Let's play the Blame Game

by Travis G on Sep 24, 2008 1:30 PM EDT

Now that the possibility of playoff baseball is officially over, we can play the Blame Game - here's how it works: I'll start with something (manager, GM, player, other team, anything), say why they're to blame for the season and why. Whoever comments next says that thing is not blame, but this (new) thing is (and why).

The Baseball Gods/Gene Monahan are to blame because...

... they struck down Chien-Ming Wang and Jorge Posada, who played a combined 66 games this year. If Wang pitches instead of Ponson/Rasner (who had a combined ERA of ~5.70 and a record of 9-14), we probably win at least four more games (Wang was 4.07 with an 8-2 record).

If Posada was healthy and had even an average season (.277/.380/.477), instead of the combined efforts of Molina and Pudge (~.220/.266/.320), that probably wins us at least a few more games. That would put us right there with Tampa and Boston.

Both of those were huge injuries in a subpar year and the biggest reason(s) we missed the playoffs.

0 recs | Comment 17 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Let's not

Since it’s a complete waste of time.

Instead, play the “GetaPlayer Analysis” Game and post their histories and stats so we can then play the “Rebuild Your 2009 Yankees”

That’s a game I’d be interested in playing. Rearview mirroring is boring.

So, your first task is to post an analysis on Mark Texiera — and compare him offensively and defensively to the current platoon goons. Do we go after him? Is it a realistic signing? Upside? Downside? Will he jump the Anaheim ship or stay put?

These are the questions that matter. Not what ‘coulda been’ if so and so didn’t get injured.

by detroit yankee on Sep 24, 2008 1:54 PM EDT 0 recs

you cant properly know

what needs to be done in the future unless you analyze (and hence understand) the problems of the past.

this was meant more as a thread to have fun. sorry if you missed that.

by Travis G on Sep 24, 2008 11:45 PM EDT up 0 recs

And analyzing injuries

Tells you absolutely nothing about what needs to be done unless those injuries result in the total loss of the player to the team, or unless those injuries were systemic and the result of poor physical preparation (a la 2007 hamstring virus). In the cases of Posada and Wang, that’s not the current result (both are expected to return; in what capacity remains to be seen).

Actually I take that back – if anything it should be considered a miracle that the team finished with the record they did considering the patchwork starter corps, the lousy offense, the underperformance at first base, second base, centerfield and catcher…am I missing anything?

Furthermore, it’s rarely obvious what needs to be done to fix a team. In the case of the Yankees, it actually boils down to:

- Maintaining a consistent starter corps for a full season (something we haven’t had for 4 years now)
- Replacing underwhelmers at first base and centerfield
- Long term solution at catcher (because Posada is not likely it)

by detroit yankee on Sep 25, 2008 10:35 PM EDT up 0 recs

actually, all the injuries point to one significant philosophical problem with the Yankees --

lack of depth. Molina, Gardner, Ransom, Phillips, Geise, and Ponson were poor replacement and a team with such a huge payroll should have better options.

under-performance at first base? uh, Giambi had one of the better bats in the league at first base. sure, his defense hurt his overall value, but he was still pretty productive.

Beyond the Boxscore // Calling BJ Upton lazy is lazy.

by Sky Kalkman on Sep 27, 2008 11:01 AM EDT up 0 recs

The real problem with playing that game is, if you play it, you also have to play the “what if longoria/baldelli/pena/kazmir” had been healthy all year, or what if “drew and lowell played all season”. And then youre pretty much left where you started.

And texiera is probably the number 1 thing the yankees need to accomplish this off season. They need a guy at first anyway and texiera is a real strong bet.

by spinz on Sep 24, 2008 2:15 PM EDT 0 recs

fine

then let fans of those teams point those injuries out. this happens to be a Yankee blog.

like i wrote, Wang and Posada combined for just 66 games (while Posada was hurt for most of his 51 games, holding off surgery until it was absolutely necessary). Pena by himself played 136+, Longoria 117+, Kazmir pitched nearly twice as many games as Wang, no one thought Baldelli would be healthy (he’s the Prior of hitting).
as for Boston, Lowell 112+ games, Drew 107+.

so those comparisons are completely false.

by Travis G on Sep 24, 2008 11:38 PM EDT up 0 recs

fair enough. In a cut/paste kind of world, a healthy wang and posada probably wouldv pushed the yankees into the playoffs. So in the spirit of fun, heres another for the blame game: trading for santana during the off season. Hughes and kennedy may yet be the future, but for this season santana couldv been the difference.

by spinz on Sep 26, 2008 4:14 AM EDT up 0 recs

Steinbrenner blames the divisional setup

    "The biggest problem is the divisional setup in major league baseball. I didn’t like it in the 1970s, and I hate it now. Baseball went to a multidivision setup to create more races, rivalries and excitement. But it isn’t fair. You see it this season, with plenty of people in the media pointing out that Joe Torre and the Dodgers are going to the playoffs while we’re not.

