Tale of two halves
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Oct 16, 2011 
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It’s well established that, after the all-star break, Derek Jeter’s season went one direction and Alex Rodriguez’s went the other. Jeter was hurt, spent the time off tweaking his swing, and came back a different sort of hitter. Rodriguez was hurt, spent the time away trying to get healthy, and just never seemed to get there.
What about the rest of the Yankees regulars?
Russell Martin
First half: .220/.323/.384
Second half: .259/.325/.438
One key difference for Martin, his first-half batting average on balls in play was .225. In the second half, his BABIP normalized a little bit to .288.
Mark Teixeira
First half: .244/.352/.519
Second half: .253/.326/.464
Can’t help wondering if Teixeira became focused on trying to raise his batting average and stopped taking as many walks or hitting for as much power.
Robinson Cano
First half: .296/.342/.521
Second half: .309/.358/.547
Not as much of a difference as you might expect. Despite roughly 50 fewer at-bats, Cano actually struck out more times in the second half than in the first half.
Derek Jeter
First half: .270/.330/.353
Second half: .327/.383/.428
Still an incredible difference. Hard to believe it’s the same player.
Alex Rodriguez
First half: .295/.366/.485
Second half: .191/.345/.353
Ditto the comments for Jeter: Incredible difference, hard to believe it’s the same player.
Brett Gardner
First half: .265/.348/.394
Second half: .252/.342/.341
More runs, more stolen bases and the same number of RBI in the second half as in the first half. Eight more extra-base hits in the first half.
Curtis Granderson
First half: .269/.361/.575
Second half: .254/.368/.523
There seemed to be a perception that Granderson fell off sharply in the second half. Even with a power dip, that second half slugging percentage is still awfully impressive. His best month of the year was August. His worst was September.
Nick Swisher
First half: .249/.367/.416
Second half: .273/.382/.486
It went a little bit unnoticed just how good Swisher was in the second half. From June through August he hit .305/.418/.556. That’s three months of MVP-type production.
Jorge Posada
First half: .230/.318/.398
Second half: .246/.310/.398
Not exactly the kind of consistency Posada was hoping to show this season. His month of June: .382/.419/.588 . His month of July: .217/.284/.250.
Associated Press photo
Bad, bad 15 car crash at the Las vegas Motor speedway. Lots of injuries and driver Dan Wheldon was killed. Wheldon won the Indy 500 twice, including this year.
http://espn.go.com/racing/
Teary Francona October 16th, 2011 at 5:34 pm
not drive-by fans….. The casual fans
—
drive-by fans like the Raiders.
I actually liked Dan Wheldon. That’s really sad.
The Posada numbers can’t be evaluated like a normal season.
The Yankees had a plan to phase him out, highlighted by their transparent, Machiavellian dropping of him to the 9 spot in the batting order, before a National TV audience against Boston (which, they knew, would draw his ire – and give them consent from their fanbase and media to go on to treat him like a second class citizen).
They knew he’d need an adjustment period to get it going, they knew his kid was having another serious surgery, & when he finally seemed to get used to the idea of being an only DH, they started to play games with him that set him up to fail.
In no way do I believe, even at 41, would Posada have these numbers without the extenuating circumstances.
I’m still thoroughly disgusted with Cashman’s offseason, prescient (ahem) remarks about him being “the DH unless he plays himself off of it” and equally, thoroughly political use of him by the manager.
Yeah Cash, I know you read the blogs. You & Girardi treated Posada disgracefully.
The surgery of his son was part of the Yankees’ plan to marginalize Jorge Posada?
Not what I said.
The point is, they chose to not weigh that, nor the fact that this was a difficult transition from starting catcher for the previous 15 years to a very reluctant DH only role, in giving him some benefit of the doubt. Instead, they played their little hardball game with him.
What’s so f**king laughable is that GI Joe would never dream of upsetting the likes of Swisher and Martin, by pinch hitting for either when they were ciphers and our playoff lives were on the line, but dis Jorge Posada?? Not a problem.
Ok, I didn’t play fair with your comment about the surgery.
But how do you know they didn’t take some or all these factors into account?
I realized Alex struggled, just never realized it was that bad.
Just goes to show how deep the Yankees are. They can absorb a dismal second half from Alex, and still win the division pulling away.
“I’m still thoroughly disgusted with Cashman’s off season, prescient (ahem) remarks about him being “the DH unless he plays himself off of it” and equally, thoroughly political use of him by the manager.”
That and the Jeter negotiations are not what I would consider high spots in Cashman’s tenure.
No, you didn’t.
Tar, very disappointing.
I guess Posada using the Mets to get an extra year off the Yanks was just the cost of doing business
Let’s see if I have this right.
For the next 5 months,
We will receive the same idiotic trade proposals from the same people
Montero isn’t trusted to catch and will be gone by winter
Chamberlain needs to be in the rotation and Hughes in the bullpen because Chamberlain earned it
Cashman has no charisma and needs to go
Girardi loves Martin and Swisher more than his wife
Girardi’s and Cashman’s preseason goal was to publically embarrass Posada on national TV
Fielder needs to be signed whether he has a spot or not
Let Sabathia walk because he’s not worth it
Sign Sabathia at any cost
Sign CJ Wilson
Unload the over rated and easily replacable Nunez
Don’t allow the Red Sox to get any player without driving up the price
Get Jeter out of NY because he’s washed up
Keep Jeter forever because he’s Jeter
And
Rodriguez needs to be moved to the DH spot
Does that just about cover it all.
‘Tar, very disappointing.”
Yeah, it really is. He should leave that kind of crap to people who are really good at it. Like King Henry and friends.
Judging A-Rod’s season by halfs is misleading.
305 ABs in the first half and 68 in the 2nd half.
I didn’t like some of Cashman’s comments last winter either…..I understand what he was trying to do…..but it was unnecessary and accomplished very little.
“Does that just about cover it all.”
Except for the “the Yankees are perfect and have no needs.” posts. Some of the trade ideas are bad and some of the ideas here are out there……but it helps pass the time until spring and it keeps folks talking about baseball…..its harmless
Time shall unfold what plighted cunning hides.
Who cover faults, at last shame them derides.
Just a quick drive-by to say that I proudly drafted Shaun Marcum on my fantasy team this past season. He did a great job for me all season long. I fully expect him to make me proud tonight so that the Brewers live to see another day!
