Who would you take Part II? Cano or Pedroia? - Talksox

Gom · 08-13-2007, 02:26 AM

At the risk of being called a troll by some idiots, here is a more "happy" comparison:

Cano or Pedroia?

Cano is one year older at 24. Cano a slightly higher OPS [.843 to .784]. Pedroia is more of a contact hitter with a better eye, with Cano having more power. Both hit for average. I don't know much about Pedroia's fielding, someone here enlighten me, but Cano is as good as I've seen in a long time going to his right and throwing from behind the bag.

Who would you take for the rest of this year, and for their career?

riverside sluggers · 08-13-2007, 08:02 AM

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7631

Im not sure where you got that OPS. Pedroia's OPS this year is at .840. His fielding is that he makes a lot of dives for balls and has steady hands. He made a rare error yesterday (4th on the season) after 41 consecutive games with out an error. Gold glove? No sure thing but he has to be considered

Cano and Pedroia are two different types of hitters. Cano has 20 HR power potential with Pedroia's peak at 10, he might have career years of 12-15 but thats the max for him.

One Red Seat · 08-13-2007, 08:36 AM

I think it depends on what you want/need because they offer two distinctly different skill sets. Pedroia will get on base better and more consistently throughout his career with his IsoD. Cano will hit for more power in every category. What do you want, more bases or less outs? There's a strong case for both.

I think Cano has a little better range, but he also has a stronger propensity for errors. And he suffers, IMO, from a lack of focus on the field, so some of his mistakes don't even make the scorebook. The stats all back Cano as a fielder, however. Tough call for me here. The same range vs. error issue exists between Gonzo and Lugo, and despite my mind insisting that you take the guy who gets to more balls, I can recall a few Lugo errors that have been game deciders. Yesterday was one. Sure, it happened in the first, but they are up 3-2, not tied w/o that run.

BoSox21 · 08-13-2007, 08:41 AM

its a tough call, there's pros and cons to each. Pedroia is a little more polished but Cano can be put anywhere in the lineup

DrewDaGreat · 08-13-2007, 09:36 AM

Pedroia because I'm a homer.

jacksonianmarch · 08-13-2007, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by One Red Seat

I think it depends on what you want/need because they offer two distinctly different skill sets. Pedroia will get on base better and more consistently throughout his career with his IsoD. Cano will hit for more power in every category. What do you want, more bases or less outs? There's a strong case for both.

I think Cano has a little better range, but he also has a stronger propensity for errors. And he suffers, IMO, from a lack of focus on the field, so some of his mistakes don't even make the scorebook. The stats all back Cano as a fielder, however. Tough call for me here. The same range vs. error issue exists between Gonzo and Lugo, and despite my mind insisting that you take the guy who gets to more balls, I can recall a few Lugo errors that have been game deciders. Yesterday was one. Sure, it happened in the first, but they are up 3-2, not tied w/o that run.

I agree. I'll go as far to say that each fits their team perfectly. Pedroia is your leadoff hitter. Average speed, good OBP skills and a solid eye, hence he fits your team best. Cano is hitting 6th/7th or even 8th for us with the potential to be a middle of the order bat. I think his OBP skills arent as important to us as his ability to drive in the runs, so he fits us best. But if you had to choose a player to start a team with, I'd assume you'd go for the guy with the most power and with the higher potential to be a middle of the order bat.

One Red Seat · 08-13-2007, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jacksonianmarch

I agree. I'll go as far to say that each fits their team perfectly. Pedroia is your leadoff hitter. Average speed, good OBP skills and a solid eye, hence he fits your team best. Cano is hitting 6th/7th or even 8th for us with the potential to be a middle of the order bat. I think his OBP skills arent as important to us as his ability to drive in the runs, so he fits us best. But if you had to choose a player to start a team with, I'd assume you'd go for the guy with the most power and with the higher potential to be a middle of the order bat.

That's the thing, though, when do you start a team from scratch? Expansion drafts is the only thing that comes to mind. So, the decision for me would be dependent, like it is in real life, on the rest of the roster and what the team approach is. While Pedroia is a good fit, this year's Sox could use some more XBH ability with Manny and Papi coming up relatively lame thus far. And, this year's Yankees could use some more OBP at the top of the lineup. It really isn't an easy choice.

jacksonianmarch · 08-13-2007, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by One Red Seat

That's the thing, though, when do you start a team from scratch? Expansion drafts is the only thing that comes to mind. So, the decision for me would be dependent, like it is in real life, on the rest of the roster and what the team approach is. While Pedroia is a good fit, this year's Sox could use some more XBH ability with Manny and Papi coming up relatively lame thus far. And, this year's Yankees could use some more OBP at the top of the lineup. It really isn't an easy choice.

