For Yankees, A Day To Look Back And Ahead

by Travis G on Jun 6, 2011 4:30 PM EDT in New York Yankees Analysis

A very successful road trip concluded yesterday with another close victory over the Angels. The Yankees are in first place in the division (tied for the best record in the AL), by a game over the Red Sox, who come into town tomorrow for a three-game set.

The Bombers have lived up to their namesake. They lead MLB in home runs with 88, which is 18 more than the second place Rangers. They also lead MLB in runs/game (the only team over five) and slugging, and are second in on-base percentage. As for batting average, they're ninth. (I keep trying to tell my father-in-law how unimportant BA is, at least compared to OBP and SLG, but he's old school and won't have any of it.) What seems like a weak lineup in terms of BA (no regular above .290, three hitters in the last lineup under .240) belies both their power and the general drop in hitting this season. We know about the home runs, but offense around baseball is at a 20-year low (4.22 runs/game). So please remember that before criticizing a struggling offensive player. Even Andruw Jones' .230/.299/.459 line is above average this year.

Keep reading to get to the poll.

The pitching staff has been far better than expected, racking up a 3.45 combined ERA, good for fourth best in the AL. The bullpen has largely been fine without the loss of The Eighth-Inning Guy, because David Robertson and Joba Chamberlain have filled in admirably. (I expect D-Rob's walks to catch up to him eventually though. He's not a true 1.16 ERA pitcher.)

Despite all that, it hasn't been enough to convince my father-in-law that the Yankees are a playoff-caliber team. He's somewhat of a pessimist, having matured in the Horace Clarke years, but he accused the Yanks of "bottom-feeding," beating weak teams like Oakland and Baltimore to get into first.

The coming home-stand is sure to put that theory to the test, as Boston, Cleveland and Texas all come to the Stadium. With that in mind, how are you feeling about the next 10 games?

Poll

Record over the next 10 games?

3-7 or worse

10 votes

4-6

19 votes

5-5

64 votes

6-4

209 votes

7-3 or better

90 votes

392 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 29 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I'm excited about this upcoming week

The Yankees are really playing well right now, and the pitching is doing well. Hope that continues against the Red Sox. I’m thinking they’ll win each series and go 7-3. Anything better would be a bonus, but a 7-3 homestand against these teams would be HUGE for this team. And the way they played on the West Coast, they can do it.

Hopefully Freddy can get them doing on the right track, because the Yankees have the edge in the pitching matchups the next two days in this upcoming series.

"God, I hope I wear this jersey forever."- Derek Jeter

by nyyrocks29 on Jun 6, 2011 4:35 PM EDT reply actions

The Rangers are playing fantastic baseball right now, with the Indians and Red Sox being sort of hit or miss. I’d be more than happy with 6-4, but if we can get some big hits and get depth from our starters, this could be a huge week.

Or we could get none of that and go 3-7. I think they are all interesting matchups and we’ll have to wait and see who gets the breaks and the big hits.

Baseball Statistics and Acronyms Explained

Follow me on the tweetbox - @LordDuggan12

by Lord Duggan on Jun 6, 2011 4:41 PM EDT reply actions

I was just in the process of typing out how the Rangers are playing red hot baseball. This week is a coin toss with Boston, Cleveland and Texas coming in. It could be a big blow to the record or a huge week.

"Nature never intended for you to survive here. But this fall, nature isn't the only thing to fear." September 10, 2011. Alabama vs. Penn State. White House.

by Chris McKeown on Jun 6, 2011 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions

I think the Yankees go 7-3 on this home stand. I have no statistical proof to back this up, but they’re starting to play great baseball and I’m real excited.

"Nature never intended for you to survive here. But this fall, nature isn't the only thing to fear." September 10, 2011. Alabama vs. Penn State. White House.

by Chris McKeown on Jun 6, 2011 4:44 PM EDT reply actions

Sort of random

but any news when Soriano is coming back? I’ve heard around the All-Star break, but I’m not sure. Has there been any news on him?

