Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Are Smaller Crowds in Tampa Headed to the Bronx? Or Is WBC to Blame?

March 7, 2013 by William Juliano

(The following was originally published at SB*Nation’s Pinstriped Bible)

There have been more empty seats at Steinbrenner Field this spring.

There have been more empty seats at Steinbrenner Field this spring.

Attendance has become a hot topic in the Bronx, and, after two weeks of Spring Training, it seems as if the issue has followed the Yankees to Tampa.

As of March 6, the Yankees are averaging 9,356 fans at Steinbrenner Field, or 14% lower than last year’s figure. Not since the strike-plagued spring of 1995, when the Yankees played in Fort Lauderdale (click here for a chronological history of the Yankees’ spring homes), has the team averaged fewer fans. What’s more, the 7,677 fans who filed into the Boss on February 27 represented the smallest spring crowd to watch a Yankees’ home game since at least 2002. And, the slightly larger crowd that attended the next game was the second smallest during the same span. There’s no disputing that attendance at Steinbrenner Field is down, but the question is why?

Spring Training Attendance: 2013 vs. 2012
2013_v_2012_ST_att

Note: 2013 data is as of the March 6. Attendance includes only games played against major league teams at typical spring training facilities.
Source: Yahoo.com, ESPN.com and sportsbusinessdaily.com

Before answering that question, we need to examine how the Yankees’ spring attendance compares to the rest of baseball. Unfortunately for major league baseball, and the chambers of commerce in Florida and Arizona, it turns out that the Bronx Bombers aren’t the only team attracting smaller crowds this spring. In fact, only the Boston Red Sox have experienced an increase, albeit at a very modest 2%. Otherwise, the declines range from the Pirates at 7% to the Padres at a whopping 47%.

In aggregate, average attendance for games played through March 6 is down by nearly 25% compared to 2012 totals. However, the Grapefruit league’s decline has been less drastic. While attendance in Florida is down 16%,Arizona crowds have contracted by 32%. So, in comparison to league-wide totals, the Yankees’ 14% haircut is pretty much on par. As a result, our original question now widens to include the rest of the league.

Continue Reading »

Posted in Baseball, MLB, Spring Training, WBC, Yankees | Tagged | Leave a Comment »

Pop Goes the Season; Teixeira’s Wrist Injury Leaves Yankees Limp

March 6, 2013 by William Juliano

Mark Teixeira heard a pop in his wrist. Now, the Yankees have to hope the air hasn’t been let out of their season.

Teixeira's injured wrist could leave the Yankees' offense limp. (Photo: Getty Images)

Teixeira’s injured wrist could leave the Yankees’ offense limp. (Photo: Getty Images)

Even before Teixeira was diagnosed with a strained tendon that will sideline him for 8-10 weeks, the Yankees’ Opening Day lineup figured to be one of their weakest in recent history. That was partly due to injuries, but also the result of the team’s frugal off season. During the winter, the Yankees embarked on a penny wise approach to building their roster, opting to save money at the expense of building depth. Now, with the injuries piling up, that philosophy has already proven to be pound foolish. And, the ultimate irony is the Yankees may now be forced to spend even more, both in terms of money and prospects, to supply the deficiencies that their short sighted approach helped create.

Over the past year, Hal Steinbrenner has repeatedly stated that you can build a championship team on a $189 million budget. However, what you can’t do as easily is build a perennial winner capable of withstanding several significant injuries. That’s why the Yankees can’t play the health card if the team gets off to a slow start. Sure, losing Curtis Granderson, Alex Rodriguez and now Teixeira would be a blow under any circumstances, but the team’s current predicament isn’t borne out of injury, but rather a failure to prepare for it.

