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New York Yankees: It’s Not You It’s Baseball

Posted by on 15 September 2011, 6:15 am

Even though I hate reporting on Yankee player’s personal lives, but exceptions are made when it is pertains to helping the team win.

Admittedly, I am sure most of us can relate to the havoc that being in an unhappy relationship can create.

So, it came as no surprise that another Yankee star choose baseball over his girlfriend, but the back-to-back timing on is just ironic.

First it was the Captain Derek Jeter, who kicked actress Minka Kelly to the curb post All-Star break and instantaneously ended his yearlong slump. Yes, there was the pressure of Jeter getting his 3000th career hit but the Captain was stinking it up last season too.

Pre-All Star break, Jeter was hitting .270, with 24 RBIs, 35 strikeouts, eight steal; while posting a .330 OBP and a .353 slugging.

Sans Minka, the Captain’s numbers have been superb. Jeter is posting a .330 batting average, knocking 71 hits, 33 RBIs with a .343 OBP and a slugging .428. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: It’s Not You It’s Baseball’ »

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New York Yankees: Most Valuable Player

Posted by on 7 September 2011, 2:04 am

Without question New York Yankees Curtis Granderson is having an MVP worthy season, but the odds are stacked that he won’t win it.

The one reason being that the BBWAA (Baseball Writers Association of America) has not voted an AL player the MVP with a below .300 average since Alex Rodriguez won the honor posting a .298 back in 2003. Before A-rod, it was California Angels Don Baylor who won in 1979 with a .296 average.

That makes me believe that Granderson’s .271 average is just not going to cut it, which is completely insane in my opinion.

Also the fact that Granderson is a Yankee probably doesn’t help his campaign either; and in the end he will not muster enough votes to win an award he rightly has earned.

Granderson is leading all the Majors in runs (126) and RBIs (109). Not to mention he is second overall in home-runs with 38, is fourth in slugging with .575, ninth in OPS (on-base plus slugging) with .948 and tenth in walks drawing 77 so far. Granderson also has 24 steals on the season.

Another stat that I found interesting was that Granderson has clocked 609 at-bats (as of 09/06), which ranks 15th most in baseball, and tied with Texas Rangers Michael Young. Big deal right…but than I saw that Granderson has made pitchers throw a total of 2724, which is the most in the Majors.

Call me crazy but that translates into Granderson making pitchers have to work the hardest when he is at the plate. Sounds pretty MVP-like to me??

So, why batting average is an invalid excuse?

Just because batting average (BA) is the most recognizable hitting statistic, it is not the only way to test a hitter and can be unfairly interpreted.

For example, power hitters habitually strikeout more, which is the reason for their more modest batting averages. Still this is without taking into consideration that these power bats subsidize this by hitting a lot of extra base hits, which are more effective in scoring runs.

So when assessing a power hitter, slugging percentage (SLG) is the superior statistic in determining real value because it factors in the number of bases achieved by each hit, instead of seeing all hits as equal. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Most Valuable Player’ »

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The New York Yankees Are Lucky To Have Brett Gardner

Posted by on 5 July 2010, 11:30 pm

The New York Yankees have a rising superstar in their mitts, with Brett Gardner.

At first, I was hesitant to believe this 5’9 player had just hit some beginners luck at the start of the season. Still, I never questioned his work ethic because all you have to do is watch Gardner and that becomes evident.

Now this prosperity is consistent, as Gardner has stood out all season making dynamic catches out in left-field to hitting in clutch situations. He makes contact with 93% of his swings.

Let’s not forget how fast the 23 year-old is on the bases. Gardner has stolen 24 bases this season and has an 83% success rate.

Gardner is an all-around nuisance to have to play against because he can do it all. Whether it is in the field, on the bases or at-bat he cannot be ignored or else he will make an enemy pay for forgetting.

Try watching Gardner at the plate, the way he reads the ball with such wise eyes that are well beyond his years. Gardner has kept up with baseball’s best as a Yankee and has stolen the spotlight playing the game the right way.

In essence, Brett Gardner continues to be the glue holding the New York Yankees together . A true team player who comes out every game to win and plays hard.

He is having an All-Star season with 29 RBIs, 33 walks, five home-runs, six doubles, four triples, a .319 batting average and .401 on-base-percentage.

Have a feeling that there is plenty of time for Brett Gardner who I look forward to seeing represent baseball as an All-Star for years to come.

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Believe It Or Not The Yankees Secret Weapon

Posted by on 7 May 2010, 8:30 am

PLAYER PROFILE: BRETT GARDNER #11 CF, LF

Standing just shy of 5’10, at first glance Brett Gradner does not look like much a weapon.

Garder was deemed to small, not talented enough for the main-stage and critics baffled his life on the all-star roaster of the New York Yankees would be shorter, than sweeter.

Well, I beg to differ right from the start.

Appearing by name in 2009, Gardner’s rookie season landed him in a foursome of rotating outfield, sharing time largely in center with Melky Cabrera.

Even though he was steady on both offense and defense, Gardner was more of a substitute player. Gardner knew his appeal was his speed.

Not being an everyday player, in addition to nearly two months, on the DL with fractured left thumb, Gardner still racked up 26 steals but was only caught five times.

So far 2010 all we have witnessed is a better Brett Gardner.

Regardless of batting last  (9th) in the line-up, Gardner is a tough out for any pitcher. He has a natural instinct for pitches and when he swings at something it usually touches wood.

In 81 at-bats, Gardner has 28 hits, 9 RBIs, 11 walks and 13 steals, and caught just one time. The real diamond in the rough is his OBP is .430. That goes along with .346 average; translation…this kid gets on base, a ton. Continue reading ‘Believe It Or Not The Yankees Secret Weapon’ »

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Letting Godzilla Move To Matsui-land

Posted by on 6 April 2010, 8:18 pm

New York Yankees DH Nick Johnson went 0-3 on Sunday, walked twice and stuck out. Up goes his OBP, and didn’t help the Yankees who lost 9-7 in Fenway Park.

A day later, on the West Coast, the World Series MVP Hideki Matsui went 2-3, driving in two runs in the fifth and a solo blast in the eighth leading the Los Angeles Angels to a 6-3 win against the Minnesota Twins.

Matsui once again showed his clutch DH bat was the difference maker.

Looking back to the Yankees loss on Sunday, makes me miss our MVP and wonder how Godzilla ever was allowed to move to Matsiland.

Matsui replacement, Nick Johnson raised his On Base Percentage with two walks but explain how that’s going to help win games. Johnson can not steal, and his 8 home-runs and 62 RBIs from 2009 are subpar stats for the second slot behind in the batting order. Continue reading ‘Letting Godzilla Move To Matsui-land’ »

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