A few links of note for you
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- May
- 26
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Welcome back from the holiday weekend. You and I both know you have no interest in actually working. So here are a few links to help you kill some time:
My pal Mark Hale of the Post has a new blog that looks interesting. He’ll be sparking discussion with various sports lists. Mark is a smart guy and a fine writer, so check out what he’s up to.
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Joe at River Ave. Blues has a good post on some trade options if the Yankees decide they need bullpen help.
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Baseball Reference.com has acquired the rights to the Tattersall/McConnell Home Run Encyclopedia. The database contains info on every home run hit since 1876. Now BR has home run logs for every hitter and pitcher. Lots of good data. Who did A-Rod hit his first jack against? Tom Gordon.
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The new Demolition of Yankee Stadium blog is interesting to keep tabs on. There are many photos of the old Stadium as they take it apart.
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Dan Le Betard of the Miami Herald wrote an excellent feature on Jim Leyritz and his struggles in life. As he waits to stand trial for killing a woman while driving drunk, Leyritz contends that he is not to blame.
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The author of the Al Leiter’s Bullpen Catcher blog has been on the road lately, traveling to Toronto and Cooperstown. There are some good photos.
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on Tuesday, May 26th, 2009 at 9:30 am by Peter Abraham.
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Chad Jennings
Sam Borden
“You and I both know you have no interest in actually working.”
Pete, were you sitting in the next cubicle over from me when you wrote that?
Who saw Jose Canseco get knocked out in a minute and 17 second – HA
And PLEASE no talk about Jose, just enjoy him getting beat!! Lol
Enjoy the links
We can certainly bank on Melancon, because Melancon is money.
The mistake would be to wait too long to bring him up. He needs to get innings UP HERE so that the adjutment period occurs well in advance of the stretch run, when he’ll already be entrenched if summoned soon. It’s not like they have to be delicate with him – he’s not going to turn into a pumpkin at midnight.
And yes, I have no interest in working, but a dismal conference call is upon me in 11 minutes. Ugh. I’ll just say “mm..mm,” while I read about the Yankees
So my wife and I got a little break from parenting this weekend. My brother’s family kindly volunteered to babysit our 3 1/2 month old girl and give us a couple nights rest.
He, his wife, and their two teenage boys are all Red Sox fans and (predictably) our little girl was wearing a tiny Red Sox jersey when we picked her up. Should I have turned them all in to Social Services or was that a bad solution?
When we gave the jersey back (they’d kept it since when their boys were that little) we asked my sister in law where that laundry basket was “since we had to wipe with the Red Sox jersey when we changed her diaper”.
The feud goes on ….
ANSKY -
How did you end up with a Red Sox fan and a Yankees fan in the same family???
Doreen – Only one of us turned out to be functionally literate.
I saw Melancon yesterday when I was at the AAA game and he seems like such a nice guy. Hopefully we will be seeing him up here again soon.
Actually, I became a Yanks fan in the early 90’s after I moved to NYC.
Ansky
Never turn down weekend babysitting no matter the persons bad taste in alliances.
Next time take her home in the uni and put it in safe keeping; your daughter will remain Sox paraphernalia free in the future.
Great article on Leyritz. The only thing I knew about the incident was from the headlines. I thought he was suicidal and I had no idea the other woman in the accident was drunk.
The article goes a long way in helping people see there is another side of the story. I hope it works out for him, especially for his kids’ sake.
Pat – You’d think so, but they’ll never quit using the same ammo that’s been blindly used by Sox fans for years: the phrase “At least the Red Sox didn’t buy their championships with free agents” has been seriously used in conversations by the 13-year old. Although the bro actually tries to teach them not to think that way, they’re still Sox fans to the core. In a good-natured way of course. I’d be willing to bet the boys even try to stick a temporary Red Sox tattoo on her some day. As long as it’s not a permanent one there won’t be a problem.
