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Sunday, August 30, 2009

Boston Herald | J.D. Drew thrives as silent type

It’s Ted Williams’ 91st birthday…

There is probably no greater disconnect between the perception of a player and the reality of the person than J.D. Drew.

Red Sox fans have all kinds of thoughts on Drew. Overpaid. Injury-prone. Doesn’t care. Aloof. Unpopular.

He must be a bad guy, right? Tony La Russa hates him, and La Russa is a baseball guy.

Then you meet Drew. He’s pleasant to the point of absurdity. The next time he loses his temper will be the first. He’s a breezy conversationalist with the slightest southern twang when you can track him down, though he doesn’t seek the spotlight.

If he’s guilty of anything, it’s not wearing his emotions on his sleeve, which come to think of it, is a pretty good trait for a baseball player in Boston.

And then it hits you: Drew might have the perfect temperament for thriving here.

Baseball-Birthdays.com Posted: August 30, 2009 at 11:52 AM | 18 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: red sox

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1. Marc Sully's not booin'. He's Youkin'.

Posted: August 30, 2009 at 01:29 PM (#3309054)

Gotta love the annual Boston sports media epiphany that JD Drew may not completely blow.

2. Mayor Blomberg Posted: August 30, 2009 at 01:56 PM (#3309056)

You can be silent as long as you've got Boras marketing you. In fact, you're better off not saying anything.

3. IronChef Chris Wok Posted: August 30, 2009 at 01:58 PM (#3309057)

JD Drew: I don't hate him.

4. toratoratora Posted: August 30, 2009 at 02:38 PM (#3309072)

JD Drew: I don't hate him.

One postseason HR bought him mucho grace.

5. Swoboda is freedom Posted: August 30, 2009 at 02:41 PM (#3309075)

I thought the article was about his well known gas problem.

6. tfbg9 Posted: August 30, 2009 at 03:21 PM (#3309085)

It’s Ted Williams‘ 91st birthday…

The most important single hitting stat is on base percentage.
Highest lifetime OBP ever? The Kid. Happy Birthday, handle-sake!

7. CFBF Hates Hyphens Posted: August 30, 2009 at 05:36 PM (#3309168)

I said when Drew signed with Boston that the concern over his personality jiving with the city was overstated, and I actually wrote an email to Rosenthal saying so. (He responded quickly and politely, as he often does) Drew just doesn't seem to care about anything off the field. It's hard to get worked up about Shaugnessey or other newspaper columnists when you don't read. It's hard to care about sports radio when you don't listen to the radio.

8. rLr Is King Of The Romans And Above Grammar Posted: August 30, 2009 at 05:39 PM (#3309172)

Drew is illiterate?

9. CFBF Hates Hyphens Posted: August 30, 2009 at 06:08 PM (#3309179)

Those who don't read have no advantage over those who can't.

10. Tripon Posted: August 30, 2009 at 06:11 PM (#3309182)

Rather have Rios and his contract than Drew and his contract.

11. cardsfanboy

Posted: August 30, 2009 at 06:40 PM (#3309194)

Rather have Rios and his contract than Drew and his contract.
Page 1 of 1 pages

why is that? I mean Rios has never been really an equal to Drew as an offensive threat, just curious why someone would take Rios ahead of Drew

12. Tripon Posted: August 30, 2009 at 06:44 PM (#3309195)

Better defense, way healthier, comparable offense most years, years younger, can play center field.

13. BarrettsHiddenBall Posted: August 30, 2009 at 06:48 PM (#3309197)

Those who don't read have no advantage over those who can't.

I believe Twain was writing about good books. The same may not be true of the Boston sports media.

14. Justin 'The Cespedobear' T Posted: August 30, 2009 at 07:32 PM (#3309226)

Better defense, way healthier, comparable offense most years, years younger, can play center field.

Absolutely not.

Rios is much younger, so it isn't as much of a concern, but he is signed for three extra seasons. If he gets his offense back together some, his contract is fine. If he doesn't it's a disaster. I like him and hope he returns to 2006-2007 form, but it's a big question.

15. Walt Davis Posted: August 30, 2009 at 07:36 PM (#3309228)

But Drew has only 2 years left on his contract while Rios has 5. Rios' contract is OK but I'd rather have Drew.

Anyway, Drew has been fine in Boston but he's not "thriving." He's had one well-below-average year, one above-average year and one average year (for him) while missing an average of about 30 games a year.

16. cardsfanboy

Posted: August 30, 2009 at 07:37 PM (#3309229)

Better defense, way healthier, comparable offense most years, years younger, can play center field.

but what about the different contracts? not that I agree that they are comparable offense most years Drews just a better hitter, not even sure how one could say they are comparable. Health wise yes, age of course. Not really sure about the defense argument either. But thanks for the answer.

Drew for 14 per for 2010 and 2011 vs Rios 2010 9.7, 2011 @ 12mil, 2012 @ 12.5, 2013 @ 12.5, 2015 @ 13.5....
I can see the argument, healthy Drew is a better hitter but Rios still has room to grow, defense I don't see much difference there if any. I guess if you want to have the guy for a few extra years and be comfortable knowing that probably at worse you'll get average performance then Rios is a good bet to be that guy.

17. MM1f Posted: August 31, 2009 at 09:24 AM (#3309526)

Anyway, Drew has been fine in Boston but he's not "thriving." He's had one well-below-average year, one above-average year and one average year (for him) while missing an average of about 30 games a year.

Aside from the time missed aspect (obviously a constant Drew problem, but I'm just looking at how he did when he did play), a 105 OPS+ from a good defensive RF is "well below average"?

18. dejarouehg Posted: August 31, 2009 at 12:43 PM (#3309552)

JD puts on one of the best home run displays in batting practice of anyone in the bigs. He and Ichiro.

Not as good as McGwire and Sosa back in the day, but I watched Drew drill the scoreboard at Shea repeatedly and Ichiro hit cannons well past the RF bullpen at Fenway.

He's a solid player, like Paul O'Neil was.

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Boston Herald | J.D. Drew thrives as silent type

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