Fields' HR

[Gregory Pratt]

My point is that Mussina makes plenty of people look stupid and look like they are swinging at much faster pitches. Fields needs to work on hitting,yes, but to use Mussina as your example of why, I find that wrong. Mussina makes Konerko look bad plenty of the time, but that doesnt mean konerko cant hit an 87 MPH fastball

 

Yeah, but the point does stand that Fields can't really catch up to fastballs right now. My guess is he will and be all right, but you never know, and that's his huge weakness now.

 

If he can't, he'll be useless as you can't play in the majors and be incapable of hitting the fastball.

[daa84]

Inge is arguably the best third defensive third baseman in the AL -- Fields is going to have his range? I don't think so.

 

Fields doesn't have nearly the range that Crede had. It's not because of athleticism, that's for sure, so I'd guess it's about instincts and having a quick first step. He also doesn't have Crede's hands. The best thing I can say about Fields is when he's forced to come in and barehand a ball, say on a bunt -- he's done a spectacular job on those.

 

Fields reminds me of David Wright -- a pretty good athlete who still has some work to do. With that said, I still wouldn't move Fields from third -- besides maybe for next season, as dumping Crede would be pointless. Even if he becomes average (I'd say he's slightly below as of right now), his bat is more valuable there than in the OF.

i agree 100%...its a big part of th reason why i would be hesitant to move fields to the OF next year, because long term i think he'll be adequate enough to play 3b, which fills a huge hole for the sox, and im worried that a move out there next year would mean a permanent move to the OF

Edited August 6, 2007 by daa84

[elrockinMT]

Why are we so quick on this site to undervalue our own players? To compare Fields and Crede and say we have to get rid of Crede in wrong. They can coexist on the same team. Crede at 3B and Fields in LF. I am not sure either Pods or Erstad will be back next year although it is possible. Sweeny and B Anderson are both hurt down there at AAA and who knows how they may be in spring training 2008. I would like to keep Dye in RF for the Sox, but you don't know how that story will end either.

Edited August 6, 2007 by elrockinMT

[Kyyle23]

Yeah, but the point does stand that Fields can't really catch up to fastballs right now. My guess is he will and be all right, but you never know, and that's his huge weakness now.

 

If he can't, he'll be useless as you can't play in the majors and be incapable of hitting the fastball.

 

I actually dont see him having problems with the fastball so much as a pitcher consistently changing speeds.

[elrockinMT]

No chance. He isn't in the same territory. Heck, just look at last night's game. Fields is a below average defender. He may eventually get better - I hope he does. But even then, its unlikely he gets to Crede's level defensively.

 

I'd like to pull out some numbers, but with Fields only playing a small bit, his defensive numbers are probably not a good measure yet. D numbers usually need most or all of a season to become useful.

 

 

I agree with Northsidesox 72 here. You listen to baseball experts and they also tell you Fields although adequate is not on the same level as Crede. Josh has a future with the Sox for sure, but he was brought up because of Crede's back surgery and for his bat.

Edited August 6, 2007 by elrockinMT

[RockRaines]

Inge is arguably the best third defensive third baseman in the AL -- Fields is going to have his range? I don't think so.

I said a quick 3B LIKE Inge, saying that Inge is a quick 3B, but obviously Inge has many other tools that allow him to have more range that pretty much every 3B out there. But josh does have the quickness and athleticism to be like one of the quicker guys in the league. He needs some polish, but I see it.

[RockRaines]

Yeah, but the point does stand that Fields can't really catch up to fastballs right now. My guess is he will and be all right, but you never know, and that's his huge weakness now.

 

If he can't, he'll be useless as you can't play in the majors and be incapable of hitting the fastball.

He loads his bat quite a bit. I think he will learn to cut that down a bit and adjust. I am impressed with his ability to hit breaking balls however, as this team is about 80% fastball hitters.

[kapkomet]

He loads his bat quite a bit. I think he will learn to cut that down a bit and adjust. I am impressed with his ability to hit breaking balls however, as this team is about 80% fastball hitters.

It's nice to see SOMEONE who can hit a breaking ball on this team. I do agree that this limits Josh on catching up to the fastball, but I think with some seasoning, his bat will catch up.

 

[The Ginger Kid]

crede >> fields.

 

don't get carried away by a nice home run.