Your favorite red sox player( on the current team)

[BigPapi]

I thought this would be a cool thread, so say who your favorite current red sox player is and why? Mine is David Ortiz.

[onlybereaved]

I would have to go with 15 on this one all day long

[Thunder]

Mine has changed all year.

 

Right now it is Jonny Gomes. He has been so clutch all year and has been really fun to watch. I will love Pedey for eternity though. His play style is so much like mine.

[sk7326]

The stalwarts that we know and love - those are too easy.

 

Of the non-standard choices ...

 

Daniel Nava and Koji Uehara

 

Uehara in particular - for a guy whose stuff is not that wipeout, just remarkable control ... doesn't mess around

[BigPapi]

I would have to go with 15 on this one all day long

 

Good choice. He is my third fave after koji.

[Orange Juiced]

The stalwarts that we know and love - those are too easy.

 

Of the non-standard choices ...

 

Daniel Nava and Koji Uehara

 

Uehara in particular - for a guy whose stuff is not that wipeout, just remarkable control ... doesn't mess around

 

His stuff is *nasty*. His FB isn't a plus pitch, velocity-wise, but his other stuff is just downright filthy, and it makes his fastball even better. And of course, you're right - the control is impeccable.

[Behindenemylines]

15 - Played a big role today and didn't have a hit.

[Northern Star]

check my signature...

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

Check my avatar...

[BigPapi]

So far its pedey in the lead.

[sk7326]

His stuff is *nasty*. His FB isn't a plus pitch, velocity-wise, but his other stuff is just downright filthy, and it makes his fastball even better. And of course, you're right - the control is impeccable.

 

Stuff is terrific - but what is interesting is that his splitter movement is much more of a tumble than you normally see - not the late hard movement of a Hideo Nomo or somebody. It is a much more effective swing and miss pitch than you'd think. He has been marvelous - and has held up much more than anybody could expect in terms of sheer durability. I expect him to get some 8th inning calls during the stretch as he has been used very carefully and he does not waste pitches.

[Bellhorn04]

I have to make two separate picks.

 

Ortiz will go down as one of my favorite players in history.

 

On the current team the guy I'm always cheering for to do well is Nava. The guy is having a tremendous year against all odds. There were people who figured he'd be out of baseball by now, and I mean people who actually understand baseball.

[a700hitter]

Currently and for quite some time-- David "Big papi" Ortiz

[Orange Juiced]

My all-time favorite baseball player is Pedro Martinez, and it's not even close for 2nd. Currently? I guess I have to say Papi. I'm hoping that Xander Bogaerts takes that title for many, many years to come though.

[sk7326]

My all-time favorite baseball player is Pedro Martinez, and it's not even close for 2nd. Currently? I guess I have to say Papi. I'm hoping that Xander Bogaerts takes that title for many, many years to come though.

 

This. Pedro's 1999-2000 is the best pitching I've ever seen. Certainly stretches on par with Dwight Gooden 1985, mid 90s Greg Maddux, couple of Johan Santana's pre injury best, or even Bob Gibson or Koufax (on a league-adjusted basis) for best pitching seasons ever.

[Orange Juiced]

This. Pedro's 1999-2000 is the best pitching I've ever seen. Certainly stretches on par with Dwight Gooden 1985, mid 90s Greg Maddux, couple of Johan Santana's pre injury best, or even Bob Gibson or Koufax (on a league-adjusted basis) for best pitching seasons ever.

 

Pedro's peak stretch was the greatest the game has ever seen, when adjusted for the era in which they played. Gibson's 1968 season was insane, but that was the year that the AL batting champ (Yaz) hit just .301. Gibson's era+ that year was 258. Pedro's era+ in 2000 was 291 - a far better performance (and that's saying something, because Gibson's 1968 season was phenomenally good).

[SoxSport]

pedroia

[Thunder]

My top 5 on the current roster:

5. Ellsbury

4. Napoli

3. Ortiz

2. Pedey

1. Gomes

[sk7326]

Pedro's peak stretch was the greatest the game has ever seen, when adjusted for the era in which they played. Gibson's 1968 season was insane, but that was the year that the AL batting champ (Yaz) hit just .301. Gibson's era+ that year was 258. Pedro's era+ in 2000 was 291 - a far better performance (and that's saying something, because Gibson's 1968 season was phenomenally good).

 

Only 2 year stretch comparable was Maddux for sure. Pedro's 291 ERA+ the best of the live ball era. The 243 in 1999 was 9th. Maddux 1994, 1995 were 271 and 260 respectively.

