The Captain's Blog

Yanks Have Many Links to Mazzaro’s Nightmare Outing

May 17, 2011 by William Juliano

As the Yankees were busy losing their sixth consecutive game last night, Kansas City Royals’ right hander Vin Mazzaro was in the midst of a nightmarish relief appearance. The confluence of events was fitting because less than one week earlier, the Yankees’ skid was started with Mazzaro on the mound. In that 3-2 extra inning loss, the slumping Bombers were unable to take advantage of 10 base runners in only four innings against the Royals’ righty. After surrendering 14 earned runs during last night’s game in Cleveland, however, it seems as if Mazzaro’s luck finally ran out.

Howard Ehmke surrendered 16 earned runs in a game against the Yankees in 1923.

Beyond its karmic link to their losing streak, last night’s historical futility has several other connections to the Yankees. The last time a pitcher surrendered as many earned runs in one game, it was the Bronx Bombers parading around the bases. On August 3, 1998, Mike Oquist was the victim of the onslaught as the Yankees pounded out 16 hits, four homeruns and 14 earned runs against the Athletics’ right hander.

The Yankees were also responsible for the worst outing in major league history, at least according to total earned runs allowed. On September 28, 1923, the Red Sox’ Howard Ehmke, who had won his 20th game only two starts earlier, was tagged for 17 runs, 16 of which were earned. In the outburst, Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig combined for nine hits and seven RBIs, so at least Ehmke fell victim to some brand names.

Speaking of brand names, the list of 19 pitchers who have surrendered at least 14 earned runs in one outing (since 1919) is headlined by one of the greatest pitchers ever. In the first game of a doubleheader on August 26, 1938, a 19-year old fire-baller named Bob Feller was upended by Joe DiMaggio’s Bronx Bombers. The Yankee Clipper himself did most of the damage, knocking in seven of the 15 earned runs surrendered by Feller, who still managed to last seven innings despite allowing 24 base runners.

Considering the Yankees’ prominent role in so many of these epic pitching failures, Mazzaro should have had his meltdown five days earlier. And, based on his performance that night, he may have been trying. Lately, however, the Yankees have been very generous to opposing pitchers. Unfortunately for Mazzaro, the Cleveland Indians weren’t as kind.

Pitchers Who Have Surrendered 14 or More Earned Runs, Since 1919

Player	Date	Tm	Opp	Rslt	IP	H	R	ER	BB	HR
Vin Mazzaro	5/16/2011	KCR	CLE	L 1-19	2.1	11	14	14	3	1
Mike Oquist	8/3/1998	OAK	NYY	L 1-14	5	16	14	14	3	4
Bill Travers	8/14/1977	MIL	CLE	L 5-14	7.2	18	14	14	4	2
Al Jurisich	6/28/1947	PHI	NYG	L 6-14	8	16	14	14	6	3
Les McCrabb	4/16/1942	PHA	BOS	L 4-19	4	14	14	14	2	2
Chubby Dean	9/28/1940	PHA	BOS	L 4-16	8	19	16	14	5	1
Carl Doyle	6/8/1940	BRO	CIN	L 2-23	4	16	14	14	4	1
Bob Feller	8/26/1938	CLE	NYY	L 9-15	7	15	15	15	9	2
Jim Walkup	7/25/1937	SLB	WSH	L 5-15	8	16	14	14	5	1
Hod Lisenbee	9/11/1936	PHA	CHW	L 2-17	8	26	17	14	4	2
Slick Castleman	6/9/1936	NYG	CIN	L 4-15	8	18	15	15	3	1
Flint Rhem	8/4/1933	PHI	NYG	L 1-18	8	21	16	15	3	0
Dutch Schesler	7/11/1931	PHI	NYG	L 5-23	8	22	16	14	0	4
Johnny Miljus	7/25/1929	CLE	PHA	L 3-21	3	13	14	14	3	3
Hugh McQuillan	9/11/1927	BSN	CIN	L 5-16	6.2	17	16	15	3	1
Nelson Greene	6/20/1925	BRO	PIT	L 5-21	6.2	18	15	15	3	3
Ted Lyons	7/21/1924	CHW	WSH	L 2-16	8	18	16	14	5	0
Howard Ehmke	9/28/1923	BOS	NYY	L 4-24	6	21	17	16	4	2
Win Noyes	9/5/1919	PHA	BOS	L 7-15	7	22	15	15	2	1

Source: Baseball-reference.com

Posted in Baseball, MLB, Yankees | Tagged Bob Feller, Kansas City Royals, Vin Mazzaro | 1 Comment »

Ignorance Defines Posada’s Critics; Catcher No Stranger to Sacrifice, Not Only Legendary Backstop to Have a Bad Day

May 16, 2011 by William Juliano

Although it now seems clear that Jorge Posada made a mistake by pulling himself from Saturday’s lineup, the reactions of many have reached absurd proportions. Words like selfish, arrogant, liar and quitter have been freely tossed around, and some have even suggested that the transgression warranted a severe disciplinary action (a feeling reportedly shared by some in the front office). Based on this response, you’d think the former All Star had committed a felony. In fact, he might have received more sympathy if he had.

Despite his son’s significant health concerns, Jorge Posada rarely took a day off from the lineup (Photo: Daily News).

The most ironic part of the ill-informed articles questioning Posada’s loyalty is very few players have exhibited a comparable level of dedication to the team. I wonder how many of those who have been so quick to label Posada as selfish and pampered realize just how much he has sacrificed over the years?

Even after he found out that Jorge IV would have to undergo serious surgery. Even after the delicate surgery last August on the then 8-month-old. Posada stayed silent and kept playing.” – Buster Olney, The New York Times, February 7, 2001

During the 2000 season, Jorge and Laura Posada quietly struggled with a very painful reality. Their new born son, Jorge IV, had been diagnosed with craniosynostosis, a life threatening congenital skull deformity that would requires years of surgery to correct. Despite the difficult months leading up the first surgery on August 2, however, Posada not only remained a fixture in the Yankees lineup (he played 151 games including 142 behind the plate), but established himself as one of the team’s best hitters.

When the day of the surgery finally arrived, Posada took one game off to be with his son, but then returned right back to the lineup. Two days after fearing that he would never see his boy again, the weary catcher went 4-5 against Seattle.

Posted in Baseball, MLB, Yankees | Tagged Jorge Posada | 1 Comment »

Splitting Hairs: A(nother) Granular Look at the Yankees’ Slump

May 16, 2011 by William Juliano

(In addition to appearing at The Captain’s Blog, this post is also being syndicated at TheYankeeAnalysts.)

The longer the Yankees’ offensive malaise continues, the more it becomes confusing. Over a three-week period that has seen the team’s per game production plummet by almost two runs, no one explanation has been evident. Nonetheless, there must be something that stands out as a reasonable cause for the batting slump that most of the team is currently enduring.

After scanning the Yankees’ season splits in 2011, one number jumps out more than any other. In 30 plate appearances with a 3-0 count, the Yankees haven’t recorded a single hit. Of course, that statistics is misleading because the team has walked in 90% of those instances, or just a shade below the league average. So, when compared to the league’s performance on 3-0 (.366/.955/.761), it appears as if the Yankees have only missed out one or two hits. What’s more, the Yankees won all three games when those 3-0 outs occurred, so this split has played no role in the larger trend.

Yankees sOPS+ in Three-Ball Counts

Split	PA	AB	HR	BA	OBP	SLG	sOPS+
3-0 Count	30	3	0	0.000	0.900	0.000	-6
3-1 Count	87	44	3	0.386	0.686	0.682	99
Full Count	243	156	8	0.199	0.477	0.385	130
After 3-0	79	31	4	0.258	0.709	0.710	142
After 3-1	166	95	7	0.253	0.570	0.526	111
Three Balls	360	203	11	0.236	0.563	0.443	114

Note: sOPS+ is a measurement that compares the Yankees performance in a particular split to the league average.
Source: Baseball-reference.com

Even after an awful weekend in which the Yankees struggled mightily on three ball counts, the team’s related OPS splits are at least on par with the rest of the league. So, although the inability to do damage on 3-1 did hurt the Yankees over the past weekend, it has not been a systemic problem.

