Amen.Originally Posted by HoustonGM
This Yankees season could speak something to Torre vs. no Torre. But yeah, it has little to do with Torre, though he's got the experience, which means he knows how and what to change when a team needs that extra boost to close the gap. It was much easier before, when you didn't have to worry about the health of your closer, or who was playing SS. I think his approach to the Dodgers outfield will be similar to his approach to the Yankees' rotation problems from the past few years.I can deny it...The Yankees have been doing it, but I'm more inclined to believe that that's because...well...the Yankees are good...and that it had little to do with Torre.
I don't know... he's not at his peak, that's for sure, but he's still Manny, and the Dodgers seem to have given him a rebirth. For one thing, he's certainly playing harder, and it looks like he's having fun for the first time in a while. I also think there's something to be said about stretch and playoff experience, and there's no doubt Manny beats everyone hands down (save maybe Dye) in that department.Speaking purely offensively, I don't see how Manny is "easily better" than Quentin, Swisher, Dye, Braun, Cameron, Hart, Bay, Ellsbury, AND Drew. I'd say he's better than Swisher, Hart Cameron, Ellsbury, and Drew. Manny, at his peak, would be easily better, but, that's not Manny anymore.
If I absolutely had to go with just one, it'd be hard not to take Manny if I'm thinking playoffs. But Braun is great, and wow, Q has had one hell of a season so far... what a pickup he was. I caught him at the Cell a few times early in the season when he, AJ and Dye were the only ones on the team hitting. The Sox fans really love him, and for good reason.Jason Bay and Jermaine Dye are similar to Manny, but I'd put Manny above them as well, although it's close. That leaves Quentin and Braun. I'd take Braun over Manny, and I'd say Quentin and Manny are a wash.
Swisher is so slow and sometimes inept that his own fans heckle his defense... I would like to see him move to 1B permanently. He's really great there, but not so great in the outfield. I don't think Dye is "much better" than Ethier. Better offensively no doubt, but Either's much better defensively. He also fits the lineup well, and is a different type of player, so it's hard to compare. He's not putting up the numbers that Dye is, so Dye is inherently better offensively, but overall, not a HUGE amount. Manny is pretty bad at defense, but he is trying harder now than he did with the Sox, and I don't think Torre is going to put up with his defensive antics. The first time he stumbles and falls on top of the ball and giggles, he's going to be pulled for Pierre.Going with the Manny-Kemp-Ethier outfield and including defense....Quentin's better than Manny. Manny is a very poor defender.. Kemp's better than Swisher/Griffey, but Dye is much better than Ethier. All told, close, but I'd take Chicago slightly over LA.
And actually, some of the antics have been sweet plays. High-fiving a fan and THEN throwing a runner out? Not bad...
Don't forget that there's an incredible defensive outfielder for the Dodgers off the bench, either... in fact, simply having Pierre and Jones on the bench DOES add a third topic that could be discussed, and that's depth. I'd have to say the Sox become better if you did that, thanks to Griffey (because he still plays baseball and Jones doesn't), but Juan Pierre and Andruw Jones off the bench? I don't care how lousy they're playing this season, that's a pretty wicked bench. Pierre as a fourth outfielder and Jones as a late inning defensive replacement... these are luxuries which shouldn't be overlooked.
Again, with a Manny who is trying, and with the depth... I think the Dodgers get an edge over the Brewers.With Milwaukee, it's a similar story. Braun and Manny are close offensively, but again, Manny's defense pushes him below Braun in my eyes... Kemp is better than Cameron, and Hart's better than Ethier.
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