- What the hell was Jorge Posada thinking/doing when he wandered off 3rd on that groundball in the bottom of the 2nd? On that play, you freeze when the 3rd baseman makes the play, and start moving towards 3rd as he checks you to force the throw to 1st. Jorge decided to continue to move down the baseline when Inge caught the ball and STILL continued to move down the line as Inge came towards him. By the time Jorge decided to break for home, Inge could have rolled the ball to Avila at home for the out. Just a horrible play in what was the Yankees' only scoring opportunity until the 6th inning.
- Nova looked good early, attacking with the fastball, getting ahead in the count, and forcing the Tigers to swing at the pitches that he wanted them to. He was also working incredibly quickly, a very good sign for him.
- Teix, new stance and all, looked like dogshit in his 3-pitch K in the bottom of the 3rd. Luckily it sounds like he's already signed up for some offseason sessions at the Kevin Long School of Hitting.
- Nova had a bit of a hiccup in the 5th after allowing his first baserunner. His slider wasn't nearly as sharp out of the stretch, but he continued to locate the fastball well and worked out of trouble. And even out of the stretch, he never lost his rhythm.
- Great job by both C-Grand and Jeter on the relay to nail Avila at the plate in the 5th inning. Both got to the ball quickly, got rid of it quickly, and Martin was in perfect position to receive Jeter's throw. Putting the "fun" in "fundamentals."
- I thought it was the right call on the Cano 2B in the bottom of the 5th inning. The ball clearly hit the top of the wall and came back into play. Heads up play by C-Grand to continue running hard with 2 outs and not slowing up to see if it was a HR or not.
- Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good, and the double play off the bat of Ordonez in the 6th was a perfect example of that. Cano was breaking to second base to cover the steal attempt and the ball was hit right to him. After he stepped on the bag he had about 3 weeks to gather himself and throw Mags out. I'll take that.
- I know ESPN is still licking their wounds over the Fraud Sawx collapse, but Swish's diving catch in right to end the 6th had to be the top Web Gem of the night last night.
- Stat of the night in the bottom of the 6th- Swish came up with an 0-27 in his postseason career with RISP. Predictably, he struck out in that at-bat to run the streak to 0-28.
- Great piece of hitting by Gardner on his 2-RBI single in the 6th. Fister hung a curve and Gardner put a good swing on it to get it through the right side. That was the first time we really saw Fister miss his spot bad, and it was a sign of things to come.
- Another stroke of luck on the Jeter single to follow as Ryan Raburn was going to cover 2nd on Gardner's steal attempt and opened the hole for The Captain.
- PHENOMENAL at-bat by Curtis to follow Jeter, fighting back from an 0-2 count to draw a walk, load the bases for Cano, and force Fister out of the game. Fister had been cruising up until he got 2 outs in the 6th and then couldn't put the Yankee hitters away.
- Cano was looking slider all the way on his grand slam, and Al Albuquerque obliged, hanging one right over the plate after he missed up with his first one. It was a horrible pitch and Cano made him pay.
- From the "You Can't Predict Baseball, Suzyn" Department: Albuquerque didn't allow a HR in his 43.1 regular season innings pitched. Last night, he gave up a grand slam on his 2nd pitch.
- Mary Kay Messenger made me forget all about Ronan Tynan during the 7th inning stretch.
- Even though the first K was ugly, Teix already looked better at the plate last night with his new closed stance. His coverage of the outside corner was much better and we saw him take a couple pitches the other way, including his double off the wall. That's what's been missing from his game all year and it's good to see him already working to fix that.
- Cano's 6 RBI tied a Yankee postseason record last night. Tip of the cap for that, Robbie.
- I didn't understand why Joe even had Soriano warming up in the 6th when Nova was cruising and had a low pitch count, and I didn't understand why Ayala or Mo were up in the 9th. There was no need to even get Mo up, and Ayala just sucks.
- Speaking of which, who said Ayala shouldn't have made the playoff roster?? Oh that's right, I did. Nova deserved better than to have his line tarnished by the cheap late runs, and Ayala never should have been in that game after what he showed in his last outing. That's gotta be Cory Wade time, but oh well.
- All in all it was a solid outing for Nova. His fastball was sharp all night, and he used it to get ahead consistently. His slider was very inconsistent, but as both Smoltz and Darling touched on during the TBS broadcast, he was effectively wild with it. Sometimes he could spin it right where he wanted, and sometimes it was bouncing in front of the plate. It worked to Nova's advantage because the Tiger hitters could never square up on it, and when he had to throw a good one he did on multiple occasions. Impressive outing by the kid.
- Fister was equally sharp early on, using all 4 of his pitches well to keep the Yankees off balance. But for whatever reason, he started to lose it in the 6th and couldn't put away 3 straight guys with 2 outs. That walk to C-Grand was definitely the key at-bat in that inning, and after the Cano HR Fister's line ended up uglier than it really was.
- Tough night for the homeplate ump. Took a couple balls off the groin region and one in the face off of Nova's wild slider. He had to be only too happy to see Nova get taken out in the 9th.
- Good win for the Yanks all around last night. They worked the starter out of the game, started to insert some doubt into the Tiger bullpen, and saved their key 'pen guys to be ready today and tomorrow if needed.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Saturday, October 1, 2011
A Quick Word On The CC/Rotation Situation
It's real simple. CC Sabathia should absolutely be coming back to start Game 2 tomorrow night. It shouldn't even be a debate. He's the Yankees's ace and the highest paid pitcher in baseball. Situations like this are exactly why the Yankees signed Sabathia in the first place, so why would they play it passive here and hold him out until Monday, moving Freddy's schedule up a day in the process?
Even if there is concern about bringing him back after just 1 day off (which there shouldn't be because he only threw 27 low-stress pitches last night), the more important thing to consider is that bringing CC back tomorrow sets him up to pitch Game 5 instead of Ivan Nova. No offense to Ivan Nova, but I want CC on the mound in a potential elimination game on short rest more than I want Nova on regular rest. Shit, I want CC on the mound on short rest for a Game 5 over anybody on the Yankee staff on regular rest. I would want CC on the mound in Game 5 if he had thrown 150 pitches the night before and had his arm chopped off after he was taken out of the game. And bringing him back to pitch Game 2 allows that to happen.
The weather screwed up the original rotation plans, I get that. But that doesn't mean the Yankees have to screw up the rest of it by playing it safe. The loss of the off day means they have to use a 4th starter in this series, likely A.J., and that makes it all the more important to have your best on the hill in a must-win game. And let's also not forget that CC's got an opt out clause kicking in after this season and surely wants to get paid more on his next deal. He's got plenty of incentive to go out on Sunday and pitch well and then come back for a potential Game 5 and do the same thing on short rest. He wants the ball, he has all the motivation in the world to want the ball to help his team and help his bottom line; give him the ball.
In a 5-game series, your ace should never pitch less than 2 games. CC is the Yankees' ace and is more than capable of coming back on short rest tomorrow and for a Game 5 if needed, especially after his shortened outing last night. If the Yankees win Game 1 tonight, he can put them on the brink of a sweep. If they lose, he's the guy they want out there to even things up. It's a win-win situation either way. Do the right thing, Joe. Put the big fella on the hill tomorrow.
Even if there is concern about bringing him back after just 1 day off (which there shouldn't be because he only threw 27 low-stress pitches last night), the more important thing to consider is that bringing CC back tomorrow sets him up to pitch Game 5 instead of Ivan Nova. No offense to Ivan Nova, but I want CC on the mound in a potential elimination game on short rest more than I want Nova on regular rest. Shit, I want CC on the mound on short rest for a Game 5 over anybody on the Yankee staff on regular rest. I would want CC on the mound in Game 5 if he had thrown 150 pitches the night before and had his arm chopped off after he was taken out of the game. And bringing him back to pitch Game 2 allows that to happen.
The weather screwed up the original rotation plans, I get that. But that doesn't mean the Yankees have to screw up the rest of it by playing it safe. The loss of the off day means they have to use a 4th starter in this series, likely A.J., and that makes it all the more important to have your best on the hill in a must-win game. And let's also not forget that CC's got an opt out clause kicking in after this season and surely wants to get paid more on his next deal. He's got plenty of incentive to go out on Sunday and pitch well and then come back for a potential Game 5 and do the same thing on short rest. He wants the ball, he has all the motivation in the world to want the ball to help his team and help his bottom line; give him the ball.
In a 5-game series, your ace should never pitch less than 2 games. CC is the Yankees' ace and is more than capable of coming back on short rest tomorrow and for a Game 5 if needed, especially after his shortened outing last night. If the Yankees win Game 1 tonight, he can put them on the brink of a sweep. If they lose, he's the guy they want out there to even things up. It's a win-win situation either way. Do the right thing, Joe. Put the big fella on the hill tomorrow.
ALDS Game 1 Preview: Take 2
Under the new MLB postseason rules, last night's game technically wasn't postponed, it was "suspended" and will resume today from the bottom of the 2nd when the suspension took place. That sounds like toMAYto/toMAHto to me, but whatever. The weather is supposed to be horseshit all day in the NY area, so who knows if we'll get Game 1 in today. In hopes that we will, we'll try to preview the rest of Game 1.
Pitching Matchup: Ivan Nova (16-4) vs. Doug Fister (11-13)
Starting Lineups: Same as last night. With the game starting from the 2nd inning, managers (mainly just Leyland) would be stupid to yank guys early in order to combat a righty pitcher and leave their bench short for the late innings.
3 Things to Watch For:
1) The Weather
It's already raining in the tri-state area and it's supposed to keep up all day and all night. MLB botched reading the radar last night, thinking there would just be "intermittent showers," so I'm sure if they think they can sneak the game in between any breaks in the weather tonight they're going to take the chance.
2) How Quickly Ivan Nova Works
Nova's no different than any other pitcher in that when he's feeling good he likes to work quickly. Pitch, get the ball, back on the rubber, pitch, repeat. Where Nova differs from a lot of other pitchers is in the experience department. He's been money for the Yankees this year, but this is his first postseason appearance and there could be butterflies in the stomach and a little extra adrenaline flowing through the body. How quickly he works on the mound tonight should be an indicator of how he's managing that extra stress and also how he's managing his stuff and command. The slower Nova works, the rougher his night could be.
3) Bullpen Management
Perhaps the biggest monkey wrench thrown into the series by last night's rainout is in the bullpens. Neither manager will be able to lean on their respective Big 3s now since they'll have no off days to rest them between Games 1-2 and 3-4. If the game stays close tonight into the late innings, watch for which manager caves first and goes with his big guns to hold a lead. Once they do, they almost have to commit to the big guns for the rest of the game, and that will force them to play the balancing act through game 4. Eventually, that will lead to a scenario where they will have to go with someone other than the regular setup men for a potentially high-leverage late inning later in the series, which might not work out. Whichever manager navigates tonight's late innings the best can not only help get his team a 1-0 series lead, but also be in a much better bullpen usage position moving forward through the rest of the series.
Player To Watch: Ivan Nova
Rookie making his first Major League postseason start? Yeah, that's a no-brainer that he's the guy to watch. How Nova fares tonight could determine whether or not Joe brings CC back for Game 2 on Sunday (which he should anyway, but that's a different discussion). Nova does have the fact that CC already finished 2 innings working for him, as he really only has to work through 4-5 tonight and then hand it over to the 'pen. But if he bombs early, then Joe has to scramble with his middle relief to bridge the gap and keep the game close.
Start breaking out the anti-rain dances early, Yankee fans, because Mother Nature is still feeling cranky today. Hopefully we can get this thing in.
Pitching Matchup: Ivan Nova (16-4) vs. Doug Fister (11-13)
Starting Lineups: Same as last night. With the game starting from the 2nd inning, managers (mainly just Leyland) would be stupid to yank guys early in order to combat a righty pitcher and leave their bench short for the late innings.
3 Things to Watch For:
1) The Weather
It's already raining in the tri-state area and it's supposed to keep up all day and all night. MLB botched reading the radar last night, thinking there would just be "intermittent showers," so I'm sure if they think they can sneak the game in between any breaks in the weather tonight they're going to take the chance.
2) How Quickly Ivan Nova Works
Nova's no different than any other pitcher in that when he's feeling good he likes to work quickly. Pitch, get the ball, back on the rubber, pitch, repeat. Where Nova differs from a lot of other pitchers is in the experience department. He's been money for the Yankees this year, but this is his first postseason appearance and there could be butterflies in the stomach and a little extra adrenaline flowing through the body. How quickly he works on the mound tonight should be an indicator of how he's managing that extra stress and also how he's managing his stuff and command. The slower Nova works, the rougher his night could be.
3) Bullpen Management
Perhaps the biggest monkey wrench thrown into the series by last night's rainout is in the bullpens. Neither manager will be able to lean on their respective Big 3s now since they'll have no off days to rest them between Games 1-2 and 3-4. If the game stays close tonight into the late innings, watch for which manager caves first and goes with his big guns to hold a lead. Once they do, they almost have to commit to the big guns for the rest of the game, and that will force them to play the balancing act through game 4. Eventually, that will lead to a scenario where they will have to go with someone other than the regular setup men for a potentially high-leverage late inning later in the series, which might not work out. Whichever manager navigates tonight's late innings the best can not only help get his team a 1-0 series lead, but also be in a much better bullpen usage position moving forward through the rest of the series.
Player To Watch: Ivan Nova
Rookie making his first Major League postseason start? Yeah, that's a no-brainer that he's the guy to watch. How Nova fares tonight could determine whether or not Joe brings CC back for Game 2 on Sunday (which he should anyway, but that's a different discussion). Nova does have the fact that CC already finished 2 innings working for him, as he really only has to work through 4-5 tonight and then hand it over to the 'pen. But if he bombs early, then Joe has to scramble with his middle relief to bridge the gap and keep the game close.
Start breaking out the anti-rain dances early, Yankee fans, because Mother Nature is still feeling cranky today. Hopefully we can get this thing in.
Friday, September 30, 2011
A Little Rain "Suspension" Pick Me Up
Since we can't talk about tonight's game, and the weather ain't looking too hot for tomorrow, here's something we can all watch and enjoy.
The biggest kudos in the history of kudos to the person who put this together. If you're a serious Yankee fan this almost should come with a NSFW warning because you might want to just start jerking off about halfway through this. Fucking Fraud Sawx.
P.S.- Bonus points for trashing Shaughnessy's hideousness.
P.P.S.- Adios, Terry. Good luck getting a job managing in the Majors in 2012 after admitting that you couldn't reach your players at your presser today. Idiot.
The biggest kudos in the history of kudos to the person who put this together. If you're a serious Yankee fan this almost should come with a NSFW warning because you might want to just start jerking off about halfway through this. Fucking Fraud Sawx.
P.S.- Bonus points for trashing Shaughnessy's hideousness.
P.P.S.- Adios, Terry. Good luck getting a job managing in the Majors in 2012 after admitting that you couldn't reach your players at your presser today. Idiot.
Son Of A Bitch Rain
You know, you spend all this time scrambling to catch up on your research for the ALDS after being in Vegas. You get to work early and bust your ass knocking out some kickass previews. You rush off the plane and jump into your car and then politely as possible try to clue your drive into speeding the fuck up so you can get home and see as much of Game 1 as possible, and then the goddamn heavens open up, the field gets flooded, and Game 1 gets postponed due to weather like half of the games at Yankee Stadium this year.
Seriously, Mother Nature. Way to be a bitch. If this is some kind of inside joke between you and Al Gore, it's not fucking funny. Get bent, you old hag.
On a baseball note, here's the deal now. Tonight's game will resume tomorrow at 8:37 EST (stupid move, just replay the whole game) and Game 2 will now be at 3:07 on Sunday. While it sucks to lose what looked like it was shaping up to be a strong CC outing tonight, the Yankees' pitching plans aren't completely screwed. They can stick with Nova tomorrow to keep him on his regular schedule, bring CC back on Sunday as he only threw 27 pitches tonight, and still have Freddy lined up on his regular schedule for Game 3 on Monday. And Nova and CC swap Games 4 and 5, which actually works out better for the Yanks because they were each going to be going on short rest anyway but now they have the big fella throwing Game 5 if needed. Your best pitcher in a must-win situation? Yeah, I'll take that.
So it sucks that tonight got rained out, but all hope is not lost. I'll be back tomorrow to put up a quicky preview for tomorrow's resumed Game 1, but Sunday could be looking rough for any kind of preview or reaction post as I'll be spending my day in the stands of Dover Downs Raceway drinking beer and giving the finger to Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch. I'll see what I can do.
#innerredneck
So to review again, Game 1 will resume tomorrow at 8:37/7:37. Game 2 is Sunday at 3:07/2:07.
