Maybe the Best all-around out field the Sox have ever had?

[bosoxmal]

Yes the Williams, DiMaggio, etc, and the Yaz, Evans, etc. may have put up better numbers than will the Swihart, Bradley, Betts combo, but this group will "save" more runs (and games) in a month than those combos did all year. Any doubters? Is it too early to go out on this limb?

[Spudboy]

Yes it is too early.

 

Swihart, as much as I love the kid, has not been given a permanent spot yet and may never get it if many get their wish and see him traded.

 

I hope that he sticks in left and that Holt resumes his strongest role on this team as super-sub.

 

I have no doubt that SWihart can hit enough for left. I continue to worry about Bradley. Betts will be one of the best outfielders in the AL someday.

[a700hitter]

Yaz, Lynn and Evans were pretty darn good defensively. And the back up CFer, Rick Miller was the best of the bunch.

[Jasonbay44]

I've been very happy with the way Swihart has performed in the OF, he can obviously hit and his glove has been a pleasant surprise.

[Spudboy]

I've been very happy with the way Swihart has performed in the OF, he can obviously hit and his glove has been a pleasant surprise.

 

Still has plenty of work to do. He needs to clan up his throws.

 

But the kid is a natural athlete with a big motor and big brain.

 

Trading him will be one of the dumbest moves DD could make.

[iortiz]

Still has plenty of work to do. He needs to clan up his throws.

 

But the kid is a natural athlete with a big motor and big brain.

 

Trading him will be one of the dumbest moves DD could make.

 

Even the name is Rich Hill?

[Jasonbay44]

Still has plenty of work to do. He needs to clan up his throws.

 

But the kid is a natural athlete with a big motor and big brain.

 

Trading him will be one of the dumbest moves DD could make.

 

Yeah he's definitely not an elite outfielder or anything yet, and understandably so, but he has made some very nice plays in his limited time. If Swihart can become above average in the OF, the defense out there will be arguably the best in the league as JBJ and Mookie are gold glove level already.

 

I agree though, I'm definitely for keeping Blake. I love the way he plays the game and that he can play multiple positions and is extremely athletic. He just adds a lot to the team. Only way I can really seeing a justifiable trade is if we move him in a deal for an elite starting pitcher.

[bosoxmal]

It’s VERY early. But these guys are 24, or so, kids. They are blending off each other as the others did not. And the comparison includes the unusual speed and bade-running savvy the others did not have---at least to this point. They are also benefiting from the tutoring they are getting from Papi, Chili, Hanley, etc.

 

The futire looks brighter than I have seen it for a long, long time.

[a700hitter]

It’s VERY early. But these guys are 24, or so, kids. They are blending off each other as the others did not. And the comparison includes the unusual speed and bade-running savvy the others did not have---at least to this point. They are also benefiting from the tutoring they are getting from Papi, Chili, Hanley, etc.

 

The futire looks brighter than I have seen it for a long, long time.

It is a long climb to surpass that Outfield of Yaz, Lynn and Evans. They could do it all.

[devildavid]

The 1975 outfield of Rice, Lynn, and Evans still ranks the highest in my book. An outstanding combination of hitting and fielding. They are very hard to top.

[Dojji]

Even the name is Rich Hill?

 

God no. Swihart for a guy who's decent one year and horrible the next? We have enough of those right now. If I'm trading Swihart I want a guy who's gonna stick around and be reasonably consistent.

[Jasonbay44]

God no. Swihart for a guy who's decent one year and horrible the next? We have enough of those right now. If I'm trading Swihart I want a guy who's gonna stick around and be reasonably consistent.

 

Completely agree... Plus Hill is 36 and extremely injury prone.. not the type of guy I'd want to trade a talent like Swihart for

[jacksonianmarch]

Evans, Lynn, and Rice. Lets not overrate Swihart right now

[Dojji]

I think it's within Swihart's ability to be a better defender than Jim Rice. Rice was not well known for his mastery of the glove. The question then is do JBJ and Mookie compare to Lynn and Evans... and as much as I like JBj and Mookie... no just no.

[Youk Of The Nation]

Yes the Williams, DiMaggio, etc, and the Yaz, Evans, etc. may have put up better numbers than will the Swihart, Bradley, Betts combo, but this group will "save" more runs (and games) in a month than those combos did all year. Any doubters? Is it too early to go out on this limb?

 

Yes, I think it is too early. The Sox have been playing since the first decade of the 20th century, and we are now in the second decade of the 21st, and it's only the end of May. It's too early to call these three the best outfield the Sox have ever had, especially since Swihart has been an outfielder for less than two weeks.

[sk7326]

I don't know about that. Red Sox have had a long history and the Gold Dust Twins are a special crop.

 

That said, in my 30 years following the team, this is the best set of athletes they have fielded. We bring the sort of just crazy "would letter in just about any sport" sort of across the board athleticism that I remember from say the 2008 Rays.

[a700hitter]

I don't know about that. Red Sox have had a long history and the Gold Dust Twins are a special crop.

 

That said, in my 30 years following the team, this is the best set of athletes they have fielded. We bring the sort of just crazy "would letter in just about any sport" sort of across the board athleticism that I remember from say the 2008 Rays.

