De Aza

[Lillian]

Did you notice De Aza's line vs. RHP this year in AAA?

97 AB .330 Avg .425 OBP .485 SLG
7 doubles 1 triple 2 HR's 11 RBI 14 BB 14 SO 8 SB 0 CS

Last year at AAA in half of a season, vs. right and left handed pitching:

267 AB .300 Avg .370 OBP .506 SLG
21 doubles 5 triples 8 HR 34 RBI

Add his good defense, and you get a pretty compelling player to consider to take Pierre's place.
If he can perform anywhere near that level, you can then try to move Pierre in the off season, and get some salary relief to be applied toward other needs.

What's wrong with giving him a chance to show what he can do?

[delben91]

Originally Posted by Lillian

Have you guys noticed De Aza coming on at Charlotte?

He has a lot of tools, and could ultimately replace Pierre in LF and leadoff.

He's no Brad Eldred.

[rdivaldi]

Originally Posted by delben91

he's no brad eldred.

+1

[Lillian]

Originally Posted by delben91

He's no Brad Eldred.

So you guys remember.

I admit, I thought Eldred might have helped, at some point.

However, De Aza is a completely different kind of player. Eldred was a big slugger, who struck out a lot. This guy is a "toolsy" player who can do a lot of things well.

Do you actually like Pierre's game?
I really don't like his style of offense. He's nothing more than a base runner, and he doesn't get on enough to exercise those skills.

I'd like to have someone who can at least hit a sacrifice fly with a runner on third, and less than two out. All he seems capable of hitting is a "seeing eye" single, or a Texas Leaguer.

Remember, he's only guaranteed to bat lead off once per game. After that, he's pretty useless. It's fine in the N.L., where the lead off guy usually comes to bat with no one on base, after the weak #8 hitter and the pitcher. In the A.L., the lead off hitter can expect to have a lot more chances to move runners up, or drive them in, and he just doesn't seem very capable of that, unless he sacrifice bunts.

He sure wasn't worth the money he got in that big contract, and I doubt he'll be worth what he's costing the Sox, even after what the Dodgers are kicking in.

[KMcMahon817]

Originally Posted by Lillian

So you guys remember.

I admit, I thought Eldred might have helped, at some point.

However, De Aza is a completely different kind of player. Eldred was a big slugger, who struck out a lot. This guy is a "toolsy" player who can do a lot of things well.

Do you actually like Pierre's game?
I really don't like his style of offense. He's nothing more than a base runner, and he doesn't get on enough to exercise those skills.

I'd like to have someone who can at least hit a sacrifice fly with a runner on third, and less than two out. All he seems capable of hitting is a "seeing eye" single, or a Texas Leaguer.

Remember, he's only guaranteed to bat lead off once per game. After that, he's pretty useless. It's fine in the N.L., where the lead off guy usually comes to bat with no one on base, after the weak #8 hitter and the pitcher. In the A.L., the lead off hitter can expect to have a lot more chances to move runners up, or drive them in, and he just doesn't seem very capable of that, unless he sacrifice bunts.

He sure wasn't worth the money he got in that big contract, and I doubt he'll be worth what he's costing the Sox, even after what the Dodgers are kicking in.

You may not like Pierre, but he is definitely worth 4 million a year. Minus the first three weeks of the season, he has been a solid lead off man for the Sox. Grebeck, I dont want to hear it.

[doublem23]

Originally Posted by KMcMahon817

You may not like Pierre, but he is definitely worth 4 million a year. Minus the first three weeks of the season, he has been a solid lead off man for the Sox. Grebeck, I dont want to hear it.

Juan Pierre can still suck (and he does) but that doesn't mean De Aza is a better idea.

[Lillian]

Originally Posted by doublem23

Juan Pierre can still suck (and he does) but that doesn't mean De Aza is a better idea.

Of course, there is no guarantee that he would be any better.
However, I've seen enough of Pierre, and don't think there is any upside there. He is what he is, and has always been.
I'd rather hope that someone else could do better, and give him a chance.
Any other candidates whom you'd care to suggest?

[Randar68]

Originally Posted by Lillian

Of course, there is no guarantee that he would be any better.
However, I've seen enough of Pierre, and don't think there is any upside there. He is what he is, and has always been.
I'd rather hope that someone else could do better, and give him a chance.
Any other candidates whom you'd care to suggest?

Sacrificing the known for the completely unknown... BRILLIANT!


That's how you become the Pirates in one easy step, my man.

[doublem23]

Originally Posted by Randar68

Sacrificing the known for the completely unknown... BRILLIANT!


That's how you become the Pirates in one easy step, my man.

Pretty much. It wouldn't be a big deal if De Aza was a well regarded prospect and the Sox were totally dead in the water, but that's not the case. I still wouldn't mind De Aza making an appearance because, as it's constructed, the Sox have almost no speed on the bench, and will have absolutely none once Teahen replaces Lillibridge, but playing everyday? No thank you.

[Randar68]

Maybe he's a late bloomer, but at 26 years old, it's not like they should be in a hurry to replace Pierre for him. He's not a Viciedo or Beckham by any means.

[russ99]

I'm hopeful that Mitchell comes back from his injury with the same abilities and can move through the system quickly next spring.

He's really the only guy in the system who can replace Pierre next year (and thereafter) unless we go outside the organization, and for leadoff guys, that's very expensive, unless we go with the likes of Crisp and Tavares, both of which were released this year.

[DirtySox]

Originally Posted by russ99

He's really the only guy in the system who can replace Pierre next year (and thereafter) unless we go outside the organization, and for leadoff guys, that's very expensive, unless we go with the likes of Crisp and Tavares, both of which were released this year.

Willy Taveras will be lucky if he's on even a minor league roster next year.

[Lillian]

Take a look at De Aza's current split stats at Charlotte. He continues to hit, after a brief stint on the D.L.
Think about the feasibility of bringing him up to at least face right handers.
If some team needs a lead off man, couldn't the Sox deal Pierre, and replace him with De Aza, or even a platoon of De Aza and Lillibridge?
I know Juan had a good night last night, but really he's still not very good.

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/m...pbp&pid=457477

[kobo]

Originally Posted by Lillian

Take a look at De Aza's current split stats at Charlotte. He continues to hit, after a brief stint on the D.L.
Think about the feasibility of bringing him up to at least face right handers.
If some team needs a lead off man, couldn't the Sox deal Pierre, and replace him with De Aza, or even a platoon of De Aza and Lillibridge?
I know Juan had a good night last night, but really he's still not very good.

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/m...pbp&pid=457477

You are making a big assumption that De Aza could come here and replicate his production at AAA. What if he comes up and sucks? Then what do you do? Also, as to the feasibility of him facing right handers, look no further than Viciedo. If Viciedo can't get AB's what makes you think De Aza will?

[kittle42]

Originally Posted by Lillian

Take a look at De Aza's current split stats at Charlotte. He continues to hit, after a brief stint on the D.L.
Think about the feasibility of bringing him up to at least face right handers.
If some team needs a lead off man, couldn't the Sox deal Pierre, and replace him with De Aza, or even a platoon of De Aza and Lillibridge?
I know Juan had a good night last night, but really he's still not very good.

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/m...pbp&pid=457477

You want to bring up a guy who is basically a career minor leaguer to replace a guy who may not be good, but is at least a solid MLB veteran who hasn't been that bad at all in the middle of a pennant race?

Just a horrible idea.

If Pierre was hitting .200, we could talk. Bringing up De Aza would still not be the answer though. Christ.