Should Jackie Bradley Jr be traded?

[S5Dewey]

I'm not so sure he's forcing time in the OF, "to prove he can play there," near as much as he just likes playing the OF.

 

Anyway, I was pretty sure they promised him playing time to get the deal done, and truthfully, I'm happy to give it to him to keep him happy, and guys fresh. I think it pays dividends over the long long season.

 

It will be cringe-worthy sometimes, but all in all, the guy is worth it.

 

We're going to disagree on this. I want competency.

[Sox75]

We're going to disagree on this. I want competency.

 

Hey, if we get JD Martinez to understand the need for a lock-down OF, and that his presence in that OF hurts the team as a whole, that would be great.

 

I would add 1 factor to this.... having JDM in the OF adds a big hitting Mooreland to the mix. I love having JDM, Hanley, & Mooreland in the lineup!!!!! Yeh, the OF is weeker, but those 3 bats are formidable!

[moonslav59]

Hey, if we get JD Martinez to understand the need for a lock-down OF, and that his presence in that OF hurts the team as a whole, that would be great.

 

I would add 1 factor to this.... having JDM in the OF adds a big hitting Mooreland to the mix. I love having JDM, Hanley, & Mooreland in the lineup!!!!! Yeh, the OF is weeker, but those 3 bats are formidable!

 

Moreland is beginning to fall back to his mid to high .700's norm.

[Spudboy]

Hey, if we get JD Martinez to understand the need for a lock-down OF, and that his presence in that OF hurts the team as a whole, that would be great.

 

I would add 1 factor to this.... having JDM in the OF adds a big hitting Mooreland to the mix. I love having JDM, Hanley, & Mooreland in the lineup!!!!! Yeh, the OF is weeker, but those 3 bats are formidable!

 

I feel the same way.

 

That is some major swat in the middle of the order.

 

I just wish JD would make more clean plays in LF.

[S5Dewey]

I don't disagree with liking those three guys bunched up in the lineup, but at the same time I have a different perspective on it than some do.

 

I "expect" a hitter to be successful about 1/3 of the time, but I "expect" an outfielder to make 99% of the playable balls.

But that's also why I'm a JBJ & Mookie fanboy. They have more playable balls than most OF's do.

 

You simply cannot give a team an extra out in an inning and expect them to not score.

[cp176]

I don't disagree with liking those three guys bunched up in the lineup, but at the same time I have a different perspective on it than some do.

 

I "expect" a hitter to be successful about 1/3 of the time, but I "expect" an outfielder to make 99% of the playable balls.

But that's also why I'm a JBJ & Mookie fanboy. They have more playable balls than most OF's do.

 

You simply cannot give a team an extra out in an inning and expect them to not score.

 

I did not see any part of today's game. What happened out there with Martinez? Box score said that Porcello made the only error and that JD had 4 hits.

[S5Dewey]

I did not see any part of today's game. What happened out there with Martinez? Box score said that Porcello made the only error and that JD had 4 hits.

 

I saw bits and pieces of the game and heard other parts. I didn't see this particular play but I was recording the game so I was able to go back and watch it later.

 

In the 8th inning there was a ball hit to LF that JDM misjudged and it went over his glove and one-hopped the Wall. As Tim Neverett said, "that play is usually made by a left fielder". There was a runner on 1st at the time who got to 3rd on the play and the batter ended up at 2b. No error was charged because Martinez didn't touch the ball.

Neither later scored but the poor play in the OF extended the inning by one out. We dodged a bullet - this time.

 

Misleading statistic of the day: The Sox have committed fewer errors than any team in the AL. Or at least it was that way at the beginning of the game. Devers committed one today (shock!) so I'm not sure whether that still stands.

Edited April 29, 2018 by S5Dewey

[Sox75]

I did not see any part of today's game. What happened out there with Martinez? Box score said that Porcello made the only error and that JD had 4 hits.

 

Would have been a tough catch for most LF's at Fenway. Ball hit on a rope right at him & over his head. He definitely got caught looking, deer in the headlights, & got a bad break on the ball. A really good LF'r would have probably made it look routine.

