Considering a change at the top
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Mar 21, 2011 
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Joe Girardi understands the intrigue at the top of the Yankees lineup. He understands that a fast young player is coming off a terrific season, and he understands that an iconic player is coming off a bad season.
“I think the fans are into everything we do,” Girardi said. “But you’re talking about Derek Jeter, and any time his name is mentioned, it’s going to be a big story.”
Tonight, the choice is easy — Jeter is making the road trip and Brett Gardner is not — but Girardi said he’ll continue to look at different orders through this final week and a half of spring training. Yesterday Gardner got another turn in the leadoff spot while Jeter batted second, and Girardi joked that it obviously worked because the Yankees won big.
“We’re going to continue to do it,” Girardi said. “It’s something that we’ll sit down and have a meeting about, probably pretty soon, within the next week and talk about what we all think about it and go from there. It’s an experiment that we’re willing to try right now.”
As for me: I’m starting to believe Girardi will make the change. I came into camp fully expecting Jeter to be the leadoff hitter, but frankly, moving back to No. 2 isn’t really a blow to Jeter’s ego, nor is it a knock on his abilities. Gardner’s shown his usual patience this spring, and the two-handed approach seems to be working when he swings the bat. As an added bonus, batting Gardner leadoff lets Nick Swisher hit in a run producing spot in the lineup.
“It doesn’t matter to me, one way or the other,” Gardner said.
Jeter was gone in a flash yesterday — probably trying to catch some of that near Michigan upset — so I didn’t talk to him after the game, but Girardi said he’s talked to the Yankees captain about the possibility of a change at the top of the order.
“He said he just wants to play,” Girardi said.
Associated Press photo of Jeter
I agree, Chad. I think Girardi pulls the trigger and let Gardner leadoff. At least against RHP’s
Jeter leading off against lefties and hitting 2nd against righties makes the most sense. Jeter still hit lefties very well last year. I would go Jeter/Swisher against LHP and Gardner/Jeter against RHP.
geez, switch them or don’t. why does this have to string out over weeks and weeks. when he switched damona and jeter he just did it and that was that.
# MTU March 21st, 2011 at 9:01 am
Carlo-
You are entitled to your opinion just like anyone else.
I was not attacking you as much as trying to lighten the mood a bit.
I have nothing against seeing opposing POV’s.
It makes for good discussion.
Just don’t like to see it get personal is all. That sometimes happens.
It shouldn’t.
——————
I agree with you. I feel bad for those who were offended by the way i spoke to one particular poster last night.
# Carlo March 21st, 2011 at 9:03 am
# LGY March 21st, 2011 at 8:58 am
I chose a 3 year sample to minimize the impact of aberrations created by small sample sizes.
****
You mean like Dice K pitching to a sub 3 era 3 years ago?
You took a lot of heat last night for saying Dice is better than Garcia or Nova and I am still not seeing you support that claim
————–
Me using a 3 year sample also allowed me to get Burnetts 2008 in the numbers so it works both ways. The overall premise of my argument was the Bostons rotation is better top to bottom. Whether Dice K was better than Freddie Garcia in 2010 is a complete coin flip.
Both threw 150-160 innings
Dice K WHIP 1.37, Garcia WHIP 1.38
Dice K ERA 4.69; Garcia ERA 4.64
Do you really see a clear edge here….in this one year sample you think we should use>?
–
Me using a 3 year sample also allowed me to get Burnetts 2008 in the numbers so it works both ways.
****
Just because it works both ways it doesn’t mean it makes any sense to evaluate it this way
Blake-
That’s the one.
hether Dice K was better than Freddie Garcia in 2010 is a complete coin flip
****
Then why did you spend all night saying Dice is better than Garcia?
i really like our team. granderson is going to go wild this year.
i dont go into the season knowing or caring much what people think of the socks, they are always good and so are we.
i cant wait to take my seat and watch phil beat the tigers in game #3!
Let’s Go Yankees!
LGY-
You just got back from a Vacation to Jamaica Queens.
Why don’t you be gracious and just let Carlo up off the mat for a time ?
I would think you would be nice and relaxed.
shoulda stuck with the mellow spliffs…
I think Beckett and AJ are a toss up, Lackey and Nova could go either way, and that Garcia is probably better than Dice K. Dice K can better better on a given day than Freddy but over the course of a season he’s just not very good….
Over his career Jeter played 732 games at leadoff and 1,270 batting 2nd. So whats the big deal if he gets moved back to 2nd?
The reason they put Jeter into the 1 hole in recent years is because he had a tendency to GIDP’s.
Time to see if that’s still gonna be the case, and besides GGBG is ready to lead off IMO.
The compromise is to do as Blake said above.
Pville March 21st, 2011 at 9:19 am
Over his career Jeter played 732 games at leadoff and 1,270 batting 2nd. So whats the big deal if he gets moved back to 2nd?
______________________________________________________________
It is no big deal. However, the media has nothing else to write during ST, so they made it into this huge issue, and now the fans think its an issue. Its not. Unfortunately every single thing involving Jeter from now until he retires will be a huge story. And it kinda stinks for those of us that just want to enjoy the rest of his playing days.
I would think you would be nice and relaxed.
*****
I decided to visit my parents in Jersey for a few days after getting home which means taking the bus into the city in the morning while I’m there.
Right now I am sitting on a bus moving at a snails pace with the heater broken. Nice and relaxed are not the words coming to mind right now
# LGY March 21st, 2011 at 9:10 am
hether Dice K was better than Freddie Garcia in 2010 is a complete coin flip
****
Then why did you spend all night saying Dice is better than Garcia?
——————-
You made that the conversation. I think Bostons 3-5 is better….that’s my premise. you made this into a dice k vs garcia argument.
So what stats do you look at to come to the conclusion and what time period?
i wait the the season is over, then its really easy to tell who has the better pitching staff.
. you made this into a dice k vs garcia argumen
*****
Did I also make you repeatedly say Dice is better than Garcia? Or than Garcia and Nova would be 6th and 7 starters for the RS?
And insult anyone who disagreed or ask for an explanation?
“Over his career Jeter played 732 games at leadoff and 1,270 batting 2nd. So whats the big deal if he gets moved back to 2nd?”
Shouldn’t….don’t think it is to him
Y’s-
That’s a novel freakin’ idea.
Where’d you get it ?
Link please ?
mtu, im still a little behind compliling all those seasons, but damn, the 68 cards look pretty good!
Carlo: Garcia and Nova would be 6th and 7 starters for the RS
LGY: How is Dice better than Garcia or Nova?
That is how this entire discussion started between us.
How about those 2015 Yankees ?
Awesome pitching staff.
20 game winners everwhere you turn.
Think is with Jeter hitting 2nd is that you can then do a lot of things if Gardner is on base because he stays inside the ball so well. Let’s say Gardner leads off with a walk or single …..then steals 2nd. Jeter hits a ground ball to 2nd and Gardner is at 3rd with one out. The one thing Jeter has to do is give Gardner a chance to run without screwing up his style of hitting….which is aggresive.
# LGY March 21st, 2011 at 9:30 am
. you made this into a dice k vs garcia argumen
*****
Did I also make you repeatedly say Dice is better than Garcia? Or than Garcia and Nova would be 6th and 7 starters for the RS?
And insult anyone who disagreed or ask for an explanation?
——————
You repeatedly asked for facts…..which i presented you this morning…..which you have ignored.
