Middlebrooks gone?

[Spudboy]

"What did you see behind Clay tonight?"

[Spudboy]

Wow. I must apologize to this person cbbosox. Never saw this coming.

 

How stupid of the Sox/NESN.

[User Name]

She's not a reporter! When did she report anything? She just makes 2-3 random remarks throughout the game that usually have nothing to do with baseball. She was just a replaceable pretty face with no substance.

 

And WMB is still here.

[cbbosox]

Wow. I must apologize to this person cbbosox. Never saw this coming.

 

How stupid of the Sox/NESN.

No need i was being sarcastic(plus no one with Simon Templar as his avatar would need to apologize to me anyway)

[Spudboy]

Hahahahaha!!!

 

I meant no disrespect by my earlier post and wanted you to know this.

 

You were not around when I originally posted that Saint avatar. I did it because some members had suggested that I was a Saint of the internet. Lol! Now that I have taken the time to figure out how to change my avatar I have re posted the Saint. I used to love that show, by the way.

[Youk Of The Nation]

I had never heard of Simon Templar, I had to google it. Since it was obviously Moore in the picture, I just assumed it was James Bond with the halo photoshopped in.

[Spudboy]

I had never heard of Simon Templar, I had to google it. Since it was obviously Moore in the picture, I just assumed it was James Bond with the halo photoshopped in.

 

If you get a chance to watch some episodes of The Saint I believe that you will get a kick out of them. It's British humor. It was pretty good.

[YAZMAN]

What does this have to do with Jenny Dell's rack?

 

Back on topic, please!

[vjcsmoke]

1. Ortiz will NEVER go to the Yankees. I think he would rather keep signing 1 year deals with the Red Sox until he doesn't want to play any more.

2. Jenny Dell and WMB is such a nonstory. I don't care who WMB screws. It's a shame she got canned just because of who ended up in her bed, but that's how it goes. At least she got 'reassigned' instead of outright fired. But if she lands WMB, I think her financial needs will be secure even if she ends up as ringside card girl down the road.

3. Whether WMB stays with the Red Sox depends on his ability/inability to handle big league pitching, and that includes breaking balls. WMB needs to be able to maintain an OBP north of .300 and an OPS of .750 to be worth holding a regular starting job.

[seabeachfred]

1. Ortiz will NEVER go to the Yankees. I think he would rather keep signing 1 year deals with the Red Sox until he doesn't want to play any more.

2. Jenny Dell and WMB is such a nonstory. I don't care who WMB screws. It's a shame she got canned just because of who ended up in her bed, but that's how it goes. At least she got 'reassigned' instead of outright fired. But if she lands WMB, I think her financial needs will be secure even if she ends up as ringside card girl down the road.

3. Whether WMB stays with the Red Sox depends on his ability/inability to handle big league pitching, and that includes breaking balls. WMB needs to be able to maintain an OBP north of .300 and an OPS of .750 to be worth holding a regular starting job.

 

VJ---that assessment of Middlebrooks is fair enough. He should be able to handle those numbers----BUT HE MUST BE GIVEN THE CHANCE TO DO THAT without looking over his shoulder and wonder if he has an 0 for 4 will Farrell's pet Drew be in the lineup the next day. That is why we have to chance it, give WMB the job, allow him to develop, which I think he will do just fine and let Drew go someplace else. This opus just doesn't seem to want to die and I blame the Red Sox front office for that. They could end it simply by saying that we are no longer interested in Drew and are moving on. Where he winds up? I don't give a damn.

[Behindenemylines]

WMB starts the season number 1 at 3B. If he falters the Sox have enough trading chips to make an upgrade at the hot corner. It would be great to have his power stick in the lineup hitting bombs.

[Dojji]

WMB starts the season number 1 at 3B. If he falters the Sox have enough trading chips to make an upgrade at the hot corner. It would be great to have his power stick in the lineup hitting bombs.

 

They have the chips sure but have you looked around the league? 3B is a very old, undertalented position at the moment, only a few real top bats there anymore. Most of the teams that have talent there have little incentive to trade it. There's a reason we rolled out Iglesias there a lot last year when WMB wasn't up to it. We didn't lack trading chips then either -- Iglesias himself first and foremost, since perhaps the only thing harder to find than a good 3B is a really good shortstop.

 

Having the flexibility to put X at third and start a competent starting caliber shortstop has to be attractive under the circumstances. Finding a backup SS or a backup 3B, either one, of any real quality is very hard at the moment.

Edited February 5, 2014 by Dojji

[SoxSport]

I hate the title of this thread. Wish there was a way to change it.

 

Hope Middlebrooks never sees it.

[Behindenemylines]

Cecchini is looking pretty good this spring. He is not to far away. If WMB tanks who knows?

[seabeachfred]

I hate the title of this thread. Wish there was a way to change it.

 

Hope Middlebrooks never sees it.

 

Middlebrooks hit a home run today and got another hit as well. I wish they would let the guy play and get the hell out of his way. We still have some people here who insist WMB needs to go and be replaced at third by Bogaerts while we either sign Drew, go with a kid at SS or trade for someone to play 3B. Just clam up!!!!!!! WMB will do just fine if they let him play. Right now none of our top hitters seem to be hitting and we haven't seen too much of our key pitchers and some of the s*** that Farrell has sent out to the mound are nothing more than glorified batting practice pitchers......like Villarreal, Celestino, Couch, Delarosa and even Workman, who had pitched total crap so far.

