Will Crawford Be the Worst Signing of the New Decade?

[Eck20and8]

Theo likes following the fashionable saber-trends, and defense has replaced walks as the flavor of the month.

 

What bothers me about Crawford is that his replacement in Tampa, Desmond Jennings, also has tremendous speed, but a lot more patience at the plate, and a strong .8 BB/K for his MiLB career.

[Dipre]

I find the above post to be unintentionally funny. Specially since Desmond Jennings has played how many games in MLB?

[EXman369]

I find the above post to be unintentionally funny. Specially since Desmond Jennings has played how many games in MLB?

 

I wouldnt jump on him too quick thats like all of us sox fans saying how easy kalish will take over the starting job for drew next year, some have said he could even handle it this year.

[TheKilo]

Players with his skill set do not typically age well. His game outside of his incredible speed is pedestrian at best' date=' especially for a corner OFer. And when the legs slow down, so does his D, which adds significantly to his value.[/quote']

 

You are flat out wrong on this. Players who have incredible athletic tools and do lots of things well age a hell of a lot better than big sluggers whose games are solely predicated on power.

 

Is there any doubt that Crawford will be worth more in year 5 and 6 in his deal than Werth will be a the tail end of his?

[jacksonianmarch]

Werth is older. Therein lies the problem. At 35 yrs old, though, I will take Werth vs Crawford. The ability to get on base and drive the ball typically doesnt go. The consistency of making contact does

[a700hitter]

Werth is older. Therein lies the problem. At 35 yrs old' date=' though, I will take Werth vs Crawford. The ability to get on base and drive the ball typically doesnt go. The consistency of making contact does[/quote']So many Yankee fans gasped in shock at the same time when the Sox signed Crawford that it created these vacuums all over the NY Metropolitan area resulting in record number mini-twisters throughout the area.

[jacksonianmarch]

I am comparing Crawford in his second to last yr of his deal to Werth in his third year. It isnt too difficult. I have said many times that for the first 3 yrs, I expect Crawford to be a 6WAR player, meaning he will be in the elite status

[a700hitter]

I am comparing Crawford in his second to last yr of his deal to Werth in his third year. It isnt too difficult. I have said many times that for the first 3 yrs' date=' I expect Crawford to be a 6WAR player, meaning he will be in the elite status[/quote']

Whatever makes you feel better.

[TheKilo]

I am comparing Crawford in his second to last yr of his deal to Werth in his third year. It isnt too difficult. I have said many times that for the first 3 yrs' date=' I expect Crawford to be a 6WAR player, meaning he will be in the elite status[/quote']

 

I don't care how many times you say this, you're wrong. Crawford in years 5-6 will be worth more than Werth in years 3-4 of his deal. You're completely ignoring defense, as have most who think the Crawford signing is an extreme overpay.

[Dipre]

I don't care how many times you say this' date=' you're wrong. Crawford in years 5-6 will be worth more than Werth in years 3-4 of his deal. You're completely ignoring defense, as have most who think the Crawford signing is an extreme overpay.[/quote']

 

Not to mention (and i've said this several times) the distinct possibility of him following the career path of Johnny Damon and developing a significant amount of power during his prime years, which, if he kept most of his speed (a possibility) would enhance his value towards the end of his contract.

 

Easy to overlook if you're making a biased analysis of a player.

[Dipre]

I wouldnt jump on him too quick thats like all of us sox fans saying how easy kalish will take over the starting job for drew next year' date=' some have said he could even handle it this year.[/quote']

 

Except that he's not comparing Jennings to Kalish, which would be a valid comparison, he's comparing him to Carl Crawford, an established, productive player in the league.

 

Why don't we go ahead and compare Anthony Rizzo to A-Gon while we're at it?

 

Also, what's with this "sabermetric flavor of the month" ********. They've been trying to improve this team defensively since they signed JD Drew back in 2007. Look at the farm system, every guy that could be or is on his way to becoming a major leaguer is a two-way (offense and defense) player.

[Palodios]

Speed is something that isn't developed over time like power, batting eye, or glove skills. He stole 50 bases last year, so its probably pretty clear that the speed is already there. Crawford's defense and 15 home runs per year aren't what's scary, its his speed, and Jennings already has it. That being said, I agree that he won't be an impact player for quite some time.

