JBJ Going Beast Mode On The Media

[E5 Yaz]

Jackie Bradley Jr. has decided to take inspiration from Marshawn Lynch and speak as little as possible to the media this year:
 

“I’m going to go all Marshawn Lynch this year," Bradley told WEEI.com. "I just focus on me. I have to do what I've got to do. I don't even talk about it to anybody."
"Action speaks louder than words, and that's pretty much (how) this whole year is going to be. I won't have much to say. I'm just going to go out there and take care of business."

 
http://www.foxsports.com/buzzer/story/boston-red-sox-jackie-bradley-jr-marshawn-lynch-020515
 
JBJ apparently has a chip on his shoulder. If it inspires him to learn to hit major league pitching, all the better

 

[deanx0]

I think if you announce over seven sentences to the media that you are going to give the media the Marshawn Lynch treatment, you don't quite grasp the Marshawn Lynch treatment.
 
And Marshawn was highly successful at his job before deciding to deal with the media the way he did. As E5 Yaz says, we can only hope that JBJ gets that side of the parallel down too.

 

[Pozo the Clown]

JBJ apparently has a chip on his shoulder. If it inspires him to learn to hit major league pitching, all the better

 
The question is: can he learn to hit major league pitching while playing in Pawtucket?  Barring injuries and/or JBJ-like performances from others, it's not looking like he'll be seeing much in the way of major league pitching in 2015.  At least not in a Red Sox uni, anyway.

 

[Comfortably Lomb]

JBJ apparently has a chip on his shoulder. If it inspires him to learn to hit major league pitching, all the better

 
If he doesn't hit the media will not be kind to him.

 

[E5 Yaz]

 
The question is: can he learn to hit major league pitching while playing in Pawtucket?  Barring injuries and/or JBJ-like performances from others, it's not looking like he'll be seeing much in the way of major league pitching in 2015.  At least not in a Red Sox uni, anyway.

 
On the whole, he'd rather be in Philadelphia

 

[DJnVa]

 
If he doesn't hit the media will not be kind to him.

 
If he doesn't hit he won't be in Boston long enough for the media to care.
 

 

[gryoung]

Jackie Bradley Jr. has decided to take inspiration from Marshawn Lynch and speak as little as possible to the media this year:
 
 
http://www.foxsports.com/buzzer/story/boston-red-sox-jackie-bradley-jr-marshawn-lynch-020515
 
JBJ apparently has a chip on his shoulder. If it inspires him to learn to hit major league pitching, all the better

 
And JBJ begins his exit strategy from the Sox organization .......

 

[Harry Hooper]

Well, he's probably better off if he limits his conversations to working on stuff with his coaches.

 

[nvalvo]

 
The question is: can he learn to hit major league pitching while playing in Pawtucket?  Barring injuries and/or JBJ-like performances from others, it's not looking like he'll be seeing much in the way of major league pitching in 2015.  At least not in a Red Sox uni, anyway.

 
I actually think he can. His pre-2014 numbers were soooooo much better than his 2014 numbers irrespective of level that I think we'll know if and when he gets his swing back. If he can get his mechanics and approach back together, he should be able to put up an .800+ OPS in AAA. If he can do that, he should be able to put up a .700ish OPS in MLB. And if he can do that, he's a legitimate big leaguer. 
 
Basically, I'm adopting the negative stance on the question of AAAA players. 

 

[mauf]

Lynch is required to make himself available to the media. To my knowledge, JBJ is not. If JBJ doesn't want to talk, he can just not talk.
 
That's why Lynch's antics are understandable, and JBJ is just being a jerk.
 
And that's not even getting into the obvious difference in how good Lynch and JBJ are at their respective sports. Rightly or not, it's well accepted that star players can get away with prima donna behavior that marginal players cannot. And while I recognize that pro athletes need to have an outsized ego to survive, I can't imagine JBJ is delusional enough to think he's anything but marginal.
 
So I think gryoung hits the nail on the head -- JBJ sees three OFs who will be ahead of him on the organization's depth chart for the foreseeable future, and he's looking to force his way out of the organization.

 

[P'tucket rhymes with...]

 
On the whole, he'd rather be in Philadelphia

Somebody buy him a Blake Swihart mask.
 
