Drew replaces Iggy on Wednesday

[Dojji]

He doesn't exactly cut the figure of your standard 1B does he? Mostly scouts like a guy with a big target so he has a better chance to knock down a bad throw.

 

But he wasn't half bad, and that stretch on Middlebrooks' grounder made it look like he'd been there for years. You know he was good because no one noticed him -- which for a 1B is a pretty decent compliment.

[Rdsxmbnt]

I think even in a bench role, Iglesias returns far more value than Carp.

 

If Iglesias were a top offensive prospect perhaps I'd feel differently, but I think that Iggy needs to do his learning in the bigs. He's not going to learn how to beat big league pitching by swinging in the minors.

 

He hasn't even come close to learning how to handle AAA pitching yet. I like Iglesias and could see him being a good enough defender to be a #9 hitter in the majors but not yet. He's has only hit 3 balls out of the infield and the BABIP gods have given him all hits thus far. He's gonna come crashing down to earth very quickly.

[Dojji]

Ordinarily I'd agree with you, but when it comes to Iglesias, I have my doubts that he's ever going to play in the minors long enough to learn how to hit big league pitching.

[Palodios]

Does anyone else think it is ridiculous for a guy who has been out with a concussion for several weeks to take one or two games and then jump right back in? Why not let him get on a hot streak in the minors before bringing him up?

[jung]

I kinda' agree Pal. Maybe not for the same reason. I think from what I could tell, Drew's responses to the post concussion testing have been a bit inconsistent. Feels OK, does a little running, not OK. I would probably think it makes sense to just let him play a little minor league ball before coming back up. Let him play a few more games and get into a rhythm. See if he is really past this up and down thing for one.

[seabeachfred]

Does anyone else think it is ridiculous for a guy who has been out with a concussion for several weeks to take one or two games and then jump right back in? Why not let him get on a hot streak in the minors before bringing him up?

 

I don't know if it is ridiculous Palodios but I certainly think it is ill advised. Not ridiculous because this has been the Red Sox game plan all along, but Drew uhas only played three games down below and is only one for ten or 11. He needs a few more at-bats on the farm. I have noticed though that Iggy's batting average while high has been the recipient of a lot of scratch and infield type hits. If he crashes it could harm him long term. He also needs to play in a stress free envrironment where he can get his swings in without looking over his shoulder at Drew or Ciricaco.

[SoxSport]

Read tonite the Red Sox have played 7 consecutive errorless games to start the season--a team record.

One of the things clicking so far is defense, and Iggy has been a big part of that. Bradley,too, saving a game in NY with that Cano catch.

 

Their success so far is a combination of speed, defense, pitching and power. I think they have to be wary of upsetting this combination, which is the real team chemistry--not the ersatz clubhouse stuff the media talks about. The balance is delicate.

[Bellhorn04]

Drew homered in tonight's game with Portland.

[Youk Of The Nation]

What are your thoughts on a cold, below average hitter in Stephen Drew replacing a red hot Jose Iglesias this coming Wednesday? Personally I don't think it is the right decision, as I believe he has earned his playing time for at least the time being. Why not let Iggy's hot bat run it's course, while slowly phasing Drew into the lineup starting with giving Iggy a day off here and there for rest sake.

 

I guess to me, it just doesn't make much sense, to bench a kid whose a defensive dynamo, who is also batting .529 against to of the better pitching staffs in the AL.

 

What say you folks?

 

Drew is cold because he hasn't played yet. How can he get red-hot without getting playing time? I hope you understand the issue there, otherwise any girlfriends of yours are going to be incredibly disappointed.

 

Iglesias is batting .529 after six games. He has barely hit anything for actual power. Lots of guys start out the season hitting over .500 and sink below .250 after the first two weeks. I wouldn't bet much of my limited income on Iglesias not being one of them.

 

The fact is, Drew was acquired to play every day, or almost every day. Unless he gives Farrell a reason, other than not having played yet, to not play him, he's going to be the everyday player, not Iglesias. It may be tough to hear for all of the people who pronounced him both the second coming of Jesus and the second coming of Ted Williams, but that's how it is.

[Youk Of The Nation]

Read tonite the Red Sox have played 7 consecutive errorless games to start the season--a team record.

One of the things clicking so far is defense, and Iggy has been a big part of that. Bradley,too, saving a game in NY with that Cano catch.

 

Their success so far is a combination of speed, defense, pitching and power. I think they have to be wary of upsetting this combination, which is the real team chemistry--not the ersatz clubhouse stuff the media talks about. The balance is delicate.

 

I'm not saying that the impact of interpersonal relations isn't absurdly inflated by the media, but you don't think everyone in the clubhouse getting along with each other and no one poisoning the manager's coffee a little bit each morning to make his death look like natural causes is important to the performance of a team?

[BSN07]

I'm not saying that the impact of interpersonal relations isn't absurdly inflated by the media, but you don't think everyone in the clubhouse getting along with each other and no one poisoning the manager's coffee a little bit each morning to make his death look like natural causes is important to the performance of a team?

 

It's important, anyone who says otherwise is a fool.

 

Speaking of the team chemistry, this team seems to have a lot of a high energy and guys look like they are having fun. Overall it just makes it so much more enjoyable to watch instead of a team that's just going about their business.

[Dojji]

I'm not saying that the impact of interpersonal relations isn't absurdly inflated by the media, but you don't think everyone in the clubhouse getting along with each other and no one poisoning the manager's coffee a little bit each morning to make his death look like natural causes is important to the performance of a team?

 

Sure, but I do think SoxSport has a point too. Balanced skillsets matters as much as a strong clubhouse and I could tolerate a black hole at short as long as neither light nor baseballs can escape its inexorable gravitational pull, if you know what I'm saying. Trading that for a few more hits a year strikes me as penny-wise and pound-foolish.

 

If you've lined up your talent well enough that your team starts winning, the clubhouse tends to take care of itself. Nothing sours a clubhouse like the whole team sucking at once.

 

In other words: We're dependent to win games on having great years from our pitching staff -- above their career averages across the board even, especially if we want into the Series. Setting themselves up as best we can to actually accomplish that is the least dumb thing we could be doing with our talent distribution right now, and there's a definite argument to be made that Iglesias helps us there more than Drew does.

[redsoxbeatz]

Does anyone else think it is ridiculous for a guy who has been out with a concussion for several weeks to take one or two games and then jump right back in? Why not let him get on a hot streak in the minors before bringing him up?

 

he'll be fine.

 

baseball players need to toughen up!

[redsoxbeatz]

I'm not saying that the impact of interpersonal relations isn't absurdly inflated by the media, but you don't think everyone in the clubhouse getting along with each other and no one poisoning the manager's coffee a little bit each morning to make his death look like natural causes is important to the performance of a team?

 

If a healthy and close-knit locker room/clubhouse isn't important to a teams success then nothing is!

[Palodios]

he'll be fine.

 

baseball players need to toughen up!

 

Its not about toughening him up-- its about getting his timing right in the minors so he doesn't go 0fer20 in his first week back while he's figuring it out.

[redsoxrules]

He should be fine, he was there for most of the spring and hasen't missed that much time.

[Brown28]

Let Drew start. He's the proven big-leaguer. Iggy will one day be the best defensive SS in baseball, but his average will suck over a large sample size if we keep him up now. Yeah he has 9 hits, but he's not tearing the cover off the ball. There's been a lot of luck so far. Send him and Bradley down for Drew and Papi. Nava is the 4th outfielder, Ciraco is the utility man and Carp is there for when Papi or Naps need a day off.

[seabeachfred]

Let Drew start. He's the proven big-leaguer. Iggy will one day be the best defensive SS in baseball, but his average will suck over a large sample size if we keep him up now. Yeah he has 9 hits, but he's not tearing the cover off the ball. There's been a lot of luck so far. Send him and Bradley down for Drew and Papi. Nava is the 4th outfielder, Ciraco is the utility man and Carp is there for when Papi or Naps need a day off.

 

My guess is that is exactly what the Red Sox front office is planning the next few days or so. Many posters on the board are worried about this because the team is doing well, our defense has been terrific and the club chemistry might take a hit if the roster is jumbled. We're paying Drew $9 million and for that he needs to play and he is a better hitter with more sock than Iglesias has, but defensively he will a grade or so down.

 

The joker in the deck is Carp. He has had much of a chance to show what he can give us but the few times he's been to the plate he hasn't looked all that good. I hope if we need him he can get us a few knocks and not be a total waste at the plate.

