Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Beast of Burden: Sabathia Carries Yankees into ALCS

October 13, 2012 by William Juliano

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

CC Sabathia put the Yankees on his broad shoulders in the ALDS. (Photo: NY Daily News)

With all due respect to Matt Kemp, beast mode resides in the Bronx and his name is CC Sabathia. Yesterday evening, the big left hander not only beat down the Baltimore Orioles’ offense, but also dragged his own team’s struggling hitters across the finish line in the ALDS.

In game one of the series, Sabathia lived up to his billing as an ace by holding the Orioles to two runs over 8 2/3 innings, allowing the Yankees to rally for a 7-2 victory in the ninth. Heading into game five, Joe Girardi would have gladly signed up for more of the same, but the lefty was even better. For the first seven innings, Sabathia dominated the Orioles lineup, allowing only one hit, and then, when Baltimoreloaded the bases in the eighth, he slammed the door by escaping the jam after only one run had scored. In another season, Sabathia’s job would have been done, but with Mariano Rivera a spectator on the bench and Rafael Soriano coming off a two-inning stint the night before, the Yankees’ ace also took on the role of closer and worked a one-two-three ninth. Ballgame over. American League Division Series over.

Yankees’ Top-15 Postseason Game Scores

Source: Baseball-reference.com

Continue Reading »

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

Yankees Answering October Call to Arms, But Bats Have Been a Hang Up

October 12, 2012 by William Juliano

The postseason is supposed to be about pitching, pitching, and more pitching, so why are the Yankees facing sudden death? In the first four games of the 2012 ALDS, the team’s staff has posted a sterling ERA of 1.93, which ranks as the 13th lowest rate compiled in the team’s 72 postseason series. Not surprisingly, the Yankees were triumphant in all 12 of the series featuring a lower team ERA, including seven sweeps and three seven-game series that only went five games. Apparently, pitching does win in October, at least up until now.

Yankees’ 15 Lowest Postseason Series ERAs

Note: All series were won by the Yankees. Red bars indicate sweeps.
Source: Baseball-reference.com

The reason the Yankees are facing a winner-take-all game five is because their offense has been as bad as the pitchers have been good. With a paltry 3.25 runs per game, the team has scored the 13th lowest series average in franchise history. Looked at on a per plate appearance basis, the team’s rate of 0.08 runs/PA ranks even lower on the list, besting only six other postseason series, five of which ended in defeat for the Yankees.

Continue Reading »

Posted in Alex Rodriguez, Baseball, Baseball History, MLB, Post Season, Yankees | 1 Comment »

Girardi’s Gut Check Saves Day; More Difficult Decisions Remain

October 11, 2012 by William Juliano

In 1925, Babe Ruth suffered from “The bellyache heard ‘round the world”, which, before last night, was the most infamous case of digestive rumbling in Yankee history. However, the Babe’s disagreeable tummy must not take a backseat to Joe Girardi’s “gut feeling”, which inspired the Yankee skipper to pinch hit for one of the best players and most prolific homerun hitters in the history of the game with his team trailing by only one run. Although Alex Rodriguez’ at bats had been hard to stomach, the gravity of the decision must have caused Girardi some indigestion, but ultimately, his intestinal fortitude was rewarded when Raul Ibanez came through with not one, but two dramatic homers.

Ibanez’ heroics backed up Girardi’s “gut decision”. (Photo: NY Post)

When looked at in a vacuum, the decision to hit Ibanez for Rodriguez might seem academic. After all, Arod had been struggling and was due to face Jim Johnson, a tough right handed pitcher who had already struck him out twice in the series. Meanwhile, on the bench was Ibanez, a left handed slugger who made a habit of authoring clutch hits during the regular season. Throw in the short porch in right field, Ibanez’ ability to lift Johnson’s power sinker, as well as the presence of all left handed hitters batting around Arod, and the choice becomes even clearer. All things considered, sending Ibanez up to the plate was really a no-brainer. And yet, it could end up being the most difficult decision Girardi will ever make.

