Red Sox Defensive Gifs
- Thread starter Sprowl
- Start date
You know what else would be fun? You know how we sometimes have these "Best Red Sox [position] of all time polls? What if we had one just for defense?
It's far more subjective and would garner a bit more debate IMO.
It's far more subjective and would garner a bit more debate IMO.
Off the top of my head.. Of the guys I have seenBosRedSox5 said:
Carlton Fisk
George Scott
Dustin Pedroia
Iglesias
3B?
Yastrzemski
Lynn
Evans
BCsMightyJoeYoung said:
3b? I did not see him, but Frank Malzone sounds right:
http://top100redsox.blogspot.com/2007/03/100-greatest-sox-39-frank-malzone.html
"In ’57 he hit .292 and established a career high with 103 RBI while coming in 2nd in the Rookie of the Year voting, 7th in the MVP voting, won his first of 3 consecutive Gold Gloves, and made his first of six All-Star teams. That year he also became the first major league player to lead the league at his position in putouts, assists, games played, double plays, and fielding percentage in the same year. He also led the league with 25 errors, but a player that has the range to get to a lot of balls is going to misplay a few of them."
Watching that gif and how casual Gomes is about not having a clue where the ball is - it's like he was deking Holt just to make the rook shag the fly. An absolutely absurd play.
That Holt play was a lot more awesome when I thought he was coming out from 2B (I wasn't watching). Still cool, but for about an hour I thought it was the greatest play ever made just based on the GIF.
Obviously nobody here saw him play but some baseball historians said Tris Speaker was the greatest defensive CF of the first half of the century. You could throw DiMaggio and Piersall in the mix too at center.BCsMightyJoeYoung said:
And Jimmy Collins at 3B - he was kind of the Brooks Robinson of the Deadball era.BannedbyNYYFans.com said:
I think Jonny agrees with you:Cumberland Blues said:
"I guess I don't really have much perspective because I lost it," said Gomes. "I'd like to call that tough love right there -- just throwing Brock to the wolves right out of the gate."
Haha!
ji oh said:
Yes, Frank was a very good 3rd baseman.
BosRedSox5 said:
Boy, that sounds awfully familiar.
Only superficially.
If George Scott had stayed at 3rd (not gotten so big), he would be in the discussion.
soxhop411 said:
There's a certain amount of fun knowing that the above and the below happened in the same game:
Looking at this thread and seeing Gomes not be able to track another one that ended up for a triple last night as well, makes me think his fielding time is going to be cut short.
trekfan55 said:
I thought the same thing - the catch immortalized on the NESN promo with the phrase "Did you see that catch Coco made?"
I remember some of Coco's best catches beginning with him frozen in center or even running the wrong way at first before simply catching up with his speed. Last night's catch was equal parts spectacular and efficient, probably even better than it looks since a single misstep or moment's hesitation would have resulted in a triple.
I immediately told my wife that was the best catch since the Coco Superman one. Seriously did you see the catch that JBJ made?
I was lucky enough to be there to witness the awesomeness in person. When the ball was hit, I was sure it was in the gap. Then I saw JBJ streaking towards it and though that he might get close. Then he dives and makes a tremendous catch. I had a Kirk Gibson moment and thought "I don't believe what I just saw".
Jed Zeppelin said:
If JBJ hits the absolute tip top of his abilities and is somehow enshrined in Cooperstown, we'll be talking about this catch then.
Oh, and there was a runner on second that would have easily scored and we ended up winning the game by one run in a walkoff, which means it hits everything. Skill, spectacularness, and importance.
Perhaps it's time for him to pick up a bat if this whole pitching thing doesn't start to improve soon.Reverend said:
Last time I saw him play CF he had some really... "creative" routes to balls. From what I saw tonight he still isn't JBJ level of efficiency, but man did he get better quickly.Rasputin said:
Savin Hillbilly said:
Looking at the other GIFs in the article, I could see how framing is a combination of a number of factors. I noticed in particular the spot in the glove where Vasquez receives the ball. In the first GIF above, for example, he keeps the glove close to the zone and catches the ball at the tip of the mitt. There is another GIF in the article where he catches the ball near the palm of his hand to preserve a strike call on the edge of the plate while keeping as much of his glove near the zone.
JBJ with an amazing catch on a laser off the bat of Howie Kendrick. I love the way that he readjusts his glove right before hitting the wall. He almost snowcones the ball, but opens the glove up ever so slightly to get the ball deeper in the pocket to secure it before crashing.
Big Papa Smurph said:
And then crashes into the wall with his elbow leading, rather than his wrist...in order to cushion the impact away from his glove.
Considering how fast the real-time scene moves, it's simply incredible.
Just saw the catch on NESN highlights and I'm beginning to think Bradley runs faster in the outfield than he does on the bases. He keeps his body real straight and doesn't do any of the swinging out of his arms or whatever he does on the bases that makes him look average speed. Ipso facto, he has to be going faster in the OF to get to the balls that he does.
Watching his season is making me a believer in UZR. He's been incredible.
He's made 74 plays out of zone (that must be 75 right there) in fewer than 900 innings. That's a lot of extra outs.
He's made 74 plays out of zone (that must be 75 right there) in fewer than 900 innings. That's a lot of extra outs.
I am not sure he really made that elbow adjustment so much as he simply finished his amazing athletic play. But given the way this kid plays defense, its definitely possible. He covers a ton of ground and really closes on his plays. And he has a great arm. The Sox have had some good defensive CFs over the years but he already is amongst the top. I hope his hitting comes along because it will be a pleasure to see him patrolling the OF for them in the coming years.Buzzkill Pauley said:
Pete Abraham @PeteAbe 3m
Bradley said he turned his back on that ball, ran as hard as he could for three steps then turned around to find it again.
https://twitter.com/PeteAbe/status/497984878932008961
Bradley said he turned his back on that ball, ran as hard as he could for three steps then turned around to find it again.
https://twitter.com/PeteAbe/status/497984878932008961
DeJesus Built My Hotrod said:
Yeah, I think it was deliberate simply because of his clear look at the wall he made right after snowconing the ball.
IMO, that shows a terrific situational awareness in the field, as well the ability to make a split-second adjustment in order to, as you say, close the play.
Even if he's never more than a punch-and-judy #8 hitter, his defense makes him worth it...if he could just be that much at the plate.
I'll be honest.... if JBJ's bat is what it is then I will enjoy watching him patrol center field for as long as MLB teams allow me to.
If his actually bat is even close to league average, then he may end up being the Ozzie Smith of center field.
If his actually bat is even close to league average, then he may end up being the Ozzie Smith of center field.
LogansDad said:
Even if his bat is what it is, isn't he the perfect kind of guy to keep on the bench as your 4th OF? He even has enough speed to be a passable pinch-runner. I don't see any reason why he couldn't back up all 3 OF positions if his offense doesn't come around to starter levels.