There's probably not a more polarizing outfielder than J.D. Drew. That's probably. After all, Barry Bonds is still using a walker to patrol left field, and he is the most hated sports figure since Bill Romanowski. But Drew is a special case, because he doesn't split the lines between rival fans. Giant fans probably didn't have a special hatred reserved for him like Red Sox fans do for Derek Jeter or Bucky Dent. Drew comes between the old school and new school fans-old-timers versus sabermetricians. The old school loathes him, citing his constant injuries and whiny persona that has caught on from Tony La Russa's description in "Three Nights in August." If J.D. Drew were to take himself out of the lineup for having a sprained ankle, why that old school fan would tell him to rub some dirt on it and quit being a baby. Imagine Drew playing for Lou Piniella: Drew: Can't make it today, my fingers are aching and I rolled over my ankle. Piniella: YOUUUUU BABY! SHUT YOUR MOUTH AND PUT ON THAT UNIFORM! Drew: (dialing Scott Boras's number) Sccooot, Lou is trying to make me play through an injury again and I don't feel like it. Yeah, okay, here he is. (hands the phone to Lou) Lou: Yes? Scott: Lou, this is Scott Boras, superagent and lowlife extraordinaire. I'm also J.D.'s mommyslashbabysitterslashlifesupport. Why are you trying to make my little boy play through pain? Lou: It's baseball! Scott: It's dangerous is what it is. I'm protecting an investment. You'll be getting a fax excusing J.D. from the next few games. It would be high comedy, right there between "Stuck On You" and "Meet the Deedles." But the new schoolers wouldn't laugh. They would laugh at the people who don't understand just what Drew brings to the table. What he brings (when he plays) is a high on-base percentage, good pop and good defense. He's a sabermetric wet dream, but an old school nightmare. The relationship between fans and Drew is a unique one, because no other exists in sports. So, who is right in all of this madness? The new breed is right to point out his good production. There aren't many outfielders with a .900 OPS who play defense as well as Drew. At 31, he is bound to see a few more good years although his slugging percentage has been dropping the past two seasons. But don't the old schoolers have a point? He has had some minor injuries that even a hemophiliac would smirk at. They point out that he loafs to balls, and that he gives less than 100%, although something like this is hard to prove. They also cite how he is greedy, although most athletes are. Perhaps it wasn't the smartest move to re-enter the draft after the Philadelphia Phillies took him and couldn't pony up the cash in 1997. After that, Drew was back at Florida State and then drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals a year later. His act was seen as unforgivable by Phillie fans and they greeted him with a chorus of boos and a few batteries. Santa Claus isn't the only guy that doesn't feel safe in Philadelphia. After being drafted by the Cardinals, Drew spent the next few seasons on and off the disabled list. When he played, he produced. Scouts once said that Drew had a swing that had not been seen since Mickey Mantle, but that swing was usually glued to the bench sipping Gatorade and thinking about his next paycheck. It was in 2003 that the Cardinals finally had enough of Drew. With him coming up on his walk year and knowing fully well they would not be able to afford his next contract, the Cardinals swung him to the Atlanta Braves on Dec. 31, 2003 for Ray King, Jason Marquis and prospect Adam Wainwright. The relationship between Drew and La Russa goes as far as La Russa's comments about giving 75% in "3NA." It was the right move for La Russa, who at an advanced age did not want to deal with another guy he compared to Rickey Henderson. Predictably, Drew came up big for the Braves in 2004, as he set career highs in almost every category possible. Predictably, Drew walked at the end of the season and signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers for $55 million over five years which held an opt-out clause. And predictably, Drew walked, leaving $33 million and three years left with the Dodgers for a market that was out of control. And the Boston Red Sox came a callin'. Trot Nixon, an injury prone right fielder who couldn't hit lefties was out, and the Sox gave Drew $70 million and five years. Drew was a prime target for general manager Theo Epstein. Epstein craved on-base percentage like most nerdy sabermetricians do. And not that there's anything wrong with that, but he was so enamored by Drew's ability to watch ball four that he completely looked past the injuries and gave him the money. Now Sox fans are up in arms. "How can we give this sissy the dough?!" they ask. Good question. One answer would be that they are the Boston Red Sox, and they can. The other answer would be that he's a much better alternative than trading for Jacque Jones. Red Sox fans apparently demand a lot from their right fielders, namely at-bats, which they don't think Drew can give them. But am I missing something? Weren't Red Sox fans transplanted with a splice of DNA that makes their level of baseball knowledge and appreciation a significant cut above your run-of-the-mill Milwaukee Brewer, Chicago Cub or Arrogant Yankee fan? Keep in mind that two of the biggest baseball dorks ever work, or have worked for the organization they bleed for-Bill James and Epstein. Don't they have faith in a GM that won a World Series? The answer is a resounding no, and a trade for Jones, Luke Scott or putting a high schooler out there would be a better option than playing that woman. Baseball season is still five months away, and already the J.D. Drew Era in Boston is off to a rocky start. And he should pay attention: Edgar Renteria was run out of town after one season. Playing in Boston is not the same as playing in the forgiving right fields of St. Louis or the "we're just here for the party" of Los Angeles. Boston fans will make his name a curse word on WEEI if he doesn't show up and play 150 games. Both new schoolers and old schoolers are right with their assessment of J.D. Yes, Drew is a sissy and a bit of a whiner, but he puts up numbers which leads to winning which leads to fan happiness. Sure he doesn't give style points, but baseball is not a beauty contest. Maybe someday, Drew will play for a fanbase that regards his injuries as a quirkiness and finds them adorable while also loudly cheering him when he plays. Hey, it's possible, what else have the Colorado Rockies fans had to cheer for?