With yet another theory dismissed, one more observation bears closer examination. A lot has been made of the Yankees’ scoring too many runs via the long ball, which is an inherently silly argument. However, is it possible that the team is trying too hard to go deep? Although this tendency is difficult to identify in the numbers, one manifestation might be a decline in off-field production at the expense of pulling the ball. In other words, instead of letting the homeruns come naturally, the Yankees may be forcing the issue.

wOBA Relative to Hit Placement, 2002-2011

Source: fangraphs.com

Posted in Baseball, MLB, Statistical Analysis, Yankees | 2 Comments »

Swept Away: Red Sox Pull Off Rare Feat at Yankee Stadium

May 16, 2011 by William Juliano

After being swept by the Boston Red Sox at home, the Yankees concluded one of their most embarrassing and demoralizing weeks in recent memory. In addition to losing three games to their heated rival, not to mention enduring the Jorge Posada soap opera, the Yankees also dropped two games to the Kansas City Royals. As a result, the team hopped on a plane to Tampa with a five game losing streak, matching their longest skid at the new Yankee Stadium. Hopefully, there was enough room on the flight for all the baggage.

Ted Williams congratulates Joe Cronin after his two run homer sparked another Boston victory during its five game sweep in the Bronx (Photo: NY Times).

When the Yankees and Red Sox meet, things tend to get blown out of proportion. However, being swept by Boston at home is a pretty significant event, at least from a historical perspective. Since the two ball clubs were founded in 1901, the Yankees have only been swept by the Red Sox in 13 home series of three games or more. Five of those series occurred before the opening of Yankee Stadium (including one when the team resided in Baltimore), meaning Boston has only come into the Bronx and swept on eight occasions (and two of those series took place at the end of the season).

Road Warriors: Red Sox’ Sweeps in Yanks’ Home Ballpark, 1901-1911

Games	RS	RA	From	To	Ballpark
3	10	18	5/13/2011	5/15/2011	Yankee Stadium III
3	4	16	4/23/2004	4/25/2004	Yankee Stadium II
3	12	18	9/10/1999	9/12/2000	Yankee Stadium II
3	9	22	6/16/1986	6/18/1986	Yankee Stadium II
3	5	13	10/1/1982	10/3/1982	Yankee Stadium II
3	4	11	9/20/1968	9/22/1968	Yankee Stadium
3	2	9	9/25/1953	9/27/1953	Yankee Stadium
5	12	19	7/7/1939	7/9/1939	Yankee Stadium
5	18	54	6/19/1912	6/22/1912	Hilltop Park
3	9	18	4/11/1912	4/13/1912	Hilltop Park
3	5	17	10/3/1911	10/4/1911	Hilltop Park
3	5	26	6/1/1903	6/3/1903	Hilltop Park
3	15	22	9/27/1902	9/29/1902	Oriole Park

Source: Baseball-reference.com

Although dropping three straight to Boston has a bitter feel, this weekend’s sweep doesn’t qualify as the Yankees’ most lopsided home series loss in the rivalry’s history. On two occasions, they dropped a five-game home series to the Red Sox. The first whitewash, which occurred in 1912, came amid a more encompassing 12-game losing streak to Boston that included three straight home series sweeps. During those five games in June 1912, the Yankees were outscored by a whopping 54-18, making that series the first “Boston Massacre” in the rivalry.

Posted in Baseball, Baseball History, MLB, Red Sox, Yankees | 1 Comment »

Girardi, Posada Come Clean, but Cashman Is the One Who Has Some Explaining To Do

May 15, 2011 by William Juliano

When Saturday night’s lineup was first posted, Jorge Posada was batting ninth. Then, he was scratched just before game time. As various rumors about his status circulated, including speculation about a possible retirement, Brian Cashman announced to FOX cameras that Posada had asked out of the lineup. Cashman also stated that no injury was involved. Soon thereafter, a torrent of tweets suggested that the Yankees’ catcher had thrown a fit and refused to play. That news was followed by reports about the Yankees placing a call to the commissioner’s office about possible disciplinary action. Not to be outdone by the one-sided flow of information, Posada’s wife Laura tweeted that her husband was suffering from a sore back. Meanwhile, the rest of the Yankees were busy losing another game by exhibiting the same brand of impotent offense and sloppy defense that has become a hallmark over the last three weeks.

The original lineup card with Posada batting ninth (Photo: Getty Images).

Before the game, the decision to drop Posada in the lineup seemed like more of historical footnote than a burgeoning soap opera. In retrospect, however, Girardi’s decision to drop Posada in such a high profile game on national television seems at least a little shortsighted. After all, what real benefit could be derived from moving Posada down from eighth to ninth? With Nick Swisher batting just as poorly, would anyone have batted an eye if he was slotted last? Considering Posada’s prideful reputation and Swisher’s happy-go-lucky personality, reversing those two players would have provided the path of least resistance.

