Postgame notes: How Burnett is limiting the damage
Posted by: Sam Borden - Posted in Misc on Apr 30, 2011 
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A.J. Burnett knew right away that he didn’t have his best curveball today. He even admitted that he “really let that hook bother me the first couple innings.” The difference between last year and this year, though, is that Burnett refused to let that realization ruin his day.
“In the past, I’d get ticked off at that,” he said. “(Now), I’m not getting bothered by everything.”
Some days, it’s tough. As a pitcher who knows he has a good curveball, it can be difficult for him to keep his mind from wandering if – as he put it – “the 46-foot curveballs aren’t even close.” But after suffering through 2010, Burnett knows his focus has to be better. And on Saturday it was.
Is six innings, four runs a masterpiece? Hardly. But Burnett didn’t let the game get away from him and did enough, yet again, to give the Yankees a chance to win. He’s now 4-1 this year and 9-1 in April as a Yankee, but isn’t content with how he is pitching. If he’s going to continue to succeed, he knows that curveball has to be better.
“I’ve got to try to make it nastier than it is,” he said.
• By the way, Burnett’s pickoff of Rajai Davis in the fifth was his 26th career pickoff, ranking him fourth among active righties. Did Burnett see something that tipped him off on Davis leaning toward second? Nope. Just lucky, as it turned out. “I know they like to run,” Burnett said. “I guessed right.”
• Curtis Granderson refused to take the easy way out, saying that Davis’s leadoff triple wasn’t a ball he lost in the sun. “He just hit it harder than I thought he did,” Granderson said, though he did add that the sun – a notorious problem during 4 p.m. starts – was difficult all the way until the seventh or eighth inning.
• Just to reiterate: No real issues with A-Rod today, he just got a day off. Girardi said he’ll play tomorrow.
• After 0-for-8 with RISP on Friday, the Yankees were 4-for-9 on Saturday and cashed in enough opportunities that it didn’t matter they went hitless from the fourth inning on. The five runs was also the most they’ve scored this season in a game where they didn’t hit a home run (something that’s happened only four times in 24 games).
Do the Yankees care if there are no homers? Not so much, according to Nick Swisher. “I don’t care whether we get ‘em by home run or bunt,” Swisher said. “Whatever.” So there you have it.
• Kudos to Rafael Soriano for bouncing back from his rough outing against the White Sox. He came in, faced the middle of the Jays order and did his job, retiring Yunel Escobar, Jose Bautista and Juan Rivera (after Adam Lind singled). Getting Bautista, in particular, was impressive after Soriano fell behind the dangerous outfielder 2-and-0. Did he feel any extra pressure facing such tough hitters? “It didn’t matter,” Soriano said. “I just have to make my pitch.”
• Hard not to notice Jorge Posada’s struggles: He was 0-for-3 today and is now hitting .125.
• Fun with numbers: Seven different Yankees had a hit. Five different Yankees scored a run. Five different Yankees had a RBI. In NBA parlance, I believe they call that a balanced offense.
• Who else to close with but the closer: Mariano Rivera worked the ninth for his ninth save of the season, the most he’s ever had before May 1. Rivera has also been kind to those in the Bronx who love to watch him: He’s won or saved 10 of the 11 Yankee home wins this year.
* That’s an AP shot of Burnett from today.
Montero’s hitting the ball hard again, tonight. 2-4, safe on an error, 1 RBI. Just took a nice, easy swing and pinned Shaeffer against the wall in dead center…400 feet away. Last night, he missed the right field foul pole by about two feet and on the next pitch right right fielder jumped to catch a liner as he was hitting the wall. The homers will start flying shortly.
Scranton down 4-1.
Trenton is still controlling Banuelos’ pitch counts. Trenton leads 4-1 in the 7th inning. Banuelos 4.2 innings, 3 hits, 1 run, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts, 1 WP. 7 ground balls, 3 flyouts. Suttle is 2-3 with a solo homer.
Tampa got hammered.
Never in my 5 seasons of coming to the LoHud has it ever been this barren…….Sad that it’s come to this, but you could see it coming
Pat, I can see it getting worse before it gets better. Damned pity. Chad and Sam put out good info, but, I think their hands are somewhat tied. As far as Larry The Lump goes, he won’t leave and it really makes no difference to him if he ‘s ignored or not. He’ll hang in here and continue to trash the boards.
It may rise again..the writer is too good for it to totally die. And there are too many knowledgable Yankee fans here.
I for one am not going to let some stalker/troll scare me off. Let him try to find out my ID–I could not care less.
Guys like Larry are not the problem…CR was apparently.
But I think the people will reeturn someday. I’ve seen blogs go through down times and come back. It is all dependent on the writers.
If Posada keeps struggling, the calls for Montero are going to be deafening. I hope Jorgie can come back, and that the problems are not health related.
Trenton wins, 4-1. Here’s the box.
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.....x_treaax_1
Larry The Lump and those that carry on the constant baiting are the problems.
Kei Igawa gets another big win
GreenBeret7 April 30th, 2011 at 9:45 pm
Larry The Lump and those that carry on the constant baiting are the problems.
____________
Do you really think that is what drove the ladies away? I think it was the guy posting their personal info. Guys like Larry can easily be ignored…Ruby Tuesday was a joke…and the negative Nells are just laughable. All harmless except for the stalker guy
Who is Larry the Lump? I mean what screen name is he using.
Someone here IIRC told me someone called them at 3 am and said something that the staslker wrote on the blog…now that is warped
Yes, most everyone has left. BC, SJ, Tricia….gone.
oops, meant CB…
Larry the lump? sounds like a character on different strokes
Hey craw–YankeesNoMore is aka Larry and Normy.
SJ was here earlier…CB comes when he can..and Trish is too tough to be chased away permanently
Okay, yeah that guy is a clown. I mean every Yankee fan should just ignore his posts.