Seriously, Mother Nature. Way to be a bitch. If this is some kind of inside joke between you and Al Gore, it's not fucking funny. Get bent, you old hag.
On a baseball note, here's the deal now. Tonight's game will resume tomorrow at 8:37 EST (stupid move, just replay the whole game) and Game 2 will now be at 3:07 on Sunday. While it sucks to lose what looked like it was shaping up to be a strong CC outing tonight, the Yankees' pitching plans aren't completely screwed. They can stick with Nova tomorrow to keep him on his regular schedule, bring CC back on Sunday as he only threw 27 pitches tonight, and still have Freddy lined up on his regular schedule for Game 3 on Monday. And Nova and CC swap Games 4 and 5, which actually works out better for the Yanks because they were each going to be going on short rest anyway but now they have the big fella throwing Game 5 if needed. Your best pitcher in a must-win situation? Yeah, I'll take that.
So it sucks that tonight got rained out, but all hope is not lost. I'll be back tomorrow to put up a quicky preview for tomorrow's resumed Game 1, but Sunday could be looking rough for any kind of preview or reaction post as I'll be spending my day in the stands of Dover Downs Raceway drinking beer and giving the finger to Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch. I'll see what I can do.
#innerredneck
So to review again, Game 1 will resume tomorrow at 8:37/7:37. Game 2 is Sunday at 3:07/2:07.
ALDS Game 1 Preview: Mano-Y-Mano
Pitching Matchup: CC Sabathia (19-8) vs. Justin Verlander (24-5)
Starting Lineups (** Projected based off what I expect the Tigers to do against a lefty. I'm hopping on a plane well before the actual lineups will be announced. **):
NYY- Jeter (SS), C-Grand (CF), Cano (2B), A-Rod (3B), Teix (1B), Swish (RF), Jorge (DH), Martin (C), Gardner (LF)
DET- Jackson (CF), Ordonez (RF), Young (LF), Cabrera (1B), Martinez (DH), Avila (C), Peralta (SS), Raburn (2B), Inge (3B)
3 Things to Watch For:
1) CC's Command
The big fella wasn't himself over the last month + of the season when the 6-man rotation was instituted, specifically the command of his fastball and sharpness of his slider. He's coming off a simulated outing during his last scheduled work day, which is not the same as pitching a real game, so it still remains to be seen if that command will be back now that he's closer to a regular schedule. It won't be hard to tell if it's there early on, as CC will be in more 2- and 3-ball counts if it's not. This is not a lineup you want to miss spots with, because there are plenty of guys who will make you pay, but if CC has his command back, his swagger won't be far behind and it could be a long night for the Tiger hitters.
2) NY's Approach Against Verlander
Justin Verlander is going to win the Cy Young this year, that's a given. What's not is how he'll fare against the Yankees tonight. In both of his outings against the Bombers this year he's been relatively successful (16 Ks in 12 IP), but has also been out of each game after 6 innings. The Yankees have been successful at drawing walks (7 in 2 games) and fouling pitches off against Verlander to work up his pitch count and get him out early (114 on Opening Day, 127 on May 2nd). Will they employ that same traditional Yankee patience tonight or look to jump on Verlander early? Whatever they do, I expect Verlander to be on top of his game, and ready to match Carsten pitch for pitch.
3) Miguel Cabrera
We just discussed how he absolutely tears Yankee pitching apart, so pay attention to how CC and the Yankee staff approach him and how willing Cabrera is to take what the Yankees give him. My guess is CC will pitch to him without runners on, and be more selective with guys on base, and I expect the general rule for everybody not named CC or Mo to be intentionally walk Cabrera in a RISP situation and 1st base open. If that trend starts to play itself out tonight, it will be interesting to see if Cabrera maintains his patience through the series or starts swinging earlier in the count to try and make something happen.
Player to Watch: Alex Rodriguez
I'll just come right out and say it, I'm concerned about The Horse. He hasn't been healthy in a long time, is even less healthy right now, and we've all seen how his swing and power fall apart when he's banged up. Joe has already stated that A-Rod is good to go and will play 3B the whole series, but tonight should give us a pretty good idea of what kind of A-Rod the Yankees are going to have. Are we going to get a healthy, strong Horse? Or a banged up, weak one?
It's playoff baseball time again, folks, and that's when shit gets exciting. Every at-bat matters a little more, every pitch matters a little more, and there's that extra bit of energy and electricity in the air. The Stadium is going to be packed tonight, and it's going to be rocking. We've got 2 evenly matched teams squaring off with the 2 best pitchers in the AL on the hill ready to do battle. I salute them for the jobs they've already done this year in helping getting their teams to the playoffs, and for the rest of the Yankee lineup taking the field tonight, we all salute you in the tradition originally set forth by the fine folks at Fack Youk.
** (Just a reminder, I'm out of town again for the weekend starting this afternoon. If I can somehow manage to snag a computer to bring with me, I'll cover as much of Games 1 and 2 as I can. If not, I'll at least be able to watch and take notes and comment on Monday before Game 3.) **
Starting Lineups (** Projected based off what I expect the Tigers to do against a lefty. I'm hopping on a plane well before the actual lineups will be announced. **):
NYY- Jeter (SS), C-Grand (CF), Cano (2B), A-Rod (3B), Teix (1B), Swish (RF), Jorge (DH), Martin (C), Gardner (LF)
DET- Jackson (CF), Ordonez (RF), Young (LF), Cabrera (1B), Martinez (DH), Avila (C), Peralta (SS), Raburn (2B), Inge (3B)
3 Things to Watch For:
1) CC's Command
The big fella wasn't himself over the last month + of the season when the 6-man rotation was instituted, specifically the command of his fastball and sharpness of his slider. He's coming off a simulated outing during his last scheduled work day, which is not the same as pitching a real game, so it still remains to be seen if that command will be back now that he's closer to a regular schedule. It won't be hard to tell if it's there early on, as CC will be in more 2- and 3-ball counts if it's not. This is not a lineup you want to miss spots with, because there are plenty of guys who will make you pay, but if CC has his command back, his swagger won't be far behind and it could be a long night for the Tiger hitters.
2) NY's Approach Against Verlander
Justin Verlander is going to win the Cy Young this year, that's a given. What's not is how he'll fare against the Yankees tonight. In both of his outings against the Bombers this year he's been relatively successful (16 Ks in 12 IP), but has also been out of each game after 6 innings. The Yankees have been successful at drawing walks (7 in 2 games) and fouling pitches off against Verlander to work up his pitch count and get him out early (114 on Opening Day, 127 on May 2nd). Will they employ that same traditional Yankee patience tonight or look to jump on Verlander early? Whatever they do, I expect Verlander to be on top of his game, and ready to match Carsten pitch for pitch.
3) Miguel Cabrera
We just discussed how he absolutely tears Yankee pitching apart, so pay attention to how CC and the Yankee staff approach him and how willing Cabrera is to take what the Yankees give him. My guess is CC will pitch to him without runners on, and be more selective with guys on base, and I expect the general rule for everybody not named CC or Mo to be intentionally walk Cabrera in a RISP situation and 1st base open. If that trend starts to play itself out tonight, it will be interesting to see if Cabrera maintains his patience through the series or starts swinging earlier in the count to try and make something happen.
Player to Watch: Alex Rodriguez
I'll just come right out and say it, I'm concerned about The Horse. He hasn't been healthy in a long time, is even less healthy right now, and we've all seen how his swing and power fall apart when he's banged up. Joe has already stated that A-Rod is good to go and will play 3B the whole series, but tonight should give us a pretty good idea of what kind of A-Rod the Yankees are going to have. Are we going to get a healthy, strong Horse? Or a banged up, weak one?
It's playoff baseball time again, folks, and that's when shit gets exciting. Every at-bat matters a little more, every pitch matters a little more, and there's that extra bit of energy and electricity in the air. The Stadium is going to be packed tonight, and it's going to be rocking. We've got 2 evenly matched teams squaring off with the 2 best pitchers in the AL on the hill ready to do battle. I salute them for the jobs they've already done this year in helping getting their teams to the playoffs, and for the rest of the Yankee lineup taking the field tonight, we all salute you in the tradition originally set forth by the fine folks at Fack Youk.
** (Just a reminder, I'm out of town again for the weekend starting this afternoon. If I can somehow manage to snag a computer to bring with me, I'll cover as much of Games 1 and 2 as I can. If not, I'll at least be able to watch and take notes and comment on Monday before Game 3.) **
2011 ALDS Preview: 3 Things That Will Decide The Series (And A Prediction)
The Yankees and Tigers met 7 times in the regular season, first in the season opening series at the end of March/beginning of April and then in early May, with the Tigers taking 4 of the 7 games. In the months since then, a lot of things have changed about each team, but many things have stayed the same. There will be a few new faces on either side that weren't present in the spring, but the core of each team remains intact. A basic once over of each team reveals more similarities than differences.
Both teams boast strong, deep lineups that were among the best in baseball all season (Yankees .346 wOBA- 3rd in MLB; Tigers .336- 4th. Both teams in top 5 in wRC+), and both have rotations with strength at the top and then question marks behind that (CC-Nova for the Yanks, Verlander-Fister for the Tigers). Both teams can hit, and both teams can pitch (kinda), so there won't be an easy predictors for determining victory at the basic level, AKA the Tim McCarver Method of Analyzing Baseball. Luckily, I've already done a little digging to find the 3 keys to this series.
1) Speed/Athleticism
Something that typically gets overlooked in baseball decisions, and something I admittedly rarely consider when breaking down matchups, but there are some stats tied to this that the Yanks and Tigers are not even close in, and it will play a factor. First, defensively the Yankees boast a team Fielding Rating of 22.9, good for 7th in MLB. The Tigers team rating is -2.0, which puts them near the bottom. The Yankees are boosted by strong ratings for Brett Gardner in left and Nick Swisher in right, as well as Martin behind the plate, Teix at first, and A-Rod at third, and even Jeter, Cano, and C-Grand pass the eye test at their respective positions more often than not. The Tigers, however, are a bit of a mess in the field. There's nobody close to a Gold Glover in the infield, and even the speed of Austin Jackson can't cover for the limitations of the lumbering Delmon Young in left and Magglio Ordonez in right. Quite simply, the Yankees get to more balls and make more plays in the field than the Tigers do.
The other area where the Yanks' athleticism advantage should show through is on the basepaths. The Yankees' team Baserunning Rating of 1.1 only puts them in the middle of the pack amongst MLB teams, but the Tigers' rating of -7.6 ranks 26th. And there's also the wide gap in stolen bases to consider. New York's 147 SB was 4th in baseball; Detroit's 49 was dead last. We've seen the Yankees go for the steal, double steal, hit-and-run, and sac bunt often this season, using their speed and baserunning skills to their advantage. We won't see any of that from the Tigers.
It's a small part of the game, something that can't be as easily measure statistically as other things, but those numbers show that the Yankees have a decided advantage in the Speed/Athleticism department. Their defense gets a boost from it, allowing them to better pick up their pitchers when the ball is in play, and their offense becomes more dynamic and more versatile as a result of their speed on the basepaths. In a short series it will be next to impossible to quantify this, but we've all seen how just a couple of plays here and there can change a series: a diving catch here, a stolen base or extra base taken on a ball in the gap there. The Yankees are much more equipped to take advantage of those opportunities than the Tigers are and I expect them to continue to use that to their advantage every chance they get.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
AB4AR's Final Postseason Roster
It's only been a week since the last list, but there have been some major changes here. Guys who I had as sure things last week now look like they're going to be on the outside looking in, and through some stroke of evil black magic, I think we're all going to be exposed to A.J. Burnett being a part of the playoff 25-man. That's just a frightening thought, but you know what? THE FACKING FRAUD SAWX AHH NAWT GOING TO BE THEY-AH!!!! So that makes it a little better.
Here's my final prediction:
Top 25 as of 9/29/11-
1) CC Sabathia
2) Mariano Rivera
3) Robinson Cano
4) Curtis Granderson
5) Dave Robertson
6) Nick Swisher
7) Derek Jeter
8) Mark Teixeira
9) Russell Martin
10) Brett Gardner
11) Ivan Nova
12) Alex Rodriguez
13) Rafael Soriano
14) Freddy Garcia
15) Eric Chavez
16) Andruw Jones
17) Boone Logan (even though he's been dog ass lately)
18) Eduardo Nunez
19) Cory Wade
20) Chris Dickerson
21) Jorge Posada- It wasn't looking nearly as good for Whore-Gay this time last week. But a key HR here, a base hit there, some solid defensive plays, and the fact that the Detroit Tigers have never even heard of a left-handed pitcher makes him a virtual lock now.
22) Hector Noesi- He tired in his spot start earlier in the week, but after watching the rest of the September call-ups and scrap heap pieces like Scott Proctor shit the bed for the past few weeks, you have to think Joe is smart enough to realize Noesi is his most reliable "Swiss Army Knife" guy for the 'pen.
23) Jesus Montero- The Earth stood still last night as we waited for word on Montero's hand. But the X-rays were negative and reportedly all is well. We probably won't see him much, but having The Jesus lingering on the bench as a pinch-hitting option is a good idea.
24) Phil Hughes- All of this goes out the window if he wakes up tomorrow with yellow fever or shingles or something, but it looks like Joe has already decided that Phil is going to be one of his guys for the playoff 'pen. And velocity or not, Hughes did work through his 2 extended auditions without allowing a run this week.
25) A.J. Burnett- I don't know how it happened, or why. But I honestly think A.J. did enough in his last start against Bahhston and in his Yankee reliever debut last night to earn Joe's trust. I personally don't think he deserves to be there, and I would take Bartolo over A.J., but I think Joe wanted A.J. all along and can justify taking him in his own mind after A.J.'s recent outings.
Also Receiving Votes (Barely)-
26) Raul Valdes- Because I can see Joe getting cute and going with another LOOGY now that he has Hughes and A.J. available to eat up some of Noesi's long-man innings.
27) Austin Romine- If Jorge or Jesus trips and falls down the stairs tonight.
28) Bartolo Colon- I would have more faith in Colon than I would in A.J. in a tight spot, but I think Bart's bad timing with his late-season flameout while A.J. pitched his best game of the year was his undoing. It's a shame too, because Bart was a big part in keeping the Yankee rotation afloat earlier in the year. But I think he's getting the shaft.
29) Luis Ayala- Not unless 2 guys ahead of him die. He completely fucked himself last night.
Here's my final prediction:
Top 25 as of 9/29/11-
1) CC Sabathia
2) Mariano Rivera
3) Robinson Cano
4) Curtis Granderson
5) Dave Robertson
6) Nick Swisher
7) Derek Jeter
8) Mark Teixeira
9) Russell Martin
10) Brett Gardner
11) Ivan Nova
12) Alex Rodriguez
13) Rafael Soriano
14) Freddy Garcia
15) Eric Chavez
16) Andruw Jones
17) Boone Logan (even though he's been dog ass lately)
18) Eduardo Nunez
19) Cory Wade
20) Chris Dickerson
21) Jorge Posada- It wasn't looking nearly as good for Whore-Gay this time last week. But a key HR here, a base hit there, some solid defensive plays, and the fact that the Detroit Tigers have never even heard of a left-handed pitcher makes him a virtual lock now.
22) Hector Noesi- He tired in his spot start earlier in the week, but after watching the rest of the September call-ups and scrap heap pieces like Scott Proctor shit the bed for the past few weeks, you have to think Joe is smart enough to realize Noesi is his most reliable "Swiss Army Knife" guy for the 'pen.
23) Jesus Montero- The Earth stood still last night as we waited for word on Montero's hand. But the X-rays were negative and reportedly all is well. We probably won't see him much, but having The Jesus lingering on the bench as a pinch-hitting option is a good idea.
24) Phil Hughes- All of this goes out the window if he wakes up tomorrow with yellow fever or shingles or something, but it looks like Joe has already decided that Phil is going to be one of his guys for the playoff 'pen. And velocity or not, Hughes did work through his 2 extended auditions without allowing a run this week.
25) A.J. Burnett- I don't know how it happened, or why. But I honestly think A.J. did enough in his last start against Bahhston and in his Yankee reliever debut last night to earn Joe's trust. I personally don't think he deserves to be there, and I would take Bartolo over A.J., but I think Joe wanted A.J. all along and can justify taking him in his own mind after A.J.'s recent outings.
Also Receiving Votes (Barely)-
26) Raul Valdes- Because I can see Joe getting cute and going with another LOOGY now that he has Hughes and A.J. available to eat up some of Noesi's long-man innings.
27) Austin Romine- If Jorge or Jesus trips and falls down the stairs tonight.
28) Bartolo Colon- I would have more faith in Colon than I would in A.J. in a tight spot, but I think Bart's bad timing with his late-season flameout while A.J. pitched his best game of the year was his undoing. It's a shame too, because Bart was a big part in keeping the Yankee rotation afloat earlier in the year. But I think he's getting the shaft.
29) Luis Ayala- Not unless 2 guys ahead of him die. He completely fucked himself last night.
Sad Mike Aviles Is Sad
Just try to look at this picture for more than 5 seconds without bursting into giddy, childish laughter. You can't. Nothing captures how pathetic the Fraud Sawx and their sadsack Fraud Sawx Nation are better than this image. I fucking love it.
Courtesy of The AP
Early Week Recap
Now that we know how the AL playoffs are going to line up (and that they won't include the Fraud Sawx), we can look forward to the ALDS matchup against the Tigers. But before we do that, I just want to take a quick spin around the Yankee news circuit and comment on some of the stories I missed while I was in Vegas.
- Robbie Cano Moved Up to 3rd in The Lineup
It makes sense because he's the team's best hitter, and Teix has been plain awful this year at times batting ahead of A-Rod. But I would question those who think Cano is going to see more pitches hitting in front of The Horse rather than Swisher. A-Rod hasn't been doing much of anything with the bat since coming back, and now he's got thumb and knee issues. In my opinion, the best thing to come out of this move by Joe, besides getting Cano more at-bats, is the protection he'll offer Curtis in the 2-hole. Pitchers might be more apt to pitch C-Grand carefully knowing they have to deal with Cano after.
- Teix to 5th
Also makes sense. No need to delve into the numbers more than everybody already has. It's just a fact that Teix is having a down year, he's gotten too pull happy, and he knows it and finally admitted it this week. You can't have a guy with a BA in the .240s and an OBP in the .330s hitting 3rd. You just can't. Hopefully last night was a sign that Teix is starting to snap out of his year-long swoon, but strategically swapping him and Robbie was the right move.
- Hughes to The 'Pen
No surprise here, as his results as a starter have been mixed since returning in July. It's probably the only way Joe could have justified getting him on the postseason roster, which I think Hughes will make now even though he probably doesn't deserve to. His velocity hasn't played up so far out of the pen, but Phil has managed to throw 2.2 scoreless innings since the move. This has been a lost season for Hughes, no doubt. He really needs to sack up and come into Spring Training 2012 in killer shape and committed to becoming the kind of pitcher he looked like in the first half of 2010.
- Playoff Rotation Set
Earlier in the week, there was still some uncertainty surrounding the 3rd starter for the ALDS. A.J. turned a lot of heads with his outing against Bahhston on Sunday, but Joe showed his hand last night, using A.J. out of the 'pen and announcing Freddy Garcia as the 3rd starter. They'll line up CC, Nova, Freddy, CC, Nova for Detroit and that's the way it should be. Those guys have earned it with their body of work and most recent outings.
- Bartolo Left Out in The Cold?
With Nova and Freddy officially in the rotation, and Phil and A.J. looking like locks for the bullpen, the clock looks like it's struck midnight on the $900,000 Man. And while that's a bit of a bummer considering how important he was to the Yankee rotation early, I think even Bart would tell you that he got more out of himself than he expected this season. He gave the Yankees what they needed and helped ease the sting of not getting Cliff Lee, and he was another feather in Cash's cap.
- Boone Logan's Issues
Joe can say whatever he wants, but Boone Logan is a problem right now. Game mattering or not, it's inexcusable to blow a 7-0 lead in the 8th inning and Logan got the ball rolling on that last night with his sloppy work. Logan's recent struggles might not open the door for Raul Valdes to get a postseason spot thanks to Hughes and A.J., but I'm very concerned about matching him up with anybody in the postseason. Guy just hasn't been consistent at all.
- Robbie Cano Moved Up to 3rd in The Lineup
It makes sense because he's the team's best hitter, and Teix has been plain awful this year at times batting ahead of A-Rod. But I would question those who think Cano is going to see more pitches hitting in front of The Horse rather than Swisher. A-Rod hasn't been doing much of anything with the bat since coming back, and now he's got thumb and knee issues. In my opinion, the best thing to come out of this move by Joe, besides getting Cano more at-bats, is the protection he'll offer Curtis in the 2-hole. Pitchers might be more apt to pitch C-Grand carefully knowing they have to deal with Cano after.
- Teix to 5th
Also makes sense. No need to delve into the numbers more than everybody already has. It's just a fact that Teix is having a down year, he's gotten too pull happy, and he knows it and finally admitted it this week. You can't have a guy with a BA in the .240s and an OBP in the .330s hitting 3rd. You just can't. Hopefully last night was a sign that Teix is starting to snap out of his year-long swoon, but strategically swapping him and Robbie was the right move.
- Hughes to The 'Pen
No surprise here, as his results as a starter have been mixed since returning in July. It's probably the only way Joe could have justified getting him on the postseason roster, which I think Hughes will make now even though he probably doesn't deserve to. His velocity hasn't played up so far out of the pen, but Phil has managed to throw 2.2 scoreless innings since the move. This has been a lost season for Hughes, no doubt. He really needs to sack up and come into Spring Training 2012 in killer shape and committed to becoming the kind of pitcher he looked like in the first half of 2010.
- Playoff Rotation Set
Earlier in the week, there was still some uncertainty surrounding the 3rd starter for the ALDS. A.J. turned a lot of heads with his outing against Bahhston on Sunday, but Joe showed his hand last night, using A.J. out of the 'pen and announcing Freddy Garcia as the 3rd starter. They'll line up CC, Nova, Freddy, CC, Nova for Detroit and that's the way it should be. Those guys have earned it with their body of work and most recent outings.
- Bartolo Left Out in The Cold?
With Nova and Freddy officially in the rotation, and Phil and A.J. looking like locks for the bullpen, the clock looks like it's struck midnight on the $900,000 Man. And while that's a bit of a bummer considering how important he was to the Yankee rotation early, I think even Bart would tell you that he got more out of himself than he expected this season. He gave the Yankees what they needed and helped ease the sting of not getting Cliff Lee, and he was another feather in Cash's cap.
- Boone Logan's Issues
Joe can say whatever he wants, but Boone Logan is a problem right now. Game mattering or not, it's inexcusable to blow a 7-0 lead in the 8th inning and Logan got the ball rolling on that last night with his sloppy work. Logan's recent struggles might not open the door for Raul Valdes to get a postseason spot thanks to Hughes and A.J., but I'm very concerned about matching him up with anybody in the postseason. Guy just hasn't been consistent at all.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
FAHHCKING BUCKNAH REVISITED!!!!!!!
BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fuck Jacoby Ellsbury. Fuck Jawnathan Papelbawn. Fuck Dahhstin Pedroy-ah. Fuck Terry Francona. Fuck Theo Epstein. Fuck Big Sloppi. Fuck the city of Bahhston and everybody in it. Have fun watching the playoffs from the couch, you fucking fugazi bitches. And enjoy the rest of Carl Crawford's contract.
Fuck Jacoby Ellsbury. Fuck Jawnathan Papelbawn. Fuck Dahhstin Pedroy-ah. Fuck Terry Francona. Fuck Theo Epstein. Fuck Big Sloppi. Fuck the city of Bahhston and everybody in it. Have fun watching the playoffs from the couch, you fucking fugazi bitches. And enjoy the rest of Carl Crawford's contract.
Betances Starting Tonight
I'm back from Vegas. I'm unshaven, haven't showered, still in the clothes I wore out last night, and despite brushing my teeth twice and chewing a couple pieces of gum this morning my mouth still tastes like cigarettes.
And now I'm reading that Dellin Betances is starting tonight for the Yanks in the final game of the year. What? Am I still drunk? What the fuck is going on?
Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge Betances fan. I think once he learns to harness his stuff and have some command, he could be lights out. But he didn't exactly shine in his MLB debut last week when he did his best Rick Vaughn impression by walking 4 Rays and hitting 1 in just 0.2 innings.
I'm all for not using a regular starter so they can be lined up for the playoffs this weekend, but I also don't want to see Betances go out and struggle tonight and get his Major League career off to a crappy start. You never know how something like that can affect a kid that young. And what if he pitches well and shuts the Rays down and then the Fraud Sawx make the playoffs? That would suck. I guess we'll see what happens in a few hours.
And now I'm reading that Dellin Betances is starting tonight for the Yanks in the final game of the year. What? Am I still drunk? What the fuck is going on?
Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge Betances fan. I think once he learns to harness his stuff and have some command, he could be lights out. But he didn't exactly shine in his MLB debut last week when he did his best Rick Vaughn impression by walking 4 Rays and hitting 1 in just 0.2 innings.
I'm all for not using a regular starter so they can be lined up for the playoffs this weekend, but I also don't want to see Betances go out and struggle tonight and get his Major League career off to a crappy start. You never know how something like that can affect a kid that young. And what if he pitches well and shuts the Rays down and then the Fraud Sawx make the playoffs? That would suck. I guess we'll see what happens in a few hours.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
The Next Week At AB4AR
Normally this would be the post where I tell you that this next week is going to be chock full of postseason preview goodness in preparation for the ALDS starting on Friday. Unfortunately, tonight I'm flying to Las Vegas to attend a trade show for work and will be fully engrossed in that on Monday and Tuesday. I'll have my computer with me, and if I do have the time I'll check in and post on the events taking place in Yankeeland, but don't expect anything major.
When I get back on Wednesday afternoon, you can rest assured that there will be plenty of posts devoted to previewing and breaking down the ALDS through the remainder of the week. But I'll also be traveling out of town on Friday, and most likely won't be able to fully cover and comment on Games 1 and 2 next weekend. Again, I'll do what I can to stay on top of things, but expect next week to be light thanks to the pesky rest of my life.
It's a bummer to not be able to go all in during playoff season, but after this next week is up I'll be 100% back in the game. I'm talking game previews for every game, recaps of every game the next morning, in-game comments, and possibly a live blog or 2. So hang in there over the next week and I promise 7 days from now you'll get the AB4AR-style postseason coverage you're used to.
In the mean time, do me a favor and check out the AB4AR Facebook page and "Like" it if you haven't already. And don't be afraid to spread the good word about it to the rest of your Yankee fan friends. Don't tell the Mets or Sawx fans, though. They don't deserve to know.
When I get back on Wednesday afternoon, you can rest assured that there will be plenty of posts devoted to previewing and breaking down the ALDS through the remainder of the week. But I'll also be traveling out of town on Friday, and most likely won't be able to fully cover and comment on Games 1 and 2 next weekend. Again, I'll do what I can to stay on top of things, but expect next week to be light thanks to the pesky rest of my life.
It's a bummer to not be able to go all in during playoff season, but after this next week is up I'll be 100% back in the game. I'm talking game previews for every game, recaps of every game the next morning, in-game comments, and possibly a live blog or 2. So hang in there over the next week and I promise 7 days from now you'll get the AB4AR-style postseason coverage you're used to.
In the mean time, do me a favor and check out the AB4AR Facebook page and "Like" it if you haven't already. And don't be afraid to spread the good word about it to the rest of your Yankee fan friends. Don't tell the Mets or Sawx fans, though. They don't deserve to know.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Freddy And The Jesus Cement Their Postseason Roster Spots Tonight
(Probably your Game 3 ALDS starting pitcher. Courtesy of the AP)
If there was any doubt that Jesus Montero and Freddy Garcia were going to play prominent roles in the Yankees' postseason plans, I think both of them ended that today.
The Jesus went 3-4, just a triple short of the cycle, with 2 runs scored and 4 driven in. He absolutely owned Jon Lester in his first 2 at-bats and continues to show the plate discipline and ability to hit to all fields way beyond what he should rightfully be able to do as a 21-year-old. I still say there's no reason why he shouldn't be penciled in as the DH every single game.
Freddy rebounded nicely from his recent struggles with 6 shutout innings against a decent Sawx lineup. He allowed some hits, but all singles, and only walked 1 batter. He mixed his pitches nicely and showed that he's more than capable of handling a postseason start. I wouldn't be surprised if Joe dropped him the 3-slot behind Carsten and SuperNova and just went with those 3 for the ALDS.
One more win and the Yanks have homefield advantage through the AL postseason. Plenty of opportunities to lock that up with the doubleheader tomorrow.
O Captain, My Captain!
How's a little 3-run job in your ear, Lester? Fucking slob.
Shoulda rocked a little Cervelli clap when he touched home plate.
Shoulda rocked a little Cervelli clap when he touched home plate.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Dan Shaughnessy Waves The White Flag
Not really. He's just doing his usual routine of writing outlandish crap that he doesn't even believe in order to cause controversy and stir up emotions amongst the unwashed masses of Fraud Sawx Nation. And he does it well. In his latest craptastic masterpiece, Dan argues that the Fraud Sawx shouldn't even be allowed to participate in the postseason if they make it. Let's FJM the highlights:
"With nowhere else to turn, I called baseball commissioner Bud Selig yesterday. Left him a message:"
No you didn't.
"Please, Bud. This is your chance to think outside the box. You have sweeping powers that enable you to make unilateral decisions 'in the best interests of baseball.'"
Yeah. Like turning a blind eye to steroid use, expanding All Star Game rosters to the point that the talent on display in the game is completely diluted, instituting the "homefield advantage in the World Series" clause to the ASG winner, and now considering expanding the postseason. Those have all worked out in the best interests of the game.
"How about banishing the 2011 Red Sox from postseason play on the grounds of horsebleep play for the entire month of September?"
Because that is the only month that should be taken into account when looking at a team's performance.
"Let the worthy teams participate in the playoffs. The Sox are not worthy."
Even though they're 20 games over .500.
"Really, how do you root for these guys anymore?"
Because you're a real fan who actually knew the franchise existed prior to 2004 and actually followed the team prior to 2004 and you've stuck with them through the good times and bad and don't jump ship and move on to Patriots season at the first sign of trouble? Maybe that's how. Just a thought.
"They have the third-highest payroll in baseball."
And what a tough, gritty, underappreciated third-highest payroll it is.
"They were in first place on Sept. 1. Three weeks later - with a full week left in the regular season - they were eliminated from the top spot in the division by a Yankee team that was roundly mocked throughout New England for most of the last year."
Because winning the regular season series is SOOOOOOO fucking important in the grand scheme of things. But hey, at least Fraud Sawx Nation has that to fall back on.
"This is about Carl Crawford’s pathetic 18-steal, no-production season. For $20 million a year, Crawford can’t get on base 30 percent of the time?"
Again, for the record, Brett Gardner leads the AL in SB with 46, has gotten on base at roughly a .350 clip all year, should win the Gold Glove in LF, and has racked up 4.9 WAR for just $529,500.
"General manager Theo Epstein gets his share of the blame pie for the inestimable millions spent on 1. players who aren’t here and 2. players we wish weren’t here."
Yeah. It's almost like Theo hasn't really done a great job over the course of the last couple years but has gotten a free pass on it from everybody in the MSM because they can't take their Sawx-colored glasses off and look at him objectively. Wait, what?
"And let’s not start on Bobby Jenks, Mike Cameron, and the raft of shortstop busts."
Actually, could we start on that? I think that could be a fun conversation.
+1 For Russell Martin
“Anything to get the Red Sox out would be awesome for me…. They are fun to play against just because they have a quality team, and they’re gritty, and they play hard and stuff, but I’d love to see them lose.”
(Why?)
“Because I hate the Red Sox."
That gem of a quote comes from Mr. Russell Martin during yesterday's pregame interviews. I'm going to gloss right over that game because it didn't actually count, matter, or even happen in my mind, and instead just focus on the beauty of Martin's blunt honesty here. No PC bullshit, no standard player talk about "wanting to win every game," just pure unadulterated hatred. That's my kind of Yankee. Tip of the cap to you, Mr. Martin.
(Why?)
“Because I hate the Red Sox."
That gem of a quote comes from Mr. Russell Martin during yesterday's pregame interviews. I'm going to gloss right over that game because it didn't actually count, matter, or even happen in my mind, and instead just focus on the beauty of Martin's blunt honesty here. No PC bullshit, no standard player talk about "wanting to win every game," just pure unadulterated hatred. That's my kind of Yankee. Tip of the cap to you, Mr. Martin.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Postseason Roster Version 2.0
It's been almost 3 weeks since I took my first crack at predicting the 25-man for the postseason, and with all that's happened since then and the fact that I can't jinx the Yankees' playoff chances now, I figured it's as good a time as any to update the list.
