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Yankees welcome Raul Ibanez spark Nick Johnson nightmares

Posted by on 21 February 2012, 3:32 am

I don’t think anyone was surprised when ESPN’s Buster Onley reported that the New York Yankees signed Raul Ibanezto a one year, $1.1 million deal with incentives, which could earn him up to $4 million. But does signing a DH even make sense?

New York Yankees DH Nick Johnson (Sipkin/News)

Well it is familiar song, as the Yankees have a habit of signing guys like Ibanez; remember how well the switch-hitting Lance Berkman and lefty Nick Johnson worked out in New York.

Here is why Ibanez won’t work out either:

  • INJURY HISTORY.

The Yankees were aware of the injury histories that came with both Berkman and Johnson, and the same goes for Ibanez.

Ibanez has suffered from a persistent bad left groin injury for years. The injury still bothered him throughout 2011, and eventually it sidelined Ibanez at the end of the season.

Back in 2007, Ibanez missed multiple games claiming he injured himself when sleeping and could not move according to article by Larry Brown on Larry Brown Sports.

  • PRODUCTION.

Many people will defend Ibanez’s production because he hit 20 home-runs in 2011, but he also posted a .245 batting average, with a .289 slugging percentage, 106 strikeouts and drew 33 walks. The reason behind his crappy BA has to do with his declining walk numbers, as in 2010 he walked 68 times, which is more than double but Ibanez did consistently post 100+ strikeouts in both of the two last seasons.

The 20 home-runs are deceiving because I can personally attest that Citizens Bank Park literally makes Yankees Stadium feel like as enormous as Citi Field. To put it lightly, CBP is a hitter’s dream and a pitcher’s nightmare.

If you really want to get technical, 15 of Ibanez’s 20 homers and 61 of his 84 RBIs from last season were done in Philly. This explains is why he had a batting average of .286 at home and a pathetic .211 BA everywhere else. His batting average vs. righties was .246, a measly six points higher than the .240 he posted vs. lefties. Continue reading ‘Yankees welcome Raul Ibanez spark Nick Johnson nightmares’ »

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Lady Loves Pinstripes: 2011 MLB August Monthly Power Rankings

Posted by on 1 September 2011, 12:06 am

The 2011 MLB season is heading into its last month, as the month of August comes to a close.

Once again, August was no short of drama, as teams battled it out to stay in contention with the hopes of playing in October.

While some teams are on the road to being crowned World Series Champions, others have no choice but to look towards next season.

So, how did your team finish the month of August?

Check out Lady Loves Pinstripes Monthly Power Rankings below:

Agree or Disagree…speak your mind by leaving a comment below the post.

Continue reading ‘Lady Loves Pinstripes: 2011 MLB August Monthly Power Rankings’ »

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Start-To-May Giveaway: A Philadelphia Phillies Fan Wins $50

Posted by on 4 May 2011, 12:23 am

Lady Loves Pinstripes hosted a Start-To-May Giveaway, where the two winners (picked at random) each receive a $50.00 gift card (2x$25) to MLB.com Shop, the Official Shop Of Major League Baseball.

Our first winner is a Philadelphia Phillies fan named Ted, who is a reader of Lady Loves Pinstripes.

I hope to hear from the second winner, who has until Wednesday May 4th to reply or someone else will be picked. Thank you and look for the next Lady Loves Pinstripes Giveaway…. Summer Is Here to be announced in about two weeks. Prizes TBA, but it will be BIGGEST yet (especially for Yankees or Mets fans).

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2011 MLB Team Preview: Philadelphia Phillies

Posted by on 23 March 2011, 7:27 pm

Over the past four seasons, the Philadelphia Phillies have easily been one of the top three teams across Major League Baseball.

In that time the Phillies have been the NL Champions three times, the 2008 World Series Champs, went back to World Series again in 2009 and made the post season in 2010. Also, the team won 97 games last year, which was the most in baseball.

This ball-club is clearly popular favorite with fans, in Vegas and with players because everyone seems to want to a piece of the Phillies. This off-season proved that after Cliff Lee chose the Phanatic over the Yankee pinstripes.

The pressure is on for this team in 2011, can they live up to the World Series or bust position they’ve put themselves in?

Let’s take a look at the Philadelphia Phillies heading into the season.

The Positives:

Pitching. There is no better rotation heading into 2011 across baseball.

Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels (and Joe Blanton) almost seems surreal, but then you realize this is reality in Philadelphia and that is nuts. Each of the names already so respected in the league by itself, that it would be no surprise if they went down historically as the best starting rotation ever. Just think about the fact that Blanton is the team’s fifth starter and anywhere else he would easily be a #2 or #3 guy.

SS Jimmy Rollins talents shine when the spotlight is on him and this season it is glaring in his face, as Rollins is in a contract year. Last year was an utter disappointment, as he played in just 88 games, posting just eight home-runs, 41 RBIs and a career low .243 batting average. Rollins showed up this Spring in incredible shape and is healthy as can be, so expect those numbers to shoot up big time because he knows that at 32-years-old, this will be his last big contract.

If the team ever needs a pick-me-up, the Phillies fans will surely give them that extra motivation. Citizens Bank Park will be packed without question for every home game, as the fans are nuts for this team.

It doesn’t hurt that the Phillies are managed by one of the best skippers in the game Charlie Manual. Manual is one cool customer and the players literally worship him.

The Negatives:

All-star 2B Chase Utley’s injury situation keeps looking more grim with each passing day. The latest confirmed by MLB Trade Rumors is the worst news yet, as the Phillies have signed Mets throwaway Luis Castillo. Castillo got kicked to the curb by NY’s other team a week ago, despite having to eat $6 million owed just to get him to leave.

This is the Mets, who financially are in serious hot water, presumably wouldn’t waste money unless the situation was dire. Same reason the Phillies went out and grabbed Castillo, desperation because Utley knee must be really bad. It is embarrassing for the Phillies, as Utley must have felt his knee had a problem during the off-season. Utley has yet to play in a game this spring. YIKES!

It would be impossible for the ‘fab four’ to throw for nine innings every start, but my bet is they will try. Handing the ball to Brad Lidge after working eight shutout innings does not reassure a win at all. Lidge hasn’t been the same since 2008 and a closer has to be consistent. Lidge has been flirting with biceps tendonitis this spring but he did pitch an inning in a minor league game and it went well. Lidge has to get back to his World Series Championship form so the starting rotations efforts aren’t a total waste.

I have said from the moment Jayson Werth was not re-signed that the team would seriously regret it. This I still firmly believe as Werth was their only power right hitter. Werth really carried the team in 2010 when Utley, Rollins and Ryan Howard were all on the DL.

Werth still preformed pretty much knowing he was a goner at the end of the season.

How did he know this? Continue reading ‘2011 MLB Team Preview: Philadelphia Phillies’ »

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MLB Hot Sove: Can Money Beat Misery? Just Ask Jayson Werth

Posted by on 6 December 2010, 10:44 am

When I saw the latest MLB news was that ex-Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Jayson Werth had signed with the Washington Nationals, I ran right to my computer to Google the truth.

To my utter disbelief, it was true. Werth signed with the Nationals for the next seven years and $126 million dollar paycheck.

Werth had many options as one of the coveted free agents this offseason, with teams like the Red Sox, Angeles and his own Phillies in the mix.

So, signing with the not-going-to-win Nationals was shocking—until you saw the price tag and remember he hired a new agent named Scott Boras.

Moving from the Phillies, who won the 2008 World Series and four straight NL East titles, to one that finished in last place in 2010 with a 69-93 record and has yet to have a winning record since 2003 makes absolutely no sense for three reasons.

1) Playing for the Nationals and your chances of even getting in playoff contention is slim. Hope rolling in dollar bills can make up for having to play everyday and losing consistently.

2) From the franchise’s prospective, it makes no sense to spend that money on a 31 year old that made $2.5 million in 2010.

What a way to piss off all the other teams the day before the Winter Meetings, especially Los Angeles Angels GM Tony Reagins, who must be ready to kill Boras and the Nationals, along with every other GM in baseball because prices just went up.

