Monday, December 28, 2009
Another Giant miscue
Six million a year for .260, 25 HR, 75 RBI -- and that's if he has a good year -- is a waste. Travis Ishikawa could give you that for $500,000.
The following list says it all (I may have missed one or two, but no matter, they're all basically the same player):
Edgardo Alfonzo, Kevin Bass, Todd Benzinger, Gary Carter, Darnell Coles, Jose Cruz Jr., Eric Davis, Ray Durham, Steve Finley, Andres Galarraga, Ryan Garko, Marquis Grissom, Mel Hall, Tommy Herr, Glenallen Hill, Shea Hillenbrand, Ryan Klesko,, A.J. Pierzynski, Dave Roberts, Edgar Renteria, Aaron Rowand, Deion Sanders, Reggie Sanders, Benito Santiago, Cory Snyder, Darryl Strawberry, Mark Sweeney, John Vander Wal, Randy Winn.
In fairness to Brian Sabean and his front-office cohorts, the Giants recorded perhaps the single greatest acquisition in baseball history in the early 1990s (I don't really need to say who it is, do I?), and a handful of aging veterans actually did pan out during the same 20-year span the above list covers. Moises Alou, Ellis Burks, Kenny Lofton, Willie McGee, J.T. Snow and Omar Vizquel come to mind. Those guys delivered what was expected of them.
Still, the duds outweigh the gems by tons. And while the ink is still drying on the Freddy Sanchez deal, signing DeRosa does not show a shift in the pattern.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
All-Decade Team: Outfielders and Pitchers
- LF Barry Bonds. He was finished after the 2007 season, but in a three-year span (2001-03), Bonds did a decade's (or more) worth of damage. The most impressive aspect of Bonds' domination during those seasons was not the number or frequency of home runs, but how he managed to hit all those dingers as opposing pitchers and managers were letting him see so few strikes. Honorable mentions: Manny Ramirez, Johnny Damon, Carlos Lee.
- CF Torii Hunter. Yes, Carlos Beltran had better numbers, but Hunter was hands-down the best defender at the position for most of the decade. Plus, he exuded what we'll call, for lack of a better term, the "Jeter Effect," especially during his years in Minnesota. Honorable mentions: Beltran, Andruw Jones.
- RF Ichiro Suzuki. If not for some amazing years from one Vladimir Guerrero, this would have been no contest. As it is, Ichiro, by far the toughest out in baseball since he entered the majors in 2001, wins pretty handily. Honorable mentions: Guerrero, Bobby Abreu.
PITCHERS:
- RHP Roy Halladay. The numbers game easily goes to Halladay, and he compiled those stats with a mostly mediocre Toronto offense behind him and a so-so bullpen to pick him up. Honorable mentions: John Smoltz, Tim Hudson.
- LHP Randy Johnson. It's hard to argue against the Unit's three straight Cy Youngs to start the decade, but when it comes to consistency and reliability, CC Sabathia comes in a close second. Honorable mentions: Sabathia, Johan Santana.
- Closer Mariano Rivera. The closer role seems to be changing with each season, but the one constant has been Rivera. Honorable mention: Trevor Hoffman.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
All-Decade Team: Infield
INFIELD
- C Jorge Posada. With due respect to Minnesota's Joe Mauer, he played only a bit longer than half the '00s. So, Posada is my pick -- for above average offensive production, being the mark of consistency, winning two titles and handling a revolving-door staff of high-priced pitchers. Not to mention doing all those things with such a storied franchise as the New York Yankees. Honorable mentions: Jason Varitek, Mauer.
- 1B Albert Pujols. A no-brainer if there ever was one. In fact, anyone who doesn't pick the Cardinals' slugger as the Player of the Decade better have a pretty convincing argument. Honorable mentions: Ryan Howard, Mark Teixeira.
- 2B Chase Utley. My inclination here was to split the pick between Jeff Kent for the first half of the decade and Utley for the second half. With a gun to my head, I'll take Utley for winning the title on '08 and doing everything in his power to win the thing in '09. Honorable mentions: Kent, Luis Castillo, Placido Polanco.
- 3B Alex Rodriguez. Criticism abounds with the highest-paid person in any profession. One thing you cannnot dispute is A-Rod's production. And let's give him a little credit for learning a new position in the name of winning. Honorable mentions: Miguel Cabrera, Chipper Jones.
- SS Derek Jeter. Another pick that would be tough to challenge. Great all-around player, true leader, consummate professional, hardly a flaw in his game or in his character. Jeter is the the type of player every owner, GM and manager dreams of starting a franchise with. Honorable mentions: Miguel Tejada, Jimmy Rollins, Omar Vizquel.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Bring Around the Posey
Why?
This kid is ready, and with Bengie Molina on the free-agent block, now is as good a time as any to see what the bonus baby can do as an every day, major-league starter behind the plate.
Obviously, Posey isn't ready to catch 162 games in 2010 (or even 140 for that matter). But that's where manager Bruce Bochy, a former catcher, and veteran receiver Eli Whiteside come in. Set up a schedule, pace him along, but don't coddle him.
Posey will be 23 on Opening Day. Make him the starter and make him the regular catcher. Let the kid build some confidence and develop a rapport with the club's fine young pitching staff. And let him fail, too, so he can learn from his mistakes. But don't say he's not ready.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
'Lackey' and 'ace' in the same sentence? Seriously?
I'm still waiting for the punch line.
Here's what he's done to earn the five-year, $82.5 million contract Boston reportedly offered him:
- Finished 11-8 with a 3.83 ERA last season.
- Won 15 or more games in a season once (19-9 in 2007)
- Never posted a single-season ERA below 3.00 (3.01 in 2007)
- Never pitched more than three complete games in a season and has 14 career CGs in 233 starts
- Postseason numbers are mediocre at best (3-4, 4.12 ERA in 14 games)
Not to say Lackey isn't a decent pick-up -- he's a good, solid No. 3 or No. 4 guy. And maybe, under the pressure of that lofty contract, he'll surprise us with a career year. You certainly can't dispute his competitve fire.
But an ace? No. Worth $17 million a year? Not even close. Gives the Red Sox one of the most formidable rotations in the league, as one MLB writer put it? Definitely not.
Sorry, Red Sox Nation, you got swindled. Should have spent that money on that one guy ... eh, Jason somethin'... eh, oh yeah, Bay ... your All-Star left-fielder ... your best player last season. Remember him?
Whew! Good luck competing with those pesky Bombers next year. If you're placing you're bid for a title on the shoulders of John Lackey, you're going to need it.