The Grateful Jed

by 0157H7 on Aug 7, 2008 12:54 PM EDT Comment 31 comments

Jed Lowrie, just happy to be here, via multimedia.heraldinteractive.com

The Santana trade that never happened is looking really bad right now. Not only has centerpiece Jon Lester become the best pitcher on our team (38 VORP), but Jed Lowrie has turned into an RBI machine of late.

In the last week, Lowrie has played six games, and knocked in 11 runs. He's batting .348 / .407 / .609 with two doubles, two triples, and a mere two strikeouts in 28 plate appearances. Granted this is the very definition of a small sample size, but it is encouraging nonetheless. Lowrie already has the same number of RBIs (22) as Julio Lugo, despite far less playing time.

Overall, Lowrie's line for the year is a respectable .287 / .345 / .426, with a 100 OPS+. Lowrie has given us league average batting at a position where no one in the AL is hitting particularly well. Jeter's OPS+ is 97, Michael Young's is 102, Orlando Cabrera's is 78, Eckstein's is 90. The only AL shortstops having genuinely great years are Jhonny Peralta (116 OPS+) and Royals infielder Mike Aviles (130 OPS+). Just for kicks, Edgar "I can't play in the American League" Renteria's OPS+ is 70.

So adjusting for the general mediocrity of league shortstops, Lowrie has been playing very well for us. A particular bright spot has been his defense. Lowrie's been sure-handed with the glove, committing no errors on the season, and more importantly he's shown good range. His RZR of .841 is much higher than Julio Lugo's .786, and his OOZ is higher proportionally than Lugo's. Basically, Lowrie is getting to more balls than the speedier Lugo, and he's fielding them better too. Since defense was always the knock on Lowrie - that he wouldn't have enough range - this is a very good sign.

Lowrie's limited playing time (35 G, 27 starts) has kept some of his stats down. Jason Bay has a higher VORP (5.8) in only six games with the team than Lowrie does (5.5). Heck, Lugo has a higher VORP than both of them, at 8.5. Lowrie looks a lot better according to win shares; his 0.4 batting and 0.6 fielding add up to 1 win share, which is what Lugo's given us in much more playing time.

What we've seen of Lowrie has been very encouraging, but it may be too soon to anoint him the shortstop of the future. Other promising rookies, namely Pedroia and Ellsbury, have gone through massive slumps, and we can probably expect the same from Lowrie at some point, as the league adjusts to him. And while his defense so far has been superb, it may be a fluke rather than a sign of his true ability.

I'm curious what OTM readers think about Lowrie. Has he proven himself to you? Will his defense hold up? Should Julio "King of VORP" Lugo get the SS position back if he ever returns from the DL, or should he take Alex Cora's job? Voice your thoughts in the comments.

Poll

Jed Lowrie is...

LowRBI, the clean-cut God of Run-Scoring Doubles and Awesome Defense.

29 votes

A promising young hitter and budding SS who still has to prove himself over a full season.

102 votes

Probably not as good as he seems now. His defense is still suspect based on his minor league record, and he still has to prove himself offensively.

10 votes

I reserve judgment. 35 games just isn't a large enough sample to conclude anything about him.

29 votes

170 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 31 comments

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Comments

Concerning getting rid of Lugo:

As they say in the mastercard commercials, peace of mind, priceless.

by NG on Aug 7, 2008 1:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Unless yourname is Manny Ramirez...

then it is worth 2 years of $20 million options turned down.

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Aug 7, 2008 4:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

At this point....

I could almost care less what his defense is like. We haven’t had a good hitting shortstop for so long. Call it the curse of Han Ram, but if he keeps hitting like this I don’t see how you can’t start him everyday.

by drabidea on Aug 7, 2008 1:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

also see gammons post on espn

he references some defensive metrics that show lowrie 5th of 62 short stops

jetes and reyes are in the 40s

by EWS1532 on Aug 7, 2008 2:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm guessing you mean

You need Insider to read it though (and I’m too cheap for that).

by 0157H7 on Aug 7, 2008 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Meant to post the link

Here it is.

by 0157H7 on Aug 7, 2008 2:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

A young middle infield of Dustin Pedroia and Jed Lowrie seems good

Lugo wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world if he were a backup. He is probably tired of playing everyday and would be better as a backup.

He who hesitates is tagged out between first and second base.

by BoSox415 on Aug 7, 2008 2:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

He was pretty famously

discontent with a backup role in Los Angeles. I can’t imagine he’s changed his opinion since then.

"Are you a real doctor, or a doctor like Dr. Pepper is a doctor?"

by Allen Chace on Aug 7, 2008 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think that by now

This is already Jed’s job. He’ll only lose it if he stops hitting, or show that he can’t play SS at ML level. Sort of a Ells/Coco situation, anyone?

If Lugo doesn’t like sharing PT, then fuck him. There’s no point right now to bench or send Lowrie to AAA.

It's the same old story. Boy finds girl, boy loses girl, girl finds boy, boy forgets girl, boy remembers girl, girls dies in a tragic blimp accident over the Orange Bowl on New Year's Day.

by MerryGoByeBye on Aug 7, 2008 3:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm still not sure

why so many baseball experts always suggest that Lowrie probably won’t stick at short. People have said it when he was at AA, AAA, and the majors, and he clearly has shown the glove, arm, and range for the position. To me he looks to be an average defensive shortstop at the major league level who has good hands, an above average arm, and slightly below average range, but does make the occasional great play (like that amazing play he made a couple nights ago). I’ll take that kinda defense over Lugo any day of the week.

by aspeninthewindow on Aug 7, 2008 6:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm not so sure about his arm.

