And Now, the Hard Part
by jscape2000
on Apr 7, 2008 10:27 PM EDT
in Game Recap
I predict more of the latter going forward.
And now we start what amounts to a 20 game road trip in 21 days. I know the Yanks play 2 games at home during that stretch, but against the Boston Red Sox with no travel days until April 21st (between series in Baltimore and Chicago). Did I mention that every single getaway day is a night game? Oh, I did? I'm sure I mentioned it during the offseason, too, but I'm not going back to find that post.
First, Phil Hughes squares off with the saber-metrically inclined Brian Bannister.
IPK pitches for redemption against Zack Greinke.
Finally, Andy Pettitte will face of with fellow southpaw John Bale.
The Royals are real pushovers- just ask the Detroit Tigers.
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Looking forward to a good series
The Royals have a tendency to really roll over for the Yankees, but that happens more at Yankee Stadium than at Kauffman Stadium. At least the Royals are pitching very well right now. Should be interesting.
I probably disagree with you.
by NYRoyal on Apr 7, 2008 11:42 PM EDT 0 recs
We just won a game on strong pitching
from Moose, Bruney, Farnsy and Hawkins!
Don't wake me!
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
by Cbeck3 on Apr 7, 2008 11:59 PM EDT 0 recs
I know. Right?
"The secret of managing is to keep the guys who hate you away from the guys who are undecided." -Casey Stengel
by bxgrl1 on
Apr 8, 2008 7:23 AM EDT
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Real Test
This road trip - I mean the 18 out of 20 road games coming up - will be a real test for the Yankees. The pen and the rotation certainly have their questions, but two things really trouble me. (1) The lineup beyond A-Rod may have a serious power outage if Giambi is really as physically done as he appears. Will anyone else hit 20 this year? (2) The utter, ghastly lack of athleticism on this team, particularly in the outfield, is worrisome. The BSPN stat tonight that the Yanks are the only team in the majors with no steals is plain saddening. Any balls not hit directly at a corner outfielder are fallin' in safely for sure. Too many guys on this team can't dream of taking an extra base.
Bottom line: Johnny Damon is an abcess on this team. I like his attitude, but, at this point, it's a drag to watch him dink an occasional single and play station to station ball. I hate the Red Sox, but must credit them for not hanging on to shitty players too long.
by Four Train on Apr 8, 2008 12:21 AM EDT 0 recs
What?
First off, on the defense- you're the first person I've heard suggest that Damon-Melky-Abreu is inferior to last season's Matsui-Damon-Abreu combo.
Second, Matsui and Melky aren't basestealers- don't confuse SB with speed.
Johnny Damon has reached base 7 times this season- once on a double and once on a triple. So he's been on first, in position to steal, only 5 times.
Bobby Abreu has reached base 13 times, stood on first 10 times.
Last season, Damon stole 27 bases, or roughly once every 6 times he stood on first base.
Abreu stole 25 bases, roughly once every 7.7 times he stood on first.
I'd call that well within the standard deviation.
Third, last year Jorge hit exactly 20 homers (non-Arod division). The team still lead the league in scoring by 80 runs, as well as lead the league in both OBP and SLG.
Putting men on base, not homers, is the secret to a powerful offense.
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
by jscape2000 on
Apr 8, 2008 1:05 AM EDT
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Uh, This Is What
Sure, the defensive alignment you mention is *superior* to last year, but that doesn't make it particularly great. Note how many balls fall in front of Damon and Abreu, and - God help us - Matsui when he's in the field. I'm curious how the corners' zone ratings stack up vs. the field.
But, I can probably live with such shortcomings for the most part. My real concern is the station to station nature of this team, when several other AL opponents have younger, more athletic players. Melky is not a base stealer because he's NOT FAST. Abreu and Damon are aging, and while they have the guile and experience to pick their spots to get steals, they are not going to give Carl Crawford a foot race either. Parenthetically, how good would Crawford look in Pinstripes, not that I'm unrealistically suggesting a deal for him.
Then there's the power issue. Home runs, in addition to OBP, are *indeed* a vital part of scoring runs because (1) they allow you to build leads/erase deficits more quickly, and (2) the threat caused by top sluggers puts pressure on opponent's pitching staffs. Not surprisingly, the elite OPS guys around the league are generally solid home run hitters. Counting on Posada, whom you note, to put up last year's numbers in any respect, let alone power, is a feeble proposition. No one else seems capable of a reliable 25/30-HR season, while other AL powers have multiple 25/30-HR threats. This should be of real concern, given the amount of runs the Yankees will give up this year - and they *will* - due to question marks throughout their rotation and the non-Joba/Mo pen division.
That the Yankees are counting on getting SB's and OBP almost exclusively from aging players (we know that Cano and Melky will provide very little of this) should be of great concern to any Yankee fan.
by Four Train on
Apr 8, 2008 1:36 AM EDT
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if only
SB matters that much in scoring.
2006 3 worest base stealing club
1. Boston (51):: 6th in the league in scoring
2.Texas (53): 4th in the league in scoring
3. Clevland (55) : 2nd in the league in scoring.
It's continually baffling that anyone actually thinks SBs and speed are such an important part of a offense. it's a plus no doubt. but a 40 base 0 HR guy is actually LESS useful then a 0 SB 10 HR guy in most cases. and 40 SB guys are RARE. while 10 HR guys are pedestrian. producing runs from speed helps. but you need truely great speed to be on par with an average power guy in terms of effectiveness
by RollingWave on
Apr 8, 2008 2:07 AM EDT
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Wow
Hater. The D is not nearly as bad as you think. Melkman made two great catches the other day. Damon doesn't have to throw that far from left which compensates for his weakness. And Abreu plays all right in right. Cano is making stupid mistakes because he is young and I believe he brings his PA's to the field. How about Giambi's admirable play before his groin started to bark, that was encouraging.
Im just pumped on the bullpen. Ohlendorff, Joba, Mo, Traber, and now the new and improved Bruney all seem to have started the year in mid-season form. Only time will tell if the lesser arms continue to surprise, much like Oki and Declarmen last year for the Sox. But winning 3 games by 2 or less runs has to make you ecstatic. Last year this time it was Farns, Proct, a lousy Visc, and a fat Bruney.
One cause for concern, at least for me, is fast teams will run all over us. Losses will ensue.
by ProudYankee on Apr 8, 2008 1:28 AM EDT 0 recs
Not at All
I'm hardly a hater: I bleed Yankee Pinstripes (you should see a blood sample, it's really amazing). You correctly point out that younger teams are going to run all over the Yanks, and suggest that aggressiveness on the bases adds to a team's win total. I couldn't agree more. Our Yanks aren't going to run all over *anyone* because they can't: they're asking for the steals to come from thirtysomethings. Do you really expect that to get it done? Wouldn't it be nice to have someone like a Carl Crawford or even a Corey Patterson (I know about his shitty OBP) to get a steal on a regular basis?
I agree that there's lotsa reason to be excited about the pen, although everyone's a question mark but for Joba and Mo, and Joba is on his way to the rotation where he ultimately belongs. I'm reeeeaally hoping Ohlendrorf emerges as the 8th inning stopper. Bruney's performance bears close watching too. Farnsworth and LaTroy are bums, literal arsonists, but we all knew that going in.
by Four Train on
Apr 8, 2008 1:51 AM EDT
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I don't
understand this fascination with steals. I don't see them making that much of a difference other than to psych out an opposing pitcher. I do not want Corey Patterson just because he can steal a base. I'm just perplexed over this focus on stealing bases. We had the best offense in the majors last year. Our issue was pitching. If I had to make a list of things to "fix" on this team, stealing bases would be way down on the list.
"The secret of managing is to keep the guys who hate you away from the guys who are undecided." -Casey Stengel
by bxgrl1 on
Apr 8, 2008 7:22 AM EDT
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This is one of those spots
When statistics can help clear up what our eyes might misinterpret.
Tigers Tales broke down baserunning into several components. They break down the Tiger's team entirely, but then give us the top 25 in all baseball. Damon ranked 3rd, Arod ranked 7th.
We got good baserunning last year, and we've seen even better so far this year. Abreu and Arod have scored from first, and hopefully, Joe G.'s running program will help the team keep its legs fresh deep into the season.
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
by jscape2000 on Apr 8, 2008 11:29 AM EDT 0 recs
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