave for FA, Bradley will be a natural transition into CF for the Sox. High OBP, plus speed, gap power, and elite defense. Perfect leadoff hitter.

 

Anyway, I just heard a podcast with Alex Speier and Keith Law. Law said that he was incredibly impressed with Bradley's plate discipline. When Speier heard Law say that, he said "I recently spoke to Bradley about that, and he said the reason he's so disciplined is because he is incredibly comfortable to hit with 2 strikes. He decided after his freshman year of high school that he simply would not swing at pitches unless he had 2 strikes on him so that he could become comfortable as a hitter with 2 strikes."

 

That's incredible. And now he's OBP'ing nearly .500 in A ball. Law said that it's not just that he's facing inferior talent, but that his discipline would translate into higher levels, it's that good.

 

Bradley is a solid talent, just the kind of talent required to get anyone better than a middle of the road pitcher or platoon starter

[Station 13]

http://fullcount.weei.com/sports/boston/baseball/red-sox/2012/06/20/graduation-day-jackie-bradley-jr-is-ready-for-double-a-and-more/

 

Long read.....

[redsoxfan3]

http://fullcount.weei.com/sports/boston/baseball/red-sox/2012/06/20/graduation-day-jackie-bradley-jr-is-ready-for-double-a-and-more/

 

Long read.....

 

Good article. If the article is right and he will be ready for the majors by sometime in 2013, this could be very interesting on what happens with Ellsbury. Ells is a free agent in 2014 and if Bradley is ready for the majors and comes up and shows that he can produce, then we might see the last of Jacoby if he is going to demand a big contract. I like our OF with CC, Ellsbury, and Kalish already, and with Bradley coming along, it will be even more exciting to watch. Not to mention we have Ross and Sweeney who still might be around next year or in 2014. Sweeney is a FA in 2014 and Ross is a FA in 2013.

[jacksonianmarch]

If Ellsbury's power turns out to be real, I have a feeling there will be a strong push for the sox to resign him. Right now, nobody can be sure since he is injured. And if the question is "if" he will demand a big contract, his answer is his agent. Jacoby is gonna be a $100 million man if he proves healthy next yr

[SoxFanForsyth]

If Ellsbury's power turns out to be real' date=' I have a feeling there will be a strong push for the sox to resign him. Right now, nobody can be sure since he is injured. And if the question is "if" he will demand a big contract, his answer is his agent. Jacoby is gonna be a $100 million man if he proves healthy next yr[/quote']

 

I disagree.

 

I think they'll trade Ellsbury in the offseason. I think they'll let Kalish take over in CF next season, and resign Cody Ross for around $3/15mm to man RF. Once Bradley Jr. becomes ready (likely middle of next season, according to scouts), he'll take over in CF.

 

They'll likely spend the money that they save on Ellsbury's contract, and turn it into pitching. That would be the smart thing to do. No reason to pay Ellsbury all that money when you have a guy in the wings who is projected as a perennial all star and gold glover by some scouts.

[Station 13]

Bradley has no problem handling AA in his first week. Hitting .360 and getting on base (.448). Let's see how the pitchers will handled him and what adjustment Bradley will make. If he keeps on hitting and drawing walks, he's going to be at Fenway really soon.

[SemperFi Sox]

I say mid to late 2013. Just in time to get some at bats with the big club.

[jacksonianmarch]

I disagree.

 

I think they'll trade Ellsbury in the offseason. I think they'll let Kalish take over in CF next season, and resign Cody Ross for around $3/15mm to man RF. Once Bradley Jr. becomes ready (likely middle of next season, according to scouts), he'll take over in CF.

 

They'll likely spend the money that they save on Ellsbury's contract, and turn it into pitching. That would be the smart thing to do. No reason to pay Ellsbury all that money when you have a guy in the wings who is projected as a perennial all star and gold glover by some scouts.

 

I've talked to some non-red sox scouts who say that Bradley's defense is good and that his power isnt likely to be anything special. He also isnt a burner on the bases. He's likely to be more in the mold of a Mark Kotsay with better contact skills. And when I say Kotsay, I dont mean the 4th OFer in SD. I am talking about the guy who hit close to .300, had an OBP in the .360-.370 range and played good defense round the turn of the century with at most 15 homers.

[SemperFi Sox]

I've talked to some non-red sox scouts who say that Bradley's defense is good and that his power isnt likely to be anything special. He also isnt a burner on the bases. He's likely to be more in the mold of a Mark Kotsay with better contact skills. And when I say Kotsay' date=' I dont mean the 4th OFer in SD. I am talking about the guy who hit close to .300, had an OBP in the .360-.370 range and played good defense round the turn of the century with at most 15 homers.[/quote']

 

His defense is elite not good. He's going to be a very good leadoff hitter.

[example1]

I've talked to some non-red sox scouts who say that Bradley's defense is good and that his power isnt likely to be anything special. He also isnt a burner on the bases. He's likely to be more in the mold of a Mark Kotsay with better contact skills. And when I say Kotsay' date=' I dont mean the 4th OFer in SD. I am talking about the guy who hit close to .300, had an OBP in the .360-.370 range and played good defense round the turn of the century with at most 15 homers.[/quote']

 

elite defense (already talking about GG potential) and a guy who is exceedingly comfortable hitting with 2 strikes, with a high OBP, decent speed, etc., sounds like a very, very promising player.

 

There was an interview with him (sorry if this was mentioned upthread) with Alex Speier the other day. He's a really interesting guy and very likeable.

[SoxFanForsyth]

I've talked to some non-red sox scouts who say that Bradley's defense is good and that his power isnt likely to be anything special. He also isnt a burner on the bases. He's likely to be more in the mold of a Mark Kotsay with better contact skills. And when I say Kotsay' date=' I dont mean the 4th OFer in SD. I am talking about the guy who hit close to .300, had an OBP in the .360-.370 range and played good defense round the turn of the century with at most 15 homers.[/quote']

 

Power-wise, I agree that's likely what you're going to get from Bradley. Outside of that, I disagree. JBJ will give elite defense, elite OBP (I personally think he'll be a .390-.410 OBP guy), very high average.

 

You'll likely get 8-12 HR out of him on average, turning into 12-15 during his peak seasons, and then you'll probably get around 25-30 SB from him.

 

But, with that OBP, he will also be a leadoff guy who will score 120+ runs a season just because he's going to be on base at a ridiculous clip.

 

The thing is, with the youth and HR pop that guys like Bogaerts, Middlebrooks, Brentz, and potentially Lavarnway (if he's not traded) are going to bring to the table over the next couple of years, there's no sense in spending that kind of money on Ellsbury when you can allocate it to fill a more gaping hole, likely SP.

 

Basically, if I had to choose between re-signing Ellsbury, or going out and getting a top of the rotation ace like Hamels and letting the young guys start to filter in, I'll take the latter.

 

And on a side note, JBJ is 2 for 3 with a double tonight, and is now hitting .393 with a 1.040 OPS in his 7 games thus far in Portland.

[jacksonianmarch]

Kotsay in his prime was a leadoff guy. I think everything about Bradley screams leadoff guy.

[cp176]

Very likely I think that Ellsbury will get moved. Crawford is here for keeps and I don't see them making another long term contract on a player so often injured no matter how good he is. That said, I don't ever see khalish in cf for us. We have an outfield overload. I see a major trade brewing.

[SoxFanForsyth]

JBJ 2/3 so far tonight, another double, RBI, run scored. .394, 1.035 OPS.

 

yawn.

[SoxFanForsyth]

And, side note - Bradley is absolutely a leadoff hitter, no question about it.

[Station 13]

Been almost 2 week now in AA:

.364/.442/.500

[jacksonianmarch]

If Ellsbury goes all Youkilis on you, then he gets moved. If he comes back up and is the 30-30 guy with a .320 average again, you dont move him. No matter how good Bradley becomes, he will never reach Ellsbury's level from last yr

[SoxFanForsyth]

If Ellsbury goes all Youkilis on you' date=' then he gets moved. If he comes back up and is the 30-30 guy with a .320 average again, you dont move him. No matter how good Bradley becomes, he will never reach Ellsbury's level from last yr[/quote']

 

Yeah, but the Red Sox aren't going to pay Ellsbury 8/160mm to stay in Boston, especially not with Bradley in the wings, whose defense right now would push Ellsbury to a corner OF (per scouts).

 

They'll dish Ellsbury, likely in the offseason, but perhaps at the deadline. I just don't think anyone will deal for Ellsbury right now since he's coming off an injury.