I have a close friend who is tight with a top scout in the Tigers organzation. The scout played with a number of players who played with Drew. The rap on Drew is that unless he believes he can play at his peak level, he’ll ask out of the lineup — this causes some resentment among players who are more willing to play through the inevitable little injuries that are part of a 162 game season.

The scout also tells my friend that when healthy, there are few players in the game with better athleticism and such a broad base of skills.

I think Drew will prove a better player than Nixon, and I think some of the ‘injury-prone’ rap on Drew is more (bad) luck than anything else. When healthy, I think Drew is an elite player who is a major upgrade to lineup that needs more offense.

I’d hit Youkilis first, Crisp or Lugo second, Ortiz, Manny, and Drew . . .TB

I’m a regular on a few political blogs, and as such am pretty sensitive to columnists writing that “people are saying X” with no attempt to cite anything probitive. I suspect “People” is usually a surrogate for the writer’s friends, or voices in his head, or talk-radio screaming morons. Whatever, there’s no reason to believe it represents reality.

File this we-hate-Drew shit next to the evidence-of-a-curse folder.

First, in 2005 when his season ended July 4, it was because he was hit by a pitch. That was not because he was out of shape or soft. That is just the dumb luck of baseball.

If you then look at 2004 through 2006 (he played 145 games in ‘04 and 146 in ‘06) and project what he could have done in ‘05 over 144 games (he had plated 72, so .285, 30 HR, 75 RBI, 100 walks, .410 OBP, .930 OPS, .520 slugging), you’re looking at the three best years of his career on teams that were far from offensive juggernauts.

Assuming Manny stays, he’s never been in a lineup this good where Youk and Lowell likely bat 7 and 8. It’s more likely he has his best year than falls on his face. The question is can he do it for 4 years? If he has just hit his prime, as the numbers seem to indicate, and his injury days are over or lessened as the last three years indicate, possibly he can do it through the contract, although years 3 and 4 could see some fall off.

Second, if you believe he’ll have issues in Boston because of press, fans, etc., then Nomar for example, and others, should never have been sucessful here. That is hard to predict. His talent could take over when he’s between the lines even if he dislikes the other aspects of playing here. Worked for Manny.

The only issue is the money. If it weren’t $14 million over four years, who wouldn’t want a guy with his ability? People will want a stat line comparable with the money, which is unrealistic.

I do worry about the money because it makes it tougher to afford going to games. Otherwise, it’s not our money, so focus on can he play to a high enough level to improve the team and help them win. I’m going to give him a chance to prove me wrong and say he can. Others should do the same.

Ordway, Callahan, and the freaks at WEEI who never met the man, never saw him play a season, and want to run him out of town before he gets here (or just create talk for their ratings), should consider doing the same and quit fanning the flames of the “get a life” callers.