Sheffield: I saw Sheff in Montreal a few years back (man, those were the days--$8.00 Canadian to see a ML game...) and he was downright personable. Maybe it was that the jeering was en Francais, but he was smiling and not surly at all. Kinda like BALCO Barry at Fenway...
Pedroia: I never saw THIS level of play coming. I figured there would be growing pains, and he would become a fair ML second baseman. He's looking like a potential future All-Star candidate if he keeps this up.
Ellsbury: Man, if he has anything close to the career of Brett Butler, he will be a Fenway favorite for years to come. That was one helluva six game cup of coffee! I'm really looking forward to the full-time stint, when Coco's in left, Ellsbury's in right and Teixeira's on first. That might work.
Yeah Sheffield would look much better in the Sox RF than Drew right now, wouldn't he? For that matter I'm sure Cashman's thinking he'd look a bit better than Abreu. But man, those weekend losses against Detroit gave me a bad, bad feeling. Because they highlighted a major, season-long problem with this team. Our pitching has been superb, and when we've gotten out to an early lead most of the time we've been in great shape. But when we've needed to come from behind or get a big clutch hit late in a close game we haven't been very good at all, and we seem to be getting worse in that area. Drew was beyond awful this weekend. Four times he came up in critical situations with men on base, and what he produced was 2 K's, a groundout and a popup. It's pretty bad when the manager decides to pinch-hit for a healthy, $14 million supposed #5 hitter in extra innings with a guy who's hurt. Aaargh. This guy is causing me intestinal turmoil. Can Jacoby Ellsbury or Crisp play RF? Cause by the end of the year we may need to make that kind of move.
CF, sure, things would've been different with Sheffield in RF. How about the horrid slump he had in the first part of the season, coupled with the fact that most Sox fans don't like him anyway? That could've been ugly, and I wonder how the atmosphere might've gotten at that point.
Another thing to consider. When you're the Tigers, and your corner OFs are Craig Monroe (just poor fundamentals) and Magglio Ordonez (in the field, it's just "Maggs being Maggs"), with Marcus Thames filling in (see note on Monroe), wouldn't you have found a way to get Sheffield more time in the OF than 11 games? Methinks there's a reason he's not playing the OF, and he would need to be out there everyday if he'd been on our team.
Ellsbury as Butler? Not bad. Though I always kind of hated Butler for no good reason...
In this era, a player like Butler would undoubtedly have some more pop as well.
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Sheffield has been nothing short of monstrous for the last two months. He has always been the most frightening opposing player to me, and I wasn't sure how much I could support him on my team.
Well, I live in MI, and the Tigers are my "second team" and he has been a joy to watch. DHing suits him (keeps him healthy) and he just rakes, plus, he is a great baserunner.
Sheffield is probably the only RF in baseball more unlikeable than Drew. First half production aside, I like the Sox better without the BALCO prick.
Good call on the Brett Butler/Ellsbury comparison.
Since the Office is in reruns, been watching Flight of the Conchords, CF?
I've been enjoying Rish too, however his intolerance for the idiot fans sometimes borders on Sarandis levels, they even share a similar tone in their voices. The major differnce between the two however is, Rish remains likable.
Hey,
Here's a video and a photo of David Ortiz hitting baseballs into McCovey Cove at a large inflatable model of his new Reebok cleat. Hope you like it.
Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P...h?
v=PbthfFewxrU
Photo:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/155...@N00/763874874/
I am not a big fan of Sheff....with that being said, the man has just enough freak in him to supply any team he is on with attitude. If he did sign with the Sox, I probably would love the guy right now. This leads me to J.D. Drew. It drives me INSANE that this man shows no emotion, either when he does something good, or whether he stinks up the joint. (Mostly the latter). Even though this is how he is, it gives the perception to our passionate fans that he is not bothered whether he hits a homerun, or whether he strikes out. I lamented this signing when it was talked about, when it was completed, and now lament it more as he will sit on 14m a year for the next 5 (or 3 barring any injury as stated in his contract).
As far as I'm concerned, Drew could play with his thumb up his butt as long as he is producing somewhat commensurate with his contract...and it has begun to look like he might since the beginning of June. Why does anyone care about his businesslike approach? We loved it in Mueller, and many of us love it in Lowell. I hope to God calm heads prevail and they don't push the panic button with Drew, a la Renteria. He will be fine. Meanwhile, enjoy the lack of drama. (You don't want the drama.)
Even though this is how he is, it gives the perception to our passionate fans that he is not bothered whether he hits a homerun, or whether he strikes out.
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Does it bother "our passionate fans" that Varitek practically launches into a gleeful sprint back to the dugout when he whiffs on yet another high fastball or grounds out?
dave b has it right.
If a fan's "perception" is what mattered, then maybe the Sox could re-acquire Trot Nixon, and his 238/333/335 batting line. he stinks, but he's mad that he stinks.
Not being "bothered" when he makes an out (which the best players will do 60% of the time), is a valuable skill.
And by the way, only two AL right fielders have made fewer outs (i.e., have higher OBPs) than JD Drew--Ordonez and Vlad.
I agree that it doesn't much matter whether a player seems passionate or not, it's their performance that counts. And I think Drew's performance this season to date has been shaky at best, regardless of his OBP. He got off to a solid start, then went into a horrible slump, then pulled out of it, then finished up with a flat-out atrocious series against Detroit. Not exactly the most consistent performer. Those four key at-bats against the Tigers were appalling. Not one line drive or fly ball could he muster. Maybe he just can't handle the 5 spot and he does belong at leadoff, where Tito has him tonight. We'll see.
My problem with Drew's "businesslike approach" is not his lack of slamming water coolers. What bothers me is his lack of production. His numbers are significantly worse in clutch situations vs. normal situations. He seems perfectly content to take a called third strike in clutch situations. I can't find how many runners he's LOB'ed this year but I'd guess he has the highest LOB/RBI ratio on the team.
This probably goes without saying, but the Butler comparison w/ Ellsbury is great, not too much to ask for, but I will ask for one thing.
Will he PLEASE have a (much) better SB success rate (68%) than Butler? K. Thanks.
I should have said that I agree that if Drew ends up with a 400 OBP but can't slug 400 that he will be a disapppointment. I just find the whole "he doesn't look like he cares" stuff nauseating.
Could be wrong, but I think you meant:
"A few quick items while trying not to wonder what exactly "intestinal turmoil" entrails . . ."
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