Nick Green over Julio Lugo… please
This is an open letter to Terry Francona…
Please Start Nick Green over Julio Lugo
Terry,
I was upset when Theo let Alex Cora go and kept Nick Green instead. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you how valuable Cora was in the role he played for your team the past few seasons. I freely admit that Cora had become my latest “favorite Sox player”.
While it’s possible that Cora could’ve filled in well with Lugo and Lowrie out to begin this season, the fact is that Green *has* done so. You have the numbers in front of you: 19G, 62 PA, 304/371/464–835 (109 OPS+). In 17 of those 19 games, he’s been your shortstop - and he has committed 6 errors in that time, for .973 FP, but we watch the same games… he’s basically made the plays he’s supposed to make, and a couple that perhaps he shouldn’t make. He’s not been otherwordly, but he’s done a nice job.
Now the $9 Million Man is back from the DL. For the record, Julio Lugo strikes me as a very nice guy who’s trying very hard. That’s *exactly* the type of player I’m looking for… when I coach my son in Little League. It’s mostly useless at the ML level, where production is what matters most (though not “all”… see Ramirez, Manny, circa 2008).
It may be fair to assume that I’m still fixating on that error he made the other night, where Youkilis fed him perfectly on what should’ve been an easy double play… but wasn’t, when Lugo dropped the ball that was thrown right to his chest. Terry, it was thrown right… to… his… chest! I don’t care that he took his eye off the ball - the feed was *perfect*. Thanks to the error, that inning became a big inning - and in part thanks to that inning and those unearned runs, the Sox ended up losing 9-8. My abacus says that’s a one-run loss… and it didn’t need to be. Yes, I’m fixating - shouldn’t you be? Are you really surprised that Lugo dropped that ball? Will you truly be surprised when he does it again (probably soon)?
Nick Green is a career 245/314/356–669 (75 OPS+) hitter, and isn’t known as a “late-inning, defensive replacement”. I get that. But right now, he’s *far* superior to Julio Lugo. Ride him until he remembers who he is and necessarily regresses. At *that* point, when Lugo actually *is* the better option… *then* make Lugo the “starter” (i.e. gets most of the playing time). Unless…
If we’re lucky, by that time, Jed Lowrie will be back and the wrist will be healed so that he can bring some production to the SS position. If not, fine… play Lugo and hope for the best. But Terry, let’s be honest, that’s all we’re doing when you insert him in the lineup. So why play that long-shot when Nick Green is the hot hand at the craps table? He’s rolling 7s, he’s on a hot streak… ride it out and put Lugo on the “Pass” line… at least for now.
Please.
And thank you.
Sincerely,
A Concerned Red Sox Fan
P.S. Otherwise, you’re doing a great job… keep up the good work.
May 3rd, 2009 at 1:48 pm
So just so I make sure I have this right, When Lugo is on the pass line, and Green keeps bangin’ the 7’s, Lugo is getting paid?
May 4th, 2009 at 9:51 pm
Zackley… he’s getting paid… but he ain’t the one handlin’ the dice. Get my point? Leave him on the bench, pay him his $9 mil per (cuz, well, ya gotta) - and have Nick Green handling the bat and the balls (*ground*balls and *fly*balls - just in case there’s any confusion there). Let Nick Green help all the guys win, and Lugo can sit back and get paid… that’s the best approach, at least right now.
Btw, Lugo played yesterday… botched *another* double-play ball. Now, this wasn’t a perfect throw (like Youk’s) from Pedroia, but it was eminenantly handleable by any SS over the age of 12. The umpire was kind enough to rule that the ball came out of Lugo’s glove on the transfer so that the lead runner was ruled out - but the shoulda-been inning-ending double-play was not completed… allowing a run to score. Btw, since for stats purpose “you cannot assume the double play”, that run was an earned run - and Brad Penny (on the mound for Lugo’s previous double-play mishap, btw) was demonstrably upset when Lugo dropped the ball. Now Penny’s got nothing to complain about… he came into the game 2-0, with his ERA over 8 - so he’s had far more good luck than bad this season. But still… Lugo’s just got to *not* play unless Lowrie *and* Green are hurt (and the current shortstops at AAA Pawtucket, AA Portland, and A Lowell are all unavailable as well).