Hard to say whether this is just some trumped up announcement that he's going to stay focused on his game more effectively this year, or he had his fee-fees hurt by some of the responses to comments he made over the course of the year.  Whatever it is, let's hope it serves him well.

 

[Snoop Soxy Dogg]

Lynch is required to make himself available to the media. To my knowledge, JBJ is not. If JBJ doesn't want to talk, he can just not talk.
 
That's why Lynch's antics are understandable, and JBJ is just being a jerk.
 
And that's not even getting into the obvious difference in how good Lynch and JBJ are at their respective sports. Rightly or not, it's well accepted that star players can get away with prima donna behavior that marginal players cannot. And while I recognize that pro athletes need to have an outsized ego to survive, I can't imagine JBJ is delusional enough to think he's anything but marginal.
 
So I think gryoung hits the nail on the head -- JBJ sees three OFs who will be ahead of him on the organization's depth chart for the foreseeable future, and he's looking to force his way out of the organization.

 
I think this is way over-reacting. I mean jeez, I wonder what you were saying when he had the great spring training two years ago. Now he's only fit for the dustbin?
What I see is a terribly awkwardly way of saying he's just going to focus on playing and doing his job. And so he should. Frankly, I thought he talked to the press way too much last year, talking about his mechanics, his family and all that. Those are all distractions.
 
I agree he sees the paths that are blocked and wants to get out of Boston. The best way of getting out of Boston is performing and letting things taking care of themselves, and frankly, not worrying about talking to the press is a good way to start. The Marshawn Lynch thing is silly, I put that down to immaturity. He's learning, let's hold off on calling him delusional and marginal.       

 

[grimshaw]

Maybe he'll start talking if he emerges victorious from his fatal four-way with Mookie, Victorino, and Craig.  Which would sort of be like Spike Dudley winning the Rumble.

 

[geoduck no quahog]

Aw, give the guy a break. He's obviously concerned and serious. More power to him and fuck the press.

 

[SoFloSoxFan]

I had assumed that since he made that statement nearly a week ago and it had not been covered here that SOSH wasn't going to make a big deal about it. But I guess that would be boring,
 
Keep talking JBJ, it's working well so far.

 

[E5 Yaz]

We were busy last week

 

[ALiveH]

This is a nothingburger.  The guy is at a career crossroads after last year's disaster.  He's gotta deal with it the best way he can.  None of our business.

 

[Rasputin]

Somebody buy him a Blake Swihart mask.
 
Hard to say whether this is just some trumped up announcement that he's going to stay focused on his game more effectively this year, or he had his fee-fees hurt by some of the responses to comments he made over the course of the year.  Whatever it is, let's hope it serves him well.

 
I think it's probably a bit of both. He should know that he needs to work on things rather heavily, and the media made him look like a selfish douchetard so he's going to not bother dealing with the stupid shit and start dealing with the shit that he's supposed to be building a career with.
 

 
I think this is way over-reacting. I mean jeez, I wonder what you were saying when he had the great spring training two years ago. Now he's only fit for the dustbin?
What I see is a terribly awkwardly way of saying he's just going to focus on playing and doing his job. And so he should. Frankly, I thought he talked to the press way too much last year, talking about his mechanics, his family and all that. Those are all distractions.
 
I agree he sees the paths that are blocked and wants to get out of Boston. The best way of getting out of Boston is performing and letting things taking care of themselves, and frankly, not worrying about talking to the press is a good way to start. The Marshawn Lynch thing is silly, I put that down to immaturity. He's learning, let's hold off on calling him delusional and marginal.       

 
I also think it's overreacting, and the notion that JBJ is destined for the dustbin are silly. If, for example, Papi were to retire at the end of the season, and Napoli were to sign somewhere else, we could be looking at a 2016 starting outfield of Castillo, Bradley, and Betts in some configuration. Failing that, with Victorino gone, JBJ seems like a great candidate for a fourth outfielder.

 

[E5 Yaz]

This is a nothingburger.  ...  None of our business.

 
If you could type up the official list of topics that are and aren't our business, that would help preserve the bandwidth trees. M'kay, thx

 

[Dahabenzapple2]

Just hit, Baby

 

[MuzzyField]

If JBJ needs to identify the source of his current blockage in Boston, all he needs is a mirror.  If he doesn't want to talk to the media fine, don't.  
 