Girardi likes to mix and match and last year it seemed like he got pretty comfortable with a ‘lefty’ and ‘righty’ line up. I think what blake said about our line up depending on if we’re facing a righty or lefty is probably accurate.
there does seem to be alot of tiptoeing around jeter. i dont know that he wants it that way, though, i think if you want to move him, you just call him into the office and tell him he’s being moved. same for when the position thing comes into play.
the end of ripken’s career was like that, he was above everything and everybody. but he put himself apart from the team, and that was the result.
jeter has never been like that. i think if they just treat him like any other player he’ll be fine. no need to be tiptoeing around him.
Last year Dice K and Garcia were pretty similar. Over the last 3 years, Dice K has been a better pitcher and has provided more stability (innings)……which is the goal of a 5th starter. Since neither is great and since both are unlikely to dominate, the better 5th starter is the guy who has shown a greater potential to log innings.
Last year was the first time Freddie Garcia cracked 60 innings since 2006.
Matsuzaka has thrown more than 150 in 3 of the last 4 years.
You repeatedly asked for facts…..which i presented you this morning…..which you have ignored.
****
I and several other people asked due facts specifically as to why Dice is better than Garcia and Nova.
MTU March 21st, 2011 at 9:15 am
LGY-
You just got back from a Vacation to Jamaica Queens.
*******************
Funny story-
My dad grew up there. When I was little I didn’t understand the difference between Jamaica, Queens and Jamaica the country.
When I was in kindergarden the teacher asked who had a parent from another country. I stood up and said “My daddy is from Jamaica”.
(Side note- this is not the case at all)
Tar-
If you are out there……
Ernie would be batting lead off in my muppet baseball draft. You should know better
Fact: I’m feezing my ass off right now.
Doesn’t have anything to do with the conversatiun though
dice k has a cool nickname and a gyroball. thats hard to beat…
but nova has a really cool name, too and live in nj!
freddie has a cool first name but thats pretty much all i know about him
advantage: yankees!
see, theres no reason to be scared off by sabermetrics!
“there does seem to be alot of tiptoeing around jeter. i dont know that he wants it that way, though, i think if you want to move him, you just call him into the office and tell him he’s being moved.”
There has been some past evidence that the man is not without ego, but on something like this it shouldn’t require much tiptoeing. I can think of a few worse things to tell a person than “you’re going to be the #2 hitter in the best lineup in baseball”. It’s not like they’re talking about dropping him to the bottom third of the order.
# LGY March 21st, 2011 at 9:40 am
You repeatedly asked for facts…..which i presented you this morning…..which you have ignored.
****
I and several other people asked due facts specifically as to why Dice is better than Garcia and Nova.
——————-
I have provided plenty of facts this morning for you.
LGY – I commute to the city every day via bus and over the past couple years I too have been surprised that $5.50 a ride doesnt guarantee you things like heat. (In fact, it barely guarantees you the bus will show up on time, if at all.)
“Ernie would be batting lead off in my muppet baseball draft. You should know better”
Lew Zealand throws a mean fish. I’d pick him first.
Erica-
Cute story.
Glad you improved your Geographic knowledge though.
Might come in handy when you’re playing scrabble against a tough competitor.
By the way, your persistent dream is signalling a need to change jobs IMO.
“Stuckey don’t hold grudges. Its unbecoming.”
No grudges. I’m here to be entertained. Seeing a GOOD argument between you guys and others would entertain me.
If you guys understood me at all, you’d know I come here HOPING to have a worthy argument, not the other way around.
MTU-
Probably.
But thats all I will say about it
The bottom line:
Boston has no margin for injury for their 1 – 5 starters. The Yankees have depth. Brackman, Warren, Phelps, and Noesi just need to pitch to their potential at AAA.
162 games is a lot of games at any one of them could see major league time this year.
Tom in N.J. March 21st, 2011 at 9:47 am
“Ernie would be batting lead off in my muppet baseball draft. You should know better”
Lew Zealand throws a mean fish. I’d pick him first.
************
Duly noted
I have provided plenty of facts this morning for you.
*****
Alright I am bored with this. Going to look up random facts on the internet to get my Yankee fix. Facts are facts after all.
# stuckey99 March 21st, 2011 at 9:48 am
“Stuckey don’t hold grudges. Its unbecoming.”
No grudges. I’m here to be entertained. Seeing a GOOD argument between you guys and others would entertain me.
If you guys understood me at all, you’d know I come here HOPING to have a worthy argument, not the other way around.
——————
as promised to you last night, the factual discussion has begun. i have yet to hear a counterargument to any of my statistical, aka factual, points, however. lotta nonsensical babble about weather and stuff.
for stuckey99:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teMlv3ripSM
Carlo,
You needn’t address me. I didn’t really argue with you on premise, I simply said you weren’t representing your argument well.
I DO think the Boston rotation has something of a reputation bias, but believe me, my overarching thoughts on the matter is comparing the two rotations is a colossal waste of time given the two teams in question will likely finish within games of one another, both make the postseason and probably only have a 33% chance (or so) of facing one another in the ALCS.
# LGY March 21st, 2011 at 9:50 am
I have provided plenty of facts this morning for you.
*****
Alright I am bored with this. Going to look up random facts on the internet to get my Yankee fix. Facts are facts after all.
——————
do you think you proved something today? have you proven that garcia is better than dice k? have you proven that the bottom of the sox rotation is worse than ours? if not, what exactly was your point?
Mell March 21st, 2011 at 9:44 am
“there does seem to be alot of tiptoeing around jeter. i dont know that he wants it that way, though, i think if you want to move him, you just call him into the office and tell him he’s being moved.”
There has been some past evidence that the man is not without ego, but on something like this it shouldn’t require much tiptoeing. I can think of a few worse things to tell a person than “you’re going to be the #2 hitter in the best lineup in baseball”. It’s not like they’re talking about dropping him to the bottom third of the order.
_______________________________________________________________________
Is there a man on this earth who doesn’t have an ego?
In all seriousness, I really dont think Jeter is going to make a big ordeal when he eventually gets moved to the bottom of the order. Its just unfortunate because him, Girardi, Cashman and probably everyone on the team will have to answer a million questions about it. It will be tiring for everyone involved. If it was anyone else, it wouldn’t be story. Thats not Derek’s fault though.
Imagine being a fan of that team in Flushing. Flushing as in the sound of $18 million dollars worth of Perez and Castillo going down the porcelain convenience. Did I mention the owners are being sued for $1 billion dollars? Have a good season Mets fans!
“for stuckey99:”
No it isn’t.
108 is correct. 6-10 in starting pitching the Sox have nothing. Their rotation COULD be solid IF 40% of their staff bounces back. Sure it could happen, but right now their staff is nearly as questionable as the Yankees is…..they just have bigger names but also much less depth.
WCYF – I keep trying to convince myself the Mets might not have that bad of a year… but then I use my brain and the facade comes a’crumbling down.
I agree Gardner/Jeter vs RHP, and Jeter/Swisher vs LHP.
But I think the Gardner/Jeter debate is going to be a wash, because I expect Jeter to rebound slightly and Gardner regress slightly in regards to OBP….where they will both end the season around .360.
But yes, the double plays are going to be what to look for with Jeter in the #2. Hopefully Gardner’s legs mitigate that a bit.
“Their rotation COULD be solid IF 40% of their staff bounces back.”
I believe I’ve said this before, but I’ll say it again. If Beckett and Lackey both make it through the year without either hitting the disabled list I’ll wallpaper my room with Chip’s trade proposals.
Shame,
Where do you buy this wallpaper?
“Last year Dice K and Garcia were pretty similar.”
I think if you take a hard look at their respective game logs, I think the evidence will show that Garcia had a better overall season than Matsuzaka. Wasn’t really all that close. Garcia was far more consistent.
shame, i was trying to do the same this spring, but it just looks like utter disaster. they really needed beltran to make the offense go and he looks like a lost cause, he got a cortisone shot in his bad knee already. i think reyes will have a great contract year and some kind of bounceback from bay will help but with no beltran and likely no santana, and having to trade krod before his option kicks in, they really have nothing.
they will watch the phils and braves leave them in the dust in april. i see them battling it out with the senato…uh i mean nationals for last place all season.
# stuckey99 March 21st, 2011 at 9:51 am
Carlo,
You needn’t address me. I didn’t really argue with you on premise, I simply said you weren’t representing your argument well.
I DO think the Boston rotation has something of a reputation bias, but believe me, my overarching thoughts on the matter is comparing the two rotations is a colossal waste of time given the two teams in question will likely finish within games of one another, both make the postseason and probably only have a 33% chance (or so) of facing one another in the ALCS.
—————
I know you didn’t argue with me, you requested I provide support to my thesis, I said I would, I did. I agree Boston has a rotation bias. I don’t think it is a strength for them. I also dont see how anyone can call our rotation a strength either. I think their problems on the pitching front are less glaring than ours and their opportunity for upside, should Beckett or lackey pitch more like their norms, is greater than ours. That’s my thesis.
Off topic question. As we watch the tourney and how great it is……can you just imagine the spectical that a 16 team NCAA football tournament would be? It would be incredible.
Blake-
You have to trade your Mercedes for rolls.
Dice k’s best is better than Garcia’s ……problem is you only see his best a handful of times in a season. Most starts he is bullpen killer and my guess a real drag to play defense behind
MTU,
If I had a mercades
im sorry i meant to say beltran had to get a cortisone shot in his GOOD knee already. taking cortisone shots just to be able to get into a ST game is a real sign of despiration.
Blake-
Well you sure as heck better not have a “Yugo”.
im sure mets ticket sales went up as soon as castillo got cut. they should go up a little more when they cut perrez. the problem for met’s fans is that cutting louie and ollie was their sole focus this ST. once it’s accomplished, what do they have to root for?
lotsa good seats still available, i bought a pair for the rockies game 4/11 for $9 each (stub hub)
the rockies look good this year! (good for a minor league division anyway!)
yugo fix it, what’s the problem?
…and just like that, the other shoe drops…
http://www.nypost.com/p/sports.....OBreAiGAYJ
Doesn’t bring you back much in a trade unless you happen to come from Belgrade.
Blake wants to paper his walls with Chip’s trade proposals.
Rolls of that don’t come cheap. They are always overpriced and and one-sided.
# blake March 21st, 2011 at 10:06 am
Dice k’s best is better than Garcia’s ……problem is you only see his best a handful of times in a season. Most starts he is bullpen killer and my guess a real drag to play defense behind
—————–
Completely agree with that. However, he is being asked to be a 5th starter, much like garcia, and he has been more representative of a 5th starter over a longer near term duration than garcia has….hence why I believe there is more comfort with dice k in the 5 spot then we have with garcia.
And to the poster who mentioned the game logs….yes, i am fully aware of them….i am the one who originally said we should sign garcia because he gave the team a chance to win more often than not last year….and when he didnt, he just imploded in the first two innings (5 or 6 starts) which made his numbers look worse than they were.
I am well aware of the type of season Garcia has last year. On the aggregate though, it was not better than matsuzakas.
“but right now their staff is nearly as questionable as the Yankees is”……..so Blake agrees that the Sox staff as of now is better than the Yankees….refreshing.
Wasn’t Dice-K’s real nickname Dice-bb ?
# blake March 21st, 2011 at 10:04 am
Off topic question. As we watch the tourney and how great it is……can you just imagine the spectical that a 16 team NCAA football tournament would be? It would be incredible.
——————-
would be. about as likely to happen as the NIT returning to prominence in college basketball though.
blake -
How great was it to watch the ACC teams so victorious, while the not so great Big East teams go up in flames, and down the toilet.
MTU -
Any hiking this weekend?
Al-
Maybe Sat.
Mrs. MTU has not been feeling well of late.
Beckett is so well thought of in Boston, they moved him to the #4 slot.
Read Pete Abe’s blog and see what the Boston fans think of their own SP, not many think they have more than 2 SP worth having.
# BIG AL March 21st, 2011 at 10:27 am
Beckett is so well thought of in Boston, they moved him to the #4 slot.
Read Pete Abe’s blog and see what the Boston fans think of their own SP, not many think they have more than 2 SP worth having.
——————————————–
Its such a stark contract to the praise I see thrown towards Burnett on this board. Unfortunately, he’s our 2/3 starter.
“contract” – “contrast”
Carlo,
I believe Yankees fans belief in the rotation is partly a product of the fact they only got 21 starts outta Petittitte, Hughes having and uneven year and Vazquez and Burnett making 59 starts between them to the tune of a 5.30 ERA, and still won 95 games (which would have probably been more if not for a year-end cruise to the finish when the postseason was locked up).
If Burnett improves a little, if Hughes improves a little, if Garcia can just best Vazquez a little and if Nova is for real, with an even better bullpen, I can see what fans of the Yanks can see this team winning 98 (ish) games, which then makes it hard to assume or predict Boston can or will be any better.
MTU -
Sorry to hear that, hope all is better soon.
Our puppies have been sick, and no one has been getting any sleep since last Wed. Nikki got sick first, and Princess started on Sat.
Reading through the blog from last night to this morning was sort of funny. Some folks here are like Pit Bulls, once they get hold of something, they never let go.
Carlo,
On paper Id give them a slight edge but the gap between the staffs is nowhere near how the media is portraying it…..and most importantly it may not be enough to outweigh the other areas in which the Yankees are stronger.
AL,
They have played well….we’ll see how they do in the next round. The big East is a strong conference top to bottom…..but I think their strength lies in the fact that they have few really bad teams more than having a lot of really good teams.
Al-
Thanks.
Sorry to hear about the pups.
Nothing too serious I hope ?
And you’re right, once some of our folks get a hold of something it’s like the Jaws of death.
Almost like you need the “jaws of life” to free ‘em.
# stuckey99 March 21st, 2011 at 10:30 am
Carlo,
I believe Yankees fans belief in the rotation is partly a product of the fact they only got 21 starts outta Petittitte, Hughes having and uneven year and Vazquez and Burnett making 59 starts between them to the tune of a 5.30 ERA, and still won 95 games (which would have probably been more if not for a year-end cruise to the finish when the postseason was locked up).
If Burnett improves a little, if Hughes improves a little, if Garcia can just best Vazquez a little and if Nova is for real, with an even better bullpen, I can see what fans of the Yanks can see this team winning 98 (ish) games, which then makes it hard to assume or predict Boston can or will be any better.
——————–
Your point makes sense if i said; 1) Boston is a better team than us or 2) the Yankees wont win even 92 games this year…..i’ve said neither. this is an example of people reading what they want to read into comments on this board.
Sure, all the reasons you mention leave reason to be optimistic.
blake March 21st, 2011 at 10:34 am
Carlo,
On paper Id give them a slight edge but the gap between the staffs is nowhere near how the media is portraying it…..and most importantly it may not be enough to outweigh the other areas in which the Yankees are stronger.
————–
I don’t care at all how the media is portraying anything. Never have.
The media hype for Boston was due in large part because of Crawford’s FA signing and the trade for Gonzalez. They must do no worse than equal the numbers that Belre and Martinez put up in 2010 or those deals are a bust.
They’re counting on the offense to bail out the questionable pitching.
stuckey99 March 21st, 2011 at 10:30 am
My feelings exactly, that’s why I have been saying all along, the Yankees will win at least 98 games. When you consider our SP will be better, or should be better, than last season, the huge upgrade to the BP, and what I believe will be a turn around year for the offense, this will be a very good year for the Yankees and their fans.
As with everything in life, there are those that look on the positive side of things, and those that prefer to be negative. Some will always think our competition is better than us, and can’t bring themselves to see the strength of our own team, only the weaknesses.
I would much rather have Nova than Lackey or Beckett…..especially given age and contracts. I think Beckett will be better but his injuries are chronic and much of his struggles last year were because he changed his arm angle and wasn’t getting on top like he used to…..similar to Vasquez.
everyone in the world knew the mets would have to eat ollie and louie’s contracts, but first omar and then alderson & co kept thinking they could get something out of them. now they spent 3/4 of ST with all the focus on those two clowns and ticket sales in the dumps.
this cost them alot more than $18M.
I’d almost bet ya’ that we split the season series with the Sux.
Seems to happen almost every year. At least in recent memory.
Neither team has been able to dominate the other for the whole season.
Even in the year where they got off to an 8-0 over us things evened out.
This season will probably be similar.
Ted Williams 2.0 will have a tough time matching the value they got from from Beltre last year.
the shut-down bp will have a great effect on the rotation. knowing they’ve got your back breeds alot of confidence.
the chubby one who shall not be named is a real key imo.
this is gonna be fun!
blake March 21st, 2011 at 10:40 am
I would much rather have Nova than Lackey or Beckett…..especially given age and contracts
—————–
I don’t disagree at all. It does not mean that for the 2011 season, Nova will outperform either of them, which is the premise of my belief that on paper, coming into the season, the one area where they match up better is in the top 5 or our respective rotations.
blake – Apparently you can’t buy that type of wallpaper at Home Depot but I work for a company that is unconcerned with new-fangled things like ‘being green’ so I’ll commit to printing each one out and photocopying them to oblivion if both Beckett and Lackey make it through the year healthy. I’d throw Dice-K in there too but I like to at least feel like I’m taking a risk..
Carlo,
Wasn’t a rebuttal. Was a general point speaking to why people are going resist the notion the Boston rotation is “better” before a game is played.
Yankees were six games better than the Sox and Yankees fans are going to believe they’ll have a better rotation this year, and Red Sox are starting 2011 with the same rotation.
People are going to cherrypick the stats that support their point of the strength (or weakness) of one rotation or another, but there IS the general impression that need to be overcome that the Sox rotation surpassed the Yankees over the winter, when they’ve been utterly static.
So let me ask you a question – Freddy Garcia is Freddy Garcia I understand, but Javier Vasquez was not very good at all in 2010.
Pettitte’s 21 start is not insignificant, but Yanks also for 20 starts from major-league-debut Ivan Nova, Dustin Moseley and Sergio Mitre.
So my question to you is, do you expect the Yankees rotation to RELATIVELY better or worse than last year?
“Ted Williams 2.0 will have a tough time matching the value they got from from Beltre last year.”
They finally DID clone Ted Williams and no one told me?!
Al Leiter was on WFAN this morning. He feels the Yankees and Red Sox success will be tied to the B’s- Burnett and Beckett. Whichever team gets the better performance will come out on top.
blake -
Ted Williams 2.0 is a joke, when you consider the player Williams was, to have some clown in Boston compare A-Gon to TW, a guy that’s hit just .300 once in his career to a player with a .344 lifetime BA. A-Gon couldn’t carry Ted Williams jock on his best day.
I am putting my money on Burnett over Beckett.
I am putting my money on Burnett over Beckett.
*******************************
Kate,
Me too
Glad you enjoyed the draft last night. You have a good team and Robbie too.
castillo signed a minor league deal with the phillies.
thats just wrong.
Fran
I like my team and I learned a lot. It took me half the draft to realize I could highlight the player I wanted ahead of time.
blake -
I wonder if Pete Abe ever looks at facts before he writes something. When he said A-Gon was the second coming of Ted Williams, he should have looked at these numbers.
Adrian Gonzalez – 7 seasons
BA – .284, SLG – .507, OPS – .875, OPS+ 137, HR (avg) 24.0
Ted Williams – 19 seasons
BA .344, SLG .634, OPS 1.116, OPS+ 190, HR (avg) 27.4
And Williams missed his prime years serving in the military in WWII.
“castillo signed a minor league deal with the phillies.
thats just wrong.”
Why’s that?
Do you think the Mets should effectively be able to end his career by releasing him and requiring another team to pick up a significant portion of his salary?
So let me ask you a question – Freddy Garcia is Freddy Garcia I understand, but Javier Vasquez was not very good at all in 2010.
Pettitte’s 21 start is not insignificant, but Yanks also for 20 starts from major-league-debut Ivan Nova, Dustin Moseley and Sergio Mitre.
So my question to you is, do you expect the Yankees rotation to RELATIVELY better or worse than last year?
———————————–
I expect Freddy Garcia, should he stay healthy, to outperform Javier Vazquez 2010……relative upgrade for us
Pettitte – i am sorry but i cant agree here……what pettitte did in his 21 starts and the intangible impact he has in general on the rotation will be very hard to replicate……if you look at the post ASB staff, it was not good, amongst the worst in the AL in the 2H…..when andy was largely out, that’s troubling
Burnett has such a low base that relative outperformance should be achievable…..but is anyone really confident in that?
Hughes – the numbers at seasons end were far worse than the pitcher he was in the first half…..if he is the guy from the first half this year, beautfiful, but tbd
CC has to be the horse/ace he has been….anything less is disaster
So yes, i think we have the ability to relatively outperform. Couple it with strong pen and hopefully some bounceback years from jete, Tex, and Al……and we’re a better run producing team as well. Do I think mid 90′s is a reasonable win number…..absolutely……but i think we need things to break right with the pitching to get there.
“Springtime Storylines: Do the Yankees have enough pitching?”
http://hardballtalk.nbcsports......-pitching/
AL,
Its not even close. Gonzalez is a really good player and he’ll get a bump from Fenway but he’s being overstated almost as much as the Sox rotation is. He’s not Albert Pujols and he’s certainly not Ted Williams either.
Kate and Fran
check out my blog post about my awkward encounter with SJ44′s nephew.
I am putting my money on Nova this year since I got him in my draft
Wonder how long it will take someone to sign Oliver Perez.
***************
Kate,
Now you’ll be an expert for next season’s draft
“So yes, i think we have the ability to relatively outperform.”
Okay, so simple question then (and it’s a genuine one), where exactly do the Red Sox make up those 6 games, speaking specifically about the rotations?
How did they surpass the Yankees in the offseason rotationally?
Is this ALL reliant on a huge, healthy comeback year from Beckett?
Any opinions on whether CC goes game 5 on 4/5 or the #5 starter?
The Mets are conducting the biggest salary slashes – - ever. Luxury tax is determined by the opening day roster. The Mets should be off the hook for luxury tax soon if not already.
tyanks,
Great entry. Funny enounter with Tony. You should have told hin about the blog
The controversy isn’t about whether Jeter hits 1st or 2nd, it’s about whether he hits 1st/2nd or 8th/9th.
1st or 2nd is almost meaningless for Jeter. If anything 2nd is more important because it’s more of a run producing spot.
mick, i’d expect cc to pitch that game and they skip freddy. especially considering freddy’s last 2 outings.
Tyanks
I agree w/ Fran. You should have told Tony you “know” SJ!
Cute story about that little kid.
blake -
The thing that gets me is the fact in todays game a player can bat .265 – .285, hit a lot of HR, and be called a super star.
Back in the day, so to speak, you had to be a guy like Williams, Mantle, Mays etc., hit well over .300 with power to be considered a super star.
Today they label above average to good players a super star, when in fact all they are is above average to good players.
Just like pitchers that win 15 games being called an Ace, when in my mind if you don’t win 20 games, or close to it, with an ERA below .350, I don’t consider you an Ace.
mick – Good question. At first when I heard we have 3 off days in April, I figured we’d try a 4 man rotation to get things going. But actually looking at the schedule, I’m not sure having the 11th, 18th and 21st would help us in that area at all.
CC will go on 4/5, skip Garcia, so that CC can go Sun. 4/10 @ Boston.
Answered my own question, usually the best way to go.
Garcia will go 4/6.
# stuckey99 March 21st, 2011 at 11:18 am
“So yes, i think we have the ability to relatively outperform.”
Okay, so simple question then (and it’s a genuine one), where exactly do the Red Sox make up those 6 games, speaking specifically about the rotations?
How did they surpass the Yankees in the offseason rotationally?
Is this ALL reliant on a huge, healthy comeback year from Beckett?
————————————-
Here is my question, where did i say the Red Sox finish with a better record than us? That’s conjecture stemming from me saying i like their rotation better than ours right now.
I didnt say they make up the 6 games, so you are asking the wrong person.
The Yankees lost their #2 starter and filled him with Ivan Nova or Freddy Garcia……neither is on par with Pettitte who only made 21 starts last year.
“Any opinions on whether CC goes game 5 on 4/5 or the #5 starter?”
If CC pitches game 5, he also pitches the third game in Boston. If not, then 3, 4, 5 go in Boston.
So yes, I expect CC to pitch 4/5 and to see 4, 5 (2011 debut), and 1 in Boston.
I wanted Lee, and I certainly wanted AP to return.
But looking back at how things turned out we may have dodged a bullet in some ways.
We might have lost Montero for a rental (we’ll never know for sure), and we might have had to dole out 6-7 years to Lee.
There were few, if any, other viable options.
Greinke was not a fit for NY IMO.
It was time to move on. And here we are.
That’s it in a nutshell.
We’ll have to hope that AJ can pull it together, Nova can do a credible job, and that Freddy or whoever can fill out the back end.
We have the depth if someone goes down and we have retained the services of Montero.
We have the TD to make adjustments and we ‘re gonna have a dynamite BP.
Carlo,
Just trying to do the math.
Who had the better rotation last year?
Perhaps I misunderstood you..
1st or 2nd is almost meaningless for Jeter. If anything 2nd is more important because it’s more of a run producing spot.
==================
Jeter switched from 2nd to 1st to accommodate Damon, he can easily go back to 2nd for Gardner.
Anybody who thinks there is ego involved is crazy.
He’s a better #2 hitter than he is a leadoff man anyway.
That’s it in a nutshell.
==============
MTU
It’s funny you referenced Greinke and AJ in that way.
Mick-
Freudian slip ?
to see 4, 5 (2011 debut),
================
nope. see my 11:25 post.
wins is a tough way to measure SP’s.
josh johnson is an ace. he went 11-6 last year (2.30 era, 1.12 whip, 186K/48bb)
i agree with mtu except i was against the lee contract from the start. we’re not in the best shape
but we may be in the best shape possible considering what happened.
Girardi manages a bullpen well. All the starting pitchers need to do is throw quality starts with the exception of C.C. who will usually throw 7+ innings.
Freddy Garcia threw more quality starts than either Beckett or Lackey among other pitchers.
Later, you all have a great day.
Carlo–
In reading the comments last night, I would only say that –as Stuckey said–the way you present your case is weak. Using 3 years of back data, or even 1 year–to predict how a pitcher will perform is very tricky. Aspects such as health, new coaches (for both teams), defense behind them, and just plain luck will influence their performances. If you want to win the argument of who has better resumes, your facts are relevant. If you want to win the argument who has the better rotation for 2011, they aren’t very useful.
As someone today (YsGuy?) said, the only way to tell is to look at the results in November. Those will be the only relevant stats.
I had this argument a year or two ago with someone over who was the better manager for the Yankees going forward, Torre or Girardi. His point was Torre was a HOF manager, wpn x, y, and , etc. My point was that Torre was not the manager he was, and that Girardi would do great things going forward. He wanted to argue resumes, I wanted to argue about projected future performance. Girardi wan the WS following that argument…Torre is out of managing.
If you still want to frame your argument over Nova and Garcia not being good enough to break Boston rotation, it might be more valuable to ask Theo himself or perhaps take a poll of all the GMs. Those would be more interesting and relevant facts.
Kate and Fran
Maybe I will at another game, they play the Pirates quite a bit more this spring so I am sure that I will see him again.
I am hoping to get back up to the minor league complex today to see the A and hi-A teams play but I have to have my homework mostly done before I can go and its not looking like that will happen.(ill probably go anyway) I am such a procrastinator.
wins is a tough way to measure SP’s.
****************
What about King Felix? He won the Cy Young award with a 13-12 record.
AJ will go Thurs. 4/7,last game vs Minn, as he went Sat 4/2.
tyanks,
Looking forward to a blog post if you go (after you do your homework)
You definitely have to tell Tony if you meet him again.
# stuckey99 March 21st, 2011 at 11:28 am
Carlo,
Just trying to do the math.
Who had the better rotation last year?
Perhaps I misunderstood you..
——————————-
We did, but it was very first half weighted. In the 2H, they were better than us…..which was our ex Pettitte period.
BoJo March 21st, 2011 at 11:37 am
Carlo–
In reading the comments last night, I would only say that –as Stuckey said–the way you present your case is weak. Using 3 years of back data, or even 1 year–to predict how a pitcher will perform is very tricky. Aspects such as health, new coaches (for both teams), defense behind them, and just plain luck will influence their performances. If you want to win the argument of who has better resumes, your facts are relevant. If you want to win the argument who has the better rotation for 2011, they aren’t very useful.
As someone today (YsGuy?) said, the only way to tell is to look at the results in November. Those will be the only relevant stats.
—————-
when i mentioned to get in touch in july, Stuckey told me i couldnt do that. i worked with what i had to work with today…..stats, track records, and objectivity.
BTW–the rumors that Theo wants to trade DiceK (that were floating a week or two ago) don’t help your argument that Nova couldn’t at least make #5 in their rotation.
And being that both Lackey and DiceK are very expensive compared to the cost of Nova and Garcia, I would argue that Theo would love to have Nova and Garcia so that he could free up budget for his roster.
I’ve watched Oliver Perez pitch some good games against us in the past. Considering that he is a lefty, I would take a look at him as I’m not impressed with either Garcia or Colon.
I know the Mets let him go but maybe he is salvageable at a low cost.
Feliciano said how hard it was just showing up everyday there so maybe OP can rejuvinate himself with us.
We have nothing to lose by taking a look.
My point was that Torre was not the manager he was,
======================
The big question is whether or not Torre gets booed at Old Timers Day.
I say a little of both but more cheers than boos.
“nope. see my 11:25 post.”
Hmmm, so 3, 4, 1 in Boston then?
I don’t know, maybe. That reconfigures the rotation to 1, 5, 2, 3, 4 from there on in..
Think the Yankees might just keep everyone on turn and skip 5 until Boston. But I could see both options.
Missed a bit of posting last night when we were off drafting, but a saw a few I wanted to respond to.
