Verducci Compares Hamels/Shields

by Tommy Rancel on Jan 20, 2009 2:20 PM EST

The statistical analysis is so-so , but the interesting part is this:

Why is Hamels worth $11,755,100 more than Shields? It all goes back to when they were called up the big leagues. By starting his service time just 19 days earlier, the Phillies allowed Hamels to qualify for arbitration a year earlier -- as a "Super Two" this year. Shields, like most players, would not have been eligible for arbitration until three full service years, or in his case, 2010. Hamels benefited greatly from the leverage of a slightly earlier callup.

By the way, Hamels pitched two games in those 19 days in question. The Phillies were 1-1 in those games; Hamels threw 11 1/3 innings. Those 11 1/3 innings cost the Phillies $11.755 million, or almost exactly $1 million per inning. That was one very expensive callup.

The Rays signed Shields before he was Arb. eligible anyway, but just goes to show another smart move by Friedman & Co.

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In the BTF thread

I gave four reasons (not necessarily in order of importance):

1) Super 2

2) Hamels held out a year longer to sign his deal

3) Prospect/draft status

4) Hamels is actually better than Shields by a fair margin

Verducci should have had the sense to list at least three of those. The third one isn’t necessarily as obvious, but makes a lot of sense if you think about it.

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Jan 20, 2009 4:55 PM EST reply actions