How can you make that claim? Watch the replay of even the face breaker catch he made earlier this year against the Mets, he had a TERRIBLE read on that ball. Same goes for the catches he made in NY that got him on the map last year. Rowand was a very good fielder because he caught it if he got to it, but his terrible reads and not great speed made catches Anderson makes look easy very hard for Crash.

Aaron gets about as good of reads gap to gap as anyone in baseball. He has problems on the short ball which is why I said Brian is a bit of a better cf but it certainly isn't that huge of a gap imo. Basically, you're calling aaron a very average cf which isn't true at all.

Aaron gets about as good of reads gap to gap as anyone in baseball. He has problems on the short ball which is why I said Brian is a bit of a better cf but it certainly isn't that huge of a gap imo. Basically, you're calling aaron a very average cf which isn't true at all.

 

He catches everything he gets to, has decent speed and does well to turn on the jets once he has a read, has a very good arm, and is smart enough to know where and when to throw the ball. Those qualities make you a well above average center fielder in my book, however he has 2 weaknesses, which are the short ball and his initial read on the ball (I don't consider his speed a "weakness", it's just BA has very good speed so he's faster). Rowand is a very good CF on defense, however Brian is a great one with a lot more God given talent, that's all.

 

(And I'll drop the "bad reads" part of this, since that argument is impossible for either of us to win).

Balls Tie

 

Ozzie thinks you're a ***.

I am NOT a ***!

I am NOT a ***!

 

LOL. Calm down, Ranger. Just messin' with you. Geez.

LOL. Calm down, Ranger. Just messin' with you. Geez.

and Im messing with you. I just wanted to see *** in big fonts. That is all

and Im messing with you. I just wanted to see *** in big fonts. That is all

 

Damn, I just noticed that the word is blocked out. lol.

Damn, I just noticed that the word is blocked out. lol.

the only one I think

AJ, I think that ********** is blocked out too.

 

 

 

EDIT: yep.

Edited June 22, 200619 yr by knightni

Not a tough choice

 

BA is the better defensive outfielder, but I'd rather have Aaron Rowand if we are talking about "this year".

 

Long term I'll take my chances with BA, especially since he's cheap and we'll have his rights for a while (unless we trade him).

Long term I'll take my chances with BA, especially since he's cheap and we'll have his rights for a while (unless we trade him).

 

I believe when he was drafted, he was listed as a potential 5 tool player (Anderson). I might be wrong Jas, maybe you can elaborate or if you could remember.

Rowand > Anderson this season.

 

Anderson = Rowand by 2007/2008.

I disagree but whatever. To be totally honest I was never real high on his as a prospect, as a matter of fact I really didn't see him as much until he actually got here and I got a chance to see him play everyday, he's totally grown on me. I am about as impartial as it comes concerning Sox players and I gotta say the only problem I've had with his defense is his missing cutoff man, other than that he's been pretty remarkable out there.

I'm the same way. I had seen him but I had major doubts about him, especially offensively. I also figured there was no way he'd be the type of defensive outfielder he's turned into this quickly. Last I saw him he flashed everything you wanted (defensively) but he wasn't exactly consistent. He would get good jumps one game, than struggle the next game and so on.

 

However, I figured he'd have trouble adjusting to one of the toughest places to play CF in the bigs, but he's been amazing out there. Now if he can figure out how to hit we'd be set for a long time.

 

How can you make that claim? Watch the replay of even the face breaker catch he made earlier this year against the Mets, he had a TERRIBLE read on that ball. Same goes for the catches he made in NY that got him on the map last year. Rowand was a very good fielder because he caught it if he got to it, but his terrible reads and not great speed made catches Anderson makes look easy very hard for Crash.

Couldn't disagree more on that. If there was any knock it was that Rowand played a deep CF and that caused him to not get to the ocassional shallow hit ball.

 

He catches everything he gets to, has decent speed and does well to turn on the jets once he has a read, has a very good arm, and is smart enough to know where and when to throw the ball. Those qualities make you a well above average center fielder in my book, however he has 2 weaknesses, which are the short ball and his initial read on the ball (I don't consider his speed a "weakness", it's just BA has very good speed so he's faster). Rowand is a very good CF on defense, however Brian is a great one with a lot more God given talent, that's all.

 

(And I'll drop the "bad reads" part of this, since that argument is impossible for either of us to win).

Rowands arm was s*** last year. He used to have a pretty good arm, but it went away (maybe from his shoulder injury). It should be noted that accuracy is well more important than arm strength (unless you have a total noodle).

 

I also think Vladdy is s*** out in the field and his arm is s*** too (misses cutoff men left and right and throws 1 in 100 on target; sure its a cannon, but it don't mean jack if you can't hit your target).

 

I believe when he was drafted, he was listed as a potential 5 tool player (Anderson). I might be wrong Jas, maybe you can elaborate or if you could remember.

I assume you mean drafted, but yes, he would be your 5 tool guy. Of course I have long had major doubts as to whether he'd hit for enough of an avg. But the power, arm and speed are all there and damn can he play some defense.

 

I still think the best case scenario is Torri Hunter. I can't see BA being any better of a hitter than that (maybe he could consistently hit in the .270 to low .280 range, but I would be shocked if it was ever any higher than that). At least without him making drastic changes to his swing and approach.

I disagree but whatever. To be totally honest I was never real high on his as a prospect, as a matter of fact I really didn't see him as much until he actually got here and I got a chance to see him play everyday, he's totally grown on me. I am about as impartial as it comes concerning Sox players and I gotta say the only problem I've had with his defense is his missing cutoff man, other than that he's been pretty remarkable out there.

 

I know in one particular recent incident of BA 'missing' the cutoff man on a throw to plate, the cutoff man (Konerko?) was late getting into position to take the throw and the throw went on through to the plate. I don't remember which game, but I noticed it as the play was happening.

You make arguments for either, because they're both fantastic defensive CF's in their own right.

 

For example Anderson would have a better arm, but Rowand probaby has the better range even if occasionally there is a question over his reads of the ball straight off the bat.

Simple question.....who would you rather have out there in center, with NO regard to offense?

 

 

Much as I miss AROW out there in Center I think BA has the potential to develop into every bit the CF Rowand was. I can't make a call on this one at this time.

Much as I miss AROW out there in Center I think BA has the potential to develop into every bit the CF Rowand was. I can't make a call on this one at this time.

 

I am a big fan of Aaron Rowand. But I feel BA is going to be a better CF and all around ballplayer.

You make arguments for either, because they're both fantastic defensive CF's in their own right.

 

For example Anderson would have a better arm, but Rowand probaby has the better range even if occasionally there is a question over his reads of the ball straight off the bat.

Gotta disagree here. Anderson has superior range. He gets to some balls that I dont' think anyone in the game gets to (aside from Jones/Hunter who are the two best in the biz).

Rowand gives it his all on every play but sometimes he finds himself out of position. He gets great jumps and makes some gritty catches. He hits the cut-off man and has an adequate arm. Even though this is not a defensive point, he makes mental errors running the bases.

 

Brian gives it his all on every play and always seems to be positioned correctly to make a play. He gets great jumps and has better speed and makes some spectacular plays. He makes mental errors when hitting the cut-off men when the other team is running the bases but his stronger arm allows him to make some solid throws.

 

Given the similarities, I would take Brian due to age, speed, arm strength and salary.