Jose Iglesias

[rjortiz]

No other SS in all of baseball can make that play? Take his dick out of your mouth for a second and re-read what you wrote. Cause it's pretty lame

 

Haha, someone's mad. If I wrote HOMEGROWN next to Iglesias, would it be less lame?

[rjortiz]

There are facts, reasoned judgements, and opinions. This statement you have made is an opinion, but I'm not really sure if you watched enough of Rey Ordonez to base it on anything besides your own bias.

 

Here is a video of Ordonez:

 

 

Haha, you're right. I see a lot of Ozzie Smith in him, but I'm probably guilty of wishful thinking.

[example1]

That highlight reel of Ordonez is impressive. Iglesias, in a very short time, has produced a few jaw-dropping plays too. If he plays in the league for 10 years that would be probably 1300 games. In that time there will be hundreds of astounding plays. People who have watched him in the minors (including the AAA manager) say that he makes about a highlight play per-night, plays that very few players could make.

 

 

Unrelated question:

Has a team ever aimed to maximize a player's defense by moving him where the ball is most likely to go? In other words, switch a SS and 2B back and forth based on left or right handedness of the batter? I realize the answer is probably no, and I can think of many reasons why (familiarity of position, skill-sets of SS vs 2B, etc.,).

 

However, wouldn't a player like Iglesias touching the ball as often as possible make a noticeable difference over your average 2B?

[rjortiz]

I'm guessing Joe Maddon if anyone at all.

[Dojji]

There's different ways you have to read the ball at short or second. I wouldn't mind seeing it tried, but I suspect there'd be some hidden disadvantages.

[Behindenemylines]

Jeter (homegrown) wouldn't have gotten that ball the other night that Iggy got because he would be DHing.

[SoxSport]

Good story on Iggy by Cafardo this morning:

 

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/2012/09/30/iglesias-thinks-can-handle-chance/U47J82semlai8dMvlM10PN/story-1.html

 

Nick says the Sox made a mistake not playing Iggy at SS the whole season. His defensive skills are special, and they should have let the offense come with experience. This is especially true when you consider they were paying him $2.5 million. He is fair enough to Aviles, saying he had a good year playing decent SS. But one scout says Iggy is special defensively--maybe the best, and belongs starting in the big leagues.

 

Which brings the argument to what may be the real problem with the Red Sox--the Front Office. Their judgement has sucked this year, and they have flown under the media radar, thanks to Bobby V's big mouth. Cherington appeared to be in over his head, based on a lot of questionable decisions this year.

Maybe Henry's hiring of James, Tek and a few other "assistants" is an admission of this. But this won't fix the dysfunction and turf clashes in the organization-- Henry has to recognize he needs a VP-Team Ops to assume a leadership role, to oversee the team functions, before this team can go anywhere. And that clearly should not be Lucchino.

[a700hitter]

Good story on Iggy by Cafardo this morning:

 

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/2012/09/30/iglesias-thinks-can-handle-chance/U47J82semlai8dMvlM10PN/story-1.html

 

Nick says the Sox made a mistake not playing Iggy at SS the whole season. His defensive skills are special, and they should have let the offense come with experience. This is especially true when you consider they were paying him $2.5 million. He is fair enough to Aviles, saying he had a good year playing decent SS. But one scout says Iggy is special defensively--maybe the best, and belongs starting in the big leagues.

 

Which brings the argument to what may be the real problem with the Red Sox--the Front Office. Their judgement has sucked this year, and they have flown under the media radar, thanks to Bobby V's big mouth. Cherington appeared to be in over his head, based on a lot of questionable decisions this year.

Maybe Henry's hiring of James, Tek and a few other "assistants" is an admission of this. But this won't fix the dysfunction and turf clashes in the organization-- Henry has to recognize he needs a VP-Team Ops to assume a leadership role, to oversee the team functions, before this team can go anywhere. And that clearly should not be Lucchino.

