Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Rodriguez/Posada vs. Ensberg/Molina
I realize missing the starting catcher and starting 3B stinks, but it's probably not as bad as it seems. Here's the offensive difference between Alex Rodriguez/Jorge Posada and Morgan Ensberg/Jose Molina using their 2008 projections adjusted with 2008 actual peformance (at a 90% - 10% split).| Comparison | AVG | OBP | SLG | PA | BR |
| Rodriguez | .300 | .404 | .570 | 150 | 28 |
| Ensberg | .248 | .363 | .443 | 150 | 21 |
| Comparison | AVG | OBP | SLG | PA | BR |
| Posada | .286 | .379 | .468 | 150 | 23 |
| Molina | .243 | .279 | .361 | 150 | 14 |
| Total | AVG | OBP | SLG | PA | BR |
| Rodriguez + Posada | .293 | .391 | .519 | 300 | 51 |
| Ensberg + Molina | .245 | .321 | .402 | 300 | 34 |
This is over about a month's worth of playing time. BR = batting runs by linear weights. Defensively, Rodriguez has been much better than Ensberg this year but they both projected to be around average coming into the season so I don't think there's a ton of difference there, maybe a run or two over a month. So the Yankees should lose about a win and a half over the next month if Rodriguez and Posada are both out the whole time.
Phil Hughes was again ineffective last night as the Yankee fell to the Tigers, 6-4, which is disappointing. It doesn't mean that he sucks, or that Cashman should be fired for not trading him for Santana unless you're an impatient and overreactionary fan, but it is disappointing. We have to remember that a) Hughes is the youngest pitcher in the league b) he pitched 70 league average innings last year with the same stuff he has now. He has ALREADY shown the ability to succeed at the major league level, he just needs to make the adjustments to do it again. He may continue struggle to do that, but sending him to Scranton isn't going to help.
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