It appears he's carrying over his late-2014 frustrations into 2015, I hope it works for him.  What JBJ could use is some better communication with coaches and the space between his ears to successfully make the necessary adjustments to hit MLB pitching.   
 
His defense is so off the charts good, he barely has to hit to be a valuable piece at the MLB level.  The fact that he failed to get close to "barely" has to be driving him nuts.

 

[Yelling At Clouds]

Is it even remotely possible that JBJ's failures at the plate the last two years are on Colbrunn/Rodriguez and not some perceived "attitude problem" on his part? He was praised for his makeup at every level, yet when he reaches the majors, he's a headcase?

 

[nvalvo]

 
If, for example, Papi were to retire at the end of the season, and Napoli were to sign somewhere else, we could be looking at a 2016 starting outfield of Castillo, Bradley, and Betts in some configuration. Failing that, with Victorino gone, JBJ seems like a great candidate for a fourth outfielder.

Something like this is likely Plan A on Yawkey Way, but maybe for 2017.

 

[PrometheusWakefield]

I would like to announce that I, also, am going to pursue a strict policy of refusing to speak to the Boston sports media. No matter how hard they try, I have no interest in an interview with any of them. Sorry.

 

[Savin Hillbilly]

Quite a blow to the Pawtucket media.

 
I was going to say, the wording seems to indicate some possibly unrealistic expectations about how much face time he's likely to have with the Boston or national media this year, unless something surprising happens. Do you think it's possible he doesn't yet realize that he's a long shot for the 25-man?
 

 
I actually think he can. His pre-2014 numbers were soooooo much better than his 2014 numbers irrespective of level that I think we'll know if and when he gets his swing back. If he can get his mechanics and approach back together, he should be able to put up an .800+ OPS in AAA. If he can do that, he should be able to put up a .700ish OPS in MLB. And if he can do that, he's a legitimate big leaguer.

 
It's an interesting question. On the one hand, over the past half-century almost no one who hit as badly as JBJ as a 23-24 year old rookie, in more or less equivalent playing time, went on to be anything but a shitty hitter. The only ones in the group who had any kind of significant career were shortstops or (in one familiar case) a catcher: Larry Bowa, Jack Wilson, Pokey Reese, Curt Wilkerson, Deivi Cruz. The one exception (which I think I've brought up before) is Rich Becker, who had a middling career as a fringe-average OF with a borderline bat and a decent glove in the 1990s.
 
However, we're talking about a total data set (since 1961) of 12 guys, including Bradley. It's just rare for a guy who hits that badly to get that much playing time as a rookie. If they struggle to that degree, they go back down, unless they bring so much value with the glove that you can kind of live with the sucky bat. That's why they're almost all shortstops.
 
The size of the data set is one source of hope for JBJ. The record says guys who start like him don't go on to hit well. But the record speaks with a really weak voice. If he bucks the trend, it won't be shocking, because it's not that much of a trend.

 

[iayork]

 
And JBJ begins his exit strategy from the Sox organization .......

I would bet this is coming from the Sox organization.  Remember Middlebrooks, after his first disappointing season, explaining that he was going to spend less time on Twitter and focus on his game?  JBJ is probably getting the same instructions from the Sox: Don't let the media get to you, don't feel like you need to talk to them, stay off the social media, just focus on your game.  JBJ maybe expressed it in an unfortunate way, but it's understandable that Lynch would be the first no-media case to jump to his mind.  
 
It didn't turn out to help Middlebrooks, and it probably won't help JBJ, but he shouldn't be blamed for following team instructions.

 

[Rasputin]

Is it even remotely possible that JBJ's failures at the plate the last two years are on Colbrunn/Rodriguez and not some perceived "attitude problem" on his part? He was praised for his makeup at every level, yet when he reaches the majors, he's a headcase?

That's a false dichotomy. Doesn't have to be either one of those things it can just be the same kind of failures every young player experiences it doesn't have to be anyones fault.

 

[mauidano]

Put up and shut up. Is that what you are telling us you are going to do?  I for one am amused.
 
There are a lot of guys vying for 3 or 4 spots to play outfield.  You'd better be able to make the team and be a productive asset before you start posturing and comparing yourself to a "Lynch" caliber player.  Or else no one will care what you think anyway.

 

[DLew On Roids]

JBJ sees three OFs who will be ahead of him on the organization's depth chart for the foreseeable future, and he's looking to force his way out of the organization.

