Stat Boy Confirms: 'Juan Pierre Is The Black Scott Podsednik'

The best comment from anyone I've talked to since the White Sox acquired Juan Pierre from the Los Angeles Dodgers was too big for the headline.  So, we shortened it.

"Why did the White Sox trade 2 prospsects for the black Scott Podsednik?"

That's a great question, and Stat Boy has an answer.

When Podsednik has received at least 500 plate appearances in a season he posts the following average numbers:

• .282 batting average
• .345 on-base percentage
• .342 OBP as a lead-off hitter
• .383 OBP when leading off a game
• .356 OBP when leading off an inning
• 48 stolen bases
  

When Pierre has received at least 500 plate appearances in a season he posts the following average numbers:

• .300 batting average
• .347 on-base percentage 
• .347 OBP as a lead-off hitter
• .368 OBP when leading off a game
• .358 OBP when leading off an inning
  
• 54 stolen bases
  

Podsednik made $800,000 last season to post the following line:

•  .304 BA
  
•  .353 OBP
  
•  .412 SLG
• .764 OPS
• 30 stolen bases (43 attempts)
  

Pierre made $10 million last season to post the following line:

• .308 BA
• .365 OBP
• .392 SLG
• .757 OPS
• 30 stolen bases (42 attempts)
  

Oh, and to get tag-teamed by Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier.

Long story short, Kenny Williams traded two prospects for a more expensive version of Scott Podsednik.  The South Siders will pay $8 million over the next two years.  I doubt Podsednik, who has never made more than $2.9 million a season, gets more than that on the open market.

I also doubt signing Podsednik costs two able-bodied pitching prospects.