Comments on: Sometimes luck plays a role http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/05/31/sometimes-luck-plays-a-role/ A New York Yankees blog by Chad Jennings and the staff of The Journal News Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:56:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: lil' m http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/05/31/sometimes-luck-plays-a-role/comment-page-3/#comment-371366 lil' m Sat, 31 May 2008 23:43:56 +0000 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/05/31/sometimes-luck-plays-a-role/#comment-371366 Moose is smart as a whip (and not just about pitching), has a dry sense of humor, and is very easy on the eyes. And yes, it's a girl thing lol. Moose is smart as a whip (and not just about pitching), has a dry sense of humor, and is very easy on the eyes. And yes, it’s a girl thing lol.

]]> By: jon http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/05/31/sometimes-luck-plays-a-role/comment-page-3/#comment-371293 jon Sat, 31 May 2008 22:58:30 +0000 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/05/31/sometimes-luck-plays-a-role/#comment-371293 Not exactly sure what the point is, but these are the facts: 1) wins are a meaningless statistic to evaluate pitchers. If you'd prefer the guy with 20 wins and 4.00 ERA to a guy with 10 wins and 2.00 ERA, you're a fool. Wins are a function of run support. 2) Mussina has been somewhat lucky, because he's giving up a lot of line drives and more of them should be falling for hits. Chacon has been very lucky. Based on how he's pitched, his ERA should be above 5. If you're talking about lucky/unlucky in terms of wins: 1) There's no point. 2) sure, Mussina has gotten more run support and has a better bullpen behind him. If that's lucky, then fine. 3) I don't care. Mussina going to the All-star game? You're kidding, right? Which pitchers exactly, from the following list, does he have even the slightest chance of being picked over? Lee, Marcum, Matsuzaka, Saunders, Greinke, Contreras, Halladay, Santana, Floyd, Shields, Vazquez, Lester, Wang, Beckett, Greg Smith, Litsch, and the other 15 or so guys with a better ERA and WHIP? Not exactly sure what the point is, but these are the facts:

1) wins are a meaningless statistic to evaluate pitchers. If you’d prefer the guy with 20 wins and 4.00 ERA to a guy with 10 wins and 2.00 ERA, you’re a fool. Wins are a function of run support.

2) Mussina has been somewhat lucky, because he’s giving up a lot of line drives and more of them should be falling for hits. Chacon has been very lucky. Based on how he’s pitched, his ERA should be above 5.

If you’re talking about lucky/unlucky in terms of wins:

1) There’s no point.
2) sure, Mussina has gotten more run support and has a better bullpen behind him. If that’s lucky, then fine.
3) I don’t care.

Mussina going to the All-star game? You’re kidding, right?

Which pitchers exactly, from the following list, does he have even the slightest chance of being picked over?

Lee, Marcum, Matsuzaka, Saunders, Greinke, Contreras, Halladay, Santana, Floyd, Shields, Vazquez, Lester, Wang, Beckett, Greg Smith, Litsch, and the other 15 or so guys with a better ERA and WHIP?

]]> By: buck terguson http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/05/31/sometimes-luck-plays-a-role/comment-page-3/#comment-371208 buck terguson Sat, 31 May 2008 20:48:43 +0000 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/05/31/sometimes-luck-plays-a-role/#comment-371208 Be careful, notice that PeteAbe didn't specify that Mussina has been the beneficiary of good luck. It could also be read as Chacon being at the receiving end of some bad luck. Wins don't really provide a context to evaluate a pitcher's performance--thats why they aren't useful. That being said Mussina is doing this year what he didn't do last year--which was help himself out. This isn't the Mike Mussina of last year or especially 5+ years ago. I think he finally adjusted to the fact that he no longer has the stuff to nibble around the outside corner. You guys want luck? Aaron Small was lucky (thats why comparing Rasner to Small makes me cringe). Be careful, notice that PeteAbe didn’t specify that Mussina has been the beneficiary of good luck.

It could also be read as Chacon being at the receiving end of some bad luck.

Wins don’t really provide a context to evaluate a pitcher’s performance–thats why they aren’t useful.

That being said Mussina is doing this year what he didn’t do last year–which was help himself out. This isn’t the Mike Mussina of last year or especially 5+ years ago. I think he finally adjusted to the fact that he no longer has the stuff to nibble around the outside corner.

You guys want luck? Aaron Small was lucky (thats why comparing Rasner to Small makes me cringe).

]]> By: Amanda http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/05/31/sometimes-luck-plays-a-role/comment-page-3/#comment-371202 Amanda Sat, 31 May 2008 20:37:23 +0000 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/05/31/sometimes-luck-plays-a-role/#comment-371202 I'd give Mussina a contract like Andy has; & I'd also keep Giambi for less/1yr; but then again I'm of the few who have had faith in them both all along. In a perfect world, I'd probably shift Moose over to the BP in 2010 providing the kids are healthy, give him a year of spreading his knowledge around there in a more hands on way, and then he can retire and hopefully end up HOF bound. [I'm sure this makes sense in my head and not in theory, but hey. I for one DO think he could pitch out of the BP... I'll even bribe him with a few candy bars!] All I know is there seems to be on specific player who is fielding better when Mussina is on the mound vs last year... and I'm happy about that! :) I’d give Mussina a contract like Andy has; & I’d also keep Giambi for less/1yr; but then again I’m of the few who have had faith in them both all along. In a perfect world, I’d probably shift Moose over to the BP in 2010 providing the kids are healthy, give him a year of spreading his knowledge around there in a more hands on way, and then he can retire and hopefully end up HOF bound. [I'm sure this makes sense in my head and not in theory, but hey. I for one DO think he could pitch out of the BP... I'll even bribe him with a few candy bars!]

