Middlebrooks demoted and more

[Spitball]

My Sports Center app is saying Middlebrooks has been demoted and David Ross put on 60-day disabled list. 1b/3b Brandon Snyder is up.

[Standing Room]

Sucks to lose Ross, he was going to be a big part of this team. I hope he gets his concussion issues sorted out in time for September and hopefully October.

[VA Sox Fan]

Middlebrooks optioned; Snyder added to bench

 

Posted by Peter Abraham, Globe Staff June 25, 2013 03:30 PM

 

 

The Red Sox have optioned third baseman Will Middlebrooks to Triple A Pawtucket and purchased the contract of infielder Brandon Snyder.

 

Middlebrooks is hitting .192 this season with a .617 OPS and lost his position to Jose Iglesias after going on the disabled list with a lower back strain in May. He had not played in five of the last six games.

 

The 24-year-old was expected to be a middle-of-the-order hitter for the Sox this season but never got on track. Sitting on the bench in the major leagues was restricting his development.

 

The Sox hope that Middlebrooks can get on track playing every day in the minors. Middlebrooks also has a good relationship with Pawtucket manager Gary DiSarcina, who managed him in rookie ball in 2008.

 

Synder, 26, was the 13th overall pick of the 2005 amateur draft by Baltimore but never developed into a major league regular. He has played 56 games with the Orioles and Rangers in his career, hitting .276. Snyder hit .277 with a .755 OPS in 40 games for Texas last season.

 

The Rangers released him out of spring training and Snyder was signed by the Red Sox. He has hit a modest .267/.338/.470 over 63 games with 10 home runs and 37 RBIs. He has played 40 games at first base and 23 at third.

 

Snyder has started one game at third base in the majors. Most of his experience has come at first base with three starts in right field and one in left.

 

Snyder has hit .212 in Pawtucket this month with a .572 OPS. He has struck out 20 times in his last 66 at-bats.

 

In time, the best option for the Red Sox bench could be Brock Holt, a utility infielder with some speed. Holt has not played for Pawtucket since June 16 because of an oblique injury. He is hitting .271.

[Rick Ross]

Solid move. Not only does this give Middlebrooks more playing time, it gives Iglesias the versatility to play third base on a regular basis without being threatened by a (currently) poor offensive player. He's turning out to be quite the glove out there.

 

I hope Middlebrooks is able to get back on track so we can add some quality pitching depth by trading him.

[Spitball]

Solid move. Not only does this give Middlebrooks more playing time, it gives Iglesias the versatility to play third base on a regular basis without being threatened by a (currently) poor offensive player. He's turning out to be quite the glove out there.

 

I hope Middlebrooks is able to get back on track so we can add some quality pitching depth by trading him.

 

Even if Middlebrooks tears it up at Pawtucket, he has created some doubts about his ability to hit major league pitching. I don't know if the Sox can get value for him.

 

I fear that Theo and Hoyer might be willing to buy low on him. They stole Anthony Rizzo from the Padres after he had similar struggles.

[a700hitter]

Middlebrooks squandered a golden opportunity. Next year, Xander will be pushing him. He may not have a big future in the organization.

[Palodios]

Middlebrooks squandered a golden opportunity. Next year, Xander will be pushing him. He may not have a big future in the organization.

 

In all fairness, we were saying the same exact thing about Iglesias last year.

[a700hitter]

In all fairness, we were saying the same exact thing about Iglesias last year.

Iglesias was not handed the starting position like Middlebrooks was. Middlebrooks had a lot of ABs. Iglesias had next to none.

[Palodios]

Middlebrooks didn't start at 3B in 2012. He was called up when Youk got hurt, and he hit his way onto that team. Very similar situation.

[a700hitter]

Middlebrooks didn't start at 3B in 2012. He was called up when Youk got hurt, and he hit his way onto that team. Very similar situation.

I didn't understand that you were comparing Iglesias this season to Middlebrooks last season.

 

I was confused by how you began that post by saying "in fairness." Who should we be fair to?

