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June 04, 2007
Beware Jermaine Dye
A rumor that surfaced less than two weeks ago, which had the Sox exploring a deal that would send [Jermaine] Dye to the Yankees for struggling outfielder Bobby Abreu, has started to take on some life, according to one Sox source close to the situation.
Not only because Abreu is a good friend of Guillen's -- which worked out well when right-hander Freddy Garcia came over -- but also because the Sox believe Abreu is a slow starter and his best baseball this season is ahead of him.
The organization also reportedly isn't too thrilled with comments from Dye in which he came off as uncaring about where he plays.
Here's how I see Dye's career:
1996-1998: Terrible hitter.
1999-2001: Pretty much pops-up out of nowhere to be a productive bat. Had, what was then, a career-year in 2000.
2002-2004: Terrible hitter.
2005-2006: Comes back to 1999-2001 levels - with 2006 being an off-the-charts career year for him.
2007 (to date): Terrible hitter.
So, here, you have parts of 12 seasons in the majors - and in more than half of those seasons, Dye has been a terrible hitter. Note: Not an average hitter - but a terrible one. Basically, he's had two super seasons (2000 and 2006) and three where he's been O.K. with the stick (1999, 2001, 2005).
There's too much variance there for me to be able to say Dye will help the Yankees if he joins the team this season. I'd rather take my chances and see if Abreu can get his stroke back over the remainder of the season.
Posted by Steve Lombardi at June 4, 2007 10:15 AM
Comments
pass, we need abreu to start hitting because he gets on base, dye's career OBP is 338. not what we want
Posted by: Corey ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.waswatching.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at June 4, 2007 11:03 AM
Couldn't agree more, Steve. Dye has a career OBP of .338. Abreu, in the middle of a terrible slump, still has a OBP of .331 this year. You don't trade your 2006 team MVP for someone else's junk. Abreu has started to come around and will be fine. Dye would be disaster as a Yankee. And he's not exactly the second coming of Clemente in the OF.
Posted by: christopher at June 4, 2007 11:47 AM
I'd rather take my chances and see if Abreu can get his stroke back over the remainder of the season.
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I would agree
Posted by: Raf at June 4, 2007 12:19 PM
Agreed.
Posted by: Don at June 4, 2007 02:06 PM
To say he was terrible in 2002 and 2004 is not accurate. He posted 105 and 103 OPS+ numbers, so he was average. Not terrible. Average. Can't defend his 2003, though.
And before 1999, he wasn't even a regular player -- didn't crack 300 AB.
Posted by: The Sporting Brews at June 4, 2007 03:47 PM
I would keep Abreu too, he seems like he is starting to put things together at the plate. However, I think you are selling Dye way short. He is a good player and he might be better than Abreu at the field at this point. I think his career was hurt more by injuries than anything, when healthy I think he is a borderline All-Star type of player, even though he is having a bad season right now.
Posted by: antone at June 4, 2007 03:50 PM
~~~To say he was terrible in 2002 and 2004 is not accurate. ~~~
2002: 0 RCAA
2004: -2 RCAA
Sure, that's just average. But, when you expect "star" isn't average then "terrible"? [wink]
Posted by: Steve Lombardi at June 4, 2007 04:21 PM