The annual Jackie Bradley Jr thread (2019 Edition)

[notin]

Frankly the JBJ hate makes no sense for multiple reasons, the foremost of which is - who’s the replacement supposed to be? Rusney Castillo? Cole Sturgeon?

 

Or better yet - Jarren Duran? Hey he can crush A-ballad long as he has an insane and unsustainable BABIP. If that doesn’t qualify him to replace a 29yo former All Star in CF, what does?

[Maxbialystock]

Frankly the JBJ hate makes no sense for multiple reasons, the foremost of which is - who’s the replacement supposed to be? Rusney Castillo? Cole Sturgeon?

 

Or better yet - Jarren Duran? Hey he can crush A-ballad long as he has an insane and unsustainable BABIP. If that doesn’t qualify him to replace a 29yo former All Star in CF, what does?

 

Agree he's hard to replace, but you can't ignore that Cora has rested him extra games because of concerns about his hitting. For a good chunk of this season his WAR was negative, but it was precisely those games he sat out that showed he is hard to replace. By and large the 4th outfielder is JDM, who in fact replaced Mookie in RF as recently as last night.

[notin]

Agree he's hard to replace, but you can't ignore that Cora has rested him extra games because of concerns about his hitting. For a good chunk of this season his WAR was negative, but it was precisely those games he sat out that showed he is hard to replace. By and large the 4th outfielder is JDM, who in fact replaced Mookie in RF as recently as last night.

 

 

Personally I think (and repeatedly said so this off-season) the Sox could use an actual fourth outfielder. If you’re going to give Bradley off days, at least minimize the defensive loss as opposed to re-arranging the outfield and downgrading multiple positions...

[Maxbialystock]

Personally I think (and repeatedly said so this off-season) the Sox could use an actual fourth outfielder. If you’re going to give Bradley off days, at least minimize the defensive loss as opposed to re-arranging the outfield and downgrading multiple positions...

 

Meh. Last year the Sox went 11-7 without JBJ and he was usually replaced by JDM. This year JDM has been less available. as has Holt. Even worse is that, this year when JDM goes to the outfield, the Sox bench hitting has been so poor the DH doesn't help much--think Nunez, who has DH'd a fair amount.

 

Also, I think it's hard to argue with using JDM last year and that the FO wanted to do it again this year because 2018 was a wildly successful season even with JBJ missing 18 games. This year the Sox have gone 3-5 without JBJ, which is hardly a disaster, especially when a cursory glance at the 5 losses makes it hard to argue that the Sox lost because JBJ didn't play.

 

And don't forget the biggest problem with the defense this year ain't the outfield, but the pitching staff. Consequently, Cora has had to keep 13 pitchers (vice the MLB norm of 12) on the roster for the whole season. That allows Cora to have just 3 spares--a catcher and 2 infielders. Right now Holt is also a spare outfielder as he was last year, but don't forget he missed a big chunk this season.

[moonslav59]

That's pretty sad that his ops is still only at 688 after a month of being on a good streak. Imagine when he goes back on a cold streak

 

On the flip side, I doubt other GMs now love JBJ more after just 3 weeks of hot hitting.

 

To me, the lesson to be learned is that a 7 weeks sample size is not all that big, if just a 3 week hot streak can bring your OPS up from .443 to .688.

 

Players should never be valued at JUST what they have done in the last 4-8 weeks. Some here, seem to place permanent value on just 1-3 weeks, or the .688 number only. Plus, it's not like JBJ was some 35 year old player in a long slump that could possibly signal the steep downswing associated with age. JBJ has slumped many times in the past, and he always snapped out of it, at times with white hot stretches. I'll never understand why some people always get fooled by the same thing over and over.

 

When JBJ slumps again, and he almost certainly will, we'll here the same calls for DFA.

[oldtimer]

On the flip side, I doubt other GMs now love JBJ more after just 3 weeks of hot hitting.

 

To me, the lesson to be learned is that a 7 weeks sample size is not all that big, if just a 3 week hot streak can bring your OPS up from .443 to .688.

 

Players should never be valued at JUST what they have done in the last 4-8 weeks. Some here, seem to place permanent value on just 1-3 weeks, or the .688 number only. Plus, it's not like JBJ was some 35 year old player in a long slump that could possibly signal the steep downswing associated with age. JBJ has slumped many times in the past, and he always snapped out of it, at times with white hot stretches. I'll never understand why some people always get fooled by the same thing over and over.

 

When JBJ slumps again, and he almost certainly will, we'll here the same calls for DFA.

 

Yes, but the very idea of long prolonged slumps should get the management to look for alternatives.

[Maxbialystock]

Yes, but the very idea of long prolonged slumps should get the management to look for alternatives.

 

Which is ok with me. I think JBJ has slowed a little, and goodness knows his hitting is erratic. But, depending on his future salary demands, he should be good a while longer.

[moonslav59]

Yes, but the very idea of long prolonged slumps should get the management to look for alternatives.

 

I've said I'd be fine trading him this winter, as long as we get a solid and needed piece in return.

