Those Who Learn From the Past May Choose to Repeat It

by jscape2000 on Dec 4, 2007 6:33 PM EST in New York Yankees News

And now for something completely different... I've felt a little guilty about not getting on with my Championship Histories, but with my first semester as a professor coming to a close I've been crazy busy and I refuse to half-ass the research I'm putting into the project. I'll get several done between semesters.

Besides, we've found plenty to discuss.

But those of you hungry for a history lesson should check out Steve Tredder's article at the Hardball Times.

He examines the Yankee first basemen from Lou Gehrig's retirement through the Yanks' most dominant era. It's interesting because, while the Yankees had a string of great centerfielders (Combs-DiMaggio-Mantle), we didn't have a great 1B between Gehrig and Mattingly.

I'd like to focus on his conclusion:

Stengel simply eschewed having anything resembling a regular first baseman. In 1949, The Old Perfessor deployed four players (Henrich, Dick Kryhoski, Jack Phillips and Billy Johnson) in more than 20 games at first base, but none in more than 52, yet they combined for solid performance and the Yankees were once again champions. It would set in motion a kaleidoscopic-yet-robust fluidity to the Yankees' first base circumstance that remained for nearly the duration of Stengel's 12-season tenure.

Over that period, Johnny Mize, Joe Collins, Don Bollweg, Bill Skowron, Eddie Robinson, Marv Throneberry and Elston Howard all would play significant roles at first base for the Yankees. But not until 1960, Stengel's final year in the Bronx, would any individual appear in more than 120 games in a season as the Yankee first baseman.

Never in that time was first base anything close to a weakness for the Yankees, indeed often the production they received from the position was tremendous. The organization had found a way to satisfactorily fill Lou's great shoes at last, though it was in the manner least similar to that of the ever-steady Iron Horse.

A platoon of complimentary players can provide All-Star production at bargain salaries if the team can afford to sacrifice the extra roster spot.

With Posada, Duncan, Betemit and Damon in the 1B mix now, and with Arod and Jeter likely to stay with the team for another decade, we have to hope that Girardi can channel some of Casey's magic.

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Comments

Ah, I forgot that it could be fun...

to discuss baseball. It's nice to have a topic that promotes sane discourse, as opposed to the angina-producing, angst-laden neuroticism that has frequented the board since the Santana sweepstakes were initiated.

Thanks.

"God, I just love baseball." - Robert Redford in The Natural

by uflyibuy on Dec 5, 2007 1:07 PM EST reply actions

Bill Skowron

I believe he's selling Bill "Moose" Skowron a bit short. He was a great Yankee first baseman who played for the Yanks from 1955-1962. The first couple of years he platooned with Joe Collins, but later became the regular first baseman. Even from 1956-1958, he played in over 120 games. Admittedly, some of those appearances may have been as a pinchhitter.

by Skycat on Dec 5, 2007 2:54 PM EST reply actions

I am happy

with the platoon for this year, but next year I say we do after tex

re-sign Jaret Wright

by yankeechaser on Dec 5, 2007 3:05 PM EST reply actions

Error

Go after tex

re-sign Jaret Wright

by yankeechaser on Dec 5, 2007 7:26 PM EST up reply actions

btw

jscape, love the histories, but you are lucky at least you aren't taking the finals next week

re-sign Jaret Wright

by yankeechaser on Dec 5, 2007 7:27 PM EST reply actions

Ha

I have to try to read their hand-writing to grade them!

The finals for two of my classes are final papers- those at least will be typed. The other class has an in-class essay; that's the one I'm dreading.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Dec 5, 2007 11:42 PM EST up reply actions

I have

one final Friday, two Mon, one Tues, and one Wens. NO papers though, i do finance so I stick to numbers.

re-sign Jaret Wright

by yankeechaser on Dec 6, 2007 1:09 AM EST up reply actions

Numbers?

The only numbers I deal with are baseball related.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Dec 6, 2007 1:25 AM EST up reply actions

Is it possible to write a thesis

on VORP?

Nuke the whales. Save Phil Hughes!

by marcbouch9 on Dec 6, 2007 8:44 AM EST up reply actions

Sure

20+ pages:
VORP allows general managers to weigh a player's production against the scarcity of that production at the various defensive positions. Since baseball players must play offense and defense, advanced offensive metrics like VORP are the most important advancement in scouting in the last 60 years.

Then you talk about all the scouting advancements since Branch Rickey started the modern farm system. You could also discuss the other statistical tools available, weighing them against VORP.

10 pages

While VORP is adjusted for park factors, there is no way those adjustments could account for the psychological adjustments a free agent or traded While VORP is a valuable tool, it is a tool whose weaknesses are well masked.

Then you talk about players like Bobby Murcer and Mike Lowell who tailored their swings to a specific park, only to find themselves unable to perform to their full potential in other parks (Murcer with the Giants, Lowell on the road).

5 pages:

Like all stats, VORP can only tell you about what has happened; in isolation it cannot help predict how a player will age, what his potential is, or how he handles himself on the field.

This one is for Ronster. Just run through all the advantages of scouting- but be sure to talk about the weaknesses of scouting- that you can't scout every player at every game, so you're limiting your sample size, and your eyes can trick you.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Dec 6, 2007 9:15 AM EST up reply actions