I miss Betsy and Erica and all the ladies who added a different POV
Cool Bojo, haven’t seen them in a while, so I thougt they were gone. Glad to know they are still around. Betsy too.
Hmmmm … tomorrow >>> Red Sox (Wakefield) vs. Mariners (King Felix)
Nice win today….AJ gave them enough, a little situational and timely hitting, and the bullpen did the rest …….side note, man does it look like Cash struck gold with Martin.
Go for the series win tomorrow.
Yup….Sox staring at a sweep at Fenway against the Mariners if they don’t come back tonight.
Why is wakefield starting tomorrow?
Bucholz is sick. Flu or something.
Sox have lost
Rex Sox lose!!!
Lets get another on them tomorrow.
BoJo….Betsy will be back as I think she’s out of town….However great contributors like Doreen, Fran, Erica, Clare, M, Erin, and of course Tricia and I know I’m missing a few other longtime mainstays are just fed up with the threats and the insane static……This place always had such great in game insights…..It was a dynamic meeting place for Yankee fans and fans of the game itself……Now for me it’s just a place to say hello to some friends and depending on the climate will determine whether or not it’s worth staying …….I sometimes will check out a few other blogs when things are oppressively negative here….It blows mt mind to see so many former LoHuders elesewhere……It’s as though the core has been removed…..Shame
Carl April 30th, 2011 at 10:15 pm
Sox have lost
=============
I prefer to think of it as
Mariners have won
The Sox squandered numerous opportunities in that game….it happens to every team, not just the Yankees……crawford down to. 155 with the 0fer
Well, if Chad refuses to block people who are obviously “upsetting” just about everyone, and don’t just “have a different opinion”, like “YankeesNMore” then the discussion part of this blog will go to hell in a handbasket.
Pat M,
My favorite time to post was the game threads in the past….they are nearly impossible these days unless the Yanks are up by 10 runs, Im probably not going to bother anymore. Stinks because as I said that was the best part of the site…..discussing thigs with other Yankee fans while the game was actually being played and cheering them along.
Larry the Lump is hardly the only issue in here. When you have three and four regulars in here bringing in their little teenage girl spats from another board and then continue baiting each other and two more that admitted they start their crap just to do a little trolling (last night), people get fed up.
I don’t think it is fair to blame Chad. He really doesn’t have the tools or time to block people. For example, I can see he tries to ban CR 9 but the guy keeps using fake IP addresses and new accounts to get online.
The only solution is for the posters to ignore and scroll past the people who they don’t care for…and also to support each other if someone starts stalking or attacking another poster. Just a simple “please take it elsewhere” or “please stop picking on xxx” shouldn’t be too much to ask for.
How are ya GB?
The Sox squandered numerous opportunities in that game
=========
That’s an understatement.
Mr. Fister did his Houdini impression quite well, multiple times. The Sox hit 5 doubles (3 of the lead-off variety) but were 0-11 w/RISP. They had the bases loaded twice (once with NO outs) and Mr. Fister and staff were able to hang on to the shut out.
It was quite entertaining to read the SoSH game day thread during the game…
As far as spats–I’ll own up to being part of that problem…but not by plan. I came here just to talk baseball and have fun, but a couple of posters seem to constantly try to stalk me, so I reply for 4 or 5 posts then stop.
I don’t like it, but know from experience that simply ignoring them makes them escalate, so I try to nip it in bud quickly.
It is a bother to both me and others. I simply suggest you scroll past when it happens. ..or join me in telling the stalkers to shut up.
Compass,
You’re Ms have done their job very nicely this weekend
Blake, evem the off-the-wall little discussions tended to get rather funny. Erica and Erin with their Bert and Ernie love-fest (or anything Muppet used to be part of the daily smiles and snickers. People used it to get ideas on buying cars and somebody would even slip in a little baseball talk. Doreen, Fran, Kate, trisha and the rest always added something different. The best group of women baseball posters that I’ve seen anywhere.
Doing pretty well, Blake. Thanks for asking. How are you and the little 2nd baseman and wifey doing?
GB,
Totally agree …..hope they return one day.
I’m not familiar with the software used for this board, but most discussion boards have provisions to block by ip address.
If someone comes back, it is usually one of two ways:
1. They recycle their “modem” and get a different ip address. In this case you just block the entire ip block, e.g. 200.100.200.000 – 200.100.200.255.
2. They jump around free anonymous proxy services each time they get banned. I believe you can find lists of these services on the internet and you take that list and put the ip addresses in your block list.
The tech guy would need to do this, but Chad or Sam would need to request it.
Gb,
Doin great …..keeping me busy that’s for sure
Nice job all around today.
Although I can’t express how much I disliked the fact that Soriano came in for the eighth after Joba had thrown just 6 pitches.
He’s getting paid 12 million dollars to be here. To compound that mistake by unnecessarily having him pitch the eighth inning with a one run lead when a better reliever had just thrown 6 pitches in a clean seventh is absurd.
Joba Chamberlain is, right now, a flat out better pitcher than Soriano. He’s also proven enough here to be rewarded with the opportunity to expand his currently depressingly low leverage role.
blake ~
Amazingly, they have.
Here’s hoping Fee-Fee and company can use the broom they’ll be bringing tomorrow to complete the job.
It doesn’t really even need to be that Joba is a better pitcher. The pitcher in the 7th just succeeded on 6 pitches, let him go another inning. It saves your other relievers potentially and allows the bullpen to pitch more innings without necessarily throwing many more pitches
GB….Kate, Rebecca, and I know there’s more ladies and then there’s a large segment of guys that have just vanished….And when by chance they do stop by it’s as though they just walked into a street fight……I understand Chad & Sam & company are trying to figure this all out but the horses are out of the barn and it might be too late…….I communicate more via e-mails with people than I do here…..It really is a shame, heck even Matt’s been more conservative in his approach and comments because of the climate here as of late
Jack==
Good suggestions, but the stalker copuld have multiple points of entry like a home, a work place, parents’ home, etc. But I think that is a good start. Why don’t you write the tech guy with your suggestions?