 

That being said, I'm sure management loves the hot streaks and some of his long warm streaks- not to mention his playoff numbers last year.

 

It will be hard to replace his defense, but I agree that consistency is a virtue.

 

BTW, up to...

 

.685

 

[moonslav59]

Cut the 2019 season,so far, in half....

 

Red Sox OPS Numbers:

 

First 36 games:

1.106 Chavis

.881 Betts

.865 JD

.831 Beni

.829 Moreland

.815 Vaz

.810 Bogey

.781 Devers

.464 Nunez

.419 JBJ

.316 Pearce

 

 

Second 36 games (not counting today):

1.058 JD

1.003 Bogey

.944 JBJ

.922 Moreland

.918 Devers

.799 Vaz

.794 Betts

.734 Beni

.712 Leon

.696 Chavis

.560 Nunez

 

Holt did not have 50+ PAs in either sample size.

 

 

[moonslav59]

Down to .683 after 1 for 5 with a 2B.

[SCM33]

If it was just a one time thing, he'd be given a pass. I just think his terrible starts to the year have a bigger impact on this team than people want to let on.

 

This is more of what it is.

 

He clearly has the talent to be a better offensive player than he is, and his inconsistency is maddening.

[moonslav59]

It may be short-lives, but don't look now: JBJ is up to .708

after today's HR.

 

He was at ...

 

.350 April 19th.

 

.409 May 8th.

 

.421 May 19th.

 

.520 May 28th.

 

.619 June 9th.

 

.674 June 17th.

 

Well done, JBJ-- KEEP IT UP !!!!

 

[Jasonbay44]

Big game for JBJ tonight. He had some great AB

[Slasher9]

DFA him!

[moonslav59]

Big game for JBJ tonight. He had some great AB

 

He's up to...

 

.713

 

[kenmeister]

He's up to...

 

.713

 

 

Wow I just checked his career OPS is .723, so he's actually having an average year.

[moonslav59]

Wow I just checked his career OPS is .723, so he's actually having an average year.

 

At this pace, he'll be above his career OPS by tomorrow!

[Noles_1335]

With the recent surge from JBJ, is now the time to try and package a deal with him involved to try and get the pieces to make a run? Cashman has said he will do whatever it takes to add the talent to put them over the top. DD can't just sit idle and make mediocre moves after the Yanks add more studs to an already loaded team.

[moonslav59]

With the recent surge from JBJ, is now the time to try and package a deal with him involved to try and get the pieces to make a run? Cashman has said he will do whatever it takes to add the talent to put them over the top. DD can't just sit idle and make mediocre moves after the Yanks add more studs to an already loaded team.

 

JBJ is usually a late season hitter. It's the wrong time to trade him, and we have no in house replacement.

[notin]

With the recent surge from JBJ, is now the time to try and package a deal with him involved to try and get the pieces to make a run? Cashman has said he will do whatever it takes to add the talent to put them over the top. DD can't just sit idle and make mediocre moves after the Yanks add more studs to an already loaded team.

 

 

And replace JBJ with who exactly? Sam Travis?

[moonslav59]

And replace JBJ with who exactly? Sam Travis?

 

Exactly! Or back-hurting JD? Holt?

[Slasher9]

he sucks! trade him now! black hole! defense is over rated! not a starting CFer! late inning defensive replacement!

[Bellhorn04]

Sell high!

[Noles_1335]

I agree with Bell here... sell while the fire is hot! What if we were to throw an offer to the giants, something like JBJ, Casas, Dhernandez for Pillar and Smith?

[notin]

I agree with Bell here... sell while the fire is hot! What if we were to throw an offer to the giants, something like JBJ, Casas, Dhernandez for Pillar and Smith?

 

 

So you want to unload Bradley, due to his frustration levels, and the solution is Kevin Pillar?

 

Out with Bradley’s career OPS+ of 92 and in with Pillar’s 86!!

[Bellhorn04]

I agree with Bell here... sell while the fire is hot! What if we were to throw an offer to the giants, something like JBJ, Casas, Dhernandez for Pillar and Smith?

 

Sorry man, that was sarcasm.

[Noles_1335]

sorry guys, I'm just throwing ideas out there. Pillar was a good CF idea in return with Smith. He makes less than JBJ and is similar defensively.

[notin]

sorry guys, I'm just throwing ideas out there. Pillar was a good CF idea in return with Smith. He makes less than JBJ and is similar defensively.

 

Pillar over Bradley represents a lateral move for the sake of a move. I thought the idea was to “sell high,” but Casas and Hernandez might be enough to get Smith in their own.

 

And SF would have little interest in a Bradley hot streak, as their in full blown tank mode...

[Slasher9]

you know who is interested in a gold glove center fielder with a OPS in the 750 range? the Boston Red Sox.

too bad we are stuck with the defensive replacement only JBj....

[devildavid]

As I advised, being patient with JBJ paid off. This is who he is. His value is as a great defensive player who eventually finds his groove as power bat.