GO BREWERS!
JAP,
Speak english man
GO CARDS!
(better?)
They got Jeter signed and for less money than Jeter wanted some on here predicted he would get.
Maybe obnoxious comments helped. Who can really say, of course.
Im pulling for the Brewers because I think maybe they have a better shot to beat the Rangers……and because I played with a guy on their team.
They got Jeter signed and for less money than Jeter wanted some on here predicted he would get.
Maybe obnoxious comments helped. Who can really say, of course.
————————-
Maybe they even get Jeter on a more favorable contract if Randy Levine doesn’t step in (as usual).
Look, if Cashman can improve the team without selling the farm, he will. Sell part of it and bring back something we need. Trade Nunez and find another utility guy, young or old, if the return merits it. Cashman has done far better than your average stock picker the last few years. I don’t want Wilson. Buerhle is fine for a year or two until the next wave gets here. I get sick of “the mewling and puking in his nurse’s arms” that goes on around here this time of year, and look forward to the time when deals get done, or don’t, 5 days after the World Series. Before that, it’s all gas bagging.
JAP,
Let’s trade Suzyn Waldman for Cordelia.
“Maybe obnoxious comments helped. Who can really say, of course”
Helped demean the Yankees is about it all it did.
I will say with both Jeter and Posada I believe Cashman regretted his words and actions. To me that is important, nobody is perfect.
Get into DWL! Abe Almonte 0/2 so far. Melky Mesa PR, stolen base and run scored. Noesi pitches for Licey tomorrow.
I don’t know, tom, she won’t indulge in the glib and oily art the front office is fond of…
That girl tells it straight
.
(P.S. I love Suzy, actually).
Melky Mesa! Tease! O Tease!
Maybe they even get Jeter on a more favorable contract if Randy Levine doesn’t step in (as usual).
———————————————————————————————–
Was it also Levine that gave Alex that bloated contract?
JAP,
Maybe get Portia in here to sort things out.
I will say with both Jeter and Posada I believe Cashman regretted his words and actions.
———————
Interested to know why you think this.
Tar, I’ve seen Cashman when he’s relaxed. Very nice guy, by the looks of things. Mild, friendly, intelligent. Even open. But when he says something publicly, he does so with intent. Because he’s very good at saying nothing.
Of course if Shaun doesn’t have it, I hope that Roenicke has a quick hook.
Oops, didn’t get that posted quickly enough.
tom,
Assume you mean Merchant’s Portia, and not Caesar’s? We don’t want anyone swallowing fire for the cause
.
Contract negotiations are like sausages, Tar, it is better not to see them being made.
I, for one, trust that General Manager Brian von Bismarck took the best course in bringing Captain Jeter back to the Yankees under terms fair to all parties.
Marcum is a classic NL pitcher. Doesn’t have the stuff to hold down the big guns.
Bold offseason move:
Get rid of Kay and pay Bob Costas whatever it takes to do the Yankee games……0% chance or happening but hey…..the Yanks deserve a good broadcaster.
JAP,
“The quality of mercy” isn’t prevalent around here.
“Marcum is a classic NL pitcher. Doesn’t have the stuff to hold down the big guns.”
Anthopolis killed it this year
That was a bad pitch. I really want a good game, so hoping for a rally
tom, that’s a great speech. One of my all-times. & yes, I agree
Who did AA get for Marcum? Lawrie?
Yeah I’d say that was a good trade
Corey Hart leading off? It worked. They needed that.
“Who did AA get for Marcum? Lawrie?”
Yup
J. Alfred Prufrock October 16th, 2011 at 8:16 pm
Melky Mesa! Tease! O Tease!
______
Too bad the wrong DePaula is pitching for Gigantes. Talk about “Tease! O Tease!”
yankeefeminista October 16th, 2011 at 8:30 pm
J. Alfred Prufrock October 16th, 2011 at 8:16 pm
Melky Mesa! Tease! O Tease!
______
Too bad the wrong DePaula is pitching for Gigantes. Talk about “Tease! O Tease!”
///
yankeefem, you know where I stand. I don’t believe there is a “right” DePaula. He’s like Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy at this point.
Remember when starting pitching won championships? Yeah, not so much this year.
There are many ways to build a championship team. The starting pitching thing is just a cliche. The Yankees need to stop this, “the offense is fine, we need starting pitching” theory they keep focusing on.
They need to evaluate everything this offseason and build the best TEAM. You can always improve even if you think it’s “fine.”
“Interested to know why you think this”
No hard evidence, but I remember the look on his face during an interview (as twenty cameras surrounded him). I also think he really likes Po and Jeter. And to see them hurt or pissed off is not a pleasant thing for him. It kind of went a little beyond the business aspect of it all.
I bet if you ask him would say he could have and should have handled it better.
if I can find the interview I will post a link.
” But when he says something publicly, he does so with intent.”
J Alfred
No doubt he’s actually very good at sending messages that way. But as I said I think he regrets the way he handled those two situations.
J. Alfred Prufrock October 16th, 2011 at 8:32 pm
yankeefeminista October 16th, 2011 at 8:30 pm
J. Alfred Prufrock October 16th, 2011 at 8:16 pm
Melky Mesa! Tease! O Tease!
______
Too bad the wrong DePaula is pitching for Gigantes. Talk about “Tease! O Tease!”
///
yankeefem, you know where I stand. I don’t believe there is a “right” DePaula. He’s like Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy at this point.
______
Well there may not be a “right” DePaula. Who can keep track of his name, his age or if he is himself or his brother? Currently he’s named Jose, recently Rafael… Just as long as he gets the bleeping visa and has the bleeping plus pitches that we have heard about. Free DePaula!
Marcum sure looked like an AL pitcher in Toronto.
I wonder what the Brewers plan is this offseason.
Do they turn around and trade Greinke and/or Marcum to try to build back up their farm system?
I agree on the sentiment about the “starting pitching wins” truism.
There are still people here who think they understand how important Montero is to the lineup but they say, of course, if Felix becomes available, you do it….basically undermining their supposed grasp of why Montero is critical going forward….
You don’t trade Montero for Felix, or any starting pitcher. There is no Koufax out there…no such guy in modern baseball.
As to the Yankees saying the offense is fine, that depends. Are they including Montero in it, or are they making the same mistake made here, that he’s expendable for “more pitching” because they are well enough without him? That would be a mistake…of the greatest magnitude…
I’m going for a night stroll & then watch the game you all are already tuned into.
Go CARDS!
Looks like front row Amy didn’t bring the Brewers 1st inning luck.
Brew crew lose tonight and it will be another 15 years till they play Post Season baseball again.
Marcum sure looked like an AL pitcher in Toronto.
———————-
Dominated the weaklings in the AL too.
6.61 career ERA vs the Yanks, 4.56 vs the Sox, 5.01 vs the Rangers.
…Or 2nd inning
Well there may not be a “right” DePaula. Who can keep track of his name, his age or if he is himself or his brother? Currently he’s named Jose, recently Rafael… Just as long as he gets the bleeping visa and has the bleeping plus pitches that we have heard about. Free DePaula!
////
LOL.
Free & naturalize, whoever that guy is!
Later.
Just not the Brewers’ game.
These pitchers need to keep the ball down. Another hanging CU
why does it take so long to get a visa
Lock,
Lie on your application.
Not many pitchers don’t dominate the weaklings…or they wouldn’t be weaklings.
Not many pitchers don’t dominate the weaklings…or they wouldn’t be weaklings.
—————–
Who are we offering for Marcum if the Brew Crew shop him?
Get the tape of this game for spring training: what not to do when running to first.
Whether it’s the Cards or the Brewers, it’s going to be a high-scoring World Series.
“Marcum sure looked like an AL pitcher in Toronto.”
Yep.
Marcum also had a very good season for the Brewers, and that’s despite going down with an injury.
Both he and Jackson have have something to offer no matter which team makes it to the WS, and that’s the fact that they’ve both pitched in the AL.
******************
Went out after the first inning and the game is not on the radio (that I can getO so I don’t know whether or not Marcum has been pulled from the game. I did see that the Cards scored another run.
Okay – here’s the proclamation. BREWERS WILL TAKE THIS GAME.
If they do not, I will have to give up on one of my baseball superstitions. I will divulge what it is after the game, win or lose.
And if doesn’t matter whether anyone thinks it’s dumb. It’s something that has always worked – nothing that I do, mind you, but something that’s brought to me…
GO BREWERS!
can they please get rid of Gardner
The quality of starting pitching seems to have gone progressively downhill since game 1 of the DS.
Better offense or too many rounds after a long season?
I didn’t say I wanted Marcum. I just don’t think you know what you’re taliking about the majority of the time. Maybe getting your head out into some sunshine and fresh air would help you.
I have to laugh. When the Yankees don’t beat the under 500 teams, I hear a lot of yammering here that good teams are supposed to beat up on the bad teams. So what’s your point, LGY? That Marcum didn’t do his job because he didn’t beat up on a few of the better teams? I guess that makes CC a total loss since he hasn’t done well against the Sux?
They got all of Marcum’s runs back. Maybe they should have kept him in?
Not to pile on but LGY it seems that if you decide you don’t like a certain player or team, you really go to town trying to make a case against him/them.
I appreciate your concern for my well being GB (although it basically mirrors a comment P would make to you which is quite ironic) however I am pleased to report that I’m actually sitting outside as I type this right now!!
mel, it seems that Marcum has really struggled in the NLCS. I don’t know if it’s just Marcum and the Cards or if Marcum is hurt/tired, but they are going to need him to better up if the make it to the WS.
Geez McNabb looks like another guy that didn’t know when to hang it up
trisha
Not sure where I said Marcum didn’t do his job this season.
He doesn’t have the stuff IMO to hold down strong lineups and I believe his track record bears that out.
He is a nice pitcher with a decent career. I wouldn’t give up valuable assets for him because as my original comment stated he is suited for the NL. You decided to run with it beyond that simple observation.
MILWAUKEE — If you’re a fan of the Milwaukee Brewers, you want answers. You want something, anything to help explain how Shaun Marcum, one of your best starting pitchers through the first five months of the season, has suddenly turned into Jeff Suppan.
If you’re being greedy, the explanation would be something Marcum could fix. And before Sunday’s potential Game 6, if he wouldn’t mind. But at this point, you’d probably settle for anything that would give you some answers.
Instead, after giving up five or more runs for the fifth time in his past six starts, Marcum stood in front of his locker Monday night and offered a simple take on why the going has suddenly gotten exceptionally tough: bad luck.
“I guess I pissed off the baseball gods or something,” he said after allowing seven hits and five earned runs in four innings during a 12-3 loss in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series against the Cardinals, a defeat that now has the Brewers headed to St. Louis in an all-even series. “They hit three balls hard, and it’s one of those things that has been going on for six weeks. Nothing you can do about it. That’s baseball.”
I’m not talking about the literal out side (out of doors). More like taking your head out of B. James’ and T. Tango’s combined asses. That all you “experts” know…what they tell you that you’re allowed to know.
LGY – there are big guns in the NL also. I thought you were saying he didn’t have the stuff to hold down the big guns in the NL.
Because he had such a good season, it’s strange to see him falling apart against his own league.
GreenBeret7 October 16th, 2011 at 9:15 pm
I’m not talking about the literal out side (out of doors). More like taking your head out of B. James’ and T. Tango’s combined asses. That all you “experts” know…what they tell you that you’re allowed to know.
———————–
getting cranky…time for another nap
GB,
Do you mind linking to the articles from Bill James or Tango about Shaun Marcum? Thanks in advance.
trisha,
Yes, there are big guns in the NL and Marcum largely performed poorly against them as well. However as a league the AL is stronger offensively especially because of the presence of the DH. So, my point was that he is best suited for the NL because of the higher probability of facing an offensively challenged team.
Marcum is a control guy….mediocre stuff that lives on location. Typically and historically that doesn’t play as well against the best lineups when their concentration levels are highest in the postseason…..
Hey, it’s a former Yankee still playing in the post-season.
Remember when Yankee fans booed him for not donating his kidney?
If the combined teams have had 6 well pitched games by the starters this year, I’d be surprised.
Yepper, pitching wins in the post season. It’s all about pitching. In the case of this Brewers/Cards game, its more about which pitching sucks less.
The whole NL/AL pitcher thing is a myth…..but I do think certain pitchers are better equipped to face good offenses than others.
