The annual Jackie Bradley Jr thread (2019 Edition)

[Kimmi]

JBJ has clawed his way up to .600 after being at .421 on the morning of May 20th.

 

10 games does not make a player great, but he's been at 1.200 the last 10 games, so all this talk of "cutting his ass" is about as absurd as any position can be.

 

I just don't get why he doesn't use the opposite field approach more often from the get go. He has good power that way, and seems to break out of his slumps when he does so. I don't get it. I have never supported the idea of trading Jackie, so this is not meant to knock him. I'm just looking for a legitimate reason why he struggles for long periods of time, then it's like he suddenly realizes he should stop trying to pull the ball.

[moonslav59]

I just don't get why he doesn't use the opposite field approach more often from the get go. He has good power that way, and seems to break out of his slumps when he does so. I don't get it. I have never supported the idea of trading Jackie, so this is not meant to knock him. I'm just looking for a legitimate reason why he struggles for long periods of time, then it's like he suddenly realizes he should stop trying to pull the ball.

 

It's hard to figure out. I assume the coaches are telling him to "go the other way," but he seems to get locked into the pull mentality until he's about to be benched, then he snaps out of it.

 

He's my favorite active Sox player, but he drives me crazy sometimes.

 

I'm hopeful he stays hot for a long time.

[Kimmi]

It's hard to figure out. I assume the coaches are telling him to "go the other way," but he seems to get locked into the pull mentality until he's about to be benched, then he snaps out of it.

 

He's my favorite active Sox player, but he drives me crazy sometimes.

 

I'm hopeful he stays hot for a long time.

 

I'm sure the coaches are telling him that, and he can see the results he's getting.

 

I guess it's easier said than done, though.

 

He is the player that I have probably pulled the hardest for since he was first called up.

[vegasbob]

Unless you have a natural tendency to hit the opposite way from either side, like a Boggs, maybe Beni or Moreland on occasion, it is a very difficult thing to do and almost impossible on any pitch middle in. To microtime and adjust your swing precisely, away from the tendency to swing hard, pulling the ball with your body momentum is a true skill for a mature hitter. Xander has shown good bat control going to right often, and Vaz seems to be able to execute a part of the time. The real success comes when the hitter realizes the ball is on the outer half and can drag his hands through the zone slightly behind the ball. That sometimes happens when the swing is late anyway.

 

IMO, Jackie does not yet have the plate discipline, pitch recognition and overall skills to consistently poke the ball up , up and away or on the ground to the left side. If he did, and made defenses play him straight away, one extra hit per week over the season would be worth a lot. 125 hits in 600AB's is .208BA, add 1 hit per week and it magically becomes .252 . The OPS should certainly rise as well as some of the 26 hits will be extra bases. If JBJr is expecting to get a decent FA contract, the best thing he could do is hit oppo and make the defense honest.

Edited May 30, 2019 by vegasbob

[devildavid]

JBJ's main hitting issue this season is a lack of extra base hits. His pctg. of them is currently matching his career low of 5.2% which he had in 2014, his worst hitting season. This is where his otherwise poor hitting derives all of its value. He is not a good hitter or good at getting on base base otherwise. His BA and OBP clearly indicate this. So if he rarely hits safely, each hit needs to be of greater value. He is a poor contact hitter, and shows no signs or inclinations to become one. And if not for his stellar fielding, he is not an MLB level player. If his fielding truly has slipped substantially, his value to any MLB team is minimal.

 

I just don't get why he doesn't use the opposite field approach more often from the get go. He has good power that way, and seems to break out of his slumps when he does so. I don't get it. I have never supported the idea of trading Jackie, so this is not meant to knock him. I'm just looking for a legitimate reason why he struggles for long periods of time, then it's like he suddenly realizes he should stop trying to pull the ball.

 

I'm sure the coaches are telling him that, and he can see the results he's getting.

 

I guess it's easier said than done, though.

 

He is the player that I have probably pulled the hardest for since he was first called up.

 

As I posted earlier, his value as a hitter is all about his ability to get extra base hits. If going the other ways results in that, that's fine. But JBJ is not a bat control hitter or that adept at getting on base. I can't see him remaking himself as a hitter at this point in his career. If the extra base hits come, his OPS rises as well as his value as a hitter.

[moonslav59]

As I posted earlier, his value as a hitter is all about his ability to get extra base hits. If going the other ways results in that, that's fine. But JBJ is not a bat control hitter or that adept at getting on base. I can't see him remaking himself as a hitter at this point in his career. If the extra base hits come, his OPS rises as well as his value as a hitter.

 

If it wasn't for all the HBPs, his OBP would be even worse.

[SCM33]

JBJ has clawed his way up to .600 after being at .421 on the morning of May 20th.

 

10 games does not make a player great, but he's been at 1.200 the last 10 games, so all this talk of "cutting his ass" is about as absurd as any position can be.

 

LOL, the guy who uses all kinds of advanced metrics is going to use a 10 game sample to make his point. Youre full of s***.

[Larry33]

JBJ streak is over he went 0-3 with 3 K on Saturday. Yesterday Alex Cora used JBJ like he should be used as late inning defensive replacement and they won the game no team can afford to have 2 or 3 players with a sub par 200 avg in their line up. Time to wake up Cora and do what best for this team.

[Slasher9]

JBJ streak is over he went 0-3 with 3 K on Saturday. Yesterday Alex Cora used JBJ like he should be used as late inning defensive replacement and they won the game no team can afford to have 2 or 3 players with a sub par 200 avg in their line up. Time to wake up Cora and do what best for this team.

 

you like having JDM play OF full time?

