Shawn Chacon

[SCFinFan]

I'm looking at his stat line, and I'm impressed. (I'll link it because I can't get it to line up correctly.)
http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/team/player.jsp?player_id=276336

As long as my eyes aren't foolin' me, I believe his stats are somewhat comparable to Josh Beckett's.
http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/team/player.jsp?player_id=277417

I want your opinion Maine, EDGECRUSHER, Sunstroke, raptors, on what you think of this comparison, and his stats as they are alone. Hell, if the guy can pitch and have the same stats as Beckett, but be a lot cheaper, I'm happy as hell that we have him.    

But then again, I really don't know dick about baseball, so I want the opinions of those whose fingers are more on the pulse than mine...

[YoFuggedaboutit]

And to think I would've traded him to Oakland for Barry "Ziti" Zito. 

[SCFinFan]

Yeah tommy, I'd heard that's what we might do. (Glad we didn't do it though!) I still hear that we may trade Pavano, Wright, or Small, depending on who doesn't work out in the roatation. I think Chacon's solidified himself, Wang really needs a W today to solidify himself, and then it'll be up to the three of them to not suck...

[YoFuggedaboutit]

I'd keep Wang as well.  If he can follow up on what he did last season, we'll have another Hideki Irabu. 

Pavano was like a one-year wonder for the Marlins in 2003 and needs to be shipped off.  Wright does too.  He hasn't been the same since his first two years in the league. 

[SCFinFan]

What about Small, Tommy?

[SCFinFan]

I'd keep Wang as well.  If he can follow up on what he did last season, we'll have another Hideki Irabu.

Ha! I think about as much of Irabu as did George Steinbrenner on April 1st, 1999.
(Courtesy of Baseballlibrary.com)

Thursday, April 1st 1999
IN THE NEWS: No joke. Enraged that P Hideki Irabu fails to cover 1B on a ground ball hit during an exhibition game, Yankees owner George Steinbrenner calls him a "fat pussy toad." Steinbrenner will later apologize to Irabu.

I wouldn't have apologized though, not with that ERA.

[EDGECRUSHER]

Beckett's problem is his inconsistency, as has been evident so far. Chacon has the same problem, however, Beckett has a higher ceiling and has been closer to reaching it than Chacon throughout his career.

Chacon needs a good pitching coach because his normal windup is shit, but his stretch motion seems to be where he has the most success. Like how Wade Boggs wasn't comfortable until he got 2 strikes on him, Chacon isn't comfortable unless he has a runner on 2nd.

I think Shawn will be a solid 3rd or 4th starter this year with an ERA just around 4, but when he faces the more patient teams like Oakland and Boston he probably won't do well. Still, considering how the Yankees gave up nothing for him, an excellent pickup by Cashman.

[YoFuggedaboutit]

What about Small, Tommy?

Keep him as he is.... a long reliever and spot starter.  He's best suited for that role. 

[MaineDolFan]

I think it's important to look at where teams slot pitchers before making head to head comparisons to them.  Beckett is a legit ace / stopper and generally faces other teams ace / stoppers while Shawn gets the benefit of a three or four.  That said, I have always thought Shawn had good stuff. 

Last season Boston had a deal in place to get Shawn only to have Larry axe Theo's hard work (which was one of the largest reasons for Theo to leave).  I was really excited about him coming to Boston and he has shown why in New York, they Yankees wasted no time in scooping him up once the Boston deal falls through.

One thing about Shawn that troubles me is how much he relies on one pitch when he starts to tire.  Break down his stats from the 5th inning on and you'll see what I mean.  That said, I like the kid a lot.  Where Beckett will be Boston's ace of the future, Shawn will never be a number one.  But he'll be very valuable at three or four.

[EDGECRUSHER]

If the whole debacle involving Theo never happened, no way would Alex Gonzalez be their starting SS. They also may not have had to give up as much for Crisp.

[MaineDolFan]

Very true - except that the trade for Crisp was actually worth it.  Mota is terrible, Shoppach is a career backup - so basically the Sox got Riske and Crisp for Marte.  Mota and Shoppach aren't exactly all stars.

[EDGECRUSHER]

Very true - except that the trade for Crisp was actually worth it.  Mota is terrible, Shoppach is a career backup - so basically the Sox got Riske and Crisp for Marte.  Mota and Shoppach aren't exactly all stars.

That's true, it's just that the more you can get for a prospect the better. Maybe they could've gotten bullpen help with Shoppach and Mota. Probably not though. Marte is sucking in AAA but he is unlikely to continue playing so poorly. With Lowell knocking doubles he won't be missed for now.