Why are you jumping to conclusions that the FO was remiss in signing Drew.? Isn't the jury still out? Why can't you just report what you see there instead of being editorial about it.  I am a huge fan of Iggy and wanted him to be our SS two years ago but he didn't hit and BC had to close that gap / huge problem by signing Drew.  I don't have an agenda, just trying to be objective here.  Let Iggy win the position and I hope that he does but why bash Ben for having a backup plan via Drew?

You brought being editorial to the discussion by bashing Ben and Farrell and I did not.

There is nothing wrong with "bringing an editorial" to the discussion, unless it disagrees with your opinion.

You just scolded Jid for editorializing, and then went on and gave your opinion.

Stop treating every poster who dares hold a different view than the almighty Ben (in your eyes).

There's no reason to think that Jid's report is biased, and even if it is, so what? The guy likes Iggy, and Iggy is doing well. he wonders if Ben is thinking he didn't need to sign Drew. It's a valid point, as i am sure GMs have second thought about a lot of moves they make, and perhaps even before they make them.

Ease up on people with various opinions. What would this board be like if we all agreed and never 'editorialized".

Jid, thanks again.  I look forward to your daily reports.  Hopefully the new pitching coach and Ferrell can find a way to get Doubie to attack the strike zone and work economically.  Critter.

In response to jcri's comment:

it's what lester did when he was a youngster under Farrells tutilage. Doobie has really good swing and miss stuff just like Lester did when he was a pup. i think some time working with Nieves and Farrell and Doobie can put up some respectable numbers.

Selenium:  I've been trying to give you a fair chance.  At minimum you're one of these people who thankfully comes along rarely: someone with almost nothing to say that's new, thought provoking, challenging, funny--or anything else.  So you just try to be snide and tear up what somebody else does to make yourself feel better.  

I haven't seen you around here until recently.  We have some guys who disagree at times but enjoy each other and discussing the RS.  If you can't do that, then I for one will deal with you as I did someone else here in the past:  when I see your name, I will not read and I will not read anyone else's responses to you.  You will drift into nothingness, slip off the raft.

Hey Mef, I have always been a Doubie fan, even when he gets frustrating.  I'm no pitching expert, where's Lefty when we need him, but what you're saying is true.  Whenever a young pitcher finally finds himself and becomes successful or a pitching coach is talking about working with a guy to make him better, they use the same expression: "He's attacking the strike zone."  I think I know what that means, but actually I would like Lefty to explain it from a pitcher's point of view.  I think I would say "The pitcher has to get all his pitches (fastball, curve, etc.) into the strike zone early in the game to establish that first he has them, and next that he can throw them for strikes."  Pecking away outside drives everyone nuts except the batter in my opinion--see the last coupe of years of DiceK.

In response to jcri's comment:

i am also a doobie fan. I see a lot of good things when i see him pitch.. but also bad things. mainly what you jsut said, nibbling and not attacking the hitter. between Pedro, Farrell and Nieves i think they can get him straightened out in that regard. He has great stuff. He just needs to keep it over the plate and incorporate all of his pitches. if he does that he can be a very good pitcher.

Thank you all for defending me, apparently the Globe wouldn't let me defend myself. If anything I typed was bashing Ben or Farrell, or editorializing, then the "reader" in question is way too sensitive.  Moon, I also read many posts of yours politely asking "Selenium" to stay away from this thread. This is the only thread I go to, with rare exceptions, so as not to deal with the knuckleheads and bashers. I come here to discuss the Red Sox, not other posters, and after this post I will return to that "agenda". I have no problem debating baseball but will not debate for debate's sake nor will I respond again to someone who is only visiting to rile, ridicule or ruin the best thread on here. 

Jidgef, it really helps to have 1st hand reports. And I'm sure many of us value your reports. I was just thinking yesterday on something you said which gave me some insight into this year's spring training. A fresh, first hand perspective really is a huge help and you've been doing a fine job with it. Mucho props!

 

In response to jidgef's comment:

I am honored that you post on this thread. I hope a select few don't chase you away.

Keep your insightful posts coming!

Moon, I did leave for a long time during the second half of last year and the early stages of the post-season. Amp and I even discussed, off line, the fact that the board had deteriorated into a lot of childishness and arguments for arguments' sake. I don't have the time, patience nor inclination for that nonsense. I'm 65 years old, have been a baseball fan all my life, I know a little bit about the game and have probably forgotten more about baseball that what some of these rabble-rousers will ever know.

