Missing Iggy pop?

[redsoxdirtdog]

Anybody here miss Iggy?

In my mind X-Bo is headed toward Superstardom! I've loved this kid for quite some time, but are we already taking him for granted?

X-Bo's career will massively eclipse Iggy's!

What do you say?

 

By Alex Speier GLOBE STAFF MAY 03, 2016

Pop quiz: Who has been the best player on the Red Sox so far?

 

Related question: How is it that no one has noticed him?

The Red Sox’ leader in Wins Above Replacement, at least according to the calculations of Fangraphs.com, is unexpected: Xander Bogaerts.

In a vacuum, that status doesn’t necessarily mean anything. Rob Mains of Baseball Prospectus found that April says less about how individual players’ seasons will unfold than any other month of the year.

The fact that Bogaerts currently leads the Sox with a 1.2 WAR doesn’t mean he’ll be the team’s best player for the full season. And even in the short term, very reasonable cases can be made that the Sox’ most valuable player in April was David Ortiz or Travis Shaw (whom Baseball-Reference.com pegs as the Sox’ leader in WAR) or Dustin Pedroia.

Red Sox are showing resilience early on

Yet there’s still something fascinating about how easy it’s been to overlook a star-caliber opening to the season for a shortstop who is batting third on a first-place team. Even in the absence of power numbers, a case can be made that Bogaerts is making a larger comprehensive impact on the Sox than any other player.

He has made noteworthy progress, even from a year ago.

His baserunning has been a difference-maker. He has taken an extra base (first-to-third or second-to-home on singles, first-to-home on doubles) on 86 percent of his opportunities, the highest rate of any big league regular.

 

At the game’s most demanding position, he is typically a rock of consistency, having yet to commit an error and grading as 1.3 runs better than average, according to Fangraphs.

While his batting average is down slightly from last year (.320 to .306), his on-base percentage has gone up from .355 to .376, while his slugging percentage is up from .421 to .439.

Also, his walk rate has nearly doubled (from 4.9 to 9.2 percent) and his strikeout rate has declined slightly (from 15.4 to 14.7 percent).

Even though he occupies the spot in front of Ortiz in the batting order — and in theory would get attacked aggressively by opponents who do not want to issue a free pass in front of the slugger — Bogaerts is getting on base more than ever.

That development — and the increased frequency with which Bogaerts is barreling the ball for extra-base hits — reflects an intriguing improvement. For much of last year, Bogaerts was something of a free swinger. He hacked at 33.6 percent of pitches outside the strike zone, above the league average of 30.6 percent.

This year, that number has plummeted to 25.4 percent, meaning that his plate discipline has gone from below average to above — a development that, if sustainable, could lay the groundwork for improvements in OBP and perhaps more power down the road.

Of course, the Sox aren’t in a rush to see more power. Bogaerts’s value is considerable regardless of whether he’s clearing fences, even as he hits a ton of ground balls.

“Everyone talks about his power, his power, his power,” noted hitting coach Chili Davis this spring. “The kid does have power.

“[but in 2015] he realized, ‘I have the ability to shoot the ball to the other side, hit the ball up the middle, stay on pitches, hit line drives, and you know what? The power is going to show up when it’s going to show up.’

“[Derek] Jeter didn’t hit a lot of home runs, but he hit .300 every year. He ended up with over 3,000 hits. If that happens to Bogey, I’ll take it.

“They’re both very good players, very good shortstops. Jeter knew his swing. As a young player, he knew his swing and worked his swing every day. That’s what Bogey is doing right now.”

Davis, who played with Jeter in 1998-99, noted that there are differences in the swings of the two players. Jeter understood his swing completely even before his arrival in the big leagues, holding his hands close to his body to keep them inside the ball at all times.

Bogaerts has had quite a bit more development to do at the big league level, but has arrived now at a place where his confidence and self-understanding permit him to focus on what pitchers are trying to do to him rather than on his own mechanics.

“When you know your swing, it’s all about, ‘What am I going to swing at?’ ” said Davis. “As he’s getting older, he’s learning the cat-and-mouse game.”

To this point in 2016, Bogaerts has taken a considerable step forward in that game from the leap he made a year ago, whether or not it’s being noticed.

 

Alex Speier can be reached at alex.speier@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexspeier.

 

I agree! YOU?

[redsoxdirtdog]

X-Bo has officially caught fire!

[Jasonbay44]

Iggy was a nice player, but I don't miss him at all. Xander is a stud.