 
Or he's a 24-YO occasional dope who saw an athlete put one over on the media and decided he'd try to be that cool.  Not everything is as cynical as House of Cards.

 

[Cesar Crespo]

Maybe he just thinks the Boston Media sucks like the rest of us?

 

[Soxfan in Fla]

I would like to announce that I, also, am going to pursue a strict policy of refusing to speak to the Boston sports media. No matter how hard they try, I have no interest in an interview with any of them. Sorry.

Great idea. I'm going to go with this too. In your face CHB!!!

 

[threecy]

Is it even remotely possible that JBJ's failures at the plate the last two years are on Colbrunn/Rodriguez and not some perceived "attitude problem" on his part? He was praised for his makeup at every level, yet when he reaches the majors, he's a headcase?

I think his failures at the plate come from terrible mechanics.  Sheer athleticism probably got him through the lower levels, however with a litany of hitches in his swing, it's going to be tough to do much of anything in the big leagues.  It's too bad no coaches were able to correct it during his amateur days.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZCfLf53YQg

 

[Devizier]

Question: why are mental/psychological issues brought up every time a player oerforms below expectations? Isn't talent (lack thereof, misestimation of) the most likely issue?

 

[mauf]

 
Or he's a 24-YO occasional dope who saw an athlete put one over on the media and decided he'd try to be that cool.  Not everything is as cynical as House of Cards.

To be honest, the "Junior" moniker tricked me -- I assumed his dad was an athlete of some renown (even if I hadn't heard of him), so I figured we had a college educated son of a former ball player taking his career by the reins. In actuality, however, we probably just have the son of a bus driver who attended an SEC school on an athletic scholarship mouthing off.

 

[Snoop Soxy Dogg]

Yeah, how dare "the son of a bus driver who attended an SEC school on an athletic scholarship" "mouth off"? Who does he think he is?
Really? Not sure whether I missed the sarcasm there, but don't quite understand what the above has to do with anything. He's a frustrated athlete mouthing off, it matters not whether his dad drove a bus or drove a mercedes (both things being quite possible, I reckon).

 

[Savin Hillbilly]

To be honest, the "Junior" moniker tricked me -- I assumed his dad was an athlete of some renown (even if I hadn't heard of him), so I figured we had a college educated son of a former ball player taking his career by the reins. In actuality, however, we probably just have the son of a bus driver who attended an SEC school on an athletic scholarship mouthing off.

I'm not sure I understand the dichotomy you're drawing here. Being the son of a ball player doesn't make you a genius, and being the son of a bus driver doesn't make you stupid. Every time I read an interview with JBJ I get the impression that he's a smart, articulate kid. Perhaps too much so for his own good, so even if there's a bit of comic hubris in the timing of this announcement, it's probably a good idea, as others have said.

 

[mauf]

I'm not sure I understand the dichotomy you're drawing here. Being the son of a ball player doesn't make you a genius, and being the son of a bus driver doesn't make you stupid. Every time I read an interview with JBJ I get the impression that he's a smart, articulate kid. Perhaps too much so for his own good, so even if there's a bit of comic hubris in the timing of this announcement, it's probably a good idea, as others have said.

I was responding glibly to D-Lew's post, where he gently suggested I might be inferring too much about JBJ's intentions. I think D-Lew is right -- it's likely that JBJ put too little thought into his remarks before the fact, and we're putting too much thought into them after the fact.

The line about his dad being a bus driver was a joke, though I do think a ball player's son might be more likely to make waves than a guy with more humble roots. Few ex-jocks wish they'd been more pliant with management.

 

[joe dokes]

Seems like a failed attempt at humor. To JBJ, invoking Lynch could have been an attempt to humorously say, "I'm going to try and let my playing do the talking."   To the media, mentioning Lynch is akin to saying that reporters should be jailed for reporting the truth.  Perhaps if JBJ had said, "Nothing else worked last year, so this year I'm going to go the Steve Carlton route," people wouldn't be reading so much into it.

 

[ArgentinaSOXfan]

The difference being Lynch is one of the best at what he does. His game speaks for himself. If JBJ su*ks and its certainly a possibility, it could get ugly for him in Boston. 

 

[Rasputin]

Question: why are mental/psychological issues brought up every time a player oerforms below expectations? Isn't talent (lack thereof, misestimation of) the most likely issue?

