Baseball....

[CJFusco]

We're almost there, baseball fans. Spring training is upon us, and the chatter makes it appear that this will be one of the biggest baseball seasons in recent memory (apparently last year's playoffs brought a lot of people back to the sport).

Of course, the big story around here in the northeast is Red Sox vs. Yankees. For those of you that haven't been following the story, the Sox struck first when they signed ace pitcher Curt Schilling from Arizona. The Yankees struck back by signing Gary Sheffield and Kenny Lofton. The Sox got another coup by signing elite closer Keith Foulke, thereby solidifying the bullpen. The Yankees further strengthened their pitching by signing Javier Vasquez and Kevin Brown.

The BIG story of the rivalry, however, was A-Rod. The Sox spent a month or so trying to sign the MVP, and failed. I admit it. The deal would have had Nomar go to CWS for M. Ordonez, and Manny Ramirez go to the Rangers. I personally didn't think this was a very good deal, honestly. Well, the deal fell through and Nomar and Manny are still on the Red Sox.

Just a week after being named the Rangers' team captain, A-Rod was stolen by the New York Yankees. Sox owners Henry and Lucchino tried vainly to block the trade, calling for a salary cap. Steinbrenner fired back that we were sore losers, suffering from "sour grapes." Just when everyone (for once) agreed with Steinbrenner, John Henry made a joke about the Boss being baseball's Don Rickles - that when he insults you, you have to laugh - and Georgie became infuriated. He is threatening to file a formal complaint with the MLB (who is whining now?).

Interestingly, after the Sox signed Schilling and Foulke, their Vegas Odds (of winning a Championship) leapfrogged over the Yankees, but when the Yankees signed A-Rod, their Vegas odds skyrocketed over the Sox. After excitement has died down, the odds have once again stabilised. Why? Well, let's think about this:

By signing A-Rod, the Yankees are basically losing Aaron Boone (31 runs 48 hits 13 doubles 0 triples 6 HRs 31 RBI .254 avg) and Alfonso Soriano (114 runs 198 hits 36 doubles 5 triples 38 HRs 91 RBI .290 avg), and gaining Alex Rodriguez (124 runs 181 hits 30 doubles 6 triples 47 HRs 118 RBI .298 avg) and Enrique Wilson (18 runs 31 hits 9 doubles 0 triples 3 HRs 15 RBI) as everyday players.

If you add their 2003 production, here's how things look:

Soriano + Boone = 144 runs, 246 hits, 49 doubles, 5 triples, 42 HRs, 122 RBI, .273 avg

A-Rod + Wilson = 122 runs, 229 hits, 39 doubles, 6 triples, 50 HRs, 133 RBI, .269 avg

Obviously, Wilson's numbers will improve because he will be an everyday player this year, but the fact of the matter is that he is a sub-par player when compared to any of the Yankees other starting players.

Also, Yankee pitching is a big question mark; they can be absolutely devastating or very injury-prone... it could go either way. Just look at their lineup, and then the Sox's rotation.

Yankees Rotation
Mike Mussina
Kevin Brown
Javier Vasquez
Jose Contreras?
John Leiber?
Closer Mariano Rivera

Starting Line-up
Derek Jeter SS
Kenny Lofton CF
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Jason Giambi 1B
Gary Sheffield RF
Hideki Matsui LF
Jorge Posada C
Enrique Wilson 2B
Bernie Williams DH

Red Sox Rotation
Pedro Martinez
Curt Schilling
Derek Lowe
Tim Wakefield
Byun-Hyung Kim
Closer Keith Foulke

Starting Line-up
Johnny Damon CF
Bill Mueller 3B
Nomar Garciaparra SS
Manny Ramirez LF
David Ortiz DH
Kevin Millar 1B
Trot Nixon RF
Jason Varitek C
Pokey Reese 2B

Now, the Yankee offense is HUGELY improved over last year, when pitching won their games for them. Meanwhile, in 2003, the Red Sox broke offensive records. Bill Mueller won the batting title, with Manny Ramirez coming in 2nd (Jeter was third). David Ortiz, Ramirez, and Trot Nixon were numbers 3, 4, and 5 in the league in Slugging Percentage. Nomar Garciaparra was 2nd in the league in runs (A-Rod was 1st, admittedly). Four Sox players batted over .300 (Nomar, Manny, Mueller, and Nixon). None of the starters batted under .275. Will the Red Sox repeat their staggering offense this year? I'm not sure it's possible... but they CAN keep up with the Yankees in offense, I'll bet.

As we all know, pitching wins games. I don't think anyone will claim that the Yankee pitching staff is better than the Sox's staff this year. It isn't. It is good, however... that is, if Kevin Brown and John Leiber can rebound from injury, and if Contreras can get his pitching under control, and if Vasquez can adjust to pitching in a major market. Likewise, the Boston bullpen was an issue last year; it improved toward the end of the season, but there are no guarantees that it will last.

whatever happens, it is going to be a close race.

[Moses]

The Yankees (and RedSox) are killing baseball. I hope neither of them make the series.

There is no reward for careful planning or good management. No incentive for solid player development or a good farm system. Hell, even little league goes to great lengths to balance talent to ensure a competetive season.

Steinbrenner has no particular baseball insight. He brings nothing to the game except money. With the Red Sox now openly copying the mindless Yankees approach to team building, Major League Baseball may eventually collapse under the sheer weight of their collective stupidity.

The end result will likely be complete revenue sharing among all teams. If that happens, baseball might survive.

[CJFusco]

"There is no reward for careful planning or good management. "

Exactly why the Diamondbacks, Angels, and Mariners are the past 3 World Champions, and NOT the New York Yankees.

I agree with you to some point, Moses... but except for the acquisition of Schilling and Foulke, the new Red Sox management hasn't been about acquiring superstars (Manny and Pedro were signed under Dan Duquette, and Nomar Garciaparra was signed straight out of college); no-one really knew Todd Walker, Bill Mueller, or Kevin Millar before last year, and look what happened! The reason that Sox management went after Schilling and Foulke was that we needed pitching, period. I cannot defend their bid for A-Rod, suffice to say that their failure to acquire him saved the Sox some dignity, IMHO. If the Sox got A-Rod and won the 2004 World Series, many people would accuse them of buying a championship. The records might have read:

2000 New York Yankees
2001 Arizona Diamondbacks
2002 Anaheim Angels
2003 Florida Marlins
2004 Boston Red Sox*

[Moses]

Theo Epstein is bright. No doubt about it. Unfortunately, in his quest to compete with the Yankees he has become a big-league spender. All you need to know is the size of the payroll. The Red Sox are nearly keeping pace with the Yankees.

I hope the Oakland A's (with their "minor-league" payroll) kick both their butts. The Oakland franchise is truly remarkable. In recent years they have a regular season winning record against both Boston and New York despite being out-spent 2 and 3 to 1.

[GrindingGears]

This year could be good or bad, ask me again in September. As a Giants fanatic I think they could have done a better job during the off season, getting players, etc. Only time will tell, I guess I'll be there with them as winners or losers.

[CJFusco]

Moses, I agree with you 100%. I am a little disappointed at the 'beat them at their own game' mentality of the 2004 Sox; I think they tasted a hint of success in 2003 and it was like a shark catching the scent of blood

BUT i was raised a Sox fan, and a Sox fan I shall remain.