XP and BW-Welcome Additions!

by zogger on May 8, 2011 9:24 AM EDT

Some discussion went on when J-Rod was send sent back and Brandon Wood was picked up. Similar discussions occurred when Bowker was designated for assignment and Xavier Paul was grabbed. Let’s look at the results.

Wood has filled in well at 3B and SS. He is hitting .292/.370/.787. He has done the job. His fielding seems fine. Would you prefer J-Rod filling in while Pedro has been hurt? So IMHO, he has helped the team more than J-Rod would have.

XP has also done well. Filling in for Tabata, he is hitting .316/.381/.802. He also has 2 SB, providing some speed. Lastly, Bowker cleared waivers and hence is still with the team.

So, I’d call both pickups wins and say “Good job NH!”

Poll

Rating the XP and BW Pickups

Great pickups!

68 votes

OK, but no big deal

48 votes

Stupid moves, fire NH!

1 votes

Need more time to decide

22 votes

139 votes | Poll has closed

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of the managing editor (Charlie) or SB Nation. FanPosts are written by Bucs Dugout readers.

Tweet Comment 19 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

true...

People on here were Bowker-lovers when we made the Paul deal but NH looks like the smart one now. Wood was a flyer and most people here said “what the heck” but I’m sure we’re all pleasantly surprised at his production so far. Maybe Wood can light a fire under Pedro since clearly he wasn’t able to do that for Cedeno…

Benny Benack III

by benny benack on May 8, 2011 10:54 AM EDT reply actions

what the heck as in...

OK we can grab him and see if he turns out decent. Not, “what the heck” as in why the heck would the bucs sign this guy.

Benny Benack III

by benny benack on May 8, 2011 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions

I don't care if Pedro hits .100

Wood isn’t taking his job. Now Cedeno? That’s another story.

by mspirate on May 8, 2011 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Both Pickups have worked really well so far

I think if Wood stays relaxed like this you will see him be very productive…Ive been impressed with his plate discipline so far, all i heard was how he can’t judge the strike zone, so far it doesn’t look to be the case, he doesn’t swing at horrible pitches or look lost up there like everyone said he would…And Paul is a good bench piece that bring some speed to the table that we didn’t have before, could be a very productive 4th Outfielder for us for awhile.

by BigB2323 on May 8, 2011 11:07 AM EDT reply actions

Wood has mostly been good, but has also flashed a propensity to wave at sliders low and away and the high cheese. Once he puts a couple of those right-center warning track shots over the fence he will look even better.

by Mr. E on May 8, 2011 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions

I really like Wood. SSS of course, but the ball jumps off his bat harder than a lot of MI in the league

by Danatural08 on May 8, 2011 11:54 AM EDT reply actions

he even got some love on Baseball Tonight

kudos for his strong start with the buccos

by nickp593 on May 8, 2011 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions

You’re not going to hit a home run on most waiver picks. The organization gave up literally nothing to get Paul, and very little to get Wood. Any value from there is a bonus.

by Adam Reynolds on May 8, 2011 12:40 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

exactly

There do to hit on some of these guys though once in awhile, why can’t it be Wood or Paul ya know?

by BigB2323 on May 8, 2011 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions

how about..

“They’re due…”

by TheLizardKing on May 8, 2011 5:57 PM EDT up reply actions

ausgezeichnet! Rechtschreibung ist wichtig

by BlindSquirrel on May 8, 2011 10:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Vas is das auf

English oder whatever they sprechen im Australia? Ich sprechen keine Deutsch.

"Who is John Galt?"

by Trogluddite on May 8, 2011 10:11 PM EDT up reply actions

it was google translate...

excellent! Spelling is Important.

by BlindSquirrel on May 8, 2011 10:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Wood not Paul

I like Wood because I do believe he is an upgrade of J-Rod. Better defense especially at third, and he is hitting better.
Paul is doing great, don’t get me wrong, but I think he is a bad pick up. Not that I like Bowker, but Paul is the same as Alex Presley. Paul has blocked Presley. I don’t understand why we did not just bring up Presley if we wanted to replace Bowker with a better hitter and runner.

by SojourningPirate on May 10, 2011 10:05 AM EDT reply actions

okay, let me run this past you...

you would prefer Presley to be on the BENCH in pittsburgh and only get a few ABs a week rather than building value as an everyday player in AAA?

the only thing this is doing is preventing Presley from making his 400K per year.

by white angus on May 10, 2011 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions

What do they do with Presley?

Do they let him sit and build trade power? There is no place for him on the team, and his best assett to the org would be to allow him to mash, build trade value, and ship him elsewhere.

Maybe a package at the deadline of Meek/Presley/maybe more could net one of the bo sox’s SS prospects… or even Lowrie now that Iglesias is up.

by Cheap Beer on May 10, 2011 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions

does Boston need him? i think probably not

you probably would find a better trade partner with a struggling offensive team with less contract demands, like Oakland or Tampa. not necessarily them, but teams similar.

by white angus on May 10, 2011 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Presley in the field

I guess I would rather have left Paul alone and before too long trade Overbay, moving Jones to a platoon at first with Pearce and bring Presley up to platoon in right field (or take over totally if you can find someone to take Diaz). I would have been okay with Bowker on the team until a time you could have found a suitor for Pearce.
My main problem is that this move with Paul seems to lock the Pirates into trading Presley. I think that could be a big mistake.

by SojourningPirate on May 10, 2011 7:23 PM EDT up reply actions

i haven't seen either play that much

but i’ll take a shot anyway, citing message boards, and my perception as a result of reading them.

I don’t understand why we did not just bring up Presley if we wanted to replace Bowker with a better hitter and runner

My understanding is that Presley and Paul are almost the same hitters and runners (or expectd to be), but Paul’s defense, and specifically arm, is better. I will agree that in limited time, Paul seems to have a cannon. I don’t know if Presley is being hard done by the weaker arm comparison, though.

by BurgherKing on May 10, 2011 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions