About the recently retired Randy Johnson.
I've found that fans can look at a legend like the Unit and say, "Yeah, that dude was great." It's obvious: 303 wins, 4,875 strikeouts.
But do you know how great Randy was? Really know? Let me show you a couple stretches of his career, starting with his early years, 1990-93.
1990-93
Over the period, Johnson threw 886 innings to an 113 ERA+. Not bad. Not great, but good. The potential could be seen, though, in his astounding 9.9 strikeout rate. The 5.2 walk rate is pretty bad, and holds him back a great deal.
But if you have a gigantic left-hander throwing really hard and striking out a bunch of dudes, that's a reason to be excited. However, Johnson wasn't young (by 1993 he was 29 years old), and expecting a player to improve as he ages isn't bright.
That said, the Mariners excitement--I'm assuming they were, I wasn't there--was rewarded in the next 4-year stretch:
94-98
Johnson threw 906 innings to an 162 ERA+. That's a monumental leap in run-prevention, and it can be traced to one development: command. Johnson's walk rate fell by 2 walks per 9, his strikeouts went up by 1.1 Ks per 9.
That gave him an excellent 3.70 K to BB rate, and officially made Johnson a dominant pitcher. Amazingly, the writers agreed: The Unit also won his first Cy Young Award in 1995, and could have easily won in 1994 (I think I'd take Johnson's year over David Cone's).
But you know what? His next 4-year stretch is even better.
99-02
In his first four years as a Diamondback, his age 35 to 38 period, Johnson lit the world on fire. He threw 1,030 innings. His ERA+ was 188. (Context alert: Roy Halladay, CC Sabathia, Tim Lincecum, and Johan Santana have never thrown a season with an ERA+ that high.)
He struck out 1,417 batters (that's a pedestrian 12.4 strikeout rate), walked only 288 (2.5 per 9) and won 4 consecutive Cy Young Awards.
Johnson won 81 games, made 139 starts and was a key factor in a World Series victory. He threw 31 complete games and 11 shutouts. He allowed just 98 home runs, which puts his per 9 rate under 1.
I haven't done the necessary leg work to be sure, but I can't imagine many pitchers had such a stretch. The ERA+ could happen--I think immediately of Greg Maddux--but the dominance, too? Clemens never had that kind of stretch (although he had some great ones). Pedro's 2000 is astronomical, but it was one season.
I'm not going to tell you he's a Hall of Famer because why waste the electrons? It's obvious. So obvious that nimrods like Murray Chass won't be able to avoid the vote.
We can worry about that later, though. For now, just remember how incredibly awesome the Unit was. We'll probably never see another like him.
Adam can be reached at adamdadkins@gmail.com
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Friday, January 8, 2010
Reaction: Brett Myers Is An Astro
1-year, $5 million. It's another risky move in an off-season full of head-scratchers by GM Ed Wade and the Houston Astros.
The article linked above suggests Myers will join their rotation, which is where he belongs. When healthy, Myers can be dominant, as evidenced by his 2006 season when he threw 198 innings with a 120 ERA+ and a 3.00 K/BB.
However, since 2006, Myers doesn't look as good. Considering that's 3 seasons, his 329 innings pitched is hardly impressive, although the Phillies occasionally tried Myers as a reliever. Also, his ERA+ over the period is 96, which is of course below average. Myers has seemingly lost his once terrific curve ball, which means hitters can sit on his fastball. That's bad.
It's unlikely Myers will find his 2006 form again, which makes this deal even more hard to grasp. Plus, for the Astros, $5 million is a bit much to pay for a third starter.
I suppose the Astros wanted Myers because he'd come cheaper than Ben Sheets or Joel Pineiro, but Myers isn't worth what he cost. Instead of the risk of another bad contract (it's only 1 year, but it's still $5 million less to spend on other things), why not just stick with Bud Morris or Brian Moehler. Sure, they suck, but the Astros aren't close to contention anyway.
The Astros biggest issue is their farm system, so why not save that money and go over slot in the draft? Perhaps Ed Wade doesn't think like that, but his team's fan base might wish he had if the Astros don't improve.
Adam can be reached at adamdadkins@gmail.com
The article linked above suggests Myers will join their rotation, which is where he belongs. When healthy, Myers can be dominant, as evidenced by his 2006 season when he threw 198 innings with a 120 ERA+ and a 3.00 K/BB.
However, since 2006, Myers doesn't look as good. Considering that's 3 seasons, his 329 innings pitched is hardly impressive, although the Phillies occasionally tried Myers as a reliever. Also, his ERA+ over the period is 96, which is of course below average. Myers has seemingly lost his once terrific curve ball, which means hitters can sit on his fastball. That's bad.
It's unlikely Myers will find his 2006 form again, which makes this deal even more hard to grasp. Plus, for the Astros, $5 million is a bit much to pay for a third starter.
I suppose the Astros wanted Myers because he'd come cheaper than Ben Sheets or Joel Pineiro, but Myers isn't worth what he cost. Instead of the risk of another bad contract (it's only 1 year, but it's still $5 million less to spend on other things), why not just stick with Bud Morris or Brian Moehler. Sure, they suck, but the Astros aren't close to contention anyway.
The Astros biggest issue is their farm system, so why not save that money and go over slot in the draft? Perhaps Ed Wade doesn't think like that, but his team's fan base might wish he had if the Astros don't improve.
Adam can be reached at adamdadkins@gmail.com
What Does Carlos Delgado Have Left?
Anyone want a 38 year old injury-prone decline-riddled first baseman? Carlos Delgado, according to MLB.com, is hoping to build some value after a 2009 that could've been his curtain call by smacking around no-name bottom feeders in Puerto Rico.
But how much can he give? Delgado's probably not a starter anymore, in terms of production or health. He tore the labrum in his hip, a similar injury to the one sustained by Alex Rodriguez, and given his age, it's unlikely that Delgado gives you anything of value should a team bring him in.
If a team is looking at Delgado, I'd hope they are searching for low-cash high-bash free agents with Delgado merely a name on a list, and not as a serious first base option. He's old, and hurt, and declining. Don't make that mistake.
But, if a team does need some cheap-ish value, options abound. Joel Pineiro might be for real as a ground ball specialist, and he can't be asking for much more than 3-years, $25 million. Ben Sheets, despite the serious injury concerns, could be a productive pitcher in the right situation. John Smoltz might have something left if an NL team gives him a shot.
Those options exist. But I doubt Delgado is one of them. I'd rather go down the Russell Branyan path than the Delgado road, which should be all you need to know.
Adam can be reached at adamdadkins@gmail.com
But how much can he give? Delgado's probably not a starter anymore, in terms of production or health. He tore the labrum in his hip, a similar injury to the one sustained by Alex Rodriguez, and given his age, it's unlikely that Delgado gives you anything of value should a team bring him in.
If a team is looking at Delgado, I'd hope they are searching for low-cash high-bash free agents with Delgado merely a name on a list, and not as a serious first base option. He's old, and hurt, and declining. Don't make that mistake.
But, if a team does need some cheap-ish value, options abound. Joel Pineiro might be for real as a ground ball specialist, and he can't be asking for much more than 3-years, $25 million. Ben Sheets, despite the serious injury concerns, could be a productive pitcher in the right situation. John Smoltz might have something left if an NL team gives him a shot.
Those options exist. But I doubt Delgado is one of them. I'd rather go down the Russell Branyan path than the Delgado road, which should be all you need to know.
Adam can be reached at adamdadkins@gmail.com
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Why The Reds Not Spending Is Smart
I live in Dayton, appear on a radio show and visit several different Ohio sports forums. In doing so, I am able to take the pulse of a couple different fanbases, namely the Ohio State Buckeyes, Cincinnati Bengals and the Cincinnati Reds.
And lately, Reds fans haven't been pleased with current GM Walt Jocketty and the team's lack of major signings. Some of them point to the Cardinals bringing back Matt Holliday and scream that the Reds need to respond. Some of them, foolishly, point to the Cubs acquiring Carlos freaking Silva and complain.
And you know what? The fans are all wrong.
The Reds made one major move last year, the trade for Scott Rolen. I felt it was stupid then and I feel it's stupid now, because it cost them money and players to acquire an aging third baseman who isn't likely to still be on the team should Cincy ever return to the playoffs. Simply put, Rolen's not a part of the future, and considering the Reds need like 7 more Scott Rolen's to be important in the present, it was a waste to acquire him. Same thing for the ridiculous Francisco Cordero deal.
But the fans seem to want that kind of move. Mark Schlemmer, the host of the show I linked above, will holler about Jocketty not being "in" on anything. What do you want him to do? Sign Jason Bay to a 4-year, $66 million contract? The Reds can't afford that.
The Reds should not be spending any significant amount of money on the free agent market. The Reds cannot afford any major player anyway, and the sad fact remains that Cincinnati is quite a few players away from being good. Over the last 5 years, the Reds have averaged 75 wins in what could be called the weakest division in baseball. They are consistently below-average. The Reds aren't "one piece away". More like 7.
It is easy to forget the circumstances when your chief in-division rivals are making moves. The Cardinals bring back Holliday and are now a contender to win the National League. The Reds bring in Holliday and they might win 80 games, but it would likely ruin their budget and force them to draft more Mike Leake types (read: cheap players) in the 1st round. Add Holliday and the Reds are, shock, still not a contender.
Instead of big moves, the Reds should be focusing on the big picture, with the immediate concern being getting Jay Bruce (remember him? Big time prospect? Ring a bell?) on the right track, and then being prepared to draft for upside in the draft. Cincy is at a loss for talent right now, especially after Edinson Volquez's elbow surgery. And even though they've allegedly been rebuilding for years, poor management has kept them in a rut.
Fixing the Reds will not be quick or easy, and I've certainly not supported Jocketty's entire tenure in the Queen City, but his frugality of late is the right move, even if fans don't get behind it.
But, as always, the best way to please the fans is to win baseball games. Spending for the future is the way to winning, because 2010 isn't a playoff year anyway. Build for later on. Joey Votto is a cornerstone. Todd Frazier's not a premium prospect, but he's worth something, and if Bruce turns it around, suddenly you have some young talent going. I don't think the Reds have any good young pitching (I scoff at Johnny Cueto), but that'll come.
Better days could be coming if Jocketty makes the right moves, and this winter is a good start, but Reds fans should be prepared for another year of less than 80 wins.
Adam can be reached at adamdadkins@gmail.com
And lately, Reds fans haven't been pleased with current GM Walt Jocketty and the team's lack of major signings. Some of them point to the Cardinals bringing back Matt Holliday and scream that the Reds need to respond. Some of them, foolishly, point to the Cubs acquiring Carlos freaking Silva and complain.
And you know what? The fans are all wrong.
The Reds made one major move last year, the trade for Scott Rolen. I felt it was stupid then and I feel it's stupid now, because it cost them money and players to acquire an aging third baseman who isn't likely to still be on the team should Cincy ever return to the playoffs. Simply put, Rolen's not a part of the future, and considering the Reds need like 7 more Scott Rolen's to be important in the present, it was a waste to acquire him. Same thing for the ridiculous Francisco Cordero deal.
But the fans seem to want that kind of move. Mark Schlemmer, the host of the show I linked above, will holler about Jocketty not being "in" on anything. What do you want him to do? Sign Jason Bay to a 4-year, $66 million contract? The Reds can't afford that.
The Reds should not be spending any significant amount of money on the free agent market. The Reds cannot afford any major player anyway, and the sad fact remains that Cincinnati is quite a few players away from being good. Over the last 5 years, the Reds have averaged 75 wins in what could be called the weakest division in baseball. They are consistently below-average. The Reds aren't "one piece away". More like 7.
It is easy to forget the circumstances when your chief in-division rivals are making moves. The Cardinals bring back Holliday and are now a contender to win the National League. The Reds bring in Holliday and they might win 80 games, but it would likely ruin their budget and force them to draft more Mike Leake types (read: cheap players) in the 1st round. Add Holliday and the Reds are, shock, still not a contender.
Instead of big moves, the Reds should be focusing on the big picture, with the immediate concern being getting Jay Bruce (remember him? Big time prospect? Ring a bell?) on the right track, and then being prepared to draft for upside in the draft. Cincy is at a loss for talent right now, especially after Edinson Volquez's elbow surgery. And even though they've allegedly been rebuilding for years, poor management has kept them in a rut.
Fixing the Reds will not be quick or easy, and I've certainly not supported Jocketty's entire tenure in the Queen City, but his frugality of late is the right move, even if fans don't get behind it.
But, as always, the best way to please the fans is to win baseball games. Spending for the future is the way to winning, because 2010 isn't a playoff year anyway. Build for later on. Joey Votto is a cornerstone. Todd Frazier's not a premium prospect, but he's worth something, and if Bruce turns it around, suddenly you have some young talent going. I don't think the Reds have any good young pitching (I scoff at Johnny Cueto), but that'll come.