 

But otherwise, JD had another big game.

[cp176]

Would have been a tough catch for most LF's at Fenway. Ball hit on a rope right at him & over his head. He definitely got caught looking, deer in the headlights, & got a bad break on the ball. A really good LF'r would have probably made it look routine.

 

But otherwise, JD had another big game.

 

I wish that I had seen the play. I'm not saying that having him out there doesn't weaken an outstanding outfield when our 3 starters are not out there together. What I am saying and will probably continue to say until I see him really start to make mistakes on balls that there are no questions that any average fielder could make, is that I just don't think he is as bad as his past stats which are promoted here big time say that he is. He is and kind of looks as though he will be our 4th outfielder going forward. At this time, I have seen nothing that screams out to me that he isn't as good a 4th outfielder as any of the others that people have mentioned. I thought that Manny Ramirez was a joke in left field but his bat was something special. Martinez also has that special hitting gift that we absolutely need. based on what Cora is currently doing, I think that we are going to have to get used to having him out there. More I guess than we ever thought we would.

[jung]

There is no question that the Sox needed another big bat in this lineup. But if Cora keeps playing JD in the Fenway Park OF it is only a matter of time before JD gets Swiharted out there (meaning a less than adequate fielder put into what is likely the most physically dangerous OF in all baseball, our beloved Fenway Park OF). When that happens, that big bat will be stuck in rehab for God only knows how long.

 

Play JD in the field away from Fenway if you must. At least away from Fenway you just take a hit to your overall defense. You don't take the hit to your defense and run the additional physical risk presented by the Fenway OF. Honestly JD looks like a dead man walking out there. More aptly put, he looks like Nunny looks around 2nd base. But at least away from Fenway there is way less chance of JD running smack into an injury. DH JD in Fenway and play him in the field away from Fenway a few games per road trip.

[Spudboy]

I wish that I had seen the play. I'm not saying that having him out there doesn't weaken an outstanding outfield when our 3 starters are not out there together. What I am saying and will probably continue to say until I see him really start to make mistakes on balls that there are no questions that any average fielder could make, is that I just don't think he is as bad as his past stats which are promoted here big time say that he is. He is and kind of looks as though he will be our 4th outfielder going forward. At this time, I have seen nothing that screams out to me that he isn't as good a 4th outfielder as any of the others that people have mentioned. I thought that Manny Ramirez was a joke in left field but his bat was something special. Martinez also has that special hitting gift that we absolutely need. based on what Cora is currently doing, I think that we are going to have to get used to having him out there. More I guess than we ever thought we would.

 

Excellent post.

 

JD looked foolish on that play. He looks foolish several time a week out there in left.

 

Manny made himself into a decent left fielder in Fenway in MY OPINION.

 

Maybe JD can do the same over the next few years.

[Spudboy]

There is no question that the Sox needed another big bat in this lineup. But if Cora keeps playing JD in the Fenway Park OF it is only a matter of time before JD gets Swiharted out there (meaning a less than adequate fielder put into what is likely the most physically dangerous OF in all baseball, our beloved Fenway Park OF). When that happens, that big bat will be stuck in rehab for God only knows how long.

 

Play JD in the field away from Fenway if you must. At least away from Fenway you just take a hit to your overall defense. You don't take the hit to your defense and run the additional physical risk presented by the Fenway OF. Honestly JD looks like a dead man walking out there. More aptly put, he looks like Nunny looks around 2nd base. But at least away from Fenway there is way less chance of JD running smack into an injury. DH JD in Fenway and play him in the field away from Fenway a few games per road trip.

 

 

Interesting take.

[Bellhorn04]

There is no question that the Sox needed another big bat in this lineup. But if Cora keeps playing JD in the Fenway Park OF it is only a matter of time before JD gets Swiharted out there (meaning a less than adequate fielder put into what is likely the most physically dangerous OF in all baseball, our beloved Fenway Park OF). When that happens, that big bat will be stuck in rehab for God only knows how long.

 

Play JD in the field away from Fenway if you must. At least away from Fenway you just take a hit to your overall defense. You don't take the hit to your defense and run the additional physical risk presented by the Fenway OF. Honestly JD looks like a dead man walking out there. More aptly put, he looks like Nunny looks around 2nd base. But at least away from Fenway there is way less chance of JD running smack into an injury. DH JD in Fenway and play him in the field away from Fenway a few games per road trip.

 

I've argued the same thing - that left field in Fenway is somewhat hazardous to the health, especially the area where Swihart got injured.

[jung]

I've argued the same thing - that left field in Fenway is somewhat hazardous to the health, especially the area where Swihart got injured.

 

They all are dangerous positions really:

Left Field has the Monster and the foul line grandstands that are right on top of you before you know it. No warning track to the fielder's right side and there is a tendency to be running full tilt and suddenly there it is.

 

Center Field has the triangle made by the bullpens and that brutal pipe that goes across the top of the bullpen wall...no give at all when you run into that thing.

 

Right field has all that acreage but that is only part of the story out there. The RF wall going from a spot about 20' from the flagpole to the bullpens is an optical illusion. You think it is getting deeper because of the arc of the wall but in fact the deepest part is that spot 20' from the flagpole and the distance from home plate is narrowing down every lateral foot out toward CF. So a quick glance tells you to get on your horse and run full tilt and before you know it BANG you are hitting either the wall or the visitors bullpen and that brutal pipe again. Then again there is also something of the LF foul line issue of having no room between the foul line and the RF grandstands.

 

No question it is the most physically dangerous OF in all baseball. You need good outfielders just to survive out there, never mind make plays.

[cp176]

There is no question that the Sox needed another big bat in this lineup. But if Cora keeps playing JD in the Fenway Park OF it is only a matter of time before JD gets Swiharted out there (meaning a less than adequate fielder put into what is likely the most physically dangerous OF in all baseball, our beloved Fenway Park OF). When that happens, that big bat will be stuck in rehab for God only knows how long.

 

Play JD in the field away from Fenway if you must. At least away from Fenway you just take a hit to your overall defense. You don't take the hit to your defense and run the additional physical risk presented by the Fenway OF. Honestly JD looks like a dead man walking out there. More aptly put, he looks like Nunny looks around 2nd base. But at least away from Fenway there is way less chance of JD running smack into an injury. DH JD in Fenway and play him in the field away from Fenway a few games per road trip.

 

I wouldn't disagree with this plan but it looks to me as though Cora has his game plan set in stone with respect to resting everybody. We can cry about it all we want but we can't do anything about it. For the record, I'm not personally in love with the way he is resting these guys but he is the man in charge and we have 20 wins to show for it.

[notin]

There is no question that the Sox needed another big bat in this lineup. But if Cora keeps playing JD in the Fenway Park OF it is only a matter of time before JD gets Swiharted out there (meaning a less than adequate fielder put into what is likely the most physically dangerous OF in all baseball, our beloved Fenway Park OF). When that happens, that big bat will be stuck in rehab for God only knows how long.

 

Play JD in the field away from Fenway if you must. At least away from Fenway you just take a hit to your overall defense. You don't take the hit to your defense and run the additional physical risk presented by the Fenway OF. Honestly JD looks like a dead man walking out there. More aptly put, he looks like Nunny looks around 2nd base. But at least away from Fenway there is way less chance of JD running smack into an injury. DH JD in Fenway and play him in the field away from Fenway a few games per road trip.

 

The Sox absolutely needed another bat.

 

But when JD plays RF over Mookie (on those rest days), the difference just becomes beyond obvious. The game in Toronto gave a pretty good example there, where Smoak hit a soft liner to right field to move a runner to third. Even if Mookie was unable to catch that ball (which I doubt but can't prove), at the very least the runner would have had to hold up enough to make sure and would not have been able to go to third....

[OH FOY]

Nobody in the Minors to push these guys, if they are slumping. Don't matter if Castillo is hitting .326 at Pawtucket, he's stuck.

[moonslav59]

Nobody in the Minors to push these guys, if they are slumping. Don't matter if Castillo is hitting .326 at Pawtucket, he's stuck.

 

Are you implying that if we had a stronger farm, they wouldn't be slumping?

[mvp 78]

Are you implying that if we had a stronger farm, they wouldn't be slumping?

 

JBJ is slumping because he's not concerned about job security (even though he's the first guy to sit on the bench when JD plays OF).

[Bellhorn04]

I'm sure JBJ works his butt off on his hitting. It's a struggle for him.

[mvp 78]

I'm sure JBJ works his butt off on his hitting. It's a struggle for him.

 

He's spent more time adjusting his stance than anyone else in recent memory. The problem may be that he works on it too much. He's a fine player, but his bat is going to keep his FA $ low.

[OH FOY]

Are you implying that if we had a stronger farm, they wouldn't be slumping?

 

No, maybe not playing. If someone is hot in the Minors, and a player is not hitting, at the Major League level, you give a shot, at the Farm.

Many teams do this. If your weak at the Farm, no reason to bring him up.

Why shouldn't Castillo be brought up, isn't wining more important, than Luxury Tax?

Has nothing to do about attitude, I'm sure, JBJ is trying his tail off, sometimes, a little kick in the ass is good. Competition is important. Their is none now, for these Outfielders, since their no threat from the Farm.

Edited April 30, 2018 by OH FOY!

[Spudboy]

No, maybe not playing. If someone is hot in the Minors, and a player is not hitting, at the Major League level, you give a shot, at the Farm.

Many teams do this. If your weak at the Farm, no reason to bring him up.

Why shouldn't Castillo be brought up, isn't wining more important, than Luxury Tax?

 

This is an interesting question.

[moonslav59]

No, maybe not playing. If someone is hot in the Minors, and a player is not hitting, at the Major League level, you give a shot, at the Farm.

Many teams do this. If your weak at the Farm, no reason to bring him up.

Why shouldn't Castillo be brought up, isn't wining more important, than Luxury Tax?

 

Actually, it might be in our case.

 

Castillo is no guarantee to be better at the ML level anyways.

 

He'd take JBJ's place or Moreland's place, if JMart players corner OF.

 

It has not gotten to the point of bringing up Castillo, even if there were no luxury tax implications.

 

Besides, shouldn't Swihart get an extended look before Castillo?

[OH FOY]

Who's played more games in the Outfield at the Minor and Major Leagues total, Swihart or Castillo?

You play a kid that just doesn't have enough experience at the position, your just asking for a failure, and that's not fair.

[OH FOY]

If I was going to give an extended look, I would do it at his position, he was projected at, and Drafted at, not a position, you seem it might work. Not at the Major League level, should have been done years ago in the Minors.

[jad]

How about trading him for a relief pitcher? There's a guy playing for the Giants leading the league in ERA: 0.00. He's perfect through one inning--no one has even hit the ball out of the infield. Pablo something ...

[mvp 78]

Castillo is hitting .775 OPS in PAW. He's going to have to mash to make the big league roster. He's a career .679 OPS in the bigs which is lower than JBJ's career numbers.

 

In AAA, he's a .290/11/59 guy with 20 SB's. That's not enough to carry him at the big league level for his price tag.

[moonslav59]

Castillo is hitting .775 OPS in PAW. He's going to have to mash to make the big league roster. He's a career .679 OPS in the bigs which is lower than JBJ's career numbers.

 

In AAA, he's a .290/11/59 guy with 20 SB's. That's not enough to carry him at the big league level for his price tag.

 

I doubt Castillo would be called up right now, even if there were no luxury tax implication.

 

We'd have to trade or DFA Swihart.

[mvp 78]

I doubt Castillo would be called up right now, even if there were no luxury tax implication.

 

We'd have to trade or DFA Swihart.

 

I think it's clear to me that they are going to trade Swihart before the AS Break if not sooner.