The annual Jackie Bradley Jr thread (2019 Edition)

[Station 13]

The spring training sensation since 2013 is hitting .138 .177 .172

 

Trade, DFA, release,

 

what say you?

[harmony]

Keep.

 

Jackie Bradley Jr. remains among the most valuable Red Sox players.

[SCM33]

Keep.

 

Jackie Bradley Jr. remains among the most valuable Red Sox players.

 

ugh......that line of thinking is dangerous. We value our own players wayyyyy higher than other teams do. JBJ is probably a 4th OF anywhere else. He literally cant hit.

 

Darren Lewis was a GG defensive OF. He was a 4th OF on most teams, bc he couldnt hit.......and to be honest, Lewis was a better baserunner, and a better offensive player.

[vegasbob]

The reason most often given for keeping JBJr is the exceptional defensive play in the large yard known as CF, Fenway Park. There is also the expectation that later or later (sic) he will magically find his stroke and start a 2 month run of hitting like many other MLB OF'ers. The Sox should hold JBJr until it becomes obvious that they are either in or out of the pennant chase around trade deadline. He may be in a hot streak mode by then , either helping the team or of some value to another.

 

My argument has been that if the other 7 guys in the lineup are hitting near their career averages or better, then the Sox can carry two lightweight bats (catcher & JBJr) The problem to start this season is that with the exceptions of JDM, Bogey, Beni to a degree , MM to a degree nobody else was hitting .200 .

 

Last night's game with the Rays reminded me of one of the 2018 story lines: When Betts is hitting and on base, JDM gets rbi's. When the lower third of the lineup participates (Vazquez last night) good things happen. When you get HR's just over the fence instead of 2 ' short, they win. All that came together vs the Rays, and that team looked much different than the prior 4 games.

[Slasher9]

None of the choices the OP gave.

He should stay exactly where he is...patrolling CF for the Boston Red Sox.

[Bellhorn04]

None of the choices the OP gave.

He should stay exactly where he is...patrolling CF for the Boston Red Sox.

 

Of course.

[Bellhorn04]

ugh......that line of thinking is dangerous. We value our own players wayyyyy higher than other teams do. JBJ is probably a 4th OF anywhere else. He literally cant hit.

 

Darren Lewis was a GG defensive OF. He was a 4th OF on most teams, bc he couldnt hit.......and to be honest, Lewis was a better baserunner, and a better offensive player.

 

The only way to settle this is with numbers.

 

Darren Lewis accumulated 10.5 bWAR and 8.1 fWAR in 1354 games, 4654 PA's

 

Bradley has 12.3 bWAR and 11.6 fWAR in 688 games, 2559 PA's (a little over half as many as Lewis)

 

It's fair to say that Bradley is roughly twice as valuable as Lewis was.

[Kimmi]

None of the choices the OP gave.

He should stay exactly where he is...patrolling CF for the Boston Red Sox.

 

Amen brother.

[harmony]

ugh......that line of thinking is dangerous. We value our own players wayyyyy higher than other teams do. JBJ is probably a 4th OF anywhere else. He literally cant hit.

 

Darren Lewis was a GG defensive OF. He was a 4th OF on most teams, bc he couldnt hit.......and to be honest, Lewis was a better baserunner, and a better offensive player.

For what it's worth, I am not a Red Sox fan.

 

Since the start of the 2015 season, Jackie Bradley Jr. has ranked 20th among all outfielders in fWAR:

 

https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=of&stats=bat&lg=all&qual=y&type=8&season=2019&month=0&season1=2015&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0

 

Those are not the numbers of a fourth outfielder.

[oldtimer]

The spring training sensation since 2013 is hitting .138 .177 .172

 

Trade, DFA, release,

 

what say you?

 

I think it's time to consider cutting ties with JBJ. Not now but certainly to look for an improvement for next season. If he still is doing poorly in July, I would consider replacing him this year.

[notin]

Keep Bradley.

 

Trade Devers...

[Jasonbay44]

Releasing JBJ is stupid. Selling low on him is stupid. I don't get why this thread gets started and debated every single April.

 

This dude is one of the most irrationally hated on guys on the team. He's been bad this year, I get that. But he always starts slow and since 2015 he has managed to be a 2+ WAR player every season. Who we going to replace him with? JD in the outfield and Pearce DH full time? Is that REALLY a better option?

Edited April 21, 2019 by Jasonbay44

[redsoxrules]

JBJ is awful. The same discussions are made every year. He literally stinks for 75 percent of the season. He has one good stretch during the year and luckily for us it was in the fall last year.

[oldtimer]

Releasing JBJ is stupid. Selling low on him is stupid. I don't get why this thread gets started and debated every single April.

 

This dude is one of the most irrationally hated on guys on the team. He's been bad this year, I get that. But he always starts slow and since 2015 he has managed to be a 2+ WAR player every season. Who we going to replace him with? JD in the outfield and Pearce DH full time? Is that REALLY a better option?

 

Maybe because he is hitting .133 with more than 12 % of the season gone by. It is a pattern with this guy and perhaps we should look to do better. Could it be more stupid to support a chronic undedrperformer until he and a few others sink the chances of a team with the highest payroll in baseball?

