TwitterThe Greek God Departs
25 Jun 2012
Just 2 seasons removed from playing stellar baseball, Kevin Youkilis has been traded to the Chicago White Sox.
Youkilis is one of the poster boys for Money Ball, what with his high on-base percentage, and never give away an at bat approach. It is these characteristics that has made him popular not just with Red Sox management but also the fans. He’s always dirty, looks like an average slob (slightly more fit I’ll admit) and shows his emotions on his sleeve.
Kind of the exact opposite of J.D Drew, maybe that’s why we liked Youkilis so much.
Youkilis never got rolling in 2012 and his numbers reflected it. His walk rate and average way down, he never got untracked. With the emergence of Will Middlebrooks, something had to give. From a practical standpoint, no longer will Adrian Gonzalez need to play rightfield just to created space for Youkilis and now the infielders have a much stronger sense of who is playing everyday. Also, Middlebrooks is ripping it up with a .949 OPS vs. Youk’s .692.
Whether or not Youkilis has anything left in the tank remains to be seen, but the team has an able replacement and the time was right to move him, at the very least, for his sake. Youkilis was a bit player in the 2004 World Series run and a major player in the 2007 Red Sox run, he played hard for Boston and for that he is to be commended.
Reading a yahoo.com piece this AM (cannot find it now), the question came up whether or not Red Sox management/ownership,will rip him on the way out. I see no reason why they would. He played well, started to slow and was traded, a fairly usual set of circumstances. If there is a hatchet job on the way out, however, it’ll do a great deal to lessen my like of the Red Sox organization and hope for change.
Let’s hope both sides are off to bigger and better things.
Jun 25, 2012 @ 11:08:10
there will be doubters that will bring up numbers later this season when Middlebrooks likely comes down to earth and when/if Youk performs in Chicago. I think everybody that follows the Sox wishes his passion and energy was in all the players. He will be missed from that perspective. It is a business. Good move to allow more consistency in the lineup and players playing the correct positions. Fast forward if Ells and Crawford show up and do something, right field would have been awfully crowded with Gonzo, Ross, Sweeney, Nava all looking for deserved time if Youk was still given days at 3b or 1b. Smart move.
Jun 25, 2012 @ 19:52:01
Joba’s going to need to find a new “favorite” Red Sox.
Hey BL, I thought the following might interest you
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/24/sports/baseball/knuckleball-pitcher-r-a-dickey-stands-alone.html?src=twrhp
Jun 25, 2012 @ 22:05:30
cool, thanks.
I think somebody on the fringe will pick it up, happened with Wake, sounds like it happened with Dickey. Hope so anyway
Jun 25, 2012 @ 22:24:20
Did you know about Lemke? That’s quite a career change!
Jun 26, 2012 @ 07:07:19
a few years back he was messing around with a knuckler, is he again?