The Yankees have no one but themselves to blame for the grim outlook that currently hangs over the team. Now, the question becomes what are they going to do about? Based on Brian Cashman’s initial response, the Yankees basically plan to cross their fingers for the first two months of the season and hope the team can remain in contention until their injured players get back. However, if the Bronx Bombers stumble out of the gate, Cashman’s arm could wind up twisted behind his back. Playing the kids or salvaging another club’s washed up veteran might be palatable on March 6, but that approach could be tough to swallow in May.

Continue Reading »

Posted in Alex Rodriguez, Arod, Baseball, Brian Cashman, Hal Steinbrenner, MLB, Roster Analysis, Spring Training, Yankees | 1 Comment »

Baseball TV Forensics: Cheers and the Yankees/Red Sox Rivalry

February 28, 2013 by William Juliano

Note: If you would like to read more articles like this one, check out my earlier analysis of the baseball scenes in “Speedy”, as well as Larry Granillo’s excellent forensic investigation into Ferris Buehler’s whereabouts on his day off.

Cheers is widely regarded as one of the best sitcoms of all time, but for a baseball fan, the classic show is even more special. With its main character being a former relief pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, baseball was integrated into the plot of countless episodes. In fact, it took the sitcom only three airings before it built an entire story around the Yankees/Red Sox rivalry.

In the Tortelli Tort, which aired on October 14, 1982, Carla, the bar’s acerbic waitress, assaults Big Eddie, an obnoxious Yankee fan (only Hollywood could dream up such a character) who is unmercifully taunting the patrons at Cheers immediately after their favorite team suffered another loss to the hated Bronx Bombers. However, the point of this exercise deals with what takes place before that confrontation.

In an earlier scene, Carla is nervously watching the Red Sox attempt a ninth inning comeback against the Yankees. Even though there are two outs and Boston is trailing 5-0, she is nevertheless drawn into the game, only to have her hopes dashed when Carl Yastrzemski pops up to kill the rally.  In a scene that probably played out repeatedly in bars across New England before the Red Sox finally won the World Series in 2004, Carla publicly disavows here loyalty to the team, only to return to her better, and more basic, instincts when Big Eddie shows up.

Although we know what drove Carla to attack Eddie, the actual game that stirred her emotions remains a mystery…until now. According to the announcer, whose voice is heard in the background, the Red Sox are trailing 5-0 in the bottom of the ninth. Normally, that would be an excellent clue, but there’s no guarantee that information represents a real game situation. In fact, the voice over doesn’t seem authentic. So, we are left with only three quick glimpses of actual game footage from which to draw our inferences.

Scene #1 from the Tortelli Tort: Reid Nichols (click to enlarge)
Cheers1

In the first look at the game, three players are identifiable. Standing at second base, presumably after a double, is number 51 on the Red Sox. Luckily, we get a full look at the runner and can unquestionably determine that he is Reid Nichols. The pitcher is also identifiable. Although the view is a little blurry, and only the first number 2 can be seen on the left hander’s back, the profile and delivery of the pitcher in question unmistakably belongs to Tommy John. Besides, the only the lefty on the team with a number in the 20s was Shane Rawley, who does not resemble the pitcher on the screen.

Continue Reading »

Posted in Baseball, Culture, Red Sox, Video, Yankees | Leave a Comment »

The Real Joba Chamberlain Debate

February 27, 2013 by William Juliano

(The following was originally published at SB*Nation’s Pinstriped Bible)

Is it time for the Yankees to throw in the towel on Joba Chamberlain? (Photo: AP)

Is it time for the Yanks to throw in the towel on Joba Chamberlain? (Photo: AP)

Starter, closer or middle relief? For as long as he has worn pinstripes, Joba Chamberlain’s role on the Yankees’ pitching staff has been the subject of intense debate, which the righty himself re-ignited yesterday. Although GM Brian Cashman brushed aside Chamberlain’s remarks, perhaps he should start taking them more seriously? If the Yankees want to salvage what remains of Joba’s value, it’s time for him to be a closer or a starter…on another team.