“It’s going to he a lonnggg season. As usual, the Sox will give us fits. ”
Uh, not thinking so. But feel free to go with the hype! And do NOT let their dismal ST or Crawford’s 206 and Gonzalez’s 222 do anything to disuede you otherwise. They’re just gonna give us fits and fits and fits.
“The Yankees and Red Sox are both going to make the postseason”
The Yankees are going to make the postseason.
******************
Chad, since Jeter’s ascendency to leadoff was more of a demotion than a promotion, and since Jeter was not typically the Yanks leadoff hitter, I don’t see this as highly problemmatic!
Carlo March 21st, 2011 at 11:42 am
when i mentioned to get in touch in july, Stuckey told me i couldnt do that. i worked with what i had to work with today…..stats, track records, and objectivity.
______________
Perhaps you could have replied that the only relevant stats would be in July or November irregardless of how Stuckey wished the argument to proceed. Basically, you accepted an argument that couldn’t be won based on facts since it is all about projected results. You don’t have to accept anyone else’s premise.
Waiting for the snow to start. Happy Spring all!
I’m not sure why moving a player back to the #2 spot, where he probably batted for most his career, is a big story.
Fran
I will put up another post if I go today, which I probably will. I had to ask Chad(thanks Chad!) where I could get the roster since no one with them would let me know where I could get one. That would probably make my reporting better since I would know who I was watching. I also want to go see high A and low A since those are the players I will see most this season.
Bojo –
If you still want to frame your argument over Nova and Garcia not being good enough to break Boston rotation, it might be more valuable to ask Theo himself or perhaps take a poll of all the GMs. Those would be more interesting and relevant facts.
———————————
I mentioned asking a GM, I believe Rich in NJ told me they are not smart.
Think the Yankees might just keep everyone on turn and skip 5 until Boston.
================================
Impossible as Fri 4/1 is a day off.
Rich in NJ March 21st, 2011 at 11:46 am
I’m not sure why moving a player back to the #2 spot, where he probably batted for most his career, is a big story.
________
It isn’t IMO either.
Carlo March 21st, 2011 at 11:47 am
Bojo –
If you still want to frame your argument over Nova and Garcia not being good enough to break Boston rotation, it might be more valuable to ask Theo himself or perhaps take a poll of all the GMs. Those would be more interesting and relevant facts.
———————————
I mentioned asking a GM, I believe Rich in NJ told me they are not smart.
_______________
Well, you had the right perspectives…you could have held to those two points and just said it was your opinion and time will tell. No sense in fighting a battle on opponent’s terms.
Oh no, Jonathan Mayo is saying my boy Bryce Harper was carted off the field with a hurt ankle.
Ill have to ask my insider to see what happened.
tyanks,
Looking forward to it.
*************
Hi Trisha,
It is snowing here, but not really sticking. Sticking there?
Wally Matthews is by far the guy I despise the most who covers the Yankees!
Does the guy have a personal agenda to a reason why everything he writes has to be proofread by Keith Law or Pete Abe??
“We did, but it was very first half weighted. In the 2H, they were better than us…..which was our ex Pettitte period.”
Hmmm, I haven’t done the math, so take this with a grain of salt, but I do remember on July 3rd, 2010, when Boston had played their 81st game and the Yanks their 80th, Yanks had a 1/2 game lead on the Sox.
They outplayed them by 5.5 the remainder of the year obviously.
But as I say, I haven’t gone inside the numbers to see if the Boston offense and/or rbullpen struggled in greater proportion than the Yanks rotation struggled.
Is that what occurred?
The dude is the cops knocking on the door at a party and the lights coming on signaling the closing of good time at a bar!
What a buzzkill.
# Rich in NJ March 21st, 2011 at 11:46 am
I’m not sure why moving a player back to the #2 spot, where he probably batted for most his career, is a big story.
——————
Because everyone on this blog is a glutton for punishment and desperate for baseball. Thats the only thing I could conclude anyway..
I see that MLB has tonight’s game starting at 10:30 pm so it must be a delayed tape broadcast. Does anyone know if PHSTREAM or something like that will have the game at 8pm? Thanks.
# BoJo March 21st, 2011 at 11:43 am
BTW–the rumors that Theo wants to trade DiceK (that were floating a week or two ago) don’t help your argument that Nova couldn’t at least make #5 in their rotation.
And being that both Lackey and DiceK are very expensive compared to the cost of Nova and Garcia, I would argue that Theo would love to have Nova and Garcia so that he could free up budget for his roster.
—————————-
Your first point contradicts your 2nd. Would Theo trade dice k’s talent if he made Nova money?
MLB Network is showing me that tonights game will be on Live.
# UnKnown March 21st, 2011 at 11:51 am
Wally Matthews is by far the guy I despise the most who covers the Yankees!
Does the guy have a personal agenda to a reason why everything he writes has to be proofread by Keith Law or Pete Abe??
_____
I stopped following him on Twitter because all his tweets, i felt, were slanted negatively against the Yankees. If I want to read negative things about the Yankees then i can just pick up the Tampa Tribune, at least they have an excuse.
Carlo March 21st, 2011 at 11:54 am
Your first point contradicts your 2nd. Would Theo trade dice k’s talent if he made Nova money?
___________________
Maybe…maybe not. IIRC, he wanted to trade DiceK because he has been performing poorly.
I think the points do not contradict…they reinforce each other. DiceK has been a major disappointment, and costs a lot. Nova is cheaper, could probably offer same performance OR BETTER…and thus would be picked IMO by a majority of GMs.
For the record, I don’t see see moving Jeter from 1 to 2 is that big a deal either, and when I address the issue I’m more speaking of #1 to 9.
BUT that said, Swisher had a big year too and people expect big things outta Granderson.
Why is moving Swisher down from 2 to 6-7 (?) done with such ease since he had a much better year than Jeter did?
Anyway, just wanted to provide you some feedback since you went to the effort of putting so much data together. I have to head out for a while.
Why bat a power hitter like Swisher #2?
Better off 6th or 7th.
tyanks – No Doubt.
Carlo:
“I mentioned asking a GM, I believe Rich in NJ told me they are not smart.”
I actually do fairly intense work during the day so I don’t have time for bs diversions that I don’t mind engaging in at night, but this isn’t factual.
For the sake of, you know, the facts, here’s what I said in response to your post:
__
Rich in NJ March 21st, 2011 at 1:48 am
[Carlo:]
“I think many folks on this board, myself included at times, would be laughed out of their seats if they ever presented their views to actual baseball people such as managers or general managers.”
’cause the judgments of managers and GMs are uniformly unassailable.
No one knows more than you, Carlo, no one.
__
IOW, some GM are really smart and some not so much. So to presume that they uniformly are smart or dumb is ridiculous.
Note: The same dynamic exists in every profession.
stuckey99 March 21st, 2011 at 11:58 am
Why is moving Swisher down from 2 to 6-7 (?) done with such ease since he had a much better year than Jeter did?
—
Probably because since Swish has power, they think it’s more natural for him to be hitting 5-7 anyway.
it’s more natural for him to be hitting 5-7 anyway.
==================
Dont we have a #5 hitter?
Fran, it hasn’t started yet. Cold rain now but supposed to turn.
******************
The reason it’s a story at all is because it concerns Derek Jeter. Other than that it is a nonstory.
