If Will isn't close to 100% healthy, you're not really learning anything if he struggles,but you are dinging his remaining trading chip value.
He's still only played 28 games in the majors this year, with an additional 7 or 8 in the minors. That's basically spring training. And, his OBP/SLG over the past 9 games is 309/433 (admitted small sample size and even within that concentrated in a 2 HR in 2 game burst); given all the discussion about the decline in offense, if he can keep that up, I'd have to think it's better than a lot of shortstops on currently contending teams.glennhoffmania said:If Middlebrooks is healthy the only advantage of continuing to play Drew is the hope that he'll get his shit together and they can trade him for something. What are the odds of that happening? And even if he becomes a usable ML hitter what would the return be? The upside of getting a look at Middlebrooks, Cecchini or Marrero seems to be worth more than the possible upside of playing Drew and getting something for him at some point. Whether Drew is on the bench or DFA'd shouldn't matter.
Plympton91 said:Given his contract, he might get through waivers even if he's hitting, so letting him have 4 more weeks to show the form he did the whole second half of last year while Middlebrooks gets a full 30-day rehab stint seems to me like the most prudent course of action. Jordy Mercer continues to be awful for the Pirates, and St. Louis and Cincinnati need middle infielders.
Does anybody read?glennhoffmania said:Which teams that have a shot at a title would prefer to have Drew in their lineup right now?
I should add that the difference in UZR/150 between Drew and Mercer over 2013-14 is about 10 runs to the favor of Drew, and Mercer is RH so that would be a perfect platoon situation. If the Red Sox were to pay most of the remaining money, the Pirates seem like they would be a perfect fit.Plympton91 said:Jordy Mercer continues to be awful for the Pirates, and St. Louis and Cincinnati need middle infielders.
Harry Hooper said:Unless an infielder on a contender snaps a limb, the Sox will have to pay another club some $ to take Drew. There probably will be no player coming back as teams know he's headed for a DFA by September.
Plympton91 said:Does anybody read?
I should add that the difference in UZR/150 between Drew and Mercer over 2013-14 is about 10 runs to the favor of Drew.
glennhoffmania said:Which teams that have a shot at a title would prefer to have Drew in their lineup right now?
glennhoffmania said:What are the realistic odds that Drew all of the sudden returns to his 2013 numbers?
Rovin Romine said:
I'd say Very Slim. But what's the harm in waiting three weeks at this point? Or even two to see if he continues a sub-600 OPS or starts to put something together? I wouldn't expect the Sox hold on to Drew for too long if he didn't raise his trade value.
If WMB were ready to come back right now, I'd probably be in the "cut Drew now" camp.
I'd say 50/50. I remain worried that the struggles last postseason and the horrific start that coincided with a lot of experimenting with vision correction are something real and serious that I didn't foresee when I applauded the signing. However, that fear needs to be appropriately balanced against the realization that he just basically finished a full spring training and that his numbers, while terrible, are not outside the range of normal variation for a major league baseball player over a 100 at bat sample. In fact, they are remarkably similar to his own first 75 plate appearances last season after having missed all of spring training.glennhoffmania said:What are the realistic odds that Drew all of the sudden returns to his 2013 numbers?
glennhoffmania said:
That's totally reasonable. My general point is that I think the odds of Drew bringing back a meaningful return are very small, whether they try to move him now, in two weeks, or in a month. So continuing to play him seems like they're clinging to this false hope that their failed investment will yield at least something of value, despite the fact that the best case scenario probably isn't even very much at all.
Rovin Romine said:
I'd say Very Slim. But what's the harm in waiting three weeks at this point? Or even two to see if he continues a sub-600 OPS or starts to put something together? I wouldn't expect the Sox hold on to Drew for too long if he didn't raise his trade value.
If WMB were ready to come back right now, I'd probably be in the "cut Drew now" camp.
Plympton91 said:I really don't understand why this club uses rehab assignments so sparingly. There's just no way that Victorino is ready to play MLB games; Middlebrooks was shut down a day ago, now he's going to get 3 at bats and go face major league pitching?
Makes no sense to me.
Ok. That's more than I thought Vic had been doing. So I guess you've convinced me.Red(s)HawksFan said:Harper started two games at single-A, took a day off then started three straight at AA before returning.
Victorino played last Thursday and Friday, was off Saturday, played Sunday, then there was an All Star Break where there were no games to play, he played last night and is playing tonight. Gotta figure if it weren't for the ASB, Victorino would have played Monday and Tuesday (maybe Tues and Wed) and he'd be back up by now with just as much rehab time as ol' Bryce Harper got.
Prove your healthy and return to the big club...that's the standard that pretty much all 30 teams use, particularly with veteran players on multi-million dollar contracts.
Plympton91 said:Ok. That's more than I thought Vic had been doing. So I guess you've convinced me.
On Middlebrooks, he's lucky he hasn't just been optioned. He should be more than happy to clect major league money for a full 20 day assignment.
I don't see how they make room for him without DFAing Drew, and that's just a collosolly stupid use of resources. Even if there's no market for Drew right now, he's not toxic and not 38 years old like AJP.
If also say that if Victorino is back and Bogaerts is back at SS, that puts Holt at 3B, not Middlebrooks. The only other option to keep Holt in the lineup is LF, where Nava's hitting like 370 in recent days.
21st Century Sox said:Gordon Edes @GordonEdes 14m
benches clear in Pawtucket after Middlebrooks hit by Esmil Rogers, same pitcher who broke Will's wrist in 2012. Hit in back Friday night
2-3 with a double and a walk tonight. 350 OBP and more than 840 OPS in past 11 games.Rovin Romine said:
I'd say Very Slim. But what's the harm in waiting three weeks at this point? Or even two to see if he continues a sub-600 OPS or starts to put something together? I wouldn't expect the Sox hold on to Drew for too long if he didn't raise his trade value.
If WMB were ready to come back right now, I'd probably be in the "cut Drew now" camp.
glennhoffmania said:
Cut the shit.
That isn't the point and you know it. This isn't some magical world where Pit or Cincy can pick Drew over whoever. They have to give something up to get him, and pay at least some of his bloated salary. So I'll ask the question in a simpler way- who would prefer to have Drew over their current SS, has a shot at a title, would give up something of value for this "upgrade", and could/would take on at least some of his remaining salary, knowing there's a decent chance he'll be DFA'd at some point in the near future?
“I think there’s been a little confusion with maybe some of the messages that’s been interpreted that he [Middlebrooks] was going to be activated this weekend or the same time that Vic has been,” Farrell said. “I think the one thing we want to be sure of, and that continues, is that Will continues to get everyday at-bats. For the time being, that will take place in Pawtucket.”
Sox don't have to DFA Drew in Sep as rostersHarry Hooper said:Unless an infielder on a contender snaps a limb, the Sox will have to pay another club some $ to take Drew. There probably will be no player coming back as teams know he's headed for a DFA by September.
Mike F said:Sox don't have to DFA Drew in Sep as rosters
expand. Although any trade partner would need
Drew on their 25 man roster (or DL) for him to be
Eligable for Post Season.