07/04: Prospect Notes
Posted by: James
Seeing as how there is nothing good to speak on in regards to the big club this morning, here's a little excercise about how ERA can skew our views of pitcher (and most Yankee prospect hounds already know where I'm going with this). Prior to his latest start, here is our mystery pitcher's line for the season:
86.1 IP, 70 H, 30 BB, 83 Ks.
That's not too bad huh? Unfortunately, his 45 ER in that span gave Tyler Clippard a 4.69 ERA which makes him, in most people's eyes, look like a bust for the season. Actually, it looked like his days as a pitching prospect were over when his ERA would bloated to 5.69 earlier this year but he's really started moving since then. Including last night's masterful performance, Tyler has pitched 26.1 innings in his last 4 starts, giving up 11 hits and 6 walks while striking out 32. He's only allowed 2 ER in this run so far and has dropped his ERA a full run and a half. Here's the updated line:
94.1 IP, 71 H, 45 ER, 32 BB, 94 Ks
(4W-10L, 4.29 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 2.9 K/BB ratio and averaging 9.0 Ks per game).
Not too shabby for 21 year old (22 on Valentine's Day 2007) at AA, huh? Heck, it would be even more impressive if you were to throw out Clippard's worst start this year which consisted of 1 IP, 5 H, 8 ER and 3 BBs. Take that one start out of his overall numbers (that would make them 93.1 IP, 66 H, 37 ER, 29 BB and 94 Ks for those who refuse to use math) and all of a sudden, you have a nice looking pitching prospect on your hands again. Still, I'm not going ga-ga just yet so at this point, let's just hope he can keep this run going because it would be great to see a Yanks starting pitching prospect not named Hughes get some positive press (where have you gone Christian Garcia?)
86.1 IP, 70 H, 30 BB, 83 Ks.
That's not too bad huh? Unfortunately, his 45 ER in that span gave Tyler Clippard a 4.69 ERA which makes him, in most people's eyes, look like a bust for the season. Actually, it looked like his days as a pitching prospect were over when his ERA would bloated to 5.69 earlier this year but he's really started moving since then. Including last night's masterful performance, Tyler has pitched 26.1 innings in his last 4 starts, giving up 11 hits and 6 walks while striking out 32. He's only allowed 2 ER in this run so far and has dropped his ERA a full run and a half. Here's the updated line:
94.1 IP, 71 H, 45 ER, 32 BB, 94 Ks
(4W-10L, 4.29 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 2.9 K/BB ratio and averaging 9.0 Ks per game).
Not too shabby for 21 year old (22 on Valentine's Day 2007) at AA, huh? Heck, it would be even more impressive if you were to throw out Clippard's worst start this year which consisted of 1 IP, 5 H, 8 ER and 3 BBs. Take that one start out of his overall numbers (that would make them 93.1 IP, 66 H, 37 ER, 29 BB and 94 Ks for those who refuse to use math) and all of a sudden, you have a nice looking pitching prospect on your hands again. Still, I'm not going ga-ga just yet so at this point, let's just hope he can keep this run going because it would be great to see a Yanks starting pitching prospect not named Hughes get some positive press (where have you gone Christian Garcia?)
07/04: Lou Gehrig
Posted by: James
In addition to being Big Stein's birthday, July 4th is also the anniversary of Lou Gehrig Day (July 4th, 1939) which is always something that I try to remember. Gehrig would pass away in a little under 2 years from that date but on that date, he made one of the most emotionally charged speeches in baseball history. It's kind of funny that though there were so many microphones at the game, only four sentences of the speech actually were captured on tape and survive. However, the following was pieced together from various newspapers:
Read the Wikipedia article about the man and check out some of the external links. If you can't appreciate the type of man Gehrig was through that, well, just look at his stats! He had at least a couple more amazing years in him and the Lord only knows where he would have been on the all-time lists if only he had been given the health to compete.
"Fans, for the past two weeks you have been reading about a bad break I got. Yet today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth.
