As everyone knows, Hawk has been critical of McDowell's article regarding Beckham's development, but this whole thing makes me think...why the F&CK do we disregard PERFORMANCE in spring training and in the regular season from rookies??? I am sorry, but Beckham is the real deal and should have been on the roster from day 1.

 

I realize there are issues with arbitration etc, but still. Nonsense. Let's put the best team on the field.

 

Secondly, why are we batting our hottest hitter at 8 or 9??? Are we "protecting" him?? This is complete nonsense. For those of you old enough to remember, we "protected" the Big Hurt back in 1990 by having him spend a meaningless 4 months in the minors even though he hit .400 in spring training and tore the cover off the ball.

 

MAKES NO SENSE to me.

 

It's a joke and someone should challenge this mentality of "not wanting to destroy someone's confidence" etc. Too bad. Gordon is stronger than you think, there is NO FREAKING NEED to protect him.

 

Joke. Bat him at #2 or 3.

 

Ok, so I welcome comments. And yes, I had a few drinks tonight!

We're batting him 8th because our #2 and 3 hitters are on fire. Beckham's spot in the order is such a non-issue right now.

We're batting him 8th because our #2 and 3 hitters are on fire. Beckham's spot in the order is such a non-issue right now.

So answer the other question then, which is much more important...why does anyone buy into this BS theory of "protecting" a players confidence???? If you are good, you are GOOD. Period! And BTW, wouldn't you rather him bat at least around 6 instead of 8? We need to get him some AB's!

Edited July 2, 200916 yr by JohnCangelosi

His spot in the order may not be an issue, but I want to see him bat as many times as possible.

Talking about being with the MLB team on opening day is hindsight, the dude had 63 professional PA's at that point.

I'm not sure that's a good comparison. Beckham had a very good ST, but his numbers weren't jaw-dropping.

So answer the other question then, which is much more important...why does anyone buy into this BS theory of "protecting" a players confidence???? If you are good, you are GOOD. Period! And BTW, wouldn't you rather him bat at least around 6 instead of 8? We need to get him some AB's!

 

I won't disagree with that at all.

As everyone knows, Hawk has been critical of McDowell's article regarding Beckham's development, but this whole thing makes me think...why the F&CK do we disregard PERFORMANCE in spring training and in the regular season from rookies??? I am sorry, but Beckham is the real deal and should have been on the roster from day 1.

 

I realize there are issues with arbitration etc, but still. Nonsense. Let's put the best team on the field.

 

Secondly, why are we batting our hottest hitter at 8 or 9??? Are we "protecting" him?? This is complete nonsense. For those of you old enough to remember, we "protected" the Big Hurt back in 1990 by having him spend a meaningless 4 months in the minors even though he hit .400 in spring training and tore the cover off the ball.

 

MAKES NO SENSE to me.

 

It's a joke and someone should challenge this mentality of "not wanting to destroy someone's confidence" etc. Too bad. Gordon is stronger than you think, there is NO FREAKING NEED to protect him.

 

Joke. Bat him at #2 or 3.

 

Ok, so I welcome comments. And yes, I had a few drinks tonight!

 

There have only been twenty players since 1965, when the draft began, that went straight from being drafted to the major leagues and never looking back. Believe it or not there is a very valid reason.

 

Frank thomas had 240 at-bats in 1989 in the minors, 240 very mediocore at-bats. Those 240 at-bats>>> 70 or less at-bats he may have received in spring training. Those four months were far from meaningless. The sox wanted to assure themselves what exactly they had on their hands, and it couldn't have worked out any better.

 

The sox went the same route with beckham, and it couldn't have worked out any better. Were you one of the many that wanted viciedo to start on the major league team? I would not doubt it.

 

Sometimes people just complain for the sake of complaining, it's f***ing weird.

I've been a hardcore Sox fan since 1985 and I can tell you that I have never been so excited about a rookie since Frank Thomas. This guy has something special with the quick and compact stroke of his and the ball just seems to pop off his bat.

Edited July 2, 200916 yr by JohnCangelosi

Secondly, why are we batting our hottest hitter at 8 or 9??? Are we "protecting" him?? This is complete nonsense. For those of you old enough to remember, we "protected" the Big Hurt back in 1990 by having him spend a meaningless 4 months in the minors even though he hit .400 in spring training and tore the cover off the ball.

 

Gordon Beckham is not Frank Thomas, and won't come near to being the hitter Frank was.

