The annual Jackie Bradley Jr thread (2019 Edition)

[cp176]

The word 'hate' is mostly just being used in the sports fan sense here. We're just talking about the people who keep heaping abuse on JBJ for his play and calling for him to be traded or released-to be not seen in a Red Sox uniform anymore.

 

I understand - I'm actually one of the we're that you are talking about. I hate JBJ's inability to hit. I do not think that his defensive genius makes up enough of the difference. I am also happy that we have him and would not like to see him traded. The statement that I just made has nothing to do with whether I value defensive or offensive baseball more than the other. If the team can score without needing any offense from him, wonderful!

[moonslav59]

Nobody thinks JBJ's defense makes up for a .421 OPS.

 

We're banking on him getting near or over .700.

[OH FOY]

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 .

 

This ^^^ His biggest downfall is he thinks he's a Power Hitter, in the wrong Park. Left Field Wall is the greatest thing for SMART lefthanded hitters.

[mvp 78]

Do you not read game threads?

 

Yes, when he's playing well nobody hates on him. It's not a thing. When he hits, everyone says "hooray he's hitting I hope his hot streaks lasts a long time."

[mvp 78]

The word 'hate' is mostly just being used in the sports fan sense here. We're just talking about the people who keep heaping abuse on JBJ for his play and calling for him to be traded or released-to be not seen in a Red Sox uniform anymore.

 

People calling for him to be traded are in the vast minority. It's overblown on here. People get upset that he can't hit anything right now AND THAT'S OK.

[Bellhorn04]

People calling for him to be traded are in the vast minority.

 

Sounds like poll time!

[Maxbialystock]

He's one of the most irrationally hated players in recent memory. Even when he's doing good people will hate on something he's doing.

 

Nothing irrational about my displeasure with JBJ these days. On that other website someone started a thread that compared JBJ to Ellsbury (I think) every single day to show that it actually turned out to be a very smart move to let Ellsbury (a Sox fan favorite when he was healthy) go to the Yankees. I was supportive of that thread and reveled in JBJ's day to day successes.

 

And, like anyone with any sense, I was hugely supportive of JBJ in by far his best season of 2016 when he hit well and fielded very well. Finally, finally, it seemed, he was over the humoungous "good field, no hit" hump.

 

But over time that hump keeps reappearing, so much so that the manager has to keep dropping him down in the lineup. At the same time, and especially this year, it seems to me that JBJ isn't working as many fielding miracles as he did earlier.

 

So, me, I'm just getting a little tired of all JBJ's supporters assuring me everything is fine with our superstar centerfielder who, for example, was the key to taking three at Tampa this very month.

 

Offense vs. defense. I love great defense because it is the poetry of baseball, far more so than dingers.

 

On the other hand, I also believe that the key to great defense is that guy on the mound, not the 8 other guys on the field with him. This is especially true when you realize that most MLB players are decent on defense.

 

To me what makes baseball so unique is that its central act is the confrontation between pitcher and batter, and that is basically where owners and GM's invest--hit hitting and pitching.

[moonslav59]

Nothing irrational about my displeasure with JBJ these days. On that other website someone started a thread that compared JBJ to Ellsbury (I think) every single day to show that it actually turned out to be a very smart move to let Ellsbury (a Sox fan favorite when he was healthy) go to the Yankees. I was supportive of that thread and reveled in JBJ's day to day successes.

 

And, like anyone with any sense, I was hugely supportive of JBJ in by far his best season of 2016 when he hit well and fielded very well. Finally, finally, it seemed, he was over the humoungous "good field, no hit" hump.

 

But over time that hump keeps reappearing, so much so that the manager has to keep dropping him down in the lineup. At the same time, and especially this year, it seems to me that JBJ isn't working as many fielding miracles as he did earlier.

 

So, me, I'm just getting a little tired of all JBJ's supporters assuring me everything is fine with our superstar centerfielder who, for example, was the key to taking three at Tampa this very month.

 

Offense vs. defense. I love great defense because it is the poetry of baseball, far more so than dingers.