Very true.

yankees228 · 08-13-2007, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by One Red Seat

I think it depends on what you want/need because they offer two distinctly different skill sets. Pedroia will get on base better and more consistently throughout his career with his IsoD. Cano will hit for more power in every category. What do you want, more bases or less outs? There's a strong case for both.

I think Cano has a little better range, but he also has a stronger propensity for errors. And he suffers, IMO, from a lack of focus on the field, so some of his mistakes don't even make the scorebook. The stats all back Cano as a fielder, however. Tough call for me here. The same range vs. error issue exists between Gonzo and Lugo, and despite my mind insisting that you take the guy who gets to more balls, I can recall a few Lugo errors that have been game deciders. Yesterday was one. Sure, it happened in the first, but they are up 3-2, not tied w/o that run.

I agree with everything you've said except the focus part. I think Cano has corrected that problem.

One Red Seat · 08-13-2007, 02:11 PM

I'll agree with you when I see some more solid fundamentals from Cano in the field. He's an extremely smooth fielder, but he does a lot of things that just aren't fundamentally sound. He can get away with it due to his natural talent, but that doesn't mean he's fixed it.

CrespoBlows · 08-13-2007, 02:13 PM

I'd give the slight edge to Cano, because of his glove. They're pretty much a wash offensively. Pedroia's .040 points in OBP is probably worth more than Cano's .050 points in SLG%, but probably not much more.

Every fielding metric I've looked at, has Cano as a very good defensive player. Pedroia rates as average to above average. I'd say Cano is probably worth an extra win, at the most.

yankees228 · 08-13-2007, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by One Red Seat

I'll agree with you when I see some more solid fundamentals from Cano in the field. He's an extremely smooth fielder, but he does a lot of things that just aren't fundamentally sound. He can get away with it due to his natural talent, but that doesn't mean he's fixed it.

That fair, it is purely an opinion thing, and not really worth arguing.

Rdsxmbnt · 08-13-2007, 03:38 PM

Really really close this season between the two. Their overall offensive production is really closer. I haven't seen Cano play that often and Pedroia is a pretty sound defender out there. Too close to call right now, I dont think you could go wrong with either.

Gom · 08-13-2007, 04:12 PM

So this thread isn't trolling?

LOL!

Glad to see that this thread has created a meaningful discussion. I would have to say I would take Cano over Pedroia. I am tough on players unless they do it for more than one year, I would have to see Pedroia do it again next year to be convinced. Too many one year wonders.

As it is, I think that Pedroia will be a better version of Eckstein. One of those gamers, the gritty type player. Cano reminds me of a young Carew, with more power, and not as good an eye. He has that sweet swing Carew had.

Both players are solid, but I think Cano will have the better career.

example1 · 08-13-2007, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by One Red Seat

I'll agree with you when I see some more solid fundamentals from Cano in the field. He's an extremely smooth fielder, but he does a lot of things that just aren't fundamentally sound. He can get away with it due to his natural talent, but that doesn't mean he's fixed it.

You wrote a comment earlier in the year about Cano becoming the type of player where it will just be "Cano being Cano", like "Manny being Manny". I lauged at the time, but have seen a lot of what you are talking about.

Personally, I think that in time Pedroia will be seen as a + defender, and a very good #2 hitter, one of the best in the league, behind Ellsbury in the lineup.

I haven't seen Cano make that many superior-routine plays (high choppers over the mound, charging the ball, throws to second, etc.,) whereas Pedroia seems to make them every other day. I haven't seen a 2B in a long time who is as aggressive defensively as Pedroia--he almost always gets the out at 2B on choppers with men on 1st, when the "smart" (i.e., reasonable to expect success) play is to 1B. He gets them almost every time.

Overall, a though choice. I'm taking Pedroia because I feel that he will bump his HR totals over time. He's a rookie, for Christsakes, and he has a more than respectable OPS (without much power) and will provide + defense in a position that is pretty high up the ol' defensive spectrum.

Cano is a very, very good hitter, and left handed, which should increase his stats over time.