You and I have been on the same page with regard to Iggy since day one. I even included in my post yesterday that it was NOT a knock on Drew as he has exceeded my expectations. Nor was it a knock on Ben or Farrell, I merely said that Iggy's strong performance may have them questioning why they spent that $10mil. As you and most of the regulars on here know, I have no agenda beyond being a baseball fan and a Red Sox fan, and simply want them to put the best possible team on the field. And whatever that team is, I will cheer for unabashedly; I guess that is my agenda.

In response to jidgef's comment:

Hello jidgef   :)

I always enjoy your posts and I enjoy having you here.

Just do not take the criticism from other members too seriously.  After all, this is an internet baseball forum.  This forum is made up of many unique people.   LOL

Enjoy and please keep us up to date with the Spring Training activities.   :)

 

In response to jidgef's comment:

You don't have to defend yourself to me, or anyone else.

If Ben isn't second guessing about Iggy starting at SS this year, then that would be a shame.

In response to moonslav59's comment:

hitting good through 20 ABs against pitchers getting their work in is vastly different than being able to consistently putt together good ABs. While it is encouraging, let's see if he can keep it up through march and into April before we get too far ahead of ourselves.

In response to mef429's comment:

I'm not basing my opinon about Iggy a fraction of a percent on his recent 20 ABs. I'm not someone who makes jusgements on small sample sizes. I'd want Iggy as our starting SS now, even if he was 1-20 with 10 Ks.

 I too want him as our starting SS. Ozzie Smith and Omar Vizquel couldn't hit a lick when they came into MLB and learned to be adequate hitters at the MLB level. Enough so that one is in the HOF and the other probably will be. The best shortstop I ever saw was Mark Belanger and he never really learned to hit but did play on a couple world championship teams that featured great defense and pitching. And for what it's worth, Iggy looks bigger and stronger this year, working out in the off-season with Pedroia in Arizona.

In response to moonslav59's comment:
[QUOTE]

In response to mef429's comment:

 

In response to moonslav59's comment:

 

In response to jidgef's comment:

 

Moon, I did leave for a long time during the second half of last year and the early stages of the post-season. Amp and I even discussed, off line, the fact that the board had deteriorated into a lot of childishness and arguments for arguments' sake. I don't have the time, patience nor inclination for that nonsense. I'm 65 years old, have been a baseball fan all my life, I know a little bit about the game and have probably forgotten more about baseball that what some of these rabble-rousers will ever know.

You and I have been on the same page with regard to Iggy since day one. I even included in my post yesterday that it was NOT a knock on Drew as he has exceeded my expectations. Nor was it a knock on Ben or Farrell, I merely said that Iggy's strong performance may have them questioning why they spent that $10mil. As you and most of the regulars on here know, I have no agenda beyond being a baseball fan and a Red Sox fan, and simply want them to put the best possible team on the field. And whatever that team is, I will cheer for unabashedly; I guess that is my agenda.

 

You don't have to defend yourself to me, or anyone else.

 

If Ben isn't second guessing about Iggy starting at SS this year, then that would be a shame.

 

hitting good through 20 ABs against pitchers getting their work in is vastly different than being able to consistently putt together good ABs. While it is encouraging, let's see if he can keep it up through march and into April before we get too far ahead of ourselves.

 

 

I'm not basing my opinon about Iggy a fraction of a percent on his recent 20 ABs. I'm not someone who makes jusgements on small sample sizes. I'd want Iggy as our starting SS now, even if he was 1-20 with 10 Ks.

 

yeah i know, you've been pretty adamant on that stance.... even though it is wrong ;)

the response wasn't for you, but for others who are likely to look at his ST stats without any context and proclaim him the bees knees.

he is starting to look good though FWIW. like i said, we are covered both ways. If Iggy is just feasting on pitchers getting their work in and not really attacking him, goes to MiLB and stinks it up then we have Drew. If Iggy actually is ML ready, goes back to MiLB and lights it up then we can bring him up. IMO we are in a win-win position.

I'm not basing my opinon about Iggy a fraction of a percent on his recent 20 ABs. I'm not someone who makes jusgements on small sample sizes. I'd want Iggy as our starting SS now, even if he was 1-20 with 10 Ks.

 

yeah i know, you've been pretty adamant on that stance.... even though it is wrong ;)

the response wasn't for you, but for others who are likely to look at his ST stats without any context and proclaim him the bees knees.

he is starting to look good though FWIW. like i said, we are covered both ways. If Iggy is just feasting on pitchers getting their work in and not really attacking him, goes to MiLB and stinks it up then we have Drew. If Iggy actually is ML ready, goes back to MiLB and lights it up then we can bring him up. IMO we are in a win-win position.