*****************
I just heard that within a few days the US is going to leave Libya and leave it to the more local allies to take care of the situation with Moaron Gadhafi. I think that’s a good thing.
tyanksfan36:
I just checked your blog–nice work!. Glad you are enjoying spring events so much. I noticed you asked a question and didn’t know if you received an answer. At the end of the inning, someone on the bench throws a warm-up ball to the first baseman so he has it in his glove ready to return to the field and warm up the infielders. Nothing special about it as I recall–done at every level of baseball as a matter of routine. Imagine Tex wandering about looking for a ball!
Keep having fun.
Obama scored some big points on this one.
That and hosting that Motown tribute last night at the White House assures re-election.
I have lots of errands that I need to do today. But damn, it’s so cold and damp I’m fighting it tooth and nail.
At some point hopefully I just bite the bullet and get started.
# stuckey99 March 21st, 2011 at 11:51 am
“We did, but it was very first half weighted. In the 2H, they were better than us…..which was our ex Pettitte period.”
Hmmm, I haven’t done the math, so take this with a grain of salt, but I do remember on July 3rd, 2010, when Boston had played their 81st game and the Yanks their 80th, Yanks had a 1/2 game lead on the Sox.
They outplayed them by 5.5 the remainder of the year obviously.
But as I say, I haven’t gone inside the numbers to see if the Boston offense and/or rbullpen struggled in greater proportion than the Yanks rotation struggled.
Is that what occurred?
—————————-
Stuckey –
there are a dozen moving parts in a season. so i will try and make this as simple as i can, and i dont mean that to insult your intelligence, i just want to keep the conversation fluid.
we finished 6 games better. through 81 games, we were 1.5 games better.
prior to the ASB we were 2nd in the AL in team ERA (bullpens included), boston was 10th.
prior to the ASB we were 2nd in the AL in runs, boston was 1st.
post the ASB, we were first in the AL in runs scored (390) and boston fell to 7th (337)
post the ASB, we were 13th in the AL in team ERA (4.36) and boston was 7th (4.02)
So my counter to your point is that we didnt gain 4.5 games because we outpitched them, we gained 4.5 games because they didnt hit at all…….they also were without pedroia and youkillis for much of this period.
“Why bat a power hitter like Swisher #2?”
Because he had a better year… isn’t that the whole point?
Yanks have Posada, Granderson and potentially Montero backing up Tex-Arod-Cano. They aren’t lacking for power/protection.
# BoJo March 21st, 2011 at 11:59 am
Anyway, just wanted to provide you some feedback since you went to the effort of putting so much data together. I have to head out for a while.
—————–
Appreciate it and I think your points are fair…..like i have always said, i hope my assertions are wrong, and frankly, even if they are not wrong, i still firmly believe we can win the division given we are better in other departments……..something i think has been lost on most given the way my opinion has been painted.
We may see Manny (old) vs Manny (new) tonight.
“# blake March 21st, 2011 at 10:04 am
Off topic question. As we watch the tourney and how great it is……can you just imagine the spectical that a 16 team NCAA football tournament would be? It would be incredible.”
I wish, that would be incredible…most of the Bowl system has lost pre BCS tradition anyway. all 11 conference winners, 5 at large bids would be a lot of fun. The only loss would be the Rose Bowl, that does have a special feel to it
Fran & Trisha-
Last night after the draft it really hit me….
Baseball is coming!
I know this will count more with some here than with others, but it’s the others to whom I address this.
I just checked my perspicacity meter and discerned that the S*x are going to end up being far less formidible than the hype has led (some of) us to believe.
Until further notice, that remains the gold standard.
“Fran & Trisha-
Last night after the draft it really hit me….
Baseball is coming!”
I took a look at the draft results, round by round, to try to figure out different peoples’ strategies and the only thing I was able to firmly discern is that Mike took every flippin’ top-rated pitcher before he even blinked toward other position players.
Now how can a strategy like that benefit him and hurt everyone else? 10 points a win isn’t small potatoes.
Gadzooks!
He will trade those pitchers for players, by need.
Trisha-
I noted a while ago that pitching seemed even more heavily weighted in this league and a bad performance could hurt you a lot. I tried to make pitching a bigger priority this year and think my staff is decent. But it was so hard to think pitching when all of the decent position players were disappearing
I am still kicking myself for taking Utley in the second round. I forgot all about his injuries.
mick, thinking not. The way our league works is that you get the highest points for wins. He has taken all of the best pitching out there (save for one or two that someone else might have slipped in.) On top of it, we have no maximums for pitch starts. So say he is able to start CC, King Felix, and Verlander all on the same day. That’s 30 potential points right there, not to mention what he’ll get for their other contributions – quality start, Ks, etc. That’s a lot of points for other teams to make up! If he hits a two-start week with some of them, that is going to be tough to compete with.
Slight correction-
I took Cliff Lee round two cause I wanted to guarantee myself one solid name pitcher
Chase Utley was stupidly taken round three
My problem with fantasy sports = I can’t root for players that don’t play for my teams. I feel like a turncoat. It makes me feel dirty and cheap.. which is a feeling I try to avoid (during the week).
I like my pitching staff altho I didn’t get any of the really studly ones. I tried to get up the middle players first, but it was hard as most of the guys I wanted were gone by the time it came back to me.
Shame Spencer March 21st, 2011 at 12:43 pm
My problem with fantasy sports = I can’t root for players that don’t play for my teams. I feel like a turncoat. It makes me feel dirty and cheap.. which is a feeling I try to avoid (during the week).
************
I wound up with a lot of NL players and I am happy for that. Less conflicting
Shame
I don’t mind cheering for players on other teams as long as they are not red sox..couldn’t bring myself to select any of them…altho I would have taken Lester if he was available
upstate kate March 21st, 2011 at 12:43 pm
I like my pitching staff altho I didn’t get any of the really studly ones. I tried to get up the middle players first, but it was hard as most of the guys I wanted were gone by the time it came back to me.
*****************
Kate-
With 14 teams and a roster of 25, it was hard to get anything towards the end
Erica, that is why I so hate the draft. Having 14 of us made it even worse. And you know when you’re in that moment how hard it is to regroup when you have three or four players who are your next picks and by the time it’s your turn, they’re all gone. I’ve been kicking myself for accidentally hitting the draft button for Jeter when I had already drafted Troy because it did totally screw up the rest of my drafting. (I was off on all of my picks by a flippin’ round!). But now I’m thinking I might be able to turn at least that part of it into a positive by keeping both and using Jeter in my 2B/SS slot.
I think you and I basically look at pitching and prospects the same way, and I too am pretty happy with my pitching – even though I didn’t get any of the “top names”. I’m jazzed about getting pitchers like Travis Wood because his upside is so great. That said, he isn’t totally ready to compete with someone like King Felix.
upstate kate March 21st, 2011 at 12:46 pm
Shame
I don’t mind cheering for players on other teams as long as they are not red sox..couldn’t bring myself to select any of them…altho I would have taken Lester if he was available
************
I drafted Buchholz in appreciation of the solid job he did on my staff last year.
I still can’t believe I wound up with Pavano again. I am starting to think maybe I have subconscious feelings about that guy
Big game for Bartolo tonight. I realize he’s not the favorite for that last spot but his stuff has been better than Garcias.
Trisha-
The problem with King Felix is his team won’t get him a lot of wins. In his CY Young year last year he only had 14. I realize wins are a terrible stat and really don’t barameter a pitching performance, but for fantasy basbeall purposes 10 points is 10 points.
I got rid of Greinke last year for that same reason. He would pitch beautifully and then the bullpen would blow the lead before Soria could get a save (my guy too). It was sooooo frustrating.
Erica, I don’t think anything beats drafting Troy Tulowitzky in the first round and Derek Jeter in the second!
Dan Uggla was my second round choice and I would have had him if not for that stupid gaffe. So my strategy about which position player (actual position) I was going to draft when was thrown off by a round so that I ended up with some dregs at positions – relatively speaking. And since that caused me to scramble during the time I was waiting for my turn to come again, it really did mess up my game plan.
That said, I did get some players I wanted. And I know there will be FA diamonds in the rough as the season goes on. There always are.
trisha – true pinstriped blue March 21st, 2011 at 12:30 pm
I know this will count more with some here than with others, but it’s the others to whom I address this.
I just checked my perspicacity meter and discerned that the S*x are going to end up being far less formidible than the hype has led (some of) us to believe.
Until further notice, that remains the gold standard.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The meter won’t by off than any more than a smidgen. The Sux will believe their press clippings then reality will set in.
I’m proud(?) to say I didn’t take any Sux players. Not a one. Not even the best of the bunch.
That and coffee money will likely get me third place at best in our league! Just like where the Sux are going to end up in our division.
By the way I took Soria. My sweet sister Fran had already taken Mo, and again I was discombobulated – not an excuse, seriously – but I did have Soria in my draft pool. So my getting him was intentional.
I am hearing a lot about KC improving. That was part of the reason I did it, seriously.
“The meter won’t by off than any more than a smidgen. The Sux will believe their press clippings then reality will set in.”
I’ve always loved 108 stitches. I see that isn’t about to change.
Carlo,
All fair enough, thank you.
I would suspect, given the .34 difference in ERA those last 72 ish games post-AB, a large percentage of the difference could be attributed to the 29 or so starts Burnett/Vazquez/Pettitte made to the tune of about a 6.50 ERA combined.
At first glance, Boston appeared to have pitched representationally post-ASB.
I can somewhat understand weighting the 2nd half more, but i was frankly expecting a much bigger difference than .34.
I was going to grab Soria, but I am thrilled I have Heath Bell again
If I had a roster of NL players I’d be ok.. I mean, I wouldn’t know who any of them were, what state they played in, or how in the hell my pitchers keep getting on base.. but I’d survive.
I’m with upstatekate on Sox players though. But thats why I can’t do fantasy sports (I stick with fantasy celebrity leagues), because a guy like Lester WOULD be a great addition and even admitting that to myself in the confines of my own home is too much for me to deal with.
See, this is why I can’t embrace fantasy sports. Hoping for good performances from players on competing teams.
I think if I ever did a fantasy baseball draft I could only draft NL players.
“I still can’t believe I wound up with Pavano again. I am starting to think maybe I have subconscious feelings about that guy”
I also can’t believe how far down he was listed and how few people drafted him in any of the leagues.
Big mistake. I think he’s going to come up big.
Hey wait! How can I forget this one! Erica you feel bad that you took Utley because he’s hurt? How about that I drafted the Molina brother who is not signed at this particular point in time!
Though catcher as a position isn’t one that I fret about, not saying I wouldn’t have liked to get one of the better names out there! I ended up with Mike Pelfrey as my last round pick. I already know of another pitcher out there I’m going to switch him off with. Kid with a lot of potential and upside. (Unless anyone who knows anything about Pelfrey tells me to keep him.)
stuckey99 March 21st, 2011 at 12:58 pm
See, this is why I can’t embrace fantasy sports. Hoping for good performances from players on competing teams.
———————-
This is the exact reason why i avoid fantasy sports all together.
Post all star break (74 games) the Yankee starters had a 5.24 ERA. Their bullpen had a 2.86 ERA.
The Red Sox starters (also 74 games) had a 4.16 ERA. Their ‘pen had a 3.68 ERA.
“See, this is why I can’t embrace fantasy sports. Hoping for good performances from players on competing teams.”
Since I embrace good performances from players on competing teams all the time, except for the Suxers, it’s not at all hard for me to draft them. Truth.
SNOWING IN RHODY AS I TYPE!!!!!
Tom, okay, thanks, that makes more sense.
Thanks Tom – I was struggling to get the “as starter” splits post ASB….i believe this reinforces my view that we expanded our margin largely because they stopped hitting.
Holy cow! Mariano Rivera is pitching right now at the minor league complex!!! Some guy came up to me and was like, you a Yankees fan. Uh yeah and he said look on the mound. Its Mariano Rivera.
What a treat
Stuckey – I appreciate you being a diplomatic poster who seems to be involved in activities like this as a means of thoughtful discussion. The folks I encountered last night, seem more bent on “winning” internet opinion arguments rather than discussing opinions.
Trisha, Erica and Kate,
Relievers help. I had to add more weight to the offense with points for singles, doubles, triples and homeruns.
And wins are 10 points, but you can also loose a lot of points with a bad start.
tyanks,
Cool. Guess you gave up on the homework
Yeah I figured I have a good window of time between classes I would come up here. I don’t prioritize well.
Fran, absolutely agree on relievers. In fact I was jonesing for Rafael Soriano and poof! Right before my eyes he was gone.
And then I thought Zumaya. And poof! No sooner had I gotten his name straight then did I notice that he had already been scooped up.
Oh well.
The snow is sticking!
Okay, looks like it’s time for patricia the perverse to make her move. I didn’t want to go out in the cold and rain but don’t mind going out in the snow!
Actually I love winter and love snow, so I don’t mind doing it.
Later y’all.
I’m sitting behind Brett Marshall and DJ mitchell’s parents.
Hilight of my day though is seeing Mo.
“I’m sitting behind Brett Marshall and DJ mitchell’s parents.”
When I first read this quickly, I thought you were sitting behind Brett Michaels.
There’s a new post and no one told me about it cough*Erica*cough.
PLAYER, TEAM POS ACTION
Mat Latos, SD?SP SP
Wandy Rodriguez, Hou?SP??DTD SP
Francisco Rodriguez, NYM?RP??DTD CL
Jonathan Papelbon, Bos?RP CL
Andrew Bailey, Oak?RP??DTD CL
Ryan Franklin, StL?RP CL
Fernando Rodney, LAA?RP CL
Brandon League, Sea?RP CL
Chris Sale, CWS?RP CL
PLAYER, TEAM POS ACTION
Chris Iannetta, Col?C C
Adam LaRoche, Was?1B 1B
Howard Kendrick, LAA?2B 2B
Evan Longoria, TB?3B??DTD 3B
Marco Scutaro, Bos?SS SS
Sean Rodriguez, TB?2B, OF 2B, OF
Casey McGehee, Mil?3B 3B
Carlos Gonzalez, Col?OF OF
Matt Kemp, LAD?OF OF
Andrew McCutchen, Pit?OF OF
Jayson Werth, Was?OF OF
Jacoby Ellsbury, Bos?OF OF
Mike Stanton, Fla?OF OF
Mitch Moreland, Tex?1B
Lance Berkman, StL?1B, DH
Luke Scott, Bal?DH
I missed the Dtraft & went on auto-pick. I got a good offense & a lot of closers! LOL! Only 2 SP. Sorry I couldn’t have picked some slots myself! Too many Sux players too.
Carlo,
Don’t be too hard on them. They get intellectually eviscerated so often it’d make anyone a a little sensitive…
ahem…
Kidding (mostly).
Ray, that’s what happens when you miss the draft
***********************
Shame, thanks for announcing the new thread
Hopefully, you people will not continue dragging this stupid argument into every new post. Keep your catfight confined to this subject page and stop annoying everyone else with it.
UnKnown March 21st, 2011 at 11:55 am
MLB Network is showing me that tonights game will be on Live
Thanks.
Yes,
We need to save bandwidth for more fascinating stories about the Yankees bullpen catcher in 1965.