Competition for the larger green

[DiMag4Life]

Who do you think will get a bigger pay check, and how much do you think they will they get, Andruw Jones or Torii Hunter?

[SamtheBravesFan]

You know, that's a good question. My first thought would be Andruw, because he's younger, has hit more home runs and he's still a decent defender, but his batting has just been atrocious this season, and I wonder if anyone would pay up the nose knowing this could easily happen.

[RubeBaker]

Yes, he's having a bad year at the plate, but that isn't going to stop anyone from paying him WAY more than they should. Somebody is going to say "well, it's an off year, he'll come back from that horrid batting average." Somebody is going to see his glovework, and point out that he is still slamming homers (he has 30 as of now) as justification of a huge salary. But they'll ignore the 100+ Ks every year, and the fact he does a poor job of hitting his gaps (he averages only 30 doubles a year). I'm sure Torii will be well overpayed too, but Jones is going to be even worse.

[SamtheBravesFan]

You mean 21 homers, right? ;) Scary thing is that that leads the Braves. Can anyone say "Dale Murphy, c. 1988"? :P

From what I remember, Scott Boras was putting together a portfolio on how Andruw is one of the greatest players of all time right now.

[Mariano_Rivera]

Hunter, He`ll get at least about 18 million/year

[RubeBaker]

You mean 21 homers, right? ;) Scary thing is that that leads the Braves. Can anyone say "Dale Murphy, c. 1988"? :P

From what I remember, Scott Boras was putting together a portfolio on how Andruw is one of the greatest players of all time right now.

Yeah, 21. He's projected to hit 30, as well as 100+ RBIs

[SamtheBravesFan]

Yeah, 21. He's projected to hit 30, as well as 100+ RBIs

I guess he would get 100 RBIs unless that elbow problem of his is REALLY bad.

[natsnsoxfan]

Yes, he's having a bad year at the plate, but that isn't going to stop anyone from paying him WAY more than they should. Somebody is going to say "well, it's an off year, he'll come back from that horrid batting average." Somebody is going to see his glovework, and point out that he is still slamming homers (he has 30 as of now) as justification of a huge salary. But they'll ignore the 100+ Ks every year, and the fact he does a poor job of hitting his gaps (he averages only 30 doubles a year). I'm sure Torii will be well overpayed too, but Jones is going to be even worse.

You realize that professional teams look at a lot more than HR's, K's, BA, have better ways to analyze defense, and have access to more ways to tell a players worth than we do? You're right, he's going to get overpaid, but your reasons for him getting overpaid are ignorant.

[SamtheBravesFan]

You realize that professional teams look at a lot more than HR's, K's, BA, have better ways to analyze defense, and have access to more ways to tell a players worth than we do? You're right, he's going to get overpaid, but your reasons for him getting overpaid are ignorant.

Well, to be fair, this really is an off-year for Andruw Jones. He's batting 60 points below his usual average, and his OPS is about 25% lower than it usually is.

[natsnsoxfan]

I know that, but they look at, and have access to a lot more than we do.

[RubeBaker]

You realize that professional teams look at a lot more than HR's, K's, BA, have better ways to analyze defense, and have access to more ways to tell a players worth than we do? You're right, he's going to get overpaid, but your reasons for him getting overpaid are ignorant.

I know that, but they look at, and have access to a lot more than we do.

How much did the Mariners spend for Richie Sexson?

How much did the Mariners again spend for Adrain Beltre?

How much did the Blue Jays spend for AJ Burnett?

How much did the Giants spend for Barry Zito?

How much did the Yankees spend for Carl Pavano, Jason Giambi, and Johnny Damon?

How much did the Red Sox spend for JD Drew?

I am well aware that teams look well beyond just HR's, K's, and BA. But too, many teams get caught in the hype and spend more money for style over substance.

Sexson can hit 40 homers, but he usually hits .260 (actually, .203 this year) and strikes out 150+ times a season, and yet he's being paid 15.5 million this year.

Beltre was a 20 homer, .265 hitter who, had one great season with a .334 BA and 48 homers in a contract year in 2004, and now he is back to hitting the same way he always did, except now he makes close to 13 million.

Burnett was always hurt, and now he makes $11 million a year to be hurt in Toronto. Good thing he isn't NEARLY as awful as Pavano though and his $40 million contract to hang out on the DL.

Zito hadn't done much since the Cy Young year 2002, but now at 8-10 with a 5.16 ERA in year 1 of a 7 year contract worth $126 million, the Giants are just starting to figure out he's not as good as they thought.


I could go on and on about these guys, but the point is that teams go gaga over these "hype" players and throw caution to the wind to sign them. Yes they have the resources to analyze players better than anybody, but that doesn't mean they use them.

My prediction: Boras is going to point to the 51 homers in 2005, the multitude of gold gloves, and Ichiro's contract. Ichiro may be a much better hitter, but he is about on the same level defensively and Jones has a ton more power. In other words, if you thought Ichiro's contract was ridiculous, wait til you see this.

[Westlake]

How much did the Red Sox spend for JD Drew?


Are you trying to say the Red Sox were impressed by his incredible 20 HRs last year? OBP, which is more substance than style no? Then again, hasn't had much of that this year either.

[TheKingofKings]

I could go on and on about these guys, but the point is that teams go gaga over these "hype" players and throw caution to the wind to sign them. Yes they have the resources to analyze players better than anybody, but that doesn't mean they use them.

Certain GMs, example in Toronto and Seattle, have to spend that money to bring in fans, even if it means the player will not produce as planned. Hype is everything in those signings.