Comments on: Midseason Grades: Position Players.

By: Sean O

Sean O — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:40:34 +0000

Evan, if Lowell could actually muster a .570 SLG then it’d be an entirely different story, but he’s lucky to have a .470 at this point, and a .798 OPS is below average for any position. Considering how he’s solely a product of Fenway Park (.711 OPS on the road), and how much money he’s making, C is extremely generous.

By: M.A.G.

M.A.G. — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:39:18 +0000

Great post, Evan. I agree with you in every point.
I know how important is OBP. And we all know walks have always being Lowell’s weak point. But I think it’s unfair to completely ignore his SLG, and his RBIs. I know RBI tends to be dismised as a simple subproduct of a good lineup, but I still think is a good indicator of timely hitting. And, in my modest opinion, the 41 RBIs of Lowell are a testimony of a productive hitter.
We know Lowell is in the decline and we need to replace him soon (one of the reasons why I want to trade for a big bat now). But he has being productive through Papi’s slump, and other problems, so I think he deserves a better grade.

By: Joe Veno

Joe Veno — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:57:42 +0000

I can’t conceivably give Lowell a better grade. And I like the guy, and even at age 35 or whatever, I think he is better than this. But if a C is average, I give him a D because I believe that he has been a below average player. His WAR is 0.3, granted though, for his benefit, he HAS been hurt. His UZR is terrible, and even though it may be slightly more terrible than his actual performance, he still hasn’t been himself at the hot corner. He can’t run the bases well, and I assume the metrics state that very thing. He is Slugging .404 on the road, leading me to believe that Fenway has been even friendlier to him this season, more so than in the past. Although, it’s a relatively small sample to actually draw that conclusion. I like Lowell, but I really feel that he’s been below average. Maybe a C- or D+? I could go with that, but something less than a C, for me personally.

By: Evan

Evan — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 06:28:26 +0000

Green: I suspect he’s going to get a nice two-year deal in the offseason from some team that will give him 300 AB. Houston Astros? (Unless Sox opt to offer him arbitrtation.)
Lowell, D, really? I disagree, I think he was producing at a good clip. A .470 SLG? Come on. And walks have never been his game. OBP is huge, but it’s not everything; I’d rather have a .282/.319/.570 3B that functions as my No. 6/7 in a deep lineup than a .250/.350/.400 player.
Bay: I believe in the numbers too, but it doesn’t mean he hasn’t upgraded the Sox on D. You can’t compare Bay to the league average. You have to compare him to who he succeeded in the field to get an idea of his true value on defense.
Jacoby: He’s shown enough promise for me to think the second half gives him a B, at worst. C seems a bit harsh, but overall, it’s right. (And his lack of power, which you admit isn’t his job, shouldn’t factor into his ranking.)
Drew: He’s had high expectations his entire life. A B is what he deserves and earns. He’s a fantastic complementary player whom the general public elevates in their mind given his stature breaking into baseball.
Ortiz: An F grade should be given only to those who literally failed. Lugo, for example. Papi if he hadn’t pulled himself out of it. He’s a D.

By: Joe Veno

Joe Veno — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 04:30:41 +0000

Just for the record, Ortiz has a -0.3 WAR, which is better than only eight qualifying players. As good as Ortiz has been lately, he was even worse for two months of the season.
My Dad seems to get on Drew because of the contract too. But is it his fault that the Red Sox offered it? No.

By: Gerry

Gerry — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 04:19:25 +0000

Glad you bumped Ortiz, because an “F” is a failing grade, and 12HR, 47RBI, 38R,.416SLG couldn’t possibly be failing, unless you hold him to a higher standard, which is a flawed grading system. Besides, more weight is often given to recent performance, as in mid-terms, finals, and term papers. His recent performance is an “A”. Finally, even though defense is not a consideration for a DL, he played good 1b during interleague,
I agree with bottomline about Ellsbury. You can’t give one of the best defenders in baseball, with a +/-.300BA, +/-.350OBP and 40SB a “C”. He is approaching “A” territory.
I think JD might not give himself a “B” so far, but he helped this team alot, hit all over the lineup, covered RF beautifully. Blame Boras for that contract, not JD. Had Lucifer & Theo negotiated a more reasonable contract, everyone would love JD’s consistently good performance. I can’t wait for him to get hot again.

By: Joe Veno

Joe Veno — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:32:50 +0000

Evan makes a good point, fellas. That an F should be for people that should not be worthy of a roster spot. That is not the way I feel about Ortiz, obviously. So I will bump him up to a ‘D’ :)

By: Joe Veno

Joe Veno — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 20:31:51 +0000

And as for Ortiz, his overall numbers are pretty bad. Below average in avg, OBP, and SLG, and adding nothing defensively. I am glad that he is hitting again, and I have enjoyed it. But I weight every month the same (in terms of importance). So that is why I chose to give him an F.

By: Joe Veno

Joe Veno — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 20:28:06 +0000

BottomLine, Again, :) Only if Drew were to have a month like June of 2008, then he would be right up there with the best of them. I shouldn’t even have said it! :) Anyway, I know Drew’s average is low, but his OBP is good, and his Slugging is solid. I would really like him to start going the other way more, because he is capable of it. And that really holds him back a little in my opinion.

By: Joe Veno

Joe Veno — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 20:25:22 +0000

Lowell’s WAR is 0.3, but he has been injured. Drew’s WAR is 2.2. Comparatively, Youk’s is 3.1, which is near the top.
I already addressed the pitching staff, so I don’t think that grading it will do much. If you scroll down you can find out what I say about the rotation. I should have just done grades, but didn’t.