Best Red Sox SS of All Time

[sk7326]

Does anyone else finds it concerning that all of Bogaert's positive defensive value came in the shift? Take the shift away and he had negative DRS. He's passable, but a move to 3B is enevitable.

I dunno - he was 13th in Statcast OAA among qualified shortstops in 2022, 16th in 2023. He is moving to 2B this season because the Padres want to promote a guy. But Bogaerts worked hard to make himself an acceptable SS.

I think one of the things that colors Bogaerts' time here is how became a very good player but a very different than was advertised as a prospect.

Bogaerts vs Nomar is interesting in that Nomar had a bunch of true MVP-caliber seasons compared to Xander but he was done as a quality regular by age 29.

[moonslav59]

I dunno - he was 13th in Statcast OAA among qualified shortstops in 2022, 16th in 2023.

He also had his best DRS numbers from '22-'23 (+1), but he still placed just 17th out of 32 SSs with 1000+ innings over at SS over the past 2 seasons.

He placed 15th in UZR/150 at +2.3.

2014-2021 (35 SSs with 3,000+ innings)
19th in UZR/150 at +0.2
35th out of 35 in DRS at -55 (203 DRS'd behind Simmons!)

[sk7326]

He also had his best DRS numbers from '22-'23 (+1), but he still placed just 17th out of 32 SSs with 1000+ innings over at SS over the past 2 seasons.

He placed 15th in UZR/150 at +2.3.

2014-2021 (35 SSs with 3,000+ innings)
19th in UZR/150 at +0.2
35th out of 35 in DRS at -55 (203 DRS'd behind Simmons!)

I give him a lot of credit to improve to "fine" at SS - not plus, but not a minus and a very good player when you add the bat. But makes sense for him to move.

[moonslav59]

I give him a lot of credit to improve to "fine" at SS - not plus, but not a minus and a very good player when you add the bat. But makes sense for him to move.

It should be noted that while his D improved from '22-'23, his offense, while fine, was his worst back-to-back 2 year stretch in his last 6 years.

OPS+
135 in '18
139 '19 (137 2 yrs)
128 '20
129 '21 (129 2 yrs)
131 '22
120 '23 (125 over 2 yrs)

wRC+
133, 141
129, 129
133, 120

It's not a big drop off, but it is concerning for such a long contract.

[mvp 78]

Yeah, you don't pay 280M for Xander's glove even if improved. The drop off of his offense is concerning, but we've seen his offense fluctuate from year to year due to various injury issues in the past. Maybe it's something he sorts out this year?

[5GoldGloves:OF,75]

Yeah, you don't pay 280M for Xander's glove even if improved. The drop off of his offense is concerning, but we've seen his offense fluctuate from year to year due to various injury issues in the past. Maybe it's something he sorts out this year?

This may mean something: https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/leade...t-park-factors

Quick summary: Fenway is ranked #2 overall for batters; Petco in SD is #30...

[mvp 78]

This may mean something: https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/leade...t-park-factors

Quick summary: Fenway is ranked #2 overall for batters; Petco in SD is #30...

736 Away OPS. 848 Home.

Petco is bad for HR and 3B, but that's not really part of Xander's game. He's a 2B's and 1B's guy.

Every year, his home and away numbers have gone down. It's not just a Petco Park issue. If his home splits were cratering but his away split held the same, you could blame Petco. That didn't happen.

[5GoldGloves:OF,75]

736 Away OPS. 848 Home.

Petco is bad for HR and 3B, but that's not really part of Xander's game. He's a 2B's and 1B's guy.

Every year, his home and away numbers have gone down. It's not just a Petco Park issue. If his home splits were cratering but his away split held the same, you could blame Petco. That didn't happen.

Not blaming Petco, but savant's stats show it isn't a location that would boost a batter's performance (even for $280 million).

Remember when Bogie would just poke singles the other way and hit .320 -- and Sox management coaxed him to go for more power? Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of VPs...

[mvp 78]

Not blaming Petco, but savant's stats show it isn't a location that would boost a batter's performance (even for $280 million).

Remember when Bogie would just poke singles the other way and hit .320 -- and Sox management coaxed him to go for more power? Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of VPs...

Away splits

2023 736
2022 779
2021 796
2020 936 SSS!
2019 877
2018 800

The last time he had an away split this bad was 2017 when he hit 726. That was the year he was hit on the year and struggle hitting all year long. That's why I suggested that there could be something else going on and that maybe he can pull out of it next season. Or, he's just getting older.

[moonslav59]

This may mean something: https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/leade...t-park-factors

Quick summary: Fenway is ranked #2 overall for batters; Petco in SD is #30...

OPS+ factors in the park played in.