BoSox Sign Pokey Reese

[KCBOOMER]

Sorry, Sox fans, but the BoSox signed Pokey Reese to a one year $1M deal today. Details at: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1693167

[TimmyB]

And this makes sense why?

[LeGrandOrange]

If he's signed as a backup middle infielder, is it really a bad signing?

Well, maybe it still is, but having someone that is incredibly rangy (and still probably good at not making errors) that you can plug in late isn't a bad thing, and they got him relatively cheap too.

If he's signed to start, THEN I'll criticize. But right now, I'll have no problem with Epstein breaking from his sabermetric norm.

[KCBOOMER]

LGO, remember the Sox did not tender Todd Walker so, for right now, Reese is their 2B.

[sweaver]

With Mueller and Bellhorn on board, I figure Reese is a part-timer at best.

My favorite thing about this move is it means Pokey will not be signing with the Reds to play 2B every day.

[Jim Rice]

Here's hoping Youkilis is ready to play a bit, which means the Sox could have a Mueller/Bellhorn platoon at 2B and a Mueller/Youkilis platoon at 3B, with Pokey filling the role Damian Jackson played last year. If Pokey gets more than the 161 ABs Jackson got last year, then this signing just plain sucks.

[manny tortolero]

Reese must be a great fit for groundballers as Lowe and Fenway makes magic in the bat of a lot of players. Is not a bad move and unload money of the payroll.
Sure, for the games in Yankee St. the better spot in the lineup for Reese is leaves the pitcher hit and DH someone for him. :D

[pwdennis]

Not a bad move in that even if he is used as a regular, at least he has deensive value. Todd Walker was brutal on defense

[LeGrandOrange]

And paying a million for legitimate gold glove defense is not a terrible investment. I mean, that's not a bad deal.

Just because a player can't hit doesn't mean he shouldn't be signed, and especially by a good team. Good teams need defense too. :)

[Elmo]

It's not an awful deal for a guy who can play 2b and SS as well as he can. AS LONG as he is not asked to play too much, where his offense becomes a complete anchor around their necks. It's not as if they paid him anything real, so why not. I don't think Francona is silly enough to play him much - Bellhorn is no great shakes...but if he gets on at .344 as opposed to Pokey's .300 (maybe)....that's a lot better - he doesn't even have to go to his 2002 totals to make up for a whole lot of defensive dropoff.

[clemente21]

With the rest of the Red Sox offense, Reese could bat 9th and play 2B when the Red Sox have a ground ball pitcher starting - then get pulled for Bellhorn if they need another bat in the lineup later in the game. But, I'm afraid that the Red Sox will do something really stupid like go trade Nomar in some sort of 3-way with the White Sox and Dodgers for Ordonez, and then put Reese at SS while they pursue A-Rod some more.

[gyb13]

i'm with JR and Clem21 on this one.....i think he'll prob be a backup, but, with their offense, they could carry him as a #9 guy now and then...

[tyruschen]

Check this:
Derek Lowe's G/F stat last six years:
1998-4.58
1999-3.17
2000-3.45
2001-3.57
2002-3.46
2003-3.92
Total-3.46

His sinker is perfect fit at Fenway Park, but he really need good infield defense to back him. I think maybe Bosox will use Reese as his PERSONAL 2B.

[sweaver]

I just wonder if Reese's injury last year won't cause his defense to take a hit.....

[clemente21]

I think maybe Bosox will use Reese as his PERSONAL 2B.That would be a very good use of platooning Reese with Bellhorn and then eventually Youklis (with Mueller going to 2B). 35 starts at 2B when Lowe is starting, another 8 at SS to give Nomar a blow during long stretches of games without a day off, and a bunch of games as a defensive replacement for Bellhorn in the 9th. That would only be about 175 AB.

Unfortunately, it's more likely that Bellhorn is going to play the Damian Jackson supersub role, and Reese will start every day.