The Sizemore projection thread has morphed somewhat into an "all things Sizemore" thread, which is natural and commonplace.
Let's use this thread to focus the discussion on what you think will happen and should happen regarding who starts in CF on day one and for the immediate future thereafter.
For purposes of discussion, let's assume that prior to opening day, (1) neither Sizemore nor Bradley gets hurt, (2) nothing happens that provides new evidence that calls into question Sizemore's durability, and (3) neither Sizemore nor Bradley experiences an extreme drop or spike in performance.
And let's also assume that JF will intend to give whoever starts the season in CF a reasonable period of time to keep the job, barring injury or substantial underperformance. What that time is exactly is less critical than the concept, but a month or so seems about right to me.
As I wrote in the Sizemore projection thread a while ago, I think that JF will want to see what he has in Sizemore and he will start the season in CF. Farrell's recent positive comments about Sizemore and the hint that they will give Nava and Victorino time in CF during ST buttress my conclusion.
I think JF will focus on, among other things, (1) Sizemore's demonstrated success at the major league level, albeit before all the injuries, (2) how Sizemore has looked thus far in ST, albeit in a small sample, (3) the fact that Bradley is still young and could seemingly benefit from more seasoning in Pawtucket, (4) that they have the ability to send Bradley down to start the season, (5) the ease in which they can bring Bradley back if Sizemore gets hurt or is unproductive and (6) my sense that JF will view Sizemore as a safer bet to produce, particularly given that what he's going to get from Middlebrooks is likely a question in his mind and that Xander entering his first full season in the major leagues creates its own questions, though very likely less acute ones than he has at third base.
I am not convinced that concerns about retarding or delaying Bradley's development will override any of those things. Or that JBJ's upside demands that he gets the first shot. Or that likley having to rely on Nava or Victorino as back-ups forces them to go with Bradley.
As a corrollary point, I think that Nava will be kept. His bat is too reliable to send packing.
As to what JF should do, I think it's the same. Perhaps I'm projecting though I don't think so. What I think a manager or head coach will and should do are often different. Here, as it happens, my reasons are about the same as the factors suggesting to me that JF will go with Sizemore.
Please weigh in.
Late edit to revise the title. Now that he's ours, can he change his first name?
Let's use this thread to focus the discussion on what you think will happen and should happen regarding who starts in CF on day one and for the immediate future thereafter.
For purposes of discussion, let's assume that prior to opening day, (1) neither Sizemore nor Bradley gets hurt, (2) nothing happens that provides new evidence that calls into question Sizemore's durability, and (3) neither Sizemore nor Bradley experiences an extreme drop or spike in performance.
And let's also assume that JF will intend to give whoever starts the season in CF a reasonable period of time to keep the job, barring injury or substantial underperformance. What that time is exactly is less critical than the concept, but a month or so seems about right to me.
As I wrote in the Sizemore projection thread a while ago, I think that JF will want to see what he has in Sizemore and he will start the season in CF. Farrell's recent positive comments about Sizemore and the hint that they will give Nava and Victorino time in CF during ST buttress my conclusion.
I think JF will focus on, among other things, (1) Sizemore's demonstrated success at the major league level, albeit before all the injuries, (2) how Sizemore has looked thus far in ST, albeit in a small sample, (3) the fact that Bradley is still young and could seemingly benefit from more seasoning in Pawtucket, (4) that they have the ability to send Bradley down to start the season, (5) the ease in which they can bring Bradley back if Sizemore gets hurt or is unproductive and (6) my sense that JF will view Sizemore as a safer bet to produce, particularly given that what he's going to get from Middlebrooks is likely a question in his mind and that Xander entering his first full season in the major leagues creates its own questions, though very likely less acute ones than he has at third base.
I am not convinced that concerns about retarding or delaying Bradley's development will override any of those things. Or that JBJ's upside demands that he gets the first shot. Or that likley having to rely on Nava or Victorino as back-ups forces them to go with Bradley.
As a corrollary point, I think that Nava will be kept. His bat is too reliable to send packing.
As to what JF should do, I think it's the same. Perhaps I'm projecting though I don't think so. What I think a manager or head coach will and should do are often different. Here, as it happens, my reasons are about the same as the factors suggesting to me that JF will go with Sizemore.
Please weigh in.
Late edit to revise the title. Now that he's ours, can he change his first name?