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| As Cliff Lee ponders whether to remain with the Texas Rangers or to join the New York Yankees, we must ask ourselves how are the Yankees going to compete with the Red Sox if they do not get Cliff Lee? |
The Yankees and Boston Red Sox often not only compete on the field, but also in the front office via their free agent signings and trades.
At this point, the Red Sox are well ahead after their signing of outfielder Carl Crawford and acquisition of first baseman Adrian Gonzalez.
This year, signing Cliff Lee to keep up with the Red Sox is more important than ever for the New York Yankees. Its not because Lee is an outstanding pitcher, great teammate, or marketable player that makes it so important for him to end up in pinstripes.
Its simply important, because he is left-handed!
Boston's acquisitions are certainly quality and will allow the Sox to be a force throughout the 2011 season.
But, their powerful lineup is heavily dependent on left handed hitting. In 2010, the Red Sox lineup had the sixth highest batting average against in the league at .268. Against left-handed pitching, the Sox actually ranked third with a .274 average.
That number figures to drop significantly in 2011. Lets look at the Red Sox proposed lineup for 2011 and their averages against left handed pitching.
Hits Player vs. LH vs. RH
RH Dustin Pedroia .236 .304
LH Carl Crawford .256 .332
RH Kevin Youkilis .404 .275
LH Adrian Gonzalez .337 .278
LH David Ortiz .222 .297
SW Jason Varitek .222 .235
LH J.D. Drew .208 .277
RH Marco Scutaro .282 .273
LH Jacoby Ellsbury .318 .294
While Gonzalez seems to do pretty well against left handed pitching, Crawford, Ortiz, Varitek, Drew and even Pedroia tend to struggle against left handed pitching.
Which strengthens the case that the Yankees should pay whatever it takes to get Cliff Lee in pin-stripes.
Paired with former teammate and current Yankee millionaire C.C. Sabathia, the Yankees would have the horse to slow down the Red Sox left-handed dependent lineup.
And lets not forget about free-agent pitcher and long-time Yankee post-season star Andy Pettite. Another left-handed starter that would figure to be a vital cog in the Yankees rotation if the two teams can come to terms that make sense. Petitte may make sense if the Yankees lose out on the Cliff Lee sweepstakes, but having both will really put the Yankees in position to stay with the Red Sox.
I'm generally against the Yankees buying all the players in the league, but this is a case where it is justified by the Yankees to open up the wallet in order to compete with a division rival.
You build your team to compete against division rivals and the signing of Cliff Lee at any dollar figure will give the Yankees the best shot against the Red Sox in 2011.
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