The annual Jackie Bradley Jr thread (2019 Edition)

[Kimmi]

Right. JBJ is the only liability on this team. They’re being dragged down by the 8-spot hitter...

 

Word.

[Kimmi]

Two hits by the Red Sox up until the 8th inning, and JBJ is problem.

[redsoxrules]

It’s still April.

 

BTW Bradley could be hitting .600 this year and the Sox would still have an awful record...

 

Lol. If he was hitting 600 they would be at least a 500 team. They've lost a lot of close games

[notin]

Lol. If he was hitting 600 they would be at least a 500 team. They've lost a lot of close games

 

 

I’d think having 4 of 5 starting pitchers with an ERA of 5.88 or worse might be a bigger factor than the 8th place hitter.

 

Bradley also outhit the 2b platoon before Chavis, yet no one blamed them for losses and wanted them dealt. And they batted higher in the order...

[harmony]

Lol. If he was hitting 600 they would be at least a 500 team. They've lost a lot of close games

The 11-16 Red Sox are a respectable 5-4 in one-run games (and 1-5 in blowout games of 5+ run margins).

[Slasher9]

Lol. If he was hitting 600 they would be at least a 500 team. They've lost a lot of close games

Yup. All the 8 or 9 hitters fault!

[notin]

Yup. All the 8 or 9 hitters fault!

 

Holt, Nunez, and Pearce all have OPS+’s below zero, but the problem is the guy doing better lower in the order...

[jad]

Yes, all these other criticisms of the team are valid. This thread, however, is about JBJ, who is among the worst hitters in MLB and has one of the worst looking swings in the league. Someone with that athletic ability, who has been playing prof. baseball for so long, should be able fix that. And right: learning to bunt, or simply working on the strike zone, would be a great place to start.

[OH FOY]

Last April/March he hit .195, May-.203 June-.202, then 2nd half .269. And a .272 BA with RISP for the year, relax.

[notin]

Yes, all these other criticisms of the team are valid. This thread, however, is about JBJ, who is among the worst hitters in MLB and has one of the worst looking swings in the league. Someone with that athletic ability, who has been playing prof. baseball for so long, should be able fix that. And right: learning to bunt, or simply working on the strike zone, would be a great place to start.

 

 

Or c... crazy thought here. We could all start to realize that Bradley has had these stretches before and always comes out of them just fine. Sure there was a time when we actually went from thinking he could be the next Fred Lynn to hoping he might be the next Darren Lewis, but it’s also been years since Bradley showed us he is a streaky hitter whose bad streaks will always raise questions but whose good streaks even things out.

 

So why do people keep pretending his slumps are something new and always - and this does happen every year - overanalyzing his play to convince themselves ‘‘this time it truly is the end?”

[oldtimer]

Or c... crazy thought here. We could all start to realize that Bradley has had these stretches before and always comes out of them just fine. Sure there was a time when we actually went from thinking he could be the next Fred Lynn to hoping he might be the next Darren Lewis, but it’s also been years since Bradley showed us he is a streaky hitter whose bad streaks will always raise questions but whose good streaks even things out.

 

So why do people keep pretending his slumps are something new and always - and this does happen every year - overanalyzing his play to convince themselves ‘‘this time it truly is the end?”

 

I think the question has been: "Why didn't we, don't we, get a player who can hit a better to play CF for us"? We know what Jackie can do and has done. Very good defender and poor hitter for a large part of the season. Every year we hear how he has improved only to see more of the same.

[dgalehouse]

Regrettably, it has become the norm for some fans to take out their frustrations by scapegoating players . It often goes beyond legitimate criticism and becomes an actual dislike for the player . If it's not JBJ , it's somebody else . Baseball is tough . Everybody has their ups and downs . Try to understand that . Bradley will come out of his slump . He always has .

[Maxbialystock]

What about Chavis' 'imbecilic K' with a man on 3rd and only one out?

 

That was the key at bat in that inning.

 

He’s played maybe 10 MLB games. JBJ has played how many?

[DontCallMeUncleRico]

Back in my day guys like JBJ would be considered late inning defensive replacements.

 

WTH happened?

[Maxbialystock]

Or c... crazy thought here. We could all start to realize that Bradley has had these stretches before and always comes out of them just fine. Sure there was a time when we actually went from thinking he could be the next Fred Lynn to hoping he might be the next Darren Lewis, but it’s also been years since Bradley showed us he is a streaky hitter whose bad streaks will always raise questions but whose good streaks even things out.

 

So why do people keep pretending his slumps are something new and always - and this does happen every year - overanalyzing his play to convince themselves ‘‘this time it truly is the end?”

 

Meh. He was so dreadful as the opening day starting CF in 2014 that he ended up at Pawtucket. He did indeed come back with a vengeance in August 2015 which lead to a seasonal WAR of 2.2. 2016 was even better, 5.5. Then 3.0 in 2017, 2.1 last year, and currently -1.0 See the trend?

 

I am fine with whatever Cora and DD decide about JBJ, which so far is to play him because he is still pretty good (but not as good as before) in CF. But I do not apologize for criticizing him for being a bonafide liability at bat.

 

And why is there this clamor to defend JBJ because, poor baby, he bats 8th or 9th? He bats down there because so far this season he stinks and he stinks worse than other guys who are also struggling.