His throws don’t seem to have a lot of zip. I don’t think it’ll end up being a huge deal in the long run, but I see a decent number of IF singles for guys like Brian Roberts, Damon, Chone Figgins, etc.

At the least, Lugo does have a very plus if erratic arm.

"Are you a real doctor, or a doctor like Dr. Pepper is a doctor?"

by Allen Chace on Aug 8, 2008 12:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Lugo is crap!

Geez, I can not stand how supposedly knowledgable baseball folks can support that clown! He is a momentum sucker of the first degree, and it was a huge mistake to sign him for any money, nevermind millions. That may have been the biggest mistake the Sox have ever made.

If I was emperor of the world, I would forbade anyone from defending Lugo period. He does not deserve it with his terrible fielding record of this year especially, his subpar hitting most of the time, and his record hitless streak of last year.

Does Lugo pay some of you guys to look the other way??

by NG on Aug 8, 2008 7:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

So you're saying Lugo doesn't have a strong arm?

That’s not very knowledgeable of you. Read what Allen wrote.

"no1 has time to read your long comments, are you writing a book?"

by britsoxfan on Aug 8, 2008 8:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hmm.

He certainly has the money to do so.

"Are you a real doctor, or a doctor like Dr. Pepper is a doctor?"

by Allen Chace on Aug 8, 2008 8:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

For me, I guess, when I consider an arm of a player, accuracy of the arm is a little more important to me than just how strong it is. I disagree with you about Lugo’s arm because it is SO unreliable that you really can’t consider it plus. Lugo’s bad throws must allow at least 10-15 baserunners a year, and if not for Youk’s great picks of his throws at first base, it could easily be more. Lowrie’s arm may not be as strong as Lugo’s, but his throws are certainly much more accurate. His lack of arm strength may allow about 5-10 infield hits AT MOST a year to those speedy guys like Roberts, but the accuracy of those throws is what puts his arm over Lugo’s arm for me. Also, you can’t forget about the weird “double clutch” thing that Lugo does before he throws that wastes his arm strength.

by aspeninthewindow on Aug 8, 2008 8:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

Lugo has great range, a strong arm, but he fucks that all up with his shitty accuracy and bad decisions from time to time. At this point, I’m not sure who’s better on the field, Lowrie or Lugo because we just didn’t see enough of Jed.

It's the same old story. Boy finds girl, boy loses girl, girl finds boy, boy forgets girl, boy remembers girl, girls dies in a tragic blimp accident over the Orange Bowl on New Year's Day.

by MerryGoByeBye on Aug 8, 2008 10:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

LowRBI

I wouldn’t go with that nickname. Makes it sound like he doesn’t get a lot of RBIs.

by RickD on Aug 8, 2008 10:20 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'd thought about that.

It works as long as one reads “Low” as “Lao,” rather than “Lowe.” Any suggestions for other nicknames?

by 0157H7 on Aug 8, 2008 10:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Jed

"no1 has time to read your long comments, are you writing a book?"

by britsoxfan on Aug 8, 2008 10:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Boston Hillbilly, Country Boy, etc.

OR every time he gets a big hit: OZARK!

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Aug 8, 2008 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jed Zeppelin

It's the same old story. Boy finds girl, boy loses girl, girl finds boy, boy forgets girl, boy remembers girl, girls dies in a tragic blimp accident over the Orange Bowl on New Year's Day.

by MerryGoByeBye on Aug 8, 2008 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

There’s a stop that is short,
And his plays are all gold,
And he’s keeping his spot in the lineup.
When he got here he knew,
Julio would be through.
With clutch hits he ensured his retention.
Ooh, ooh, and he’s keeping his spot in the lineup.

There’s a scrawl on the wall,
But Lugo is unsure
‘Cause he knows Tito still likes his veterans.
In a blog on the ‘net,
There’s a poster who cries,
“Lugo’s sucking all of our momentum!”
Ooh, it makes me wonder,
Ooh, it makes me wonder.

There’s a feeling I get
When I look to the plate,
And my spirit is crying for Lowrie.
In the past I have seen,
Runners waiting to score,
And they’re stranded by Julio Lugo.
Ooh, it makes me wonder,
Ooh, it really makes me wonder.

by 0157H7 on Aug 8, 2008 1:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hahahaha

Who said Julio didn’t give us anything? He’s giving us something to believe in. :)

It's the same old story. Boy finds girl, boy loses girl, girl finds boy, boy forgets girl, boy remembers girl, girls dies in a tragic blimp accident over the Orange Bowl on New Year's Day.

by MerryGoByeBye on Aug 8, 2008 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, and:

It's the same old story. Boy finds girl, boy loses girl, girl finds boy, boy forgets girl, boy remembers girl, girls dies in a tragic blimp accident over the Orange Bowl on New Year's Day.

by MerryGoByeBye on Aug 8, 2008 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

"No stairway! Denied!"

(NT!)

"Are you a real doctor, or a doctor like Dr. Pepper is a doctor?"

by Allen Chace on Aug 9, 2008 12:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Another ode to Julio:

It’s been a long time since I hit the ball
It’s been a long time since I took a stroll (to first base)

Or Ode to Manny:

Spent my days with a media unkind
Pointed out my faults when I didn’t run down the line
Making up my mind to make a new start
Going to California to play in a new park

"no1 has time to read your long comments, are you writing a book?"

by britsoxfan on Aug 8, 2008 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs