he’s not even putting up raul ibanez numbers, in fact well below them (not on track for 20 HRs or even 75 RBIs) and getting paid $14 mill. yea clearly he is a superstar slugger.

Last year, playing without serious injury, in a new league and new town and with a hurt child, he struggled. JD’s values are decidedly country, and alot hit him at once. Please note that immediately upon his son getting out of the body cast, he began hitting, developing momentum through the post-season which is, indeed, making him one of the best players in the game today, with glove, arm, heads-up play, ability to grind pitchers down, perpetually high OBP and OPS, and now the long balls, runs and rbi’s. At $14M this year, vs. some of the overpaid slugs out there, JD can be considered a bargain who is winning ball games and propelling the Sox to a Repeat.

Cam he keep up the pace? Will he get injured? Is he too old? He has been mostly healthy since he arrived in Beantown, and seems to be getting stronger. We can always find contrary stats, but he will be at Manny’s current age and level of fitness at the end of his contract, and will probably still be putting up Manny-like numbers. This, in the whacky world of baseball salaries, makes him a bargain, enhanced by 2009-2011 $$ standards. It’s time to give him his props, as he deserves them. Or, ny . . . go pick on Zito or Pavano.