Although Girardi shares some blame for the imprudent implementation of an otherwise justifiable decision, Posada also bears some blame. His emotional reaction to the slight is perfectly understandable. For years, he has been an instrumental part of the Yankees’ success, but now he finds himself watching the sands of time fall through the hourglass. It’s a long way from starting catcher to last man in the lineup, so if Posada needed a mental day off, what’s so wrong with that? Having said that, he should have been more honest with Girardi once he decided he could not play. By failing to do so, he contributed to the chaotic course of events that ensued.

Posted in Baseball, MLB, Yankees | Tagged Brian Cashman, Joe Girardi, Jorge Posada | 8 Comments »

Next Stop, Bench? Posada Dropped to Ninth in Lineup

May 14, 2011 by William Juliano

Bernie Williams entered June 1995 in a terrible slump, which prompted a temporary demotion to the bottom of the lineup. In order to motivate his young centerfielder, Buck Showalter jokingly suggested to Williams that after ninth, the next stop was the bench. The message must have been received loud and clear because not only did Bernie hit .419 in the eight games spent batting last, but he went on to have a borderline Hall of Fame career.

Girardi has had Posada’s back all season, but could his patience be wearing out?

Although Showalter’s not so subtle suggestion was meant to be in good fun (at least according to Michael Kay, who has recounted the story several times over the years), it also had a purpose. As Paul O’Neill articulated during a recent broadcast, players are well aware of how their position in the batting order reflects the manager’s current thinking. Well, if Jorge Posada was wondering about Joe Girardi’s state of mind, tonight’s lineup should cast aside any doubt.

For the first time since May 14, 1999, exactly 12 years to the date, Jorge Posada is in the starting lineup batting ninth. The demotion, which marks the culmination of Posada’s gradual decent in the batting order, might be a bit startling because of his stature, but certainly not surprising considering his performance to date.

I put myself in this spot. It’s not like I want to hit ninth, and it’s not like I want to hit .100-and-whatever I’m hitting. It’s just a matter of really coming out of it.” – Jorge Posada, quoted by the LoHud Yankees Blog, May 14, 2011

Just last week, Posada publically thanked Girardi for his continued support, and before today’s game, he absolved him of any guilt by graciously accepting the decision. How could he not? A .165 batting average is impossible for even the most prideful player to ignore.

Posted in Baseball, MLB, Yankees | Tagged Joe Girardi, Jorge Posada | 1 Comment »

Take Me Out OF the Ballgame: Is the Bronx Becoming LA East?

May 14, 2011 by William Juliano

Earlier in the season, there was some concern expressed about the decline in attendance at Yankee Stadium. Over the first 22 games of the home schedule, approximately 3,300 fewer fans have attended each game, which represents a 7% year-over-year dip from last year’s average of 45,050. From my standpoint, however, the greater concern isn’t the people who aren’t going to the game, but the relative indifference exhibited by the ones who are.

This year, it seems as if an increasing number of games at Yankee Stadium have ended with the stands sparsely filled.

It was easy to dismiss the Stadium crowd’s passivity earlier in the season when the opponents were Chicago, Toronto and Kansas City, but last night the Red Sox were in town. Granted, the Yankees’ offense didn’t give the fans much to cheer about for most of the game, but even so, the general vibe from the crowd was indifference. This lack of investment in the outcome was made further evident when what seemed like half the stadium emptied after the bottom of the eighth. If Mark Teixeira had launched Jonathan Papelbon’s last pitch into the stands for a dramatic walk-off victory, it probably would have landed in an empty seat.

After mentioning this perceived indifference on Twitter, there were alot of interesting replies. Ross of NYY Stadium Insider (@StadiumInsider) suggested that the proliferation of smart phones might be the main culprit. Although others disagreed, it does seem as if he has a point. Nowadays, it’s not uncommon to look around the stands and see just as many heads peering down at their PDAs as looking out toward the action on the field. Baseball has always been a game conducive to diversion, but is the creeping penetration of technology starting to become too much of a distraction?

Although the handheld devices theory would explain less interest and interaction, it doesn’t address the increasing proportion of the crowd that is leaving early. It’s hard to pinpoint why more and more fans are opting to beat the traffic, but over the first 20 games of the home schedule, the ballpark in the Bronx has looked more like Dodger Stadium East.

Posted in Baseball, MLB, Yankee Stadium, Yankees | 2 Comments »

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