Blame whomever or whatever you want for his lack of development, but at this point, Chamberlain is too far down the depth chart at both starter and closer to merit either job in pinstripes. However, it’s easy to understand why he wants to gravitate toward the beginning or end of the game. That’s where the action is. The money is there as well. An impending free agent, the right hander realizes that a big payday won’t be in his future unless starting or closing games is as well.

Just because Chamberlain will likely never start of close for the Yankees, doesn’t mean he won’t fulfill that role on another team. If he can stay healthy and be effective in middle relief, Chamberlain should have several interested suitors when he hits the open market after this season. Some of them may envision the right hander as their closer. Others may be anxious to see how he performs as a starter. In other words, come this winter, Chamberlain, not the team for which he plays, will have the final say on his position.

Continue Reading »

Posted in Baseball, Brian Cashman, MLB, Roster Analysis, Yankees | Tagged | Leave a Comment »

Building the Worst Lineup in Yankees History

February 26, 2013 by William Juliano

At Pinstriped Bible, I recently took a look at a “worst case” projection for the 2013 Yankees’ lineup and compared it some of the more futile Bronx Bomber offenses of the past. However, I thought it might be fun to take the historical exercise one step further by building one of the weakest hypothetical lineups in Yankees history. Although some disgruntled Yankee fans might argue that Brian Cashman has already beaten me to the punch, below is a lineup of Bronx Bummers culled from the not-so illustrious annals of the franchise’s otherwise glorious history.

Bronx Bummers: Lineup of Worst Regular Seasons in Yankees History

PO Player OPS+ Year PA HR RBI BA OBP SLG
C Roger Bresnahan 88 1901 323 1 32 0.268 0.323 0.369
1B Johnny Sturm 58 1941 568 3 36 0.239 0.293 0.300
2B Fritz Maisel 51 1917 466 0 20 0.198 0.267 0.228
3B Clete Boyer 58 1964 554 8 52 0.218 0.269 0.304
SS Pee-Wee Wanninger 43 1925 427 1 22 0.236 0.256 0.305
LF Duffy Lewis 70 1920 408 4 61 0.271 0.320 0.332
CF Jim Jackson 68 1901 399 2 50 0.250 0.291 0.330
RF Willie Keeler 61 1907 467 0 17 0.234 0.265 0.255
DH Kevin Maas 100 1991 592 23 63 0.220 0.333 0.390

Note: Includes qualified seasons for hitters who played at least 50% of their games at a defined position were used.
Source: Baseball-reference.com

Clete Boyer was known for his glove, but unfortunately for the Yankees, his bat did most of the talking in 1964.

Clete Boyer was known for his glove, but unfortunately for the Yankees, his bat did most of the talking in 1964.

The lineup above was constructed by selecting the Yankee who had the lowest OPS+ at each position in a single season. In order to account for sample size and create a realistic roster, only qualified seasons for hitters who played at least 50% of their games at a defined position were used.

Only three players who “made the cut” played after the dead ball era, the most prominent of which was Clete Boyer. In 1964, Boyer had an absolutely brutal season with the bat. A glove man by trade, the Yankees’ third baseman was never a slugger, but his horrific OPS+ of 58 was one of the worst ever compiled by any Bronx Bomber in a qualified season. Ironically, after his nightmare in 1964, Boyer rebounded to have his three best seasons with the bat. However, that wasn’t enough to stave off the Yankees’ decline as a team.

With an OPS+ of 100, Kevin Maas is an unlikely candidate for a team of offensive misfits, but the Yankees haven’t had many full-time DHs, and, when one hitter has been entrusted with the role, he’s usually been very productive. As a result, Maas makes the cut for his 1991 season, despite slugging 23 homers and being looked upon as one of the few bright spots in a dark period of franchise history.