[Dipre]

Speed is something that isn't developed over time like power' date=' batting eye, or glove skills. He stole 50 bases last year, so its probably pretty clear that the speed is already there. Crawford's defense and 15 home runs per year aren't what's scary, its his speed, and Jennings already has it. That being said, I agree that he won't be an impact player for quite some time.[/quote']

 

Speed doesn't necessarily translate into production at the Major League level, which is the core of the issue. You know who has elite speed? Carlos Gomez. How's that working out?

 

When he produces like Crawford, he can be compared to Crawford, which is why i brought up the Rizzo to A-Gon comparison.

[Palodios]

I'm not familiar with Gomez, but his stats don't show him getting all that many SB in AAA. If coached correctly, and a player can learn technique, speed has a much better chance of translating into the majors than power hitting which needs to deal with better pitching, because its simply less complicated. A slightly stronger arm at C won't be anywhere as significant a difference. And it definitely has an impact on OF defense.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Average HR Distance from 2010:

 

A-Rod - 406.5

Teixera - 393.4

Dunn - 411.1

Cabrera - 398.7

Youkilis - 398.0

A. Gonzalez - 393.3

Votto - 401.5

Fielder - 410.5

 

And last but not least -

 

Crawford - 411.6

 

The power is there, and if you put him in front of Gonzo, Youk, and Ortiz, the pitches will come, and so will the consistency.

 

I'm not saying he's going to be a 40 HR guy by any means. I'm saying that speed is not his "only asset" and that he's got the strength to be a 25-30 HR guy, especially if he starts driving the ball to the opposite field.

[Scottish Red Sox Fan]

I am very excited at the prospect of Crawford playing for the Red Sox. Crawford is a player I have admired for a few seasons now and he is a guy who has given our pitching staff absolute fits with his base stealing ability.

 

Signing Crawford is a double win for the Red Sox:

 

1. He will add to our team

2. He won't be able to cause chaos against us in a Rays uniform anymore

 

I am hoping at some point to see the Red Sox go with a 1-2 punch of Ellsbury - Crawford at the top of our line-up. The thought of that will cause opposing AL managers/pitchers many sleepless nights.

[VA Sox Fan]

We have enough nay-sayers out here. Plenty. And then some. To each his/her own.

 

I'd rather wait and see than predict the impossible.

 

Boredom brings on goofy ass threads IMO.

 

Kick ass Carl Crawford!! :thumbsup::thumbsup:

[raygator]

Crawford always gives 100%. He is a consistent producer and will probably continue to produce in Boston with the players he is surrounded with. Is he worth 20 mil? Is anybody really? I don't think it is the worst contract handed out so far.

[Badbird]

Let's find out in 2011. Edgar Renteria, now that was a disaster. Eric Gagne as well.

[Scottish Red Sox Fan]

Let's find out in 2011. Edgar Renteria' date=' now that was a disaster. Eric Gagne as well.[/quote']

 

Julio Lugo was worse.

[Badbird]

Thanks for bring up Lugo. I was trying to think of another player that just didn't play well with us.

[SCM33]

Thanks for bring up Lugo. I was trying to think of another player that just didn't play well with us.

 

Coco Crisp?

 

Edgar Renterria?

 

Matt Clement?

[Badbird]

I mention Edgar already. Clement and Crisp weren't something to remember about.

[a700hitter]

I love getting Carl Crawford, but he nearly crashed his car when he found out what they were offering him. It was way beyond what he had expected. The FO probably overpaid for him by $10- 15 million. They overpaid for Dice K on the posting fee by a similar amount. As a fan, I don't care, because I just want the player, but it should be noted that the FO has been known to overpay by a lot.

[Scottish Red Sox Fan]

I love getting Carl Crawford' date=' but he nearly crashed his car when he found out what they were offering him. It was way beyond what he had expected. The FO probably overpaid for him by $10- 15 million. They overpaid for Dice K on the posting fee by a similar amount. As a fan, I don't care, because I just want the player, but it should be noted that the FO has been known to overpay by a lot.[/quote']

 

The posting fee for Dice-K was an almost scandalous piece of mis-management. I really don't know what they were thinking by investing that much money in Dice-K.

 

Crawford is much more of a sure thing than Dice-K was in my opinion.