Red Sox 1st half Recap Day 3: Roster Power Rankings

This has been the day of the recap that I was most looking forward to. So far throughout the first 97 games of the season the Red Sox have played 41 different players. Some for only a game or two, some for 90+ games. Today, I will rank them all in terms of how valuable they have been so far this season. This is not a straightforward rank, every player was ranked on a curve based on expectations and percentage of games they have had a huge positive impact. If a player has only played in 5 games, but had a substantial positive impact in 2 or 3 of them, they will be ranked higher than a player who has played in 50 games, and had a positive substantial impact in only 9 or 10 of them. So off we go

41. Jonathan Diaz: 5 Games, 0 for 4, .000 batting average: Diaz was brought up as a very temporary injury replacement towards the end of June. He wasnt expected to do much and didnt, besides a couple nice plays on the defensive side of things

40. Daniel Bard: 1 game, 1.0 Innings, 9.00 ERA: One of the most bizarre stories in Red Sox history continues. from 2008-2011 Bard was a young phenom who was thought to be the next Red Sox ace. Then all of a sudden he imploded in early 2012, he completely lost his control and suffered through walk after walk. He was finally demoted to the minors and hasnt been seen since June of 2012, save for one game this year for one mere inning of relief. it looks like Bard may no longer be in the future plans of the Red Sox.

39. Matt Thornton: 1 Game, 0.2 innings, 13.50 ERA. Obviously Thornton should move up this list as the season progresses. The Red Sox just traded for him last week to be a good lefty out of the pen, but he took the loss in his first and only game with the team, so right now he places low.

38. Joel Hanrahan: 9 games, 9.82 ERA. Hanrahan was supposed to be the Red Sox closer this year, but looked awful before being put on the DL with an injury. He returned in mid may but still looked bad and was put on the DL again before it was announced he was done for the season. He ended up saving four games on the season. a wasted year for a good pitcher.

37. Pedro Ciriaco: 28 games, .216 batting average. Ciriaco burst onto the scene last year as a Yankee killer. He hit .420 in 11 games against the Yankees, but .230 against everyone else, which Red Sox fans forgave because as long as you play well against the Yankees theyll love you. This year however,  he kind of sucked against every team including the Yankees. Worse than his .216 average was his horrendous defense as 3rd base with just an .854 fielding percentage (League average is .970) Finally in mid june he was traded to San Diego for basically nothing. Adios Pedro.

36. Clayton Mortensen: 24 games, 5.32 ERA: Mortensen has been a serviceable long relief man for the most part, but when thrust into high leverage situations has not been reliable, which has for the time being cost him a spot on the big league team, as he is now spending time in the minors. We may see him with the big club again this year, but it would take a few injuries.

35. Franklin Morales: 6 games, 7.30 ERA. Morales was kind of a disaster out of the bullpen this year, but put together a couple of nice spot starts. He didnt pitch nearly as well as last year, but its apparent now he was pitching injured as he was put on the DL in mid june then it was announced he was out for the year.

34. Allen Webster: 6 games, 9.57 ERA. Webster is going to be a good, maybe even great pitcher one day, but its apparent he isnt ready yet. The Sox had no choice with injuries to give him a shot but he struggled, and was sent back to the minors last week. We'll see him again, and he'll be much better.

33. Pedro Beato: 3 games, 0.00 ERA: Beato has been nothing more than an emergency guy thrust into a game for an inning when the bullpen is depleted and tired. That said, he has done his job, though a limited one, admirably.

32. Alex Wilson: 26 games, 4.88 ERA: Wilson went through April as a reliable middle relief guy, then regressed to average in May and June, then regressed even more in awful to July, and is the guy responsible for the Sox blowing a 4 run 9th inning lead to the Angels on July 6th. After that game he was placed on the DL with no timetable for a return, not that anyone really cares.

31. Ryan Lavarnway: 12 games, .243 batting average. 2 years ago, Lavarnway was thought to be the catcher of the future, but that is no longer the sentiment. After their backup catcher David Ross was lost with a concussion, Lavarnway was called up and has played once or twice a week to give starting catcher Salty a rest. He has done an ok job, but .243 average with limited defense is not optimal.

30. Jackie Bradley Jr: 23 games, .155 average. Bradley Jr is the center fielder of the future and one of the top prospects in all of MLB, but is just not quite ready yet. He has been given a chance a few times this year, but still has some things to work out in the minors.

29. David Ross: 23 games, .185 average, 4 home runs: Backup catcher David Ross is currently on the DL with a concussion, but so far this year he has been a great defensive catcher with a ton of knowledge on the game. His average is bad, but he provides some pop with a home run now and then to make up for it.

28. Will Middlebrooks: 52 games, .192 average, 8 home runs: Dissapointing is really the only word to use. Hopefully he gets another chance this year.

27. Jose De La Torre: 4 games, 7.71 ERA. Another guy who has provided an emergency inning or two now and again when the bullpen needs a rest, Like Beato he has done his job in getting outs when needed in blowouts when giving up runs isnt as big a deal.

26. Brandon Snyder: 10 games, .250 average: I placed Snyder higher than most would because he has had two huge hits. First a leadoff single in a tie game in the 9th that led to a walk off. Second a 3 run double in a 4-1 win. he has had one critical error also however, that probably cost the team a game.

25. Brandon Workman: 2 games, 5.40 ERA. Workman just made his first career start and dazzled, throwing seven innings giving up just two runs. He looks like he could be something this team needs.

24. Brock Holt: 9 games, .300 average. Just called up to to Stephen Drews injury, he has filled in nicely with a few timely hits and adequate defense.

23. Steven Wright: 2 games, 4.82 ERA. Wright has had two night and day games. His first game was awful, gving up seven runs in just two innings, his second game was great throwing six scoreless innings in relief allowing the Red Sox to overcome a four run deficit, single handedly pitching them to  a win.

22. Andrew Bailey: 30 games, 3.77 ERA. Bailey has had some great moments, but has blown quite a few saves leading to him losing his job as closer. A job he is still trying to reclaim, but he is getting close.

21. Craig Breslow: 31 games, 2.81 ERA. Breslow has been a solid Mid relief guy, not dazzling, but not majorly screwing up either. Just dependable when called upon.

20. Alredo Aceves: 11 games, 4.86 ERA, 4-1 record. its been a curious year for Alfredo. He had a putrid April, leading to his demotion to the minors, was called back up in June because of injuries and pitched brilliantly. However he last week was once again was demoted, this time just for behavior issues, something not new to Aceves. Aceves can be really good, but is to much of a headcase to consistently rely upon.

19. Jon Lester: 20 starts, 4.58 ERA, 8-6 record. Lester had a great April, but has struggled a lot since, and hasnt regained top form in almost two months now. its beginning to become concerning.

18. Mike Carp: 52 Games, 8 home runs, .303 average. Carp was signed as a bench player this offseason not expected to do much of anything but has far exceeded expectations, a .303 average was not expected, but the 8 home runs part is the thing that was completely unexpected and evens out the failure season of Middlebrooks.

17. Stephen Drew: 66 games, .233 average, 5 home runs. Drew was signed as a one year bridge player until stud prospect shortstop Xander Boegarts is ready for the bigs in 2014. He has done a commendable job in being that bridge with a good amount of clutch hits and a bit of pop for a shortstop with 5 home runs.

16. Ryan Dempster: 19 starts, 4.24 ERA: Dempster was signed as a guy who could throw a lot of innings and pitch efficiently but not dominate. He has 100% lived up to that, consistently throwing seven innings while allowing a manageable 2-4 runs per start, never allowing less than 2, and very rarely ever allowing more than 4. A model of consistency.

15. Jonny Gomes: 66 games, .236 average, 6 home runs: Gomes was mostly brought in as a bench player with a big personality that had the ability to rally a team. the .236 average is not at all indicative of how many clutch hits he has. He has two walk off home runs, a couple more late inning hits to break a tie and 2 pinch hit home runs. He has also provided some good defense in left field.