Top 25 as of 9/22/11-
1) CC Sabathia
2) Mariano Rivera
3) Curtis Granderson
4) Robinson Cano
5) Dave Robertson
6) Nick Swisher
7) Derek Jeter
8) Mark Teixeira
9) Russell Martin
10) Brett Gardner
11) Rafael Soriano
12) Alex Rodriguez
13) Boone Logan
14) Ivan Nova
15) Eric Chavez
16) Bartolo Colon
17) Freddy Garcia
18) Andruw Jones
19) Cory Wade
20) Eduardo Nunez
21) Chris Dickerson
22) Hector Noesi
23) Jesus Montero
24) Jorge Posada
25) Luis Ayala
Also Receiving Votes-
26) Phil Hughes
27) A.J. Burnett
28) Austin Romine
29) Raul Valdes
30) Francisco Cervelli
- Cervelli comes off the roster as a guarantee because of the concussion and the continued uncertainty surrounding his condition. Everything so far makes it seem like the Yankee are going to keep him out of action as a precaution, which is a smart move considering how many he's had. But I kept him eligible on the off chance that he does improve. If he can go, you know the team would rather have him as the backup catcher.
- With Cervelli out, Jesus becomes the obvious choice to replace him because he can catch and he adds bench depth with his power. Last night showed that teams are going to be willing to pitch around other guys to test him, but without other viable options Joe might as well give the kid a shot.
- I also removed Phil Hughes as he's been scratched from 2 straight starts and last night we learned that an MRI showed inflammation in his back. He had already been struggling of late, almost certainly wasn't going to get a postseason rotation spot, and the bullpen hierarchy is already pretty much set. Add in this new injury, and it doesn't spell a lot of opportunities for Phil to get used.
- So with Phil out, I inserted Luis Ayala as the new bullpen arm. I had him as a Wild Card in my bullpen hierarchy post, and yesterday he continued his strong September showing with 2 Ks in a tight spot of Game 1 against the Rays. He's as good as anybody else they could put into that position.
- I feel more comfortable saying that Jorge, Chris Dickerson, and Hector Noesi are locks than I did 3 weeks ago, and I still feel comfortable saying A.J. is out. His meltdown in the 4th and 5th innings of his last start were surely the nail in the coffin.
- 2 intriguing question marks are Austin Romine and Raul Valdes. Romine's gotten some work behind the plate since Cervelli went down, and will probably get more over the next week with the division wrapped up. If Joe doesn't feel confident that Jesus can step in and catch if needed, he might bring Romine and go with a shorter 'pen. And since finally being dusted off and used as a bullpen option, all Valdes has done is strike out 5 of the 11 batters he's faced in 2+ scoreless innings of work. Maybe he slots into the #2 LOOGY role if Joe wants another southpaw.
Top 25 as of 9/22/11-
1) CC Sabathia
2) Mariano Rivera
3) Curtis Granderson
4) Robinson Cano
5) Dave Robertson
6) Nick Swisher
7) Derek Jeter
8) Mark Teixeira
9) Russell Martin
10) Brett Gardner
11) Rafael Soriano
12) Alex Rodriguez
13) Boone Logan
14) Ivan Nova
15) Eric Chavez
16) Bartolo Colon
17) Freddy Garcia
18) Andruw Jones
19) Cory Wade
20) Eduardo Nunez
21) Chris Dickerson
22) Hector Noesi
23) Jesus Montero
24) Jorge Posada
25) Luis Ayala
Also Receiving Votes-
26) Phil Hughes
27) A.J. Burnett
28) Austin Romine
29) Raul Valdes
30) Francisco Cervelli
- Cervelli comes off the roster as a guarantee because of the concussion and the continued uncertainty surrounding his condition. Everything so far makes it seem like the Yankee are going to keep him out of action as a precaution, which is a smart move considering how many he's had. But I kept him eligible on the off chance that he does improve. If he can go, you know the team would rather have him as the backup catcher.
- With Cervelli out, Jesus becomes the obvious choice to replace him because he can catch and he adds bench depth with his power. Last night showed that teams are going to be willing to pitch around other guys to test him, but without other viable options Joe might as well give the kid a shot.
- I also removed Phil Hughes as he's been scratched from 2 straight starts and last night we learned that an MRI showed inflammation in his back. He had already been struggling of late, almost certainly wasn't going to get a postseason rotation spot, and the bullpen hierarchy is already pretty much set. Add in this new injury, and it doesn't spell a lot of opportunities for Phil to get used.
- So with Phil out, I inserted Luis Ayala as the new bullpen arm. I had him as a Wild Card in my bullpen hierarchy post, and yesterday he continued his strong September showing with 2 Ks in a tight spot of Game 1 against the Rays. He's as good as anybody else they could put into that position.
- I feel more comfortable saying that Jorge, Chris Dickerson, and Hector Noesi are locks than I did 3 weeks ago, and I still feel comfortable saying A.J. is out. His meltdown in the 4th and 5th innings of his last start were surely the nail in the coffin.
- 2 intriguing question marks are Austin Romine and Raul Valdes. Romine's gotten some work behind the plate since Cervelli went down, and will probably get more over the next week with the division wrapped up. If Joe doesn't feel confident that Jesus can step in and catch if needed, he might bring Romine and go with a shorter 'pen. And since finally being dusted off and used as a bullpen option, all Valdes has done is strike out 5 of the 11 batters he's faced in 2+ scoreless innings of work. Maybe he slots into the #2 LOOGY role if Joe wants another southpaw.
This Is Why Games Are Won On The Field
Before the season started it was all Fraud Sawx all the time. "The Fraud Sawx have the better pitching. The Fraud Sawx made a big splash by signing A-Gon and Carl Crawford. The Fraud Sawx bolstered their bullpen."
"The Yankees didn't get Cliff Lee. The Yankees lost Andy Pettitte. The Yankees didn't add a big-time pitcher. The Yankees are stupid for signing Colon and Garcia. The Yankees are too old."
And even when the season started, it was the same shit. "The Fraud Sawx just haven't hit their stride yet. They still have the deeper rotation. They still have the better lineup. The Fraud Sawx are the team to beat."
"The Yankees will never get back with this team for the whole season. Colon and Garcia are washed up. They'll get hurt and won't be able to replace guys. The Yankees are too old."
Well how do you like them apples, you bunch of Bahhston nuthuggers? A week to go in the season and your boys are drowning in their own choked up puke while the Yankees are celebrating on their homefield in ill-fitting AL East title shirts. So enjoy battling it out down the stretch with what's left of your pathetic rotation and even worse bullpen, and take pride in the fact that you won the season series against the Yankees. They'll be busy popping bottles in the locker room and getting ready for the ALDS.
P.S.- How sick was Reggie's postgame locker room celebration swag last night? Dude was KILLING it next to A-Rod while he was talking to Tim Kurkjian. Hat cocked, sipping from the bottle. SWAG!!!
"The Yankees didn't get Cliff Lee. The Yankees lost Andy Pettitte. The Yankees didn't add a big-time pitcher. The Yankees are stupid for signing Colon and Garcia. The Yankees are too old."
And even when the season started, it was the same shit. "The Fraud Sawx just haven't hit their stride yet. They still have the deeper rotation. They still have the better lineup. The Fraud Sawx are the team to beat."
"The Yankees will never get back with this team for the whole season. Colon and Garcia are washed up. They'll get hurt and won't be able to replace guys. The Yankees are too old."
Well how do you like them apples, you bunch of Bahhston nuthuggers? A week to go in the season and your boys are drowning in their own choked up puke while the Yankees are celebrating on their homefield in ill-fitting AL East title shirts. So enjoy battling it out down the stretch with what's left of your pathetic rotation and even worse bullpen, and take pride in the fact that you won the season series against the Yankees. They'll be busy popping bottles in the locker room and getting ready for the ALDS.
P.S.- How sick was Reggie's postgame locker room celebration swag last night? Dude was KILLING it next to A-Rod while he was talking to Tim Kurkjian. Hat cocked, sipping from the bottle. SWAG!!!
(Screen cap courtesy of ESPN.com video)
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Postseason, Here We Come
It wasn't looking good through 7, but a little 8th inning offensive magic and here we are, with the New York Yankees officially in the 2011 postseason. It's just a small part on the journey to title 28, but it's still an important milestone. You can't win it if you aren't in it, and the Bombers are in. So pop a little champagne at home, at work, in the car, wherever you are, and toast to the Yankees making the playoffs. And then settle in for the nightcap tonight and root for the Sawx to keep losing.
And somebody please HIT THE FUCKING MUSIC!!!!!!!!
And somebody please HIT THE FUCKING MUSIC!!!!!!!!
In Case Anybody Was Wondering...