It’s Capt. Morgan, the most interesting man in the World!
You know, watching the Cards (I’m NL all the way at this point) really brings home how the postseason has turned into a total crap shoot and the team that gets hot at the right time is the one that likely brings it home. Everything pointed to the Bravos as the wild card – until it didn’t.
So the Cards came on like gangbusters and eeked out the wild card. It is possible that they could in the world series. I’m talking hypotheticals now since I’m not conceding this game, by the way.
What does that tell you about the winner of the World Series? That it’s the best team in the majors? Not necessarily. All it tells you is that it’s the team that played best in the postseason. There will be times that it’s a union between hottest and best in the majors, and other times when it’s a team that just snuck in and stole it away.
I think I liked it better when it was just the best in the AL playing the best in the NL.
Yepper, pitching wins in the post season. It’s all about pitching. In the case of this Brewers/Cards game, its more about which pitching sucks less.
=====================
When there is no pitching, it’s not about the pitching.
Carpenter and Halladay dealt in their game…..and Scherzer pitched very well against the Yankees….but other than that offense has been the story of this postseason…….as said previously…..there are multiple ways to get there.
I didn’t think dissing Shaun Marcum would create such an uproar
.but other than that offense has been the story of this postseason
=========================
and the yanks didn’t have enough of it although they outscored them by a 2 to 1 margin.
so much for total runs scored.
Maybe Shaun Marcum doesn’t look so great when you’re peering over your imported beer stein and smirking at your 4G LTE smart phone, but he still looks ok down here in 99% America!
“and the yanks didn’t have enough of it although they outscored them by a 2 to 1 margin. so much for total runs scored.”
Timing is everything.
Speaking of timing, Prince Fielder is only a few innings away from free agency!
Time to go to charm school, Cashman!
LGY – the guy was one of my fantasy pitchers the entire season and as such I watched him pitch all season.
“Yes, there are big guns in the NL and Marcum largely performed poorly against them as well. ”
Since I believe you’re talking through your hat, and since I truly believe you haven’t paid any attention to Shaun Marcum this season – why should you have really – I’m calling your bluff here.
I think when people feel you trash for the sake of trashing they want you to bring proof to the table. Shaun Marcum doesn’t pay my bills, so I really don’t care how he’s perceived. However, I am someone who does like at least a bit of accuracy in the story.
Hence the “uproar”.
I’ve started to think the WS can end up being a jocular crapshoot. Between umpires deciding games, the weather intervening in cruel ways at times, and teams sneaking in under the wire who were aptly written off until the last minute, it’s turned into a questionable jumble.
And the Yankees are at a disadvantage since they have to work ten times harder than other teams since they play in the toughest division. No wonder that the Cards are fresh as daisies! Look at what they play against!
Life is just not fair.
LGY, don’t bother. Since it’s taken you too long to answer, it means you didn’t have the answer at your fingertips, meaning you are having to do some quick research!
Thank you for proving my point.
“The whole NL/AL pitcher thing is a myth…..but I do think certain pitchers are better equipped to face good offenses than others.”
Disagree. Having the pitcher in the lineup necessarily weakens the lineup. AL teams use their best or their powerhitters in the DH position. Therefore, it’s automatically tougher for an AL pitcher to get through a lineup than it is for an NL pitcher. Multiply that times 162 games per year, NL pitchers are let off the hook.
Oh Trisha. You really think that me, with access to blazing 4GLTE speeds didn’t check the stats before posting.??
Marcum vs
St Louis: 4.15
Cincinnati: 4.08
Colorado: 4.00
Arizona: 6.00
Top four offenses in the NL this year. Brew Crew were 5th.
LGY – at this point you’re talking to the hand.
But if you want to respond to any of my other talking points, feel free.
“Disagree. Having the pitcher in the lineup necessarily weakens the lineup. AL teams use their best or their powerhitters in the DH position.”
Having better numbers in the NL isn’t the same thing as being a better pitcher…..most guys are going to have slightly better numbers in the NL due to facing pitchers 3 or so times a game…..that doesn’t mean they’d be any worse of a pitcher in the AL…..just means their numbers would be a little worse…..but so would every other pitcher.
Marcum vs
Yankees: 7.20
Red Sox: 18.00
“Oh Trisha. You really think that me, with access to blazing 4GLTE speeds didn’t check the stats before posting.?? ”
Absolutely, since top offense isn’t necessarily synonymous with big gun.
Let it go. It just doesn’t matter. I know how good Marcum was when he wasn’t injured.
“Having better numbers in the NL isn’t the same thing as being a better pitcher…..most guys are going to have slightly better numbers in the NL due to facing pitchers 3 or so times a game”
Okay, gotcha. I think that NL pitchers by and large have a harder time pitching to the AL because of the DH, but I agree that there are pitchers in both leagues who are readily equipped to face tough lineups.
I apologize for having the audacity to to not read and respond to your post in a timely enough manner
So interesting how players can have up and down seasons. McGehee was a golden boy in 2009 and 10, and this year he was so anemic.
LGY – DISMISSED!!!
Now that the Tigers have been eliminated my rooting level has evened off more. I definitely would love to see the Brewers take the NLCS, but if the Cards end up being more competitive, then bring it on. Anyone who can trounce the Rangers is my current hero.
And since it appears that the whole steroid furor has died down, I wouldn’t be surprised to find that there are still a ton of players using. After all, Selig doesn’t appear to be interested in much and Congress has its hands full with a financially broken country. I’m sure there’s nobody watching the henhouse.
Timing is everything.
off hairston’s glove, how odd…
Sorry but your DISMISSED came too long after my post so it doesn’t count.
I hope these Brewers players had the foresight to line up some tee times for the World Series, but I fear they did not.
“I’m sure there’s nobody watching the henhouse.”
Senator Mitchell has eyes everywhere…..except of course the Sox clubhouse…..they give him chicken and beer for hush money…….
Milwaukee needs to get with Billy Beane in Oakland and swap the Weeks brothers along with a pitcher going to Milwaukee and McGehee going to Oakland.
“Senator Mitchell has eyes everywhere…..except of course the Sox clubhouse…..they give him chicken and beer for hush money…….”
You know they say that if you don’t want to be disappointed, don’t go looking for fairness.
