Misconceptions

[Toine43]

For some reason I've always felt bad for JD Drew. People just seem to jump to conclusions about him when they don't know him personally, or how he's actually feeling pain-wise at any given time. So I've decided to compare numbers here between 2 players. One is beloved, and the other is the notoriously overpaid, underachieving, and oft-injured Drew.

JD Drew
DOB: November 20, 1975
AVG: .267
HR: 20
RBI: 59
OBP: .384
SLG: .494
GAMES PLAYED: 123
YEARLY SALARY: $14 million

Mike Lowell
DOB: February 24, 1974
AVG: .296
HR: 17
RBI: 70
OBP: .338
SLG: .501
GAMES PLAYED: 106
YEARLY SALARY: $12.5 million


This isn't to take anything away from Lowell. I love the guy. I just think Drew is misjudged too often by people who don't know what they're talking about. One other note about Drew for those that doubt his effort is that he runs out pretty much every baseball he hits, which not many players can say. I think this article from weei.com sums up my feelings about Drew, and how he is treated by the fans.

http://fullcount.weei.com/sports/boston/baseball/red-sox/2009/09/01/the-misinterpreted-jd-drew/

[jgod213]

1) Lowell was a throw in to get Beckett here, everything he's done since that day has been gravy.

2) While JD is generally considered an above-average defender, Lowell is an outstanding 3rd baseman, as reflected by his gold glove award and the fact that he holds the all time highest fielding percentage for a third baseman (as of the end of the 2008 season).

3) Lowell Holds the Red Sox franchise single-season record for most RBIs by a 3rd baseman (2007).

4) Lowell is a World-Series MVP

5) In a year when Epstein was given an open wallet to go get "his guys," he came back with JD Drew and Julio Lugo.  The only times in which either player came close to earning their paycheck was when Drew hit The Shot against Cleveland and when he carried us through the month of June last year.

[MBz]

Drew almost always misses a significant portion of the season.  Though this year he hasn't, he normally has and that has been one of the issues.  Also, Lowell is hitting 30 points higher which is a lot, and where he is hitting and high OBP isn't as important, as long as hes putting the ball in play.

[Eja117]

TP, excellent comparison, but people are somewhat disappointed by Lowell's season this year too, and Lowell has played very well in the past, whereas JD never really did and got paid more all along

[Toine43]

Drew almost always misses a significant portion of the season.  Though this year he hasn't, he normally has and that has been one of the issues.  Also, Lowell is hitting 30 points higher which is a lot, and where he is hitting and high OBP isn't as important, as long as hes putting the ball in play.

Again this wasn't a "Mike Lowell is overrated" post as much as a "lay off JD" post. I'm just trying to show that Red Sox fans sometimes get carried away with their opinions of certain players, and I think Drew is one example of this. And for the record, no matter where you are in the order, OBP is much more important than batting average.


EDIT: I also wanted to compare these two players because they both have a history of injury problems. For some reason, fans are just way tougher on Drew for missing time with injuries than a guy like Lowell. With Lowell it's "he's got a lot of heart trying to play hurt but it's understandable that he has to miss time," and with Drew it's "that whimp (insert another word for "whimp") doesn't even care about baseball or his team."

[jambr380]

Drew almost always misses a significant portion of the season.  Though this year he hasn't, he normally has and that has been one of the issues.  Also, Lowell is hitting 30 points higher which is a lot, and where he is hitting and high OBP isn't as important, as long as hes putting the ball in play.

Again this wasn't a "Mike Lowell is overrated" post as much as a "lay off JD" post. I'm just trying to show that Red Sox fans sometimes get carried away with their opinions of certain players, and I think Drew is one example of this. And for the record, no matter where you are in the order, OBP is much more important than batting average.


EDIT: I also wanted to compare these two players because they both have a history of injury problems. For some reason, fans are just way tougher on Drew for missing time with injuries than a guy like Lowell. With Lowell it's "he's got a lot of heart trying to play hurt but it's understandable that he has to miss time," and with Drew it's "that whimp (insert another word for "whimp") doesn't even care about baseball or his team."

