SB Nation New York Editor's Pick
Yankees' Most Underrated Asset? The Bullpen.
by Chris McKeown on Aug 17, 2010 12:27 AM EDT
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via www.nypost.com
This will most definitely come as a surprise to many people. There had been a few instances on YES Network where they had talked about how good the bullpen has been in the past week or so. I took a further look back. Look at the following bullpen numbers for each member of our esteemed ‘pen (other than Mariano Rivera).
Joba Chamberlain: 9.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 8 SO (Since July 28th)
David Robertson: 15.2 IP, 7 H, 0 ER, 9 BB, 22 SO (Since July 4th)
Chad Gaudin: 6 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO (Since July 23rd)
Sergio Mitre: 9.2 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO (Since July 28th)
Kerry Wood: 8.1 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 6 BB, 11 SO (Since August 1st)
Boone Logan: 19.0 IP, 12 H, 3 ER, 6 BB, 18 SO (Since MAY 23RD)
Let’s be honest with each other, these are extremely impressive statistics. Obviously, not all the pitchers have been clicking on all cylinders at the exact same times. However, they’ve all shaped into form at the same time and have been truly dominant.
Ever since July 30th, the Yankee bullpen has pitched 45.1 innings and surrendered only 5 earned runs. Yes, that is an ERA of 0.99 (or you might round that up to 1.00). That is UNBELIEVABLE. To say that the Yankee bullpen is the weak-point of the team would be merely a lie at this point in time. Yet the Yankees are 7-10 during the time period of bullpen dominance. What gives?
Well, the Yankees have not scored any runs. They have averaged only 3.875 runs per game in that time period (62 runs over 16 games) and starters have allowed 58 runs out of 63 total runs. Essentially, the Yankee offense has been dormant and the starters have been inconsistent. Imagine how much worse their record would be over the past 17 games if the bullpen was not in shut-down mode? The close games would have been losses and the Yankees could be looking at a record of 4-13.
Let’s hope the Yankees regain their swing and swagger starting with CC Sabathia tonight.
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Interesting. Atta boy Y2. I didn’t know that they had been so hot as of late. But, I’d be remiss if I didn’t include a response that included “small sample size”, “regression” and “butthurt”, so:
Don’t anyone get butthurt if this dominance in a small sample size has some serious regression back towards their true talent levels.
Questions or thoughts? Email me at duggan2423(at)gmail(dot)com
Which is why the Yankee offense needs to pick it up!
"Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next." -George Michael Steinbrenner III
by Chris McKeown on Aug 17, 2010 1:18 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I would say that Robertson and Joba are more likely to keep this up than the others
A supporter of the MFY.
In this stretch Joba’s ERA is below 1 and D-Robs ERA is 0. No, they aren’t keeping that up. But, yeah, those two are both better than their ~5 ERA would suggest.
Questions or thoughts? Email me at duggan2423(at)gmail(dot)com
I expected a 2.8 ERA this season from D. Rob this season, he was great last year
A supporter of the MFY.
can i say that im "surprised"
that Joba has been very disappointing this season?
I believe in the Church of Baseball
by Frank Campagnola on Aug 17, 2010 1:17 AM EDT reply actions
Joba has lowered his ERA from 5.95 to around 5.00
He’s working his way back down
"Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next." -George Michael Steinbrenner III
by Chris McKeown on Aug 17, 2010 1:21 AM EDT up reply actions
dude
a 5.00 ERA is still disappointing
I believe in the Church of Baseball
by Frank Campagnola on Aug 17, 2010 2:07 AM EDT up reply actions
Understood
He has had about 5 or 6 horrible outings that have inflated that ERA massively. He’s been better than a 5 ERA
"Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next." -George Michael Steinbrenner III
by Chris McKeown on Aug 17, 2010 10:51 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
yes
but also understand that 1 run in 1 inning pitched, like last night, is a 9.00 ERA. right now he’s averaging giving up a run a little more than every other inning
thats disappointing..
I believe in the Church of Baseball
by Frank Campagnola on Aug 17, 2010 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions
More recently
He’s been better… he’s had a few terrible outings that have inflated his ERA tremendously
"Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next." -George Michael Steinbrenner III
by Chris McKeown on Aug 18, 2010 4:07 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I had to go with good ole Logan
He’s been very valuable as a lefty reliever
"Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next." -George Michael Steinbrenner III
by Chris McKeown on Aug 17, 2010 1:27 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I voted for Kerry Wood as biggest surprise
because I didn’t expect him to perform so well both after a stint on the DL and in pinstripes (or in the AL East for that matter). My expectations were low when they got him, so I am pleasantly surprised.
The others, with the exception of Logan, have proven last year to be 2nd half pitchers, because the bullpen did the same thing last year, if I recall correctly.
Thank God he's been holding up for us so far
"Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next." -George Michael Steinbrenner III
by Chris McKeown on Aug 17, 2010 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions
Me too. He wasn't on the team until 3 weeks ago. If you told me in April that he would be a valuable set- up guy for the Yankees, I would have been very surprised.
Everyone else has just been at their best recently, but their best isn’t a surprise, it’s just what we hoped for.
by designatedquitter on Aug 20, 2010 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions
i always thought logan was a throw-in for vazquez.
it turns out hes good.
YOU CAN PUTITONTHEBOARD YES!!
Exactly
"Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next." -George Michael Steinbrenner III
by Chris McKeown on Aug 17, 2010 10:52 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Joba and Robertson pitching well doesn't surprise me
Logan and Wood does
by HappyLuckyGoldenDragonNumber1! on Aug 17, 2010 11:18 AM EDT reply actions
a lefty that throws hard
and has an above average slider. why does it surprise anyone that he’s been able to get lefties out?
lefties with velocity will always have a place in a bullpen. throw in a good secondary pitch, and he is definitely playing a key role in that bullpen
I believe in the Church of Baseball
by Frank Campagnola on Aug 17, 2010 3:46 PM EDT reply actions
Bullpen ERA down to 0.95 since July 30th
"Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next." -George Michael Steinbrenner III
by Chris McKeown on Aug 18, 2010 12:08 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
I think what makes the bullpen great
is that the starters have been great for virtually the entire year. Which has limited the bullpen and has kept them fresh. Unlike the Torre days of 5-6 inning starts and over working the bullpen, the starters under Girardi are almost always into the 7th inning.
+1
I’m a big believer in the power of exposure. The element of surprise always favors the pitcher (see the Yankees & struggles against debuts).
The fewer times a team sees a pitcher, especially if you can avoid going to the same pitcher multiple times in a series, or when teams face each other home and away within a week, the better the pitcher will perform.
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
So. Who goes when Marte and Andy come back?
Expanded rosters in Sept means no one – most likely.
But post season rosters are another matter. I could see Cash choosing between Gaudin and Mitre. I would expect whomever is better in long relief gets the nod.
OR – lose Mitre AND Gaudin, keep two lefthanders and use your 4th/5th starter for long relief if needed.
Marte has post season experience. But Logan has pitched well. Guess it comes down to who is hot come roster decision time.
Don't forget about Aceves
Most likely Gaudin, Mitre and Moseley are gone come October
"Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next." -George Michael Steinbrenner III
by Chris McKeown on Aug 18, 2010 4:06 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
doubt Moseley's going anywhere
the leash is shorter in the playoffs, I’d say he’s AJ insurance. Mitre seems to have no chance and I’d take Moseley over Gaudin at this point. Aceves probably doesn’t make it either, he’ll probably be at full strength by 2011, and the playoffs are in October.
by FreeBradshaw on Aug 18, 2010 6:11 PM EDT up reply actions
Moseley over Gaudin by all accounts
I guess you might be correct about Aceves… better to not rush him
"Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next." -George Michael Steinbrenner III
by Chris McKeown on Aug 18, 2010 11:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Long reliever in the playoffs
There’s really no need for a long reliever in the playoffs. There are enough off days where you don’t have to worry about overusing your bullpen and you don’t really want to be throwing up the white flag in any games. It also makes sense to have an extra bench player so you’d be carrying 11 pitchers instead of 12.
by Let's Talk About Tex Baby on Aug 18, 2010 8:02 PM EDT up reply actions
maybe no need for multiple long relievers
but definitely need at least one.
by FreeBradshaw on Aug 19, 2010 7:29 AM EDT up reply actions
Yup
"Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next." -George Michael Steinbrenner III
by Chris McKeown on Aug 19, 2010 9:07 AM EDT up reply actions
Could someone explain the whole postseason eligibility to me?
"Young men, I have no doubt that you're gonna do well today. But I have 1 favor to ask of you... SAVE JIMMY JOHNSON'S ASS FOR ME!" Lou Holtz
by TheRealSlimShady on Aug 19, 2010 10:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Here you are...
“To be eligible for a team’s playoff roster a player must be on either a)the 25 man active roster, b)the disabled list, c)the bereavement list, d)the suspended list as of August 31st at midnight.”
"Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next." -George Michael Steinbrenner III
by Chris McKeown on Aug 20, 2010 9:13 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Yankees just need to get Andy healthy
btw you guys should check out bettor believeit.com. I made over $3000 following baron capper
+1
"Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next." -George Michael Steinbrenner III
by Chris McKeown on Aug 19, 2010 8:23 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
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