Better days could be coming if Jocketty makes the right moves, and this winter is a good start, but Reds fans should be prepared for another year of less than 80 wins.
Adam can be reached at adamdadkins@gmail.com
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Reaction: Andre Dawson Elected To Hall of Fame
Congrats to the Hawk, it's gotta be pretty special to be elected. What follows is why I would not have voted, and then why I would have voted for him.
I wouldn't have voted for Dawson because his career OBP is far too low for me, at .323. He played corner outfield in his peak, and is known as a corner outfielder. .323 OBP doesn't cut it, plain and simple.
However, his career slugging percentage is .482, which is quite nice. Not Hall worthy, but nice. Dawson also had a nice peak, but hardly a great one. From 1980 to 83, Dawson hit .302/.350/.518.
Again, that's fine. But it's not Hall worthy.
But, hey! He won an MVP! Yep, and so did Ken Caminiti.
I'm sorry, Dawson's a nice player. He had a fine career. But he's not worthy.
---
As for Mr. Blyleven, he nearly made it. 74.2% of the vote (you need 75% to make it) is painfully short, but it guarantees he goes in next year. It's still a tragedy that Blyleven, one of the most dominant pitchers in history, didn't make it. We weep for you, Bert.
Barry Larkin and Roberto Alomar will both be going in within 5 years, which is nice (even though both should be in right now).
Adam can be reached at adamdadkins@gmail.com.
I wouldn't have voted for Dawson because his career OBP is far too low for me, at .323. He played corner outfield in his peak, and is known as a corner outfielder. .323 OBP doesn't cut it, plain and simple.
However, his career slugging percentage is .482, which is quite nice. Not Hall worthy, but nice. Dawson also had a nice peak, but hardly a great one. From 1980 to 83, Dawson hit .302/.350/.518.
Again, that's fine. But it's not Hall worthy.
But, hey! He won an MVP! Yep, and so did Ken Caminiti.
I'm sorry, Dawson's a nice player. He had a fine career. But he's not worthy.
---
As for Mr. Blyleven, he nearly made it. 74.2% of the vote (you need 75% to make it) is painfully short, but it guarantees he goes in next year. It's still a tragedy that Blyleven, one of the most dominant pitchers in history, didn't make it. We weep for you, Bert.
Barry Larkin and Roberto Alomar will both be going in within 5 years, which is nice (even though both should be in right now).
Adam can be reached at adamdadkins@gmail.com.
My Quick Hall Vote
...if I had one.
I would select Roberto Alomar, Barry Larkin, Bert Blyleven, Tim Raines, and Mark McGwire without hesitation, and I could be easily coerced into Edgar Martinez, Fred McGriff or Alan Trammell, and I'd probably end up voting for any or all of them.
I'm not a "big Hall" guy, though. I think the elite players of history belong and none other, hence the lack of Jack Morris. But the ones in bold are all no-doubters for me.
Adam can be reached at adamdadkins@gmail.com.
I would select Roberto Alomar, Barry Larkin, Bert Blyleven, Tim Raines, and Mark McGwire without hesitation, and I could be easily coerced into Edgar Martinez, Fred McGriff or Alan Trammell, and I'd probably end up voting for any or all of them.
I'm not a "big Hall" guy, though. I think the elite players of history belong and none other, hence the lack of Jack Morris. But the ones in bold are all no-doubters for me.
Adam can be reached at adamdadkins@gmail.com.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Reaction: Matt Holliday Is A Cardinal
But he didn't come cheap. Matt Holliday signed a 7-year, $120 million contract today with the St. Louis Cardinals, taking the finest 2009 free agent off the market.
Holliday's a good hitter, but I don't know if he's good enough for that contract. It's easy to look at his gaudy career line--.318/.387/.545--and think he's a megastar, but, and I checked, he does not bring Coors Field with him, where he hit for the first 5 years of his career.
That said, Holliday is a good player, perhaps great. He's going to hit for power, especially in the NL, and he's going to draw some walks. If your going to give a hitter that much money, make sure he gets on base and hits for power. Holliday, like Mark Teixeira last year, does both. This is key.
Even if Holliday goes through a little BABIP blip like he did in Oakland, his plate discipline will keep his production up. However, a severe drop in batting average, perhaps to the .260-.270 range, could really hinder Holliday's ability to get on base.
Luckily, if there's anything Holliday does well, it's hit for average. His career average is .318, and even though average is a funky stat that should not be used over OBP, it's important for Holliday's general production.
Essentially, if Holliday hits .280 or better, he's a fine player, and possibly excellent. He'll help St. Louis both offensively and to a lesser degree defensively, but there negatives.
Namely, it appears Scott Boras bent the Cardinals over his knee with this deal. Holliday's main rival on the market was Jason Bay, who signed for 4-years, $66 million. Holliday's a superior player in every way, but how much? So much that adding 3 more years and $54 million isn't a bad idea?
I think it is a bad idea. The Cardinals needed Holliday, but this deal has to be a major win for Scott Boras, who is rarely serious with his early demands. When Boras saw the figures for Bay's deal, he couldn't have hoped for much more than 5/100 (Years and Millions), yet he soared past that.
I fear that by 2014 or 2015 (years 4 and 5) of this contract, Holliday could age and become a zero (or worse) defensively or lose some contract ability. He will turn 30 on Jan. 15, so he's not all that young, which means decline is not only a possibility, it's a near-certainty with him (and the Bay deal, and any deal involving most players).
There's also the Pujols factor, which goes both ways. On the one hand, the Cardinals needed to make a big splash to keep Pujols happy. On the other hand, was this too big a splash? Can the Cardinals match an offer of 7/150 or more from one of the Yankees, Mets or Red Sox? Those offers will come, and Pujols will listen, even if he'd prefer to stay in St. Louis.
It's not a perfect deal, but the Cardinals needed him. It might look bad later on, but for now, the Cardinals are a definite contender in the NL, just a bit behind the Phillies.
Adam can be reached at adamdadkins@gmail.com.
Holliday's a good hitter, but I don't know if he's good enough for that contract. It's easy to look at his gaudy career line--.318/.387/.545--and think he's a megastar, but, and I checked, he does not bring Coors Field with him, where he hit for the first 5 years of his career.
That said, Holliday is a good player, perhaps great. He's going to hit for power, especially in the NL, and he's going to draw some walks. If your going to give a hitter that much money, make sure he gets on base and hits for power. Holliday, like Mark Teixeira last year, does both. This is key.
Even if Holliday goes through a little BABIP blip like he did in Oakland, his plate discipline will keep his production up. However, a severe drop in batting average, perhaps to the .260-.270 range, could really hinder Holliday's ability to get on base.
Luckily, if there's anything Holliday does well, it's hit for average. His career average is .318, and even though average is a funky stat that should not be used over OBP, it's important for Holliday's general production.
Essentially, if Holliday hits .280 or better, he's a fine player, and possibly excellent. He'll help St. Louis both offensively and to a lesser degree defensively, but there negatives.
Namely, it appears Scott Boras bent the Cardinals over his knee with this deal. Holliday's main rival on the market was Jason Bay, who signed for 4-years, $66 million. Holliday's a superior player in every way, but how much? So much that adding 3 more years and $54 million isn't a bad idea?
I think it is a bad idea. The Cardinals needed Holliday, but this deal has to be a major win for Scott Boras, who is rarely serious with his early demands. When Boras saw the figures for Bay's deal, he couldn't have hoped for much more than 5/100 (Years and Millions), yet he soared past that.
I fear that by 2014 or 2015 (years 4 and 5) of this contract, Holliday could age and become a zero (or worse) defensively or lose some contract ability. He will turn 30 on Jan. 15, so he's not all that young, which means decline is not only a possibility, it's a near-certainty with him (and the Bay deal, and any deal involving most players).
There's also the Pujols factor, which goes both ways. On the one hand, the Cardinals needed to make a big splash to keep Pujols happy. On the other hand, was this too big a splash? Can the Cardinals match an offer of 7/150 or more from one of the Yankees, Mets or Red Sox? Those offers will come, and Pujols will listen, even if he'd prefer to stay in St. Louis.
It's not a perfect deal, but the Cardinals needed him. It might look bad later on, but for now, the Cardinals are a definite contender in the NL, just a bit behind the Phillies.
Adam can be reached at adamdadkins@gmail.com.
Reaction: Adrian Beltre to Boston
The Red Sox Get Another Premium Glove
Boston signed Adrian Beltre today to a 1-year, $9 million deal with options to be their starting third baseman. What's it mean?
The Red Sox have tried desperately to improve their defense this off season, and it's a smart idea. Knowing that the big bats were going to be far too pricey relative to value, Boston changed gears and went for run prevention, as evidenced by the Marco Scutaro and Mike Cameron signings. Beltre is no different.
He's an awesome fielder at third, among the best in the sport and possibly of all-time. Beltre is also an improvement on Mike Lowell, who struggled to fend off injuries and decline. Plus, the deal allows Kevin Youkilis to stay put at first.
The Red Sox will try to trade Lowell to someone for spare parts, and I suspect an NL team could use Lowell, perhaps the San Francisco Giants (although that's not a perfect situation for an aging, expensive injury-prone player).
The deal isn't perfect, though. Beltre's not a great hitter--or even a good one--but the Red Sox have decided to go all out on defense, and given the transactions so far, they are succeeding. Given the figures, this is certainly a good deal for the Red Sox, but fans shouldn't expect Beltre to be a cure all. He's a nice piece, not a division-changer.
All in all, this has been a very successful off season for Boston.
Adam can be reached at adamdadkins@gmail.com
Boston signed Adrian Beltre today to a 1-year, $9 million deal with options to be their starting third baseman. What's it mean?
The Red Sox have tried desperately to improve their defense this off season, and it's a smart idea. Knowing that the big bats were going to be far too pricey relative to value, Boston changed gears and went for run prevention, as evidenced by the Marco Scutaro and Mike Cameron signings. Beltre is no different.
He's an awesome fielder at third, among the best in the sport and possibly of all-time. Beltre is also an improvement on Mike Lowell, who struggled to fend off injuries and decline. Plus, the deal allows Kevin Youkilis to stay put at first.
The Red Sox will try to trade Lowell to someone for spare parts, and I suspect an NL team could use Lowell, perhaps the San Francisco Giants (although that's not a perfect situation for an aging, expensive injury-prone player).
The deal isn't perfect, though. Beltre's not a great hitter--or even a good one--but the Red Sox have decided to go all out on defense, and given the transactions so far, they are succeeding. Given the figures, this is certainly a good deal for the Red Sox, but fans shouldn't expect Beltre to be a cure all. He's a nice piece, not a division-changer.
All in all, this has been a very successful off season for Boston.
Adam can be reached at adamdadkins@gmail.com
Monday, January 4, 2010
Phil Rogers Is On To Something
Any non-Yankee fan might want to look away:
"The Yankees are keeping the DH spot clear, for the time being, as a potential way to accommodate Pujols, Fielder or even [Adrian] Gonzalez playing alongside Mark Teixeira. They have advanced catching prospects ( Jesus Montero and Austin Romine) to offer if the Twins reach a choking point with Mauer, which Mauer will dictate more than the club."
I'm amazed that most fans don't see the writing on the wall for the 2010 offseason. The Yankees are going to go nuts, man. Rogers doesn't mention Cliff Lee, who is more or less guaranteed to be a Yankee barring decline or injury.
He does mention Mauer, though, who I think the Yankees have the biggest eye on. Pujols, Fielder and Gonzalez are all nice, but Teixeira is there, and the DH idea doesn't fit with those 3. But it does fit with the Mauer idea. What's the Mauer idea?
Sign Joe Mauer to play catcher and slide Jorge Posada to DH. Bing bam boom. Posada' s deal runs through 2011, but guess who magically appears on the market that winter? Pujols.
Now, it's unlikely that Pujols will want to be a DH, and it's also unlikely that Teixeira will. How that will work out, I don't know, but the Yankees have tons of options coming up for their DH, not to mention Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez, both of whom are closer than most Yankee fans want to think about.
Mauer likely won't come cheap, but the Yankees won't hesistate to sign the best catcher on the market (and one of the best ever). I suspect it'll take something like Teixeira's 8-year, $180 million deal to do it.
That's a lot, but if the Yankees want a guy, they'll get him.
Adam can be reached at adamdadkins@gmail.com
"The Yankees are keeping the DH spot clear, for the time being, as a potential way to accommodate Pujols, Fielder or even [Adrian] Gonzalez playing alongside Mark Teixeira. They have advanced catching prospects ( Jesus Montero and Austin Romine) to offer if the Twins reach a choking point with Mauer, which Mauer will dictate more than the club."
I'm amazed that most fans don't see the writing on the wall for the 2010 offseason. The Yankees are going to go nuts, man. Rogers doesn't mention Cliff Lee, who is more or less guaranteed to be a Yankee barring decline or injury.
