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Post by brendan98 on Nov 9, 2012 20:22:32 GMT -5
A veteran SS/Utility Infielder that can play SS everyday (like Mike Aviles) needs to be added to the roster and Iglesias should compete for the starting job during spring training but if all he does is what he did last year (in the Majors & Minors) he should be sent back to AAA. He has not shown that he deserves to get the opening day assignment or "250 ABs out of the gate Pedro style" It amazes me that you place so little value on the once in a generation defensive talent that Jose Iglesias has. A baseball players value is not limited to how good he is offensively. Defense is actually a very critical part of the game, and every out a defensive player makes contributes to saving runs, without going into the defensive metrics for Iglesias (which honestly isn't my thing), I can still tell you without a doubt that Iglesias will save many, many runs compared to Aviles (or your average SS). A run saved is as valuable as a run scored, ask a pitcher on the team and they will tell you more valuable. I am not sure anyone has a real solid grasp of just how many runs Iglesias will save with his defense, maybe I am wrong in my thinking that defensive metrics is a largely speculative statistic, but from years of coaching I can tell you that every out you get to shorten a game is valuable, and Jose Iglesias is quite possibly the best defensive player in baseball at possibly the most critical defensive position. I guarantee you that if you ask the Red Sox pitchers who they think should be the Red Sox starting SS next year, Iglesias would be the unanimous choice.
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Post by pedroelgrande on Nov 9, 2012 20:31:43 GMT -5
I understand his defensive value and definitely won't give up on him being on the roster for the forceable future but as many runs as he is going to save how many is he going to cost with his bat? There definitely needs to be another option at SS just to make sure you don't go into the season relying too much on Iglesia's bat.
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Post by dcb26 on Nov 9, 2012 20:39:07 GMT -5
A veteran SS/Utility Infielder that can play SS everyday (like Mike Aviles) needs to be added to the roster and Iglesis should compete for the starting job during spring training but if all he does is what he did last year (in the Majors & Minors) he should be sent back to AAA. He has not shown that he deserves to get the opening day assignment or "250 ABs out of the gate Pedro style" If the difference between the Red Sox being in rebuilding mode and being World Series contenders in 2013 was their SS hitting .200 vs. their SS hitting .250, I'd agree with you. It isn't. Iglesias hasn't proven he's a major league hitter, but he has proven what he is at the AAA level. if the Red Sox are convinced he's nothing mroe than AAAA filler than sure, stick him in Pawtucket. Otherwise, he needs to start until he proves he is not capable of being an everyday player (and this is from someone who is as down on Iglesias' bat as anyone.)
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Post by fenwaythehardway on Nov 10, 2012 20:27:44 GMT -5
I understand his defensive value and definitely won't give up on him being on the roster for the forceable future but as many runs as he is going to save how many is he going to cost with his bat? There definitely needs to be another option at SS just to make sure you don't go into the season relying too much on Iglesia's bat. Well seeing as the team doesn't look like a contender in 2013, it would be the perfect time to find that out.
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Post by welovewally on Nov 11, 2012 7:43:22 GMT -5
the once in a generation defensive talent that Jose Iglesias has. I'm all for having Iglesias compete for the starting job but I can't see anointing him a "once in generation defensive talent" yet. I'm also fine with giving him the starting job at the beginning of the season but I also think it would be prudent of the team to have a backup plan.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2012 18:48:10 GMT -5
What about pairing him with Steven Drew who is a better hitter when healthy but doesn't have the range you'd want in an every day SS?
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Post by dmaineah on Nov 12, 2012 7:25:26 GMT -5
What about pairing him with Steven Drew who is a better hitter when healthy but doesn't have the range you'd want in an every day SS? If the Red Sox sign Drew it means that Iglesias is being traded or they intend to keep him in AAA. I doubt they keep him on the 25 man roster to be in a platoon situation or as a back up / utility infielder.
