=== All-Star vs HOF'er Dept. ===

Seen on the internet... "Ichiro can't hold Crawford's jock"

On the off chance that this wasn't trolling, I'll bite :- )

Click on these two links side-by-side, with hitting stats expanded ("advanced batting")... Carl Crawford ... Ichiro.  Review the RC/27 and R columns for both players.

Ichiro is a career 6.6 runs per 27 outs player, with a 7.4 total in 2009 that was undoubtedly caused by the fact that he became interested in winning again.

Crawford is a career 5.5 runs per 27 outs player, with a 6.3 mark last year that proved his highwater mark so far.

Ichiro's throwing arm allows him, uniquely, to play RF with track speed.  Crawford allows your team to play with two CF's.  Ichiro allows your team to play with three.

Crawford's a very fine player, but let's not get carried away about him being Ichiro-plus.  That's asking a bit much for any speed player.

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=== Carl Crawford vs Johnny Damon ===

The easiest way to appreciate Crawford would be to compare him not to Ichiro, but to Johnny Damon.

DAMON

- 30 walks

+ 30 stolen bases (and some 1st-to-3rds)

+ Gold Glove

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= CRAWFORD

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=== Gettin' On Your Bicycle Dept. ===

Damon and Crawford are absolutely the same type of player:  extreme speed players, players who are essentially get on first base and run the bases extremely well, score runs -- who add gap power and all-around virtuosity to the package.

Fans kind of laugh about "hitting for the cycle" nowadays, but originally it had its meaning.  Back when it was tough to hit homers, hitting for a cycle implied you had it all -- power, the speed for a triple, the AVG-HIT ability to get four hits in the first place.

I was at a Safeco game in 2002 or so, when Johnny Damon beat the M's singlehandedly -- IIRC he got two triples, a single, and a homer, or something like that.  He looked like nature's perfect ballplayer -- plant the back foot and sock it into the power alley, lace one the other way, tear around the bases...

................

Crawford has averaged 5.5 runs per 27 outs in his career, but 2008 was a bad injury year; his established level of performance is right around 6.0 to 6.2 runs per 27 outs.

Damon's career RC/27 is 6.0 as well.

By the time you cancel the .300 - 15 hr - 35 doubles - SB's - R's ... you wind up with a push offensively.  Damon's a bit more professional at the plate; Crawford's a bit more lethal on the bases.

Damon's Achilles' Heel, of course, is the defense.  Besides the Geico endorsements, we mean.  (When in Boston, Damon played up the Caveman image, especially at parties... )

...............

Take Johnny Damon, subtract 30 walks, add 30 stolen bases plus some first-to-thirds .... and add a Gold Glove, and you've got Carl Crawford.

The Red Sox were willing to feature Damon despite the glove.

Cheers,

Dr D