Bogaerts' Glove

[Rasputin]

A lot of shit has gone about as poorly as it possibly could have and we're clinging to relevance with one tooth and half a claw but there's one thing that has gone as well as it possibly could and that's the development of Xander Bogaerts, particularly with the glove.

He doesn't have the range or hands of a truly exceptional shortstop but he is light years ahead of last year.

A few moments ago he made a nice play on Longoria going to third to knock down the lead runner at third in a tie game in the late innings.

It wasn't a spectacular play but it was far from a gimme. It was a heads up play to capitalize on a base running mistake and its at least the second time this year he has made a play like it.

It's the kind of play that last year I wouldn't even have wanted him to try because a fail there stands a good chance of costing the team a run in a game deciding situation.

It's been a joy to watch and if he's not our ASG rep this year, he will be serval times before he's done.

 

[Koufax]

Yes it was a good play. Frankly I thought langoria was safe, but never mind. The progress of the young players is all there is to cheer for now and xander's progress is more than we could have hoped for

 

[jscola85]

The play that showed me Bogaerts' improvement was his throw deep in the hole to throw out Lorenzo Cain last week.  He got a great read off the bat, quickly transferred the ball out of his glove and then fired a bullet from a mile away to get a speedy runner out.  Cain was in disbelief that he wasn't safe, but the ball was a clear half-step ahead of him.
 
Frankly, I think more than anything it is just some more experience and especially confidence.  There's zero doubt watching him right now that he's not thinking anymore and just letting his instincts/athleticism start to kick in.  Is he Andrelton Simmons?  Not even close.  But he is at least an average defender at short, which coupled with his bat and solid baserunning makes him a very, very valuable player.

 

[Reverend]

Bogaerts is developing a very strange and expansive sense of his zone for shagging flies in the outfield.

I like both the enthusiasm and the expansion of his range along with tracking those flies, but jeez--settle down, kid!

 

[Eddie Jurak]

Bogaerts is developing a very strange and expansive sense of his zone for shagging flies in the outfield.

I like both the enthusiasm and the expansion of his range along with tracking those flies, but jeez--settle down, kid!

I wonder how much of this can be attributed to Hanley...

 

[Savin Hillbilly]

Bogaerts is developing a very strange and expansive sense of his zone for shagging flies in the outfield.

I like both the enthusiasm and the expansion of his range along with tracking those flies, but jeez--settle down, kid!

 
This is not new (check out especially the third one):
 
http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/26271672/v32022067/bosnyy-bogaerts-impressive-overtheshoulder-grab/?query=Bogaerts%2Bdefense
 
http://m.mlb.com/video/v32369345/bostor-bogaerts-tracks-down-ball-for-a-tough-catch/?query=Bogaerts+defense
 
http://m.mlb.com/video/v33244949/atlbos-bogaerts-makes-a-nice-running-catch-in-left/?query=Bogaerts+defense
 
He's really good on popups, which is one reason why I suspect that if the offense continues to bloom and he adds a little power, his long-term destination after his SS days end may be LF rather than 3B.

 

[jscola85]

The way he is playing SS right now, I don't think we should worry about whether to move him to OF or not.  Maybe 7-8 years from now, but for his prime years, even if he bulks up and loses some mobility due to that, he's vastly more valuable as a power-hitting SS with slightly below average defense than as a left fielder.  Hard to find a more dramatic drop-off in defensive value than moving from short to left field.

 

[Savin Hillbilly]

The way he is playing SS right now, I don't think we should worry about whether to move him to OF or not.  Maybe 7-8 years from now, but for his prime years, even if he bulks up and loses some mobility due to that, he's vastly more valuable as a power-hitting SS with slightly below average defense than as a left fielder.  Hard to find a more dramatic drop-off in defensive value than moving from short to left field.

 
Of course. I wasn't proposing making that move anytime soon. I was just suggesting that it may turn out to be the logical move when the time comes, which it will eventually.

 

[Merkle's Boner]

 
This is not new (check out especially the third one):
 
http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/26271672/v32022067/bosnyy-bogaerts-impressive-overtheshoulder-grab/?query=Bogaerts%2Bdefense
 
http://m.mlb.com/video/v32369345/bostor-bogaerts-tracks-down-ball-for-a-tough-catch/?query=Bogaerts+defense
 
http://m.mlb.com/video/v33244949/atlbos-bogaerts-makes-a-nice-running-catch-in-left/?query=Bogaerts+defense
 
He's really good on popups, which is one reason why I suspect that if the offense continues to bloom and he adds a little power, his long-term destination after his SS days end may be LF rather than 3B.

Those vids are helpful as a reminder of what an atrocious LFer Jonny Gomes was.  I really think the dreck that Xander has had to deal with out there has played a major role in how he plays those popups.

 

[IdiotKicker]

Those vids are helpful as a reminder of what an atrocious LFer Jonny Gomes was.  I really think the dreck that Xander has had to deal with out there has played a major role in how he plays those popups.

And LF is now a Beltre-free zone as well, which naturally makes everyone feel a little safer.