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steveofbradenton
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Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
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Post by steveofbradenton on Nov 12, 2012 8:06:10 GMT -5
What about pairing him with Steven Drew who is a better hitter when healthy but doesn't have the range you'd want in an every day SS? If the Red Sox sign Drew it means that Iglesias is being traded or they intend to keep him in AAA. I doubt they keep him on the 25 man roster to be in a platoon situation or as a back up / utility infielder. I'm always looking for signs how the front office perceives next season, and if they sign a guy like Drew, dmaineah is right. Iglesias will need to play everyday and will be back in AAA. Signing players like Drew or Kuroda mean they are not waiting for 2014 to make the play-offs. You can say the Sox are always competing for the play-offs, and you are some what right. But this season and off-season are a completely different animal.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2012 19:35:06 GMT -5
I'm not so sure that's true. Stephen Drew is coming off a serious knee injury. Wherever he plays, the back up SS is going to play more than normal. Add in some time at 2B and 3B for Drew and the backup SS is going to have to play more than normal.
Breaking a prospect in, slowly from a backup role isn't unprecedented and likely preferable for many young players. Pairing the prospect with a player coming off of an injury is perfect way to do that.
The overall strategy is a larger question but I see no reason why the Red Sox shouldn't try to sign veteran players to short-term contracts If there is value to be had in the free agent market, with their payroll capacity they should be buying it.
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Post by lancect on Nov 12, 2012 21:55:57 GMT -5
I like the idea of Iglesias as the starter but I'm not sold on it. I'd like to see him earn it in Spring Training but have DeJesus and Ciriaco ready to spell him if it doesn't. I think it is now or never for him, especially seeing how they have so aggressive with his placements in the past.
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Post by welovewally on Nov 13, 2012 5:22:24 GMT -5
After looking through the SS free agent list the Sox better hope at least one of Iglesias, Ciriaco or De Jesus is ready for the job because other then Drew there's not much available unless they look at a trade. Braves turned down Simmons for Olt Trade. www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/11/braves-turned-down-simmons-for-olt-swap.htmlI wonder if the Diamondbacks would be interested in Iglesias? Olt would look good in Boston at 1B. Then they could sign Drew to play until one of the kids are ready.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Nov 13, 2012 13:27:39 GMT -5
After looking through the SS free agent list the Sox better hope at least one of Iglesias, Ciriaco or De Jesus is ready for the job because other then Drew there's not much available unless they look at a trade. The jury is still very much out on whether Iglesias can be a major league SS, particularly in 2013, with the hope that his off-the-charts defense makes up for his anemic bat, while others think his bat will be way too anemic to overcome. I wouldn't think there's much debate on Ciriaco. There's no way you want him being a regular at SS. Exposed over a long stretch you'd probably get close to Iglesias's production without the superlative defense. And DeJesus isn't really a SS. He's more of a 2b who's been playing some OF to increase his versatility. My guess is that the Sox will give Iglesias every opportunity to be the SS, and if he struggles they'll probably play the utility SS (most likely Ciriaco) regularly and hope that Bogaerts is ready for the show by August.
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Post by afineline on Nov 18, 2012 20:00:28 GMT -5
I am a new member, and this thread begged me to join, Iglesias is plus/plus, and more plus on defense, and I agree with members who recognize that value.
Back "in the day" as they say, most SS's were light hitting, hit 9th in the order, and any offense was a bonus.
It wasn't until recent past where a SS with a great bat became popular, sought after, but remember the era, and how some of these guys ascertained power, not in a natural way, and when they got bigger, were moved out of the hole to a corner?
My prototype SS is the one and only Omar Vizquel, not AROD, not Ripken, and NOT Jeter.
I accept, in a baseball-wise discussion, a defensive wizard in the hole versus some guy cranking out 25 bombs who may make most of the routine plays with average defensive tools, but there is nothing like a A+ glove up the middle.
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