You know, if he's really this good, the numbers he puts up in the Arizona Fall League are going to be crazy stupid good.
Sox sign Rusney Castillo to 7-year/$72.5M deal (2014-2020)
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joe dokes said:
I like this a lot. It memorializes a personal connection, a moment that was a big deal both for you and the player.
They're in last place, JBJ has one of the lowest OBP and SLG of any regular CF in big league history, and Shane Victorino started spring training unable to play and then his health got worse from there. Yet, somehow all that proves they made the right decision last winter when they failed to acquire a proven CF through free agency or trade. Got it.bosox79 said:
Plympton91 said:
They didn't want to pay Jacoby what NY gave him. Its really as simple as that.
Most of us here thought JBJ would at least be an adequate hitter. He isn't, so they've moved on.
Or he just meant that Jacoby is gone and not coming back so it's nice to have an exciting new center fielder to root for.
Also, it's entirely possible to have been right about Ellsbury while being wrong to have bet on Bradley and Victorino. Hell, it's possible for the decisions they've made in the last year to be wrong for the short term but right for the long term.
The outfield situation has never been as simple as you have described it.
Edit: responding to Plympton.
Also, it's entirely possible to have been right about Ellsbury while being wrong to have bet on Bradley and Victorino. Hell, it's possible for the decisions they've made in the last year to be wrong for the short term but right for the long term.
The outfield situation has never been as simple as you have described it.
Edit: responding to Plympton.
It certainly wasn't a simple situation for Ben to be in having just won a World Series with Victorino and Gomes. You can't throw them to the side and say thank you for your time in the offseason following such massive success AND the whole Boston Strong connection with the community in relation to the marathon bombing.Snodgrass'Muff said:
That was a special group, a special season, motivated by special and tragic circumstances. Ben really was in a lose-lose in regards to building our OF for 2014. That was the trade off for 2013......the focus now is 2015 and beyond and I love the aggression in acquiring Rusney.
The reason so many here and I are talking past each other on this issue is that I never accepted this premise. I don't see any reason why bringing in a real CFer for this season would have made future teams worse. If anything, force feeding Bradley into the majors this year and having him flop spectacularly has hurt the future more than anything they could have done last offseason. At a minimum, its wrecked his trade value.Snodgrass'Muff said:
Whoosh. It was a joke. Also, tying up Ellsbury has other costs besides money and this team goes nowhere with him anyway. I never said you were right or wrong and honestly don't care. You're going to be "right" for another 3-4 years at the least, barring injury.Plympton91 said:
The main point still stands, if Rosney is Ron Gant with great D, you aren't going to miss Jacoby anymore. If you do, you're a fanboy.
Plympton91 said:
Your problem is that you refuse to acknowledge that there is such a thing as opportunity cost.
"Bringing in a real CFer for this season" was never an option. There were no CFs available on a one-year basis who were significantly likely to be better than a reasonably talented rookie. There was certainly at least one option to bring in a "real CFer" for multiple seasons at a high price. When you do that, you are committing to using that person in that role and therefore to not using any other person in that role, unless something goes terribly wrong. So if you have a young player that you think is likely to be capable of filling that role at an acceptable level, you find yourself faced with the choice of either using that player or blocking that player. That is often going to be a very difficult choice, and by definition, difficult choices are choices that even smart, capable people may often get wrong. Ben & co. may have gotten the JBJ/Ellsbury choice wrong. But your way of framing it retrospectively has always refused to acknowledge that it even was a choice, let alone a difficult one. You talk as if a team can simultaneously sign a free agent to play center field for multiple years, and leave an unimpeded path to success for its young CF prospect. This is absurd.
[quote name="bosox79" post="5655673" timestamp="14118562
The main point still stands, if Rosney is Ron Gant…
I know the name Ron Gant has come up for comparison but he reminds me more of Kirby Puckett
The main point still stands, if Rosney is Ron Gant…
I know the name Ron Gant has come up for comparison but he reminds me more of Kirby Puckett
Well the best thing about Ellsbury would have been paying him $22 million for the privilege of finishing about .500 (assuming they would not have had the fire sale)
If the Red Sox had not had said fire sale and had finished 2-3 games out of the playoffs, it would make a lot more sense to talk about him some more.
If the Red Sox had not had said fire sale and had finished 2-3 games out of the playoffs, it would make a lot more sense to talk about him some more.
EHWP91LJEbluefenderstrat said:
Back on topic, Castillo has given evidence of all five tools, including out-of-Fenway pull power. Late bloomer to the damage train indeed! That small sample is enough to make the off-season a cheerier time than usual.
