2014 Boston Red Sox Action

[Rogah]

Neither of these 2 teams should be terribly worried about playing October baseball, but we need to discuss something much more serious:

Is Jacoby Ellsbury the worst free agent signing of all time, or what? The guy finally got his average over .280 and they are thinking of throwing him a parade. He had one great season 3 years ago and so the idiot Yankees decide to throw him $150 mil. Don't worry, NYers.... you only have another 6 years, ~$130 million with him. LOLOLOL

 

[RS12]

Bogaerts currently ranks among the 25 players in baseball in regards to wins above replacement according to FanGraphs. His 2.0 WAR currently sits above established stars such as Victor Martinez, Evan Longoria and Buster Posey, among others. Bogaerts' WAR also places him at the top of the Red Sox position players, putting him above Dustin Pedroia (1.3), Mike Napoli (1.1) and David Ortiz (0.8).

The 21-year-old's production is even more impressive when put in context among the rest of baseball. Bogaerts' WAR places him at the top of all shortstops in the American League and second in all of baseball, trailing only the unstoppable Troy Tulowitzki, who sports a 4.4 WAR. If placed among third baseman, Bogaerts ranks as the second best player at the hot corner in the AL, trailing only Josh Donaldson. Bogaerts sports the third highest WAR among third baseman in baseball as well, trailing Donaldson, Todd Frazier and Matt Carpenter.

Not only has Bogaerts been the top offensive rookie in baseball (Masahiro Tanaka's unbelievable, Cy Young Award-worthy start certainly cannot be ignored), but the infielder also ranks among the top shortstops and/or third basemen a little over two months into the season.

It is important to consider that the Red Sox, both publicly and internally, firmly believe that Bogaerts is still a shortstop longterm.

I dont, either 3B or corrner OF.

http://www.overthemonster.com/2014/...rts-stand-historically-among-shortstop-rookie

 

[Beelzebot]

Why don't you think he can stay at short? His defense at short in the minors was acceptable and he's still only 21. I think he has the potential to be at least an average defensive shortstop which will boost his offensive value.

I can't believe I found a Red Sox thread on a Cowboys message board!

 

[RS12]

Why don't you think he can stay at short? His defense at short in the minors was acceptable and he's still only 21. I think he has the potential to be at least an average defensive shortstop which will boost his offensive value.

I can't believe I found a Red Sox thread on a Cowboys message board!

SS is a premium defensive position and I dont see him ever fielding the position well enough to justify leaving him there. His bat OTOH looks more like corner OF or 3B. Sox have a strong defensive SS at Portland Devin Marerro now who will likely hit well enough to to play in the bigs sometime in the next year. I think the Middlebrooks experiment is over and that he eventually becomes a consistent 240 20 HR 80 RBI guy, just not in Boston. Sox have a 17 YO tearing up the DSL named Devers who was their top international signing last year. Keep an an eye on him over the next few years.