More valuable to the Yanks than Cliff Lee...
The Red Sox acquisitions of Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez certainly help the team, but measured in light of losing Adrian Beltre and Victor Martinez from their line-up, they barely represent a net gain in offense.
Gonzalez .298 AVG, .393 OBP, 31 HRs, 101 RBIs
Beltre .321 AVG, .365 OBP, 28 HRs, 102 RBIs
Victor Martinez .302 AVG, .351 OBP, 20 HRs, 79 RBIs
Carl Crawford .307 AVG, .356 OBP, 19 HRs, 90 RBIs
Remember too, Gonzalez compiled his statistics playing in the AAAA National League, whereas Beltre was playing big boy baseball in the toughest of divisions. Recall too, that Crawford's 19 dingers and 90 RBIs were career highs. Still, Crawford represents a slight step up from Martinez, who was atrocious defensively at catcher. Crawford is a plus defensive outfielder.
The other thing the Red Sox are touting about Crawford is his speed and stolen bases. This is a Trojan Horse. Last year demonstrated the foolishness of trying to play UZR based Moneyball in Fenway Park. Yankees fans can only hope they try it again. The net Moneyball World Series titles won to date, zero. As the old saying goes, "Stats are for losers."
Crawford will turn thirty next year, just about the point where stolen bases start to rapidly decline for most players. A useful analogy might be Carlos Beltran, whom the Mets overpaid almost as badly as the Sox overpaid for Crawford. Beltran had five consecutive thirty plus SB seasons before signing with the Mets. Not counting his injury decimated 2010, Beltran has averaged a meager nineteen SBs a year as a Met. Crawford is unlikely to top that number by much over the duration of his Red Sox contract.
Player-for-player, after signing nearly $300 million in bats this offseason, the Red Sox line-up still does not measure up to the Yankees. Let's go around the horn to underline the veracity of that statement.
1B Mark Teixeira vs. Adrian GonzalezThe tote board reads then, five spots advantage Yankees, one spot advantage Red Sox and three pushes. Doesn't exactly sound like much to worry about really. The Yankees bigger threat will likely once again come from the Tampa Bay Rays. The only thing that could make a Cliff Lee signing urgent would be if Andy Pettitte elected to retire. The Yanks would then need another starting pitcher. Otherwise, it is much ado about nothing, manufactured media hype.
At very worst a push, we rate it, slight edge Yankees.
2B Robinson Cano vs. Dustin Pedroia
Edge Yankees.
SS Derek Jeter vs. Marco Scutaro
Edge Yankees.
3B A-Rod vs. Kevin Youkilis
Push.
RF Nick Swisher vs. J.D. Drew
Edge Yankees.
CF Curtis Granderson vs. Jacoby Ellsbury
Edge Yankees.
LF Brett Gardner vs. Carl Crawford
Edge Red Sox.
Catcher Jesus Montero vs. Jarrod Saltalamacchia
Push
DH Jorge Posada vs. David Ortiz
Push
The Yankees would actually be worse off by tying their hands with a seven year contract to an aging lefty who was 26 up and 22 down the last two years, a guy who has won more than fifteen games only twice, a guy who is already thirty-two. Cliff Lee reminds our sports editor of the Mike Mussina signing, a good player, but not worth the money.
Posts
8 comments:
You forget that Adrian's swing is catered to Fenway though. He is a lefty that continually hits the other way. You take almost thirty of the fly balls he hit at Petco that were fly outs, they are Homers at Fenway. Also, you forget about Youkilis moving over to third, a fully year of a healthy Youkilis is by far a lot better then Beltre! Then you add in Gonzalez who will easily put up better numbers than anyone the Sox had at 1st last year. Finally, you can't deny the protection Gonzalez gives to the others in the line up. Say all you want about him batting in the AAAA NL, the point is he played in a division with top teir pitching talent, (i.e. The World Champion San Francisco Giants. He is still one of the better hitters in baseball, and will command respect. Ptichers will not want to pitch to Gonzalez so they will be forced to pitch to Yuk, Pedroia, Ortiz, and Crawford. Can you say murderers row.forget that Adrian's swing is catered to Fenway though. He is a lefty that continually hits the other way. You take almost thirty of the fly balls he hit at Petco that were fly outs, they are Homers at Fenway. Also, you forget about Youkilis moving over to third, a fully year of a healthy Youkilis is by far a lot better then Beltre! Then you add in Gonzalez who will easily put up better numbers than anyone the Sox had at 1st last year. Finally, you can't deny the protection Gonzalez gives to the others in the line up. Say all you want about him batting in the AAAA NL, the point is he played in a division with top teir pitching talent, (i.e. The World Champion San Francisco Giants. He is still one of the better hitters in baseball, and will command respect. Ptichers will not want to pitch to Gonzalez so they will be forced to pitch to Yuk, Pedroia, Ortiz, and Crawford. Can you say murderers row.