    “This is by no means a knock on Torre — let me make that clear — but look at the division they’re in. If L.A. were in the AL East, it wouldn’t be in the playoff discussion. The AL East is never weak.”

    “People will say the Cardinals were the best team because they won the World Series. Well, no, they weren’t. They just got hot at the right time. They didn’t even belong in the playoffs. And neither does a team from the N.L. West this season.”

Bleeding Green Nation - Philadelphia Eagles Blog

by JasonB on Sep 24, 2008 2:23 PM EDT 0 recs

he has a point

but he should be careful; the Yanks have won a weak AL East on occasion (2000, 1996).

by Travis G on Sep 24, 2008 11:41 PM EDT up 0 recs

sorry if this appears i'm pimping links...

but I wrote an article about this exact topic a few days ago at Beyond the Boxscore:

http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2008/9/23/619493/who-s-to-blame-for-the-200

the two biggest issues this year were organizational philosophies — not valuing fielding enough and not acquiring enough pitching and position player depth. the team cost itself 6 wins with its fielding, highlighted by playing three DHs in the field: Abreu, Matsui, and Giambi. and you don’t know WHO is going to fail or get injured, but there need to be quality backup options instead of Jose Molina, Andy Phillips, Sidney Ponson, and Dan Geise.

Beyond the Boxscore // Calling BJ Upton lazy is lazy.

by Sky Kalkman on Sep 24, 2008 3:07 PM EDT 0 recs

Teixeria?

I’m more interested in CC Sabathia. If he is interested in going back to the AL then I’d go all out on him. Give him 6-7 years at $140 million or so. If Sabathia doesn’t want to be in the AL East, then go all out on Teixeira. He will replace what we will miss in Giambi (and Abreu in some ways).

We should see Posada and Matsui back full swing, so I’m not worried about these guys. We need a first base player and starting pitching. That’s how I view things.

by ckaftan on Sep 24, 2008 5:30 PM EDT 0 recs

Teixeira is probably a slightly better player right now than Sabathia

and is a better bet to retain his value as a position player vs. a pitcher. the yankees need an upgrade in fielding more than they need pitching.

Beyond the Boxscore // Calling BJ Upton lazy is lazy.

by Sky Kalkman on Sep 24, 2008 9:52 PM EDT up 0 recs

Couldn't disagree more

The Yanks desperately need to stack the rotation because they have to contend with a TB team whose starting pitching will only get better next season with David Price in the rotation in addition to Wade Davis (who is probably the top right-handed pitching prospect in MLB) knocking on the door as well.

It is essential that the Yanks counter the potential juggernaut of a TB rotation over the next few years with a stacked rotation of their own and Sabathia is the key to making that happen.

Let’s be honest, Teixeira is extremely overrated. Yes, he’s a good solid player – but he’s no superstar and he wants to be paid like one. I think that would be a big mistake and I suspect Teixeira will end up somewhere else, probably remaining in LA with the Angels.

by anaconda on Sep 24, 2008 11:39 PM EDT up 0 recs

agreed

that Tex is overrated. he’s a very good hitter, but he’s no Pujols or Manny, and he’s only a bit better than Giambi the last 3 years.

by Travis G on Sep 24, 2008 11:51 PM EDT up 0 recs

Tex is great, Giambi was a great hitter.

We’re ungrading, but only a little. I’d be willing to go to war with this year’s team if we add a top starter. I’d rather have Tex than Giambi but that move is only few games a year.

Hughes looked great in his final start in Toronto, but I still want at least one of AJ or CC. If Moose retires, I want them both.

Pitching is going to be the key! Surprise surprise!

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 Sep 25, 2008 12:56 AM EDT up 0 recs

and Giambi's been a pretty good hitter the last three yearsa.

and Teixeira is a kickass fielder.

who cares what the strengths of other teams are. you need to make your team the best it can be. if you’re facing tough pitchers, you need better hitters.

Beyond the Boxscore // Calling BJ Upton lazy is lazy.

by Sky Kalkman on Sep 27, 2008 11:03 AM EDT up 0 recs

Not true

Because good pitching usually beats good hitting. And you’re ignoring the reason why the Yanks were so tough to beat during the late 90s.

They had the best rotation in the league which was loaded with innings-eaters and saved the pen from a lot of wear and tear.

No team could match their rotation depth and that was the #1 reason why they won those rings. Ask Joe Torre and he’d be the first person to admit as such.

by anaconda on Sep 27, 2008 2:46 PM EDT up 0 recs