[redsoxdirtdog]

I guess the lack of response answers the question. X-Bo has made us ALL forget about Iggy. It'S Amazing CONSIDERING just how good a fielder we all know Iggy to be, and the raging debate over how we could never let Iggy go, the widespread doubts about X-Bo at SS. Many said he could never make it at that position.

 

Bad title though... Perhaps I should have made it the "X-Bo vs. Iggy Tracker?"

 

Damn you & your brilliant thread titles Slasher!

[mvp 78]

Jose Iglesias hasn't been on the team for 3 years. Xander has turned into an above average fielder. Jose doesn't come close to Cander's hit tools. Also, I don't remember anyone ever calling him Iggy Pop.

[Dojji]

Crazy fanboy is crazy. And that's OK

[redsoxdirtdog]

Jose Iglesias hasn't been on the team for 3 years. Xander has turned into an above average fielder. Jose doesn't come close to Cander's hit tools. Also, I don't remember anyone ever calling him Iggy Pop.

 

 

Yeh. Bad title. Nobody ever has called him Iggy Pop. It popped, pun intended into my little brain while in the John posting. Wish I could even remember what I was thinking. Maybe that Iggy had popped out of the picture? I'm reaching here? Wasn't there a pop culture iggy Pop back in t he day???? God knows!???? Anyway. Good topic, s***** title! Should have flushed it!!!!

 

PERHAPS i'll re-post, & steal Slasher's tracker title.????

[Dojji]

I recommend against doubling down on this. MVP is always a little irritable when someone goes over the top. I wouldn't have minded having Iglesias on the team, but XB has proven he is the better player, and if Iggy was here, Holt wouldn't be, there was just no place for the guy.

[redsoxdirtdog]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iggy_Pop

 

Ha! I knew it had something to do with Bowie!

 

Serves me right for getting "cute" with my title selection.

 

mvp is right about the title! It didn't POP, IT BLOWS! :0

 

 

Having said that, he's dead wrong about the issue! There was a RAGING DEBATE back when we dealt him. Glad the powers that be had faith in X-Bo!!!!! If it's OK to call him that here?

[Dojji]

Just call him X.

 

There was a lot of concern from the prospect watchers that X might have been too big and strongly built to maintain his range. that still might be a thing as he gets older, meaning he might follow the path of John Valentin and Rico Petrocelli later in his career. For now while he's young and spry, it's not an issue thankfully.

[redsoxdirtdog]

What did he have, another 3 hits tonight! His power will come in a few more years. NO WORRIES!

 

I bet he still hits 12 -15 this year. His walks are way up, & he's tearing up the base paths!!!

 

Love this ALL-STAR!

[Dojji]

best shortstop this team has had since Nomar for sure. Very exciting.

[redsoxdirtdog]

& rock solid at SS!

 

NOT the range that Iggy had, but who does?

 

This kid is bound for the HOF!

[redsoxdirtdog]

Is mvp safe to poke?

 

Hope he doesn't mind some heat? All in fun.

 

LOVE my Sox!

[redsoxdirtdog]

Speaking of mvp, that was the theme of his article. That The X-Man ( as I will now refer to him every other Wednesday, minus February ) is this team's mvp.

 

I personally think Papi still owns that, but he makes a very strong case! He will be soon enough! The Sox need to lock him down, and sign him LONG TERM!!!!!

[Dojji]

Right now Travis Shaw is the team's MVP, at least according to bWAR.

[Spudboy]

I don't remember Valentin or Petrocelli being moved to third because they became too big to play SS. Edited May 5, 2016 by Spudboy

[mvp 78]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iggy_Pop

 

Ha! I knew it had something to do with Bowie!

 

Serves me right for getting "cute" with my title selection.

 

mvp is right about the title! It didn't POP, IT BLOWS! :0

 

 

Having said that, he's dead wrong about the issue! There was a RAGING DEBATE back when we dealt him. Glad the powers that be had faith in X-Bo!!!!! If it's OK to call him that here?

There was a big debate when he was dealt because people didn't believe in Xander's glove. Today, it's obvious they made the right call.

[mvp 78]

Is mvp safe to poke?

 

Hope he doesn't mind some heat? All in fun.

 

LOVE my Sox!

 

I don't mind anything. I agree that this place is just supposed to be fun.

[redsoxdirtdog]

I don't mind anything. I agree that this place is just supposed to be fun.

 

 

Good on ya mvp

 

For the record, I totally agree with you! That was the whole ball of wax. So many doubted he could even be serviceable at SS, Let alone solid. Admittedly, it started out a bit rocky, but the growth he has made at SS has been nothing short of stunning! That's probably my favorite thing about this kid... the hard nosed dirtdog like work that he has put in to get him to this point. By all accounts, he has put in a massive amount of time, effort, blood, sweat, & tears to make any Red Sox Fan incredibly proud. You just love to see this in a kid his age!!! Or any age for that matter.

 

We knew his bat would be a major upgrade over Iggy, but few thought he would be this good & consistent this quick. So far, it seems clear that he is & will continue to be a generational contact hitter. I personally have no doubt that he is capable of very good power numbers if that 8s what the team needs from him. He definitely looks very capable of making another shot at a batting title, but if they asked him to sacrifice a bit of average, & focus a bit more on driving the ball as opposed to shooting it to the oposite field, he is more than capable. I'm confident that his slugging % and overall OPS will climb steadily over the next 2 years.

 

Mookie, who I love, definitely has captured all our hearts & minds has received much of t he attention last year, but I see X-Bo as being more of a lock as our next big Superstar.

 

Having said that, I think X-Bo, Mookie, JBJ, Vaz, & Shaw will all form the nucleus of our next great era in Red Sox History! If the FO is able to surround this new core with a solid starting rotation???? I could see these kids leading the Sox to several WS runs over the next decade. I hope the FO locks all of these guys down with LT contracts.

[SoxnCycles]

Nope, not at all.

 

And I thank him for helping the Sox win the ALCS in '13.

[Hugh2]

Well if we are going by bWAR I think Bogaerts just surpassed him last night. At this pace if Bogaerts plays another 156 games this year he will have a 9 bWAR and a 9.6 fWAR.

[mvp 78]

Nope, not at all.

 

And I thank him for helping the Sox win the ALCS in '13.

 

He earned himself a ring! http://www.boston.com/sports/extra-bases/2013/12/13/red_sox_notes_iglesias_will_savor_his_ring

[SoxnCycles]

He earned himself a ring! http://www.boston.com/sports/extra-bases/2013/12/13/red_sox_notes_iglesias_will_savor_his_ring

 

Yup!

Get 'em any way you can!

[Kingface]

Xander is twice the hitter Iggy will ever be and just as good a fielder as Iggy.....just doesn't try to make routine plays look like a highlight reel play like Iggy does. Trading him was not the wrong play.

[iortiz]

Xander is twice the hitter Iggy will ever be and just as good a fielder as Iggy.....just doesn't try to make routine plays look like a highlight reel play like Iggy does. Trading him was not the wrong play.

 

I think I have to disagree a bit here my friend. While XB is way better hitter, Iglesias is way better at defense.

 

On the other hand if I had to choose someone, I'd chose XB.

[Kingface]

I think I have to disagree a bit here my friend. While XB is way better hitter, Iglesias is way better at defense.

 

On the other hand if I had to choose someone, I'd chose XB.

 

Can you back this claim up please? Last year according to most every stat Xander actually has the edge defensively and this year they are about equal.......... not sure where you get 'way better' from.........

[Hugh2]

Last year Bogaerts had 8 defensive runs saved while Iggy had 7.6. Bogaerts did get more innings though and Iggy had a UZR/150 of 3.1 to Bogaerts .9.

 

Iggy is clearly the better defender but not by much. I think the gap between Bogaerts offense being better is bigger than the gap of Iggy's defense being better. When you add to the equation that Iggy has had injury problems in the past and seems to disappear in the 2nd half I think Bogaerts is clearly the better and more well rounded player.

[Dojji]

Iggy has range for days. Range is the most important attribute for a defender which makes it much easier for Iggy to get defensive numbers compared to Bogaerts, although I actually think X makes fewer mistakes

 

Iggy takes a lot of risks on plays X doesn't even have the ability to get to and I think that ironically hurts his defensive numbers -- if he didn't go outside his zone as often, he would look better because of the plays he's barely able to make, and no one else is even able to try, that occasionally blow up in his face. Pushing your boundaries is like that.

[cp176]

I don't remember Valentin or Petrocelli being moved to third because they became to big to play SS.

 

I don't believe that their size (Petrocelli and Valentin) had anything to do with them moving to third. They might have been getting a little slower but basically as I recall two better shortstops just came along.