Bullpen issues? Look, this isn’t a “make Phil Hughes an eighth-inning guy” post. But consider these two things: the Yankees are about to have six starters (certainly not a bad thing), and Phil Hughes has an innings cap on him this year. They could certainly pat him on the back and send him down once Wang is ready, and that wouldn’t be the end of the world, given that he’s pitched well enough recently so the demotion won’t hurt his confidence. There is another option, though – let him get his innings in as a Gossage-style multi-inning bullpen ace. He can still build towards his innings limit while contributing at the major-league level, and it would be easier for him to slide back in the rotation after AJ pulls an oblique pieing Melky for the fifteenth time this season. Joba going six and then everybody holding their breath until Mariano gets the call is tough. Joba going six and then Hughes picking up the last three? Works a lot better for me. Long term, he’s still a starter until proven otherwise, and he’s absolutely the first guy in if part of the rotation goes down, but that doesn’t mean he can’t help this team out when the starting five is at full strength.
Kevin- I have to agree. I suggest you guys read that article about Leyritz. While it is impossible to defend the man for driving drunk, I was not aware that the lady had a record of drunk driving herself and was texting the moment the accident happened. I nearly hit people when I am texting and not drunk, I can’t imgine doing it while intoxicated and driving.
It is a sad situation all around. The bottom line is that this woman was killed and there is some responsibility Jim must take for this event. I do however think that there is more to this tragic event that the media has failed to report. His life is now changed forever, and it is all because he was stupid and decided to drink and drive. More people should learn from his mistake; too many people are killed because of this selfish act.
IMO unless he pitches more games like last night and starts to flash an ERA in the 3’s (not yet) or Wang goes out and proves he’s actually lost it (unlikely) or someone gets hurt (possible) then Hughes is eventually going back to Scranton until the rosters expand in September. If he pitches well now and shows that toughness Damon challenged him to show, then he takes Pettitte’s place in the rotation (for good) next season.
That Le Batard article is phenomenal. It’s an impossibly difficult situation, I can only imagine, and getting Leyritz’s perspective is definitely long overdue. It seemed like from the moment the accident happened 2 years ago, there was no room for any gray area regarding what happened: Leyritz was hammered and as a result killed the woman. Same thing for the failed breathalyzer recently, as well as the report of him being suicidal: only one side of the story.
I find Le Batard really annoying when he’s on PTI, but he did a great job getting inside The King’s head and presenting his side. There can be no happy ending to the story but I’m hopeful that Leyritz can come to grips with everything, for his own sake as well as for the sake of his kids.
Did not read the article yet, but she was also not wearing her seat belt. I read if she was she would have lived. Yes he was a jack — for driving drunk, she could have just as easily killed someone as him.
Bodhisattva
Would you take me by the hand
Bodhisattva
Would you take me by the hand
Can you show me
The shine of your Japan
The sparkle of your china
Can you show me
Bodhisattva
Bodhisattva
I’m gonna sell my house in town
Bodhisattva
I’m gonna sell my house in town
And I’ll be there
To shine in your Japan
To sparkle in your China
Yes I’ll be there
Bodhisattva
Just finished the Leyritz article myself. It’s amazing how much your feelings change after hearing both sides. Obviously he was driving drunk and it’s stupid and any other adjective you want to throw out there along those lines probably fits.
However, IF IF IF IF IF, what he is saying is true, then he could’ve been a thousand percent sober and the same accident happens. For those that didn’t read the article (which you really really should) Leyritz says there are witnesses that saw him go through a YELLOW light, meaning the other woman ran the red light, and not him. Her BAC was .18 and phone records indicate she was texting at the time of the accident.
I guess we’ll see what happens in the legal system.
Those demolition photos are pretty hard to look at. Right now, the only reason I want the old stadium gone is to see if it has any affect on the HRs being hit at the new one. Other than that, as far as I’m concerned, they should have left it standing.
SJ44,
You say Swisher has been bad for a calendar year, well he was good for 2 calendar years previous to that. So far this year he’s had one great month, one terrible month. The jury is still out on him. He could very well put together a good season and be our starting RF in 2010. I’m not willing to give up on him just yet.
I dunno, I’m not getting down on Swish. There’s nothing wrong with a .225/.360/.493 (A-Rod’s just got done showing us how worthless that first number is) line from a corner outfielder, and his BAbip still hasn’t positively regressed. That he’s not hitting line drives is a little worrisome. I realize correlation != causation, but his recent cold streak started after he got hit on the elbow. Is that affecting him and he’s not letting on?
But, he wasn’t good for the entire month of April Patrick. Look at his numbers. He began his slide the last week-10 days of April.
He has been a bad hitter for over a year.
You can’t keep going back in time to look at hitters fishing for numbers that make a good argument.