[SoxSport]

Yeah, I agree. Let the kid play. It takes a few years to hit your stride in the big leagues for most. Bogaerts, too. X lets one or two grounders by in a game, and people like Cafardo start wishing for Drew. You wonder if Boras isn't at work there. He has pumped up both Ellsbury and Drew. Ells has inflated fantasy value because of his 50 SBs-- and his inflated Yankee contract. Stick with the kids. The Yankees wish they had them.

[jacksonianmarch]

I don't think Middlebrooks is progressing the way you want him to, though. In order for him to succeed in the bigs, he either needs to make more contact, walk more, or hit more balls out of the park/more extra base hits. He had a "breakout" 2012 in 286PA's, but his BABIP was .335. We knew that wasn't sustainable. Hence, he'd need to show improvements in his plate discipline. Well, he didn't make the strides you had hoped. His walk percentage went up slightly by 0.8%, yet his K rate went up by nearly 2%. Had his BABIP plummeted but the K rate dropped or the walk rate rose significantly, then you can say he had back luck. What you are seeing here is more of a bad approach. My guess is the sox will give him a shot for now, but I wouldn't be surprised in the least to see him moved and Drew re-signed. I don't think the reviews have been all that rave about Bogaerts as a SS also.

[seabeachfred]

I don't think Middlebrooks is progressing the way you want him to, though. In order for him to succeed in the bigs, he either needs to make more contact, walk more, or hit more balls out of the park/more extra base hits. He had a "breakout" 2012 in 286PA's, but his BABIP was .335. We knew that wasn't sustainable. Hence, he'd need to show improvements in his plate discipline. Well, he didn't make the strides you had hoped. His walk percentage went up slightly by 0.8%, yet his K rate went up by nearly 2%. Had his BABIP plummeted but the K rate dropped or the walk rate rose significantly, then you can say he had back luck. What you are seeing here is more of a bad approach. My guess is the sox will give him a shot for now, but I wouldn't be surprised in the least to see him moved and Drew re-signed. I don't think the reviews have been all that rave about Bogaerts as a SS also.

 

Forget Drew!!!!!! I'm tired of hearing about him. Let him go to your club. Hell Boras is a Yankee fan. You three deserve each other.

[reYoukilis]

Drew

[Behindenemylines]

What is the story with WMB and his contact experiment?

[TylerD]

Personally I would t have mind seeing Middlebrooks hang around. He had a good 2012 followed by a down season, but I think it's to quick to tell how good or bad he can be.

[rjortiz]

I'm not expecting more than .260/.300/.450 from Middlebrooks. With average defense, that's an acceptable player to have on your team.

[redsoxrules]

I know it's only spring training but WMB is doing pretty good.

OPS at 925

[seabeachfred]

I know it's only spring training but WMB is doing pretty good.

OPS at 925

 

He seems like a new man Triple R and that was what we were hearing after the 2013 season when he stayed in Boston and put himself through a torture test of physical training to get ready for 2014. Of course, he has to learn to lay off those low and outside pitches and be a mite more selective at the plate but the guy has 30 home run power in a game where power seems to be at a premium, especially at third base, a power position. He has been a pleasant surprise to help us navigate through the disappointment we feel for Bradley who has worked hard too but seems to be scuffling badly. Of course, if they finally hand a deserving Grady Sizemore the CF job we will have our second pleasant surprise of the Spring.

[SoxSport]

Will has gotten hot. He's hitting HRs. If he gets his OBP up, he'll be a very good hitter.

 

I guess JBJ opens in Pawtucket. But I'm reminded of Kalish, who got hurt in Pawtucket blocked by Drew in his contract year. You stash a guy in AAA so he can play everyday, and be ready when needed. But there is a risk he gets hurt,and then you don't have him.

 

They may need JBJ as a backup for Vic, too. I hate to see Nava in RF at Fenway. Vic is as much a liability as Sizemore. I'm sure they are aware of this. He misses games.

[mvp 78]

I'd move Carp and keep JBJ on the roster.

 

However, Kalish has proven to be enough of an injury risk that it didn't matter where he was playing. He was likely to get injured as a part time guy in the bigs that year too. JBJ could be injured shagging balls during bp at Fenway. Injuries just happen. Not sending someone to Pawtucket because "he might get injured" doesn't make much sense to me.

[User Name]

I wouldn't move Carp. JBJ needs regular reps and if he can't win the CF job outright he'd be better off in AAA imo. He'll be back up soon anyway with the glass squad patrolling center and right.

[mvp 78]

I just think he'd get regular reps anyway considering 2 of the starters are Sizemore and Victorino.

[Spudboy]

The strength of the Sox last year was overall team depth. Am I wrong?

 

He may not be a glamorous player but Carp is a very good player to have on the bench. I say hold onto him.

 

True, last year could be seen as a small sample size. But Carp can come off the bench and keep the line moving. Many times with power. I also believe that he can be a good replacement for Ortiz if the need arises.

 

JBJ will get his chances soon enough if he earns it by hitting consistently in AAA.

[BSN07]

Grady Sizemore will be the Red Sox center fielder on Opening Day, manager John Farrell told reporters (including Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald). Star prospect Jackie Bradley was widely presumed the favorite to take over from Jacoby Ellsbury as Boston's new center fielder this season, yet Bradley struggled to hit in Spring Training and will start the year at Triple-A.

 

Well that's that.