Amaro Jr.: Ibanez almost as productive as Werth
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Amaro Jr.: Ibanez almost as productive as Werth
Bob Brookover, Inquirer Baseball Columnist
ORLANDO, Fla. -- When asked to assess Raul Ibanez' 2010 season Thursday before leaving the GM meetings, Ruben Amaro Jr. made an interesting unsolicited comparison by bringing free-agent right fielder Jayson Werth into the discussion.
"(Ibanez) was still a pretty productive player and ... his numbers are not all that different from Jayson's last year," the Phillies general manager said. "What did (Ibanez) have, 83 RBIs? Jayson had 85. (Ibanez) didn't have as many opportunities as Jayson did to drive in runs.
"Clearly, Jayson had more runs scored and his on-base percentage and stuff were better, but (Ibanez) had 37 doubles and five triples or something like that. The difference in their production was not all that great."
What's so fascinating about Amaro's comparison is that it could serve two purposes.
In addition to talking up Ibanez in a thinly veiled effort to increase the left fielder's trade value, he also devalued Werth's contributions to the team last season.
For the record, Ibanez batted .275 with 16 home runs and 83 RBIs. He had 37 doubles and five triples. Werth hit .296 with 27 home runs and 85 RBIs. He had 46 doubles and two triples Werth, of course, is seven years younger and a superior outfielder to Ibanez.
You can read more about the final day of the GM meetings in tomorrow's Inquirer.
I read "Moneyball" and came away impressed with the the A's statistical approach to analyzing players. However, the proof is always in the pudding. How many times have the A's made it to the playoffs since the book was written? I believe the answer is, none.— Beck- Get rid of them both...I don't beleive everyone who things Werth is all that....none of them came up big in the playoffs...that includes Chase Rollins and Howard. Howard is the most overpaid strikeout king ever. Has NEVER come up big in a big game. Neither has Utley.— mbutley
- The only difference between ibanez and werth is the one is an athlete and the other just plays baseball.. Werth contributes in manty other ways as far as defense and base running goes where raul is a liability in left field and you wouldn't dare put him in Right field... As far as the comment from RAJ kinda dumb don't ya think??— BBAX
- What is Amaro going to say? Werth is the best player we've ever hit...hits balls farther than Ryan HOward and Mike Schmidt, is better defensively than Gary Maddox and has better baseball skills than Pete Rose all combined into one? Is he supposed to say Werth is worth ARod money and anyone who doesn't give him $30 million a year is insane because this guy is the best player to ever put the uniform on? No, he's playing his hand. Werth is a good player but not a great one. He's got great talents yet he's never truly lived up to them. He has the talent to be a .300 hitter, 30 homer, 100RBI, 100 RUN, 30SB, gold glove outfielder. Now name one season in which he reached those totals? Or at least two in one season? You can't, because he's underperformed. Amaro is setting up negotiations...if he comes out and says Werth is such a great player it diminishes his negotiating point and that makes no sense. Any idea what gets said about players in arbitration hearings? It gets NASTY. And in what interview are you going to hear Boras mention Werth's batting avg with RISP? None. Because it's bad for his position.— Eilex826