Two years ago, Hideki Matsui and David Ortiz were great hitters. I don’t know if people would say that about them right now.
For the last 500+ plate appearances, Nick Swisher has been a below average major league hitter. Can he turn it around? Unlikely.
If he could turn it around, don’t you think he would have done so already?
Some guys just peak at certain stages of their careers and don’t get better. That’s why Nick is best suited to be a super sub kind of player. He’s just not consistent enough to play everyday.
Just finished watching the Director’s Cut of Das Boot.
Man, I feel like I’ve spent about 3 months on a sub. That was intense.
“You can’t keep going back in time to look at hitters fishing for numbers that make a good argument.”
Sure you can when the player in question is only 28 and he hasn’t been injured.
And I’m far from convinced Ortiz and Matsui are done, either.
Historical perspective is important to avoid overreacting to current trends. For instance, two starts ago people were advocating trading Hughes for Choo!
He turned it around this April. You can’t use Ortiz and Matsui as examples, they are aging guys with lots of injuries. Swisher is healthy and just entering his prime.
You keep saying he only did it for 2 weeks in April, that is wrong, look here: http://mlb.mlb.com/stats/indiv.....statType=1
He hit very well for the entire month. Yes he was bad last year but that is out of line with the rest of his career. You can’t tell me he’s done after one bad month of May.
If you look at the whole picture the odds are Swisher will end up with a good year. By that I mean he will most likely end the season around .250/.370/.460 with 25-30 HR.
Patrick-
You are correct on Swisher’s April – there is nothing in the game logs to support the “only the first 10 games” theory.
From the last thread:
How can you talk about giving up Wang!?!?!?!?!
19 wins
19 wins
8-2 when he got hurt.
He’s not exactly done, he’s recovering from an injury, which sometimes takes longer then you would hope. Wang will be fine…. it may be next time out, it may take another month, but you don’t just give up on someone who has the potential to win 18-20 games every year.
“So far this year he’s had one great month”
What he really did was sandwich a tremendous 1st week and a few good games at the end of April around a 2 week stretch where he was as useless as he’s been in the month of May. I don’t know if he’s historically a streaky hitter, but his funks this year have run considerably longer than his hot streaks. I think SJ’s assessment that he’s been pretty lousy over the past 14 months is pretty fair. Too young to write him off, but Giambi got killed by some around here for being a better version of what Swisher has been so far. Swisher’s numbers to date aren’t all that far from what the back of his baseball card says he is.
Nice try Wave. Too bad the stathead argument doesn’t wash here.
If you have the last 8 months of play to look at a player, and he has been poor for 7 of them, you definitely take that into consideration and yes, that does take over what he did in 2006.
BTW, David Ortiz is a DH and only 33 years old. That’s not “old”, especially considering that he doesn’t play in the field.
I know all you statheads are convinced that because Swisher walks a lot, there is a dangerous offensive player lurking in the woods just waiting to bust out.
The fact is, he has been a poor hitter for the better part of a year. That’s not a “slump”. That’s who he is, regardless of his age, at this point of his career.
One of the problems of solely looking at numbers, and believing they all even out is, you don’t put context into them.
As far as ALL MLB are concerned, the last two years of numbers have to be view differently becuase of two very important reasons:
1. Stricter testing for PED’s.
2. Testing for Greenies.
That does play a role in determining one’s numbers. Some players productivity have dramatically decreased since the drug testing rules have tightened.
Its why going back too far in time can be fools gold.
Tonight’s game is a chance for A.J. Burnett to put himself on course for better things to come.
In recent games the Yankees hitters are giving pitchers run support and cushions to work with.
Choo is an awful fielder.
IMO, the best thing to happen to Swisher will be Nady coming back and playing RF consistently. Right now, Swisher’s game is really best suited for a bench role, and when he plays he would be most effective at the bottom of the order.
Having an 8th or 9th hitter who can work a count, draw a walk, or get the occasional extra base hit is a huge advantage. Swisher simply strikes out too often to be a middle of the order bat, and if this lineup is healthy, he doesn’t need to bat higher than 8th.
“BTW, David Ortiz is a DH and only 33 years old. That’s not “old”, especially considering that he doesn’t play in the field.”
If David Ortiz is 33 years old, I’m the Queen of England.
SJ:
Noticed BC’s solid performance in the ACC tourney earned them a spot in the big tourney for the 1st time in who knows how long. Congrats to your nephew.
“Nice try Wave. Too bad the stathead argument doesn’t wash here.”
I guess it doesn’t wash with the kind of guy who thinks Hughes’ dad was too wealthy for Hughes to be much good.
I like to try to be a little more analytical!
Vince
May 26th, 2009 at 11:39 am
Tonight’s game is a chance for A.J. Burnett to put himself on course for better things to come.
In recent games the Yankees hitters are giving pitchers run support and cushions to work with.
—–
Joba tonight Vince
Vince-Jobber starting tonight. AJ tomorrow
Looking at that game log the last three games in April Swish was: 2-3 HR, 2-5 2HR, and 1-2 with 2 walks.
The first game in May he had one at-bat and was hit by that pitch in the elbow. The next four games after that: 0-13, 6K’s.
We’ve seen Jeter go into big slumps after getting hit in the wrists multiple times in the past few years. There’s a chance that Swish is/was playing hurt and the same thing is happening.
Anyone that is good as he was when he was hot is not “done” in a month…. Hopefully he can come back strong, with the way the rest of the line-up has been going, if we can get Swish to put up some numbers again you’re looking at a nice streak
SJ44-
Why can’t you just admit that it’s just your opinion that Swisher won’t regain his pre-2008 form?
That would be fine. But you constantly frame everything in absolutes.
“Tonight’s game is a chance for A.J. Burnett to put himself on course for better things to come.
In recent games the Yankees hitters are giving pitchers run support and cushions to work with.”
Except Joba is pitching tonight…
This isn’t a stathead argument, it’s a logical argument. For most of his career Swisher has been a good to great hitter. For one season he was bad. This year he’s been a little bit of both. The “wait and see” argument is much more logical than saying he’s finished as a player.
“If David Ortiz is 33 years old, I’m the Queen of England.”
This. He has also had a LOT of injuries over the years.
So now your argument is that Swisher was a steroid user? I don’t buy it.
When Swisher finishes the season with a respectable year I’ll accept your apology
“Choo is an awful fielder.”
Yeah, he’s pretty ugly out there.
Swisher is an all or nothing hitter. He refuses to cut his swing down. His 3-2 hack is the same as it is early in the count. I have not seen him try to hit the ball away, or even go up the middle. He is a dead pull hitter, who sees alot of pitches, and takes alot of healthy swings. He has looked pretty sad for an entire month. I love his motor, i love his heart, but this is Nick Swisher for better or worse. There is a reason why Nady was the starter.
“That would be fine. But you constantly frame everything in absolutes.”
Yeah that’s my issue with SJ44’s posts as well.
Nothing to suggest in the game logs he wasn’t good all month?
Did you even read the game logs Wave?
From April 17-27, he was 6-35. You may think that’s good, I don’t.
He got hot the last 3 days of April and has been ice cold since.
He hit in the first 2 1/2 weeks of the season, the last 3 days of April, and nothing since that time. Look at the game logs yourself if you don’t believe it.
Sorry but, that’s not the consistency you need from an everyday corner OF.
I was on the golf course yesterday and couldn’t see the game (watched on MLB app for iPhone, greatest app ever conceived). Anyone know where Tex got hit? Was it bad?
“There is a reason why Nady was the starter.”
And why he only cost Betemit and Marquez.
Going back to the Leyritz piece; definitely was an eye-opener for me to hear his version of the accident. Hopefully he can reconstruct his life from this mess.
Jon,
He got hit on the jersey, barely….
Those demolition photos are rough. That guy has done a nice job with that site. Golf clap.
Now you are mincing stats just like you claim we do. The bottom line is this: Nick Swisher had a good 2006, a good 2007, a bad 2008, a good April 2009 and a bad May 2009. He’s 29 with a good injury history. The odds are, he will have a good season and a good career.
“Jon,
He got hit on the jersey, barely….”
Good stuff, thanks!
From April 17th through the 21st, Swish was 1 for 13.
From April 22nd through the 30th, he was 10 for 34 with 3 home runs.
Lots of players have a 1 for 13 streak. It doesn’t mean their careers is over.
If you pick arbitrary beginning points and ending points, you can always make a player look worse (or better). But overall, and they are arbitrary as well, of course, Swish had a good April and a not-so-good May.
