I really thought that, for the most part, we got past this whole notion that J.D. Drew is not a good baseball player. Obviously you can't get everyone in the world to think that, but the majority is doable. And, perhaps even, the local media.
But that's not true when it comes to WEEI.
Wait. Or is it?
I had to reread this piece by Kirk Minihane to fully grasp what he was trying to get at. In the article, he contends that Drew is essentially Trot Nixon, when you look at the (inconsequential) numbers like batting average, OBP and slugging.
By the way he frames the argument, it seems he's making the case that Nixon is better than Drew. Apparently, he's actually trying to say Drew is the better player. The whole .270 batting average-thing threw me off.
He almost had me sold -- the second time. But then Minihane drops this nugget:
So, put aside the contract - is it Drew's fault that he was offered more money than he's worth? - and ask yourself this:..
Here's where you're wrong, Mr. Minihane. Drew has been paid a clean $14 million every season since 2007. According to the wonderful FanGraphs, Drew has been worth the following as a Red Sox:
2007 $7.2
2008 $18.1
2009 $21.4
2010 $10.4
2009 was obviously a great year for the Red Sox's right fielder. Not only did Drew hit the ball well, but he was legitimately one of the best right fielders in baseball that season. That's why, all in all, Drew was worth $21.4 million.
He was great in 2008, too, while not quite meeting that $14 million number in 2007 or in 2010. But on average? Drew's been worth $14.28 over the last four seasons.
So yes, Drew is better than Nixon. And more importantly, he has certainly been worth his contract.
LOWRIE THE LOVER
I have this love-hate relationship with Jed Lowrie. When he was drafted by the Red Sox out of Stanford, I was excited for what the Red Sox might be getting. I watched Lowrie with excitement as he climbed through the system. I was ready for the Lowrie era.
Then he decided to be hurt all the time and ride the disabled list like he was getting paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to do so.
Oh, wait.
That's where the hate started to creep in. Now, though, I'm leaning toward dishing out the love a little more.
FanHouse's Ed Price has a nice piece about Lowrie going back Stanford to get his degree in political science. It also talks about his relationship with his fiancee, who works for the U.S. State Department.
Now I see Jed Lowrie is a real person. Sure, he's no superstar like David Ortiz, but his day job is still hitting, throwing and catching a baseball. Being reminded that guys like this are human -- and care about things other than baseball -- is nice once in a while.
The love's creeping back, Jed.
JENKS AND GUILLEN, THE ODD COUPLE
I only have one question about the Bobby Jenks-Ozzie Guillen back-and-forth battle over the last few weeks and months: What are they arguing about?
Seriously. Do you know? Probably not, because those guys don't have any clue. That's why Jenks gave up on the fight. Because when you argue long enough, sometimes you continue to argue after losing sight of the original problem. And, usually, you don't even realize you lost sight.
This has to go down as one of most amazing coach-player fueds in recent history. The fued itself has no meat to it. No one really cares about this fued. But the fact it has spanned an offseason and now Jenks is in Boston and Ozzie is still in Chicago is something signficant.
If Jenks was still Ozzie's a closer, we wouldn't bat an eyelash. I mean, Ozzie has those kind of fueds with every player on his 40-man roster. And he brings them into the public all the time. But to continue to talk garbage about an ex-player on a new team? Boy. That's a new one for Ozzie.
Now he needs to top himself. What's he got up his sleeve for next time?