Most Suprising Sox Player of 2016

[dustcover]

I sincerely hope that I'm not overlooking an existing thread in which I should be posting this, but I'm interested to know what others think on the question of which Sox player, thus far into the season, is performing most surprisingly? Edited June 11, 2016 by dustcover

[mvp 78]

At this point: Wright. JBJ is second.

[Bellhorn04]

Jbj

[TheBabeStrikesBack]

Price

[Spudboy]

Price

 

Oddly, I agree.

[Hugh2]

JBJ. I always had faith that he would produce. I was one of his biggest supporters when he struggled and always maintained the position that he was rushed to the majors. I always thought there was a MLB player in him.

 

But I never saw him being this good....I thought he had a chance to have an average bat with a gold glove. Now, not only is the glove golden but he's swinging the bat at an all-star level.

[Youk Of The Nation]

You didn't overlook a better thread for this, but I am going to change the title so people know what the thread is about.

[Thunder]

Ya boy Steven Wright, AL ERA leader.

[iortiz]

Wright, by far. Everybody knew that JBJ had the tools and while it still a surprise because he wasn't producing, the talent was/is there to be a five tool player.

[Jasonbay44]

Steven Wright and it's not close for me. I thought this guy was an AAAA player who would be Sean O'Sullivan like.

[a700hitter]

Yep, Steven Wright for me too with Shaw as the second most surprising.

[Maxbialystock]

Heck, this team is full of surprises, mostly good, but some bad. Wright is a good choice, but so is Ortiz, likewise Pedroia.

 

To me the big surprise is Bogaerts. Forget the hitting and maybe even, finally, the dingers. What I love to see is his enthusiasm, some of which I think comes from Pedroia. The kid just wants to play the game well--all of it--and almost seems to enjoy a straightforward defensive play as much as a big hit. Heck, he is even running the bases with elan. Today, June 11, he prevented a double play and took 3b by simply being aware that the big shift left the Twins vulnerable if Bogaerts just ran thru 2B and on to 3b.

[S5Dewey]

Heck, this team is full of surprises, mostly good, but some bad. Wright is a good choice, but so is Ortiz, likewise Pedroia.

 

To me the big surprise is Bogaerts. Forget the hitting and maybe even, finally, the dingers. What I love to see is his enthusiasm, some of which I think comes from Pedroia. The kid just wants to play the game well--all of it--and almost seems to enjoy a straightforward defensive play as much as a big hit. Heck, he is even running the bases with elan. Today, June 11, he prevented a double play and took 3b by simply being aware that the big shift left the Twins vulnerable if Bogaerts just ran thru 2B and on to 3b.

Very true, Max. And do you know what I really like about plays like that? They make the defensive team pay for using the shift. If more teams would do that most of these shifts would disappear.

 

This team is not playing station-to-station on the bases and I like it!

[Dojji]

Wright, JBJ and Bogaerts are the answers here, and if I have to pick the order, it's Wright first, then JBJ and Bogaerts.

 

Thing is, there's a reason I was arguing tooth and nail for Wright in the last rotation spot in the offseason -- because like the other 2, the signs were there for those who wanted to see them. Wright was a decently good pitcher going into this year, his numbers suggesting at least competence if not brilliance, showing that he could be consistent and durable in the starts he was given, he just had never had the chance to prove whether he was or was not a great one. I didn't see him making the claim to ace status that he's making now, but I went out on a limb in April saying he had a good shot to be our #3 starter by the midpoint because that's what his numbers suggested he might be over a full season. Turns out I didn't think big enough.

 

I also called on Bogaerts becoming that franchise leading superstar he has the ceiling to be this season, breaking out still further after his breakout season last year. That prediction was a lot safer than my call on Wright, as Bogaerts is immensely talented and had already shown progress. he was always projected to be capable of this. It's nice to see it vindicated however.

 

As for JBJ I was an openminded skeptic. He'd disappointed before, so he wasn't getting my undying support without earning it, but the upside was worth the chance he was being given. If Bradleywanted to achieve his potential and reach his ceiling this year I'd certainly take it, but I was prepared to be satisfied with average offense as long as the defense held up. He's been an extremely pleasant surprise.

[robert vonhalle]

Steven Wright and it's not close for me. I thought this guy was an AAAA player who would be Sean O'Sullivan like.

 

YES,wright hands down!!!!!!!!!

[Youk Of The Nation]

I also have to go with Wright. I expected him to pitch, at best, like Wakefield at his best. Instead he's pitching like a Cy Young winner at his best. And it's gone far past Small Sample Size. He's just plain good right now.

[Emp9]

Yep, Steven Wright for me too with Shaw as the second most surprising.

 

I 2nd that.

[cp176]

Wright, JBJ and Bogaerts are the answers here, and if I have to pick the order, it's Wright first, then JBJ and Bogaerts.

 

Thing is, there's a reason I was arguing tooth and nail for Wright in the last rotation spot in the offseason -- because like the other 2, the signs were there for those who wanted to see them. Wright was a decently good pitcher going into this year, his numbers suggesting at least competence if not brilliance, showing that he could be consistent and durable in the starts he was given, he just had never had the chance to prove whether he was or was not a great one. I didn't see him making the claim to ace status that he's making now, but I went out on a limb in April saying he had a good shot to be our #3 starter by the midpoint because that's what his numbers suggested he might be over a full season. Turns out I didn't think big enough.

 

I also called on Bogaerts becoming that franchise leading superstar he has the ceiling to be this season, breaking out still further after his breakout season last year. That prediction was a lot safer than my call on Wright, as Bogaerts is immensely talented and had already shown progress. he was always projected to be capable of this. It's nice to see it vindicated however.