 

On the other hand, I also believe that the key to great defense is that guy on the mound, not the 8 other guys on the field with him. This is especially true when you realize that most MLB players are decent on defense.

 

To me what makes baseball so unique is that its central act is the confrontation between pitcher and batter, and that is basically where owners and GM's invest--hit hitting and pitching.

 

Nobody is saying .421 is fine. It is far from fine, and his defense cannot make up for that low of an OPS.

 

Some of us do think he will return to his .700-.750ish OPS like he seems to do every year.

 

Why not tell us why you think this year will be different, and he'll never get hot or even warm?

[mvp 78]

It's ok. His OPS is up to 425 now.

[Jasonbay44]

JBJ is never as bad as he is when slumping, or as good as he is during his hot streaks. He’s frustrating and inconsistent but he isn’t THIS bad. He’ll likely finish the year as he does, inconsistent bat, good glove, overall helps the team.

[moonslav59]

It's ok. His OPS is up to 425 now.

 

It was at .350 about 10 days ago.

 

He's hit a whopping .575 (OPS) in his last 8 games!

[moonslav59]

JBJ is never as bad as he is when slumping, or as good as he is during his hot streaks. He’s frustrating and inconsistent but he isn’t THIS bad. He’ll likely finish the year as he does, inconsistent bat, good glove, overall helps the team.

 

..so, let's trade him right before his good part of the year!

 

(LOL)

[vegasbob]

The realistic issue with JBJr is what happens over the winter of 2019-2020. First, you will get the benefit of a full season to see if the hot streak or any improved consistency at bat comes on or not. Second , there may only be a limited chance of a July deadline trade if the Sox are out of contention and someone in the NL wants a defensive Cf'er. Third, DD will need to consider what Jackie's arb $# will be for next year . JBJr will likely be asking $10MM and the Sox may value him at less than 2019's $8+ million. He's also not that young. Next April he turns 30 and can expect an overall decline to be happening within a couple years. Who would offer him more than 3 years in any case ?

 

Unless he makes a significant step forward at the plate, while continuing his defensive excellence , I could picture the Red Sox FO hardballing Jackie after this season to the point of moving him along due to very small upside after 30. But he can throw a ball 400', so there's a chance that Heath Hembree's flyballs can be retrieved.

[SCM33]

..so, let's trade him right before his good part of the year!

 

(LOL)

 

LOL @ “good part”

 

He sucks. He’s done nothing defensively recently that supports the fact that his s***** bat needs to be in the lineup. I’d rather they designate someone and give Castillo another shot in RF with Betts in CF. There is NO WAY Castillo could be worse.

 

I think Castillo in right, is the lesser of the 2 evils, as I don’t think Benny would be a very good CFer

[Thunder]

As long as JBJ's glove remains golden, I see no reason to ever dump him.

 

And if he ever gets back to the ALCS MVP at the plate, then he'll have a special place in my heart

[Jasonbay44]

Castillo will never play in Boston due to his contract and the ramifications calling him up would have.

[Jasonbay44]

Even as the biggest JBJ fan, there is no way he deserves $10+ mill a year. He should get around Jarrod Dyson money.

[Bellhorn04]

As long as JBJ's glove remains golden, I see no reason to ever dump him.

 

And if he ever gets back to the ALCS MVP at the plate, then he'll have a special place in my heart

 

There was a time when winning the ALCS MVP would win a Red Sox player a lot of goodwill.

[Jasonbay44]

There was a time when winning the ALCS MVP would win a Red Sox player a lot of goodwill.

There is a reason I don’t have many complaints about Steve Pearce this season, he’s been awful, but I give him a break due to what’s happened in playoffs lol.

[moonslav59]

There was a time when winning the ALCS MVP would win a Red Sox player a lot of goodwill.

 

How quickly JBJ has been thrown to the curb, as well (again).

