Saturday, June 18, 2011

It seems Curt Schilling got under Picasner’s skin by anointing the Red Sox as the best baseball team in the known universe. Two well documented facts: 1) Chad has a very thin skin when it comes to the Yankees, so you need to be careful what you say, or write, unless you feel the need to take future meals through a straw, and 2) Curt Schilling has been, remains, and will always be an incorrigible gas bag.

In an effort to bring sanity to the conversation, as unlikely as that may be given the source, here follows a completely objective (ha!) analysis (ha, ha!) of their current rosters.

1st Base: Teixeira vs. Gonzalez

Both power hitting first basemen. Gonzalez is having a phenomenal year offensively and substantially leads Teixeira in BA, RBIs, slugging, runs scored, hits, and total bases. Teixeira has a 21 – 15 lead in HRs.

Defensively, Teixeira is a vacuum cleaner getting to balls others don’t and saving an erratic Yankee infield from piling up throwing errors. Nonetheless, while I don’t get to see Gonzalez play every night in YES-Mo, his defensive numbers are equally jaw dropping.

Advantage: Gonzalez, Boston

2nd Base: Cano vs. Pedroia

Even though Cano is having a down year offensively he is outperforming Pedroia by a substantial margin, hitting almost 30 points higher and with power Pedroia can never hope to match.

Defensively, in spite of 5 errors to Pedroia’s 3, Cano gets to many more balls and finishes more plays with a cannon arm.

Advantage: Cano, Yankees

SS: Jeter vs. Lowerie, Scuttaro, Whomever

No one in this group is going to excite you offensively. We all understand that Jeter is no longer the offensive threat he was several years ago. Lowerie has been sinking like a rock after a hot start and Scuttaro is, well, nothing special.

Defensively, while never having great range, Jeter still has the uncanny ability to make plays apparently only he can imagine, and most importantly, he provides a level of team leadership far beyond either Boston player.

Advantage: Jeter, Yankees

3rd Base: A-Rod vs. Youkilis

No discussion necessary. Even in a down year for A-Rod,

Advantage: A-Rod, Yankees

Catcher: Martin vs. Saltalamacchia

Statistically, there is little to choose between them, offensively or defensively, although Martin has more than twice the assists. The best measure may be how they each call a game and I don’t have the ability to determine that. Given the number of assists and because the other guy’s name is too long to write more than once:

Small Advantage: Martin, Yankees

Stay tuned for the outfield, pitchers, and bench.

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