As manager of a team with several aging superstars, Girardi has been placed in an inevitable and unenviable position of having to shepherd future Hall of Fames through the waning years of their careers. However, last night’s decision was about more than just that. Even though Rodriguez has struggled mightily in the ALDS, he is still a very productive player. In fact, during the regular season, the only Yankee who posted clearly superior offensive numbers was Robinson Cano. What’s more, Rodriguez hasn’t been the only player to struggle in the series. One hit in 12 at bats might seem like an extreme slump, but the Orioles and Yankees each have four hitters who have only managed two or fewer hits in 10 or more at bats. Yes, Rodriguez has not produced in the series, but by no means is he alone.

Continue Reading »

Posted in Alex Rodriguez, Arod, Baseball, MLB, Post Season, Yankees | Tagged | 2 Comments »

Focus More on Yankees’ Offense, Not Kuroda, In Pivotal Game Three

October 10, 2012 by William Juliano

Since the start of the most recent dynasty, the Yankees have distinguished themselves in the third game of a postseason series, posting a .677 winning percentage in these pivotal contests. Although the Bronx Bombers have had great success almost across the board in the postseason, game three has been when the team is at its best.

Yankees’ Postseason Winning Percentage by Series Game, 1996-Present

Game # W L PCT RS RA
1 20 12 0.625 143 108
2 19 13 0.594 121 101
3 21 10 0.677 146 92
4 18 9 0.667 137 78
5 11 8 0.579 90 71
6 5 5 0.500 44 40
7 1 2 0.333 11 8

Note: Includes all postseason series.
Source: Baseball-reference.com

One reason for the Yankees’ supremacy in game threes has been the depth of its rotation, which has always allowed the team to have an ace in the hole. For example, in four of the previous six game-three match-ups, Joe Girardi was able to fall back on Andy Pettitte, who just so happens to have the most postseason wins in baseball history. That’s not a bad consolation. Before Girardi, Joe Torre also enjoyed the same luxury. In addition to Pettitte, the list of the Yankees’ game three starters since 1996 reads like a who’s who of recent pitching.

Yankees’ Game-Three Starters in the Postseason, 1996-Present

  Team        
Pitcher G W L  IP ERA K/BB Avg GSc
Andy Pettitte 7 4 3 40 2/3 5.09 2.5 46
Roger Clemens 6 5 1 31 1/3 3.45 2.5 55
David Cone 3 3 0 17 2/3 1.53 1.6 63
Mike Mussina 3 2 1 18 2.50 7.5 58
O. Hernandez 3 1 2 19 1/3 4.66 1.8 51
Jimmy Key 2 2 0 13 2.77 4.0 62
Kevin Brown 2 2 0 8 4.50 1.0 42
Randy Johnson 2 0 2 8 2/3 10.38 3.0 29
CC Sabathia 1 0 1 5 1/3 6.75 0.5 35
David Wells 1 1 0 9 1.00 NA 74
Phil Hughes 1 1 0 7 0.00 6.0 74

Note: Includes all postseason series.
Source: Baseball-reference.com

Continue Reading »

Posted in Baseball, MLB, Post Season, Yankees | Tagged | Leave a Comment »

CSI Yankees: Mystery Photo Contest #1

October 9, 2012 by William Juliano

Can you identify the date of the game depicted in the photo below? If so, you can win a set of officially licensed Major League Baseball headphones manufactured by BiGR Audio (on Twitter at @bigraudio), a provider of innovative electronics componentry. BiGR Audio originally released four Special Edition MLB sets of headphones: The 2011 World Series Champions San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres, Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees (see the photo below).  For these sets, the soft leather band of each headphone is not-only hand-stitched, but emulates the glove of a big league first baseman.  They have since released all 30 MLB teams, each uniquely designed to showcase the classic, authentic colors and logos of their respective baseball clubs.

If you don’t wind up winning a set, the headphones are also available for purchase at Best Buy stores, BestBuy.com, and BiGR Audio’s website, www.bigraudio.com, where they are currently on sale for only $49.99 plus shipping (use coupon code “bigryanks” after clicking “Add to Cart” through the following link: http://bigraudio.com/products/mlb/al/yankees.html).

