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Post by pedey on Dec 4, 2013 21:56:12 GMT -5
After a solid rookie year ending with a wrist fracture, Brooks suffered a sophomore slump this past year, resulting in a demotion to AAA. He did well once returning though, putting up a .276/.329/.476 batting line with 8 home runs.
- Are numbers he put up before his demotion or the numbers he put up after being recalled the real Will Middlebrooks? -
He still has good bat-speed and A LOT of power, along with a cannon, yet sometimes wild arm. His glove work needs some improvement too. Where he really lacks is his approach, in which he strikes out way too much, doesn't walk enough, and has the tendency to swing at everything, often resulting in bad slumps.
I would be comfortable handing the starting 3B job to him next spring, as I really think that he can figure out some of his difficulties and become a solid player, like what he did after he was recalled from Pawtucket. I'd say maybe a .265/.320/.470 batting line with around 20-25 home runs.
What do you expect out of Middlebrooks in 2014?
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Post by Kevin Pereira on Dec 4, 2013 22:04:36 GMT -5
I expect him to put up similar numbers to what he produced in the second half of this season and his rookie year.. for another team.
I may be in the minority, but I think the Red Sox are going to re-sign Stephen Drew and move Bogaerts to third permanently. I know Cherington and co. have been saying they see Bogaerts as the future shortstop of this team, but I think -- for some reason -- they're going to move Middlebrooks, thus creating the need for Drew.
But, this doesn't mean I want him gone. I've always loved Middlebrooks.
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Post by rjp313jr on Dec 4, 2013 22:20:13 GMT -5
Middlebrooks good second half was a hot August followed by a bad September so it wasn't all that promising.
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Post by mainesox on Dec 4, 2013 22:28:21 GMT -5
Somewhere between his ZiPS (.249/.291/.425, 20 HRs) and Steamers (.262/.309/.464, 24 HRs) projections seems about right to me. Actually, I'll go with the middle ground here (.256/.300/.445, 22 HRs).
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Post by fenwaythehardway on Dec 4, 2013 22:29:10 GMT -5
I expect him to put up similar numbers to what he produced in the second half of this season and his rookie year.. for another team. I may be in the minority, but I think the Red Sox are going to re-sign Stephen Drew and move Bogaerts to third permanently. I know Cherington and co. have been saying they see Bogaerts as the future shortstop of this team, but I think -- for some reason -- they're going to move Middlebrooks, thus creating the need for Drew. But, this doesn't mean I want him gone. I've always loved Middlebrooks. Could it be because they benched Middlebrooks in the middle of a World Series run, even with Drew mired in what seemed to be a 0-for-175 slump? They can say whatever they want about how much they believe in him, but actions speak louder than words. |
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Post by rjp313jr on Dec 4, 2013 22:30:12 GMT -5
So shouldn't be in the lineup since he offers little elsewhere
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Post by rjp313jr on Dec 4, 2013 22:32:44 GMT -5
Drew was contributing defensively a lot at arguably most important spot on the field. WMB did nothing. Hard to compare the two and Xander was too good at the plate. Farrell tried going back to WMB, but you can't let it ride there.
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Post by ifixbadcredit on Dec 4, 2013 23:00:02 GMT -5
I'm probably a little optimistic, but coming off a wrist injury and dealing with a back injury can't be good for a power hitter. I read the other day he was in Boston working with a strength coach, so I'll go 280/335/515.
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Post by buffs4444 on Dec 4, 2013 23:19:54 GMT -5
I expect him to put up similar numbers to what he produced in the second half of this season and his rookie year.. for another team. I may be in the minority, but I think the Red Sox are going to re-sign Stephen Drew and move Bogaerts to third permanently. I know Cherington and co. have been saying they see Bogaerts as the future shortstop of this team, but I think -- for some reason -- they're going to move Middlebrooks, thus creating the need for Drew. But, this doesn't mean I want him gone. I've always loved Middlebrooks. This. Almost exactly this. Either LAD or MIA..... |
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Post by sibbysisti on Dec 4, 2013 23:26:04 GMT -5
I expect him to put up similar numbers to what he produced in the second half of this season and his rookie year.. for another team. I may be in the minority, but I think the Red Sox are going to re-sign Stephen Drew and move Bogaerts to third permanently. I know Cherington and co. have been saying they see Bogaerts as the future shortstop of this team, but I think -- for some reason -- they're going to move Middlebrooks, thus creating the need for Drew. But, this doesn't mean I want him gone. I've always loved Middlebrooks. Your infield scenario could very well happen. Bogaerts didn't look out of place during the WS and the manager had enough confidence in him to play him there over Middlebrooks. I was so angry at WMB over his costly fielding misplays that I wanted him banished. The Sox are saying all the right things about him to improve his value. If he can be moved to get an asset at another position, or as part of a multi player trade, I'm all for it. |
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Post by taftreign on Dec 4, 2013 23:31:44 GMT -5
I expect him to put up similar numbers to what he produced in the second half of this season and his rookie year.. for another team. I may be in the minority, but I think the Red Sox are going to re-sign Stephen Drew and move Bogaerts to third permanently. I know Cherington and co. have been saying they see Bogaerts as the future shortstop of this team, but I think -- for some reason -- they're going to move Middlebrooks, thus creating the need for Drew. But, this doesn't mean I want him gone. I've always loved Middlebrooks. This. Almost exactly this. Either LAD or MIA..... So you think it would be WMB for a Dodger OF? |
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Post by JackieWilsonsaid on Dec 4, 2013 23:52:33 GMT -5
Drew is mot coming back.
Xander is the sox ss until the 2020s
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Post by sibbysisti on Dec 5, 2013 0:04:53 GMT -5
Drew is mot coming back. Xander is the sox ss until the 2020s Link? |
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Post by Oregon Norm on Dec 5, 2013 0:33:49 GMT -5
Drew is mot coming back. Xander is the sox ss until the 2020s ? |
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Post by pedroelgrande on Dec 5, 2013 0:47:42 GMT -5
They should start saving now for that 300 something million dollar contract.
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Post by p23w on Dec 5, 2013 2:17:14 GMT -5
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Post by zil on Dec 5, 2013 3:38:18 GMT -5
I predict he gives us another two to three months of his feast or famine act before getting replaced by Cecchini in June or July and there is much rejoicing.
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steveofbradenton
Veteran
Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
Posts: 1,826
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Post by steveofbradenton on Dec 5, 2013 7:47:55 GMT -5
IF........and that is a BIG IF he returns, I see Middlebrooks putting up numbers like this:
Ave.: .259
OBP: .312
SLG: 460
HR: 25
X Base Hits Total: 55
RBI: 80
I personally would be fine with a package deal with the Dodgers for Matt Kemp with the Dodgers picking up $30 million. This would only happen, if they can persuade Drew to sign a 3 to 4 year deal to return.
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Post by stevedillard on Dec 5, 2013 8:13:29 GMT -5
I predict he gives us another two to three months of his feast or famine act before getting replaced by Cecchini in June or July and there is much rejoicing. Exactly. Given Farrell's statement yesterday that the two players he most wants to see in spring training are Bradley and Cecchini, I think they see Cecchini as almost ready. So, they either (a) move WMB to 1B to replace Napoli, and get a one year filler at 3B, (b) keep WMB at 3B for a gap year, planning to move him to 1B the year after next (c) trade WMB, get a one year filler at 3B I don't think they can keep Drew, because that means Xander would have to be 3B for the next couple of years, blocking Cecchini. I think option (c) is the likely one, particularly if packaged with a pitcher to get a cost controlled OFer. |
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Post by awall on Dec 5, 2013 8:14:54 GMT -5
Long term I think Drew and Xander on the left side with Cecchini in LF. At least that's what I'm really looking forward to seeing. Drew's defense really made me do a 180 in my opinion of him.