14. Andrew Miller: 37 games. 2.64 ERA: Miller was dominant in a middle relief role before being lost for the season in early July.

13. Jarrod Saltalamacchia: 74 Games, .266 Average, 8 home runs: Hes on pace for only 14 homers, way down from his 25 last year, but his average is way up from .222 last year. He has also been a great catcher in terms of calling games behind the plate, and hes starting 5 or 6 times a week, a brutal workload for a catcher that he has taken on without complaint.

12. Junichi Tazawa: 43 games, 3.02 ERA: A solid guy out of the bullpen who has done some middle relief, also done well in a set up role, and even closed a game from time to time.

11. Mike Napoli: 87 games, 11 home runs, .259 average. Basically carried the team on his back in April, leading the league in RBIs through May 10th, but has slowed down considerably since. Overall stats still impressive though, even though he strikes out way to much.

10. Felix Doubront: 17 games, 3.91 ERA: Doubront was awful through Mid May, posting a 5.24 ERA and came one bad start away from losing his starting pitcher job. Then he miraculously turned things around, posting a 2.70 ERA and 4-1 record over his past nine starts, finally coming through in his potential.

9. Jose Iglesias: 52 Games, .367 average: After hitting .118 last year and being a career .247 hitter in the minors, he was basically called up this year to fill in temporarily for an injury. Then he baffled everyone by hitting everything, and hasnt looked back since. three and a half months later and he still has a .367 average, stunning everyone who watched him look lost at the plate last year.

8. Clay Buchholz: 12 starts, 9-0 record, 1.71 ERA. Through Mid June, Buchholz was the heavy favorite for a cy young, and at that point, would have been #1 on that list. However, he got injured and hasnt pitched since June 8th, and his return keeps getting pushed back. The Sox will need him back to make a second half push.

7. Shane Victorino: 64 games, .290 average: Seems to miss about one game a week on average with minor injuries, but when hes in plays amazing defense in right field, and provides a good average with plenty of stolen bases.

6. Daniel Nava: 87 Games, .288 average, 10 home runs: No name player that has come out of nowhere this year as a all around great hitter. Plays adequate defense, hits homers, draws walks, doesnt strikeout, basically a pitchers nightmare, all this from a guy who was the team "manager" all throughout college because he wasnt good enough.

5. Koji Uehara: 44 games, 1.70 ERA, 8 saves: The most dominant and dependable relief pitcher on the team in years. Took over as closer after Bailey lost the job and has been absolutely lights out in that position, often striking out all three batters in his inning. has a mind blowing 60 strikeouts in just 42 innings.

4. Jacoby Ellsbury: 88 games, .305 Average: The Red Sox leadoff hitter was having a real tough season, hitting just .243 on memorial day. Since then he has exploded hitting .362, to raise his average to .305. He also leads the league in stolen bases and plays great defense. Add a high walk rate and hes everything you want in a leadoff hitter.

3. John Lackey: 16 starts, 2.78 ERA: Another amazing story that helped turn the Sox from disaster in 2012 to first place in 2013. In 2011 Lackey had the worst season in Red Sox history for a pitcher, going 3-19 with a 6.41 ERA. He took 2012 off, which Red Sox fans rejoiced in, but when he decided to come back this year, fans groaned and expected the worst. He has been nothing short of spectacular, which has shocked every single Red Sox fan and writer in existence, and its great to see.

2. David Ortiz: 77 games, .317 Average, 19 home runs: The ageless wonder, still the face of the franchise ten years after his clutch hits ended the Sox world series drought. Its amazing how he doesnt seem to slow with age, I mean 19 home runs at his age would be great for a full season, but in July? and he missed all of April with an injury, its remarkable.

1 Dustin Pedroia: 96 games, .316 average, 6 home runs: its very very close between Pedroia and Ortiz but because hes played in nineteen more games, Pedroia gets the edge. On top of being one of the best hitters for average in the league, he rarely ever strikes out and plays incredible defense. A true MVP candidate.