If you want to talk about athleticism, Fred Lynn played freshman football at USC on a football scholarship. Rice was a football star who was offered scholarships from Nebraska, North Carolina and Clemson. He was an All-State kick returner in North Carolina. Yaz was a two sport star growing up on Long island. The only reason that he wasn't a 3 sport star was because his father would not let him play football. His high school basketball scoring record in Suffolk County, Long Island held up for about 40 years. There was some pretty decent athleticism in that 75 outfield.

[Soxdog67]

Yaz moved to 1B before Lynn reached the bigs, so Yaz, Lynn and Evans never happened on a regular basis, as others have stated RICE - LYNN - EVANS are the benchmark for Red Sox OFs - but maybe in a year or so, Bradley, Betts and ?? (Swihart/Holt or someone else) could surpass them for all-around play...

 

...that'll be a tall task but will be great to watch and debate.

[a700hitter]

Yaz moved to 1B before Lynn reached the bigs, so Yaz, Lynn and Evans never happened on a regular basis, as others have stated RICE - LYNN - EVANS are the benchmark for Red Sox OFs - but maybe in a year or so, Bradley, Betts and ?? (Swihart/Holt or someone else) could surpass them for all-around play...

 

...that'll be a tall task but will be great to watch and debate.

Yes, Yaz was moving out as Rice, Lynn and Evans were starting out. However, Yaz played a full season in the OF in 1977 and half a season in 1978, so he did play a considerable number of games alongside Lynn and Evans. He also won a gold glove for LF in 1977. When he wasn't out there, Rice was out there, and although Jim Ed was built like a body builder, his athleticism was under rated. Edited May 31, 2016 by a700hitter

[southpaw777]

Even the name is Rich Hill?

 

If they trade Swihart it BETTER be for something better than Hill. Yes, hes having a good year, but hes mid 30s and who knows if it will last. Meanwhile, Blake has 4-5more years of control.

If he is traded, its should be in a package for a frontline starter under control IMHO

[Hitch]

Even the name is Rich Hill?

 

I can barely believe I've read that as a viable option.

[mvp 78]

I can barely believe I've read that as a viable option.

 

Out with a groin strain.

[bosoxmal]

The very fact that we have a comparable situation is what is amazing. I think you're right if we're talking the early stages of these careers vs the established group in 1975. Maybe I'll get ambitious and make some numbers at similar stages. But even then, numbers do not tell even half the story,

[bosoxmal]

There is no reason in the world to even think about trading Swihart. Not for anybody on the Oakland roster,

[bosoxmal]

I thought this had to do with athletic ability as applied to baseball. Also, the little grey memory cells sometimed play tricks with us older guys. Some here have mentioned the 1975 team as a criteria. In 1975, Yaz hit .269, had 14 HR and 87 RBI's. To get the real Yaz, you have to go back to the mid-60's Edited May 31, 2016 by bosoxmal

[TheBabeStrikesBack]

There is no reason in the world to even think about trading Swihart. Not for anybody on the Oakland roster,

 

Not even for Sonny Gray?!!

[Dojji]

With Wright's and Porcello's surges, and Price showing signs of a strong comeback from early season disappointments, I'm not convinced we need to make a big trade to shore up the top or the rotation. I think that if Wright or Porcello stumble, Price is going to pick up the slack as the season goes on and he returns to form so I don't consider upgrading the top 3 a major priority.

 

More top starters are always helpful of course, but I think at the moment that the thing to do is to buff up the bottom of the rotation, bring in at least one more solid inning burner. Hopefully E-Rod is that guy.

[cp176]

Yes the Williams, DiMaggio, etc, and the Yaz, Evans, etc. may have put up better numbers than will the Swihart, Bradley, Betts combo, but this group will "save" more runs (and games) in a month than those combos did all year. Any doubters? Is it too early to go out on this limb?

 

These kids are certainly fun to watch but not even close at this point in time to matching Yaz/Rice - Lynn - Evans. Not close. Maybe someday - not yet.

[bosoxmal]

Huh? All pitchers are one sore arm away from Tommy John surgery. It has taken the Sox 3 years to mold this outfield, and I think I would stick with it. And Sonny has not been all that sunny so far!

[Dojji]

Lynn won the gold glove 4 times in his brief tenure here. Rice won it 5 times in his much longer tenure. Yaz won 6, one in the era in question (77). Rice was a roughly average defender, which in Fenway's left field is fine.

 

THe problem here is we're comparing kids who are still learning their job to guys who came to the majors ready to dominate that job. All of Rice, Lynn, Evans, and Yaz came out the gate stronger than any of Swihart, Betts and Bradley. The talent level is simply an order of magnitude different.

 

We have a good group of outfielders. We do not nearly have the best group of outfielders we've ever had, ever. Heck the Drew-Crisp-Manny outfield might be better defensively in 2007 than the Swihart-Bradley-Betts outfield is right now, even with Manny dragging the 07 numbers down. Coco and JD were that good. but it is nice to have all those young guys with upside there to point the team in the direction of the future. That looks like it will be fun.