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.
joe dokes said:
Exactly. A ball like that has to mean so much more to the player (or his family) than it possibly could to the person who caught it. Been to hundreds of games over the last 45 years; never really sniffed a ball during a game, fair or foul, but I've actually thought about this. All I'd ask for (I think) is a picture of me giving the player the ball which he hopefully would sign (the picture, that is).
If he's really this good, you'll be saying Jacoby who? a lot next year.Plympton91 said: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.
Jakoby Who who?bosox79 said:If he's really this good, you'll be saying Jacoby who? a lot next year.
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:If he's really this good, you'll be saying Jacoby who? a lot next year.
Plympton91 said: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.
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: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.
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: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.
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: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.
WE KNOWPlympton91 said: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.
Plympton91 said: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.
No kidding. What is the statute of limitations on beating a dead horse?E5 Yaz said:Why?
EHWP91LJEbluefenderstrat said:WE KNOW
Sprowl said:EHWP91LJE
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.
Jason Bay could hit, but it never occurred to me to call him exciting or toolsy.Plympton91 said: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.
redsox2020 said:Jason Bay could hit, but it never occurred to me to call him exciting or toolsy.
mwonow said:
I'd be surprised if anyone - even his wife - called Jason Bay exciting or toolsy.
You have to go way farther back than 2009 to see an OF with a couple of rooks and a young vet, all with really high ceilings. 75, maybe? (ducks)
Rusney's looked great the past week or two, but Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett is the new comp? Time to pump the brakes just a little bitRoDaddy said:I know the name Ron Gant has come up for comparison but he reminds me more of Kirby Puckett
touchstone033 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:
He said really high ceilings. Greenwell didn't have a high ceiling.
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:
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.
Finished second to a Canseco pumped full of steroids.touchstone033 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.
He got lucky one year. Also, he's a jackass and a moron and I hate his face.touchstone033 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.
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:Rusney's looked great the past week or two, but Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett is the new comp? Time to pump the brakes just a little bit
I read the post again and I think you're right, apologies for making that assumption. After this season my prospect hype meter might be overly sensitiveTrotsky said: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....
Rasputin said:He got lucky one year. Also, he's a jackass and a moron and I hate his face.
ArgentinaSOXfan said: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
Way to put pressure on the guy (Red Sox internal org., not you).Savin Hillbilly said:
So, a Gold Glove centerfielder with great baserunning, doubles/triples power, good contact skills and average-ish plate discipline.
That'd be nice.
Yes, remember when Ellis Burks was supposed to be the next Willie Mays?Al Zarilla said:Way to put pressure on the guy (Red Sox internal org., not you).
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:Yes, remember when Ellis Burks was supposed to be the next Willie Mays?
Minneapolis Millers 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.
Burks was one of my favorite players of that era, but Willie Mays-level expectations were more than unrealistic.Al Zarilla said: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.
Hee Sox Choi said: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.
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:It's great that he's playing and getting some reps, but don't put much stock in AFL numbers.
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:That's actually not so hot for the AFL, considering the incredible offense the AFL yields and the fact that he's a man amongst boys out there.