Dutchy

I don't think they're similar players because Dunn is so defensively challenged. In the AL, he's a DH. Is 2/20 insulting? Not really, but it's not going to lead to any kind of productive talks. Like I said, the Red Sox offered Adam Dunn money BEFORE the season and contract talks got nowhere.

Most of these numbers are in line with career trends. Bay has a career -7.1 UZR/150 in left, this year it's -9.3. Ellsbury's UZR/150 in center over his career is -2.2, so his current rating is a little off from the trend at -8.9. The big surprise is obviously Lowell, but like you said, he's a statue. That rating matches up with what I've seen with my eyes, and like I said pretty much everyone who has hip surgery sees their range go way down. The same dramatic trend can be seen in Utley and A-Rod. Hip surgeries didn't used to be so common though, so it's hard to say how long it will affect a player's range. And I think Drew's defense has always been underrated because he never has to dive for balls. But this is the second straight year his UZR/150 has been over 10. Also of note, Jed Lowrie has a 24.6 UZR/150 last year at shortstop. It will be interesting to see how he does this year.

For those of you who don't know, UZR stands for Ultimate Zone Rating. It's possibly the most advanced defensive statistic available to the public. In fact, from 2003 until just recently, UZR wasn't available to the public because it's inventor, Mitchel Litchman, was hired by the Cardinals and the organization liked the statistic so much, they didn't want any other team to have access to it. But beginning last year, UZR and UZR/150 (UZR rating adjusted to 150 games) has been available on fangraphs. So I thought I'd post the various range factors four or player (catchers don't get a range factor) so we can discuss the team's defensive ability. But keep in mind, the UZR isn't a perfect stat. It can get a little distorted when measuring outfielders especially because of strange ballpark sizes or outfielder positioning. UZR assumes that every player has the same "zone" they should be defending regardless of the batter, ballpark or players around them. Anyways, here are their ratings according to UZR/150. Kevin Youkilis: 10.7 at 1B, -0.7 at 3B Dustin Pedroia: 6.4 Nick Green: 3.7 Mike Lowell: -16.4 Jason Bay: -9.3 Jacoby Ellsbury: -8.9 J.D. Drew: 11.9 A few surprises... Mike Lowell's range looks horrible. Other players who have had hip surgery have shown similar drop in their range (Utley, A-Rod). Mark Kotsay's defense at first is really quite good (+16 last year, +17 so far this year). So temporarily moving him to 1st and Youkilis to 3rd while Lowell's hip heals should improve the defense quite a bit. And the other big surprise is Ellbury's -8.9. This could just be a fluke result of the large CF in Fenway Park and those strange angles, which UZR doesn't account for. His ZR is one of the best in baseball among CF. But this suggests that he may not be an elite defensive CF and he has room for improvement.

For the record, the Red Sox were approached by Bay's agent prior to the season, in an attempt to get a deal done. They offered Dunn's current contract as a starting point, and the two sides got nowhere. We're going to have to start with a figure more like 4/60 if we want to have serious negotiations.

Burnett's always been a streaky pitcher. He'll show periods of dominance and then revert back to his self. Currently, he's overachieving. His fielding independent ERA is 4.58, his BABIP is .285, his K/BB is less than 2 and he's stranded 77.9% of base runners.

Don't worry about it That stuff happens.

No, that was a reference to the Yankees winning four games in a row. No one was discussing Burnett's previous starts.

I don't think anyone was discussing Burnett's previous starts.

Not necessarily. There are quite a few big name corner outfielders who will be free agents. Bay, Holliday, Brian Giles, Vladimir Guerrero. Dye has an option for $12 million. Bay is the only one of those guys that the Yankees would have to surrender draft picks to us for. If the Yankees sign any one of those guys, the market for Bay will fall out. By talking to the Red Sox now, Bay's agent can play off fears that the Yankees might target Bay as their left fielder, and outbid the Red Sox. He could get a higher payout if he waits for free agency, but he also risks making less money.

I graduated college and I'm living in New York right now. I was born into a Red Sox family going back three generations. I'm Dutch

You don't think there's any chance he signs with the Red Sox before free agency if they offer him a fair contract?

He could be lying, but all he ever talks about is how great the atmosphere is in Boston and how he feeds off the crowd. He doesn't sound like a guy that ever wants to go back to a team that won't be in constant contention. His agent tried to initiate talks with the Red Sox prior to the season. "It’s a situation where he’s loving Boston. It’s a great club and a great organization,” said Nez Balelo of Creative Artists Agency. “He’s a quality player, and I’m sure (the Red Sox) recognize that. Whatever they want to do, I’m sure that we’re all ears.” http://blogs.weei.com/alexspeier/2008/11/05/jason-bay-interested-in-remaining-a-red-sox/

Lowrie went 1-2 in his 8th rehab start. He's now 2-for-10.

Yeah, I don't like him either, but it has nothing to do with his race or how he acts in relation to his race. ESPN has a teleprompter, they do feed the guys lines. And they are the ones in charge of production. They might be the ones "overplaying his blackness". Either way, I don't get the issue with a black guy, "acting black". So what if he is from a rich upbringing, so he's not allowed to identify with his race?

Yeah, Jason Bay's situation isn't the same as an aging declining Mike Lowell or Bronson Arroyo. He'd be a centerpiece of our team.

He overplays his blackness. That's a new one. Would it be an issue if a white guy "overplayed their whiteness" if they were from a poor upbringing but were an an environment with rich white guys?

Eh, whatever. The series is over now. We're still the best team in the American League and we've got Lester and Beckett against the Orioles in our next series. I want to see Smoltz too. I missed his first start because I was on vacation.

HATE CRIME! :shock::shock::shock:

Hahaha, did he say anything or do you just always want to punch him in his eye?

Come on, it's the Mets. That they lost on four hits is one of their least surprising feats of feebleness.

Hey Spud, you notice who he got the last out against? :harhar:

It's not any less ridiculous than all the other stuff Joe Morgan says :dunno:

Oh, Joe Morgan, you dinosaur, you! I think he he's been taking afternoon naps during the Braves games.

Good for Mo, he's a good guy. Red Sox will start padding their lead again as soon as the Yankees start playing major league caliber teams.