[Dojji]

I can't for the life of me think what Carp can do that Nava hasn't shown himself capable of.

 

If you can drop Carp and keep Iglesias on the roster at least until Ortiz comes back and you've had a few games to see what Drew is, that seems smart to me. If you can keep Carp in the minors somehow, that's the best place to put him.

[Brown28]

My guess is that is exactly what the Red Sox front office is planning the next few days or so. Many posters on the board are worried about this because the team is doing well, our defense has been terrific and the club chemistry might take a hit if the roster is jumbled. We're paying Drew $9 million and for that he needs to play and he is a better hitter with more sock than Iglesias has, but defensively he will a grade or so down.

 

The joker in the deck is Carp. He has had much of a chance to show what he can give us but the few times he's been to the plate he hasn't looked all that good. I hope if we need him he can get us a few knocks and not be a total waste at the plate.

 

I would be all for DFA'ing Carp and letting Bradley take his AB's but Bradley needs to play everyday. Same with Iggy. So Carp is probably our best option for that role, even though he sucks.

[NativeBostonian]

I would be all for DFA'ing Carp and letting Bradley take his AB's but Bradley needs to play everyday. Same with Iggy. So Carp is probably our best option for that role, even though he sucks.

 

When Ortiz comes back, either Carp or JBJ are going to be optioned to AAA. One of them has to go to make room.

[BSN07]

It comes down to Iggy had minor league options. They aren't going to carry Iggy, Drew and Ciriaco on the roster at once. They aren't going to cut bait with Drew, and I believe Ciracio would have to pass through waivers to go to the minors and imo some team would claim him. We obviously don't want that as he is a very useful player. Take all this into account and Iggy was the obvious choice to be sent down. It's as simple as that.

 

When Ortiz comes back JBJ will be going down(unless he catches fire between now and then and in that circumstance Carp probably gets DFA'd). I think once Ortiz comes back Gomes and Nava will take over in LF.

[Liam]

I'm slightly disappointed that Iggy has been sent down but I do understand the FO's thinking and it will be interesting to see what Drew has to offer, hopefully something like his 2010 season.

[jung]

Iggy has to play every day. There is no formula for Iggy playing even regularly with Drew back.

[Lord Snow]

What are your thoughts on a cold, below average hitter in Stephen Drew replacing a red hot Jose Iglesias this coming Wednesday? Personally I don't think it is the right decision, as I believe he has earned his playing time for at least the time being. Why not let Iggy's hot bat run it's course, while slowly phasing Drew into the lineup starting with giving Iggy a day off here and there for rest sake.

 

I guess to me, it just doesn't make much sense, to bench a kid whose a defensive dynamo, who is also batting .529 against to of the better pitching staffs in the AL.

 

What say you folks?

 

I couldn't agree with you more. I didn't read through the whole thread but here is my 2 cents.

 

Stephen Drew sucks, bad. He lives on the DL, just like his older brother, except he isn't any good when he is on the field. Red Sox fanboys will point to him being slightly above average like 4 years ago before he suffered 16.5 injuries and act like he is THAT player.

 

Jose Iglesias, a guy who has always struggled with the bat, was off to a scorching hot start (yes, luck did play a bit of a role) but even at that he should have been kept in the majors until he cooled off, if he ever cooled off. I'll take Iggy at .270/.320/.400 as my everyday SS in the majors.

[User Name]

Stephen Drew has had exactly one year where he played less than 150 games before his gruesome injury. He's been generally healthy throughout his career and has always been an above average hitter for the position.

 

Stop making s*** up.

[Palodios]

Whether he's historically been healthy or not, bringing Drew up for the game today was simply a bad decision. The guy lost most of spring training with concussion symptoms, and instead of giving him more time to let him adjust to minor league pitching, they let him take his spring training in the majors.

 

And he goes 0-4.

[User Name]

Yeah but he was coming up and Iggy was going down anyway. The timeframe is inconsequential to this discussion.

 

The point is that they need to see what they have in Drew. You can criticize the player, but do so on facts and not on made-up BS.

[mvp 78]

You know who else went 0-4?

 

DFA WMB!

[mvp 78]

Stephen Drew has had exactly one year where he played less than 150 games before his gruesome injury. He's been generally healthy throughout his career and has always been an above average hitter for the position.

 

Stop making s*** up.

 

It's an uphill battle here.