Flushing the Toilet (continued)
Check out Part 1 (the starting pitcher comparison) here. Let’s now move on to the other positions.
Catcher
Jason Varitek/Kevin Cash vs. Ivan Rodriguez/Jose Molina
As I noted a couple of weeks ago, I’ll leave pitch-calling abilities out of this discussion, since they manifest themselves in the pitchers’ numbers.
In his last 10 games, Varitek is hitting .300/.417/.633 with 3 HRs. Coincidentally (or perhaps not so much) since the news of his pending divorce became public, the captain has been raking. However, there is no life event so catastrophic that would ever turn Kevin Cash into a hitter. Alas, Wakefield pitches tonight, and with him comes 4 automatic outs in the form of Ca$h.
With Rodgriguez and Molina behind the plate, the Red Sox will not be able to use the running game to their advantage. Hey, don’t laugh: the Sox are second in the league in steals this season. Offensively, I think we can safely say that the Yankees duo is a bit more reliable, Pudge’s empty batting average notwithstanding.
Advantage: New York.
First Base
Kevin Youkilis vs. Jason Giambi
The image of Jason Giambi taking swings at the short RF porch in The Toilet is an imposing one. The Walking Chemistry Set has a slugging % of .506 at home this season, and has rebounded nicely from a terrible season in 2007. Youkilis, however, is among the best players in the league right now. He’s at the top of his game, both offensively and defensively.
Advantage: Boston
Second Base
Dustin Pedroia vs. Robinson Cano
Even though Robbie Cano is having a lackluster season, he’s still someone who I feel can hurt the opposition at any time. He’s a nifty defender who can’t seem to get his head on straight at the plate, but he has been on a bit of a tear recently. Pedroia, however, has been consistent all season long.
Advantage: Boston
Shortstop
Alex Cora vs. Derek Jeter
I’ll assume that J.D. Drew (day to day) and Mike Lowell (eligible to come off of the DL Thursday) do not play much of a role during this series. Alex Cora makes me ill. Defensively, he’s maybe slightly superior to Captain Intangibles, but that’s where the comparison ends. A couple of nights ago, the Red Sox were presented with a rare occasion where bunting was actually the right move, with Cora at the plate. Yet, Cora didn’t execute the bunt, because Cora cannot bunt. If a guy like Alex Cora can’t even bunt, what the hell is he doing in the major leagues?
Advantage: New York
Third Base
Jed Lowrie vs. Alex Rodriguez
Lowrie has been impressive in his short time up here, with 20 extra-base hits in only 178 plate appearances. Alas, he’s stacked up against quite possibly the greatest player of all time. With all of the personal bullshit, the Steinbrenner Family, and the circus surrounding the final campaign of the Toilet, A-Rod hasn’t missed a beat this season.
Strong Advantage: New York
Left Field
Jason Bay vs. Xavier Nady
In a matchup of trade deadline acquisitions, both teams are represented by guys who have been making their general managers look smart. Jason Bay is hitting .333/.385/.529 with the Red Sox, and The X-Man is raking to the tune of .320/.381/.612 in New York. The major difference between these two guys: one of them has done this before, and the other is having a year unlike any other on his resume.
Advantage: Boston
Center Field
Coco Crisp vs. Johnny Damon
Damon, once again playing center field in the wake of Melky Cabrera’s demotion, is covering 35% less range than he did when he last played CF for the Red Sox in 2005 (2.71 RF in 2005 vs 1.75 RF today). However, he’s hitting the ball again, and is currently at his career high in OPS+ (!) Crisp is vastly superior to Damon with the glove, and vice versa with the bat. I’ll wager that the offensive advantage trumps the defensive one.
Slight Advantage: New York
Right Field:
Jacoby Ellsbury vs. Bobby Abreu
Abreu is a butcher defensively, but he’ll get away with that while playing in the little league RF in The Bronx. He can still get on base better than most, and still cranks one on occasion. Ellsbury is probably banged up after a hard collision with the fence in Toronto, is still generally a work-in-progress, and is someone who’s talents aren’t best served playing RF in Yankee Stadium.
Advantage: New York
Bullpen:
Jonathan Papelbon, Hideki Okajima, Justin Masterson, Manny Delcarmen, Javier Lopez
Vs.
Mariano Rivera, Jose Veras, Damaso Marte, Edwar Ramirez, David Robertson
If you break the bullpen down into two pieces, 8th/9th innings and Early Relief, this becomes a bit more clear. Rivera is, well…Rivera. He’s still the best reliever in the game, a short notch ahead of where Papelbon is at this point. Jose Veras has been impressive as Fruitbat’s set up man, and this tandem gets the edge over the Boston combination of Papelbon and Okajima. The bottom half of the bullpen leans heavily in Boston’s favor, with Masterson, Lopez, and Delcarmen being much safer options than Marte, Ramirez, and Robertson.
My contention is this: more innings will be thrown by guys like Masterson and Ramirez (as opposed to Rivera and Papelbon), especially with guys like Sidney Ponson and Paul Byrd slated to start.
Slight Advantage: Boston
Designated Hitter
David Ortiz vs. Hideki Matsui
Advantage: Boston
Overall: People are going to hate me for this, but I honestly think this is a complete push. Maybe someone else can weigh in here, but I don’t really see a total advantage going one way or the other. If they Sox had either Lowell or Drew, the decision becomes easier, but with Crisp and Cora filling in, Boston’s lineup looks quite a bit different.
For the sake of making a prediction, I’ll go ahead and say New York takes two out of three.
It will be, once again, a fun series to watch.
BAWOOSH!
A few problems:
1) you forgot about the designated hitters (I seem to recall the Red Sox having a pretty good one)
2) Farnsworth pitches for the Tigers, Hawkins for the Astros.
3)”The House That Ron Bloomberg Built” is funny. “The Toilet” is just disrepectful.
You know, I always do that (forget about the DH). Funny thing is, I’m in favor of instituting it across both leagues.
Your point on NY’s pen is well taken, and corrected.
Yesterday you said that Boston’s starting pitchers will take two out of three. Today you said that the rest of the Yankee’s roster will take two out of three.
What’s the deal?
No, I only meant that Boston has the starting pitcher advantage in two out of the three games, without factoring in the position players. Overall, I thought NY would take 2 out of 3, based on their offensive advantages.
Clumsily phrased on my part.