What a sad state of affairs.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com.....le2202043/
Interesting Concept
Brewers capable of catching up, but I wouldn’t want the run differential to be much greater than it is right now.
Well at least the NL has HFA. Hopefully it counts for something.
You knew the steroid hearings were a badly hatched plan when Mitchell wore his chicken suit during the proceedings and talked like Foghorn Leghorn.
If Cards win WS this year (probably not), they would be considered to be more successful than Yankees in last decade. They would win twice, once for Yanks.
I think most fans like to see their team win WS twice in a decade (miss playoff many times when they don’t win), instead of seeing them win division every year and take early playoff exit almost every time.
.s
St. Louis could be in trouble if that bat goes down.
Yankee fans were hideous – HIDEOUS – to LaTroy Hawkins. LaTroy is still pitching in the postseason.
Maybe the baseball gods want Yankee fans to show a little more appreciation to the players brought to the team. Maybe the baseball gods don’t appreciate the way Yankee fans seem to trash and abuse any player who isn’t having a Babe Ruth/Cy Young season.
Maybe there’s karma being exacted for the persnickety attitude of spoiled, nasty Yankee fans.
I’m not talking lohud so much as I am the attitude I’ve observed with the Stadium fans.
I absolutely abhorred what went on with Hawkins and also lost a ton of respect for Paul O’Neill who could have intervened but sat silently.
Uh Oh! Pujols hurt? That doesn’t look good.
Maybe just a jamb, as he is still in the game, but that could change things big for the Cards.
Is Ricky too Week to hit a dinger out of there?
I cant believe Teary is gone!
The perfect teams and cities involved in a sunday Beer League game, Not sure how the St. Louis Magicians have made Fielder disappear, but, he’s been pretty invisible in this series.
Busch vs Miller.
The Jewish Hammer’s been noticeably absent, too.
The Hebrew Hammer.
Him too!
Him too!
=========
Jesus?
“Jesus?”
No, he plays for the Yanks!
Two seasons ago Corey Hart was in the ASG home run derby.
How do these guys disapppear?
Braun’s done pretty well this series, Hits in every game, RBI in 3 of them. Nobody’s helping him much, though.
Freese would have to be the MVP of the NL Series if St. Louis wins tonight,
One RBI in a game where the competition scores 11 runs is hardly enough. 0 RBI in all the games your team has lost to date tells the story. Braun hasn’t come through nearly enough. Certainly nowhere near he was expected to.
Again, maybe the Cards getting hot when they did will be the entire story this postseason. If so, it certainly takes away from the cachet that is supposed to be attached to the World Series -for me anyway.
I really want the WS to be over quickly. There’s business to attend to!
Rzcpipiououpudski was on another team. I’m almost sure the Yankees faced Alphabet Soup before.
“I really want the WS to be over quickly. There’s business to attend to!”
A Cardinals sweep would be fine with me….thought the other way around is probably more likely.
DRob30David Robertson
Just got off the phone with Gardy and he laughed when I asked if he had twitter. It’s a fake, sorry yall!!!
I’ll find out who my heart is pulling for when the games start. Not ready to feed the Texas is the best team in the AL narrative, but I do I have ties. These Cards are pretty scrappy. It’s whoever can take advantage of the jet streams.
Cardinal pitching is okay, but Texas bullpen did well.
Rzcpipiououpudski was on another team.
I remember Flaherty having problems with his name. Was it Toronto?
pat,
Kim Jones apologized via twitter for the fake accounts. Gardy and AJ for sure. One other Yankee, too.
pat,
That was my first thought.
YESKimJones Kimberly Jones
With great humility, I admit to being a gullible idiot. The Logan and Gardner accounts are fakes. AJ’s too. So, so sorry. SMH — at myself.
7 hours ago
YESKimJones Kimberly Jones
Until further notice, have to assume @Brett_Gardner11, @BooneLogan48 and AJ’s accounts are fake. So, so sorry. it’s the world we live in….
23 hours ago
Poor Kim,
She was busy trying to get new followers for fake Yankees. Then realizing it wasn’t them.
http://twitter.com/#!/YESKimJones
pat October 16th, 2011 at 11:03 pm
Rzcpipiououpudski was on another team.
I remember Flaherty having problems with his name. Was it Toronto?
————————————————————————————————————————-
yeah, he was with Toronto this year and part of the Rasmus trade.
m
Boone Logan was the 3rd from last night. If you were going to pick Yankees to fake tweet as, would those 3 be who you pick?
Mo. Jeter. Alex.
Don’t think those 3 would do it.
Somebody mentioned that Mo has twitter now.
K-rod’s form is so ugly. And he can’t field any balls the way he falls off the mound.
@DJ_what’s_your#? is my fake Jeter handle.
To the Rangers credit, they went and got them some pitching. Their offense was never the problem. So now they seem too have all bases covered, including their relief staff.
mel, I’m rooting for the Cards if the Cards win. I’m definitely rooting against the Rangers.
Why is it so damned hard for the Yankees to get past round one (or round two when they do get past round one)?
Okay, so in the 90s and early 2000s, The AL East wasn’t terribly formidible. The Rays certainly became opponent-worthy as the 2000s went on, and Toronto has come more into its own in the last several seasons. Even the Showalters have been better. So it is without question that the AL East is the toughest division in the majors. Could it be that the AL East has become so tough that by the end of the season, the AL East teams have beaten each other up so much that there’s not a lot of energy left to get through a postseason?
Since the Yanks did it in 2009, that would seem to negate what I’ve just queried. But then again, could 2009 be an aberration?
Whoever came up with the unbalanced schedule should be punched in the mouth.
trisha,
Could it be that the AL East has become so tough that by the end of the season, the AL East teams have beaten each other up so much that there’s not a lot of energy left to get through a postseason?
—
There’s some truth to that, but the cards fought to the last to get the wild card & their offense is on fire.
The yankees offense, mainly 4-5-6 just didn’t get it done for varying reasons. They had good pitching in the playoffs as they didn’t allow a ton of runs.
Mo’s account appears to be verified but I thought it was fake based on who he was following.
“There’s some truth to that, but the cards fought to the last to get the wild card & their offense is on fire. ”
Lock, definitely agree. But again, the Cards are in the easiest division in the NL.
trisha – true pinstriped blue October 16th, 2011 at 11:25 pm
“There’s some truth to that, but the cards fought to the last to get the wild card & their offense is on fire. ”
Lock, definitely agree. But again, the Cards are in the easiest division in the NL.
—-
But they beat the phillies. That’s no easy task.
Look at how far the Nats have come in a few seasons. With Stephen Strasburg leading their rotation next year, they might be a team to be reckoned with.
“But they beat the phillies. That’s no easy task.”
You know, there’s a danger in clinching too early, and that’s what might have bitten the Phils. The Phils didn’t come into the postseason with a ton of momentum – the Cards did. After they clinched, I think the Cards lost something like 8 or 9 in a row. It’s probably easy to let down when you’ve clinched and still have a bit of season left.
“After they clinched, I think the Cards lost something like 8 or 9 in a row.”
Of course I meant the Phils lost something like 8 or 9 in a row.
For those that want to follow the players’ twitter accounts maybe Chad could add a link over on the right side with all of the verified Yankee personnel accounts, major and minor league.
trisha,
true. But I just don’t think the yankees offense played as well as the cards or the rangers. Arod was injured & didn’t get his timing. Teix can’t hit righties. Swisher chokes in the post. And girardi is too gun shy to change up the lineup.
Cardinals / Rangers World Series….Texas in 6 ???
The Phils swept the Braves in their last series which sent the Cards to the playoffs…
Had the yankees actually advanced to the LCS/WS they would have killed these teams. No SP on either team.
“But I just don’t think the yankees offense played as well as the cards or the rangers”
Not a question that they weren’t as consistent. Getting 9 runs in one game and 10 runs in another certainly doesn’t speak to a weak offense. And the games they lost, I believe, were one-run games. But they didn’t get timely hits when they needed it the most in that last game.
Texas has a much more balanced lineup, top to bottom, than the Yanks ended up having.
**********
Still, I want the Yankees plunked in the AL Central and maybe we’d see a team hardly beat up at all by season’s end. Or dump them in the AL West where they can feast off Oakland and Seattle.
“Cardinals / Rangers World Series….Texas in 6 ???”
I’m pulling for the Cardinals but I’m not sure it’ll even lasat 6…..hope they prove me wrong.
I’m hoping for Cards in a sweep
“Had the yankees actually advanced to the LCS/WS they would have killed these teams. No SP on either team.”
stinks that the Yankees had the best record and drew the worst matchup for them….
Had the yankees actually advanced to the LCS/WS they would have killed these teams. No SP on either team.
——-
Yep. That’s the worst part about losing to the Tigers.
The Cards will have to really play their best baseball to win 4 in this series….they don’t have Lincecum and Cain….gonna be tough for that rotation to hold down the Ranger’s offense.
“The Phils swept the Braves in their last series which sent the Cards to the playoffs…”
Once again a day late and a dollar short LGY!
That would be the equivalent of the Yankees losing 8 games in a row and then sweeping the Sux. Talk about limping into the playoffs! So the Phils after losing a ton of games knocked themselves out to kill off their fiercest rival. Not enough peaking time there. You need more than a few in a row after letting down so much. And their last game before the postseason was 13 innings.
You should be able to play divisional opponents in the ALDS.
The Yankees were the #1 seed but effectively the Rangers really were.
“I’m hoping for Cards in a sweep
”
I second that emotion!
Trisha
Momentum has no correlation to postseason success.
For The Cards to have a chance they’ll need to win both games 1 & 2 at St. Louis I think..
gonna be tough for that rotation to hold down the Ranger’s offense.
–
Gonna be real tough for the Ranger pitchers to hold down the cardinals tbh.
“You should be able to play divisional opponents in the ALDS. ”
yes…dumb rule. When they add the additional WC though it won’t matter anymore. The Yankees should have played the Rays
Fielder 1 for 14 against lefties in the playoffs. Pass.
This is the end, beautiful friend, the end.
Bye Brewers. See ya in St. Louis… oh, wait, not till next year.
Bye Prince, on to greener pastures.
Now the Cards gotta put down the Sniffing Ron Washington and crew.
The whole damned mess is badly broken, from the unbalanced schedule to the horrendous umpiring, to the Yankees being forced into late-night games because of “prime time television”, to the joy of PEDs, a la the king of milkshakes.
I long for the days before free agency existed and the NL played the AL in the world series, one round, period.
“Gonna be real tough for the Ranger pitchers to hold down the cardinals tbh.”
don’t like the Rangers rotation a ton either….but I think they have a better chance…. should be an interesting series.
The Rasmus trade is looking a little better now that they have made the WS….who knew
“Trisha
Momentum has no correlation to postseason success.”
Bull
Oh well. Congrats to the Cards. KILL THE RANGERS – PLEASE!
http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb.....%3d5608355
Insider only article about momentum being bunk
Derek Jeter says it all the time. It is incredibly difficult to win the world series. What a confluence of events has to take place, including a little of lady luck, for the team that takes it.
And as always – THE TEAM THAT IS THE HOTTEST IS THE TEAM THE WINS.
GO CARDS!
Night all.
Tricia…The Best teams are really judged on their play from openning day to closing day, over the course of 162 games….The post seaon can be determined by a bad hop…See Tony Kubek, right GB ???/
Pat M. October 16th, 2011 at 11:37 pm
Cardinals / Rangers World Series….Texas in 6 ???
————————————————————————————————————————-
I’ll take St. Louis in the marathon. 7 games.
Pat M – amen.
As much as I dislike the Texans, I am genuinely happy for the people of St. Louis. I don’t see why a team with Pujols, Holliday, Berkman and the now insane Freese can’t take as much advantage of that ballpark in the middle three games as the home team.
In retrospect, I’m glad the NL won that All-Star game.
Pat M. October 16th, 2011 at 11:56 pm
Tricia…The Best teams are really judged on their play from openning day to closing day, over the course of 162 games….The post seaon can be determined by a bad hop…See Tony Kubek, right GB ???/
————————————————————————————————————————-
Pat,
That bounce cost the Yanks the Series. Kubek was in perfect position to make the play, until it hit that clump of dirt. People don’t realize that play pretty much ended Kubek’s career. He was never the same. The neck injury caused him to retire early because of the pain. Because the Yanks lost, few remember the great base running play by Mantle when he was on first and Rocky Nelson flagged the hot hopper at first and. He stepped on the bag and instead of heading for 2nd base, Mantle dove back into 1st base , He was safe at first instead of out on the DP and NYYs scored a couple of runs.
