An Open Letter to Stephen Drew

Dear Stephen Drew,

First off, let me start by saying that I’m a big fan. I like your defensive abilities at shortstop and the fact that even when you’re struggling you never bring your bat onto the field with you (baseball metaphors are top notch). Also, I think you have the prettiest swing in baseball. With apologies to Ken Griffey Jr., I am always commenting on how smooth and impressive your swing is. It reminds me a lot of Ted Williams’ swing (based on the footage I’ve seen). Whoever taught you and your brother how to swing a bat was a smart guy (we can assume it wasn’t a woman, right? Right?).

Also, I have to say that I have never lived in a city where your brother has played while he was playing there. I’ve never watched him everyday and don’t feel too comfortable talking about him with expertise. I know about his reputation though. I know that he continually frustrates his fan base. I know that a large number of Dodgers’ fans were happy when he opted to leave LA for Boston, so much so that they sent in emails to warn Bill Simmons. Simmons even wrote that, “The Sox just signed someone who, by all accounts, plays without any semblance of passion or intensity.” I never understood any of this. I look at his stats and I see some good numbers. I see a guy with a career OPS of .888 (including a career OBP of .390) who’s good for about 20 HRs a year. Certainly that’s not worth $15 million a year, but it’s not too shabby. And my initial reaction to the complaints about his lackadaisical attitude is “he’s a religious kid from Georgia. Maybe he’s just quiet and polite.” To be honest, I thought that maybe people were overreacting.

But now I see you everyday. I watch you run out onto the field everyday. I watched you hit
.238 last year with an OPS of .683 in your first full year after wowing the crowds in less than half a season when you hit .316 and slugged .517. I watched you and Orlando Hudson team up for countless double plays that looked like you two had been playing together for years instead of months. I watched you hit .387 in the playoffs last year (second only to Kevin Youkilis) with an OPS of 1.084. And every time I watch you do something spectacular, I keep thinking: this is it. Now, he’s going to break out of this little funk and become more consistent. He’ll do these amazing things on a regular basis instead of once a month. I keep thinking, “Stephen Drew is going to be amazing when he just puts it all together.”

And finally I get it. I understand what these Los Angelinos and Atlantans, St. Louisians, and now Bostonians are talking about. I get it. Your stone faced expression that you play with is not intensity, it’s routine. Just like that beautiful swing of yours that you can unleash by instinct now, you know how to go out there and go through the motions successfully to produce just enough without being amazing. And sure, it’s early in your career. And maybe you and your brother are different. But I get it now. I shouldn’t get too excited because I know you won’t either.

Sincerely,

Hef