i would really like to see what beltre does in a full fenway season. his career stats @ fenway aren't great, but a good line drive hitter like him should be able to produce results that -- combined with his defensive ability-- make him a better player than lowell.
Hey Sox fans, what do you expect from Hermida? Can't believe you got a 27 year old OF with untapped upside for low-level LOOGYs...I've been wanting the Cubs to take the Marlins problem off of them. I'm thinking .270/.340/.430 from him...thats my low end anyway.
I expect him to play about 50 games right around or slightly below replacement level, then to be moved after this year. He's not going to get the consistent playing time needed to develop into what he possibly could. Just like Wily Mo Pena.
Balls. Hermida would outhit Ellsbury, but the Sox are a pitching and defense team too...that's a pretty good defensive outfield.
Just curious, but are you basing this on the fact that Ellsbury has outhit Hermida in each of his two full seasons? He has a higher SLG and OBP in each year, and with his steals his total bases isn't even accurately reflected in his SLG. Ellsbury is the superior player.
1. Ellsbury has been hitting in Fenway, Hermida has been hitting in Pro Player or w/e it's called now. 2. Ellsbury has no power. Career ISOslugging (SLG - BA) is .117. Hermida's is .165. The Red Sox really lack power right now. 3. That said, I do think I might have jumped the gun there because I'm high on Hermida. Ellsbury is obviously the better table setter and defensive player. Still, Hermida offers way more upside as an all around hitter, has been in the league longer, and is the same age. There's a whoooole lot to like about Hermida if he remains healthy and progresses as he should as he gets older, hits in a better lineup, and in a much better hitting environs.
Ellsbury isn't a power hitter, so that isn't really relevant. However, if you take into account that about 60 of his singles are basically doubles, his SLG is much better than Hermida's. Even without that it still is. As far as upside, you're dead wrong. Hermida has only one edge over Ellsbury, and that's home run power. But it isn't enough of an edge to make up for Ellsbury's superiority in AVG, OBP, speed, and even SLG. Ellsbury is simply a better player, and is still improving. Hermida is basically Wily Mo Pena with less power. Stop living in 2004. Baseball history is FULL of 5 tool prospects and can't miss pitchers who never panned out. Hermida looks to be one of them.
I forgot to address the parks. Florida was the 7th best HR park last year, Fenway was 21st. Florida was 5th for hits, Fenway was 17th. Fenway was first for doubles, but Florida was 5th so it's not a big difference. Florida was 4th for runs, Fenway was 8th. The parks had little to do with it.
Hmmm, Bedard signs for 1.5 mill (potentially 7.5) with the M's. Would have liked to see Theo go after him for that much.
I'm sorry, but single year park effects mean next to nothing. Baseball reference has Fenway as a major hitters park, which it has been. Pro Player has played as a hitters park in recent years, but only slightly. Even then, common sense says that Fenway's smaller dimensions and weirdly configured outfield would be an aid to hitters.
http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/mlb/news/story?id=5040442 Glad to hear. I was worried he'd bolt, but it's nice to have him around.
That also all but assures Lackey or Beckett get traded before their contracts are up, more likely Lackey.
Unless there's an issue with performance I don't expect either to be moved, and at some point next year Beckett becomes a 10/5 guy and can't be traded anyway.
Here's some great publicity... "The Red Sox impose plan to sucker, tax poor people" "The Red Sox and the Massachusetts State Lottery are partnering up for a new lottery game called "Monster Money." It's a $10 scratch ticket game that debuted yesterday. The game offers three $3 million instant prizes and seven prizes of $1 million. Other prizes include Red Sox gear such as jackets, pants, warm-up jerseys and duffel bags. In other news, lotteries are regressive taxes which provide false hopes of riches -- and in this case, Red Sox logos and gear -- in the eyes of a players who tend to skew poor and less-educated (certainly uneducated enough to be unable to realize the astronomical odds against them ever winning anything from them). As gambling games they are complete ripoffs inasmuch as they often retain as much as 50% of all wagers whereas casino games -- which already favor the house themselves -- pay out in excess of 90% of the gross. Simply put, you're better off wagering the paycheck on the roulette wheels at Mohegan Sun than you are playing the Red Sox scratch game." http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/03/the-red-sox-impose-plan-to-sucker-tax-poor-people.html.php
