Anonymous Sources: December 9, 2005

Compare these two statements:

"Player A has made it known he's willing to play any position but pitcher and catcher."

"I have the same position [on moving] as I always had... " Player B told the newspaper. "I said that I'm not going to change from [my position]."

Compare these numbers

Player A, 32, 10 seasons)

  G   AB     R    H  2B 3B  HR  RBI  SB CS  BB  SO    BA   OBP   SLG 
+---+----+----+----+---+--+---+----+---+--+---+---+-----+-----+-----+
1071 4363  765 1395 305 50 191  740  86 29 307 444  .320  .367  .544 

Player B, 30 (in January), 7 seasons

  G   AB     R    H  2B 3B  HR  RBI  SB CS  BB  SO    BA   OBP   SLG 
+---+----+----+----+---+--+---+----+---+--+---+---+-----+-----+-----+
 802 3255  505  912 199 16 162  465 169 43 157 676  .280  .320  .500 

Now I'm sure you already know who Players A and B are. You probably knew when I began but they are (A) Nomar Garciaparra and (B) Alfonso Soriano. Given the numbers, given the attitude, who would you rather have? Just a rumination on the value of players, and the value of team players.