My official stance about Red Sox vs. Yankees is that the Yankees are the more effectively run organization right now. The team that runs more effectively usually wins the battle between these two teams...
I cite last year as my example:
Last year, at the trading deadline, the Yankees got patient Bobby Abreu and used him to get into the playoffs. In the playoffs, Abreu was the one constant in the Yankees lineup, hitting, fielding, and doing everything to help the Yankees keep it close. It reminded them that they are at their best, when they’re patient at the plate and turning in long at bats, drawing walks, and making a pitcher exhausted.
Yankees get to the post season, Red Sox don't.
As a result, his trade has served as a reminder to a Yankees organization that has made several good moves this off-season. Mainly, trading Gary Sheffield and not going after big time impatient hitters. They’ve tried to trim payroll (which they have done) and stick with hitters who are patient and able to make something out of nothing all over the lineup.
Right now, neither the Red Sox or the Yankees can win the World Series. Neither team is strong enough to decisively hold the advantage over the other let alone over the Tigers or the Angels in the post-season.
But the Red Sox have an Abreu-like opportunity to change all of that, but they need to make that move right now!
The Red Sox have made one great move (signing Daisuke Matsuzaka) and one bad move (signing J.D. Drew) this off-season that sets the tone for the entire organization.
The problem is that their great move isn’t going to balance out their bad move. Their bad move is going to play every day for 81 games (you know before he has his regular stint on the Injury List) while their one great move is going to play 30 games (assuming he doesn’t get injured at all). J.D. Drew will more than likely be a .250 hitter with a little more power and a little more RBI’s than Trot Nixon (you know the man he replaced). He might not be that bad, but he might not be that good either. We’re betting 70 million over 5 years on a guy who is an injury waiting to happen and not to great an upgrade in RF. The Hinske acquisition is going to help ease the loss of Nixon but only as much as the Drew acquisition is going to hurt them. Essentially it'll probably be a wash.
Drew is not a feared hitter. He is not someone who teams are going be scared to pitch to. Hell, for 56 million more dollars spread over 3 more years, you might as well have signed Alfonso Soriano. But enough about the bad news…
Right now, my research (and Buster Olney of ESPN) tells me that the Red Sox are on the verge of making an awesome move to acquire 1B Todd Helton from the Colorado Rockies for RHP Julian Tavarez and 3B Mike Lowell.
Todd Helton instantly makes the Red Sox a World Series contender, if not the favorite. Todd Helton is a five-time all-star over a nine year career, he hit .302 with 40 doubles and 81 RBI’s on a team where he’s the major threat. He’s one of the more feared and patient hitters in all of baseball and he moves Kevin Youkillis to 3B (his natural position). He is a much better hitter and does the things that Abreu does for the Yankees. He’s probably one of the top 5 first basemen in the game and certainly one of the top 2 or 3 defensively.
The Red Sox currently are concentrating on their bullpen and with good reason, it doesn’t even compare to the Yankees. Right now, without Helton, the Red Sox are good but not necessarily good enough to make the post-season. They’ll have to compete with the Angels, White Sox, Tigers, Yankees, and pals. Unless the rotation comes all the way through and is able to get them into the 7th inning of most games, their bullpen will be their downfall.
But if the Red Sox get Helton, all of the sudden their lineup becomes as good, if not better than, all the teams listed above. It improves their defense (which is already one of the best in baseball) and allows their youngsters (namely 2B Dustin Pedoria whom they are relying heavily on this season) to learn from one of the great non-power hitters in the game. The Red Sox also have either the first or second best rotation in all of baseball (behind or in front of Detroit depending on your vantage point) that they’ll lean on when times get tough.
Helton is not a cure-all, he doesn’t fix the bullpen which has serious question marks. It doesn’t make you less scared of 2B Dustin Pedoria (the weak link in an otherwise fearsome lineup). If the Red Sox acquire some bullpen guys from the Rockies in the deal, it will help.
But if they acquire Helton, it represents a major upgrade, enough of an upgrade to get to and possibly win the World Series.
Additional places to see/hear my work:
On Radio:
WIFN Macon/Warner Robins, GA 105.5 The Fan on Four Downs between 4:30-4:50 (usually first down)
On the Internet:
http://www.sportscolumn.com/user/JMBoraz
http://jmboraz.blogspot.com/index.html
On Radio:
WIFN Macon/Warner Robins, GA 105.5 The Fan on Four Downs between 4:30-4:50 (usually first down)
On the Internet:
http://www.sportscolumn.com/user/JMBoraz
http://jmboraz.blogspot.com/index.html
http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/JMBoraz