 
It doesn't even have to be talent. We're talking about playing baseball in a league with the top .000001% of baseball players in the world. Even if you're talented enough to make it, it's going to take a lot of work and adjustment and that kind of thing.
 
I mean, it's not the struggling at the beginning of a career that's odd about JBJ, it's the fact that he stayed in the majors and in the lineup while struggling that hard that's odd.
 
Of course, it's also possible talent is an issue.
 
 

The difference being Lynch is one of the best at what he does. His game speaks for himself. If JBJ su*ks and its certainly a possibility, it could get ugly for him in Boston. 

 
If he sucks that bad, he's not going to be in Boston.

 

[moondog80]

 
If he sucks that bad, he's not going to be in Boston.

 
 
He's got a tough road getting back to Boston no matter what, right?  Going to take at least one injury or collapse.

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

 
 
He's got a tough road getting back to Boston no matter what, right?  Going to take at least one injury or collapse.

 
Or a trade or a contract expiring.  His road to Boston doesn't dead-end at the end of this year, especially if he plays well and shows improvement at the plate.

 

[Mighty Joe Young]

JBJ's career in Boston is going to depend on the first 4 months in AAA. If he gets his offense straightened out (and his strikeouts down) and posts an OPS north of .800 then he's in the mix for a gig in Boston. That could, of course depend on injuries to any of the starters. I suppose he would be the first call up if Betts or Castillo go down. But, realistically , barring injuries - and a return of his hit tool - I can't see him getting a full time gig in Boston until 2016..
 
If he's just OK then I think they trade him as an auxiliary piece in a deadline trade.
 
If he sucks then he will probably stick around until his options expire (Sox Prospects says he has two left) ) and then be DFAd. I can see him being signed as a 4th or 5th OF on his defensive value alone. 

 

[YTF]

The written word doesn't always translate well because you don't get to hear the tone and manner in which the words were said. I wish the kid all the luck in the world and hopes he figures things out. Until then, I don't see a lot of press seeking out JBJ other than to ask him about the Lynch quote.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

Quite a blow to the Pawtucket media.

Lol this was what I was coming here to post. JBJ won't ever sniff Boston with Castillo and Betts now occupying the OF. The best we can hope for is that he shows some ability to become Gary Pettis to give us some value as a throw-in to a larger deal.

 

[threecy]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZCfLf53YQg
 
As long as he has that big hitch in his switch, does he really have much of a shot of having a big league bat?

 

[Savin Hillbilly]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZCfLf53YQg
 
As long as he has that big hitch in his switch, does he really have much of a shot of having a big league bat?

Can you explain to those of us who are not swing mechanics ninjas exactly where in the clip the "hitch" appears? Are we talking about the point around :07-:08 where his butt and his arms seem to be moving in opposite directions?

 

[JohntheBaptist]

If you've been following him in the media, he is really neurotic about his work habits, particularly after his awful year last year. Anytime he gave a quote on his struggles it was obviously something he'd been repeating to himself constantly--"I have to do this more, I was doing that too much and now this is the key to me just being me and getting where I have to go." They're all the words of a guy who's been nothing but successful from working hard, slammed into the wall last year and couldn't figure it out.
 
These quotes read more like that to me than some kind of arrogance. It read like the words of a scared young guy who isn't sure he can hack it/ get it back on track and is just trying to empower himself somehow.

 

[Rasputin]

 
 
He's got a tough road getting back to Boston no matter what, right?  Going to take at least one injury or collapse.

 
Not necessarily. If he kills it in AAA and Napoli leaves or Papi retires, there's some chance we have a Bradley, Castillo, Betts outfield with Hanley Ramirez at first or DH.

 

[benhogan]

 
Not necessarily. If he kills it in AAA and Napoli leaves or Papi retires, there's some chance we have a Bradley, Castillo, Betts outfield with Hanley Ramirez at first or DH.

We all are rooting for a JBJ that can hit, in fact a JBJ that hits would be the best case scenario. That outfield defense would be insane, plus be very inexpensive.
 
I like the idea of Ramirez at 1st next season, he and DP would cover a lot of ground on the right side of the infield.  More RH ground ball pitchers please.
 
If JBJ wants to go 'beast' mode with the media and it makes him a better, more focused player God Bless.