[Maxbialystock]

Speaking of JBJ's incomparable ability in CF at Fenway, did everyone see the miserable job he made of a catchable fly to CF vs. Tampa just now? If Beni or Betts had been out there, there would have been a chorus of JBJ fans saying he catches that baby with ease. Fact is, he had plenty of time and simply jumped too soon (with space between him and the wall).

 

There are, I might add, a good bunch of JBJ fans who will tell you repeatedly that pitchers love him in CF because he saves them runs. That rule doesn't seem to apply when JBJ is in one of his funks.

[Bellhorn04]

Back in my day guys like JBJ would be considered late inning defensive replacements.

 

WTH happened?

 

Nonsense man. Look up Paul Blair.

[a700hitter]

Nonsense man. Look up Paul Blair.

Blair could hit until he got hit in the head by Ryan.

[moonslav59]

JBJ's OBP the last 7 games, counting today's...

 

.357

 

He needs to start getting more hits, but the BBs are helpful.

 

[dgalehouse]

JBJ's OBP the last 7 games, counting today's...

 

.357

 

He needs to start getting more hits, but the BBs are helpful.

 

 

That is grasping for straws . No need to do that . I would like to see JBJ swing at the first pitch more if it looks good . Try to stay out of two strike counts . Go to the opposite field , especially at Fenway . The hits will come .

[moonslav59]

That is grasping for straws . No need to do that . I would like to see JBJ swing at the first pitch more if it looks good . Try to stay out of two strike counts . Go to the opposite field , especially at Fenway . The hits will come .

 

I want him hitting more as well, and I said that.

 

My point was that he has not been a total black hole the last 7 games he's played.

[Swiharts Ghost]

Is JBJ even on this team come September ? If not who would you like to see promoted to get there feet wet ? Is Rusney an option to get dealt more than an option to see time ? JBJ is not getting any younger after 30 a CF tends to fall off a cliff . I expect nothing from Jackie at this stage he's helped win A World Series and that is good enough for me .I would like the position upgraded sooner than later weather that's Betts or Benny taking over or other .

[notin]

Is JBJ even on this team come September ? If not who would you like to see promoted to get there feet wet ? Is Rusney an option to get dealt more than an option to see time ? JBJ is not getting any younger after 30 a CF tends to fall off a cliff . I expect nothing from Jackie at this stage he's helped win A World Series and that is good enough for me .I would like the position upgraded sooner than later weather that's Betts or Benny taking over or other .

 

 

If this team keeps playing like this, quite a few players should be gone by August, including Bradley...

[oldtimer]

If this team keeps playing like this, quite a few players should be gone by August, including Bradley...

 

Teams need continuous improvement to stay competitive. The Sox were in a financial squeeze and couldn't make a lot of moves this year but have opted to stay with some older players and so far it isn't working out. Nunez, Pedroia, Leon, Holt, Pearce fall into that category and possibly Moreland as well. Older guys can be injury plagued and can fall off the cliff more suddenly than younger players. All of the ones I mentioned could be gone without a noticeable impact on the team results this year, with the exception of Moreland who himself has now fallen into a slump. Billy Ball here we come?

[harmony]

If this team keeps playing like this, quite a few players should be gone by August, including Bradley...

Would anyone trade nearly two years of Jackie Bradley Jr. for nearly four years of Seattle center fielder Mallex Smith?

 

Bradley currently has an OPS+ of 14 and a bWAR of a negative 0.5 while Smith has an OPS+ of 40 and a bWAR of a negative 0.8.

 

I doubt the Mariners, with their extended window, would do that trade.

[SCM33]

Would anyone trade nearly two years of Jackie Bradley Jr. for nearly four years of Seattle center fielder Mallex Smith?

 

Bradley currently has an OPS+ of 14 and a bWAR of a negative 0.5 while Smith has an OPS+ of 40 and a bWAR of a negative 0.8.

 

I doubt the Mariners, with their extended window, would do that trade.

 

JBJ is untouchable......to other teams, because nobody wants him.

[Station 13]

Two hits by the Red Sox up until the 8th inning, and JBJ is problem.

 

Using game specific to point out an issue is ignoring the bigger picture. JBJ is a hack. He has a 14 OPS+, Ouch. With a -1.1 WAR. He doesn't come cheap anymore too.

[mvp 78]

Regrettably, it has become the norm for some fans to take out their frustrations by scapegoating players . It often goes beyond legitimate criticism and becomes an actual dislike for the player . If it's not JBJ , it's somebody else . Baseball is tough . Everybody has their ups and downs . Try to understand that . Bradley will come out of his slump . He always has .

 

He'll come out of the slump and promptly go back to it. It's the nature of things.

[mvp 78]

Is JBJ even on this team come September ? If not who would you like to see promoted to get there feet wet ? Is Rusney an option to get dealt more than an option to see time ? JBJ is not getting any younger after 30 a CF tends to fall off a cliff . I expect nothing from Jackie at this stage he's helped win A World Series and that is good enough for me .I would like the position upgraded sooner than later weather that's Betts or Benny taking over or other .

 

Nobody is taking on Castillo's contract.

[mvp 78]

If this team keeps playing like this, quite a few players should be gone by August, including Bradley...

 

I doubt it. Maybe in the rotation and bullpen, but I don't see them dumping starters anytime soon.