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ericmvan
Veteran
Supposed to be working on something more important
Posts: 8,941
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Post by ericmvan on Dec 5, 2013 10:33:31 GMT -5
I predict he gives us another two to three months of his feast or famine act before getting replaced by Cecchini in June or July and there is much rejoicing. Exactly. Given Farrell's statement yesterday that the two players he most wants to see in spring training are Bradley and Cecchini, I think they see Cecchini as almost ready. So, they either (a) move WMB to 1B to replace Napoli, and get a one year filler at 3B, (b) keep WMB at 3B for a gap year, planning to move him to 1B the year after next (c) trade WMB, get a one year filler at 3B I don't think they can keep Drew, because that means Xander would have to be 3B for the next couple of years, blocking Cecchini. I think option (c) is the likely one, particularly if packaged with a pitcher to get a cost controlled OFer. You missed the actual likeliest option, which is have WMB play 3B this year and recover some trade value, then deal him next winter to make room for Cecchini. (Or at the trade deadline, if Cecchini comes on like gangbusters.) |
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Post by jimed14 on Dec 5, 2013 10:47:02 GMT -5
I expect him to put up similar numbers to what he produced in the second half of this season and his rookie year.. for another team. I may be in the minority, but I think the Red Sox are going to re-sign Stephen Drew and move Bogaerts to third permanently. I know Cherington and co. have been saying they see Bogaerts as the future shortstop of this team, but I think -- for some reason -- they're going to move Middlebrooks, thus creating the need for Drew. But, this doesn't mean I want him gone. I've always loved Middlebrooks. I'm leaning in this direction also. They should be able to get pretty good value for WMB, given the absence of decent 3B options around the league. |
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ericmvan
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Supposed to be working on something more important
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Post by ericmvan on Dec 5, 2013 10:55:24 GMT -5
I expect him to put up similar numbers to what he produced in the second half of this season and his rookie year.. for another team. I may be in the minority, but I think the Red Sox are going to re-sign Stephen Drew and move Bogaerts to third permanently. I know Cherington and co. have been saying they see Bogaerts as the future shortstop of this team, but I think -- for some reason -- they're going to move Middlebrooks, thus creating the need for Drew. But, this doesn't mean I want him gone. I've always loved Middlebrooks. This would negate the entire contemporary F.O. rationale for the Iglesias / Peavy trade, which was that Iglesias was superfluous because they were absolutely committed to X at SS, which allowed them to use Iglesias to buy pennant insurance in case there was a starting rotation injury in addition to Buchholz not coming back. They didn't trade for Peavy as a significant upgrade to what they had; they traded for him because the one way they could see missing the post-season was if they ended up "with Steven Wright in the rotation" (said Tom Tippett). If they really gave away Jose Iglesias to increase their post-season odds from, what, 98% to 100%, and then changed their mind about Bogaerts and signed Drew for big bucks instead of taking the draft pick for him, and in doing so blocked Cecchini from playing 3B for us -- well, that would be idiotic. |
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Post by Guidas on Dec 5, 2013 10:56:16 GMT -5
.265/.320/.507 28HRs
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Post by p23w on Dec 5, 2013 12:00:11 GMT -5
Difficult to say. A wide band of numerical possibilities. Two issues. 1) Pitch selection. An almost impossible diagnosis at this point. 2) Power. Or better, scary power. Middlebrooks can misread a pitch put an ugly swing on the ball and still hit it 420 feet, The only other guy who can miss a pitch and still hit it out is Ortiz. Make the third issue about defense. Will should definitely have made the pay on Saltalamachia's errant throw in game #3. For me that was a red flag. Even if Middlebrooks makes modest improvements to his offensive game, if he doesn't improve his defense he's just Butch Hobson all over again.
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