[notin]

Maybe because he is hitting .133 with more than 12 % of the season gone by. It is a pattern with this guy and perhaps we should look to do better. Could it be more stupid to support a chronic undedrperformer until he and a few others sink the chances of a team with the highest payroll in baseball?

 

If this is what JBJ does every year, then how is he an “underperformed?”

 

I think JBJ pretty much proves Sox fans want offense. Players like Bradley and Leon play their positions very well but don’t always, or if you're Leon, ever hit. And they gotta go. Now! Who cares if there is no one ready to step in.

 

 

Meanwhile Devers can hit, but couldn’t catch a cold if he was naked in Norway. And he’s the guy this team is supposed to build around?

[S5Dewey]

The only way to settle this is with numbers.

 

Darren Lewis accumulated 10.5 bWAR and 8.1 fWAR in 1354 games, 4654 PA's

 

Bradley has 12.3 bWAR and 11.6 fWAR in 688 games, 2559 PA's (a little over half as many as Lewis)

 

It's fair to say that Bradley is roughly twice as valuable as Lewis was.

 

Sometimes I actually like WAR!

[S5Dewey]

Releasing JBJ is stupid. Selling low on him is stupid. I don't get why this thread gets started and debated every single April.

I get it. It's because people undervalue outstanding defense. Chicks aren't the only ones who dig the long ball. Or offense.

[notin]

Releasing JBJ is stupid. Selling low on him is stupid. I don't get why this thread gets started and debated every single April.

 

This dude is one of the most irrationally hated on guys on the team. He's been bad this year, I get that. But he always starts slow and since 2015 he has managed to be a 2+ WAR player every season. Who we going to replace him with? JD in the outfield and Pearce DH full time? Is that REALLY a better option?

 

Replace him with Chavis. The dude has a career OPS of 3.000!!!

 

 

Sure it might be a small sample size...

[notin]

I get it. It's because people undervalue outstanding defense. Chicks aren't the only ones who dig the long ball. Or offense.

 

 

That pop culture reference is actually so old now, two of the three then-active players are in Cooperstown and the third has been kept out multiple times for steroid usage. Might as well be asking “where’s the beef?!!?”

[Bellhorn04]

Sometimes I actually like WAR!

 

I've tried to tell you Dewey, WAR can be your friend with defensive players like JBJ.

[S5Dewey]

I've tried to tell you Dewey, WAR can be your friend with defensive players like JBJ.

 

Isn't it amazing how a person's perspective changes, depending on what they want to hear? LOL

[notin]

I will never understand the logic of “ this player sucks!! The Sox need to trade him!!”

 

Do we really think other GMs won’t know he sucks? Or do you just want to trade him for different players who suck?

Edited April 21, 2019 by notin

[Bellhorn04]

Isn't it amazing how a person's perspective changes, depending on what they want to hear? LOL

 

In all seriousness, though, players like JBJ are exactly why WAR is useful.

[Bellhorn04]

JBJ actually had a big game on O last night. His single in the 9th off a hard throwing lefty started the game winning rally, and his walk in the second also led to a run.

[notin]

JBJ actually had a big game on O last night. His single in the 9th off a hard throwing lefty started the game winning rally, and his walk in the second also led to a run.

 

I think he’s awesome, regardless of the hitting.

 

I’d love to see the Sox extend him, but I think it’s not very likely despite the dearth of OF talent in the system right now...

[Bellhorn04]

I think he’s awesome, regardless of the hitting.

 

It's unfathomable to me how anyone who has followed baseball a long time doesn't get the value of a JBJ in spite of the batting average.

 

It's all about the concept of having a balanced team. The Sox epitomized that last year.

[oldtimer]

If this is what JBJ does every year, then how is he an “underperformed?”

 

I think JBJ pretty much proves Sox fans want offense. Players like Bradley and Leon play their positions very well but don’t always, or if you're Leon, ever hit. And they gotta go. Now! Who cares if there is no one ready to step in.

 

 

Meanwhile Devers can hit, but couldn’t catch a cold if he was naked in Norway. And he’s the guy this team is supposed to build around?

 

Devers is 22 and has an upside, probably at 1st base in 2020. Bradley is approaching 30 and has shown geat defense but inconsistent and often very poor offense now for many years. Things won't change for the better with him and the money we will pay him should be applied to a better overall player. 2020 is a good target to make the change.

[Bellhorn04]

Devers is 22 and has an upside, probably at 1st base in 2020. Bradley is approaching 30 and has shown geat defense but inconsistent and often very poor offense now for many years. Things won't change for the better with him and the money we will pay him should be applied to a better overall player. 2020 is a good target to make the change.

 

And how do you replace Bradley's defense?

[jung]

Heck JBJ is worth keeping just for what is now the "ANNUAL" JBJ thread!

[Kimmi]

JBJ is awful. The same discussions are made every year. He literally stinks for 75 percent of the season. He has one good stretch during the year and luckily for us it was in the fall last year.

 

It seems that there is too much focus on offense, and not enough on defense. I'm not saying you specifically, but that seems to be a too prevalent theme on this forum.

 

That doesn't just apply to to Jackie, but to our catchers as well, and now with Chavis after one at bat.

 

Defense people. Defense.