Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Login-facebook
Around SBN: Knicks Beat Lakers With Familiar Strategy

Prior is better than Tejada for the Cubs

Let's say that when Prior pitches, we have around a .667 winning chance(41-23, about that) for the game, compared to .400(Career record 12-18 for Bedard) chance to win.  That's a difference of .267.  Assuming 25 decisions, that comes out to a decision for 10-15 for Bedard and about 16-9 for Prior.  That's a difference of Prior winning six games that bedard lost.  Tejada would, by my estimation, win us around 10-15 that we would lose otherwise.  
Sure, six games doesn't seem like a lot(though that's the difference between 79-83 this year and 85-77, big difference), but the fact remains that pitching is not helpful to go deep in the playoffs, it's necessary and a prerequisite.  Fact is, like my dad always says, Good pitching stops good hitting.  I don't think that great hitters can hit the best pitchers on their better days.
I think that Prior should be sticking around for three reasons:

  1.  I think the injury prone thing is a bunch of bull.  Last year he got hit on the arm, and he did not have much trouble that I know about at SC.  I don't think his motion is dangerous or maligned with problems that will reinjure his arm throughout his career.
  2.  If he is healthy, he can throw complete games and go deep in innings without losing much of his edge, something that a lot of pitchers don't have the ability to do.  He eases the pressure on the bullpen by not coming out early very often, and allows the bullpen days off once in a while, helping them to help the team more, and stay off the DL.  He eases the pressure on the offense too.
  3.  I think that Tejada has peaked in the last few years, but Prior has certainly not.  I guess maybe I'm just hopeful that he can stay healthy, and pessimistic that Tejada can keep this pace up(he was worse in every major offensive category last year, which may not be a fair comparison, because almost everybody was worse than his 2004 stats.), which I see slipping a little next year.  We're not going to win a championship with the current lineup, so in two or three years the trade could look dumb from our standpoint because by then Prior will be entering his prime, and Tejada could very well be on the decline.
Objections:
  1.  Tejada is the epitome of durability (Average of almost 162 games/season since 1999).  But that may change with age, as it often does.
  2.  Pitching is bigger risk and harder to find; consistently great pitchers are hard to find and consistently great hitters are not quite as hard.  For every Roger Clemens or Curt Shilling there are about 5 Albert Belles, Adrian Beltres, and Juan Cruz's(40 batters this year with 26+ HR, but only 23 pitchers with 15+ Wins.)

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

Comment 6 comments  |  0 recs  | 

Do you like this story?

Comments

Display:

I know i know
We need to stop talking this to death, but I just hope I brought some new points up.

by cubbybear on Dec 28, 2005 11:52 AM CST reply actions  

I didnt mean
to jump on people for posting what they want, and hey, it's not my blog anyway, I just read here.

I only made that comment in the other blog re: Tejada deal (see below) b/c that one didnt seem to add any new analysis or new twist, just another fan's take on whether the trade should be completed (no offense).

We have the polls, we have Al's main section, and we have at least a half-dozen diaries on the relative merits of a deal involving Tejada.  Just thought it would be easier to read if consolidated rather than everyone adding their 2 cents in a new diary.  That's all.

NLBallClub

by NLBallClub on Dec 28, 2005 12:01 PM CST up reply actions  

Actually...
... you did bring up some new points -- although this could have also been posted as a comment on today's main thread.

Again, I want to make it clear -- I do NOT want to discourage participation here, in fact I strongly encourage it.

Just make sure that what you're saying is something new and different, or a new slant on an old topic.

Which I think this is.

by Al Yellon on Dec 28, 2005 1:08 PM CST up reply actions  

it just
wouldn't be the same if I woke up and I didn't see another topic about this whole thing.
2006 -- AC036097 -- Eamus Catuli!

by priorpwnz on Dec 28, 2005 1:25 PM CST up reply actions  

True.
We might all go into shock, especially as my threads regarding Rondell are now gone.

by nickler on Dec 28, 2005 2:49 PM CST up reply actions  

10-15
extra wins with Tejada over Cedeno/Perez seems like a high number to me.

by tomas21 on Dec 28, 2005 12:13 PM CST reply actions  

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Welcome to Bleed Cubbie Blue, the Chicago Cubs blog for the SB Nation, created on February 9, 2005 by Al Yellon

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recommended FanPosts

Small
Jazz Up Your Recs!
Img_0001_small
Value of Various Plate Approaches
284_small
Cubs' Fantasy Camp 2012 as seen by a Player's Wife
P7200073_small
Randy Hundley Fantasy Camp 2012

Recent FanPosts

Small
Arguably OT: Aussie Baseball Finals Go To Decisive Game Three
Small
New Cubs draft strategy player development
Jeffnewwork_small
What I Expect From The Cubs In 2012
Wrigley_scoreboard_small
What To Do With Alfonso Soriano
Small
A quick update from the 2012 concessions orientation
Caray_small
Is there any FA left worth going after?
Marvin_the_martian_small
Thoughts On Gerardo Concepcion: Trust The Scouts
Star_small
What if Hendry were still our GM instead of TheoJed?

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

FanShots

Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.

Recommended FanShots

Nice article about Ernie Banks
Yankees Hire Jim Hendry
Dale Sveum Meets Early Arrivals At Camp Buss

Recent FanShots

The Rickettsification of Wrigleyville has begun!
Marlins' Cespedes Offer 6 years, under $40M (MLBTR Link)
BCB Fantasy Baseball 2012
Former Cubs Blogger Interviewed on The Score
Cubs vs. Rangers In Las Vegas Tickets On Sale Monday 2/13
Hoyer driving to Spring Training with his dog
Hoyer-Soriano likely a Cub to start 2012, Garza extension talk a possibility
Law's Top 100 prospects
Ranking the Farm Systems
WGN Releases Season Schedule

+ New FanShot All FanShots >

Featured Poll

Poll
How many games will the Cubs win in 2012?

  281 votes | Results

It Is Only...

It Is Only...

Cubs By The Numbers

Cubs By The Numbers is a history of the ballclub by uniform number, but the biographies help trace the history of our beloved team in a new way. For everyone who's a Cubs fan, anyone who ever wore the uniform is like family. Cubs By The Numbers reintroduces readers to some of their long-lost ancestors, even ones they think they already know.

Click here to order your copy, available now!

Recent Stories in Ticket Exchanges


Managing Editor

Alyellontoppscard_small Al Yellon

Front Page Contributors

Primary_fc_small Josh Timmers

Marvin_the_martian_small Shawn Domagal-Goldman

Other Contributors

Dsc_0139_small David Sameshima

Toonmike_small Mike Bojanowski