How well will J.D. Drew fit in?
At no time in recent memory has a Boston player been so heavily critiqued before taking his first at-bat for the local nine. The buzz on the talk shows centers on Drew being a soft player, one who might get swallowed up in the frenzy that is Red Sox Nation. It’s time for the critics to at least allow Drew to put on his Red Sox uniform before deciding what kind of person and player he is. The one thing that is very fair to question about Drew is his durability. That makes this the ultimate high-risk, high-reward signing. Consider what Drew has done the past two seasons he’s been healthy. Most recently, he hit .283 with 20 homers and 100 RBIs for the 2006 Dodgers. In ’04, Drew’s last season in Atlanta, he hit .305 with 31 homers and 93 RBIs. The Red Sox would gladly take those numbers. Drew feels that the adjustments he’s made in offseason training over the past couple of years make him ready to be a durable player. The Red Sox, who will pay Drew $14 million per season, hope he’s right.