Once it became apparent that this team would stink-- around the second week of April-- Iglesias should have been the full time SS, Aviles the utility guy and Punto DFA'd or traded. We would have had 140 games to see if he could develop and become at least adequate with the bat.

[Elktonnick]

Good story on Iggy by Cafardo this morning:

 

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/2012/09/30/iglesias-thinks-can-handle-chance/U47J82semlai8dMvlM10PN/story-1.html

 

Nick says the Sox made a mistake not playing Iggy at SS the whole season. His defensive skills are special, and they should have let the offense come with experience. This is especially true when you consider they were paying him $2.5 million. He is fair enough to Aviles, saying he had a good year playing decent SS. But one scout says Iggy is special defensively--maybe the best, and belongs starting in the big leagues.

 

Which brings the argument to what may be the real problem with the Red Sox--the Front Office. Their judgement has sucked this year, and they have flown under the media radar, thanks to Bobby V's big mouth. Cherington appeared to be in over his head, based on a lot of questionable decisions this year.

Maybe Henry's hiring of James, Tek and a few other "assistants" is an admission of this. But this won't fix the dysfunction and turf clashes in the organization-- Henry has to recognize he needs a VP-Team Ops to assume a leadership role, to oversee the team functions, before this team can go anywhere. And that clearly should not be Lucchino.

 

That has been my opinion for sometime. Remember BV wanted to play Iggy. Look I know there is a lot of blame to lay at BV's feet but his judgment of talent is not one of them. In that regard he was right and Cherrington was wrong. And an objective review will point to other such instances as well.

 

Given his track record, however, I have more faith in Lucchino's baseball judgment than Cherrington. That's not to say that Lucchino should have that role, he shouldn't. But I haven't seen anything that Cherrington has done that makes me believe he is qualified to hold his current position.

[Bellhorn04]

I've argued that there isn't enough info yet to judge Cherington on. But I would agree that he hasn't proven much either. The signs are in place that we might be seeing a 'GM by committee' approach.

[Elktonnick]

I've argued that there isn't enough info yet to judge Cherington on. But I would agree that he hasn't proven much either. The signs are in place that we might be seeing a 'GM by committee' approach.

 

Yes I agree that it appears Henry, Werner and Lucchino want the committee approach. One interesting note from Saturday's "Baseball Show" Buckley and Shaughnessy both opined that "they" ie Red Sox basbeball ops, really want Farrell as the next mgr. But in order to get Farrell, Larry Lucchino has to be the one to get it done with Toronto. They implied that Ben doesn't have the juice. I infer from those remarks that Cherrington is not seen by his peers has the guy who has the final say on anything when it comes baseball operations in Boston despite the title.

[a700hitter]

Yes I agree that it appears Henry, Werner and Lucchino want the committee approach. One interesting note from Saturday's "Baseball Show" Buckley and Shaughnessy both opined that "they" ie Red Sox basbeball ops, really want Farrell as the next mgr. But in order to get Farrell, Larry Lucchino has to be the one to get it done with Toronto. They implied that Ben doesn't have the juice. I infer from those remarks that Cherrington is not seen by his peers has the guy who has the final say on anything when it comes baseball operations in Boston despite the title.

Farrell is not a good manager. He has the Blue Jays running the bases like blind-folded imbeciles for the last 2 seasons. It's been so bad that Omar Vizquel called out the entire coaching staff in this regard in an interview.

[Elktonnick]

Farrell is not a good manager. He has the Blue Jays running the bases like blind-folded imbeciles for the last 2 seasons. It's been so bad that Omar Vizquel called out the entire coaching staff in this regard in an interview.

 

I agree. I can't understand why anyone would want Farrell. If you look at what's going on up north, Toronto's clubhouse may be in worse shape than the Red Sox clubhouse.

