Red Sox Sign Crawford!!!

[chrisjoe13]

Probably gonna see less and less 40+ HR guys as the years go on. This is the Post steroid era. There will be more and more well rounded players than in the past.

The last time the Redsox threw Crawford out stealing was 2004.

[BigFish]

Now that is one the most ridiculous statements I have ever heard Chris??? How old are you??? You do realize players used to hit 40 to 50 homers a year routinely and they were never on the juice!!! Mays, Aaron, Williams, Mantle, Maris, Jackson, Schmidt......ever hear of these guys? I need someone.....anyone to shine the light on this signing and try and express to me why Crawford is worth 20 million dollars a season and for the next 7 years no less????? Any takers??

[chrisjoe13]

Originally Posted by BigFish

Now that is one the most ridiculous statements I have ever heard Chris??? How old are you??? You do realize players used to hit 40 to 50 homers a year routinely and they were never on the juice!!! Mays, Aaron, Williams, Mantle, Maris, Jackson, Schmidt......ever hear of these guys? I need someone.....anyone to shine the light on this signing and try and express to me why Crawford is worth 20 million dollars a season and for the next 7 years no less????? Any takers??

My age is irrelevant but you are not much older. Pay attention to the game for the next decade and you will see for yourself.
Also, no player is worth 20 million but thats what it takes to build a team.

One more thing, (in regards to your condescending comments: my age, ever hear of these guys, and most ridiculous statetment you've ever heard, and I'm quoting you I think: If you don't have something good to say, shut your pie hole!

[fishbones]

Originally Posted by BigFish

Now that is one the most ridiculous statements I have ever heard Chris??? How old are you??? You do realize players used to hit 40 to 50 homers a year routinely and they were never on the juice!!! Mays, Aaron, Williams, Mantle, Maris, Jackson, Schmidt......ever hear of these guys? I need someone.....anyone to shine the light on this signing and try and express to me why Crawford is worth 20 million dollars a season and for the next 7 years no less????? Any takers??

Larry, I had some time this morning so I looked up some numbers for you. I think most of us "older" folks look back fondly on the old days of baseball and the great players of our youth. What we don't realize is that their numbers are great for that time, but compared with the "steroid era", they aren't so eye popping.

Aaron - 8 seasons with 40+ hr's and none over 50 in 23 years.
Jackson - 1 season with 40+ and none with 50 in 22 years.
Maris - 1 season with 61 hr's and only 1 more with 30+ in 12 years.
Mantle - 4 seasons with over 40 hr's, with 2 of those being 50+ in 18 years.
Mays - 6 seasons with 40+ with 2 of them over 50 in 22 years.
Schmidt - 3 seasons with 40+ and 0 over 50 in 18 years.
Williams - 1 year with over 40 and 0 over 50 in 19 years.

I wouldn't say that any of these guys were "routinely" hitting 40 or 50 home runs per year. But all of these guys (with the exception of Maris) were considered great because they also did other things well, like running the bases and playing the field.

[spinncognito]

Forget about the money aspect and look at what has been lost/gained.

Lost- Martinez and Beltre

Gained- Gonzalez and Crawford

Both players gained are better than the ones lost(IMO) but the bigger question is by how much? Is Gonzalez significantly better than Martinez? Is Crawford significantly better than Beltre.

This is where the debate should be focused.

While I do think the club has improved, I do not know that it has significantly. Bottom line will be and always has been:

1.- Can they stay healthy as a group?
2.- Will enough players(especially the mid-level ones) have above average/career years to win another championship.

Last season was lost to injuries and the fact that no one went above and beyond yet they still won almost 90 games.

[BigFish]

Originally Posted by fishbones

Larry, I had some time this morning so I looked up some numbers for you. I think most of us "older" folks look back fondly on the old days of baseball and the great players of our youth. What we don't realize is that their numbers are great for that time, but compared with the "steroid era", they aren't so eye popping.

Aaron - 8 seasons with 40+ hr's and none over 50 in 23 years.
Jackson - 1 season with 40+ and none with 50 in 22 years.
Maris - 1 season with 61 hr's and only 1 more with 30+ in 12 years.
Mantle - 4 seasons with over 40 hr's, with 2 of those being 50+ in 18 years.
Mays - 6 seasons with 40+ with 2 of them over 50 in 22 years.
Schmidt - 3 seasons with 40+ and 0 over 50 in 18 years.
Williams - 1 year with over 40 and 0 over 50 in 19 years.

I wouldn't say that any of these guys were "routinely" hitting 40 or 50 home runs per year. But all of these guys (with the exception of Maris) were considered great because they also did other things well, like running the bases and playing the field.

During their prime years they were producing numbers players today only dream about and they were doing it again pitching that was tough day in and day out and makes todays pitchers look like the molly coddled cry babies that they are!!! I did not mean every year.....but I know the stats John.....by heart!!! Also...every one of those players you mentioned........multiple MVP awards for each one of them!!!!

[fishbones]

All the guys you mention were great players and are in the Hall of Fame, with the exception of Maris. Crawfords career average is either better than or within 9 points of all of them except Williams. He also plays in the AL East, which has a lot of very good pitchers. I'm not sure that the pitching back in the "old days" was that much better than it is now, either.

Is it a personal thing you have against Crawford?

[BigFish]

I give up....you guys enjoy! We will talk more in July I am sure!

[fishbones]

Larry, if I get tix to the DD suite at Fenway this summer, I'm taking you as my guest. The only catch is that you have to wear a Crawford jersey.

[chrisjoe13]

Originally Posted by BigFish

I give up....you guys enjoy! We will talk more in July I am sure!

You are a true sox fan...after what we've been through (except the last 6 yrs), cynicism rules.

Peace out. (& go Pats!)

[BigFish]

Originally Posted by chrisjoe13

Probably gonna see less and less 40+ HR guys as the years go on. This is the Post steroid era. There will be more and more well rounded players than in the past.

The last time the Redsox threw Crawford out stealing was 2004.

Also must comment on the "more well rounded players than in the past" comment!! There has not been a well rounded player in MLBB since Carl Yastrzemski won the last Triple Crown award in 1967!! Players used to be well rounded......and back in the day pre-1970.......there were so many well rounded players you could not swing a dead cat on the pitchers mound without striking 5 or 6 of them in a swing!!!! Players today can't carry the jock of players pre-1970! They were real baseball players....they not only had more talent in their little pinky finger than players have today but they played with heart, dedication, emotion and brains!!!!