I'm not sure which gets me more excited, Beckham, or actual bacon. Cause I love bacon.

There have only been twenty players since 1965, when the draft began, that went straight from being drafted to the major leagues and never looking back. Believe it or not there is a very valid reason.

 

Frank thomas had 240 at-bats in 1989 in the minors, 240 very mediocore at-bats. Those 240 at-bats>>> 70 or less at-bats he may have received in spring training. Those four months were far from meaningless. The sox wanted to assure themselves what exactly they had on their hands, and it couldn't have worked out any better.

 

The sox went the same route with beckham, and it couldn't have worked out any better. Were you one of the many that wanted viciedo to start on the major league team? I would not doubt it.

 

Sometimes people just complain for the sake of complaining, it's f***ing weird.

Well, you OBVIOUSLY don't understand talent when you see it. Frank was clearly a talent in 1990 and so is Beckham. To even bring in Viciedo into this conversation is silly.

Gordon Beckham is not Frank Thomas, and won't come near to being the hitter Frank was.

No, he won't but he's the guy I've been most excited about SINCE Frank.

Well, you OBVIOUSLY don't understand talent when you see it. Frank was clearly a talent in 1990 and so is Beckham. To even bring in Viciedo into this conversation is silly.

 

You got me. Damn.

His spot in the order can't be argued for 2nd or 3rd, not with Alexei and Dye there. 6th, you have a case for.

You got me. Damn.

I am NOT complaining! However, when we see something good, like we all knew in ST, why put it back into AA?? Pointless. I don't want us to be making the same mistakes, that's all. I think KW has this team very well situated for a second half run....

His spot in the order can't be argued for 2nd or 3rd, not with Alexei and Dye there. 6th, you have a case for.

 

I like him batting behind Getz (or Nix), as it allows for a little more action on the bases with all the contact Beckham makes.

Well, you OBVIOUSLY don't understand talent when you see it. Frank was clearly a talent in 1990 and so is Beckham. To even bring in Viciedo into this conversation is silly.

lol @ trying to school qwerty. Why would you jump in front of that bus?

I am NOT complaining! However, when we see something good, like we all knew in ST, why put it back into AA?? Pointless. I don't want us to be making the same mistakes, that's all. I think KW has this team very well situated for a second half run....

 

''We all'' did not know a damn thing at that point. ''We'' may have speculated what he could do, but nothing was factual. Not many teams bring up their best prospect with only 63 single A ball plate appearances along with 39 spring training plate appearances. Beckham and fields had four errors in spring, though one had half the playing time the other received. Beckham would be the correct answer to who had half the playing time the other received.

 

Every other organization would have handled him the same way the sox went about it. Better players than gordon beckham have/will be handled the same way, if not work on their game for even longer. Beckham's game is far from complete, since you can evaluate talent so well, you should have known this for over a year now. Many other organizations would have kept him down for even longer than to get work in defensively, but the sox hands were truly forced, hence here he is.

 

 

I've been a hardcore Sox fan since 1985 and I can tell you that I have never been so excited about a rookie since Frank Thomas. This guy has something special with the quick and compact stroke of his and the ball just seems to pop off his bat.

Magglio? Carlos Lee? We've had a few ridiculous hitters come up with the Sox since Frank.

I am NOT complaining! However, when we see something good, like we all knew in ST, why put it back into AA?? Pointless. I don't want us to be making the same mistakes, that's all. I think KW has this team very well situated for a second half run....

Who knew? He batted .270 in 37 ABs. Fields hit .391 in 69 ABs and was looking good. Getz batted .333 and Ramirez batted .319. They weren't going to stick him on the bench, so the minors allowed him to get his feet wet.

 

Also, if Fields didn't falter, there would've been less pressure to bring him up, so you should be happy that he is here and producing. I know I am.

Edited July 2, 200916 yr by RME JICO

You have to wonder if we'll see Beckham batting 2nd tomorrow.

I have no problems with where he's at in the order...or the fact he wasn't just rushed into the bigs. Where he's at in the order is fine...not the pressure of immediately being thrust into the 2 hole. Let him get some more ABs under his belt and build his confidence a little more. That being said...when I had a quick chat with him in the AFL I told him I was looking forward to seeing up NEXT year. He just looked at me and said "Sooner"...and nodded his head.

I really think that Beckham needs to get moved to at least the 7th hole. Having BA or Getz bat in front of him seems kind of silly. And he really needs to bat 6th when A.J. gets a day off.