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For the most part, small market teams can't overcome their mistakes by throwing extra cash at a player like Yankees or Redsox can. For a team like the Royals, so much of their franchise is invested in prospects and if they miss, the team simply can't compete. Take Alex Gordon as an example. His struggles are one reason they can't compete and it sets them back. The Yankees can simply turn around and buy a third baseman without really missing a beat.
Lets take the AL for example.If there were any holes this year,there were a hell of alot of bargains under $5 million per year/player so no team even the small market variety can claim poverty. Guys like Thome signing for dirt.How many times have guys that can hit 20-25 Hr's as a DH been priced this low? Throw out the development aspect for these teams. They also can invest in free agents at bargain bin prices,so there is no excuse when they can still stay within their budgets while getting better.
Lets take the AL for example.If there were any holes this year,there were a hell of alot of bargains under $5 million per year/player so no team even the small market variety can claim poverty. Guys like Thome signing for dirt.How many times have guys that can hit 20-25 Hr's as a DH been priced this low? Throw out the development aspect for these teams. They also can invest in free agents at bargain bin prices,so there is no excuse when they can still stay within their budgets while getting better.
Why do you think that he signed for dirt?
He's not that good of a player anymore. Good, not great, hitters who can only DH just aren't that useful.
A young rebuilding team doesn't have much need to spend $5 mil on a guy who's only going to help you win 1 or 2 more games.
They'd get a better return on that $5 mil by using it to sign draft picks or minor league free agents. Not to say that he can't be useful in the right situation. Kind of like with the Twins. The Twins figure to be within a few wins for the division and the playoffs, so spending for an extra win does help them. It doesn't help the Royals to win 68 games instead of 66.
He's not that good of a player anymore. Good, not great, hitters who can only DH just aren't that useful.
A young rebuilding team doesn't have much need to spend $5 mil on a guy who's only going to help you win 1 or 2 more games.
They'd get a better return on that $5 mil by using it to sign draft picks or minor league free agents. Not to say that he can't be useful in the right situation. Kind of like with the Twins. The Twins figure to be within a few wins for the division and the playoffs, so spending for an extra win does help them. It doesn't help the Royals to win 68 games instead of 66.
For $5 million they could have also got Matsui who is not a good, but a very good hitter who probably will only DH or see limited time in the field. He can hit lefthanders very well for a lefty and was the WS MVP,so tell me again why small market teams can't compete. Besides trades this year our free agent signings were for guys like Nick Johnson who was in that same range with most other signings in the $1-2 million range. ANY TEAM can easily fill their roster this offseason with QUALITY without breaking the bank.Remember,Damon was getting $13 million last year and he came off a great year and is now getting 8.No excuses this offseason.
Why are free agents getting less money? Because teams have less to spend
Also, Thome, Matsui, and Nick Johnson aren't that good of players. They are going to add one to two wins to your team. As I said before using that money to sign your draft picks or minor league free agents in probably a better use for that money.
There's also the fact that bad teams have to overpay to get free agents. Nick Johnson is more likely to sign with the Yankees for $6 mil than he is to sign with the Royals for the same amount.
Why are free agents getting less money? Because teams have less to spend
Also, Thome, Matsui, and Nick Johnson aren't that good of players. They are going to add one to two wins to your team. As I said before using that money to sign your draft picks or minor league free agents in probably a better use for that money.
There's also the fact that bad teams have to overpay to get free agents. Nick Johnson is more likely to sign with the Yankees for $6 mil than he is to sign with the Royals for the same amount.
Johnson signed with the Yanks because they were interested.If they weren't he would have taken money close to that but considering he's towards the end of his career he knows he has to win now because there wont be too many more opportunities.As for Matsui you can expect him to hit around .275-.280 and probably 20-25 HR's. He is also very key in RBI situations so adding 2 wins by signing him might be a little low. People would kill for most hitters to have steady numbers like this.
Johnson signed with the Yanks because they were interested.If they weren't he would have taken money close to that but considering he's towards the end of his career he knows he has to win now because there wont be too many more opportunities.
Exactly. So that makes it harder from a small market non-contending team to sign Nick Johnson.
Quote:
As for Matsui you can expect him to hit around .275-.280 and probably 20-25 HR's. He is also very key in RBI situations so adding 2 wins by signing him might be a little low. People would kill for most hitters to have steady numbers like this.
Exactly. So that makes it harder from a small market non-contending team to sign Nick Johnson.
Matsui 2006 - 2009
Steady?
Based on your chart if he wasn't injured in 2008,his stats would have been the same for 2007-2009.Notice 2007 and 2009 are very similiar and he has improved since 2006.You proved my point that if he is healthy he is a performer and considering he was injured while playing the OF,he should be healthy and put up his typical numbers because most likely he wont be in the field.As for the comment about N.J.,his stats are inline with Matsui with him hitting less HR's but there are alot of free agents like that so even the small market teams would have their crack at guys like this,not just the Yankees and the other elite teams.
Based on your chart if he wasn't injured in 2008,his stats would have been the same for 2007-2009.Notice 2007 and 2009 are very similiar and he has improved since 2006.You proved my point that if he is healthy he is a performer and considering he was injured while playing the OF,he should be healthy and put up his typical numbers because most likely he wont be in the field.As for the comment about N.J.,his stats are inline with Matsui with him hitting less HR's but there are alot of free agents like that so even the small market teams would have their crack at guys like this,not just the Yankees and the other elite teams.
Yes, Matsui is a very good hitter. But he's doesn't consistently put up .270 with 25 home runs because he's injured too much.
Will DHing help him? Probably, but there's no guarantee that a guy with his history and rebuilt knees will be able to play 150 games a year.
Yes, Matsui is a very good hitter. But he's doesn't consistently put up .270 with 25 home runs because he's injured too much.
Will DHing help him? Probably, but there's no guarantee that a guy with his history and rebuilt knees will be able to play 150 games a year.
He had one major injury year so I don't know what you are talking about with him being injured too much; otherwise he has been fairly healthy and without having to dive in the OF,he should be able to easily play 150. The .270+ average should definitely not be a problem either. I'd expect closer to .280,the HR's i'd expect at least 20 but I think he's more then capable of hitting 25.The one thing about him is that every year he seams to have better patience at the plate.He has a good eye,can hit righties or lefties,and can hit to all fields. I wouldn't be surprised if he pushed the .300 level either. Considering the deals for him and NJ,I would have rather resigned Matsui.
What happened to him in 2006? He played 162 games each of the 3 seasons before that.
Just looked it up Baseball Injury Tool
(A pretty cool link where you can see a pretty comprehensive history of a player's injuries)
in 2006 he missed the season after May 12th due to a fractured wrist that required surgery. You'll also see that he's missed a lot of time over the last 3 years due to his knees.
No projection has him much over 500 at bats...He exclusively played DH last year and managed 142 games.
I don't dispute that a .280 (for whatever batting average is worth) season with 25 homers is about right if he can stay in the lineup.
I will dispute that his patience is getting better
His walk rates are constantish, certainly I don't see anything that shows improvement.
His plate discipline doesn't show improvement either
% of pitches swung on out of the strike zone
2006: 10.8%
2007: 17.2%
2008: 21.1%
2009: 20.7%
League average is around 25% so he's a disciplined hitter, but getting worse, not better.
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