Downs up, Norwood wide right

grimshaw

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May 16, 2007
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Let me be clear. I don't care if it's Ryan Fitzgerald or John Fitzgerald Kennedy, or Adam Kennedy, who retired in 2012.

I just don't understand Jeter Downs ever making it to a major league roster. Downs is at a solid .180 since May. Drop him off the 40 and bring somebody up to the show who at least has a chance of helping till Kike or Arroyo get back.
There's no reason to give up on a 23 year old in AAA not far removed from being a top 100 prospect. The guy can play shortstop which means he could probably fill in at other positions - something they may consider if it's apparent he won't be a major league starter. It would be foolish to DFA him at this age and I can't imagine the Sox need to make that decision any time soon.

The Sox were really aggressive with Downs promotion. He had just turned 21 years old in 2019 when the Dodgers bumped him to AA for 56 plate appearances. Then there was no minor league baseball for a year. Then the Sox promoted him to a much more difficult AAA despite the year off and little high minor experience. The struggles last year while disappointing aren't all that surprising. I'd see what happens for another season at least.

Edit: LogansDad made the point first.
 
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Petagine in a Bottle

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Jan 13, 2021
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It’s possible; Travis Shaw is a guy who played much better in the bigs that he did in AAA, but there aren’t many (any?) instances of players who hit .190 in 600+ AAA plate appearances and then were useful major leaguers. Jeter has been one of the worst offensive players in Worcester the past few years. Hopefully the taste of the bigs motivates him and sparks a turnaround.
 

mikcou

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May 13, 2007
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Boston
I understand your first sentence at this point in time. I'm willing to be he won't see a lot of playing time this week, but, as mentioned above, he's the only INF available on the 40 man who they can call up.

As to your second point... there's just no way that is going to happen. .180 since May or not, he's 23 years old and missed an entire season in 2020, when he would have likely been in A+ ball, and then got moved (irresponsibly, IMHO) to AAA where he was almost 5 years younger than the average player at the time (3.5 now, and yes, I do understand that the age of AAA players is inflated due to the fact that a lot of the players are MLB fodder and no true "prospects", the older players tend to be MLB capable players). If they try to drop Downs off of the 40, there is no chance he makes it through waivers, and there is no chance that the organization has given up on him as a prospect at this point, either.
He would have been in AA. He had close to 500 PAs at A+ in 2019 and 60-70 PAs in AA at the end of 2019. AAA for 2021 was a bit aggressive, but not overly so - a lot of the top 100 skipped a league that they would have been at during the COVID year. The fact that he was as terrible as he was in 2021 was a pretty big strike against him. That hes continued to be really poor in 2022 is a really bad sign.

That doesnt mean to DFA him to get off the 40 man - hes looked good at short this year which gives him some depth value even if he cant hit, but the bat profile looks pretty bad at this point.
 

CoffeeNerdness

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Jun 6, 2012
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Well, he has hit 30 HR over 651 ABs (between the Woo and the AFL) so he's not a complete lost cause at the plate. Needs to cut down on the Ks (30%).
 

mikcou

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Well, he has hit 30 HR over 651 ABs (between the Woo and the AFL) so he's not a complete lost cause at the plate. Needs to cut down on the Ks (30%).
Sure the power tool has always been solid - there is a reason they kept him over Arauz - that isnt a stunning endorsement though, Arauz is pretty awful at everything involving a bat. The question has always been the hit tool his entire time in the minors (and to a lesser extent could he stick at SS or was he limited to 2B/3B). The hit tool has looked ugly for the past year and a half. I also question the power numbers that are being put up at 25 HRs in AAA over a season and a half at the vortex that is Polar Park doesnt

It would be silly to cut bait on him before the end of the season (although they will have major 40 man crunch coming this offseason if they dont make some moves in season as there are a number of guys that will need to be protected). It would be even sillier to think of him at this point as anything other than a potential Arroyo/utility IF replacement.
 

johnlos

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Aug 22, 2014
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Maybe he’s one of those types that just underperform in the minors but still get the call-up (usually due to “pedigree”) and then shine… maybe…?
I can’t think of anyone but I’ve heard they exist. I feel like Youk way overperformed his expectations
Sammy Sosa. A.J. Burnett. But seriously, as others said, he's just up to play a little D before our guys come off the IL.