Hard to watch the celebration
Go Cards!
Pujols, Holliday and Berkman in the line-up and Freese is the MVP.
You can’t predict baseball Suzyn!
if the cards win, there’s no way they can let go of ablert, right? especially if he has a big series, he’ll have them over a barrel.
here’s the best case scenario for us:
albert goes off in the world series
he demands and gets 10/300 from the cards
the cards are over payroll, the yanks sweep in a trade for matt holliday. give them swisher, aj, romine, and noeisi
Congrats to the Cards!
Who would have thought that they would have come back from so far in the standings?
Who would have thought that Sir Lancelot Berkman would have had such a comeback year – as a RF no less?
Who would have thought that Octavio Freaking Dotel, would have been instrumental in keeping Ryan Braun in check?
I’m an AL guy, but this year, I’m pulling for the Cards. I just hate the Rangers. I know it’s the whole ‘we’ll sign Cliff Lee thing or drive the price up for the Yanks’, and their smug attitude afterwards.
I really wish the Yankees had a potential .320+ avg. power hitter hitting cleanup again. It’s hard to hold guys like that down even in the playoffs (ex. Cabrera & Pujols)
Cabrera and Pujols aren’t .320+ avg. power hitters hitting cleanup.
Side comment: I love JAP’s excellent use of the English language. I put Nick in that category, as well.
Wang, thanks for the ‘as well’.
I just caught a late screening of the Taiwan movie ‘Ranger’, part of the Taiwan Film Days festival:
http://www.sffs.org/Screenings.....-Days.aspx
I also saw ‘Formosa Mambo’ and ‘Honey Pupu’ over the weekend. Uneven but interesting and they made me miss the beautiful island. I always enjoy a glimpse into that far-away world.
“Cabrera and Pujols aren’t .320+ avg. power hitters hitting cleanup.”
Ok they hit 3rd
Congrats to the Cardinals…..unbelievable….very similar to the Giants last year in how they eeked into the postseason and then got hot……only instead of doing it with starting pitching they have done it with their offense and with a suddenly good bullpen. Larussa has done a phenomenal job…..have to give him his due.
Blake-
I hope the Cards annihilate the Rangers.
Pitching on both sides is questionable after the first 1 or 2.
Looks like a battle of the offenses to me.
Agree with Pat M.
Cards need to take the 1st 2.
An MTU sighting!
I agree. I think the Cards can win but they really will have to play well and their pen will have to continue to come up big. Should be a fun series.
Blake-
Just checkin’ in. Saw you here early.
I’ll be drivin’ by from time to time.
We should have gotten Holliday when we had the chance.
MTU,
They should listen to us right
Nice pics BTW
Blake-
Glad you enjoyed them.
I took a lot of grief over that one. I thought Holliday couldn’t hit away from Coors.
How is your Family ? All good I hope.
good morning all
good to see the return of MTU
Kate-
More like a drive-by Kate but thanks for the sentiment.
Family problems. I do lurk though.
Miss speaking with the Morning crowd.
MTU,
Everyone is good…..weather has been perfect here the last few days and the leaves are pretty much at peak. I love October…..favorite month.
Hot stove season will be upon us soon.
Blake-
Glad to hear that all is well.
Fall is my favorite too.
I have lived in the SW for quite some time now and there is no place I’d rather be at that time of year.
It’s perfect.
Yeah, I mostly drive by this time of year too. I get tired of the crazy trades and the blame game. Still can’t believe the Yankees are not playing
Kate-
They’ll be back next year. Stronger than ever.
In the meantime we can amuse ourselves watching the unfolding comedy known as the Boston Red Sox.
Gonna need a sewer pumper and Servpro to clean up that mess.
The Yanks had a 3.20 era in the ALDS and lost…..can’t figure baseball
Blake-
5 game sets don’t help matters.
MTU
Talk about a toxic waste dump! It will be interesting to see how the fans react by the beginning of next season. My sisters have gone from being disappointed at not making the post season to sad about Francona leaving to angry at all the clubhouse nonsense.
Kate-
It’s a real Peyton Place.
Maybe they should hire Anne Landers to handle all the gossip.
A toxic waste dump. Where’s the EPA when you need ‘em ?
I’m enjoying every minute of it.
MTU,
Nope sure don’t……5 game set and having to play the team that was the worst matchup for you even though you won the most games ..
Hope they get Cash locked up soon so they can start on CC.
Blake-
I consider Cashman a near certainty.
CC needs to be re-upped. He anchors the rotation. They can’t afford to loose him IMO.
Aside from Montero getting regular playing time what other changes would you like to see this off season ?
haha MTU, we know what change you would like to see…trading a certain pitcher
MTU,
I think adding Montero is the easiest decision.
I would obviously explore the trade market for an additional starter. Look at Danks, Cain, Wainwright, etc and see if any are available for reasonable prices. If the price dropped on Wilson to a comfortable level then maybe consider it….but that scares me.
I would also explore offensive upgrades in the outfield just to see what’s out there. If I could sign Beltran for 2 years or less and get value back for Swisher then I would consider that.
Offer Garcia arbitration and try to bring him back
Plan on giving Noesi a real chance to start.
Shop AJ and try to find a taker…..can’t hurt to ask
MTU October 17th, 2011 at 8:18 am
Blake-
I consider Cashman a near certainty.
CC needs to be re-upped. He anchors the rotation. They can’t afford to loose him IMO.
___________________________________________________________________________
Morning, hope so. I think with Texas going to the WS again and maybe winning that there isn’t going to be much chance of Wilson going anywhere except back to Texas. I think in the end they will give him what he wants and in the style of Cliff Lee’s agent just use the other teams to drive up the price.
MTU’s back!
Kate-
You know me too well I’m afraid.
What changes would you make, if any ?
Would you shop Swisher or GGBG ?
Would you look into getting a true #2 ?
Would you re-sign Martin ?
I think this coming year will be another “bridge” year.
We’ll be very competitive but also waiting for some of the new arms to come on line.
I hope we do not enter into too many entangling alliances while we wait.
The FA class in ’13 might be a very good one.