Thing is though that for this bullpen and team to be the best it can be….they need to get Soriano on track…..and he needs to pitch and pitch in high leverage situations to do that.
He hasn’t pitched well this year and has done some things that irritate me….but when he’s right he’s very good and the Yanks will be a better team if they can get him to that point.
What an AHole…
Whom here is Daniel Carbone?
So CR 9–how many places do you log in from? Mommy’s home? Work? Local bar? Starbucks? Or do you simply use Proxy servers?
Thomas Chase, anyone?
Ta Ta!
Multiple points of entry, usually 3 or less; home, work and mobile. Not a problem.
There are other ways than the two I listed above, but that requires much more skill than just about anyone posesses. True hacking is very rare these days.
Interesting that he is posting under the name of a gay poet from the early 1920s. Kind of telling, yes?
Really–who cares what names you post?
So let me get this right CR–the reason you post is to drive off people that you believe add negativity to the board, or who whim, or who have an angry demeanor. Is that right?
the 10:41 post is why i post less here
Why doesn’t anyone note Girardi’s scripted bullpen worked well today? Funny how a manager is smart when players perform and stupid when they don’t.
kd April 30th, 2011 at 11:04 pm
the 10:41 post is why i post less here
_________
I wonder if he realizes what a sanctimonious hypocrite he is
Good night night people
Why doesn’t anyone note Girardi’s scripted bullpen worked well today?
–
The Yankees won, duh. They perhaps could have done so in a more efficient manner. Rigidly adhering to any strategy is a recipe for trouble. Joba So Mo without any regard to how any of the pitchers is pitching will backfire. In my opinion, I would use the bullpen in a more fluid manner, saving ONLY Mariano for specific situations (save situations in the 9th etc). Soriano Joba and Robertson would come in when they are most needed regardless of inning from the 6th-8th.
This kind of argument doesn’t really work, because Girardi could bat Gustavo Molina and Ramiro Pena 1-2 and if the Yankees win I would not say ‘great strategy’.
The acquisition of Soriano has definitely made Girardi more rigid in his bullpen usage in the early going.
“Why doesn’t anyone note Girardi’s scripted bullpen worked well today? Funny how a manager is smart when players perform and stupid when they don’t.”
_____________________________________________
I disagree with the moves he made today.
They worked out, but it doesn’t mean they were the correct moves, or the moves that put the team in the best position to win.
Girardi micromanaged his way to a World Series ring, but that doesn’t mean he was an asset in contributing to that victory with his in game management.
He single-handedly could have run the Yankees out of the postseason in 2009 were it for a bit worse luck.
The more relievers you bring into the game, the greater the odds one of them blows it.
Relievers are 1 inning pitchers usually because they are going to throw 20ish or so pitches to retire a side in 1 inning. Relievers are characterized as guys with spotty command, high strike out guys, walk alot. If you get a guy who breezes through an inning, it is a free invitation to getting length out of pitchers who are not naturally able to do so. The fact that someone would then throw that away and burn another pitcher simply because of bullpen roles, that is silly.
What a crock of BS. How much more efficient does it need to be in a 3 inning game? How about every manager with good bullpens have pitchers in specific spots so they can be ready to go when they are needed? 2 more cases of whining about nothing after a win.
What a crock of BS. How much more efficient does it need to be in a 3 inning game? How about every manager with good bullpens have pitchers in specific spots so they can be ready to go when they are needed? 2 more cases of whining about nothing after a win.
–
First of all, I only brought it up because someone wanted to talk about it. Second of all, Joba-Soriano-Mo cannot pitch every 7-9th inning in a close game. Its impossible.
Its not really whining, its discussing the yankees strategy and how it is working. There are definitely OLD SCHOOL type baseball minds who think that you leave in the hot pitcher. its called managing with your gut. Guy dominates on 6 pitches, perhaps leave him in. Not only do you get an extra inning (possibly) in a situation where you might normally only get 1, but you save the reliever you would have brought in for another day. Since relief usage is a REAL THING that affects strategy, using relievers when you don’t have to should be avoided.
You can’t possibly be so dense as to think otherwise.
I wonder what relievers did before THE CLOSER and THE EIGHTH INNING GUY and what not where they might come into the game anytime between the 7th and 9th to put out fires. Probably couldn’t handle it, eh?
Well, you used scripted instead of binder so you get a point for sublety. But why the nit pick?
There are enough variables such as Sory’s delicate ego needs structure, don’t hurt his pride as in he’s the eigth/nineth reliever etc. To me Girardi’s most important strength is BP management so quibling about most effective reliever usage is “meh”. Next
For me, the game had a number of positives – AJ effectively gave up only two runs even though he labored all six innings as in all over the place, the other two runs were a direct result of sun problems.
The Yankees scored 5 runs by in control at bats instead of the wild flailings we’ve seen ad nauseum. Could quibble about the six scoreless innings but sufficient unto the day.
Martin continues to play his position in exemplary fashion. Granderson slashed a single down the third base line and so on.
Even if you ONLY want to use Soriano in the 8th, he doesn’t have to pitch every 8th, since realistically he is only going to get into around 60 of them.
All that matters to me is that we won and the Sox lost and we now have a five game lead over them. Happy days.
Does your little autographed Bill James bible tell you what days those 60 games Soriano will be pitching in? Sunday and Monday?
Perhaps you’d like to whine about brett gardner some more, GB7?
I would like to introduce Gardner to the concept of zone hitting. Standing there like a post is demeaning and counterproductive. Get a fastball down the middle, take a rip. Good things might happen. He’s taken a large step back from last year. Hopefully it’s the two handed approach that’s throwing him off.
I would like to introduce GB7 to the concept of internet discussion. Since it seems he is only capable of acting as a minor league rotofeed or whining about other people talking about baseball.
I would like to introduce Gardner to the concept of zone hitting. Standing there like a post is demeaning and counterproductive. Get a fastball down the middle, take a rip. Good things might happen. He’s taken a large step back from last year. Hopefully it’s the two handed approach that’s throwing him off.
—————-
In his past 26 PAs, he is hitting .300/.391/.850
The one player that is disappointing is Teixeira and his offensive approach. He was given that overpaid contract to take over “the man” position as A Rod began to fade away. I’ve yet to see him take charge of a game. His game plan seems to be “hit it as hard as you can and pull” or draw a walk. A whole lot of low percentage at bats regardless of the situation. The talent is there, the mental approach is lacking.
Jerk, you don’t discuss anything. You try telling people what and how to enjoy baseball. According to you, if they don’t think like you’they’re wrong. Sorry, but, you’re just not that smart.
Scratch that. This is what he is hitting in his past 26 PAs:
.318/.423/.818
Explain to me where I have told anyone what or how to enjoy baseball. I’d like some examples of that. Since what you meant to say is: “I hate it whenever I try to makeup something and then Jerkface calls me out on it.”
I’ve yet to see him take charge of a game.
————–
April 16th vs Texas
2-3, HR, 3 RBIs, 2 runs scored in a 5-2 win.
In his past 26 PAs, he is hitting .300/.391/.850
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By all means let’s introduce the small sample size and the doinks over third base.
Gardner, in my opinion is capable of maintaining last year’s pre All Star break numbers. In other words take control of games. His skill set works even against top end pitchers ala Ichiro with more power.
My wish is that he dominate at bats – that should be his next developmental phase. Maybe his confidence is shot and he’s reverted but he’ll come out of it. This is a walk on at a secondary college baseball program. We’ll see.
Bo knows May 1st, 2011 at 12:12 am
The one player that is disappointing is Teixeira and his offensive approach. He was given that overpaid contract to take over “the man” position as A Rod began to fade away. I’ve yet to see him take charge of a game. His game plan seems to be “hit it as hard as you can and pull” or draw a walk. A whole lot of low percentage at bats regardless of the situation. The talent is there, the mental approach is lacking.
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I see it different.
I see a team of veterans, several of whom can carry the offense for a time. I’ve seen Al, Tex, and Robbie each do it.
And you find fault with an approach of “hit it as hard as you can or walk”??? I don’t. Isn’t that what every hitter is doing? So he doesn’t try to hit it the other way … big deal.
By all means let’s introduce the small sample size and the doinks over third base.
Gardner, in my opinion is capable of maintaining last year’s pre All Star break numbers. In other words take control of games. His skill set works even against top end pitchers ala Ichiro with more power.
My wish is that he dominate at bats – that should be his next developmental phase. Maybe his confidence is shot and he’s reverted but he’ll come out of it. This is a walk on at a secondary college baseball program. We’ll see.
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In his last 26 PAs as I said he is slugging over 800. He is not just “doinking” the ball over third base. Only 2 of his 7 hits are singles. 3 are HR and 2 are doubles.
He has looked much better recently and his performance is a pretty good sign he is coming out of it.
2-3, HR, 3 RBIs, 2 runs scored in a 5-2 win.
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And I can come back with his at bat with bases loaded, last night low percentage at bat. It might be a Grand Slam but ….probably not. A ball up and breaking in from a lefty – stat chasing. As in all sports, give yourself a chance to succeed.
“And I can come back with his at bat with bases loaded, last night low percentage at bat. It might be a Grand Slam but ….probably not. A ball up and breaking in from a lefty – stat chasing. As in all sports, give yourself a chance to succeed.”
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So you expect Tex to come through 100% of the time?
The Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions defines “doink” as “to steal something.”
Tex hasn’t even heated up like he does during the summer months, where he can put up entire months like this: .344 .462 .698 1.160 or .289 .355 .629 .983 or .330 .391 .748 1.138 or .294 .391 .523 .914 or .333 .398 .657 1.056
(these are all months from 09 and 10)
He has a .900 OPS and this is his ‘slow start month’.
Pretty sure Doink is a clown.
He has looked much better recently and his performance is a pretty good sign he is coming out of it.
From your lips etc
He’d better be pulling out of it. With all the effort I’ve put into his at bats, I’m exhausted.
So you expect Tex to come through 100% of the time?
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Oh good, I was waiting for the snark. Endit
So let me see if I get this straight … the Yankees won, but it’s not necessarily a good thing because of the way certain players hit, field, pitch, or manage?
OK, got it.
Tex in his career
RISP: .310/.437/.591
On 3rd less than 2 out: .393/.485/.638
Tex this season
RISP: .385/.526/1.154
On 3rd less than 2 out: .667/.500/2.667
I’m pretty sure Tex does a good job of putting himself in a position to succeed.
Pretty sure Doink is a clown.
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No, a doink is a specially made object that when dropped of the bow of a ship makes a “doink” sound as it enters the water.
So let me see if I get this straight … the Yankees won, but it’s not necessarily a good thing because of the way certain players hit, field, pitch, or manage?
OK, got it.
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Easy on the irony
Might get rusted out
“Oh good, I was waiting for the snark. Endit”
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It wasn’t snark. You are nitpicking one at bat as if he is not allowed to ever fail in a big situation.
Tex has been an incredibly productive hitter throughout his whole career. One of the more productive hitters in the game year in and year out.
If you believe he has too many low percentage at bats you are basically setting the standard at perfection.
I guess I’m odd, but, I believe any Yankees win is a good win, and I still believe baseball is a team sport, so the team wins, or the team losses. Individual stats during the game are team stats for success or failure. If you enjoy individual stats so much, watch tennis or golf, baseball is not for you, IMHO.
GB7 -
If you’re still out there, hope you were not affected by the recent storms, especially after all that new construction.
Good night.
If you enjoy individual stats so much, watch tennis or golf, baseball is not for you, IMHO.
Damn, all those years I put into the game enjoyed the hell out of it and only now do I find out it’s not for me. Why didn’t someone tell me sooner?
Before I shut it down
Yes, Tex will have these great months when he’s hot and then those months when he’s not.
And it comes to Girardi clapping his hands. “Go get em Teix, we really need a hit” Teix “Sorry Boss, I’m slumping”.
Individual stats during the game are team stats for success or failure. If you enjoy individual stats so much, watch tennis or golf, baseball is not for you, IMHO.
–
Baseball is the one sport where every player is free to be as selfish as possible and try to pile up their own INDIVIDUAL STATS and it will be helping the team. Due to the solitary nature of batter vs pitcher, individual stats are what the game is founded on.
So let me see if I get this straight … the Yankees won, but it’s not necessarily a good thing because of the way certain players hit, field, pitch, or manage?
–
The win is a good thing and will never change. How they GOT to the win is up for debate as to future usefulness. The Yankees can do almost everything right and still lose a game, which means they can do nearly everything wrong and still win one.
I think the idea of pitching a guy who only threw 6 pitches to get 3 outs MORE should not be some kind of taboo discussion simply because the Yankees won. In the end we’re just talking about it, but I’m curious as to why someone would advocate against.
In the case of the game today: Soriano came in because he hadn’t worked in 4 days and it was the 8th and a 1 run game. I don’t think he needed to come into this game specifically, but given his lack of work the past 4 days I certainly understand it.
They have 50 more bullets in the Soriano gun the rest of the year, I hope they use them wisely.
Baseball is the one sport where every player is free to be as selfish as possible and try to pile up their own INDIVIDUAL STATS and it will be helping the team. Due to the solitary nature of batter vs pitcher, individual stats are what the game is founded on.
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Damn, pulled me back
That’s totally simplistic
Offensively, it’s about situational hitting. A single is easier to hit than a HR, a higher percentage result, The object of the excercise is to win ball games, so at different times a hitter should be approaching at bats in different ways. Once, it was hold one finger up, going to bat and looking at the coach. In other words, “One swing for me”.
Swinging max effort for a HR on a CB is bad baseball. Occasionally you’ll succeed, mostly you’ll pop up.
Deja vu anyone
Different strokes…..
“Offensively, it’s about situational hitting.”
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It’s not.
Players go up to the plate looking for a pitch they can drive and the plan is to hit the ball hard.
You can’t guide a groundball through a hole, or choose to hit a semi deep fly ball to get a sac fly, you can’t choose to bloop a single somewhere, etc.
The object of hitting is to hit the ball hard. People get too caught up stuff like player X is “swinging for a HR.”
People just come up with that stuff when a player gets fooled on a pitch or just misses the pitch.
In reality, all you can do is try to hit the ball hard and hope it finds some grass.
I think the idea of pitching a guy who only threw 6 pitches to get 3 outs MORE should not be some kind of taboo discussion simply because the Yankees won. In the end we’re just talking about it, but I’m curious as to why someone would advocate against.
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Just a different pov. Your own point is certainly not taboo, but it’s open to question, don’t you think?
I happen to agree with your point in principle. But I’m also impressed with the production Girardi’s gotten out of his pen in his 3 seasons so far, so I choose to just have faith in his moves, even if they don’t work out occasionally.
I also happen to believe that Girardi wants to get a quick start out of the gate this year, considering that Tampa’s unreal 32-12 start last year eventually led to their 1st place finish.
or clears the fence.
That’s totally simplistic
Offensively, it’s about situational hitting.
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Still, Situational hitting has nothing to do with ‘team’. The onus is on individual batters, and they should still be trying to maximize all their results in terms of their own stats. You can swing as hard as you want on every pitch, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. The difference is on when you start your swing in relation to the pitch being thrown. Jose Bautista swings max effort all the time, Sheffield swings max effort all the time.
Basically, if a batter is trying to hit a HR every time up or whatever cliche you want to use for making outs, they aren’t going to be maximizing their own individual statistics. It still has little to do with being a ‘team game’.
Anyone who wants to watch a true team game should probably stick to football (both kinds) , rugby, soccer, hockey and basketball. Baseball is about the individual.
A sac fly is looked at as a great piece of hitting, the right way the game is supposed to be played, an excellent approach at the plate.
Really though, a sac fly is just a ball you didn’t hit well enough or on the right spot of the bat. It’s just a fly ball like any other fly ball, but you are lucky enough that your out in this case scores a run.
A guy will hit a fly ball to centerfield and some fans will say, why is he swinging for the fences?
A guy hits a fly ball to centerfield with a man on third and fans say, great piece of hitting!
They have 50 more bullets in the Soriano gun the rest of the year, I hope they use them wisely.
———————–
If you look at the situation that way then you have a valid point. 13 mil for a Prima Donna 70 innings. Stupid specialised baseball. Wait, he’s appeared in 12 games.
A little reach there per BR. 77 and 64 last two years.
Any decent hitter with bat control should be able to hit fly balls. Controlled swing, the easiest thing to do.
Seeing as RBIs are now discounted, hurts your stats.
“Any decent hitter with bat control should be able to hit fly balls. Controlled swing, the easiest thing to do.
Seeing as RBIs are now discounted, hurts your stats.”