 

That September start against the 1999 Yankees, where Pedro threw a 1 hitter with 17 Ks, and struck out something like the last 8 Yanks http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/news/1999/09/10/redsox_yankees_ap/ is the greatest performance I've ever seen. The 5 inning no hitter with an 87 mph fastball that October against Cleveland is the most unlikely.

[Orange Juiced]

Only 2 year stretch comparable was Maddux for sure. Pedro's 291 ERA+ the best of the live ball era. The 243 in 1999 was 9th. Maddux 1994, 1995 were 271 and 260 respectively.

 

That September start against the 1999 Yankees, where Pedro threw a 1 hitter with 17 Ks, and struck out something like the last 8 Yanks http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/news/1999/09/10/redsox_yankees_ap/ is the greatest performance I've ever seen. The 5 inning no hitter with an 87 mph fastball that October against Cleveland is the most unlikely.

 

6-innings vs. Cleveland. ;-)

 

And yes, I actually have that 17 k Pedro gem saved on my iPad and I watch it from time to time. He had the full arsenal going that night - high 90's fastball, nasty curve that buckled batters' knees, and the deadly change that just flopped away from lefties. Utterly dominant that day against the eventual WS Champs - so he wasn't doing it against some crummy team.

[Palodios]

Daniel Nava followed closely by John Lackey.

[jung]

So I am not sure if the OP wants us to ignore the old standards or not. If not for me it has to be Pedey.

 

Of the non-standard guys, maybe meaning the newer players I am going to go with Vic. He came into this town I think greeted by boatloads of skepticism. He has done nothing but play with heart and determination and has really been a rock. Finally it looks like the injuries he has sustained playing hard all season are catching up to him. However it did not prevent him from manning up and going out there today on a day that he likely needed off. He does some quirky things that I don't like. I don't like that throw to 1st that he admits has never worked, not once for an entire career and that has caused him to misplay a ball once this year. Second to Vic of the new guys for me would be Gomes.

[SCM33]

Favorites:

Stephen Drew and Johhny Gomes. Nava has started to grow on me as well, for once.....Dojji was right. I definitely counted him out too early.

 

Ortiz and Pedroia don't count, you are supposed to love those guys!

 

Least favorite:

Salty by a mile, followed by Napoli. Neither of those guys get on base enough or hit with enough power to balance out their ridiculous amount of strikeouts.

[MJantomaso]

I thought this would be a cool thread, so say who your favorite current red sox player is and why? Mine is David Ortiz.

 

you never said why.

[BigPapi]

you never said why.

 

For one, because of his post season performances and regular season performances. He has been one of the premier hitters in this league since 2003 and has shown he has put his poorer 2008 and 2009 campaings behind him. He also has had 3 epic post season walk off hits, two of which were hrs and without those, I am sure the sox would have never broke the curse in 04. I also think he is the epitome of cool.

[Jasonbay44]

Koji, he's just the f***ing man.

[Station 13]

6-innings vs. Cleveland. ;-)

 

And yes, I actually have that 17 k Pedro gem saved on my iPad and I watch it from time to time. He had the full arsenal going that night - high 90's fastball, nasty curve that buckled batters' knees, and the deadly change that just flopped away from lefties. Utterly dominant that day against the eventual WS Champs - so he wasn't doing it against some crummy team.

 

Upload it on Youtube man so we can watch it. Make it a private channel so MLB doesn't take it down.

[Station 13]

My favorite current is Koji Uehara. He's been solid from day 1. He is having a top 10 reliever season probably in baseball.

[Orange Juiced]

Upload it on Youtube man so we can watch it. Make it a private channel so MLB doesn't take it down.

 

I got it from itunes...only costs a few bucks. Well worth the price!

[jung]

6-innings vs. Cleveland. ;-)

 

And yes, I actually have that 17 k Pedro gem saved on my iPad and I watch it from time to time. He had the full arsenal going that night - high 90's fastball, nasty curve that buckled batters' knees, and the deadly change that just flopped away from lefties. Utterly dominant that day against the eventual WS Champs - so he wasn't doing it against some crummy team.

 

I saw that game. It was memorable. Not every pitcher can throw that dominant finger change-up that sort of looks like a screw ball but Pedro could. Many of them just end up sort of dropping a bit but don't break at all. When Pedro had all of his pitches going, call it day...save the time and effort cause as an opponent, you were cannon fodder.