[mvp 78]

JDM's defense > JBJ's offense

[Slasher9]

JDM's defense > JBJ's offense

 

perhaps if you expect JBj not to come up to his norm.

but does JDM back/possibly injury > JBj's offense?? i dont know. i like JDM in the lineup hitting. i like JBj in the OF catching stuff. i think both in the lineup makes us stronger. but i dont like the idea of losing JDM to a strain/pull/tear because of running around the OF chasing ballz...

[mvp 78]

To me, I'd still play JBJ primarily as a starting CFer and hope he hits his way out of it. I think Betts and Beni are bigger issues right now as I think the Sox hoped Beni would have made a jump this year and expected Betts to be a little more consistent (seems to be doing and even/odd year thing right now).

 

Beni's k rate is way up, slugging is down and he's demonstrably slower. He's making hard contact so maybe it's just bad luck?

[notin]

JDM's defense > JBJ's offense

 

But JBJ’s defense > offense of any bench player you pop in to replace Martinez at DH...

[mvp 78]

But JBJ’s defense > offense of any bench player you pop in to replace Martinez at DH...

 

I agree. Slasher was just worried about JDM's defense. I don't think that's the bigger issue in play.

[notin]

I agree. Slasher was just worried about JDM's defense. I don't think that's the bigger issue in play.

 

 

It’s actually also arguable that Bradley’s offense is better than that of anyone on the bench.

 

If the Sox moved Chavis to a DH/OF role and had a good defensive 2b who could outhit Bradley, then it might be worth considering...

[Bellhorn04]

JDM needs to be limited in OF play not just because of his D but because of his health.

[Larry33]

It’s actually also arguable that Bradley’s offense is better than that of anyone on the bench.

 

If the Sox moved Chavis to a DH/OF role and had a good defensive 2b who could outhit Bradley, then it might be worth considering...

 

They need to keep Chavis's bat in the line up no matter if the need to transition him into an OF. JBJ had more than enough time to prove himself offensively and he failed time to consider justifying his everyday status. Time doesn't stand still for no one Boggy came up in the same year as JBJ look at the hitter he turned out to be. Everyone needs to realize what they've got in JBJ is a good defensive OF nothing else.

[mvp 78]

They need to keep Chavis's bat in the line up no matter if the need to transition him into an OF. JBJ had more than enough time to prove himself offensively and he failed time to consider justifying his everyday status. Time doesn't stand still for no one Boggy came up in the same year as JBJ look at the hitter he turned out to be. Everyone needs to realize what they've got in JBJ is a good defensive OF nothing else.

 

Chavis has a 549 OPS last 10 games. I keep JBJ in there.

[moonslav59]

Chavis has a 549 OPS last 10 games. I keep JBJ in there.

 

JBJ has a SLG% of .721 since May 20th (last 13 games). His OPS has been 1.129 since then- tops on the team. I know it's a small sample size, but he's had prolonged hot streaks his whole career. The idea of benching him now is sheer trolling. (He's also at .931 sine May 10th- 19 games)

 

Chavis is going to have to make some adjustments after pitchers have figured our the holes in his swing. If he doesn't, he may become the next Middlebrooks. I have faith, but he is not doing anything recently to show he should be replacing JBJ, and why are we even talking about Chavis vs JBJ, but for some clown troll? It will be Chavis vs Holt/Nunez at 2B or Chavis vs Moreland/Pearce at 1B. He will occasionally DH when JD plays the OF and a 1Bman is back from the IL.

 

Chavis of late:

.664 his last 24 games(.299 OBP)

.687 his last 16 games (.290 OBP)

 

The kid had an incredible 11 game stretch, where he hit 1.418. Without that stretch, he'd be pretty close to JBJ in 2019 OPS.

[Slasher9]

They need to keep Chavis's bat in the line up no matter if the need to transition him into an OF. JBJ had more than enough time to prove himself offensively and he failed time to consider justifying his everyday status. Time doesn't stand still for no one Boggy came up in the same year as JBJ look at the hitter he turned out to be. Everyone needs to realize what they've got in JBJ is a good defensive OF nothing else.

 

nice try babe.

no thanks to Chavis in the OF. plus he needs to learn how to hit a high FB.

[mvp 78]

nice try babe.

no thanks to Chavis in the OF. plus he needs to learn how to hit a high FB.

 

I see you took that A700 correspondence course!

[Slasher9]

I see you took that A700 correspondence course!

 

hahahaha. nah. i just know who Larry is.

[mvp 78]

hahahaha. nah. i just know who Larry is.

 

Did you have it confirmed with the mods?

[Slasher9]

Did you have it confirmed with the mods?

 

negative. just going with advanced metrics on this one. trollcast if you will.....

[Bellhorn04]

If it's Babe, it's brilliant work by him I have to say.

[vegasbob]

nice try babe.

no thanks to Chavis in the OF. plus he needs to learn how to hit a high FB.

 

How about just recognize that is where the pitcher will throw him the FB until he learns to take a few up there ? His quick early success ruined any plate discipline that he had , if any. Now it is burning him with that late, upper cut swing. Chavis could be a stronger Bogey or another Middlebrooks as mentioned. Please someone work with this kid to get the former not the latter.

[mvp 78]

If it's Babe, it's brilliant work by him I have to say.

 

Username would be ewing33.

[mvp 78]

How about just recognize that is where the pitcher will throw him the FB until he learns to take a few up there ? His quick early success ruined any plate discipline that he had , if any. Now it is burning him with that late, upper cut swing. Chavis could be a stronger Bogey or another Middlebrooks as mentioned. Please someone work with this kid to get the former not the latter.

 

Plate discipline wasn't his strong suit to begin with.

[moonslav59]

Until we find a true 2Bman, Chavis will not be in the OF.

[Slasher9]

Username would be ewing33.

 

hahaha. good point.