[Swiharts Ghost]

Such a fun game to play .I loved seeing Jackie get that single last night Fenway park erupted like it was a walk off.I am guilty of getting down on him but love this player and so don't his teammates .I really think Brock Holt is missed as a positive leader on the team can't wait for him to return.JBJ looked so sad he wasn't helping the team and boom he gets that RBI weight lifted I hope .

[Maxbialystock]

Nobody is saying .421 is fine. It is far from fine, and his defense cannot make up for that low of an OPS.

 

Some of us do think he will return to his .700-.750ish OPS like he seems to do every year.

 

Why not tell us why you think this year will be different, and he'll never get hot or even warm?

 

Actually, my animus comes from two sources. Only one is his hitting. The other is I don't think he is giving it his all in the field the way he once did. There was that infamous very catchable fly that dropped in for a double earlier in the season. More recently, in Sale's latest start, he didn't get to a catchable triple in CF because he jumped too soon and too far away from the wall. This from a guy who has been playing there since 2013 and as a starter since 2014. I think he has a strong arm, but not an accurate one. So, frankly, I just don't think he's quite the one of a kind CF his supporters say he is. I think he's closer to the middle of the pack than one of the defensive leaders.

 

And this. We all agree the pitching--mostly the rotation, but sometimes the bullpen too--has stunk this year. But the JBJ supporters have said repeatedly in the past that a great centerfielder makes a huge difference to the defense. And I'm saying categorically that a great centerfielder can sometimes make a difference, but most of the time the defense begins and ends with that guy on the mound. In other words, JBJ hasn't helped very much--and may have hurt if my examples are valid--with our pitching problem. Also in other words, he needs to start hitting to justify being in the lineup.

 

Of course, right now JBJ benefits from a dearth of available outfielders, mostly because Holt is on the DL and Cora is reluctant to use JDM out there too often.

Edited April 30, 2019 by Maxbialystock

[Slasher9]

There was a time when winning the ALCS MVP would win a Red Sox player a lot of goodwill.

 

Yup. Plus finishing the season on a duckboat. If you look at last seasons threads he was getting killed even when he was consistent at the plate for 4 months straight. If only he were trot Nixon....

[Kimmi]

His statement is perhaps a little too general, but it has a lot of truth in it. The people who want JBJ gone don't give a damn what his WAR is.

 

I agree. IMO, defense, in general, does not get the merit it deserves.

[SCM33]

There was a time when winning the ALCS MVP would win a Red Sox player a lot of goodwill.

 

Yup. Plus finishing the season on a duckboat. If you look at last seasons threads he was getting killed even when he was consistent at the plate for 4 months straight. If only he were trot Nixon....

 

Welcome to title town. When your payroll is that high, what have you done for me lately?

 

s*** or get off the pot JBJ. We aren’t asking a lot.....just be below average, and we will be fine. It’s sad when we ask him to be below average, and he can’t even be that.

[Jasonbay44]

Its been a month. JBJ has consistently been an above average player throughout his career. Judging him and calling him below average based off 1 month of a season isn't a fair assessment of how good he is.

[moonslav59]

Its been a month. JBJ has consistently been an above average player throughout his career. Judging him and calling him below average based off 1 month of a season isn't a fair assessment of how good he is.

 

Especially since the same thing happens every year.

 

Could this be a real bad, long season for JBJ? Of course, but this seems to happen every year, and he almost always end up back near respectability (or better) on offense, while his D remains steady and awesome.

[notin]

Especially since the same thing happens every year.

 

Could this be a real bad, long season for JBJ? Of course, but this seems to happen every year, and he almost always end up back near respectability (or better) on offense, while his D remains steady and awesome.

 

 

Of course, this has been JBJ’s worst month since August, 2014...

[cp176]

Castillo will never play in Boston due to his contract and the ramifications calling him up would have.

 

Likely i'll start a new thread but I am wondering why more people don't see this as one of the strangest things we have seen.

[Bellhorn04]

Likely i'll start a new thread but I am wondering why more people don't see this as one of the strangest things we have seen.

 

Castillo?

 

Baseball-wise his career got screwed by luxury tax rules shenanigans.