All I know is there seems to be on specific player who is fielding better when Mussina is on the mound vs last year… and I’m happy about that! :)

]]> By: sw http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/05/31/sometimes-luck-plays-a-role/comment-page-3/#comment-371199 sw Sat, 31 May 2008 20:36:29 +0000 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/05/31/sometimes-luck-plays-a-role/#comment-371199 mel wrote: "It’s a girl thing." Mussina has no shortage of female fans, he is nice to look at. :P @GreenBeret I thought Koufax had to quit because his arm was killing him? mel wrote: “It’s a girl thing.”
Mussina has no shortage of female fans, he is nice to look at. :P

@GreenBeret
I thought Koufax had to quit because his arm was killing him?

]]> By: RSM http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/05/31/sometimes-luck-plays-a-role/comment-page-3/#comment-371198 RSM Sat, 31 May 2008 20:35:51 +0000 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/05/31/sometimes-luck-plays-a-role/#comment-371198 Bellaire, I agree that Betemit is a butcher in the field. He literally stinks at every position he plays. However, I would keep him and limit his use solely to pinch hitting. He is (supposedly) a switch hitter and has some pop. He can come of the bench for specific match ups late in games. Ensberg the guy who needs to go. Bring back AG in his place, and we'll have a true back up infielder and a guy with some speed to pinch run late in games, both of which this team is missing. Ideally, Shelley should be replaced with a guy that can actually play good 1st base to sub for Giambi late in games with a lead. I'm not sure who that guy is though? Regardless of what they do, the bench needs better balance. All of our bench players seem to fill the same role. Bellaire,

I agree that Betemit is a butcher in the field. He literally stinks at every position he plays. However, I would keep him and limit his use solely to pinch hitting. He is (supposedly) a switch hitter and has some pop. He can come of the bench for specific match ups late in games. Ensberg the guy who needs to go. Bring back AG in his place, and we’ll have a true back up infielder and a guy with some speed to pinch run late in games, both of which this team is missing.

Ideally, Shelley should be replaced with a guy that can actually play good 1st base to sub for Giambi late in games with a lead. I’m not sure who that guy is though?

Regardless of what they do, the bench needs better balance. All of our bench players seem to fill the same role.

]]> By: GreenBeret7 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/05/31/sometimes-luck-plays-a-role/comment-page-3/#comment-371181 GreenBeret7 Sat, 31 May 2008 20:22:11 +0000 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/05/31/sometimes-luck-plays-a-role/#comment-371181 Moose call, Sandy Koufax retired in 1966 after a record of 27-9, ERA of 1.73 and 317 strikeouts, 323 innings pitched. He's not the only one, though. Moose call, Sandy Koufax retired in 1966 after a record of 27-9, ERA of 1.73 and 317 strikeouts, 323 innings pitched. He’s not the only one, though.

]]> By: RSM http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/05/31/sometimes-luck-plays-a-role/comment-page-3/#comment-371180 RSM Sat, 31 May 2008 20:22:08 +0000 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/05/31/sometimes-luck-plays-a-role/#comment-371180 Mussina has had some better run support this season, but in fairness, the defense has also coughed up a fair amount of unearned runs in his starts too. So, I'm not sure how much "luck" has to do with his record. I like Chacon, but the stat that jumps out at me is the difference in walks. Walks kill a pitcher. Those "big" innings are usually the innings with a few walks. That's why guys like Santana can be successful despite giving up so many homers. Without the walks, they are just solo homers. I tip my cap to Moose. Put me in the camp of fans surprised at his turn around. Let's just hope it lasts the entire season. Mussina has had some better run support this season, but in fairness, the defense has also coughed up a fair amount of unearned runs in his starts too. So, I’m not sure how much “luck” has to do with his record. I like Chacon, but the stat that jumps out at me is the difference in walks. Walks kill a pitcher. Those “big” innings are usually the innings with a few walks. That’s why guys like Santana can be successful despite giving up so many homers. Without the walks, they are just solo homers.

I tip my cap to Moose. Put me in the camp of fans surprised at his turn around. Let’s just hope it lasts the entire season.

]]> By: Vrsce http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/05/31/sometimes-luck-plays-a-role/comment-page-3/#comment-371176 Vrsce Sat, 31 May 2008 20:12:55 +0000 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/05/31/sometimes-luck-plays-a-role/#comment-371176 People who play the Race card in baseball are generally Jokers People who play the Race card in baseball are generally Jokers

]]> By: Bellaire http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/05/31/sometimes-luck-plays-a-role/comment-page-3/#comment-371172 Bellaire Sat, 31 May 2008 20:08:26 +0000 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/05/31/sometimes-luck-plays-a-role/#comment-371172 "Second, the Yankees clubhouse could use a few more African-Americans." The clubhouse can use better ballplayers. Even if they are white, black, asian, alien, red, blue. “Second, the Yankees clubhouse could use a few more African-Americans.”

The clubhouse can use better ballplayers. Even if they are white, black, asian, alien, red, blue.

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