I have been to ballparks for seventeen years and I have never received anything but kindness and encouragement from you fans. Look at these grand men. Which of you wouldn’t consider it the highlight of his career just to associate with them for even one day? Sure I’m lucky. Who wouldn’t have considered it an honor to have known Jacob Ruppert? Also, the builder of baseball’s greatest empire, Ed Barrow? To have spent six years with that wonderful little fellow, Miller Huggins? Then to have spent the next nine years with that outstanding leader, that smart student of psychology, the best manager in baseball today, Joe McCarthy? Sure, I'm lucky. When the New York Giants, a team you would give your right arm to beat and vice versa, sends you a gift, that’s something. When everybody down to the groundskeepers and those boys in the white coats remember you with trophies, that’s something. When you have a father and mother who work all their lives so that you can have an education and build your body, it's a blessing. When you have a wife who has been a tower of strength and shown more courage than you dreamed existed, that's the finest I know.
So I close by saying that I might have been given a bad break, but I've got an awful lot to live for. Thank you."
I have been to ballparks for seventeen years and I have never received anything but kindness and encouragement from you fans. Look at these grand men. Which of you wouldn’t consider it the highlight of his career just to associate with them for even one day? Sure I’m lucky. Who wouldn’t have considered it an honor to have known Jacob Ruppert? Also, the builder of baseball’s greatest empire, Ed Barrow? To have spent six years with that wonderful little fellow, Miller Huggins? Then to have spent the next nine years with that outstanding leader, that smart student of psychology, the best manager in baseball today, Joe McCarthy? Sure, I'm lucky. When the New York Giants, a team you would give your right arm to beat and vice versa, sends you a gift, that’s something. When everybody down to the groundskeepers and those boys in the white coats remember you with trophies, that’s something. When you have a father and mother who work all their lives so that you can have an education and build your body, it's a blessing. When you have a wife who has been a tower of strength and shown more courage than you dreamed existed, that's the finest I know.
So I close by saying that I might have been given a bad break, but I've got an awful lot to live for. Thank you."
Read the Wikipedia article about the man and check out some of the external links. If you can't appreciate the type of man Gehrig was through that, well, just look at his stats! He had at least a couple more amazing years in him and the Lord only knows where he would have been on the all-time lists if only he had been given the health to compete.
07/04: Bullpen Management
Posted by: Patrick
From the New York Post:
Not a bad decision.
"I have been closing since 1997, but it feels like yesterday," Rivera said prior to the Yankees' 5-2 loss to the Indians in the opener of a four-game series at Jacobs Field. "It's really been amazing." ...
"I remember my first year; April was awful," recalled Rivera, who flushed his first Yankee Stadium save situation in 1997 when Mark McGwire, then with the A's, homered to center field. "I went to Joe [Torre] to talk to him and he said, 'You are my closer no matter what.' That's what I needed."
"I remember my first year; April was awful," recalled Rivera, who flushed his first Yankee Stadium save situation in 1997 when Mark McGwire, then with the A's, homered to center field. "I went to Joe [Torre] to talk to him and he said, 'You are my closer no matter what.' That's what I needed."
Not a bad decision.
Posted by: Patrick
Steve reminds us that George Steinbrenner turns 76 today. Have a good one!
Posted by: Patrick
They are members of your 2006 AL All-Star Team. Voting totals can be found at Yahoo!
I'm glad to see Jeter back on the team. I really felt he should have made it last year. Grrr... deep breath. :) Anyway, water under the bridge. Shame Manny edged him out for top vote getter.
Cano ended up finishing second to Mark Loretta by less than a hundred thousand votes. Feel bad for him getting injured which likely caused him to slip and will now cause him to miss the game.
What I really wanted to talk about though was Posada. James mentioned it the other day, but Posada finished 4th in the catcher voting, behind Pudge, Joe Mauer and Jason Varitek (?!). That stinks because Jorge is really having a great year. He really should be the backup catcher, at least. And then for Ramon Hernandez (edit: AND Pierzynski?!) to be chosen for the final man voting over him? I mean, look at the numbers. Jorge got snubbed. Not saying he should have been starter - Mauer deserved that, I think, but the fan's voted Rodriguez and it's the fans game, I respect that. So, Mauer had to be picked. I respect that, as well. But, why Hernandez over him (and Pierzynski?) for the final man? No idea what's going on there.
Giambi finished a distant second to David Ortiz at first. Johnny Damon finished 4th in the OF voting with Sheffield 12th and Matsui 14th.
I'm glad to see Jeter back on the team. I really felt he should have made it last year. Grrr... deep breath. :) Anyway, water under the bridge. Shame Manny edged him out for top vote getter.
Cano ended up finishing second to Mark Loretta by less than a hundred thousand votes. Feel bad for him getting injured which likely caused him to slip and will now cause him to miss the game.
What I really wanted to talk about though was Posada. James mentioned it the other day, but Posada finished 4th in the catcher voting, behind Pudge, Joe Mauer and Jason Varitek (?!). That stinks because Jorge is really having a great year. He really should be the backup catcher, at least. And then for Ramon Hernandez (edit: AND Pierzynski?!) to be chosen for the final man voting over him? I mean, look at the numbers. Jorge got snubbed. Not saying he should have been starter - Mauer deserved that, I think, but the fan's voted Rodriguez and it's the fans game, I respect that. So, Mauer had to be picked. I respect that, as well. But, why Hernandez over him (and Pierzynski?) for the final man? No idea what's going on there.
Giambi finished a distant second to David Ortiz at first. Johnny Damon finished 4th in the OF voting with Sheffield 12th and Matsui 14th.
Posted by: David
It didn't start off too well as the Yankees fell behind the Mets 4-0 in the second inning. However they came back with a vengeance and beat the Mets in a slugfest 16-7 on Sunday night at the stadium.
The start of the game was delayed around an hour and fifteen minutes because of rain. The Mets roughed up Yankee starter Jaret Wright as he couldn't keep the ball down. He had a chance to get out of the inning at 1-0 but Bernie Williams couldn't get to a ball that was hit over his head and two runs scored. The Mets added another to make it 4-0. Wright was relieved by Ron Villone who walked Carlos Delgado to load the bases. He next faced David Wright and got him to pop up to Nick Green for the final out. Green made a great throw on a relay to nail Jose Valentin at the plate for the second out of that inning.
Jorge Posada started the Yankees scoring with a home run off the facing of the upper deck in the second inning to make the score 4-1. In the third the Yankees erupted for eight runs capped off by a grand slam from A-Rod. Mets starter Alay Soler was bat shy and got behind two many hitters and the Yankees just teed off on him. Nick Green followed later in the inning with hit first hit for the Yankees a two run shot to left center to make the score 9-4.
A-Rod added a three run shot later in the game to give him seven RBI on the evening. Carlos Beltran added two solo homers later in the contest but the Yankees had built up such a huge lead that they had little meaning.
The Yankees now go on the road to face Cleveland tonight with Chien Ming-Wang getting the start for the Bombers.
The start of the game was delayed around an hour and fifteen minutes because of rain. The Mets roughed up Yankee starter Jaret Wright as he couldn't keep the ball down. He had a chance to get out of the inning at 1-0 but Bernie Williams couldn't get to a ball that was hit over his head and two runs scored. The Mets added another to make it 4-0. Wright was relieved by Ron Villone who walked Carlos Delgado to load the bases. He next faced David Wright and got him to pop up to Nick Green for the final out. Green made a great throw on a relay to nail Jose Valentin at the plate for the second out of that inning.
Jorge Posada started the Yankees scoring with a home run off the facing of the upper deck in the second inning to make the score 4-1. In the third the Yankees erupted for eight runs capped off by a grand slam from A-Rod. Mets starter Alay Soler was bat shy and got behind two many hitters and the Yankees just teed off on him. Nick Green followed later in the inning with hit first hit for the Yankees a two run shot to left center to make the score 9-4.
A-Rod added a three run shot later in the game to give him seven RBI on the evening. Carlos Beltran added two solo homers later in the contest but the Yankees had built up such a huge lead that they had little meaning.
The Yankees now go on the road to face Cleveland tonight with Chien Ming-Wang getting the start for the Bombers.
07/03: From Zero...To Hero
Posted by: James
Tiger, Tiger Woods, y'all. A-Rod golfs one out to put the Yankees ahead in a game that they have to have. Two reasons for that: a comeback of this magnitude after your starting pitchers have spit the bit for two days in a row could really galvanize a team and 2) the Red Sox & Twins had already won (both teams went a record 16-2 in inter-league play this year). Now, I don't know how you guys define it but that kinda, sorta seems like some clutch hitting to me. Update: Another shot by A-Rod!
