Personally, I think it could be a good move. Drew's power numbers can rise with the short porch in Fenway, and it gives Ortiz some protection in the lineup if they end up trading Manny (and if they don't trade Manny, that's an even scarier 3-4-5 or 2-3-4 combo).
"I don't know what is more disquieting -- the fact that the rest of the statue is missing, or that it has four toes."
Mendoza turned out to be a horrid free-agent signing, but everyone like it at the time. Rudy Saenez was a bomb waiting to occur, and everyone outside the Red Sox front office knew it, but it was short term. Even the Clement move people were split on. Drew is the worst move the Red Sox have made in regards to a free agent since the glory days of Matt Young and his phobia in regards to throwing strikes and throwing to first base, a dangerous combination when you walk guys left and right. Still should have jumped out of the stands on Roberto Kelly Day and taken him out before he walked the ballpark in the 10th inning of that haunted Sunday afternoon, derailing the '91 team and beginning the road to the Butch Hobson Error. But, I digress. Drew will suck and they'll be trying to peddle him out of town by the All-Star Break. Young throws a no-hitter and loses leading them to last place in '92. Long term planning? What's that?
Originally posted by spfSo does this mean Manny is or isn't getting dealt somewhere?
Drew should pray to God that Manny doesn't get traded, or else he will be the target when things fall apart. However, the signing of Julio 'I play great when my team is 20 games under .500' Lugo to a 4 year/$36 million contract makes me think that Manny might be getting shipped out within the next 24-48 hours. I'd rather have kept Alex Gonzalez for less money and less years and better defense, but, that would mean having a shortstop for consecutive years, which is forboden under the current regime. If J.D. Drew is the modern equivalent of Matt Young, then Julio Lugo is Tony Clark: When the games mean nothing, he produces. At least Lester is cancer free, so maybe they can have him in the rotation in the second half of '07.
Sorry, Sox fans. I know you guys have had it rough since losing Johnny Damon, the inevitable loss of Manny, and the big collapse at the end of '06, but is this the answer? J.D. Drew? The guy who's spent more of his career on the DL than on the field? And your team is throwing $70 MILLION ($14 million (!) a year) at him to boot. What a stomach punch.
And a stomach punch for me, too, personally. Walking out on your team with three years left on your contract ranks about an 8 on the Bonds scale of jackassery. And if it was anyone else who had done so, Dodger fans would have been in a huge tizzy. But since it was this clown (whose contract was already weighing the team down), they didn't even notice. Have fun, Red Sox Nation (and redsoxnation).
(edited by It's False on 6.12.06 0851) "That's the thing: Maybe he'll be up and down this season, but when he's up, is there another center in the league quite like him? He protects the rim, passes out of double teams, has great hands around the basket, up-fakes on his jump-hooks, rebounds in traffic, even has a motor that keeps going and going (unlike a stiff like Eddy Curry). I'm not sure what's missing here. This is stunning. This is startling. There's almost no precedent for it. Just what the Lakers needed: More obscenely good luck. Meanwhile, I have to watch Al Jefferson whip jump-hooks off the front of the rim for the third straight season. I will now pour scalding hot water down my pants." -Bill Simmons on Andrew Bynum (11/08/06)
Originally posted by It's FalseWalking out on your team with three years left on your contract ranks about an 8 on the Bonds scale of jackassery.
Is it jackassery that the Dodgers put the out clause in his contract to begin with? I'd say from Drew's camp, him walking out was brilliant. His timing, market-wise, was perfect, parlaying a nice 3yr/$33mil into an insane 5yr/$70mil, and from what the Dodgers, their fans, and the writers are saying, it worked out pretty well for everyone.
You wanted the best, you got... Out of Context Quote of the Week.
"They're plump, ripe, and priced to move. Get your fat Samoan today!" (Packman V2)
To be fair to Flair Drew has been pretty healthy recently, only going on the DL for any length of time when he got plunked on the wrist. See his last five years (yoinked from a thread on minorleagueball.com):
.252/.349/.429 (135 games)
.289/.374/.512 (100 games)
.305/.436/.569 (145 games)
.286/.412/.520 (72 games, breaks wrist)
.283/.393/.498 (146 games)
In the meantime, since he's replacing Trot, let's see his stats and games played over the past five years:
.256/.338/.470 (152 games)
.306/.396/.578 (134 games)
.315/.377/.510 (48 games)
.275/.357/.446 (124 games)
.268/.373/.394 (114 games)
Trot went off a cliff after 2004, Drew's been healthy. Sometimes things aren't how they once was.
Originally posted by drjayphdTo be fair to Flair Drew has been pretty healthy recently, only going on the DL for any length of time when he got plunked on the wrist. See his last five years (yoinked from a thread on minorleagueball.com):
.252/.349/.429 (135 games)
.289/.374/.512 (100 games)
.305/.436/.569 (145 games)
.286/.412/.520 (72 games, breaks wrist)
.283/.393/.498 (146 games)
In the meantime, since he's replacing Trot, let's see his stats and games played over the past five years:
.256/.338/.470 (152 games)
.306/.396/.578 (134 games)
.315/.377/.510 (48 games)
.275/.357/.446 (124 games)
.268/.373/.394 (114 games)
Trot went off a cliff after 2004, Drew's been healthy. Sometimes things aren't how they once was.
Drew's been healthy 2 of the last 3 years. Coincidentally, he either became a free agent or had the right to declare to be a free agent after both seasons where he was healthy. Thus, I am looking for Drew to really produce in the 2011 season. Nixon got the money prior to '04 and went in the tank. There really has been no hue and cry over his departure. The problem is that the money they tie up in Drew means they will either/both: Trade Manny/Claim they don't have the resources to acquire player X as a free agent or in a trade at some point during the Drew contract. The team that has been claiming the reason to trade Ramirez is to give them payroll flexibility Knickerbocker'ed their payroll in the past 24 hours.
You are all failing to realize one thing. Regardless of the jackassedry of him leaving, despite if he is or is not on the DL, the main reason this deal sucks is because JD Drew doesnt give a rat's ass about baseball. He's good at it, but puts ZERO effort into his game. He's there to get paid and that's about it. No heart, no desire, nothing.
As a Yankee fan, I love this signing, but as a sports fan, its a goddamn shame he's getting paid like that.
Originally posted by redsoxnationDrew's been healthy 2 of the last 3 years. Coincidentally, he either became a free agent or had the right to declare to be a free agent after both seasons where he was healthy. Thus, I am looking for Drew to really produce in the 2011 season.
If you wanna say he's injury-prone or overpaid, fine, but don't accuse him of tanking non-contract seasons. The one season in the past three where he wasn't healthy (2005) he broke his wrist upon being hit by a pitch, IIRC. I wouldn't say that's indicative of his being unproductive until the next contract year.
My first Marathon was November 27th 2005 -- 3:10:43 My next Marathon is April 16th 2007 -- Boston
Originally posted by redsoxnationDrew's been healthy 2 of the last 3 years. Coincidentally, he either became a free agent or had the right to declare to be a free agent after both seasons where he was healthy. Thus, I am looking for Drew to really produce in the 2011 season.
If you wanna say he's injury-prone or overpaid, fine, but don't accuse him of tanking non-contract seasons. The one season in the past three where he wasn't healthy (2005) he broke his wrist upon being hit by a pitch, IIRC. I wouldn't say that's indicative of his being unproductive until the next contract year.
No I would agree. Though I will agree with Stagger that Drew just doesn't care that much about baseball. I've read it from too many people he played with or that coached him. He has all the talent in the world, but zero desire. That doesn't mean he's a bad player, it just means he could be so much more, which is a shame.