 

As for JBJ I was an openminded skeptic. He'd disappointed before, so he wasn't getting my undying support without earning it, but the upside was worth the chance he was being given. If Bradleywanted to achieve his potential and reach his ceiling this year I'd certainly take it, but I was prepared to be satisfied with average offense as long as the defense held up. He's been an extremely pleasant surprise.

 

Wright is the obvious pick here. I remember many and I mean many of us speaking up here for him to get his chance to hold down the number5 spot in the rotation. Pretty much all of us felt that he could at least compete for it along with Owens and Johnson. No one repeat no one could have seen what he has done thus far coming . It is safe to say that all of us have believed all along that Bogaerts was going to be able to be an excellent hitting shortstop at the ml level. He is stretching the limits right now though. What he has done in the field is what truly makes him special in my mind. He is an elite ss both at the plate and in the field. i remember no one predicting that he was going to be as good in the field as he has become.

[bosoxmal]

Bogaerts. No contest. Then Ortiz. I don't think Wright was that big a surprise. JBJ holds on for show.

[dustcover]

I'm just a little intrigued that no one has mentioned Hanley, who has played with enthusiasm, a positive attitude, and in spite of his recent struggles at the plate, has played admirably in the field at 1B. His overall performance thus far must certainly be considered surprising in light of all of the off-season discussions on what might be expected regarding his converting to the role of first-baseman. I'm not saying that his performance qualifies as 'most surprising', but he certainly merits inclusion in the conversation.

[Maxbialystock]

I'm just a little intrigued that no one has mentioned Hanley, who has played with enthusiasm, a positive attitude, and in spite of his recent struggles at the plate, has played admirably in the field at 1B. His overall performance thus far must certainly be considered surprising in light of all of the off-season discussions on what might be expected regarding his converting to the role of first-baseman. I'm not saying that his performance qualifies as 'most surprising', but he certainly merits inclusion in the conversation.

 

Meh. His defense at 1B didn't surprise me because he is an infielder. His hitting however has been a disappointment, so I agree Hanley has been a surprise, just not a good one. Also, what is with his dramatic wave of the glove after getting a throw on the short hop? Is that necessary? Today it sure looked as though he cost a couple of runs even though the error was given to Bogaerts. That ball was flat in his glove and came out as a result of the big motion.

[devildavid]

Gotta go with Wright. Who really expected a marginal player who is a knuckleballer to be the ace of this staff?

[Spudboy]

Meh. His defense at 1B didn't surprise me because he is an infielder. His hitting however has been a disappointment, so I agree Hanley has been a surprise, just not a good one. Also, what is with his dramatic wave of the glove after getting a throw on the short hop? Is that necessary? Today it sure looked as though he cost a couple of runs even though the error was given to Bogaerts. That ball was flat in his glove and came out as a result of the big motion.

 

Yup. That is a bad habit that should have been corrected earlier. I'm surprised he has not had more problems because of it.

 

And someone should tell Bogey not to slide into 1st base. It's dumb, counter productive, and will likely lead to injury.

[Jack Flap]

Has to be Wright, I think. If you think the rotation has problems now, just think about where we'd be without him...

[sk7326]

Steven Wright ... can't be anybody else. Shaw has receded into a "good but not crazy unexpected good" sort of level.

 

Now, if you want to call Bogaerts a surprise - because the power is starting to show up, and that he has had a serious MVP-caliber start - that is fair game.

[Thunder]

I also have to go with Wright. I expected him to pitch, at best, like Wakefield at his best. Instead he's pitching like a Cy Young winner at his best. And it's gone far past Small Sample Size. He's just plain good right now.

 

I agree in the sense that he's a Cy Young candidate. Wish I could've seen him pitch in person tomorrow night, but I guess Price will have to do instead.

[S5Dewey]

Since the question is the MOST surprising it has to be Wright.

 

I'm surprised that Bogaerts is hitting as well as he is. I thought he'd be ~.290-.300 but he's far exceeding that.

 

I'm even more surprised that JBJ is hitting as well as he is. I've long been a supporter of his defense and I've always said that if he could hit .220 his defense would make him an asset to the team. I thought his ceiling was about .250 with occasional power. An OPS of ~.700.

 

I'm surprised that Hanley is playing 1B as well as he does. I had him pegged for being lazy and not caring. Boy, was I wrong! Of course, I also thought he'd hit for power so I guess that all evens out.

 

I wasn't surprised that Shaw played as well as he did early in the year, but I'm surprised that Farrell had the kahunas to put Panda on the bench (and that was before we knew about the shoulder).

 

But Wright has far exceeded any expectations I had in my wildest dreams. I thought that he MAY be a #5 with an ERA of ~5.00, and that's IF he could control his K-Ball - which I doubted.

 

There are a lot of reasons to be surprised on this team but Wright is my favorite.

[Kimmi]

At this point, I would have to go with Wright.

 

I think Papi is another one who could be mentioned. We knew he was good, but did anyone expect a career year this year?

[dustcover]

So it appears that Wright gets the majority of votes for 'most surprising'. Perhaps, just for fun, I'll post the same question toward the end of July/early August to see if any responders have changed their opinion. Edited June 14, 2016 by dustcover

[Maxbialystock]

Yup. That is a bad habit that should have been corrected earlier. I'm surprised he has not had more problems because of it.

 

And someone should tell Bogey not to slide into 1st base. It's dumb, counter productive, and will likely lead to injury.

 

I like Bogey sliding into first base, but I'm very afraid you are right as rain. He shouldn't.