Beasts of the East: Yankees vs Boston Comparison (Part II)

After thoroughly comparing the infields of both American League East powerhouses, it seems like the Yankees have a significant advantage.  The newly proclaimed "underdogs" of the A.L. East still have an edge regarding infielders.  But how do the Yankee outfielders and Designated Hitter match up with the Red Sox?  In part II of the comparison, we find out...

Left Field:
Yankees: Brett Gardner
Red Sox: Carl Crawford

In his first full year as a major league ballplayer, Brett Gardner established himself as a reliable player with All-Star aspirations.  His skills suit him to be a top of the lineup threat.  In 2010, Gardner batted a respectable .277 with a sensational OBP of .383 (8th best in the A.L.), and was also named the best defensive left fielder in all of baseball (he was given the Fielding Bible Award).  The high on-base percentage means speedster Gardner has more opportunities to steal a base.  Gardner managed to steal 47 bases in 2010.  Expect more of the same for Brett "the Jet" Gardner in 2011.  Carl Crawford, Gardner's Boston counterpart, has stepped up his game, and, as a result, has become one of the premier outfielders in baseball.  In fact, Carl Crawford was thought of as the top free agent available in 2011.  By Acquiring Crawford, the Red Sox have soldified the top of their lineup, as Crawford can either lead-off or bat behind Jacoby Ellsbury.

Edge:
Carl Crawford

Brett Gardner is basically the poor man's version of Carl Crawford.  While they are two very similar players with similar skills and statistics, Crawford is already an established All-Star while the young Gardner still has a lot to prove.  In addition to his immaculate defensive skills, Crawford is a career .296 hitter with a knack for stealing a ton of bases.  Gardner needs to have several great years before he can compare with Crawford.


Center Field:
Yankees: Curtis Granderson
Red Sox: Jacoby Ellsbury

A second-half surge salvaged Curtis Granderson's 2010 season.  In his first season in pinstripes, the "grandyman" overcame an abysmal first half marred by both a groin injury and futility against left-handed pitching and still finished the season with 24 home runs and 67 RBI's in only 136 games played.  Despite the off-year, Granderson still has potential; by previously hitting 30 home runs in spacious Comerica Park in Detroit, Granderson has proved that he could possibly hit 40 homers in Yankee Stadium (a lefty-hitter's paradise).  Jacoby Ellsbury, unlike Granderson, is not a power-hitter, and relies almost exclusively on his speed.  In his last full season, 2009, Ellsbury stole an incredible 70 bases.  This, coupled with the fact that the young player had an average of .301 and an OBP of .355 make him a potential All-Star in 2011.  Consequentially, Ellsbury has only played in 2 full seasons in his career (he only played in 18 games in 2010 due to spending time on the D.L. on three separate occasions), so 2009 might just be a fluke.

Edge:
Curtis Granderson

In a comparison similar to the one between Crawford and Gardner, Granderson gets the edge due to his past consistency and All-Star caliber skills.  Granderson has been consistently reliable for the past 5 years while Ellsbury has only played in 2 full seasons.  Ellsbury, however, could surpass the Yankee center fielder if he puts up numbers on par with his 2009 stats.


Right Field:
Yankees: Nick Swisher
Red Sox: J.D. Drew

Nick Swisher is currently coming off his best statistical season.  The 29 year old veteran hit a career high .288, with 29 homers, 89 RBI's and a respectable .359 OBP to boot.  His defense has also improved exponentially.  For his efforts, Swisher was named to the 2010 American League All-Star team.  Swisher, however, is only a career .252 hitter, and while his power numbers always remain constant, his high average in 2010 could simply be an outlier.  J.D. Drew, unlike Swisher, is coming off a poor season.  His .255 average and .341 OBP were the worst of his career since 2002.  Despite this, Drew has been known for consistency (.281 career average, .387 career OBP).  Drew could further deteriorate, however, as a nagging groin injury could further hinder the 35 year old's effectiveness in 2011.

Edge:
Nick Swisher

Swisher has a very slim edge on Drew only due to the fact that he is younger and is far less prone to injury (Swisher has played in at least 150 games for the last five seasons; Drew hasn't played in 140 games since 2007, and has never even had a 150 game season).  Swisher's excellent 2010 season also inspires far more confidence than Drew's sup-par campaign.


Designated Hitter:
Yankees: Jorge Posada
Red Sox: David Ortiz

Entering his first season as a full-time designated hitter, 39 year old Jorge Posada looks to rebound from a mediocre 2010.  Last year, Posada missed more than 40 games due to various ailments (most notably, a broken foot), and, as a result, his statistics dropped far below his career average.  Injuries should not bother him in the future, however, as his status as a DH all but ensures safeguarding against "wear and tear".  David Ortiz, much like Posada, is a former superstar entering the twilight of his career.  A big difference between the these two player is that Ortiz, unlike Posada, had an All-Star season in 2010.  He hit 32 home runs, batted in 102 RBI's, and had a respectable OBP of .370.

Edge:
David Ortiz
Though I think the world of Posada, my feelings will not cloud my judgment here.  Ortiz had a better 2010 season by far, and is 5 years younger than Jorge.  Despite the fact that Ortiz has the edge, Posada can still rebound and have a typical year (by his standards, which are very good) provided he stays healthy.

A thorough examination of both outfields and designated hitters reveals that both teams are roughly even in regard to their four starting players.  In all, it seems that the Yankees have a slightly better lineup than the Red Sox.  But how does the Yank's starting pitching rotation compare with Boston's?  We'll find out next week...