3) For Werth, a lesson will be learned because playing 162 games for a losing ball-club, who will have an empty park, is worth no amount of money. Werth was an All-Star as a Philly too. Remember that Nationals phenom Stephen Strasburg is out for the entire 2011 season and that was the only time fans showed up.

This reeks of Scott Boras. Boras tends to get his players to go for the green instead of where they can utilize their skills. Yes, it usually means less of a payday, but gaining personal achievements to be a tad less rich is a no brainier.

Boras brainwashes his clients that the better deal pays more, as if the team that is showing Werth the money appreciates his value more. Continue reading ‘MLB Hot Sove: Can Money Beat Misery? Just Ask Jayson Werth’ »

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Philadelphia Phillies Are Dumb To Trade Jayson Werth

Posted by on 23 July 2010, 7:50 pm

The last week before the MLB trade deadline on July 31st is usually an eventful and dramatic couple of days up until the last second.

The players who are on the trading block are not exciting and certainly bring no guarantee.

The only proven difference-maker was SP Cliff Lee, who was traded to the Texas Rangers two weeks ago. Lee was 2010’s diamond in the rough, or technically on the mound, because the fact is, he makes a team better.

The rest of the rumored players on the chopping block, minus Philadelphia Phillies right-fielder Jayson Werth, do not come with any certificate of guarantee. With Lee a goner already, this makes Werth a very popular guy.

It would be hard to believe the Phillies’ for sale sign is out on Werth. With 2B Chase Uttley on the DL till September and leadoff hitter SS Jimmy Rollins not 100 percent healthy, it doesn’t make much sense to me.

You can bet one thing for sure: The Phillies wish they had never let Cliff Lee go in the first place.

It’s crazy that a pitcher of the caliber and talent of Cliff Lee has worn four different uniforms in less than two seasons. That number be five after 2010 is over because Texas cannot afford Lee, or themselves for that matter.

Going back to Werth, he is not putting up the numbers he is capable of at all. Surely not the best timing, as Werth is a free agent at the end of 2010.

Is Werth to blame for his sub-par stats and should teams be proceeding with caution?

Absolutely not, considering the Phillies flipped Werth the bird and handed 1B Ryan Howard a blank check a year before his current contract is up, which isn’t till after 2011. Continue reading ‘Philadelphia Phillies Are Dumb To Trade Jayson Werth’ »

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Pitching Preview: Champion New York Yankees vs. Philadelphia Phillies Game 3

Posted by on 14 June 2010, 11:30 pm

Pitching Preview: Champs vs. Phillies Game 3 will be looking at a pair of veterans on Thursday’s match-up, in this 2009 World Series revival between the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Yankees.

Game 3:

Southpaws’ Andy Pettitte vs. Jamie Moyer, is a battle of the veterans. They are two of only three active pitchers to throw for 3000 innings (#3 Tim Wakefield – Red Sox). That is a joint of 6000+ innings between the two.

Considering Moyer has been in the majors for 24 seasons, and is 47 years young is incredible to begin with. Moyer allows Yankee fans to dream that their ace Pettitte could be around for 10 more seasons. Hey, you can always dream and you never know.

 

Jamie Moyer is a risk. At times he looks 47 years old, but he still has thrown a few electric games this season that make him look brilliant. Moyer’s ERA is 5.03, but to be fair the Phillies bats have been dead lately so he gets no help. For oldest starter in the majors, Moyer has defied odds already. He has already thrown two complete games and one shutout in 2010. Against, the Red Sox he got killed last week and I predict the Yankees will do the same. Moyer pitches better in day games and in Citizens Bank Park, so that is two strikes against his odds already. The third is the Yankees hitters are the most patient in baseball, and don’t swing for strikes from off-speed pitches. Unfortunately, Moyer’s biggest strength this season is his off-speed pitched, but he won’t be confusing the Yankees to swing. Continue reading ‘Pitching Preview: Champion New York Yankees vs. Philadelphia Phillies Game 3’ »

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