... No. No, ESPN does not have a pro-Bahhston bias. None whatsoever.
As if I didn't already want the Fraud Sawx to complete their collapse this year more than I've ever wanted anything in the history of my existence, this cover and this issue of the shitpile that used to be ESPN: The Magazine makes me want it just a little bit more. I can't believe this is actually a real thing, but it is.
P.S.- Come on, ESPN. If you're going to flaunt your Pro-Bahhston bias right in my face like that, at least spell your favorite city right. It's BAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHSTON for Christ sake.
Ivan Nova's Sink-Or-Swim Moment
What Ivan Nova has done since being recalled from Triple-A has been among the most pleasant surprises for the Yankees this season. During a time where they were struggling with inconsistent performances from A.J. and Bartolo Colon and trying to work Phil Hughes back into the fold, Nova provided some consistency behind CC Sabathia. As he has continued to pitch well since his recall, Nova has made himself an increasingly likely candidate for the postseason rotation, with that spot being all but locked up as he headed into last night's start. And last night's start, particularly the 7th inning, proved to me that Nova has what it takes to handle that responsibility.
Through 6 innings Nova had been very good. He had held the Rays scoreless up to that point thanks to a combination of timely pitching and good defense, and scattered 5 hits, a walk, and an HBP. His pitch count was low, his stuff was looking good, and all was right with the world. But then he gave up a leadoff single, hit the next batter, and walked the one after that on 4 pitches. Suddenly the fastball command was gone, Nova looked rattled, and the wheels looked like they were starting to come off of his great start as the batting order cycled back around to the top with the dangerous combination of Desmond Jennings and B.J. Upton.
This was the point where most pitchers Nova's age collapse. They either try to get cute and lob one over the middle to throw a strike or continue to overthrow and walk the next batter. Earlier in the year, I would have bet Nova falls into that same trap, but last night he took a deep breath (literally), got his composure, stepped back on the rubber, and refocused on the next batter. He threw quality strikes to get ahead of Jennings 1-2, then ran a nasty 94 MPH heater up and in on Jennings' hands that he weakly popped into shallow left field, failing to bring the runner at 3rd home. Then, after falling behind Upton 1-0, Nova didn't give in and throw a meatball. Instead he throw a fastball inside and at the knees that Upton rolled over on and grounded weakly to 3rd to start the inning-ending double play.
Nova was in it deep, but instead of giving in and succumbing to the pressure, he buckled down and went after the hitters. He located his pitches in good spots to induce weak contact, a great approach against a team of swingers like the Rays, and worked himself out of trouble. And more importantly, Joe didn't go with the quick hook when things started to fall apart. He left Nova in and said "sink or swim" and Nova swam. He showed he can handle these situations and make pitches when he has to. It's a trend that Nova has been following since the recall and it has served him well. He isn't going to strike a lot of guys out, but he makes pitches when he has to. And that's why we're going to see him get the ball in a big spot come October.
Through 6 innings Nova had been very good. He had held the Rays scoreless up to that point thanks to a combination of timely pitching and good defense, and scattered 5 hits, a walk, and an HBP. His pitch count was low, his stuff was looking good, and all was right with the world. But then he gave up a leadoff single, hit the next batter, and walked the one after that on 4 pitches. Suddenly the fastball command was gone, Nova looked rattled, and the wheels looked like they were starting to come off of his great start as the batting order cycled back around to the top with the dangerous combination of Desmond Jennings and B.J. Upton.
This was the point where most pitchers Nova's age collapse. They either try to get cute and lob one over the middle to throw a strike or continue to overthrow and walk the next batter. Earlier in the year, I would have bet Nova falls into that same trap, but last night he took a deep breath (literally), got his composure, stepped back on the rubber, and refocused on the next batter. He threw quality strikes to get ahead of Jennings 1-2, then ran a nasty 94 MPH heater up and in on Jennings' hands that he weakly popped into shallow left field, failing to bring the runner at 3rd home. Then, after falling behind Upton 1-0, Nova didn't give in and throw a meatball. Instead he throw a fastball inside and at the knees that Upton rolled over on and grounded weakly to 3rd to start the inning-ending double play.
Nova was in it deep, but instead of giving in and succumbing to the pressure, he buckled down and went after the hitters. He located his pitches in good spots to induce weak contact, a great approach against a team of swingers like the Rays, and worked himself out of trouble. And more importantly, Joe didn't go with the quick hook when things started to fall apart. He left Nova in and said "sink or swim" and Nova swam. He showed he can handle these situations and make pitches when he has to. It's a trend that Nova has been following since the recall and it has served him well. He isn't going to strike a lot of guys out, but he makes pitches when he has to. And that's why we're going to see him get the ball in a big spot come October.
(Just call him "Nova The Awesome" now)
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Could This Night Be Any More Perfect???
Super Nova passes his last test for proving he's worthy of being a postseason starter the Yankees can count on, C-Grand continues to look like he's breaking out of his slump at the perfect time, the team gets a shutout win over some of their nearest competition for the playoffs, and the Sawx blow yet ANOTHER game thanks to Daniel Bahhd and Jawnathan Papelbawn blowing the lead in the 8th inning against the Fighting Buck Showalters.
By this time tomorrow the postseason berth can be official. I fucking love it.
P.S.- Erik Bedard looked pretty good on the hill starting for Bahhston too.
By this time tomorrow the postseason berth can be official. I fucking love it.
P.S.- Erik Bedard looked pretty good on the hill starting for Bahhston too.
A.J. Burnett's Command Is Keyser Soze
7 strikeouts in the first 3 innings, 4 of them swinging. No runs allowed, no walks, just a bunch of dinky infield hits. A.J. Burnett was looking good.
Follow that up with 6 hits, 1 walk, and 4 earned runs allowed over his next 10 batters faced in the 4th and 5th innings and a ND after failing to retire a batter in the 5th inning. Night and fucking day. And somehow A.J. has managed to exceed last year's terrible numbers. That's his power.
The greatest trick A.J. Burnett ever pulled was convincing the world that his command didn't exist. And like that,
... poof. It's gone.
Follow that up with 6 hits, 1 walk, and 4 earned runs allowed over his next 10 batters faced in the 4th and 5th innings and a ND after failing to retire a batter in the 5th inning. Night and fucking day. And somehow A.J. has managed to exceed last year's terrible numbers. That's his power.
The greatest trick A.J. Burnett ever pulled was convincing the world that his command didn't exist. And like that,
... poof. It's gone.
Greatness Defined
(The G.O.A.T. Courtesy of EPA)
I touched on it briefly yesterday after he recorded out number 3 to officially set the MLB all-time saves record, but Mariano Rivera and the record he set yesterday deserves more than just one short paragraph, so we'll kick off today's AB4AR schedule with some more praise for the man, the myth, the legend.
Like I said yesterday, there are all kinds of numbers and milestones in baseball that really don't mean anything. For example, ESPN devoted air time last week to mentioning Tim Wakefield's 200th career win and Johnny Damon's 400th career stolen base. No disrespect to either of those guys, but those aren't really records and they really don't mean shit in the grand scheme of things. They're nice numbers that were achieved through longevity more than baseball excellence, and while that does merit some recognition, it doesn't merit as much as Mo's record because Mo's is a combination of both longevity and excellence.
After already being anointed as the greatest at his position in the history of the game, Mo reached a statistical level that supports that greatness yesterday. His record allows him to sit atop the closer mountain and look down upon all his peers, not be lumped in with a group of other players, no matter how small and exclusive the group is. Sure, A-Rod can say it's great to be a part of the 600-HR Club and likewise Jeter with the 3,000-Hit Club, but those are still clubs and neither of those guys is at the top. Mo's "club" is far more exclusive, just 2 members, and he's the #1 member after yesterday. Overrated or not as a statistic, there is something to be said for the greatest closer of all time also having the most saves of all time. Having that record associated with Mo actually gives more importance to the record rather than it being the other way around.
Beyond just the record itself, though, it's the way he reached it that truly separates Mo from the rest of his competition and from the rest of the record breakers in Major League history. After being dominant for the entirety of his career leading up to this season, and at an age where most other players are long retired, Mo is not only still playing, but still playing at the highest level. His cutter might not sit mid-90s like it used to, but he has adapted to that fact and his drop-off in production has been negligible as he's aged, that is if you even consider his numbers over the last few seasons to be a drop off. He is 41 years old and still the undisputed gold standard when it comes to measuring modern closers.
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