Actually Wave, I said Hughes needed to be tougher on the mound. I theorized his background was an impediment to him acquiring such toughness at an early age.
Since players, like Damon for example, also felt the kid lacked toughness on the mound, it wasn’t exactly an out of bounds comment.
Since Damon called him out, Hughes has displayed that toughness on the mound. Coincidence? Well, even Girardi talked about his newfound toughness in those situations in the post-game yesterday.
Clearly, that was an issue for him and if he has turned the corner in that regard, that’s going to keep him in the majors.
You get upset that I talk in absolutes but, you and Patrick are doing the same thing in this discussion. You are convinced Swisher is going to be revert to 2006-2007 form based on stats from 2006-2007.
My contention is, based on his play over the last two seasons, that’s unlikely. I don’t see why you have your panties in a wad over it. Its turning out that he isn’t the player he was 3 years ago.
Patrick,
I’m not suggesting Swisher was juicing. I am suggesting that you take numbers compiled prior to stricter testing and put them into context.
The farther back you have to go to find a players value numbers-wise, the more you have to be concerned about how and when he compiled the numbers.
Consistency? Does Joe Morgan post here? Consistency is vastly overrated. If Swisher wasn’t scorching hot when he was, the team doesn’t win some of those games. It all balances out in the end. Yeah, Swisher strikes out a bit much, but if what he’s done so far extrapolates over the rest of the season, he’ll be just fine.
And the reason he only cost Betemit and Marquez is because Kenny Williams is an atrocious GM who can’t evaluate talent and had to clear a positional logjam.
Wave,
Swisher is 8-65 In May. That’s a .123 average.
That’s just “not so good” in your mind?
Ok, whatever you say.
I like Swisher and hope he turns it around. He could use a day off or two, which is ironic because going into the season the question was how often would he even play. Unfortunately, Nady might just be a DH when he gets back so the only way Swisher gets a day off is by Gardner, but Gardner has not impressed so another OF might be helpful. Maybe Shelley or J Rod.
It seems like Swisher strikes out a TON, but I looked at the stats and was surprised.
33 players have struck out 40 or more times this year. (Swisher is on that list of course with 43)
But some of the other names on that list surprised me even more.
Longoria – 44, Sizemore – 46, Kemp – 46, Wright – 44. BJ Upton – 52. (other Upton has 44)
The good news for the Yanks – Swish is alone on that list. Tex is next with 34.
Boston barely missed having three guys on the “over 40″ K list.
Ortiz with 41. (seems like it should be a lot more huh?)
Bay with 39.
Drew with 39.
“I am suggesting that you take numbers compiled prior to stricter testing and put them into context.”
Sorry but that’s still a strong suggestion that Swisher was juicing which certainly is a possibility but let’s be up front about it. If you think that’s the case say it, don’t beat around the bush.
We aren’t talking in absolutes. Read my posts a bit more closely. For example,
“The jury is still out on him. He could very well put together a good season and be our starting RF in 2010. I’m not willing to give up on him just yet.”
“If you look at the whole picture the odds are Swisher will end up with a good year.”
“The “wait and see” argument is much more logical than saying he’s finished as a player.”
Through the entire argument I’ve said that I THINK Swisher will end up with a good season but that I’d like to wait and see. You have already come to the conclusion that he’s done which is very premature and quite annoying actually.
SJ$$-
Your posts on Hughes were considerably tougher on him than your summary above would indicate. And yes, theorizing that someone “isn’t tough enough” on the basis of a few starts doesn’t cut it with me, regardless of what Damon may have said, and going further to pile theory on theory about his Hughes’ upbringing is even less convincing.
To the point of fatuousness in my opinion.
And, I never said I was convinced Swisher would do anything. But I said he was more likely to show his pre-2008 form in 2009 than his 2008 form, and I still think so.
And my “not-so-good” characterization of Swisher’s May was tongue in cheek. But perhaps I struggle with tone.
So we can\’t post about the buffet?
“That’s just “not so good” in your mind?”
Read his sentence again. He says Swisher had a good april and a not-so-good may. Yes, I would say a .123 average is not as good as a .313 average.
http://thebuffetisclosed.com/
I guess Roy Halladay must have been really poor growing up. How else did he get so good?
I hope the same people who think Swisher is going to turn things around are not the same people who were crucifying Texiara, and calling for him to be dropped in the lineup when he has a much better track record.
Why do I feel like we SJ and Wave are in the midst of repeating their epic Andy Pettite type argument when it comes to Swisher.
“Lots of players have a 1 for 13 streak. It doesn’t mean their careers is over.”
True enough, but nobody is saying his career is over. Really just saying he is what he is. You don’t like small samples, try this:
Since his remarkable 1st week of the season, his last 36 games have resulted in an average of .178, an OBP of .327 and an OPS of .674. He’s been flat out bad for most of the season. Hasn’t been good defensively either.
“I was going to be the Eric Estrada of Costa Rica,” he says. “All that’s gone now.”
Saddest line I’ve ever read.
gayle-
Please don’t bring up Andy when SJ44 is on a tear. He’ll post another 200 words on the subject!
Coach-
I wish there was a way you could pull all of someone’s comments on Pete’s blog up and review them easily. But I never dumped on Tex, and I’m relatively confident Patrick never did either.
First off Wave, I could care less what cuts it with you and what doesn’t.
Hughes’ issues regarding toughness on the mound wasn’t based just based on a couple of starts this year. He struggled with it all last year. It was one reason why he ended up in Girardi’s doghouse.
That was an acknowledged weakness in his game. Geez, he got called out on it publicly by a teammate!
He is showing toughness by working through it and guess what? He is a more effective pitcher because of it.
Patrick,
You can’t say I post in absolutes and that bugs you and then say I am beating around the bush with Swisher. Pick one and stick with it.
I’m not suggesting Swisher was juicing. I am suggesting that since so many guys have gotten nailed, and more I know were juicing haven’t been publicly outed, I’m not willing to go back as far as you and others are with numbers to determine a players ability.
Its too risky given what we are now learning about what went on prior to stricter testing.
If you want to, be my guest. I just think that’s when you get caught believing a player is more skill-wise than what he may be.
This idea that the first week of the season somehow shouldn’t count is mind-boggling. He’s a streaky player. So, if his first hot streak didn’t come at the beginning, you’d consider his whole season?
Beam me up…
SJ, the voice of authority. Talking about a guy who OPSd 125, 127 and 92. His runs created per game: 6.4, 6.2, 4.5. His line drive percentage is down this year, but he was extremely unlucky on balls put in play last year. No one should argue that he’s a top tier hitter but his skill set is very valuable to a team that does better when it sees more pitches.
He’s drawn 29 walks already this year. Even at home, where he’s really struggled, he’s stayed patient. I suspect the nasty slump has a bit to do with the HBP.
I bet he’ll end around .250/.360/.440, which would be a drop from 2006 and 2007. Whatever secret info SJ professes to possess in his vast font of accrued baseball wisdom, that’s likely the same performance you’d get from Nady (though his skill set would lead to a distribution more along the lines of .280/.330/.470). If you care about batting average, swing away with Nady, but if you care about production, well, they’re fungible on offense (and Swisher probably helps incrementally more by seeing pitches).
Where they miss Nady right now is in the inability to spell Swisher…and more importantly, to get Gardner off the roster.
John,
Where they miss Nady is Swishers ability to spell him, and Tex.
I’d recommend not engaging SJ44 if you don’t agree with him. If you need evidence that access to players doesn’t necessarily correlate with sound opinion, look no farther than the YES broadcast booth.
We aren’t talking about all players SJ, we are talking about Nick Swisher. If you don’t want to accept his pre-2008 numbers because of the steroid issue in baseball, you are effectively saying that it is possible Nick Swisher might have used steroids..
Don’t be afraid to just say that, I have no problem with it. Sure, he might have. But if that’s what you think, say it.
Also, I don’t see how you can’t see the difference in our arguments with regards to Swisher. I have qualified all my statements by saying that I THINK he will bounce back but that I’d like to wait and see. You have left no room for your own error and basically said Nick Swisher is done.
I’m not even going to get into your Phil Hughes diatribe..
“First off Wave, I could care less what cuts it with you and what doesn’t.”
This from a guy who said to me (when I had just been stating my opinions, too): “Too bad the stathead argument doesn’t wash here.”
For a guy who is always quick to tell others what cuts it with you and the rest of the blog (at least as seen by you), what a hypocritical statement.
