Clutch hits? More like great pitching

by Travis G on Oct 13, 2009 12:00 PM EDT in New York Yankees Analysis

Look at the runs allowed in the three-game LDS sweep: 2, 3, 1, for a total of six. That is the reason the Yankees swept the Twins (and the reason they have failed to advance in the recent past).

For instance, Cleveland scored twice that in game one of the 2007 LDS. They also scored six in their clinching game four.

In 2006, Yankee pitchers gave up six and eight runs (respectively) in games three and four, losing both.

In 2005, the Yanks allowed 11 runs in game three and five runs each in games two and five (all losses).

So while A-Rod and Co. certainly got some big hits, they were big because the pitchers kept the games close. What looks like clutch hitting is largely about good pitching. The Yankees haven't so much lacked clutch hitters in recent years, but great pitchers. Like A-Rod said, the series was about three guys: CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Andy Pettitte.

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True. Arod's game tying home run in the 9th

on Friday would have been considered useless if the score was 11-1 at the time rather than 3-1.

by garp on Oct 13, 2009 12:13 PM EDT reply actions

Anything to take credit away from A-Rod...

The Yankee starting pitching was very very good, and everybody knows you can’t win without good starting.

Still, A-Rod was the entire offense in Game 2 until Teixeira’s walkoff, and he had big hits in Game 1 and 3 that completely changed the momentum.

Let’s not forget, as good as the starting pitching was, they did allow the Twins to score first in every game of the series.

by New York Sports Jerk on Oct 13, 2009 12:18 PM EDT reply actions

True

We are not hitting collectively (as Cashman said) as a team…..and is scares me.

by dorsal on Oct 13, 2009 1:06 PM EDT reply actions

That's not as big a deal as you might think...

…the old Yankee Dynasty teams didn’t really tear it up in the playoffs either.

1996 ALDS vs. TEX: .264/.331/.379, 4 HR (3 by Bernie)
1996 WS vs. ATL: .215/.310/.286, 2 HR

1998 ALDS vs. TEX: .253/.313/.451, 4 HR
1998 ALCS vs. CLE: .218/.338/.330, 4 HR

1999 ALDS vs. TEX: .235/.312/.378, 2 HR
1999 ALCS vs. BOS: .239/.313/.409, 8 HR (!)

You get the idea. Pitching, power and clutch hitting are all that matter.

by New York Sports Jerk on Oct 13, 2009 1:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Not to mention they couldn't hit a pumpkin in the 2001 World Series and it came down to the wire.

------It's October,winning is what the Yankees do........let's just do it already

by ReggieARodJeter on Oct 13, 2009 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions

True story.

Still, they hit enough to hand the ball to Mo, needing 3 outs to win the WS.

That was the “power” and “clutch hitting” part. Posada’s HR in Game 3. Tino/Jeter in GAme 4. Brosius in Game 5. Soriano in Game 7.

You need that mix. I’m happy the Yanks seem to have it.

by New York Sports Jerk on Oct 13, 2009 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm hoping the offense picks back up when we get back home.

But in a longer series,I think pitching is important.Maybe not so much in a 5 game set- By evidence of the Dodgers/Cardinals NLDS, you could have two aces and still get broomed.

Also remember how much of a long ball team the Yankees are. Hard to rely on when its 50 degrees or less by the start of the games in NY. But I agree totally,pitching,pitching,pitching.

------It's October,winning is what the Yankees do........let's just do it already

by ReggieARodJeter on Oct 13, 2009 1:19 PM EDT reply actions

great pitching clutch hits

the key to the series was the starting pitching. All of our starters looked great against the twins. the pitching staff made those hits, “clutch”. Hopefully we dont have to play catch-up against the angels. We need the starters to come through again. We are also down 1 in the pen now that joba will be forced to go into the role of a starter. Lets hope he can keep it together and give us a quality 6 innings. Once again, this series will fall on the shoulders of joba as a starter.

by eddieo311 on Oct 13, 2009 1:22 PM EDT reply actions

It's not good pitching INSTEAD of clutch hitting

It’s both. Yes, A-Rod’s homer in the 9th inning of Game 2 wouldn’t have mattered if we were down big, but the AJ’s good start wouldn’t have mattered if we didn’t score there in the 9th. You need a combination of good pitching and clutch hitting to win in the playoffs, not one or the other.

by Rumplestiltskin02 on Oct 13, 2009 2:58 PM EDT reply actions

Would be nice ...

to get quality pitching WHILE ALSO having a party with the bats. I’d love to see us bang out 72 hits and score 42 runs in a four game sweep of the Angels.

But you are right … it’s clutch hitting and consistent, quality starting pitching with lights out relief pitching.

"Baseball is the background music of my life." -George Will

by Ronster22 on Oct 13, 2009 5:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Angels in 6

Cant wait to watch the yankees get owned by the angels once again. I have a hard time remembering the last time the yankees got the best of the angels in a game that mattered. It’s going to be a close series but the yankees will fall like usual to the halos. Better, more consistent starting pitching, a more complete lineup 1-9 and better coaching will win it. Yankees rely on home runs where the angels can beat them both ways. Their going to run all day on posada, if they were smart the yankees would play molina a lot more. Have a nice cold off season bomber fans, we’ll be celebrating a world series, surfing in december and gearing up for another NBA title for the Lakers. Oh and making fun of all the yankee fans out here on the west coast, half of who have never even been to new york. Laters

by Broncangelus1 on Oct 13, 2009 8:20 PM EDT reply actions

You sir are an idiot

hard time remember yanks beating the angels? how bout the last few games they had in the season? Don’t be stupid troll. More complete team would be the yanks…The angels and the yanks tie in hits this year and the angels have an amazing .002 batting avg over the yanks this year. (yanks have a better .OBP btw) And oh beat us both ways? The yanks have 70 more hrs than the angels. Now you tell me offensively who is the more complete team. Pitching wise te yanks pitching have a better ERA and more SO than the angels. So you tell me who seems like the more complete team. I say it will be a good series and i don;t know the outcome. But i do know your a dumbass.

by lololol on Oct 13, 2009 9:23 PM EDT up reply actions

but lololol, they have those scary thunder bats. what in the world are we going to do about those awful thunder bats?

"Hey, you F*?ked up! You trusted us!"

by GTWYankee on Oct 13, 2009 10:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Shove it up their asses.
But hey, that’s only one suggestion. Although, it’s a damn good one.

I’m a New Yorker born and bred. I have been living in los angeles for the last 9 going on 10 years (not of my own choosing) but wow, I must say I didn’t realize how delusional los angelinos are. It must be some kind of miracle that they’re able to somehow get through life.

Thank God for making us Yankees.

by noonoo on Oct 14, 2009 3:49 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

nerd

I was just relieved to find out your yankees are sticking with a 3 man rotation with cc, aj, and andy. Last I checked that amazing barely better batting avg you spoke of was more like your beloved big 3 going 1-4 with a 6.50 era this season against our “crappy” angels. Not to mention they eat up left handed pitching like it’s our last meal. Wow, 70 more homeruns than the angels, the halos are scared. The yankees play in one of the smallest launching pads in baseball. Last I checked thats about the only way they win is the long ball. And your little quote to start things off “hard time remember yanks beating the angels? how bout the last few games they had in the season?” yeah I said in a game that mattered, dumbass. Those games must have meant something to you I guess. You sir no squat about baseball, just like most of you frontrunning yankees fans. Have a fun offseason nerd.

by Broncangelus1 on Oct 14, 2009 3:56 AM EDT up reply actions

to noonoo

yeah nobody wants you here in cali anyways, and your here against your own will, that bs, nobody’s holding a gun to your head. Go back to NY cuz nobody likes you here. I know how much you love shoving things up your ass, but please do it in your own state, fairy.

by Broncangelus1 on Oct 14, 2009 4:02 AM EDT up reply actions