Columnists :: The Boston Sports Beat
Editor’s notes: Portes, Krejci, and half of The Big Four by Brandon Simes
Managing EditorMonday Jun 8, 2009 Portes upping his stock
South End Baseball product Juan Carlos Portes is currently posting a .309/.371/.473 line at AA New Britain, for an impressive .844 OPS at age 23. Portes spent the previous two seasons playing for the Fort Myers Miracle in the Florida State League at the A+ level, where his numbers were more average. He posted a .746 OPS as a 21-year-old, but followed up that effort with a disappointing .714 OPS while repeating the level at 22. Click here for his stats.
This season’s hot start has given Portes’ stock a jump, positioning him as a potential Major Leaguer in 2011. Thus far one of the biggest differences has been Portes’ control of the strike zone. He has a career 132/313 BB/K ratio, but this year, at least initially, he has refocused his eye to the tune of a 11/15 ratio in 110 at bats, a big improvement from his poor 29/83 mark the previous year. He has also four steals without being caught and has hit 13 of his 34 base knocks for extra bases.
Because Portes has yet to establish a niche at any one position, having played second base, shortstop, third base, and the outfield during his six-year professional career, he may project as a bench player unless his offensive production continues its surge to the point where he could require a spot in a Major League lineup no matter his defensive abilities. He also will need to work on his lefty/righty split. This year he’s killing lefties to the tune of a 1.005 OPS, but tagging righties at only a .717 clip.
Krejci deal ideal
The David Krejci contract has me giddy. The Bruins signed their number one target this summer right away, and did so at a very reasonable cap hit of $3.75 million a year. Next up, how do the B’s keep the rest of their free agents?
Personally, I’d let Phil Kessel go before trading Marc Savard or Michael Ryder, unless the returns were more than just cap space, meaning cheaper talent that would contribute very soon if not immediately. If Sturm would accept a trade, however, I’m all for that. If they bring back the old man, Mark Recchi, in Sturm’s place for another cheap, one-year deal like the one he signed with the Lightning last offseason the Bruins should be in good shape to finish in the top four of the Eastern Conference again. What more can you ask for? Well, a Cup, say impatient Bruins fans who know how Buffalo Bills fans feel when they hear the word "bridesmaid," but remember you probably won’t win a Cup if you don’t make the playoffs more than once every few years, so a long-term plan is needed. It seems thus far that GM Peter Chiarelli has one.
Don’t let silly rumors worry you
The Rajon Rondo/Ray Allen-to-Phoenix rumors seem a bit silly to me. Amare Stoudamire (the main return), plays KG’s position, and Leandro Barbosa isn’t a great fit. Add in Phoenix’s mid-teens draft pick and you don’t have an even, or practical, deal. So don’t worry about it, it’s not happening. Any potential move involving the aforementioned pieces would be closely followed by another, because when you have a championship contender you don’t break it up without a plan, and acquiring players who don’t fit doesn’t qualify.
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