Comparing players; Cleveland reloading?
Cliff Lee to Philly — the second time in two years that Cleveland has traded the previous AL Cy Young award winner the year after they won the award. Combine those two trades (CC Sabathia last year, Lee this year), Ryan Garko to the Giants, and the probable trade of Victor Martinez, and you wonder: Is Cleveland reloading for a run in 2010 (or more likely, 2011)? Reports seem positive on what Cleveland got from Philadelphia, though I wonder how ‘awesome’ they can be when Philly traded prospects for Joe Blanton last year, and didn’t touch their reported top two or three prospects in their current system for Lee.
The fire-sale in Cleveland is interesting — reportedly Cleveland wanted to hold onto Lee (and possibly Martinez) for a run at 2010. That obviously is out the door at this point, and the rumor is ’shed payroll’. I have no idea if Detroit makes a move, but I really don’t think detroit has the cash to take on salary. Then again, there are enough buyers right now (who would have thought Seattle would be buying?) that the asking price for prospects is just too great, and/or maybe Detroit doesn’t have the goods in the farm system.
At the moment, it really appears that acquiring ‘a bat’ won’t solve anything in Detroit: As a whole, they hit together and slump together. To continue their run at the playoffs, the Tigers need to hit better as a team; yes, a left handed corner outfielder would improve the club, but one improved player alone won’t turn things around. Let’s compare two players to discuss this:
| Player | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player A | 443 | 415 | 69 | 115 | 28 | 2 | 21 | 69 | 23 | 101 | .277 | .314 | .506 | .820 |
| Player B | 440 | 385 | 57 | 99 | 11 | 4 | 20 | 47 | 48 | 84 | .257 | .341 | .462 | .803 |
You may recognize Player B as Detroit’s All-star center fielder Curtis Granderson. Player A? 2006’s Tiger #7/#8 hitter Craig Monroe (through a similar number of plate appearances as Granderson through July 28, 2009 — Monroe’s stats extend him to late August, 2006). Remember that Monroe (a right handed hitter) faced right handed pitchers 74% of the time in 2006, while Granderson (a left handed hitter) has faced right handed pitchers in 75% of his plate appearances in 2009. In essence… Craig Monroe’s 2006 season was more difficult and nearly as impressive as Granderson’s 2009 campaign. And with that, you see why Detroit is more then a bat away from securing their playoff spot. One of their best players in 2009 is playing as well as their #7 / #8 hitter in 2006, when Detroit limped into a wild card spot. Trade or no trade, the entire lineup needs to step up.
Last… if it wasn’t for the whole stanley cup fiasco, i’d almost feel bad for the fans of Pittsburgh. What a giant F-U the Pirates gave their fans this week by moving Sanchez and Wilson.