I actually am less surely that Wilson returns to Texas than I was a couple of weeks ago…..just by their comments and how he’s pitched. Daniels is really good and Im not sure he will want to comitt that much money to a guy that’s 31 and not a #1 starter..
upstate kate October 17th, 2011 at 8:26 am
haha MTU, we know what change you would like to see…trading a certain pitcher
____________________________________________________________________________
If it’s AJ I don’t see him going anywhere, at least not this year. The guy occasionally shows he can still pitch and be dominant when he does. The logic will be and perhaps it’s the right logic that one more series of work on his mechanics (and his head) with Larry will make him the pitcher that he can be.
Given the mess of the SP, I don’t see them getting rid of AJ until they get some real solutions in there. Challenges abound once you get past Nova and CC and CC isn’t a lock as of yet.
Erin-
Not really. I missed you all. Too much goin’ on right now for me to post regularly. Too much on my mind. Needed a break.
Blake-
I’m not a big Wilson fan either. Agree with most of the rest of your take.
You never know who will pop up in the OS.
Morning, all.
Question: Who is going to replace Andruuw Jones if he gets his wish for more playing time elsewhere?
Gary-I don’t see AJ going anywhere either
nobody interested in bringing back CMWang?
blake October 17th, 2011 at 8:32 am
I actually am less surely that Wilson returns to Texas than I was a couple of weeks ago…..just by their comments and how he’s pitched. Daniels is really good and Im not sure he will want to comitt that much money to a guy that’s 31 and not a #1 starter..
____________________________________________________________________________
Might be right, but I think it goes the other way. Given the lack of good pitching I don’t think age is as big of a deal as it used to be. You want to have good pitching you are going to have to take some chances.
Noesi is pitching in the DWL.
Tom-
Good morning.
Jones is the least of our worries. He’s a bit player. Easy to replace.
A lot of things have to go right to get to the WS. A good example is the Cardinals. They only knew on the last day of the regular season that they’d be in the postseason as a Wild Card.
For the Yankees, the pitching was good enough but the critical bats let them down.
It’s all about limited injuries, a certain amount of luck, good pitching, and timely hitting for the regular season and 11 more wins in the postseason.
“Question: Who is going to replace Andruuw Jones if he gets his wish for more playing time elsewhere?”
I think they will try and bring back Jones…..not sure who else is out there for that role. Perhaps the Yanks just go young and forget having a platoon outfield bat and go with Golson or let Nunez fill that role.
I wonder if Leyland is the right kind of manager for Verlander? The guy equaled I guess records for innings pitched not seen in decades. I think threw 133 pitches in his last game. The human body does wear down, I wonder what the guy will have left if he continues the way he is going.
Maybe Girardi will stop throwing CC out there for 100 plus pitches every game so he could maybe remain fresh going into the playoffs for once
If hes not traded, and Nunez becomes proficient in the outfield then he could play nearly every day for the Yanks…..he could play against lefties for Gardner some and fill in for Jeter and Arod.
Blake-
I think they are trying to see if Nunez can fill the role of SU guy.
MTU,
Yea I think so also…..that’s a good plan for him IMO.
I like our team and really wouldn’t do too much w/ it.
The pitchers really seem to like Martin, and I think he does a good job. He hits better when rested, so I would have Montero as BUC a couple times a week, more frequently than Cervelli caught.
I like both Swish and GGBG. If there was an upgrade available, I would be OK w/ that too.
Same w/ pitching. I wouldn’t mind some combo of CC/Hughes/Nova/Noesi/Joba?? Freddie or Colon?? Someone new??
And of course I am looking forward to seeing Montero in the starting line up. We have been hearing about him for years, since back when Rebecca used to post here.
Kate-
If they retain CC then the rotations 1st 3 slots would appear to be taken.
CC, Nova, and Burnett (
).
That leaves Hughes, Noesi, Garcia/Colon, and ? to compete for the remaining 2 slots.
If Hughes is healthy you have to figure he gets one.
That would leave one spot open for Noesi, Garcia/Colon, Warren, or an upgrade from the outside.
upstate kate October 17th, 2011 at 8:44 am
I like our team and really wouldn’t do too much w/ it.
____________________________________________________________________________
Kate respectfully, this team needs change to again be able to get back to the WS and win it. Not hugh change, but change. The combo of CC/Hughes/Nova/Noesi/Joba?? Freddie or Colon?? isn’t going to get it done.
Pretty neat article in SI this week about the Granderson trade and how it has affected the postseason this year. (Verducci)
Gary-
Have you seen what the Crads and Texas are throwing up there as a starting rotation ?
Not exactly world class and yet they are winning.
I would not mind seeing a true left-handed #2 acquired but it’s not likely.
Maybe the Yankees will bring a guy like Danks ? He might thrive in PS and hopefully wouldn’t cost an arm and a leg.
Triple Short of a Cycle October 17th, 2011 at 8:40 am
Maybe Girardi will stop throwing CC out there for 100 plus pitches every game so he could maybe remain fresh going into the playoffs for once
____________________________________________________________________________
Doubtful, I don’t think the problem with CC is as much about the pitch count as to how early in the game he was getting there. I for one wasn’t used to seeing CC over 100 pitches in the 5th or 6th inning. Something was different this year, especially in the second half. Goes back to my point about Verlander, the stuff does catchup to the body. Maybe he is showing those effects.
Time for a burrito.
It’s been great chatting with you all again. I’ve missed it. Say hi to GB, YT and the other regs. for me.
I’ll come by when I can.
But 2009 was the only time CC has been good in the playoffs. There are plenty of days when CC doesn’t have it yet Girardi seems to manage like you must throw him for 7 innings even if he has 90 pitches thrown by the 5th
CC did not do well with the 6 Man. I hope that experiment is not repeated.
New Post: Bad timing and wishful thinking
Most awful moment ever: The Devils pulled out a gutsy win Saturday night after being down 2-0 early in the 1st period. I had to watch the replay of the game around 2am because I thought trying to have a life Saturday night might be a good change of pace. Well, maybe I got a little too festive along the lines of Pat M. a few nights back, but I woke up the next morning absolutely convinced it was the Yankees that came back from a 2-0 deficit and that they were still playing. I even giggled at myself for believing the Yankees were ousted by the Tigers since at the time it seemed like the most silly of thoughts. …..back to reality
Also..did people not realize last off season that this would be Posada’s final year?
..dangit!