Yeah, I do agree with you on most of what you have said. Drew was brought here because of his great OBP and he has mostly performed in that respect. He does always miss more games than he 'should' for an everyday player and that is a problem for a lot of people, but I think jgod213 has it right when he says that Lowell was just a throw in when we got Beckett and Drew was specifically chosen to be brought here and got a decent raise when he probably shouldn't have. People were angry at Drew before he ever played a game here, which isn't fair, but that's why people hate Drew, but love Lowell...personally, I rate them about the same and am neither enthralled, nor disappointed with either of them.

[LB3533]

Lowell has played in 130-150+ games for 8 straight seasons prior to the last two years he was hurt.

Drew has never played 150 games in his career and managed 140+ only 3 times.

Neither are power hitters, and while Drew has a higher OPS and higher OBP, Lowell has played more games throughout his career that means he has brought more HRs and RBIs because he can play nearly every day, if he isn't hurt.

Drew might get hurt taking a walk to 1st or buying groceries.

[yall hate]

Drew has been pretty much what the front office thought of him.  He has always had injury issues and they knew that.  The fact that the fans dont accept that is of little consequence to his place on the team.

Drew does the little things that are important to this team.  He can and has hit in almost any spot in the lineup.  He has a strong arm and generally pretty good defense.  He is a smart base runner.  He can and does take pitches, effectively working the count.


I think the comp to Lowell is misplaced, because I dont think the Lowell love has gone on this year.  I think everyone was willing to move Lowell to the bench had the sox acquired a better 1b or 3b. 


I think Drew gets some **** because he doesnt look like he is trying, whether that is not running full steam to a ball he knows he cant get to, or taking a called third strike, but I think this is misplaced.  if he turned around after the called third strike and swore at the umpire like Youk, fans would think he cared.


oh, and JD is 12th in all of baseball in OPS.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/batting/_/position/of/sort/OPS/order/true

Check out who number 2 is

[Rondo2287]

Looking at that makes me want Adam Dunn.  He is a FA after this year right?  Ortiz replacement?

[yall hate]

Looking at that makes me want Adam Dunn.  He is a FA after this year right?  Ortiz replacement?

but then all the fans will complain about his Strikeout totals.  But no, he signed a 2 year contract (cant remember if the second year is an option, I think it is worth about 12 million, so the nats might decline if it is...) http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3900143

What is amazing about Adam Dunn is that he has hit 40+ homers every year since 2004 (5 straight years, 3 more homers this year and that is 6 straight years)

[Toine43]

Drew has been pretty much what the front office thought of him.  He has always had injury issues and they knew that.  The fact that the fans dont accept that is of little consequence to his place on the team.

Drew does the little things that are important to this team.  He can and has hit in almost any spot in the lineup.  He has a strong arm and generally pretty good defense.  He is a smart base runner.  He can and does take pitches, effectively working the count.


I think the comp to Lowell is misplaced, because I dont think the Lowell love has gone on this year.  I think everyone was willing to move Lowell to the bench had the sox acquired a better 1b or 3b. 


I think Drew gets some **** because he doesnt look like he is trying, whether that is not running full steam to a ball he knows he cant get to, or taking a called third strike, but I think this is misplaced.  if he turned around after the called third strike and swore at the umpire like Youk, fans would think he cared.


oh, and JD is 12th in all of baseball in OPS.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/batting/_/position/of/sort/OPS/order/true

Check out who number 2 is

Something's wrong with this list because Youk isn't listed despite having a higher OPS than anybody on there.

[yall hate]

Drew has been pretty much what the front office thought of him.  He has always had injury issues and they knew that.  The fact that the fans dont accept that is of little consequence to his place on the team.

Drew does the little things that are important to this team.  He can and has hit in almost any spot in the lineup.  He has a strong arm and generally pretty good defense.  He is a smart base runner.  He can and does take pitches, effectively working the count.


I think the comp to Lowell is misplaced, because I dont think the Lowell love has gone on this year.  I think everyone was willing to move Lowell to the bench had the sox acquired a better 1b or 3b. 


I think Drew gets some **** because he doesnt look like he is trying, whether that is not running full steam to a ball he knows he cant get to, or taking a called third strike, but I think this is misplaced.  if he turned around after the called third strike and swore at the umpire like Youk, fans would think he cared.


oh, and JD is 12th in all of baseball in OPS.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/batting/_/position/of/sort/OPS/order/true

Check out who number 2 is

Something's wrong with this list because Youk isn't listed despite having a higher OPS than anybody on there.

Your right, thats what I get for copying a link from SOSH.  That was just OF. 

Good catch.