Continue Reading »

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

Yankees Suffer Depth Blow; Lose Granderson for 10 Weeks

February 24, 2013 by William Juliano

Entering spring training, Joe Girardi wasn’t sure who would be playing left field on Opening Day. Unfortunately for the Yankees’ skipper, he now knows whom it won’t be. In the first inning of the first home Spring Training game of the 2013 season, Curtis Granderson suffered a broken left forearm that will likely cause the outfielder to miss the next 10 weeks.

Can the Yankees bounce back from Granderson's injury? (Photo: Getty Images)

Can the Yankees bounce back from Granderson’s injury? (Photo: Getty Images)

The silver lining to Granderson’s injury is the timing. Because it took place early in the spring, the lefty slugger should be back in action by May. However, while that minimizes the blow, it doesn’t completely mitigate the loss. After all, thanks to the team’s cost cutting initiative, over 100 home runs had already been pared from the team’s roster. Now, with Granderson gone for approximately one-quarter of the season, that deficit just got bigger.

Losing Granderson isn’t a death blow, but it is a depth blow. Although the Yankees have a cadre of potential fourth outfielder types, including veterans Matt Diaz and Juan Rivera as well as rookies like Melky Mesa, none of those players is a viable replacement for Granderson. Will the Yankees make a trade to supply this deficiency? If not, the team will enter the season with someone playing left field, but they won’t actually have a left fielder.

So, whom can the Yankees acquire to help stem the tide? Usual suspects like Alfonso Soriano and Vernon Wells can probably be had in a salary dump, but the cost probably isn’t worth the potential benefit. Although other candidates, like the Mariners’ Casper Wells, could emerge as teams start to finalize their rosters, the reality is the time to build depth was in the offseason. That doesn’t mean Brian Cashman shouldn’t scour the waiver wire or continue to make phone calls, but unless a long-term solution presents itself, it’s no use throwing good money after bad players. If the Yankees are going to replace Granderson’s production, it will probably have to come from within, particularly from established stars like Mark Teixeira, Robinson Cano, and Kevin Youkilis.

If Granderson makes it back on schedule, the Yankees can definitely survive the loss. However, this year’s team doesn’t have much of a margin for error. And, with Granderson’s loss, that margin just got thinner. By no means is the season lost, but it’s equally naïve to dismiss the significance of the blow.

Posted in Baseball, MLB, Roster Analysis, Spring Training, Yankees | Leave a Comment »

Bobby Murcer: Player, Broadcaster, Country Singer?

February 22, 2013 by William Juliano

Bobby Murcer was no stranger to a guitar.

Bobby Murcer was no stranger to a guitar.

During his long playing career and subsequent time as a television announcer, Bobby Murcer became a favorite for generations of Yankee fans. However, I wonder how many know that the five time All Star was also a “Skoal Dippin’ Man”? The evidence is below (the embedded audio includes the full song and an interview with Murcer as well as a hilarious impersonation of Yankees’ broadcaster Frank Messer).

Murcer’s brief foray into country music occurred in 1983, while the outfielder was winding down his career by riding the pine for the Yankees. That season, hits were hard to come by for Murcer, so the outfielder stepped away from the batter’s box and took a couple of swings in the record studio. With the backing of friends like Willie Nelson, Murcer recorded two singles for Colombia Records, “Skoal Dippin’ Man” and “Bad Whiskey”, which were eventually released in June.

Although he was still an active player at the time, Colombia billed its new star as a “former Yankee”. In a matter of weeks, that slip up would prove prophetic. On June 21, Murcer officially retired from baseball. However, instead of shifting his focus to a career in music, Murcer put his Oklahoma drawl to good use in the Yankees’ television booth, joining Phil Rizzuto and Bill White on WPIX.  For much of the next 25 years, Murcer remained closely associated with the team, while his short-lived music career faded into a novelty. As a result, a younger generation of Yankees fans had the opportunity to know Murcer as a baseball player rather than a Skoal Dippin’ Man.

Posted in Baseball, MLB, Nostalgia, Video | Leave a Comment »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »