I think they are trying to give people an idea of the relative change in velocity. I was unaware that it was that much. However, it doesn’t affect how much time the batter has to react, that hasn’t changed. And I agree that they are overusing it.

In the military the best performers and leaders seem to have good to excellent “situational awareness” and show flexibility in their thinking process. Unfortunately Girardi demonstrates a lack of flexibility in his thinking process that leads to repeated situation response. He is using static thinking processes within the context of a dynamic situation that doesn’t bode well in the near future for both the ALCS and WS. Also, He is too “married” to his initial decisions, which then greatly affects his subsequent thinking and decisions. The thinking is I must have been right when I made the first decision so the tendency is to repeat the same action. Not uncommon, but it has no place in combat as it can negatively contribute to the outcome.

Recognizing fatigue, especially mental fatigue, is very important and when given the chance should be exercised. Usually a short rest is all that is necessary, and it is all that I am advocating. In this case, sitting someone out for a single game of baseball. Unfortunately baseball managers seem particularly loath to practice this concept.
I have nothing against any of the Yankees players, but their current sate of level of performance needs to be included in the decision making. Girardi needs to be practicing short term situational awareness rather than just practicing the “standard operating procedures” method of baseball managers.

An obvious example is Girardi’s tendency to repeatedly use overly slumping batters and overly struggling pitchers. Perhaps Girardi has become overly close or vested in particular players to make good situational awareness decisions.

If the above observations and speculations are correct, then Girardi’s decisions are fairly predictable. He is most likely going to continue to put Swish in every game, rather than sit him out for one game; and he is going to continue to use Joba in the 7th inning, rather than use Robertson.

As always it’s ultimately up to the player to perform. However, better situational awareness and flexible decision making on the part of Girardi would seem warranted. Practicing SOP managing in the postseason isn’t going to help.

“Brosius’s RBI production (98) and clutch hitting (a team-high .372 with runners in scoring position) during the regular season from the seventh, eighth or ninth spots in the batting order typified not only the team’s depth but also its uncommon success in evaluating players. Despite Brosius’s poor batting average last year, the Yankees believed he was hurt by injuries and by having to play several positions. “No other team wanted to trade for him,” says Yankees scout Gene Michael. “We saw that his defense never went into a slump. We liked the fact that he was athletic and a hard worker.” New York dumped disgruntled lefthander Kenny Rogers to get Brosius.”

I thought Swish would be the new Scott Brosius. I guess not!

I was thinking he should have been yanked as soon as they got the lead, and definitely after the leadoff single.

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Pat, I don’t know who wrote that, but, clearly, they don’t know a sac bunt from a sac fly. Right handed batters don’t drag bunt. Only left handed batters can drag bunt. That’s where the term came from, they are moving from the batter’s box and drag the ball up the first base line with them. Right handers will bunt, but, that’s a push bunt. I realize that it’s pretty much a case of semantics, but, if these writers want to sound intelligent, it would help to know the proper terms.