Comments on: Back to Work

By: OldYanksFan

OldYanksFan — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 04:19:23 +0000

Actually, our most important Wins will be against TB, and our 2nd most important Wins will be against Boston. While we need to win as many as possible, TB loses and Boston loses also play an important role in our PS chances.

Of our last 19 games, 7 are against TB and 6 against the Sox.
Those 19 games, and more specifically, those 13 games, will determine who plays in the PS.

By: Raf

Raf — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 04:16:51 +0000

[370] He’s a dead pull hitter, that can torch a fastball. He’s on a pretty good run that started back in Sept 2009.

Like Jeter’s grounder rate has taken a spike, Bautista’s fly ball rate has taken a spike. Some of those fly balls are leaving the park.

At any rate, Bautista isn’t the first to have a HR spike (Wade Boggs and Davey Johnson comes to mind), and chances are he probably won’t be the last.

By: jjmerlock

jjmerlock — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 03:11:46 +0000

[364] 40 times.

What’s his previous high again? How old is he?

What’s the statistical probability of this sort of jump at that age?

Ok, just looked – he’s almost thirty, and my recollection from the telecast was correct, his previous high was 16.

I’m sure it’s possible, but I’m just about as sure it ain’t probable.

By: williamnyy23

williamnyy23 — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 02:55:09 +0000

[367] As you mentioned, a win now could be more important than a win later if the Yankees have clinched with 10 games to go. If, for example, the Yankees needed to use Sabathia for the last game of the season to secure a playoff spot, it would have a cost. I would much rather overload his innings (and Hughes’ and Burnett’s and Pettitte’s when he comes back) now, and hope that I can use Vazqez and Moselely in meaningless games in late September. In fact, that’s what supposedly allowed CC, Andy and AJ to carry the burden last year. If Girardi needs to go to the whip this time around, they may not hold up as well.

By: monkeypants

monkeypants — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 02:53:02 +0000

362) It’s not like as Yankees fans we have the high moral ground on this issue

Why, i simply don’t know what issue you are referring to. But if you are making reference to some sort of nefarious behaviour, trust me, my indignation would be equal opportunity.

By: monkeypants

monkeypants — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 02:50:03 +0000

365) on the other hand, winning now ( in the context of the season) does have some advantages. For example, if they can more or less secure a post season berth early playing to win every game now, then they can rest all of the starters with the security of still having a postseason to play for. Bbut if they throw away games now (if that is in fact what they are doing) for the purpose of saving players for later, the postseason may not materialize, or the team may feel compelled to continue to play more “all out” later in the seson because they have not yet secured a spot in the playoffs.

But more generally I agree with you…a win now is no more important or valuable than a win later.

By: williamnyy23

williamnyy23 — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 02:48:44 +0000

[365] I think I already said that we can’t really know who wont pitch the innings vacated by Moseley or Vazquez, but assuming you believe those are the two weakest options right now, that shouldn’t matter. Anyone losing innings to them would make little sense.

I couldn’t disagree more strongly with the notion that winning every game possible is detrimental. As long as you don’t force injured players into a game, it is a mistake to handicap your team with a bigger picture in mind. When you do that, that bigger picture has a way of becoming overexposed.

By: RIYank

RIYank — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 02:41:21 +0000

[360] Oh, I thought you said Pettitte’s innings are irrelevant. If Pettitte does get fewer innings because of this move, then that would be a cost.
But, do you actually think Pettitte will get fewer innings? I think that’s just mistaken. Also, I think it’s just outright wrong to say it’s more important to be able to skip Hughes later. That doesn’t make any difference at all.

I think it is a very serious mistake for the Yankees to be focuses on winning as many games as possible now. They should be focused on the long run. Teams that get too focused on Winning Now very often end up harming themselves long term. I hope the Yankees avoid that error.

By: Raf

Raf — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 02:41:09 +0000

[362] He took a hanging slider and a fastball down the middle and hit it out the park. He did what batters are supposed to do with poor pitches.

By: williamnyy23

williamnyy23 — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 02:37:51 +0000

[358] I agree, but that was my point. Everyone is being pushed back because of Moseley, who was supposed to start today. By simply removing him from the rotation, everyone stays on schedule. No reshuffling would be needed.

As for saving a start for Hughes, it doesn’t. He would still have the same number of starts, assuming he isn’t skipped in the future, regardless of whether he starts Tuesday or Wednesday.

By: jjmerlock

jjmerlock — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 02:36:36 +0000

[355] It’s not like as Yankees fans we have the high moral ground on this issue – although my take is that there is no moral ground on this issue, as everyone is down in the same sandbox.

So with that said, yes, particularly with his antics tonight – I do not think Nova was trying to hit him – I’m wondering if he’s recovering a little faster from his workouts than he used to.

By: Raf

Raf — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 02:35:57 +0000

[338] IIRC it isn’t often that the team with the best record wins the World Series.

By: williamnyy23

williamnyy23 — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 02:35:03 +0000

[357] This week alone? It’s Hughes and Nova, both of whom I’d prefer to over Moseley and Vazquez. Longer-term, it could be one fewer start for Peittitte, Sabathia or Burnett, the latter two who are being pushed back a day. It’s hard to say now because you have to see how the season plays out, but by starting Moseley and Vazquez now, you are ensuring they pitch two games when both can be avoided.

The Yankees should be focused on winning as many games as possible now. By doing so, they be able to do things liek skip Hughes and give Andy more time. If they keep dropping games, however, there is going to be more pressure to overuse both.

By: RIYank

RIYank — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 02:34:10 +0000

[358] Right.

By: monkeypants

monkeypants — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 02:32:57 +0000

353) surely the starters in this day and age have specific routines for the day before they pitch v. Two days before they pitch. Plus, I imagine one of the goals for pushing back the rotation was to try to save start for Hughes down the line.

By: RIYank

RIYank — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 02:31:50 +0000

[356] Oh, okay.
So, which pitcher is getting fewer innings?

By: williamnyy23

williamnyy23 — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 02:30:04 +0000

[354] Of course someone is getting fewer innings. Considering that Javy and Moseley are the worst options (I’m giving AJ the benefit of the doubt), limiting their innings is a good thing. The Yankees have a chance to do that this week, but are passing up on both. That doesn’t make any sense.

By: monkeypants

monkeypants — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 02:28:38 +0000

352) maybe he morphed into barry bonds the same way barry bonds morphed into barry bonds. You know, hard work, proper diet, dedication and positive thiing.

By: RIYank

RIYank — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 02:26:45 +0000

[348] Uh.

You think maybe Moseley will get more innings this way, but no other pitcher will get fewer? I think that is unlikely in the extreme.
If Moseley gets more innings and Vazquez gets fewer, I don’t think that’s a problem. If Moseley gets more and Nova gets fewer, I don’t think that’s a problem. If Moseley gets more innings and Hughes gets fewer, that’s a problem. Also if Pettitte gets fewer. That’s why it’s relevant that neither Pettitte nor Hughes will get fewer innings just because the rotation is stretched out to six instead of skipping someone.

By: williamnyy23

williamnyy23 — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 02:26:44 +0000

[350] Regardless of how Nova pitched today, it was possible to have Hughes go Tuesday, Burnett on Wednesday, Sabathia on Friday and Nova/Javy on Saturday. Then, Sunday would be open for Nova again or Hughes.

Nova’s performance really had no bearing on the decision to start Moseley, so there shouldn’t have been a need to reshuffle the rotation.