Last night, several things were again apparent in the O’s 4-0 loss to Boston.
The talent difference between the teams continues to diminish, but a gap in the arms still exist.
Not exactly Earth-shattering revelations here, we all knew this. However, after watching Lester work again, and knowing that Beckett is starting tomorrow; it just further illustrates the point.
You match-up position wise with Boston fairly well.
1st: Youkilis gets the edge over Huff now, and will have the edge over Huff, or Snyder in 2010… but that does not make the O’s 1st-sacker not productive.
2nd: Pedroia is turning 26, and is the defending MVP… but for the next two seasons or so, this position is basically a wash.
SS: If Lowrie was starting, Boston would have the edge… but Lugo/Green is really no different than Izturis/Andino.
3rd: Lowell is dealing with hip-issues, but is 2 years younger, and probably a 1/2 step better overall than Mora. Mora is likely gone after this year, and Lowell is gone after 2010.
C: Obviously you take Wieters over Varitek going forward, and my guess is even in 2009 that Wieters has the superior 2nd-half.
LF: Jason Bay has had an outstanding year, and a very solid career…. clearly you have you take him over Reimold and Reimold’s 130 Major League at-bats… but Reimold is turning 26, and Bay is turning 31… I feel better about Reimold producing during the next 5 years, than I do about Bay.
CF: Ellsbury is a good defensive CF with speed, that hits for average…. Adam Jones is all of that, plus power and is younger.
RF: Drew is always under-rated because of the injuries, but he provides everything you want. On the other-hand, there is nothing that he does, that he does better than Markakis, and Markakis is younger, and healthier.
DH: Ortiz has started to get it going in June again, but continues to deal with wrist and knee issues. Ortiz is also 3 years older than Scott…
You look at the teams, and the differences are the rotation, and the back-end of the Boston bullpen.
The ability for the O’s to compete in the near-term, comes down to the progression of Tillman, Arrieta, Matusz, and Patton.
When those arms ascend, the talent difference decreases once again.
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Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.