Hanley vs. Beckett

I am sick of people looking at me crazy when I say that Boston made a mistake trading Hanley Ramirez for Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell. I understand that Beckett helped us win a World Series but you can not say that a player who plays every 5 games won it for us solely. Since Nomar left the Boston Red Sox in 2004 short stop has been a revolving door every year. Below are the stats of Hanley Ramirez since leaving Boston and Beckett and Lowell since coming to Boston.

Hanley Ramirez since leaving Boston

D.O.B = Dec 23. 1983

Runs = 369

Hits = 574

2B = 128

3B = 21

HR=79

RBI=271

SB = 137

AVG = 308

E= 72

FPCT= .964

G= 467

1 All star
1 ROY
1 Silver Slugger
0 Gold Gloves

My Scouting Report
Hanley Ramirez is the best short stop in the game. He is a five tool player that can hit with power. When he isn’t hitting home runs he is stealing bases. He is average at short with a strong arm but needs to work on accuracy. Face of the franchise and future hall of famer.


Josh Beckett since joining Boston

D.O.B = May 15, 1980
1 All Star
2007- Most Wins in AL 20
W= 48

L=28

ERA = 4.11

G=90

K= 524


My Scouting Report
Before last season he was known as one of the most dominant pitchers in the majors. Wont blow you away with his fast ball but will get you looking with his nasty curve and good change up. Doesn’t walk many and a very good competitor. Has been injury prone with blisters on throwing hand. Can lose his composure on the mound. Ace of your team and Cy Young contender.


Mike Lowell since joining Boston

D.O.B = Feb. 24, 1974
1 All Star
WS MVP 2007
0 Gold Gloves
0 Silver Sluggers

Runs = 216

Hits = 469

2B = 111

3B = 3

HR= 58

RBI= 273

SB = 7

AVG = .297

E= 31

FPCT= .975

G= 420


My Scouting Report
A great doubles hitter especially in Fenway. Doesn’t strike out much and average in the field. Not fast and is streaky. His best days might be behind him and may not bounce back from this injury. Over all he is a above average third baseman.


The Short Stop situation
As stated before the Boston Red Sox have yet to find a franchise short stop since trading the face of the franchise Nomar Garciaparra in 2004. Since the trade in 2006 the Red Sox have had 3 starting short stops. It is very hard to find a great short stop that can do everything and the Red Sox had one in their hands but traded him away.

Red Sox Short stops since Hanley Left


2006:
Alex Gonzalez

2007:
Julio Lugo

2008:
Julio Lugo
Jed Lowrie


2009:
Jed Lowrie
Julio Lugo
Nick Green


2006 Stats

Alex Gonzalez Boston Red Sox

G AB R H 2B 3B HR

111 388 48 99 24 2 9




RBI BB K SB AVG

50 22 67 1 .255


Hanley Ramirez Florida Marlins
Rookie of the year

G AB R H 2B 3B HR

158 633 119 185 46 11 17


RBI BB K SB AVG

59 56 128 51 .292

In Hanley’s rookie season Hanley tore it up winning the rookie of the year. Not only did he almost double the amount of homeruns Gonzalez hit he also stole 50 MORE bases! He also knocked in 59 RBI’s on a crappy Florida Marlins lineup.



2007 Stats

Julio Lugo Boston Red Sox

G AB R H 2B 3B HR

147 570 71 135 36 2 8


RBI BB K SB AVG

73 48 82 33 .237


Hanley Ramirez Florida Marlins

G AB R H 2B 3B HR
154 639 125 212 48 6 29

RBI BB K SB AVG
81 52 95 51 .332

Hanley only played in 7 more games then Lugo but scored 125 times to Lugo’s 71. He also tripled the amount of homeruns Lugo hit. Lugo might have stuck out 13 times less but Ramirez hit .100 points higher.

2008 Stats

Julio Lugo Boston Red Sox

G AB R H 2B 3B HR
82 261 27 70 13 0 1

RBI BB K SB AVG
22 34 51 12 .268


Jed Lowrie Boston Red Sox

G AB R H 2B 3B HR

81 260 34 67 25 3 2

RBI BB K SB AVG

46 35 68 1 .258


Hanley Ramirez Florida Marlins
All Star

G AB R H 2B 3B HR
153 589 125 177 34 4 33

RBI BB K SB AVG
67 92 122 35 .301



In 2008 the Red Sox could have used Hanley’s 153 games because they had 2 players split time at short stop. Hanley hit 30 more home runs then both Lugo and Lowrie. If the Red Sox had Hanley in their lineup then trading Manny would not have hurt the team as much. David Ortiz would also have the big bat he was asking for.

The 2009 season is still very young but Josh Beckett has has some struggles he is 7-3 with a 4.15 ERA. But Mike Lowell has been playing some great ball batting .299 with 10 home runs and 41 RBI's. You can still tell he is still bothered by his hip injury when he hits the ball into the outfield and only gets a single. The short stop situation is Boston has been ugly so far this year with Jed Lowrie on the DL Terry Francona has had to play Julio Lugo (who started out on the DL) who is batting .300 with only 90 at bats this season or Nick Green who has stepped up and has been batting .286 with 3 home runs. Hanley Ramirez is having an all star year batting .330 with 8 home runs, 34 RBI's and 9 stolen bases. Even with struggles at short stop the Red Sox are in first place leading the Yankees by 2 games. You would have to wonder how the line up would be if you places Ramirez's power and speed into it.

Here is a quick look at what the players have made and will be making with their current team.

Contracts

Hanley Ramirez
2006: 327,000

2007: 402,000

2008: 439,000

2009: $5.5 million

2010: $7 million

2011: $11 million

2012: $15 million

2013: $15.5 million

2014: $16 million

2015: Free Agent

Total: 71,168,000 over 11 seasons

Josh Beckett

$2 million signing bonus

2007: $6.5 million

2008: $9.5 million

2009: $12 million in 2009

2010: $12.5 million club option

2011: Free Agent

Total: 42.5 over 4 seasons

Mike Lowell

2006: $9 million

2007: $9 million

2008: $12.5 million

2009: $12 million

2010: $12 million

2011: Free Agent

Total: 54.5 million over 5 seasons

Julio Lugo

2008: $9 million

2009: $9 million

2010: $9 million

2011: $9 million club option

2012: Free Agent

Total: 36 million over 4 seasons

When you first look at Hanley Ramirez’s contract you may think HOLY CRAP 70 MILLION BUCKS, THAT’S A LOT! But compared to what we are paying Julio Lugo to do nothing for 4 seasons it’s a BAHGAN. Lowell is a great player don’t get me wrong but over 10 million in each of his 5 seasons is crazy. Plus we will lose him in 2010, he will retire if he makes it that long. And who knows maybe our savior and cornerstone to this argument Josh Beckett will be gone after the 2010 season. Then come 2015 we can pay a ridiculous amount for the best player in the league Hanley Ramirez, unless he signs with the Yankees you have to think Jeter will be long gone by then.

This could be on of those rare trades that works out for both teams, Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell have been great players for boston and Hanley Ramirez has been Florida's MVP. But would you rather have a great player that plays every 5 days or a great player that can go out there every day?

What I would give to see this again.........