I understand your position, even though it's wrong ;), but Iggy might not ever "light up" any league, and waiting for that to happen before giving him a shot is not what I call good decision making.

I hope Drew fields better than I expect. Aviles did last year, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I know that unless Drew is injured or traded, Iggy will not be our FT SS at any point this season.

i thought the days of slick fielding SS punch-n-judy hitters was over.  shrug.

In response to slasher9's comment:

You do know that half the MLb teams last year had a SS BA of .257 or lower,

right?

 

1/3rd or 10 teams below .240.

 

11 teams with a SS OPS below .645.

 

1/5th below .607.

 

 

Not much punch in those Judy's.

In response to selenium-'s comment:

 

"Iggy, with two more doubles today, looks good enough to have Ben and Farrell scratching their heads and asking themselves why they gave $10mil to Drew. These two hits were against Hellickson and Nieman, not the JV staff. This is NOT a knock on Drew as I think he has looked much better than I expected, but he is no Iggy."

I am sure that all in RSN are very glad to hear that Iggy got two doubles today. Farrell had nothing to do with signing Drew to a contract. Ben had no idea that Iggy would get two doubles today when he signed Drew and thus make the $10 mil. contract ridiculous and totally stupid to every logical Sox fan. Iggy still has to win the SS position and it should not be based on one day. Are you reporting the daily news or your personal agenda?

 

Sounds like both, which hes allowed to do I believe...Keep up the good work jid. I for one, enjoy a first hand report and your opinions/editorials as well.

 

In response to moonslav59's comment:

i disagree with the underlined part. If Iggy can show he is able to hit then he would be a better SS than Drew and likely get the spot. IDK how long until we can trade Drew but if Iggy is hitting consistently in AAA when that time comes where we can move SD then i would imagine BC would eat some of that money and promote iggy.

but until Iggy can hit he deserves to be in AAA..

In response to mef429's comment:

 

In response to moonslav59's comment:

 

I'm not basing my opinon about Iggy a fraction of a percent on his recent 20 ABs. I'm not someone who makes jusgements on small sample sizes. I'd want Iggy as our starting SS now, even if he was 1-20 with 10 Ks.

 

yeah i know, you've been pretty adamant on that stance.... even though it is wrong ;)

the response wasn't for you, but for others who are likely to look at his ST stats without any context and proclaim him the bees knees.

he is starting to look good though FWIW. like i said, we are covered both ways. If Iggy is just feasting on pitchers getting their work in and not really attacking him, goes to MiLB and stinks it up then we have Drew. If Iggy actually is ML ready, goes back to MiLB and lights it up then we can bring him up. IMO we are in a win-win position.

I understand your position, even though it's wrong ;), but Iggy might not ever "light up" any league, and waiting for that to happen before giving him a shot is not what I call good decision making.

I hope Drew fields better than I expect. Aviles did last year, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I know that unless Drew is injured or traded, Iggy will not be our FT SS at any point this season.

 

i disagree with the underlined part. If Iggy can show he is able to hit then he would be a better SS than Drew and likely get the spot. IDK how long until we can trade Drew but if Iggy is hitting consistently in AAA when that time comes where we can move SD then i would imagine BC would eat some of that money and promote iggy.

 

but until Iggy can hit he deserves to be in AAA..

 

Drew would have to be hitting below .240 and looking below average in the field, and Iggy over .320 in AAA for Ben to even consider benching Drew. 

 

He may trade Drew, but it is almost impossible for Iggy to beat drew out for the FT job and put $10M on the bench.

If the season tanks and we are out of it by the all star break and Iggy is doing well in AAA ball, then why not trade Drew and bring him up. It could happen. Even if both are playing well it could happen.

In response to RedsoxProspects' comment:

Yes, I said it could happen if we tarde Drew, but Drew will not be benched for Iggy unless 2 very unlikely things happen at once (see above).

In response to moonslav59's comment:

 

In response to RedsoxProspects' comment:

 

If the season tanks and we are out of it by the all star break and Iggy is doing well in AAA ball, then why not trade Drew and bring him up. It could happen. Even if both are playing well it could happen.

 

Yes, I said it could happen if we tarde Drew, but Drew will not be benched for Iggy unless 2 very unlikely things happen at once (see above).

 

 

if iggy is playing well and shows he has mastered AAA pitching then i would imagine they trade Drew ASAP and bring Iggy in. They definitely won't bench Drew. Iggy may have to languish in AAA for a week or two longer while BC gets a trade lined up though...

 Drew was signed to be a stopgap for Iggy. Once Iggy is ready you discard the stopgap. that is exactly what will happen when the time comes.

when is the earliest you can trade a player after signing him?? I know it's not immediately