[seabeachfred]

Solid move. Not only does this give Middlebrooks more playing time, it gives Iglesias the versatility to play third base on a regular basis without being threatened by a (currently) poor offensive player. He's turning out to be quite the glove out there.

 

I hope Middlebrooks is able to get back on track so we can add some quality pitching depth by trading him.

 

I wouldn't be too anxious to trade Middlebrooks. Yes, he has regressed some, but that happens to a lot of young players in their second season. He needs to get his stroke back as well as his confidence. Down at Pawtucket he will get that chance. You don't grow 30 homer, 100 RBI men on trees and Will has this talent. We must be very very reluctant to trade a young player with some big upside and wind up with a journeyman in his place as we have many times in the past. There must be a place for Middlebrooks, Iggy, Boegarts, Bradley and Brentz by next season or 2015 at the latest. That's my opinion anyway.

[Bellhorn04]

I wouldn't be too anxious to trade Middlebrooks.

 

Fred, I think that Red Sox management is a lot less trigger-happy on these things than most message board posters.

[Rick Ross]

I wouldn't be too anxious to trade Middlebrooks. Yes, he has regressed some, but that happens to a lot of young players in their second season. He needs to get his stroke back as well as his confidence. Down at Pawtucket he will get that chance. You don't grow 30 homer, 100 RBI men on trees and Will has this talent. We must be very very reluctant to trade a young player with some big upside and wind up with a journeyman in his place as we have many times in the past. There must be a place for Middlebrooks, Iggy, Boegarts, Bradley and Brentz by next season or 2015 at the latest. That's my opinion anyway.

 

Something tells me Will Middlebrooks is not a 30 HR/100 RBI man right now. His HR/FB rate was extremely high last year and he strikes out far too much to be an RBI champ. I'd say give him the confidence he needs and bring him back up in September, assuming nobody gets hurt in the meantime.

 

Don't forget, though, having Middlebrooks is a plus no matter what. If somebody does indeed happen to go down, we have a somewhat-proven Major League infielder ready to man third base. The depth in this club has shown itself well, and it's pretty incredible if you ask me. So even though he's down now, we will almost certainly see him again in the near future.

[Behindenemylines]

He needs to make the adjustment that the pitchers have made to him. The guy has the power, but he needs a lot of ABs at AAA to get it right. If the Sox weren't in first they probably would have given him more time to get it right in Boston. What will the Sox do if Iggy reverts back to his prior self? Will they go out and get a 3B?

[SoxSport]

Garza is looking good. I'd say deal Middlebrooks for Garza, but the Cubs drafted their next 3rd baseman.

[Thunder]

Let's stop the talk of trading WMB. The way he's hitting, no one wants him.

 

You people give me headaches sometimes. Whenever a player gets into a funk of some kind, whether it be Middlebrooks, Bailey, even Napoli, the first option you guys think of is trading them. That is the stupidest thing ever. That is what Cherington did with Crawford and a little bit with Gonzalez, but he came to his senses. The Sox are fine. There is room for Iggy, Bogaerts, and Middlebrooks to coexist. We're in first place, and Farrell should be AL Manager of the Year. He knows what he's doing. It took Cherington a year, but now he knows what he's doing. Let's stop these nonsense trade rumors because I think we all know that it won't happen. I bet deep down none of you want it to happen either. The Sox aren't desperate at all. This team has depth. Take away Bailey, Uehara's there. Take away Middlebrooks, Iglesias is there. Carp has been great off the bench. Aceves has been great when needed. Everything about this team is working fine. No trades need to be made, and frankly you guys are too closed minded to see that. With you, there's always someone to hate and something to complain about.

[Bellhorn04]

Some of the trade talk is just people having a bit too much time on their hands. Plus with the advent of message boards, people get to really indulge in their fantasies of being managers and GM's. But you also need to step back and not take yourself too seriously.

[Spitball]

Garza is looking good. I'd say deal Middlebrooks for Garza, but the Cubs drafted their next 3rd baseman.

 

This would be my biggest fear. Why oh why would the Red Sox want to trade a young, promising young player for less than half a season of an often injured number three, at best, starting pitcher. This is very faulty thinking in my opinion.

