Didi Gregorius inherited Derek Jeter’s position, but so far it appears that he has not inherited his defensive intuition, Billy Witz of the New York Times writes. Yankees manager Joe Girardi has said repeatedly that Gregorius is trying to do too much on the field, but Witz isn’t sure if instinctiveness is a trait that can be learned. Here’s more from the AL East..
- The Red Sox have a strong farm system despite a history of spotty selections in the draft, Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald writes. Prior to this season, the Red Sox’s system was ranked No. 2 by MLB.com and Baseball America, fifth by ESPN, and sixth by Baseball Prospectus. That lofty status was achieved in spite of the fact that their most successful first-round pick since Clay Buchholz was Daniel Bard in 2006. There may not be a Bryce Harper or Mike Trout in the bunch, but there’s still plenty of talent there, Mastrodonato writes. Boston holds the No. 7 overall pick in the upcoming draft.
- Peter Gammons of Daily Gammons looked at some potential draft choices for the Red Sox. Unfortunately for Boston, this is a draft that does not have high profile college players and is regarded as a deep class rather than one loaded with future superstars at the top. Gammons notes that Boston has spent a lot of time on University of Arkansas center fielder Andrew Benintendi and he could be a consideration for them at No. 7.
- As May draws to a close, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times decided to look back at how new Rays baseball operations president Matt Silverman fared this offseason. Topkin starts off by checking in on Ben Zobrist, who was traded as he was entering his final year before free agency. Zobrist is expected to fill a role similar to the one he played in Tampa Bay now that he has returned from the DL, but the Rays felt that it was more important to get a package that helped them in the present and future. Topkin also looks back at the trade of Jeremy Hellickson to the Diamondbacks and notes that he wasn’t worth $4.275MM given the Rays’ starting pitching depth. If either infielder Andrew Velasquez or outfielder Justin Williams – the prospects received for Hellickson – make the majors, then it’s probably a bonus for Tampa Bay.
BoSox system is HYPE rich, talent poor.
BoSox system is HYPE rich, talent poor.
Herald article is odd. They do know that you can acquire talented players as international free agents right? The draft isn’t the end all and be all of getting talent.
The International market is slowly being leveled out, in the same way revenue sharing and the luxury tax have impacted MLB over the past 5-7 years. The Yankees and Red Sox have gone into the International market because they can no longer overpay for endless free agents and take on established veteran contracts in trade. All they did for decades was spend money. With a level field they’re not so wonderful. And boy, as noted above, hearing about their sensational can’t-miss prospects is slowly becoming a running joke. Peter Gammons started this by pushing every player from the Yankees and Red Sox – no one listens to him anymore.
Peter Gammons..lol
Not only that, but the first round of the draft isn’t the only way to acquire talent. Betts will turn out to be a pretty great pick after the first round. Not to mention how good owens, swihart, barnes and bradley were at certain points. They were all certainly good picks even if they all bust, which is doubtful.
They were all certainly good picks even if they all bust”. If Mr. Spock had been a baseball fan his head would explode right about now.
I’m not sure why this is a hard concept, if harper somehow busted would that have been a bad pick? He was clearly the best player in the draft.
None of the redsox first rounders were drafted out of place, and all had high trade value for years.
So now your logic is jumping to comparing 4 players who have either had a cup of coffee at the MLB level and been sent back down, never made the MLB level or have been called up and are struggling to a player that has been relatively successful for 3+ years? OK. BTW, Chris Sale might dispute that Harper was clearly the best player. Considering Harper was voted “The Most Over-Rated Player in MLB” 3 years in a row by the other MLB players I think they would disagree too.
I never compared any players i’m not sure what you’re talking about. Especially the part about Sale being better than Harper because players voted one as being overrated.
Even if we conceded the fact that Harper was overrated that has nothing to do with his actual talent level in comparison to Sale or anyone else, so it’s kind odd to bring up that poll and make the logical leap that Harper is worse than Sale. That type of logic would surely make Mr spock’s head explode. .
30 GMs out of 30 would pick Harper if given the choice between Harper and Sale. We’re talking about a guy leading the NL in homers at age 22.
Yes, but what would Sale say?
I’m pretty sure Sale would admit that he’s not as good at baseball as Harper.
It is impossible to actually say that and a month of outstanding play after several years in the league does not change history.
Are you arguing that Sale is better than Harper? Because that’s not going to be true irrespective of how many times you say it.
Herald article is odd. They do know that you can acquire talented players as international free agents right? The draft isn’t the end all and be all of getting talent.
Didi of late has looked better than the Didi to start the season, at least by the eye test. Though the errors still pop up now and then, he’s looked a bit more relaxed the past few weeks fundamentally. He’s also looked to have a better approach at the plate, despite the lack in overwhelming numbers to back that,which he’d been working on. He’s still not quite optimal, but little progress is still progress.
Didi of late has looked better than the Didi to start the season, at least by the eye test. Though the errors still pop up now and then, he’s looked a bit more relaxed the past few weeks fundamentally. He’s also looked to have a better approach at the plate, despite the lack in overwhelming numbers to back that,which he’d been working on. He’s still not quite optimal, but little progress is still progress.
Boston also had to spend $135.5 million on two of their top guys (Castillo and Moncada) to get that farm system rating.