Now, on to Crawford. While I do agree that the Sox might have over paid a little, I think that it is well worth it. He is a 5 tool player that will get his stolen bases. Just because Beltran started to suck doesn't mean Crawford will. I mean look at Rickey Henderson he stole over 60 bases twice, 50 bases 5 times, and 40 11 times. Hell he stole over 100 when he was thirty. By no means am I comparing Crawford to Henderson, what I am saying is wait to see how it plays out. The other thing Crawford brings is a carrer OBP of .337, couple that with Pedroia's OBP of .369 and Ellsbury's (when healthy) OBP of .344. Can you say RBI opportunities for Gonzalez, Yuk, and Ortiz! Also with Crawford's speed a single is practically a double, and with him an Ellsbury on the basepaths itll be a nightmare for any opposing pitcher. Finally, Crawford brings in AMAZING defense. When it was all calculated out Crawford saved 15 runs for the Rays last year. 15 RUNS!!! The Sox already have Gold Glove caliber talent at 3 out of 6 positions on the in field, and now 2 out of 3 in the outfield. The Sox will be an amazing defensive team.
So in short the Sox have gone out and made moves to make themselves better. All the YAnks have done is resign Rivera, and will prolly overpay Jeter just to keep him in pinstripes (im sorry but when your GM tells Jeter to test the market you know he is not worth as much as he thinks he is).
Now onto MY break down:
1B: Mark Teixeira vs. Adrian Gonzalez
Edge: Yanks (only slightly) only reason I give Yanks the edge is because Tex has done it in the AL already. Once we see what Gonzalez has I will revisit this.
2B: Robinson Cano vs. Dustin Pedroia
Edge: Even, Cano may have had better stats. But Pedrioa is comming off an injury year and will be thursting to produce some big numbers. Also I dont see AL-MVP next to Cano's name.
3B: Alex Rodriguez vs. Kevin Youkilis
Edge: Sox, Youk is younger, doesn't strike out as much and produces just as much as A-Rod does. Also Youk is a better defender by far.
SS: Derek Jeter vs. Marco Scutaro
Edge: Yanks, Jeter is comming off carrer lows in almost every batting department hell want to produce. But watch out for the kid named Jose in the Sox farm system.
LF: Brett Gardner vs. Carl Crawford
Edge: Sox, Crawford has been producing in the AL East for almost 7 years, Gardner for only 1. Crawfrod is superior defensivly as well.
CF: Curtis Granderson vs. Jacoby Ellsbury
Edge: SOX, HOW CAN YOU SAY GRANDERSON IS BETTER. He hits at .250!! His only saving grace is that he hits HR's. Jacoby out proforms him in BA, RS, and OBP! Also Jacoby is light years ahead of Granderson with the leather! Edge Ellisbury
RF: Nick Swisher vs. J.D. Drew
Edge: Even. Neither are particularly impressive. But Drew is in a contract year, maybe we see some big numbers from him?
C: Jesus Montero vs. Jarod Salty
Edge: Even, both have not proven a thing. If the Sox land Martin though Edge Sox.
DH: Jorge Posada vs David Ortiz
Edge: Sox. Posada is a good hitter, but he has never struck fear in the hearts of opposing pitchers like Ortiz has. He still gets 30 HR and 100 RBI even in a down year. And is still a clutch hitter. Im gonna bring up his back to back walk off hits during Game 4 and 5 of the 2004 ALCS, just to spite you YANKS.
Starting Pitching: Yanks vs. Red Sox
Edge: Red Sox. Outside of CC Sabathia the Yanks have very little to show (esp if Pettite retiers). The Sox have, arguably, the best rotation in baseball. You have Lester and Bucholz who have the potential to be multiple Cy Young winners, as well as Beckett and Lacky, who would be number 1 starters on most MLB teams. Throw in Dice-K and you have one of the best number 5's in baseball. Also they still got Wakes to throw some innings if needed.
Bull Pen: Yanks vs. Red Sox
Edge: Red Sox (only slightly)
The Yanks kept Rivera which gives them a lot of points. But outside of him the Yanks don't have much. Same for the Sox all they really have is Bard and Papelbon(and he did not do well last year). Thing is the Sox have 2 established names while the Yanks have 1, so edge Sox. Also, the gap could widen if Theo adds some of the BP help he is going after especially Downs.
oh one more thing. Before you bash the sox for spending $300 million on a couple aquisitions. Remember the 2008 off season where the Yanks dished out that money to Tex and Sabathia???
Rob-Thanks for all those thoughts... we are not bagging on the Red Sox for spending $300mil, just saying they can't complain about the Yankees payroll either.
Post a Comment