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The Spectacle Blog
Outfielder Carl Crawford has signed a seven-year, $142 million contract with the Boston Red Sox.
I must say this does come as a surprise. I knew Boston was interested in him. But I figured the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim had the inside track but lo and behold this could prove to be a steal.
Crawford has spent his entire nine year big league career with Tampa Bay. He has led the AL in stolen bases and triples four times apiece. Crawford enters the 2011 season with a .296 lifetime batting average, nearly 1,500 hits and more than 400 career stolen bases. To top it all off Crawford is only 28.
So what I am saying is that Crawford could get 3,000 career hits and close to a 1,000 stolen bases. He will be patrolling left field where Ted Williams, Jim Rice and Manny Ramirez stood before him.
I remember a game in 2009 in which Crawford stole six bases against the Sox tying an AL record. Let’s just say I’m glad he’s on our side now.
This is bigger than acquiring Adrian Gonzalez. Much bigger.
View all comments (3) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Aaron Goldstein
http://spectator.org/blog/2010/12/09/carl-crawford-comes-up
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Cromulent| 12.9.10 @ 9:56AM
*Only* 28? You're kidding right? You need a basic course in sabermetrics.
Though I'm sure the Boston braintrust has internal models similar to CHONE and PECOTA that gives them projections of Crawford's likely career arc that justify the terms of the contract.
I love it when ignorant writers who couldn't tell you FIP from UZR sling phrases like "only 28".
MacDaddy| 12.9.10 @ 10:33AM
I now look forward to Mr. Crawford's numerous trips to the DL...He has played 10 hard years and shortly after he signs this contract, his body will start breaking down. I am setting his over/under on games played next year at 75.5....anyone want t the over?
JP| 12.9.10 @ 1:12PM
This is lunacy. There is no way Crawford is worth $142 million. We know longer play in the era of Whitey Herzog and the Hurrying Cardinals (in the mid 1980s they had 4 players with 4o or more stolen bases. Vince Coleman had over 100 in one season). This is the Earl Weaver Era of playing for the big inning, and not wasting any at bats. The ballparks are hitters parks, and the hitting today is much more sophisticated than 20 years ago. The big bucks are in hitting not base running. Few teams build a lineup featuring players who can get on base and steal. Most hitters cannot get players to 2nd and 3rd, for they're looking to hit a home run.
Yes, in the years past teams normally had at least 2 players high in thier line up who could steal (Sosa's first year with the Cubs saw him get 30 stolen bases. Bonds was also a great base runner while with the Pirates). But now, most GMs don't wish to get thier high priced hitters injured stealing bases. Crawford is a great talent. But the Red Sox are not built to to suit his talents (no teams are). Why have him steal, if the number 2,3 and 4 hitters are swinging for the stars.