Or John, how about engaging in a discussion without being a twerp.
Its wonderful that you see Nick Swisher putting up numbers he hasn’t put up in over a year. Just happen to disagree with the point that its a forgone conclusion that he will put up such numbers.
But, when you are a twerp, like yourself, and aren’t able to have a discussion on it, you want to take personal swips at me.
That’s ok because I can do the same.
My belief is that Nick is a good 4th OF, backup first baseman on a good team. I believe the Yankees are a good team. Therefore, I believe his role as an everyday player on this team is ill suited for both he and the team over the course of the season.
So far, his play for this year hasn’t given me a reason to disagree with my original assessment of him as a player.
I like him on the team, just not as an everyday player.
The thing I always find interesting with the new fangled stats is that it seems people can always find a stat that fits their argument.
As much as I am huge fan of Nick all you have to do is look at him at the plate this past month and see he is not an everyday player. Same thing can be said about Matsui. Neither of them at this point are everyday players in any way shape or form no matter what stat you look at.
All you can hope is that they get on a hot streak and you ride it out as long as you can for you always know as long as the hot streak is will be as long as they go dead cold.
I’m not interested in a discussion, SJ. You’re patronizing, blustering and, as far as I’m concerned, wrong about lots of stuff. In the end, Swisher’s best role might be third string catcher for a team on Jupiter. But I’m pretty comfortable in my beliefs, and I think a lot of people are wasting energy by trying to engage you and your jeremiads.
Like I said Patrick, I have no idea if Swisher used PED’s. I do think the drop off in his performance is concerning.
Like I’ve said all along about him, he’s good to have on the team but, I don’t believe he’s an everyday player.
Its not such an out of bounds statement.
I don’t believe he’s going to bounce back to his 2007 form. It would be great for the Yankees if he did.
However, a few good weeks of a season doesn’t make for a bounceback year.
SJ-
Still down for the Hughes-Choo swap?
“Just happen to disagree with the point that its a forgone conclusion that he will put up such numbers.”
Once again you are twisting our statements to fit your argument. Nobody on this blog has said that Swisher will undoubtedly bounce back.
It doesn’t matter what you believe about Nick Swisher, the stats don’t agree with you and as much as you hate it, stats do tell us how good a player is.
“However, a few good weeks of a season doesn’t make for a bounceback year.”
And where exactly has anyone said that it does? Seriously, stop twisting our words to fit your absurd arguments.
Patrick, baby. Wait until you look into Swisher’s eyes and soul to evaluate his consistent inner toughness. Who cares if the guy can work an 11 pitch walk? Some folks are just able to look at a man and see where is heart is. And Nick’s heart is really in a place that suggests he should be a 4th outfielder.
“If you don’t want to accept his pre-2008 numbers because of the steroid issue in baseball,”
One reason I’d have some reservations about buying those numbers is that ‘06 seemed the exception rather than the rule insomuch aas aside from that year he’s never had a sniff of 35 homers, 95 RBI, 100 runs, or an almost .500 slugging percentage.
Would not care to speculate on PED’s and all that. Seems fruitless.
gayle -
I 100% agree with what you just wrote.
The stats don’t agree with me? Really?
Tell me Patrick, what do you see in the 2008-2009 stats from Nick that make you think he is an everyday player at this point in his career?
Our disagreement is in the fact that you are putting more stock into his 2006-2007 numbers than you are his numbers for 2008-2009. I am putting more stock in his 2009-present numbers because I believe they tell me what kind of player he is at this point in his career.
I guess its all in how you view it. The stats from 2008 to now show me he isn’t an everyday player. That stats from 2006-2007 show he is.
I guess it boils down to what numbers you want to use to make your point.
His 2009 stats *do* indicate he’s an every-day player. Your insistence on conflating his 2008-9 stats while rejecting his ‘06-’07 stats paints him in the worst possible light.
How is it painting him in the worst possible light? He compiled those numbers didn’t he?
It wasn’t some other “Nick Swisher” who compiled those numbers.
What some of you want to do is reject his 2008-2009 numbers because they aren’t favorable to the discussion.
I’m not rejecting his 2006-2007 numbers. I’m saying the numbers he has put forth from 2008-now are more germain because they are the most recent.
In other words, I don’t put his 2006-2007 numbers over his 2008-2009 numbers.
The farther and farther a player is from his better numbers the tougher it is to sell he is an everyday player.
I look at all the stats. I think I boiled it down in a pretty simple way earlier. He was good from 2006-2007, bad in 2008 and a mix of both in 2009. Considering he’s still only 29 and has no major injuries it is likely that he will be a good everyday player.
As I’ve repeated over and over, we’ll just have to wait and see. At this point we are arguing in circles and it’s not really enjoyable anymore.
Nick Swisher is an everyday player on this team right now, only because Nady is injured, and there is no better alternative to RF.
You’re right, Swisher’s far better than the .225 average he’s currently hitting at. I just checked and he’s a career .242 hitter. That’s not just the last two years, the last one year, or a streak/slump at any time in his career. That’s just what he is ever since he’s been a big-leaguer.
The team has lacked a good versatile sub for a while. Maybe Swisher’s that guy … 4th OF, backup 1B, switch hitter with a good eye who’s patient as a PH off the bench and he even has some pop. He can draw a walk, work a pitcher’s pitch count up or keep a rally going in certain situations. He can fill in for several weeks or a couple months if needed. Should be no problem with him being that for the Yanks. Very unlikely he’s ever going to hit in the .270s or .280s for much longer than a little hot streak though.
“In other words, I don’t put his 2006-2007 numbers over his 2008-2009 numbers.”
I don’t either, but I don’t dismiss them, either. Put 2008, 2007 and 2006 in a declining 3-2-1 weighting, and it still says Swisher is a valuable asset.
More generally on Swish:
Swisher will do well to hit .260, and he will always strike out a lot. A lot of his value comes from the walks he gets and the pitches he sees. He has a decent slugging average but nothing eye-popping.
He’s the kind of guy whose value to the team comes from the sum of his contributions. A lot of fans just don’t see that kind of ballplayer as a regular.
I think they are wrong, but I understand (I think) the feeling.
SJ, 2008 is the most relevant of his past seasons, certainly, but 2006-2007 are not irrelevant. Furthermore, there is strong empirical evidence to suggest that 2008 was a fluke. Also, lumping 2008 and 2009 together to say he’s been terrible over that stretch ignores the fact that in 2009, he’s been significantly better. It’s logical to consider the two seasons separately when the difference between them includes a new position, a new city, and four months.
The original Cashman plan was to have Swisher backup Tex and Nady. And then, to play more often when he gets hot.
Swisher being in the starting OF was not the plan.
The Yanks will be a much better team when Swish is the sub.
Love the HR log on Baseball Reference.
Who did A-Rod hit his first PED HR off of? Mike Magnante
This may have been posted yesterday but I just got to it and thought it was a good read on AJax.
http://www.newsday.com/sports/.....6186.story
“The thing I always find interesting with the new fangled stats is that it seems people can always find a stat that fits their argument.”
Sure, but it’s your job to then separate those stats that are valid in a given discussion from those that aren’t.
That’s the key with using statistics – and that’s in any area, whether it’s analyzing & projecting performance in baseball to interpreting market research studies to drawing cause & effect in scientific research…and everything in between.
Just because someone cites a stat that either doesn’t have the sample size to be significant, weights particular actions incorrectly, doesn’t support the point being made, etc, doesn’t invalidate the use of statistics. At all.
Regarding Leyritz:
The Le Betard piece was a very good one because it seems to capture something very real about Leyritz at this point in his life: he’s in denial, still looking for our sympathy.
In Leyritz’s case there happen to be a number of causation issues and but for the risk of lots of jail time to him, it sounds like a very triable case. That does not justify his denial, however.
That Leyritz is still drinking to excess (he admitted being drunk three times since the accident) and asking us to understand that fact is an attitude that is going to be very damaging whenever his presentence report is completed.
Jim, take responsibility, get into a program, stop drinking. It’s time to turn your life around while you still can.
i would like to know where leyritz’ ‘96 teammates r… he may have been obnoxious (’the king’ was his nickname), but he is down and out and is having trouble paying his bills. he would have one less headache in this most difficult time if his organization or his teammates helped out.
Good Leyritz article.
and I enjoyed the Al Leiter blog. great stuff!
murphydog, drinking 3 times since 2007 is excess?
you’d probably think i was a alcoholic, and i only drink on weekends for the most part…