FanHouse DaveMagadan

I have a tradition. Every Sunday, I grab some coffee, sit in front of my computer, and read about retired infielder and current Red Sox hitting coach Dave Magadan. Sometimes I'll pore through his stats and realize I completely forgot that he hit .328 one year. Other days, I'll check to see whether the value of his rookie card has topped a nickel.

Today, though, was the most eventful Magaday yet! I learned that he and Lou Piniella are cousins, and that Piniella is his godfather! I celebrated my discovery by treating myself to a two-Pop-Tart dinner (I usually have just one).

This evening's Dugout is after the jump.

Remember how Peter Gammons said Scott Boras has ruined several top prospects with questionable coaching advice? Well, that hasn't stopped Boras from talking. From the Boston Herald:

J.D. Drew went to dinner with his agent, Scott Boras, Monday night in the Los Angeles area and talked baseball. But within the conversation Boras also pinpointed some observations he made regarding his client's approach.

The result of the exchange, evidently, helped Drew identify some key points when it came to getting his swing untracked.

"He loves talking baseball and he's always trying to help by pointing out little things he might see," Drew said. "We have a great relationship. I've found some things lately that I think have really helped me. He talked about the comfort level playing in parks you might not be familiar with, since he has had clients go through the same thing. I feel much more comfortable now. Scott is always trying to help out, which I appreciate."

The Herald notes that Drew went 5-for-10 in the three-game series against the Angels, so maybe not all of his advice is that bad after all. But still, it must be a little unnerving to Red Sox hitting coach Dave Magadan to think that his pupil is thinking about his agent's advice at the plate instead of his own.

Does Boras overstep his bounds or simply look out for the best interests of his clients? I'm not entirely qualified to answer, but in a lot of respects Boras reminds me of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones: someone who is very successful in his own field but would probably trade it all for a chance to roam the sidelines or sit in the dugout as a coach.

(via Ben Maller)

Larry Broadway couldn't withstand a late charge by Dmitri Young to become Nick Johnson's understudy this season while Johnson is still recovering from injury. And Broadway is a tad confused as to why he was sent to the minors today.

"I was very surprised. They said they wanted to see what Dmitri Young could offer," Broadway said. "They didn't see enough power out of me. I felt this was one of my best springs. I was getting hits. I was patient at the plate. I was trying to put together good at-bats, working on my eye. I'll get my work done in Triple-A and force them to do something."

And if that doesn't work, it just might force Broadway to punch out Jim Bowden (That's a reference I'm running into the ground until it's roadkill ... just to warn you.)

Now I'm hardly an expert on those "new-age" stats that Murray Chass loves so much. But I do know this: when your on base percentage is higher than your slugging percentage, chances are you're not showing enough power (Broadway has a .391 OBP, and only a .381 SLG). Maybe it's an unfair stereotype, but first basemen are supposed to be more powerful individuals.

Unless you're Mark Grace, it's always going to be a harder road for a singles hitter to get a fair chance to be a first baseman. Remember 1990, when the Mets felt they had to get a power hitter to play first base when they had a perfectly good first baseman in Dave Magadan? The result ... was quite possibly the worst 163 at bats in Mets history: which belonged to Mike Marshall. (Magadan, meanwhile, batted .328 that season and almost led the Mets to the playoffs after Mets brass realized their ungodly mistake).

Just something to think about when Meat Hook steps to the plate.