[Station 13]

God no, please do not start him in Fenway in 2013. He is getting own every AB. Last night was the final when they let him hit without being pinch hit for.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

I don't care how good his glove is, I'm not willing to let his terrible offense slide because of that. I'm not saying give up on the kid but damn he needs work on that bat.

[a700hitter]

The fact that Theo didn't have to rent an entire hotel and run a top secret operation to sign this guy should have been a big tip off that he was not good.

[jung]

The problem may well be that Iggy simply will not develop further at AAA. I tend to agree with that. Just looking at the way he has fought up to actually being able to get the ball to the outfield from where he began a few weeks ago is a good indication I think. He has at least fought out of that terrible hole he was in where he looked like a 12 year old up there trying to hit against men. So now what do you do?

 

Certainly as badly as the Sox played this year, getting Iggy up here to play would have made sense. This team was a disaster that was not going to win enough games to be relevant. You could see that pretty early on. We surely wanted to believe otherwise but that is fans thinking with their hearts.

 

Now the Sox are in a real pickle. I still think there are massive risks associated with trying to fix all of this in one off season. To many holes on this team I think and even a competent FO will make some mistakes trying to make this many changes. Remember, the O's are not where they are because they changed a good deal in one off season. If anything the changes they did not make were as important as those they did make. Maybe they can afford to have Iggy play SS next season. I suspect they think Xander is their real future at SS so it might not even be worth it at this point. This year was the year to do it if they were going to invest time in Iggy....if next year gives them the same opportunity that is going to probably disappoint many.

[Station 13]

He's 22, Youk was in the minors till his mid 20s and Youk is 500% better than Iggy. So there plenty left to learn.

[jung]

So there plenty left to learn.

 

I doubt there is more for Iggy to learn in the minors, especially with Xander breathing down his neck. He is not going to get to be a much bigger, stronger guy. He needs to learn how to survive here. I do think he is something of a special case in that he is a guy fully developed defensively at the most demanding defensive position in baseball. Youk was not a SS and Youk should not have been in the minor as long as he was for that matter.

 

Sox may catch a break. They are not the A's or the O's. I don't look at what those two teams have done as relevant to the Sox situation. They may get the time to give Iggy....may not....sure as hell had it this year...blunder number 20,468 on the list for this season.

[SCM33]

The problem may well be that Iggy simply will not develop further at AAA. I tend to agree with that. Just looking at the way he has fought up to actually being able to get the ball to the outfield from where he began a few weeks ago is a good indication I think. He has at least fought out of that terrible hole he was in where he looked like a 12 year old up there trying to hit against men. So now what do you do?

 

Certainly as badly as the Sox played this year, getting Iggy up here to play would have made sense. This team was a disaster that was not going to win enough games to be relevant. You could see that pretty early on. We surely wanted to believe otherwise but that is fans thinking with their hearts.

 

Now the Sox are in a real pickle. I still think there are massive risks associated with trying to fix all of this in one off season. To many holes on this team I think and even a competent FO will make some mistakes trying to make this many changes. Remember, the O's are not where they are because they changed a good deal in one off season. If anything the changes they did not make were as important as those they did make. Maybe they can afford to have Iggy play SS next season. I suspect they think Xander is their real future at SS so it might not even be worth it at this point. This year was the year to do it if they were going to invest time in Iggy....if next year gives them the same opportunity that is going to probably disappoint many.

 

They are in no pickle. He is what he is.....a AAA player with AA offensive ability who will end up as the 25th man on the roster because of the money we spent on him.

 

He's 22, Youk was in the minors till his mid 20s and Youk is 500% better than Iggy. So there plenty left to learn.

 

Youkilis also didnt play a game in the minors until he was 22. He had superior offensive/on-base skills and had a silly nickname to go with his skills.

 

Iglesias is beyond awful at the plate. Pitchers hit with more pop than him.

 

I doubt there is more for Iggy to learn in the minors, especially with Xander breathing down his neck.

 

Xander will not be a MLB SS.

[jung]

Are you assuming Xander will outgrow SS for 3rd base?

[SCM33]

Are you assuming Xander will outgrow SS for 3rd base?

 

No, I just don't think he is a SS.

 

I think defensively, he will take the route of a player like Albert Pujols.

 

He will bounce back and forth between 3B and LF, and eventually settle at 1B/DH.

[Dojji]

No, I just don't think he is a SS.

 

I think defensively, he will take the route of a player like Albert Pujols.

 

He will bounce back and forth between 3B and LF, and eventually settle at 1B/DH.

 

That's a bit excessively cynical. He's going to fill out, but you're pretty much assuming he turns into a clone of David Ortiz. That takes it a bit overboard, no?

 

A guy like Jeter, or A-Rod, stayed on the left side of the infield despite aging and filling out, there's no reason it's impossible for Xander to do so.

[iortiz]

I do not want to see this guy wearing a Red Sox uniform again.

[jung]

Iggy actually finally did do enough at the plate in the last few games to be worthy of a shot because of his glove. He finally stopped getting blown right out of the batters box by ML pitching and discontinued that defensive slap hitting style.

 

The most disappointing thing Iggy did in the last week was not make that play in the second game in the just ended yankee series. Stopping runs with his glove is exactly what he has to do and although he has made several great defensive plays the last few weeks he did not make that one.

 

Iggy will be traded. I have said it for weeks now. The Red Sox are incapable of making a correct assessment of the SS position at the ML level. Want proof? Getting ride of Scutaro in a salary dump to make room for the incomparable Aviles and Punto....brilliant! Not that Scuts was God's gift to SS but offing him to make room for Aviles/Punto was a joke.

 

They currently do not have an everyday ML SS. Aviles is comical. Ciriaco is the closest thing they have and nobody takes him seriously as an everyday SS. Ciriaco is probably destined to be a terrific utility player possibly including OF in his repertoire. Ciriaco may get the SS job next year as they simply opt to take whatever they can get at SS time and time again.

 

They should trade Iggy so that he can get on with his career and then use some of that cash from "the trade" to bring in a prototypical Red Sox SS. That is frankly a loser direction to go in because the prototypical Red Sox SS generally sucks. But an Iggy will simply not fly in Boston. We have gotten used to a certain type of SS here, stone hands...lack of range and all and unless we have one of those so that we can claim him "adequate" all season long we just won't be happy.

[mvp 78]

I do not want to see this guy wearing a Red Sox uniform again.

 

I wonder what you would have said about Pedroia in October '06.

[Station 13]

I wonder what you would have said about Pedroia in October '06.

 

I don't think anybody really worried about Pedroia, he mash in the minors.

 

Iggy didn't do that and he is carved up in the majors. If there's a silver lining other than his defense, he doesn't strikeout much.

[a700hitter]

I don't think anybody really worried about Pedroia, he mash in the minors.

 

Iggy didn't do that and he is carved up in the majors. If there's a silver lining other than his defense, he doesn't strikeout much.

You are right. He has not demonstrated an ability to hit at any level in the organization. How can we expecrt him to hit in the majors.

[SCM33]

That's a bit excessively cynical. He's going to fill out, but you're pretty much assuming he turns into a clone of David Ortiz. That takes it a bit overboard, no?

 

A guy like Jeter, or A-Rod, stayed on the left side of the infield despite aging and filling out, there's no reason it's impossible for Xander to do so.

 

Where did I compare him to David Ortiz?

 

I said he was not a SS and will most likely follow the defensive career path of someone like Albert Pujols, who was out of position at 3B and LF (Pujols also had the bad arm).

[a700hitter]

Where did I compare him to David Ortiz?

 

I said he was not a SS and will most likely follow the defensive career path of someone like Albert Pujols, who was out of position at 3B and LF (Pujols also had the bad arm).

Was David Ortiz ever a SS? LOL!!