Team defense

AutomatedTeller · 02-26-2007, 07:45 PM

Last year, the Sox had a team that everyone said had vastly improved defense, with AGon and Lowell and Youk. Those guys were pretty good, but the OF wasn't, and the team couldnt' pitch or hit.

How does this team compare? Does it have an adequate D?

AGon->Lugo is a step down
Loretta->Pedroia should be a step up.
Nixon->Drew should be a step up, but I'm not sure that the OF defense is really good - Manny can throw, but has legendary brain farts and moves better than I do, I suppose. Crisp is better suited to LF, though Drew is supposed to be good. Neither Pena nor Hinske are defensive players.

We know the pen is a weakness - I worry that the defense is, as well.

What do you guys think?

Zen653 · 02-27-2007, 12:06 AM

I think the defense will be fine. We keep hearing that Lugo's lateral mobility is outstanding. While he might not make the show-stopping plays that Gonzalez made, he's not going to be any worse than what we had with Garciaparra for several years. I'm more concerned about Pedroia making the adjustment to second base. I was very unimpressed with him last year. He double clutched on nearly every throw and just did not seem to have much of an arm.

The outfield defense should be better with Drew replacing Nixon in right, and a healthy Crisp patrolling CF. Ramirez is a better than average defensive outfielder at Fenway, and somewhat below average on the road. Pena cannot play the corner spots but does a surprisingly good job in CF.

AutomatedTeller · 02-27-2007, 12:46 PM

Pedroia didn't look good, no. That is probably a pretty big risk - the risk that he will flame out. He probably won't, and he'll probably adjust, but he might not.

Pena is wierd - I don't really understand why he can play CF but not the corners - it may be that he just gets bad reads.

Sox have a flyball, high K rotation, but they don't have a great defensive OF. That worries me, a little. Of course, if the offense is healthy, it won't matter that much...

02-26-2007, 07:45 PM	#1 (permalink)
AutomatedTeller Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 544	Team defense Last year, the Sox had a team that everyone said had vastly improved defense, with AGon and Lowell and Youk. Those guys were pretty good, but the OF wasn't, and the team couldnt' pitch or hit. How does this team compare? Does it have an adequate D? AGon->Lugo is a step down Loretta->Pedroia should be a step up. Nixon->Drew should be a step up, but I'm not sure that the OF defense is really good - Manny can throw, but has legendary brain farts and moves better than I do, I suppose. Crisp is better suited to LF, though Drew is supposed to be good. Neither Pena nor Hinske are defensive players. We know the pen is a weakness - I worry that the defense is, as well. What do you guys think?

02-27-2007, 12:06 AM	#2 (permalink)
Zen653 Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 6,580	I think the defense will be fine. We keep hearing that Lugo's lateral mobility is outstanding. While he might not make the show-stopping plays that Gonzalez made, he's not going to be any worse than what we had with Garciaparra for several years. I'm more concerned about Pedroia making the adjustment to second base. I was very unimpressed with him last year. He double clutched on nearly every throw and just did not seem to have much of an arm. The outfield defense should be better with Drew replacing Nixon in right, and a healthy Crisp patrolling CF. Ramirez is a better than average defensive outfielder at Fenway, and somewhat below average on the road. Pena cannot play the corner spots but does a surprisingly good job in CF.

02-27-2007, 12:46 PM	#3 (permalink)
AutomatedTeller Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 544	Pedroia didn't look good, no. That is probably a pretty big risk - the risk that he will flame out. He probably won't, and he'll probably adjust, but he might not. Pena is wierd - I don't really understand why he can play CF but not the corners - it may be that he just gets bad reads. Sox have a flyball, high K rotation, but they don't have a great defensive OF. That worries me, a little. Of course, if the offense is healthy, it won't matter that much...