——————–
Are you saying that any MLB hitter could just hit a fly ball at will, but they don’t do this everytime with a man on 3rd and less than 2 outs because it hurts their stats?
Any decent hitter with bat control should be able to hit fly balls. Controlled swing, the easiest thing to do.
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But why swing for an out? When the hitter gets a single, smashes a double, or rips a HR with a runner on 3rd less than 1 out everyone is like awesome!
A sac fly is great until the other team scores off your reliever and you say, ‘Shoulda got more than the 1 run from that bases loaded less than 2 outs situation!’
You see, it’s different baseball.
Billy Martin “Score one, it takes two to beat us”. If the run is there, nail it down. I’ll trade outs for runs all day long.
Once it was about technique and bat control. Now it’s brute power. The mantra was “Don’t bulk up, robs power, swing easy”. Now ball players pump iron, swing from the heels in mini ball parks.
To me, Cano is a joy to watch because it’s all technique. All the old cliches. Quiet, Balance, In the slot, Short to the Ball, Connected, Extension
Baseball is the only sport where you have on average of four challenges a game. Always a new situation. Those who can do, those who can’t, watch. Doing is much better.
I’ll trade outs for runs all day long.
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If the other choice is to get an out without a run, then duh. But I’ll take free runs all day long.
To me, Cano is a joy to watch because it’s all technique. All the old cliches. Quiet, Balance, In the slot, Short to the Ball, Connected, Extension
——————-
Yet, somehow he only has 28 sac flies in 215 plate appearances with a man on 3rd less than 2 outs in his career.
Over 80% of his RBIs with a guy on third and less than 2 out come via a hit.
87% of Cano’s RBIs last year with a guy on third and less than 2 outs came from a hit.
Are you saying that any MLB hitter could just hit a fly ball at will, but they don’t do this everytime with a man on 3rd and less than 2 outs because it hurts their stats?
———————–
We must be talking different languages. I’ll be polite.
Degrees of difficulty, percentages. I said the easiest thing to do if you had bat control was to hit fly balls not that you’ll always be successful. Hitting is mostly failure.
A lot of baseball players have bad mechanics. Long is very successful, teachings basics to Major Leaguers, go figure. A whole mess of guys are teaching the same things to kids for nothing but feel good.
How the hell did they get to the Majors doing all these things wrong?
Yet, somehow he only has 28 sac flies in 215 plate appearances with a man on 3rd less than 2 outs in his career.
Over 80% of his RBIs with a guy on third and less than 2 out come via a hit.
———————
Good, isn’t he.
What’s the percentage of his failure?
“Degrees of difficulty, percentages. I said the easiest thing to do if you had bat control was to hit fly balls not that you’ll always be successful. Hitting is mostly failure.
A lot of baseball players have bad mechanics. Long is very successful, teachings basics to Major Leaguers, go figure. A whole mess of guys are teaching the same things to kids for nothing but feel good.
How the hell did they get to the Majors doing all these things wrong?”
—————-
This doesn’t particularly mean anything until you put an actual percentage on it.
These guys get to the majors like that because at the end of the day talent trumps mechanics by a gigantic margin.
You don’t get to the major leagues based on your hitting mechanics. You get there because you are an insanely talented baseball player.
And this idea that there is or used to be some type of player who just kept it basic and played for one run doesn’t really seem to hold much weight in reality.
If you look at any player’s statistics, the vast majority of their RBIs with a man on 3rd and less than 2 outs come from hitting the ball. Not from sac flies.
Mark Teixiera has had an amazing amount of success in his career with a guy on 3rd and less than 2 outs. Significantly moreso than Cano.
You seem to be more concerned with how things look or how pretty a player’s swing is than actual results.
Results are what matter.
Good, isn’t he.
What’s the percentage of his failure?
—————-
Cano has either a hit, BB, HBP, IBB, sac fly, or reached on an error 54% of the time with a man on 3rd and less than 2 outs.
Teixieria: 67%
Cano has also GIDP in 7% of his PAs with a man on 3rd and less than 2 out.
Tex has only GIDP 4% of the time.
This could go on all night. Okay. You win, Teixeira is great at baseball stats.
He’ll be better this year because Long almost cured him of the collapsing back leg but it didn’t matter because he’s insanely talented.
Enough
I’ve had a plane circling for an hour, waiting to land.
where did everybody go?
the negative posters have chased all the real yankees fans and longterm lohudders out. the people now running the blog dont seem to care. i have complained repeatedly about the the most agregious of these posters and its effect on the blog but was pretty much told that nothing will be done and it was suggested that the people who are ‘positive posters’ are just as ‘over the top’ as the negative posters (including the one who during yesterday’s game post was actively rooting for an injury to dered jeter).
they abdicated any control over this blog and the results are obvious.
whoever is the last one out, please turn out the lights…
Let’s Go Yankees!
bye
Beautiful day for a win. If nova locates and keeps the ball down, the game is in the bag.
good morning to murphydog and doreen who used to make sunday mornings the best time to come on lohud.
yankees are 15-9.
i like those numbers. they have a nice ring to them. this is a 101 win pace.
ironically because the yankees knew they were going to be very thin on starting pitching they strengthened everything else they could and this team is very deep with jones, chavez, garcia,colon, soriano etc.
russel martin has been exactly as pat m said he would be on the day of the trade.a huge pick up.
