JD Drew to Red Sox for $70 mil

Similar Batters through Age 30 from Baseball Reference.com

Jim Edmonds (963)
Larry Doby (940) *
Kevin Mitchell (934)
Bobby Higginson (932)
Kirk Gibson (931)
Bill Nicholson (931)
Charlie Keller (930)
David Justice (925)
Richard Hidalgo (924)
Geoff Jenkins (921)

 

Up here everyone seems to be comparing Drew to Freddy Lynn who was also often injured.

However, Lynn was ROY and MVP and was well spoken and well-liked. It seems like this comparison is forced and may be coming from the Red Sox front office as a speaking point.

I watched Fred Lynn. I was a fan of Fred Lynn. JD Drew - you are no Fred Lynn.

 

They also list the most similar player as Trot Nixon.

How ironic is that?

 

I wonder if JD is a redneck

 

Yes he is. Big time

 

From the Animals' (Florida State baseball fans) web site:
JD At The Bat

Things were looking dismal for the Seminoles that night;
The score stood four to one with but two innings more to fight,
As Hudson ruled the hill, it seemed our pipes were turned to stone
AU'd be off to Omaha, and we'd be staying home.

The Bat Girls argued balls and strikes, the Animals led cheers
The scouts deployed their radar guns, assessing pro careers;
But confident were those of us who in the grandstands sat
That Auburn U would rue the hour J.D. next came to bat.

And true, J.D. was up on deck, but two were fast away
As Brooks Badeaux was in the box, and we began to pray
But then, our prayers were answered with the bases ripe with juice
Brooks drew ball 4, 4-2 the score…

And then, all Hell broke loose!

For all among 5,000 fans who packed the stands that hour
Unleashed as one, in unison, a sonic blast of power
3 on, two out, down two, and dwarfing even all of that,
Your Player of the Year, J.D., advancing to the bat!

The young man didn't swagger as he stepped inside the line
A solemn executioner came number thirty-nine
Large as life, a juggernaut, all pecs and delts and lats
The faith of thousands on his shoulders, Drew stepped up to bat.

And Hudson, standing on the hill, so tiny did appear
But showed no signs of worry, nor fatigue, nor even fear
Still he must have cursed the Deities, the Furies and the Fates
For loading up the sacks and putting Drew upon the plate.

He threw the ball and stunned surprise resounded through the stands
JD stuck out the bat and shot the handle down his hands
He, bluffing at a 2-out bunt, our hands upon our heads
But Hudson's heat was off the plate; "Ball One!" the umpire said.

To the dugout shot ten thousand eyes, and deadly was their aim
As we wondered what would prompt that call in this, the title game
"A two-out sac? From J.D. Drew?!?" the crowd began to rage
But Drew regrouped, and took his stance, and once more seized the stage.

We marveled at the sight of him, the best we've ever had,
Who dined on expectations that would drive mere mortals mad
For this hour was Drew created, and the hour was his, we knew--
But again, the pitch was off the plate. The umpire cried, "Ball Two!"

Tension mounted on the field, and elsewhere in the place
As sparks flew off our hero's bat, sweat formed on Hudson's face
A walk would bring up Morris, and another run would score,
But you somehow got the feeling Drew would never see ball four.

And Hudson fires at 2 and 0, as Drew uncoils the steel
The bunt charade now cast aside, the moment thus reveals:
As bat meets ball, metallic thunder crashes through the night
And history plays out beneath the blazing grandstand lights.

In Baton Rouge, Miami, and in Tuscaloosa, too,
Their eyes are aimed upon the prize, their fans are born anew
In Starkeville, Palo Alto, and Los Angeles they shout,
But it's quiet in Tallahassee--J.D. Drew has grounded out.

 

As I pointed out in the thread on Lugo, he was badly misused by the Dodgers. Lugo went from playing every day at shortstop and leading off to moving around the field and the lineup. If I remember correctly, he began complaining immediately. Within a week or two after the deal, the Dodgers started getting healthy and Lugo was down to playing three or four times per week. I think all of that was more the cause of his numbers going in the toilet than anything else.

Now Lugo will be back at short and in the leadoff spot. I'm not sure I'd consider him a rock solid kinda guy, but he is a very good offensive player and decent defender as long as his team puts him where he is comfortable, which the Red Sox will do.

 

Torii Hunter now seems like a bargain.

All of baseball has gone batshit crazy.

 

Here's hoping the useless piece of crap that is J.D. Drew has lots of inter-league games in Philly the next few years. Battery sales in Philly will gratefully skyrocket.

 

I keep hearing this, but completely disagree. First, I think Renteria is better than Lugo, and also factor in the lost year of Gonzalez, but reasonable people can disagree about that. The part I don't understand is how would they have been better off without him. They basically got Crisp for 1 year of his salary, and free in terms of players. How can you argue that they'd be better off now without having signed him?

 

I had heard Fred Lynn was a selfish prick.

Billy Beane, the gay ballplayer, said he was the biggest piece of shit in baseball.