BBTF.org/m/red_sox : Bradford: Sox, Ortiz agree to two-year, $26M deal

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Ballou: Another Drew attracts anxiety for Red Sox

(www.telegram.com)

posted 3 days ago by Repoz to history, red sox | 27 comment(s)

Scat Ballou: Is this the way to make a shiity column…? You bet it is!

Now, the Sox have taken it to a new level with the Brothers Drew.

Neither is very good, but there’s something about a Drew that whoever Boston’s general manager is can’t resist, be it Theo Epstein or Ben Cherington.

OK, J.D. Drew had a couple of respectable seasons with the Red Sox. And, OK, Stephen Drew is a good defensive shortstop. Still, starting with Opening Day of 2010, Boston has committed $37.5 million ...

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1. Yastrzemski in left. posted on November 02, 2012 at 10:47 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

And here's to it.

2. Monty posted on November 02, 2012 at 10:59 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I find it hard to object to deals of two years or less, almost no matter what the dollar amount is.

3. Ray (RDP)

posted on November 03, 2012 at 12:02 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

I like this. Ortiz is a favorite and, while getting old and dealing with injury last year, is still hitting.

I admit I didn't think he had this rebound in him following his age-33 season in 2009.

1800 games of a 138 OPS+. If he gets to 3,000 games at that level I'll take him seriously as a HOF candidate. No, it's not happening.

4. Matt Clement of Alexandria posted on November 03, 2012 at 07:15 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

So if he maintains his level of play until he's 45, you'll consider him? It seems like it'd be easier to say that there's no plausible David Ortiz career path that would make him a Hall of Famer in your eyes.

(I basically agree, for what it's worth.)

5. Jim Furtado

posted on November 03, 2012 at 08:19 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

I'd rather see the Sox overpay on a thank you contract to Big Papi than waste their savings on another free agent to serve as DH because if he can remain healthy he has a higher upside than the current alternatives. The contract isn't unreasonable. Hopefully, he has at least one good year in him.

6. Harveys Wallbangers

posted on November 03, 2012 at 08:39 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

pretty fascinating career. i wonder what tom kelley thinks of him. ha, ha.

7. Ray (RDP)

posted on November 03, 2012 at 10:06 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

So if he maintains his level of play until he's 45, you'll consider him? It seems like it'd be easier to say that there's no plausible David Ortiz career path that would make him a Hall of Famer in your eyes.

Pretty much, yes. An insane five-year stretch would do it also, but that could almost be said for any established player.

8. DKDC posted on November 03, 2012 at 10:23 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

I wish this were a longer deal, but I think there's still a pretty good chance that Ortiz will crater during this contract. It's definitely a risk the Red Sox can afford to take.

9. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit posted on November 03, 2012 at 10:23 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

One thing about Ortiz, and about the unsigned Ross too, is that it doesn't seem like the guys who were here last year are breaking down the door to get out. Obviously the money is a big part of that but I think these are at least some positive data points on the idea that Boston is toxic and people don't want to be here.

10. donlock posted on November 03, 2012 at 01:16 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

One of the few teams interested in a full time DH, particularly since there will be more frequent Inter-league play in the future.Can't imagine anyone wanting this guy for this kind of money except Boston. What was the hurry to sign him and give him $26 mil?

11. Ray (RDP)

posted on November 03, 2012 at 01:31 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

#10, He has a 150 OPS+ over his last 1600 PA, and unlike with a normal 37 year old, his OPS+ has been increasing over that timespan. A 160 OPS+ over his last 1000 PA. A 170 OPS+ over his last 400 PA.

Age and injury are the two main issues, but he is still a fantastic hitter. That is the hurry to sign him. And it's only a two-year deal. He is a top drawer hitter.

12. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit posted on November 03, 2012 at 01:32 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

No real reason not too. The money and years won't prohibit the Sox from making other major moves if the opportunity presents itself and Ortiz is a good bet to be very good in 2013 and 2014. Plus of course some good PR is not the worst thing in the world for the Sox these days.

13. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) posted on November 03, 2012 at 01:34 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Texas was reportedly very interested in him.

14. The Clarence Thomas of BBTF (scott) posted on November 03, 2012 at 01:37 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Yay!

15. snapper (history's 42nd greatest monster) posted on November 03, 2012 at 01:54 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

since there will be more frequent Inter-league play in the future.

I think the number of inter-league games stays basically the same. They're just spread across the whole season.

16. FancyPantsHandle glistening with foreign substance posted on November 03, 2012 at 02:46 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I think the number of inter-league games stays basically the same. They're just spread across the whole season.

Which is a positive, since it makes it easier to use them as off days, which Ortiz is going to need occasionally anyway.

17. Ray (RDP)

posted on November 03, 2012 at 03:16 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Off days for a DH? I doubt that's going to be a high need.

18. snapper (history's 42nd greatest monster) posted on November 03, 2012 at 03:22 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Which is a positive, since it makes it easier to use them as off days, which Ortiz is going to need occasionally anyway.

Not really. The non-DH days will still come 2 or 3 in a row, when they play a series in an NL park. No DH needs 3 days in a row off. maybe a slight benefit, but marginal.

19. Crispix Attacks 2: Swag Airlines posted on November 03, 2012 at 03:30 PM # hit 1 | hit 0

No DH needs 3 days in a row off.

Let me introduce you to my good friend Nick Johnson.

20. snapper (history's 42nd greatest monster) posted on November 03, 2012 at 03:40 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Let me introduce you to my good friend Nick Johnson.

He likes to take his days off in chunks of 100.

21. Dale Sams posted on November 03, 2012 at 05:49 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Nick Johnson's 'days off' are biblical.

22. Ray (RDP)

posted on November 03, 2012 at 06:07 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Johnson's problem is not one that can be cured with an off day here or there, so it's kind of silly to use Johnson as a counter argument to the idea that DHs don't really need off days.

If you sign Johnson, you basically need a shadow DH.

23. FancyPantsHandle glistening with foreign substance posted on November 03, 2012 at 07:20 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Not really. The non-DH days will still come 2 or 3 in a row, when they play a series in an NL park.

Yes. So instead of 9 in a row on a NL roadtrip, they now spread them out over 3 trips. So they can save 2 off days they might have given him at another time.

24. Darnell McDonald had a farm posted on November 03, 2012 at 10:39 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

At least we know the Red Sox are not serious about trying to win a championship anytime soon

25. Walt Davis posted on November 04, 2012 at 12:58 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Hilaripus.

Ortiz is, far and away, the best DH option on the FA market. He's no worse than the 2nd best hitter on the FA market (Hamilton has a case). Even in his partial season, he put up 2.9 WAR. He's going to cost you a lot less than Hamilton and even Swisher.

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Sunday, June 16, 2013

Ballou: Another Drew attracts anxiety for Red Sox

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