… and gee, the red sox are 5 games out again. what a shame. just got back down here on cape cod, and you don’t see a lot of red sox hats.
the conversation about situational hitting late last night was interesting in the sense how it showed clearly where lgy and jerkface are coming from.
lgy says “In reality, all you can do is try to hit the ball hard and hope it finds some grass.”
jerkface says The onus is on individual batters, and they should still be trying to maximize all their results in terms of their own stats. You can swing as hard as you want on every pitch, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.”
the reality is that it is possible to play baseball the way lgy and jerkface describe and players who aren’t interested in winning do indeed play that way. they do it because they don’t care as much about winning as they care about the stats that will give them a bigger paycheck at the end of the year.
the reality is that a hitter can control his bat to a large degree if he chooses to do so. i believe that a team that has a large number of these kind of hitters will have a better offense than a team filled with hitters who swing all out all the time with no concern for situational hitting.
i know at the semi pro level where most of the good pitchers were division one college pitchers, i had no trouble placing a ball between the third baseman and the foul line if the third baseman was playing me,a lefty hitter, to pull the ball.
if i saw a big gap to left center, i could hit the ball there. if a team played me to go the opposite way, i would pull the ball. i have no doubt there are mlb hitters who do the same. when you see johnny damon use one swing to pull a ball into the right field seats and then on the next swing, slap a ball down the left field line you know johnny damon makes decisions to hit to different spots on the filed.
can he decide to hit a home run and do it? not every time of course, but he can decide to swing in a way that a home run down the right field line is possible. he can increase the likelihood of a home run happening. when he chooses that pretty opposite field swing that results in a lot of doubles down the left field line, that’s another swing. all he does does is increase the likelihood of that double down the line. he also eliminates the chance of a right field home run.
johnny damon is one example. there are countless others. it’s no accident that johnny damon is a winning ball player.he’s a really good situational hitter.
anyone who has played the game at even a high school level knows a hitter can control the bat to increase the likelihood of hitting the ball to a certain area.
i do thank lgy and jerkface for clearly stating their position on this issue. it really does divide two opposing schools of thought in the game. i just happen to think that a team with really good situational hitters would destroy a team that had hitters who swung all out on every pitch with no regard for anything else but their own stats.
Randy, love the info you bring there. I did not play semi pro, but played competitive D-3 ball. Definitely agree on all levels with you. Placido Polanco is another guy who comes to mind. Excellent bat control and a great situational hitter.
Regarding situational hitting and NY’s line-up, if Jeter doesn’t come around by June 1, I wonder if Girardi is capable of making a decision to move him lower in the order. Based on what I’ve seen of Martin, he looks like a good potential #2 hitter.
I also would try Granderson in the lead-off slot, DET did it for a number of years and it worked well, Granderson is also a much better base-stealer than Gardner, with less speed.
I’d bury Swisher in the line-up, this is a guy who has not proven the ability to hit any pitcher who has any semblance of good off-speed stuff.
Polanco is a great example, Michael Young is another guy who comes to mind.
Bobby Abreu when he was going well, is yet another guy who can really handle the bat.
” Down only 1-0, they were so desperate to score in the fifth that Pedroia was ordered to bunt by Terry Francona with runners on first and second and no outs.
The former MVP and three-time All-Star fouled off two attempts before swinging away. ” – peter abraham boston globe
wow, how strange is that?
pedroia sacrifice bunting?
girardi would have been killed on lohud had he done that.
Martin may be a viable 2nd hitter in the lineup. Grandy strikes out a bit much for a leadoff guy. Isn’t that why Detroit stopped batting him there? That and a low BA?
Randy-
Matsui-san comes to mind. Great situational hitter.
Grandy has some holes no question, but in terms of options, the way this is laying out so far, who would you choose to bat lead-off? Jeter, Gardner, or Granderson?
Granderson has shown the ability to hit LHP and can demolish RHP, he doesn’t walk much true, but he is capable of walking and he can start some rallies and cause some chaos on the bases.
Jeter hasn’t shown the ability to demolish anyone, his speed is average and his attempts at stealing bases are non-existent. He has become a non-factor and a soft spot in the line-up.
Until Gardner figures it out he bats 9th.
Is Sunday Mornin the only safe time left…..good to.see you all. Go yanks today!
” I did not play semi pro, but played competitive D-3 ball. Definitely agree on all levels with you.”
rr212-
there are some great division three players. i caught john cerrutti and rich thompson when they graduated from amherst college in a summer semi pro league and they both had good mlb careers. especially cerutti.
being able to put a baseball into an area on the field is a skill that a hitter has to cultivate from early on in his baseball career. you can’t ask a mlb player who’s never done it to do it on command.
a hitter like alex can’t hit a ball down the right field line on command, but he can increase the probability he will hit a ground ball up the middle when he chooses too. as a matter of fact when he turned his post season stats around that was exactly what he was doing going into the playoffs.
one thing that i always used to pay attention to was how often i swing and missed. if you can’t hit a ball on command almost every time, you obviously are going to have trouble placing the ball into an area because you can’t be choosy with pitch selection and wait for the right pitch to hit where you want the ball to go. if a hitter swings and misses a lot he needs to use all three swings to hit the ball once.
a guy like boggs could go two strikes and not swing at strikes he didn’t like. cano gets in grooves where he rarely misses a pitch. i would be very surprised if he couldn’t put balls into certain areas of the field if he wanted to.
Blake-
Even the good Lord gave it a rest on Sunday.
“Is Sunday Mornin the only safe time left…”
blake-
it always was an excellent time on the blog. murphydog especially had great sunday morning comments.
“Matsui-san comes to mind. Great situational hitter.”
mtu-
great example. if matsui came up to bat with men on base, you felt confident.
very solid player and a very good yankee.
I always thought of bat control as not trying to do too much with the pitch.
Yesterday, Granderson took an off-speed pitch down and away the other way. He took what the pitcher gave him and got a hit. Too often hitters don’t change their approach on that pitch and hit it weakly to 2nd.
A source of hope that Jeter and/or Posada can turn it around – Lance Berkman. The guy looked like toast last season, now he’s mashing the ball. But you can’t wait forever.
“I should have hit the ball off the left-field fence,’’ he said. “Up and away fastball, I was out in front of it. That’s a ball I drive to left field. It’s not bad luck that I hit it right at him. I should have backed it up a little more and driven it to left the way I know how to do. It’s those little things we’ve got to do better.’’” adrian gonzalez
this is adrian gonzalez clearly saying about an at bat yesterday that he doesn’t just try to hit the ball hard.
he is saying that when he sees a pitch he can drive to left field he does it in a very specific way.
he is also saying he didn’t like just hitting the ball hard to the left fielder and that he should have hit the ball in a way that it would have went off the wall.
adrian gonzalez unfortunately is a very good hitter who hits the ball to areas.
another thing that is interesting is that a hitter can decide to hit the ball to an area at the beginning of an at bat or when the pitch is on the way.
gonzalez in this example made the decision based on where the ball was pitched.
Randy – thanks for all that color on situation hitting. That was very useful and interesting to me.
Randy-
The Yankees are a fantastic organization with great tardition and a long track record of success.
To use a big word. They are “nonpareil” in the sports world.
That said, it doesn’t mean they are immune from criticism or can’t improve things.
One thing we have spoken about in the past are the Minor leagues, and the apparent lack of stressing fundamentals.
Another would appear to be a consistent development philosophy
especially with regards to developing young pitching.
A third thing for me would be having a “preventive” injury program
administered by someone like MM.
Those are just a few of my nitpicks for a Sunday Morning.
“I always thought of bat control as not trying to do too much with the pitch.”
tom in nj-
i think there’s two kinds of bat control. the example i gave with adrian gonzalez is what you are talking about.
it’s also possible for a hitter like gonzalez to decide before the at bat to look for an outside pitch that he will drive to the left field wall.
if a pitcher throws an inside strike he would let it go because he couldn’t drive that pitch.
most pitchers pitch away , so a hitter like gonzalez can pretty much now he;ll get an outside pitch he can drive the opposite way.
of course a really smart pitcher or catcher calling pitches could pitch him inside for a whole at bat. of course with gonzalez if he’s just hitting the ball where it’s pitched that could be a problem for the pitcher.
that’s the inner cat and mouse game of baseball.
MTU,
I think it supercalifragilisticexpealidocious when you use big words. That is the type of start I want from Nova today.
of course a really smart pitcher or catcher calling pitches could pitch him inside for a whole at bat. of course with gonzalez if he’s just hitting the ball where it’s pitched that could be a problem for the pitcher.
___
I think it’s more about command than smarts.
“The Yankees are a fantastic organization with great tardition and a long track record of success.
To use a big word. They are “nonpareil” in the sports world.”
mtu-
i’d have to google that word, but i did like the candy for saturday double features in the good old days
http://www.canstockphoto.com/c.....73720.html
To the poster who said any hitter should be able to hit a fly ball, I say that is absurd. The pitchers understand the situation. Hitting a baseball is extraordinarily hard. One who posts such things hasn’t played.
Austin-
I’d just settle for 6 innings of 3 run ball.
But hey, that’s just me.
Cool take from Slade Heathcott during a recent interview:
GW: I think that’s what most people would say. You’ve got a lot of talented guys down there in Charleston, lots of what people would say are big prospects with Gary Sanchez, Ramon Flores, JR Murphy… Do you guys get a sense that there’s a lot of very talented people on that team?
SH: I get the sense that we have a lot of talented people in the Yankee organization right now. You could look at Hi-A where we have five outfielders now. You could look at AA where we have Melky Mesa who I think is one of our best prospects. We have Gary Sanchez here. That kid is so immature when it comes to the game and just young. If he ever figures it out he’s going to be an animal. He’s got all the tools, he’s got unbelievable power. We have JR Murphy who is in my opinion is one of the best hitters on Charleston and maybe in the upper levels. He just knows how to hit. He goes about it the right way and he’s consistent with it. I think that’s one of his biggest keys. Flores is a younger kid who I think is really good. Obviously I can’t say everyone is going to play for the Yankees but I think we have a bunch of key people in the organization from our level up who are going to play in the big leagues with somebody. I think the Yankees have a great minor league system right now.
MTU,
I will absolutely take the same. Then, of course, we can hear criticism of Girardi’s bullpen use no matter who pitches.
The Mops are callin’. BIAW.
“I think it’s more about command than smarts.”
rich in nj-
how so ?
if i’m a catcher and adrian gonzalez is at bat with a runners on base ,i have to be aware he can decide to hit an outside pitch off the wall .
yes command matters. the pitcher has to put the ball where he wants it to counteract gonzalez’s ability to hit the ball where he decides.
but if gonzalez is looking for an outside pitch to drive off the wall, it’s going to be hard to sneak the best commanded outside pitch past him. some up and in is needed.
well commanded up and in , so i agree with you in that regard.
also a pitcher that has the ability to change speeds can really mess up a hitter who is trying to hit to an area.
BrianCoz Brian Costello
Arod back in the lineup today. Cervelli catching.
” Hitting a baseball is extraordinarily hard. One who posts such things hasn’t played.”
austin mac-
if a hitter grows up doing it and is really good he can do it.
it’s just like bunting.
you have to practice it.
most mlb hitters don’t practice bunting and most don’t practice hitting to areas or practice trying to hit a groundball or a fly ball. but some do and they can do it.
personally a ground ball was really easy to decide to hit. a fly ball was harder, but still the probability can be increased , baseball is a probability game.
Randy
Good info thanks. Tony Gwynn was another example of a surgeon with the bat.
I think of Vlad Guerrero when I think of guys who have extra-ordinary bat control. It isn’t as pretty as Gwynn or Boggs were, but it works.
“Tony Gwynn was another example of a surgeon with the bat.”
tar-
yup.
i really used to love watching rod carew hit.