Although at first glance it might seem impossible to discern when the action took place, there are enough clues in the photo to figure it out.  So, get your magnifying glasses out and be sure to search every inch of the photo for a clue. Then, once you’ve determined the correct date, post it in the comments section below (be sure to include a valid email when filling out the form). The first person to come up with the right answer will win a set of headphones adorned with their favorite team’s logo. And, if you get stumped, feel free to leave behind whatever evidence you were able to uncover. Only one person will win the prize, but remember, baseball is a team sport.

Finally, if you don’t win this time, additional mystery photo contests (h/t to the Humbug Journal at the old Baseball Toaster) will be held periodically over the next few months (and likely with another baseball-themed prize), so keep checking back for your chance to crack the case.

Posted in Contest | 4 Comments »

Beltway Freshmen Bring Teen Spirit to Postseason

October 9, 2012 by William Juliano

Machado has made a rapid rise from high school to the postseason.

Who says the Beltway operates under an Old Boys Network? Not only do the Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles boast two of the younger teams in baseball, but each club also features a precocious teenager playing an integral role in their everyday starting lineup.

It’s rare enough for any team, much less a playoff caliber one, to rely on a teenager during the regular season. In the 112 years of baseball’s modern era, only 40 positions players have amassed over 200 plate appearances before their age-20 season, and the Nationals’ Bryce Harper (597 PA) and Orioles’ Manny Machado (202 PA) rank among them. However, by playing in October, the two rookies have joined an even more exclusive club.

Before the start of this postseason, only 10 teenage position players had appeared in a postseason game, but three names have since been added to the list. Along with the Texas Rangers’ Jurickson Profar, Harper and Machado have already injected unprecedented youth into the 2012 postseason. Now, can they make a meaningful impact?

Teenage Position Players in the Postseason, Since 1901

Note: Age is as of June 30 in each season.
Source: Baseball-reference.com Continue Reading »

Posted in Baseball, MLB, Post Season, Yankees | Tagged , | Leave a Comment »

Despite Yankees Win, Arod Can’t Hide from Critics

October 8, 2012 by William Juliano

The Yankees’ 7-2 victory over the Orioles in the opening game of the ALDS took a team effort on offense. Every member of the starting lineup reached base at least once, and all but two players recorded a hit. Unfortunately for Alex Rodriguez, he happened to be one of them.

You can win, but you can’t hide. (Photo: Getty Images)

There were many positives about yesterday’s offensive display, not the least of which were the performances of Mark Teixeira and Nick Swisher, who have both struggled in the postseason during their time in pinstripes. However, instead of focusing on those players’ positive contributions, more attention has been given to Arod’s 0-4, which included three strikes and four men left on base.

Arod can’t sneeze in October without there being a massive (over)reaction, but, at some point, there needs to be a little context. Sure, Arod was held hitless and came up empty in his final two at bats with runners in scoring position. However, all five of his plate appearances came against tough right handed pitchers, making him the only hitter in the lineup who did not have the advantage of facing a pitcher throwing from the other side.

In his first three plate appearances against starter Jason Hammel, who has held righties to rates of .266/.328/.364 (good for an sOPS+ a notch better than average in the split), Arod managed a walk and a run scored in between striking out and grounding out to short stop. Then, in his final two times to the plate, Arod struck out swinging against righty specialist Darren O’Day and Orioles’ closer Jim Johnson, who have allowed an OPS against right handed hitters of .584 and .526, respectively (both well below the league average). Does that mean Rodriguez shouldn’t be expected to produce? Of course not, but overreacting to one game in which Rodriguez still managed a small contribution despite having relatively difficult match-ups is taking matters to the other extreme.

Tonight, the Yankees face Wei-Yin Chen, a lefty, so maybe Alex Rodriguez’ critics can cut him some slack and hold off their barrage for one more day? If he doesn’t go 4-4 with three homers, all of which either tie the game or put the Yankees ahead (no stat padding), then the discussion about moving him down in the lineup can begin.

Posted in Alex Rodriguez, Arod, Baseball, MLB, Post Season, Yankees | Leave a Comment »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »