Redman and Podsednik

“Tiki” Redman smacked a stand-up triple off Cliff Lee. Mike Hegan responded with a long soliloquy about Redman’s speed, how the Indians don’t have any speed like that, and how you have to wonder how Redman never got a chance to play on a regular basis until he’s 27. Hegan and Hamilton compared Redman to Corey Koskie and Ed Sprague.

A better comparison is Scott Podsednik. Both are left-handed, about six feet tall, and 165-170 pounds. Redman’s 2003 numbers, at 26, in 230 at-bats: .330 / .374 / .483 with 7 steals. Podsednik’s 2003 on 550 at-bats: .314 / .379 / .443 with 43 steals. If the Pirates are going to make the playoffs in 2004, they will have to do it the way the Patriots won the Super Bowl last year, or the way the Angels and the Marlins won the series: they need good play from a deep and solid cast of unspectacular players and a manager who gets the most from them. If they can get a Podsednik-type breakout season from Redman this year, that would be a huge help.

I may be the only person on the planet who thinks the Pirates could make the playoffs this year. I'm not saying it's likely, but I think it's more possible than most people think. Why? When they look at the team they say "the Tigers." Even when they are pounding you in a game.