He does mention Mauer, though, who I think the Yankees have the biggest eye on. Pujols, Fielder and Gonzalez are all nice, but Teixeira is there, and the DH idea doesn't fit with those 3. But it does fit with the Mauer idea. What's the Mauer idea?
Sign Joe Mauer to play catcher and slide Jorge Posada to DH. Bing bam boom. Posada' s deal runs through 2011, but guess who magically appears on the market that winter? Pujols.
Now, it's unlikely that Pujols will want to be a DH, and it's also unlikely that Teixeira will. How that will work out, I don't know, but the Yankees have tons of options coming up for their DH, not to mention Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez, both of whom are closer than most Yankee fans want to think about.
Mauer likely won't come cheap, but the Yankees won't hesistate to sign the best catcher on the market (and one of the best ever). I suspect it'll take something like Teixeira's 8-year, $180 million deal to do it.
That's a lot, but if the Yankees want a guy, they'll get him.
Adam can be reached at adamdadkins@gmail.com
Do You Remember How Awesome Frank Thomas Was?
Joe Posnanski, best of his generation, does. And I do. And most stat heads do, but the general fan? I'm not sure.
Frank Thomas played 19 seasons, either as a first baseman or a DH, all in the American League. His career slash line is .301/.419/.555, or as I like to call it, freakin' good. That's his career line, kids. You can make the argument that Jim Rice, recent Hall of Famer, never had a single year better than Thomas' career average.
That's not an insult to Rice, it's a compliment to Thomas, who also hit 521 bombs, won 2 MVPs and unleashed one of the nastiest peak runs in baseball history, from 1992 to 1997.
Thomas's OBP in that period was .452. Good lord. He slugged .613 (future Hall of Famer and potential home run king Alex Rodriguez has only once slugged over .613 for a season, to give that some perspective), hit 218 home runs and amassed 1,884 total bases. How impressive are the total bases? From 2001 to 06, Manny Ramirez managed 1,893. And Manny Ramirez is routinely referred to as the "best right handed hitter of his generation", along with Albert Pujols.
Tell me, why isn't Thomas in that group? His career OPS+ (156) is tied for 19th all time with Dick Allen and someone named Willie Mays, and is ahead of the following Hall of Fame-level hitters:
Need more evidence? (Really?) Okay, fine. His career OBP, .419, ranks 23rd all time. That means he's ahead of:
Frank Thomas is, without question, among the best hitters ever, and should be as easy a selection for the Hall as there ever was. But, with Jon Heyman, Murray Chass and Tim Brown running around with BBWAA votes, you just never know what might happen.
Frank Thomas played 19 seasons, either as a first baseman or a DH, all in the American League. His career slash line is .301/.419/.555, or as I like to call it, freakin' good. That's his career line, kids. You can make the argument that Jim Rice, recent Hall of Famer, never had a single year better than Thomas' career average.
That's not an insult to Rice, it's a compliment to Thomas, who also hit 521 bombs, won 2 MVPs and unleashed one of the nastiest peak runs in baseball history, from 1992 to 1997.
Thomas's OBP in that period was .452. Good lord. He slugged .613 (future Hall of Famer and potential home run king Alex Rodriguez has only once slugged over .613 for a season, to give that some perspective), hit 218 home runs and amassed 1,884 total bases. How impressive are the total bases? From 2001 to 06, Manny Ramirez managed 1,893. And Manny Ramirez is routinely referred to as the "best right handed hitter of his generation", along with Albert Pujols.
Tell me, why isn't Thomas in that group? His career OPS+ (156) is tied for 19th all time with Dick Allen and someone named Willie Mays, and is ahead of the following Hall of Fame-level hitters:
- Manny Ramirez (22nd)
- Frank Robinson (26th)
- Honus Wagner (31st)
- Mike Schmidt (39th)
- Alex Rodriguez (39th)
- Jim Thome (45th)
- Ken Griffey Jr (95th)
Need more evidence? (Really?) Okay, fine. His career OBP, .419, ranks 23rd all time. That means he's ahead of:
- Wade Boggs (26th)
- Manny Ramirez (33rd)
- Jeff Bagwell (40th)
- Rickey Henderson (56th)
- Joe DiMaggio (63rd)
- Mark McGwire (78th)
Frank Thomas is, without question, among the best hitters ever, and should be as easy a selection for the Hall as there ever was. But, with Jon Heyman, Murray Chass and Tim Brown running around with BBWAA votes, you just never know what might happen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
.jpg)