[VA Sox Fan]

This would be my biggest fear. Why oh why would the Red Sox want to trade a young, promising young player for less than half a season of an often injured number three, at best, starting pitcher. This is very faulty thinking in my opinion.

 

It is. I will never understand anyone's desire to have Garza.

[User Name]

His spitting is also terribly annoying. f*** him.

[a700hitter]

How do you feel about Middlebrooks winning the 3B job back from Iglesias? Do you think it is Iggy's job the rest of the way? Any possibility that WMB comes back up, Iggy moves to SS and Drew packs his panties in a suitcase?

[Bellhorn04]

How do you feel about Middlebrooks winning the 3B job back from Iglesias? Do you think it is Iggy's job the rest of the way? Any possibility that WMB comes back up, Iggy moves to SS and Drew packs his panties in a suitcase?

 

WMB lost his job to Drew. Drew has been by far the better player since early in the season. It's the Sox good fortune that Iggy made the switch to third so easily.

 

WMB could get his job back at some point this year but he's really fallen behind.

[seabeachfred]

How do you feel about Middlebrooks winning the 3B job back from Iglesias? Do you think it is Iggy's job the rest of the way? Any possibility that WMB comes back up, Iggy moves to SS and Drew packs his panties in a suitcase?

 

Right now Ted I think Will needs to find his stroke and get his confidence back so that when he comes back up he can really help us. Iggy is doing a terrific job and has earned his place in the lineup. If WMB can come back up and do what he did last season, then, yes, we would be stronger with him and third and Iggy at short. Drew will not be resigned by the Sox from everything I heard and I would like for the team to settle on their team for the next nine or ten years. As for Bogie, he can play first or the outfield or he can play third and Will moves over to first. I want to see all three of them on the team and in our lineup into the forseeable future.

[jung]

WMB will likely take some time to get fixed. As it turned out Ells was easy. All he had to do was stop swinging for the fences in an effort to enhance his FA value. Trying to muscle up to something that was at least a facsimile of his big HR year is what f***ed him up. As soon as he stopped he was was right on track.

 

WMB truly needs to find a way to fix his addition to pitches he can't hit with a boat oar. I don't think there is any other fix for him, at least not one that he could employ some time this season.

[BSN07]

How do you feel about Middlebrooks winning the 3B job back from Iglesias? Do you think it is Iggy's job the rest of the way? Any possibility that WMB comes back up, Iggy moves to SS and Drew packs his panties in a suitcase?

 

I know the question wasn't directed at me but(lol)

 

It's Iggy's job until his offensive output gets weak enough that giving WMB another shot seems like a better option. But I think Iggy can hold a decent line. His speed is better then I previously thought and it's allowed him to get on base without having to drive the ball every time. Pedroia's hustle mentality looks like it's wearing off on him.

 

It's possible Drew gets moved. I think he has played decent enough that if a team is looking for a SS, Drew would be an attractive option. It's also possible they just hold onto him and WMB stays in AAA until September.

 

After that I'm expecting to see him at 1B next season.

[VA Sox Fan]

His spitting is also terribly annoying. f*** him.

 

Exactly. He's disgusting.

[mvp 78]

WMB is tearing the cover off the ball at Pawtucket. However, he should be kept down there as long as possible. No reason to rush him back just yet.

[jung]

Tearing the cover off the ball in Pawtucket is meaningless in WMB's case. He is either learning what he has to learn to be an ML hitter or he is not. That includes not swinging at pitches he can't hit with a boat oar. Hit a HR to left and one to center on Sunday. Might at least have learned what he can hit well. But I would be surprised if he has learned that quickly how to lay off what he can't hit.

[Standing Room]

I hope they're teaching Middlebrooks how to be a dead-pull hitter in the minor leagues. He's the greatest mistake hitter I've ever seen!

[mvp 78]

I hope they're teaching Middlebrooks how to be a dead-pull hitter in the minor leagues. He's the greatest mistake hitter I've ever seen!

 

Heard he can really hammer pitches that are middle-middle.