Can you imagine the grief they will get if Moncada turns into a bust or gets injury prone like Slade Heathcott?
Just curious – why are we comparing Moncada to Heathcott? What similarities do they have, other than being baseball players, that suggests one’s injury history would affect the other’s?
I think the OP was just using a prospect they know as an example of someone who was hurt. I think the similarities end there.
You could choose to not be condescending, which would be nice. And you absolutely were comparing Moncada and Heathcott. Read what you wrote.
Well they were rated super highly before those signings as they still have 5-6 top 100 prospects. Castillo is also rarely even counted as a prospect.
Castillo isn’t part of those rankings
He’s part of Baseball America’s ratings.
On Fangraphs, WAR/UZR has Gregorius at 2.9 UZR, Jeter last had a UZR that high in 2009.
Perhaps Yankees fans just don’t understand what good SS defense looks like anymore??
The biggest qualm with Didi is the errors/miscues he makes. Take those away, and you have a pretty good defensive player. Because of those, he’s just slightly above average, his UZR is a pretty good indicator of where he’s at right now.
NY put up with Mr Goodie pants for his bat that was productive. Good Shortstops, rarely make costly errors and mistakes Didi does , Guy an Average SS with a Weak Bat!
His range is great, his arm is great, and his approach at the plate is improving. To boot, he’s looked much better fundamentally recently in the field as a whole, he still needs to cut the errors out. His defense,even factoring in errors, is above average. The only reason people are so harsh in their evaluation is hands down the errors. And Headley has more so far than Didi does, so who’s to say it’s not a slump? Also, it’s not as if we gave up a star to get him, and it’s not as if the market is swimming with realistic/better options. Patience is key with him.
Ya Didi isn’t going to keep this team from being a playoff team. The Yankees hopes aren’t resting on his shoulders. He’s a decent enough shortstop.
Derek Jeter was never a good shortstop, should have been moved from SS years prior to retirement. Yankees are just spoiled because they are used to star power, and seeing a Didi Gregorius just doesn’t suit them.
If the bat is great, they will leave them there. Look at Manny and Piazza. 2 terrible guys at their position defensively but 2 guys with HOF numbers. Only the latter one though will appear to make it in there though, but I think you get my point.
Both Juicers, only one got caught !
Please.
Derek Jeter was a very good SS for at least the first half of his career.
1997, 1998 and 2007. What do those years have in common?
The only 3 years in Jeter’s career he had a positive dWAR
Defensive statistics are awful.
Your eye test is better?
Let’s see if the Red Sox waste this #7 pick like they did in 2013.
Trey Ball should change his name to Cuatro Ball.
It’s WAY too early to say Ball is a bust or a wasted pick.
erick aybar used to try too much when he was younger. he always have had range and a strong arm. now that he learned when not to throw to first he is a very good ss.
Yeah, but he has always been fairly consistent with the bat. Didi is a black hole offensively, and defense is where he provides his value. He’s been the player most people expected he’d be when he was acquired in the offseason, yet it seems like the New York media is surprised.
That’s because NY lives in a Bubble, until really kicks in like right now with aging,expensive Stars.How does Cashman have Job ?
Cashman is good at his job, that’s why.
If Red Sox had kept their prospects, that are so “overrated”, this would be their lineup:
Ellsbury CF
Pedroia 2B
Rizzo 1B
H Ramirez DH
Reddick RF
B Moss LF
Iglesias SS
Castillo 3B
Swihart C
Lester SP
A Sanchez SP
Buchholz SP
Masterson SP
Wright SP
Papelbon CL
Bench: Bogaerts, Betts, Lowrie, Middlebrooks, D Murphy, Vazquez, Tazawa
Who is Wright again?
The knuckleballer, I think?
Rusney is playing 3B? Interesting.
Tulo is the Right SS for the New York Yankees , what is Cashmen waiting for make the move now, include Didi in the package for the Rockies.For the New York Yankees to have a nonentity as Gregarious is a disgrace when Yankees need/want Tulo and he wants to go replace his Idol Jeter as the SS for the Yankees. Three Good prospects gets it done!
As a Yankee fan, please no. Nothing again Tulo, but youth and athleticism are something the Yankees desperately need. Didi and three good prospects is the wrong direction. The Yankees are failing because of the number of high salary-in-their-decline-phase players they already have.
Tulo in his decline phase is still one of the best players in baseball though..
Why is there an assumption that Tulo wants out now and the Rockies want to deal him? They might be just as close to dealing some talent for a front line starter.
Because the national media creates the impression that teams in small and medium sized markets only use is to be feeder teams to the large market teams so they trade players they’ve developed for prospects that are not all that good. Over the years, the fans believe it.
Cole Hamels a Rockies uniform?
I’m not necessarily saying Cole Hamels, but the Rockies have expressed a desire to acquire a front line starter via trade. Its not likely they’ll ever get one in free agency.
Seems like maybe andrew Freidman was the smart guy pulling on the strings of all the rays success…
The Rays are a well built organization. They have plenty of smart people running their baseball operations. Friedman was certainly good at his job there, but they can succeed without him.
More like Lucky, could you see him in Tampa, For about 6 months before he got fired !