Given extended AAA at-bats, Bradley can probably hit enough to force his way back to the majors.
I miss Ellsbury & JBJ had a disappointing year, but Mookie Betts looks like he could be a better CF than either of them. Let's not leave him out of that conversation.
With Castillo, Cespedes & likely Betts, I can't wait to see a full year of these guys next season. When was the last time we had such an exciting, toolsy outfield here in Boston?
With Castillo, Cespedes & likely Betts, I can't wait to see a full year of these guys next season. When was the last time we had such an exciting, toolsy outfield here in Boston?
2009?
Cespedes is not better than Bay, Betts looks like he could be as good as JD Drew offensively but that needs to be proven and the defense is very much a work in progress. We won't go into the other comparison because it makes people feel bad.
Cespedes is not better than Bay, Betts looks like he could be as good as JD Drew offensively but that needs to be proven and the defense is very much a work in progress. We won't go into the other comparison because it makes people feel bad.
Jason Bay could hit, but it never occurred to me to call him exciting or toolsy.Plympton91 said:
mwonow said:
Well Dwight Evans wasn't a "young" vet in 1988, but he did play along side a 23-yo Ellis Burks (.294/.367/.481 with 25 SBs) and a 24-yo Mike Greenwell (.325/.416/.531 with 16 SBs).
Rasputin said:
Uh,.325/.416/.531 & 16 SBs isn't a high enough ceiling for you? I don't think any rookie on the present Sox will reach that level.
Edit: That year he put up a 7.5 bWAR and finished 2nd in the MVP voting. Doesn't get much higher than that.
While your point is sound, adjusting for the run scoring environment is a good idea. Using OPS+ (160) or wRC+ (157) are probably more illustrative.touchstone033 said:
I agree none of next year's outfielders is likely to hit that well but they should make up some of that difference defensively and on the bases.
I took that to mean more in his physique rather than as a comp. The quote just said "reminded" of Puckett. Didn't mention that he/she felt as though Rusney was going to be the next Puckett.... I don't think....jimv said:
Does anyone know what team he will be playing for in the Arizona fall league? I live in the Phoenix area would love to catch some of his games.
Rasputin said:
He did have a Hall-of-Fame porn 'stache. No way Betts or Castillo can touch that.
Since we are throwing comparisons around for Rusney, here is one coming from the Red Sox organization (via Gammons' Twitter):
the Red Sox internal organizational comp on Rusney Castillo is Shane Victorino in his prime
the Red Sox internal organizational comp on Rusney Castillo is Shane Victorino in his prime
ArgentinaSOXfan said:
So, a Gold Glove centerfielder with great baserunning, doubles/triples power, good contact skills and average-ish plate discipline.
That'd be nice.
I don't know if I heard the comps about Burks, but we'd settle for his career for Rusney, en total, all day, forever. Just don't give up on him if he runs into some adversity like the Sox did with Burks. Burks carried the Sox WS trophy off the plane in '04, and is also considered a really good Giant. The Rockies probably feel the same way.HriniakPosterChild said:
Ha! I had him pegged as having "Victorino upside" back in post #482! 15 or so HRs and 30+ SBs with good contact skills and above average defense anywhere in the OF. That's a nice player to have.
Minneapolis Millers said:
It may or may not translate over a full season against MLB pitching, but he looks to have more raw power than Victorino.
I think he could hit 20-25 HR if he puts it all together. May take a couple years though.
Burks was one of my favorite players of that era, but Willie Mays-level expectations were more than unrealistic.Al Zarilla said:
I'm checking out the Sox prospects in the Arizona Fall League- planning to go to the 10/14 game. Will report back.
Rusney continues to impress. 2 for 4, BB, 2b, 2 runs scored in AFL game today.
Originally, I was hoping Rusney would just be a solid/average player but my hopes for 15 are quickly rising from his SSS.
Originally, I was hoping Rusney would just be a solid/average player but my hopes for 15 are quickly rising from his SSS.
Hee Sox Choi said:
It's great that he's playing and getting some reps, but don't put much stock in AFL numbers.
I don't, but I'm glad he's not being overmatched because that would probably be a bad sign. He looked good in his ABs for the Sox in Sept and I like that he put up a .333/.400/.528 (SSS yes), but it's better than him hitting .150 and then worrying all winter if he can hit MLB pitching.HriniakPosterChild said:
FWIW, Rusney is putting up some nice numbers so far in the AFL: http://mlb.mlb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=l119&t=p_pbp&pid=628329
I guess, if you're a glass half empty kind of guy. He's in the top half of most of the offensive stats. He's certainly not lighting the AFL on fire, but at least he isn't flaming out.djhb20 said:
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