Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Dodgers - I thought Adande was a name I could trust
JA Adande, in this column in the LA Times yesterday said something with which I will disagree sharply:
2001: 5.71
2002: 5.15
2003: 5.67
2004: 4.53
2005: 4.96
That's it! Alex Rodriguez was a crappy pitcher bringing down the team ERA!
But seriously, in 2004 the Rangers had a stellar bullpen, including Francisco Cordero's best year as a closer. As for 2005, chaulk that up to quality seasons from Kenny Rogers and Chris Young.
What about the Yankees pitching? Same analysis:
2001: 4.02
2002: 3.87
2003: 4.02
2004: 4.69
2005: 4.52
The difference for the Yankees was a loss of quality starters, namely Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, and David Wells, and the influx of Kevin Brown, Randy Johnson, Carl Pavano, Jaret Wright, etc.
******************
That said, here's what I want to put out
Lineup:
Furcal - ss
Ethier - lf
Nomar - 1b
A-Rod - 3b
Drew - cf
Kent - 2b
Loney - rf
Martin - c
Rotation
Lowe
Zito/Matsusaka/Schmidt
Maddux
Billingsley
Kuo
Bullpen
Gagne
Saito
Broxton
Brazoban
Hendrickson
Dessens
Bench
Martinez
Repko
Anderson
(non roster backup catcher)
Saenz
(non-roster guy)
OUT:
Lugo
Lofton
Hall
Tomko
Penny
Betemit
Note that italics denote a position change and bold denotes a new acquisition.
The idea is that the team acquires one more starting pitcher from the free agent market, re-signs Eric Gagne, Nomar Garicaparra, Greg Maddux and Takashi Saito, and then trades Brad Penny, Toby Hall, Wilson Betemit, and Brett Tomko off for Alex Rodriguez and prospects (not necessarily all Yankees prospects). Kenny Lofton is a free agent and goes somewhere to provide a center fielder and leadoff man.
The position changes are of this logic: JD Drew wants to play center, so now he can. Loney has played the outfield in the minors, so he can probably play adequately, and move to first if Nomar is out. The important thing is for his bat to be in the lineup. Kent probably will not play in 2008, but Nomar would. Nomar could probably be a decent second base candidate for that year, given the Dodgers' lack of depth at the position, and he would be less prone to throwing errors since he wouldn't have as much distance to throw. Then Loney could move back to first and Kemp could play in the outfield.
I want A-Rod because he's unofficially available and the Dodgers need a boost at third base. Any other option would involve blocking Matt Kemp for three years, which will not do.
*****
The Boston Red Sox got a .299 OBP from their starting shortstop. Given the free agent market, if the Red Sox want offense out of their shortstop position, they may be due for an awkward reunion of sorts.
My problem is this: Name a team that has been better off for taking on Rodriguez's contract, even a portion of it. The Rangers? They never won the division with him. The Yankees? They never made the World Series with him.For both teams, this is not an issue of a third baseman's problems, but of the consequences of poor pitching staffs. The Texas Rangers team ERA year-by-year:
2001: 5.71
2002: 5.15
2003: 5.67
2004: 4.53
2005: 4.96
That's it! Alex Rodriguez was a crappy pitcher bringing down the team ERA!
But seriously, in 2004 the Rangers had a stellar bullpen, including Francisco Cordero's best year as a closer. As for 2005, chaulk that up to quality seasons from Kenny Rogers and Chris Young.
What about the Yankees pitching? Same analysis:
2001: 4.02
2002: 3.87
2003: 4.02
2004: 4.69
2005: 4.52
The difference for the Yankees was a loss of quality starters, namely Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, and David Wells, and the influx of Kevin Brown, Randy Johnson, Carl Pavano, Jaret Wright, etc.
******************
That said, here's what I want to put out
Lineup:
Furcal - ss
Ethier - lf
Nomar - 1b
A-Rod - 3b
Drew - cf
Kent - 2b
Loney - rf
Martin - c
Rotation
Lowe
Zito/Matsusaka/Schmidt
Maddux
Billingsley
Kuo
Bullpen
Gagne
Saito
Broxton
Brazoban
Hendrickson
Dessens
Bench
Martinez
Repko
Anderson
(non roster backup catcher)
Saenz
(non-roster guy)
OUT:
Lugo
Lofton
Hall
Tomko
Penny
Betemit
Note that italics denote a position change and bold denotes a new acquisition.
The idea is that the team acquires one more starting pitcher from the free agent market, re-signs Eric Gagne, Nomar Garicaparra, Greg Maddux and Takashi Saito, and then trades Brad Penny, Toby Hall, Wilson Betemit, and Brett Tomko off for Alex Rodriguez and prospects (not necessarily all Yankees prospects). Kenny Lofton is a free agent and goes somewhere to provide a center fielder and leadoff man.
The position changes are of this logic: JD Drew wants to play center, so now he can. Loney has played the outfield in the minors, so he can probably play adequately, and move to first if Nomar is out. The important thing is for his bat to be in the lineup. Kent probably will not play in 2008, but Nomar would. Nomar could probably be a decent second base candidate for that year, given the Dodgers' lack of depth at the position, and he would be less prone to throwing errors since he wouldn't have as much distance to throw. Then Loney could move back to first and Kemp could play in the outfield.
I want A-Rod because he's unofficially available and the Dodgers need a boost at third base. Any other option would involve blocking Matt Kemp for three years, which will not do.
*****
The Boston Red Sox got a .299 OBP from their starting shortstop. Given the free agent market, if the Red Sox want offense out of their shortstop position, they may be due for an awkward reunion of sorts.
Labels: Dodgers
# posted by StolenMonkey86 @ 1:40 AM 
