Dojji

Nice D there.

Cherington's moves are looking a lot better this year, yes.

Oh what might have been.

DANG! Soooooo close!

Napoli was feeling left out.

The Butler "double."

"That" was out by the way.

On and on and on we go. Welcome back, Power Hitting Jacoby.

FTFY

Mostly people who can't tell the difference between "unideal" and "sucks."

Really. I don't think anyone thinks Nava really sucks, it's just that people have higher standards for left field than .270/.360/.420 which is where Nava's probably going to top out.

Out to CF in Toronto too. That's no cheapie.

Our first baseman has to show big fly power after all.

There it is!

Wow Middlebrooks wow.

How's nava looking defensively? (can't have the game on yet because of what you might call a prior broadcast commitment)

In his final year in the minors he hit .301/.318/.416 The overall slash numbers are pulled down by the first 2 years in the low minors. This is a man who carried his career in the minors with his glove, and seems to have figured out a swing that's worked consistently for him over the last 2+ years off the bench. That's actually harder in principle than doing the same thing while starting every day. You realize that right? In other words, when he was pure AAAA, it was because he wasn't hitting, and now he's putting up a full win above replacement last year with his bat as a bench player in the bigs. If you want to be skeptical about that, fine, but I hope you're signing the same tune with Iggy, because it's the same thing. I don't want the situation we have to devolve until Ciriaco is starting every day because it would mean that some talented players were on the shelf or gone, but if we had to do it, I have no doubt at all that Ciriaco could be well above replacement level as a full time starting shortstop.

I said middle 10, not top 10. If you're going to contradict what I say, contradict what I say.

The New York Yankees would be glad to have him We have a really good situation at short right now. Such a reversal from just a year ago.

As in there are 30 starting SS and Ciriaco might be 15th or 16th if given the chance. You really think that based on what we've seen, Ciriaco would have any trouble at all hanging with the middle 10 shortstops in this league? As weak as that position is right now? How many shortstops in the league do you really think can match a .290 BA with ~.400 SLG and average or better defense? Even with the low OBP, considering his position, that's really solid offensive production, and he's at least a non-liability defensively. Ciriaco will eventually get a chance to start at short for someone. You can count on that.

Great game by Ciriaco. I stand by what I said upthread. Ciriaco is a starting caliber SS if given the chance. Maybe not a superstar, but if you want a guy who pulls his weight, defends very competently, and can make contact, Ciriaco is good for all of those things.

Soderberg's team eliminated from SEL playoffs Moment of truth.

Despite the fiasco the last time they tried it there's something to putting Ells in LF. It might allow him to add some thickness that would rebuild his power and buffer him against injury. If Ells could level out as a 25-25 guy, I'd take that and drool.

I can't agree with that Jung. Value comes from all factors of a player's ability. Bradley's defensive abilities aren't wasted in left as long as he hits adequately. That's a fallacy based on the premise that because defense is LESS useful in left, it is therefore useless. you have a good mind, you ought to see why that doesn't follow.

I wonder if they're going to try to work Brentz out at first base. It would be a way to get him on a path to crack the roster now that the outfield looks so clogged.