I have to give props to Mr. Torre for taking Wright out early in the game. He's been burned a number of times before (both last year and this year) when staying with a starter for too long and this time, he said no way, not going to happen.
I don't know why but every time I see Nick Green, I think Vanilla Ice/Kevin Federline...can't put my finger on why.
Man, I wish Beltran was in pinstripes. Is that wrong? If it is, I can't help myself. Having watched him play the field against the field, I was amazed at how quick he was out there. Then, he comes to bat and you start drooling over his bat speed. Finally, he gets on base and he's easily one of the best baserunners in the league (and one of the smartest as well). He's definitely something...and to think, he would have taken a paycut to have been fitted for pinstripes. C'est la vie. At least we got Pavano & Wright out of it ;) Update: Beltran playing a quick game of "anything you can do..." with A-Rod.
Oh, and for those of you guys who know they've seen this guy somewhere - last year, way back there when Carl Pavano was actually pitching, Green blasted a three-run home run off Carl to put the Devil Rays up 5-3. That home run ruined an otherwise very good performance for Pavano in what turned out to be the last decision that he recorded for the Yankees. Since then, he's been on the DL with no signs of ever actually coming off. Kinda sad really.
Rickey Henderson must really like gaudy stuff - did you see that necklace and shirt!? Wow. I pity the fool who messes with Rickey!
I have to give props to Mr. Torre for taking Wright out early in the game. He's been burned a number of times before (both last year and this year) when staying with a starter for too long and this time, he said no way, not going to happen.
I don't know why but every time I see Nick Green, I think Vanilla Ice/Kevin Federline...can't put my finger on why.
Man, I wish Beltran was in pinstripes. Is that wrong? If it is, I can't help myself. Having watched him play the field against the field, I was amazed at how quick he was out there. Then, he comes to bat and you start drooling over his bat speed. Finally, he gets on base and he's easily one of the best baserunners in the league (and one of the smartest as well). He's definitely something...and to think, he would have taken a paycut to have been fitted for pinstripes. C'est la vie. At least we got Pavano & Wright out of it ;) Update: Beltran playing a quick game of "anything you can do..." with A-Rod.
Oh, and for those of you guys who know they've seen this guy somewhere - last year, way back there when Carl Pavano was actually pitching, Green blasted a three-run home run off Carl to put the Devil Rays up 5-3. That home run ruined an otherwise very good performance for Pavano in what turned out to be the last decision that he recorded for the Yankees. Since then, he's been on the DL with no signs of ever actually coming off. Kinda sad really.
Rickey Henderson must really like gaudy stuff - did you see that necklace and shirt!? Wow. I pity the fool who messes with Rickey!
07/02: The Law of Averages
Posted by: James
I wanted to post this up before tonight's scoring surge skews the numbers for a couple days. Here are the before and afters in the records, runs per game and runs allowed per game before Hideki went down (May 11th) and after.
Before: 20-13, .606; 198 RS - 140 RA; Averages of 6 RS and 4.24 RA a game.
After: 25-20, .556; 230 RS - 221 RA; Averages of 5.11 RS and 4.91 RA a game.
Before: 20-13, .606; 198 RS - 140 RA; Averages of 6 RS and 4.24 RA a game.
After: 25-20, .556; 230 RS - 221 RA; Averages of 5.11 RS and 4.91 RA a game.
Posted by: Patrick
I just wanted to take a moment to mention that our sister site, MarianoRivera.com, has launched an entirely new design. In addition to this, the old MarianoRivera.com News section has become the MarianoRivera.com Blog. We'll (currently the tandem of me and David) be posting more frequently and we now accept comments so that you can post your thoughts, as well. So, if you'd like to give it a look, feel free!
Thank you for reading.
Thank you for reading.
07/01: Sheppard Has Laryngitis
Posted by: Patrick
Sam Borden mentioned that Bob Sheppard has Laryngitis (Rick Cerrone will be filling in). Get well soon.