"God, I hope I wear this jersey forever."- Derek Jeter

by nyyrocks29 on Jun 6, 2011 5:02 PM EDT reply actions

The prognosis was 6-8 weeks on May 25th. So, I’d have to guess 4-6 weeks from now he’ll be back. But, when they give that type of range in recovery time, it’s sort of implied that it’s a rough guess and that it depends on how the arm heals. They’ll probably be able to be more exact when he’s closer to ready.

Baseball Statistics and Acronyms Explained

Follow me on the tweetbox - @LordDuggan12

by Lord Duggan on Jun 6, 2011 5:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Looking back, they could have gone 8-1 on this trip, easily. Tex said it himself after the final game in Anaheim. Who knows, if Posada’s ball doesn’t end up a ground rule double against Weaver, that could have swung either way too.

Bounces and breaks will go either way, but I can’t really complain about a 6-3 trip on the west coast, even if it could have been better than what it was.

Looking ahead, the Indians have been playing terrible baseball (3-9 over their last 12) so I don’t think its horrible to think they could take 3 of 4 from them. Other than that, I think they can win both series against the Sox and Rangers, especially since Buchholz is out.

I’m looking for 7-3 over the next 10.

Contributing writer for Pinstripe Alley.

I believe in the Church of Baseball.
- Annie Savoy

You go through The Sporting News for the last 100 years, and you will find two things are always true. You never have enough pitching, and nobody ever made money.
- Donald Fehr

by Frank Campagnola on Jun 6, 2011 5:17 PM EDT reply actions

Did he hurt his arm stealing more laptops?

by Briceratops on Jun 6, 2011 5:19 PM EDT up reply actions

And not for nothing, but the Indians lost a series to the Red Sox, lost a series to the Rays, beat the Blue Jays in a series, and got swept by the Rangers in a 4 game set.

Maybe they just ran into better teams, and dare I say it, aren’t that good?

Contributing writer for Pinstripe Alley.

I believe in the Church of Baseball.
- Annie Savoy

You go through The Sporting News for the last 100 years, and you will find two things are always true. You never have enough pitching, and nobody ever made money.
- Donald Fehr

by Frank Campagnola on Jun 6, 2011 5:21 PM EDT up reply actions

I wouldn't necessarily say we've been "bottom feeding."

We have winning records against Toronto and (Hamilton-less)Texas, who are quality teams. But the goal of the season is to make the playoffs, and the recipe for doing so is by beating up on the mediocre teams and playing ~.500 ball against quality competition. Once in the playoffs it’s a total crapshoot on who wins it all, with small sample sizes reigning supreme. We don’t need to be a 105 win juggernaut that is heads and shoulders above every other team.

by Briceratops on Jun 6, 2011 5:33 PM EDT reply actions

That last sentence should be:

“We don’t need to be a 105 win juggernaut that is heads and shoulders above every team in order to win a championship this year.”
I’d love for us to play like we did in 2009, that was fantastic.

by Briceratops on Jun 6, 2011 5:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Horace used to be one of my favorite players back then, but what does that say?

by powerlifter610 on Jun 6, 2011 7:08 PM EDT reply actions

I'm just going to keep voting for the best possible record

Then when they do it I can say “TAKE THAT, HATERS!”

by long time listener on Jun 6, 2011 8:24 PM EDT reply actions

7-3 record

I do not accept the way the Yankees are playing. The manager accepts the home-run way of scoring. If the .240 team average stays the same, even if they make it to the play-offs, they won’t go far. They will be facing quality pitching every game. The .275 team average indicates they are scoring without the home-run. They will need that for the play-offs. ANYONE that voted for a 6-4 record is, like Giradi, accepting poor play.

by yanks61 on Jun 6, 2011 9:37 PM EDT reply actions

6-4 over the course of a full season is 97 wins

by long time listener on Jun 6, 2011 9:40 PM EDT up reply actions

If they win, I don't care if they army crawl on the base paths, much less hit "too many" home runs.

It's like being a huge fan of winning, which we do, relentlessly.

by WhatwouldJeterdo on Jun 6, 2011 9:42 PM EDT up reply actions

So if I predict a 6-4 record, I am accepting poor play?

Funny, I thought it meant I was just less foolishly optimistic than you.

No, you’re right, our predictions here definitely affect future results. In that case, we’re both jerks for not predicting the Yankees to go 11-0 over the next 10 games. Yes, I’m adding an extra win, because why let logic or math stand in our way?

by waw on Jun 6, 2011 9:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Wrong

(I will let other posters above me explain why)

Unless you're a pitcher or Gustavo Molina, kindly SWING THE BAT and ignore the Binder's bunt signal.

by Andrew GM on Jun 6, 2011 11:58 PM EDT up reply actions

ok correction

You’re right, but even with a winning record I do not believe they are playing consistent baseball. When they don’t hit home-runs they don’t win. That is what I meant when I said about the play-offs. If they can’t produce runs without hr’s they’re in trouble.

by yanks61 on Jun 6, 2011 10:06 PM EDT reply actions

I forgot home runs are just long foul balls in the playoffs.

We’re toast.

by Briceratops on Jun 6, 2011 10:09 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

It's not like in 2009 they set a team record for homers

Oh wait they did. AND they won the World Series.

but home runz are teh badz!!

Unless you're a pitcher or Gustavo Molina, kindly SWING THE BAT and ignore the Binder's bunt signal.

by Andrew GM on Jun 6, 2011 11:58 PM EDT up reply actions

I think the 2009 team

Was able to score without homers when they had to. At least a lot better than this bunch.

That team also had a lot more reliable starting pitching as well. Whereas with this bunch we have gotten a lot more than we could have expected from everyone outside of CC Sebathia (who has still met expectations for the most part) and Hughes (injury).

I understand rooting for the team to do well but to turn a blind eye to the flaws that this team has shown seems silly to me, especially when those flaws are legitimate.

I am glad we are in first place but if we cannot generate scoring besides the long ball and our starting pitching slips even a little bit, we won’t be for long.

But by all means, make fun of those of us who express some concern about that.

by NYCNative on Jun 7, 2011 1:15 AM EDT up reply actions

Let me break it down for you in another way.

This year, the Yankees have had a .265 BABIP with runners in scoring position. The 2010 team had a .292 BABIP in the exact same situation and the 2009 team had a .299 BABIP w/RISP. The AL average BABIP w/RISP in 2010 was .291, and in 2009 it was .301.

The Yankees have a good chunk of about 30 points to potentially make up to recover to the average. Baseball is a game of luck, they just haven’t been very lucky with runners in scoring position thus far. When the “luck slump” occurs earlier in the season, it’s more noticeable, which is going on right now. They’ll start scoring more with runners in scoring position, don’t worry.

Unless you're a pitcher or Gustavo Molina, kindly SWING THE BAT and ignore the Binder's bunt signal.

by Andrew GM on Jun 7, 2011 1:53 AM EDT up reply actions

you know the rate of HRs goes up overall in the playoffs for playoff teams?

teams that hit HRs in the playoffs, win the WS.

So stop bitching

Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows

by Rorschach44 on Jun 7, 2011 7:46 AM EDT up reply actions

HR rates increase for playoff teams? Can you back that up? I haven’t read that anywhere but it’d be a great counter-narrative.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
@jscape2000

by jscape2000 on Jun 7, 2011 8:14 AM EDT up reply actions

I don't have the article but they were talking about it on MLB network the other day

someone was bitching about just the same thing with the Yankees but said as a whole HRs/game go up in the playoffs and teams that hit the most HRs win

Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows

by Rorschach44 on Jun 7, 2011 8:31 AM EDT up reply actions

I also seen something like this discussed on Lohud

its not really the regular season leaders like the Yankees that have their HR rates increase tho, but still..the idea that teams don’t win in the playoffs with HRs is wrong. Teams hit more HRs to win than they do in the regular season.

Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows

by Rorschach44 on Jun 7, 2011 8:34 AM EDT up reply actions

For all the bitching about it, the Yankees bullpen is the league's best by ERA.

A couple of weeks ago, after Colon was pulled after 8 strong innings, I posted that I have always been a fan of the complete game. Someone must have pasted that into a binder. Complete games make the entire pen available when the starter can’t get through the 6th. Also helps in extra innings.

by designatedquitter on Jun 7, 2011 9:14 AM EDT reply actions