Josh Reddick, Doug Fister, and Nick Franklin

Thanks Spec... now, that one lights UP the mainframe's alert lights...

If the Red Sox thought Reddick were really a .600 SLG'er, he would not be available (and who says he is, anyway) ... you can bet your login ID on that, my friend...

But even adjusting for where Reddick is going, after he's "solved," here is a young player who greatly interests the mainframe ... especially in Safeco ...

.

=== My Kinda Ballplayer, Dept. ===

A fascinating subplot here, is that Josh Reddick is reportedly in a mini-war with the Red Sox over their desire to see him take more BB's ... Reddick takes the Eric Wedge Be Ready To Hit (TM) bait hook, line, and sinker.

Reddick has been on fire like sagebrush in a volcano not just the last 30 games, but since the ASB last year ... we are talking 27% line drives and the rest of the balls up in the air... a lefty slugger, five tools, who has little problem clearing the Boston right field fence and therefore would have none clearing Safeco's...

Despite Reddick's year of Roy Hobbs magic, SSI can easily imagine the Sox fearing the worst concerning his plate discipline and imminent crash.

SSI does not share their concerns, believing this to be a rare touch of dogma on the Sox' part...

Also intersecting with Eric Wedge's proclivities, Josh Reddick's reputation as a "gamer."  Can guarantee you that Wedge would be at the airport with flowers.

***

At every turn, since Bill James got there, Boston has echo'ed SSI crunches on player after player, including Beltre in Fenway, DiceK, AGone, etc etc etc.  The national news is that the Red Sox "are all over Erik Bedard" and that is because they know what you know on Erikkk, brudder.

Reddick for Erikkk-plus would be, for them, a quasi-Cliff Lee deal.  In which they gave up a player they don't think as highly of, as the Rangers did Justin Smoak.

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=== Take Yer Pick, Dept. ===

Here's a fascinating question:  assume that Zduriencik and Erikkkk have a handshake on a hometown discount for a few years to come.   Who would you rather relinquish? Erikkk or Doug Fister?   

Take a breath... the question is a complex one, especially if your goal is not "a competitive club and a nice night at the ballpark," but rather playoff victories...

***

Interesting too the trade-deadline reports that "every team looking for rotation help" is drooling a stream off their chin at Doug Fister.  Tolja so  :winning smile:

Major league GM's are very smart -- generally a GM in New York knows what you know about the Mariners -- and the fact that 100% of them are bullish on Doug Fister also means that he is extremely valuable in the industry.  If the interest rectangle is that wide, it is also real high, y'feel me?

But Zduriencik also knows who Doug Fister is.  Fister goes in nothing less than a Reddick-type deal.  If he does, hey, Paxton's ready next year.

***

Here's the thing.  Assuming that the Sox would deal Reddick -- and who knows -- you have 4x the chances of pulling this one off, because if the Red Sox are enthused about either Bedard or Fister, you can get it done.

I'm Doug Fister's biggest fan, but he's not untouchable.  Gimme an exciting young bat in CF, and you can have 'im.  I got four more where he came from.

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=== Most-Comparable Player Dept. ===

If you want a quick fix, count up the ways in which Josh Reddick and Nick Franklin compare.

There are differences, to be sure, especially in age-arc and swing mechanics.  But!  Their:

  • Swing shapes
  • Line-drive fly-ball tendencies
  • AVG-first reputations, but PWR-first results
  • At-times spotty EYE's
  • Physical frames
  • etc

All remind of each other.  Supposing that Nick Franklin had come up and slugged .600 for his first trip around the league -- and that he played CF?  Would he be worth Doug Fister to you, if your goal was to convert pitching into hitting?

.

=== Dr's R/X ===

Reddick might not be a .600 SLG'er, but it sez here the kid can play ball.  Salary even steven, I'd grab him over Rasmus.  And the salary ain't even.

I think Reddick would defend nicely in CF in Safeco, would cost much less payroll space than a Colby Rasmus, and his line drive / fly ball / LH swing definitely matches the park.

POTD forthcoming, but suffice it to say that  if the Sox are thinking SP-for-CF, well, this one adds up...

.

My $0.03,

Dr D

Comments

1

Discussed in the Colby thread... G correctly IMHO demurs on the comparison...
***
The problem with Saunders, gentlemen, is his swing shape.  When he makes hard contact on the sweet spot, the bat is wayyyyy too far out in front and he's toppling over headlong.  
How many of his solid hits --- > kicked up chalk on the RF line?  It's fine to be a pull hitter, but Saunders' spray chart is warped.
He's the opposite of Seager's "Keep the Bat in the Zone a Long Time."
They talk about swing holes, but Saunders genuinely can't touch the outside pitch with that swing (bat is "past" the pitch) ... can't touch the inside pitch if it isn't low ... he really can't get to a knee-high pitch either.
His flaws are fatal.  At this point, anyway.  He doesn't have ML zone coverage.
***
I realize it's a generic protest, "too many swing holes," but in this case it sticks.
Saunders doesn't compare to Reddick in my view, or to any major leaguer.  The idiosncrasies there create a /fail on the match.

2
Taro's picture

YES on Reddick. Talk about a young player thats a great fit for the park. Power, average contact, LDs, great defense. Would prefer him over Montero even.
I didn't realize he was avaialble. But ya, Bedard+ can go out for Reddick anytime.

3

Er....Don't trade Doogie.
And you're completely correct on Saunders.  He's a .240 hitting 4th outfielder, upside.
BTW Doc, I tried to post a new thread about Dernard Span, picture and all?  Did I mess that up?

4
ghost's picture

I can't find anyone anywhere who's actually mentioned Reddick's name in rumors...
Would LOVE to have him, obviously...him plus their catching prospect or their third base prospect.

5

The Red Sox want Bedard because they know that their chances of beating the Yankees in a post season series may rest on it. The last thing they want to be facing in that series - with their batting lineup - is a nuclear LH starter in pinstripes.
A guy like Bedard tips the balance of power in a seven game series between those two teams. Neither of them want to be facing him twice in a single post season series and both organizations seem to know how to baby a starter that has some dings. That has to be worth something shiny.
 
 

6

What a great point Grizzle.
Seattle-ites just aren't used to thinking in terms of poisonous rivalries.

7

With comments attached ...
The Klat policy is that "guest posts" don't show up automatically on the main page unless the user selects the SEE ALL POSTS option at top left... Spec, G, and Rick have been Klat-approved as "regular authors," as it were...
However, the post does appear both left and right... good stuff Moe...

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