The Numbers On Austin Kearns & Lance Berkman
Just for the heck of it, here’s a look at Austin Ryan Kearns and William Lance Berkman – sabermetrically – via the Complete Baseball Encyclopedia, with 2010 stats through yesterday:
First, Kearns -
YEAR TEAM RC RCAA RCAP OWP RC/G PA POS
2002 Reds 76 21 12 .646 7.54 435 RF
2003 Reds 49 6 2 .564 5.91 338 RF
2004 Reds 28 -4 -9 .443 4.30 246 RF
2005 Reds 59 -2 -8 .483 5.19 448 RF
2006 Reds 53 -1 -1 .491 5.63 368 RF
Nationals 36 4 4 .548 5.75 261 RF
TOTALS 89 3 3 .514 5.68 629
2007 Nationals 86 3 -1 .518 5.16 674 RF
2008 Nationals 30 -20 -22 .285 3.13 357 RF
2009 Nationals 17 -12 -12 .279 3.00 211 RF
2010 Indians 42 3 0 .532 4.87 339 LF
Next, Berkman -
YEAR TEAM RC RCAA RCAP OWP RC/G PA POS 1999 Astros 12 -3 -5 .394 4.32 106 LF 2000 Astros 80 21 13 .633 8.21 417 RF 2001 Astros 156 72 49 .753 10.30 688 LF 2002 Astros 138 55 53 .719 8.75 692 CF 2003 Astros 119 40 35 .678 8.03 658 LF 2004 Astros 146 69 59 .762 9.98 687 RF 2005 Astros 100 35 23 .690 7.67 565 1B 2006 Astros 142 64 47 .750 9.88 646 1B 2007 Astros 114 35 21 .662 7.26 668 1B 2008 Astros 136 58 45 .734 9.11 665 1B 2009 Astros 95 31 13 .675 7.23 562 1B 2010 Astros 48 7 -3 .571 5.42 358 1B
Obviously, Kearns is just a league average stick and Berkman is a former superstar who has lost it this season. How will they do in New York?
Berkman will be better than Nick Johnson and Juan Miranda, for sure. Kearns? He’s probably going to spell Granderson against lefties and do some pinch running – maybe also be a defensive caddy for Swisher. There’s a $15 million club option on Berkman for 2011 (with a $2M buyout). Reportedly, Lance wiill waive his no-trade clause for the Yankees without requiring the team to pick up his option. If so, then both of these deals shouldn’t be too bad for the Yankees. And, if all it cost was Mark Melancon, Jimmy Paredes and a Player To Be Named Later, then the Yankees didn’t give up much. (I know they’re getting cash with Berkman – but, they’re also giving up cash on Kearns.)
Good job by Brian Cashman with these moves. This is sort of like the Yanks picking up Jay Johnstone and Gary Thomasson back in 1978 – although Berkman’s resume is a lot better than that of Johnstone. Nice spare parts for New York. It’s just too bad neither of them can pitch effectively out of the bullpen.
One (two) thing(s) at a time, Steve.
Still rumblings of a 3rd deal out there, possibly Lilly, possibly moving Hughes back to pen to save innings and set-up pen for stretch drive and post-season.
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Let’s just watch, and see what happens.
/broken record
@ Steve Lombardi: “Good job by Brian Cashman with these moves.”
I’ll step back before the lightning strikes you dead Steve…
these r 2 real good pickups. i heard theyre also going after a third basmen although i havent heard any names. i havent heard anything about them going after lilly. last i heard lilly was basically going to LA. the only thing they had to figure out was a money. if they went out and got a bullpen arm now that would be perfect.