One Step Beyond.
Good, long profile by Alexsandar Hemon on the Wachowskis and their new movie Cloud Atlas in the New Yorker. I wasn’t riveted by the Matrix-and I think I only saw the first one–but I’m curious to see Cloud Atlas after reading this piece.
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In three games against the Red Sox, the Yankees went 2-34 with runners in scoring position. They won two of those games which gives you an idea of just how bad the Sox are. That they didn’t sweep them is proof how how unstable the Yanks are.
Oh yeah, both hits with runners in scoring position came from Derek Jeter. His bloop double in the seventh gave the Yanks the slimmest of cushions and Phil Hughes did the rest, with some help from Boone Logan, David Robertson, and Rafael Soriano. Hughes was outstanding, never mind Boston’s anemic line up. Like David Phelps last night, Hughes delivered.
The Yanks win, 2-0 and remain tied for first with the Orioles.
Exhale.
[Photo Credit: Joel Zimmer]
Phil Hughes goes against the Boston Red Sox C Squad tonight. No excuses, just win.
Derek Jeter DH
Nick Swisher RF
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Russell Martin C
Andruw Jones LF
Curtis Granderson CF
Steve Pearce 1B
Eduardo Nunez SS
Never mind dem angry boids’: Let’s Go Yank-ees!
[Photo Credit: Creative Review]
Without much fanfare, Curtis Granderson established a new single season franchise record for most strikeouts by a Yankee batter. Ironically, Granderson’s 170th strikeout came against Aaron Cook, whose 1.98 K/9 rate is the lowest among all pitchers with at least 80 innings. Otherwise, the centerfielder’s prolific accumulation of strikeouts hasn’t been surprising. After all, the record he broke was his own.
Most Strikeouts, Total and Rate, in Yankee History, Since 1901
Note: Qualified seasons only for rate list.
Source: Baseball-reference.com
In addition to holding the new Yankee record for most strikeouts, Granderson’s K rate of 28.4% also ranks first among all qualified seasons in franchise history, surpassing the previous high of 26.3% set by Jesse Barfield in 1990. However, the left handed slugger hasn’t been the only Yankee with a propensity for striking out. Nick Swisher’s rate of 23.5% would also rank among the top 10, and as a team, the Bronx Bombers have struck out more frequently than at any point in their long history.
Yankees’ K Rate (Offense), Since 1901
Note: Rate is a percentage of plate appearances.
Source: fangraphs.com
The Yankees’ record setting strikeout pace extends to both sides of the ball. The pitching staff’s 8.17 strikeouts per nine innings currently represent the highest total in franchise history, besting the 7.85 figure posted in 2001. Although no pitchers are in line to break a record on their own, C.C. Sabathia’s K/9 rate of 8.82 is good for fourth on the team’s all-time list (qualified seasons only).
Yankees’ K Rate (Pitching), Since 1901
Note: Rate is per nine innings.
Source: fangraphs.com
Strikeouts have not only been popular in the Bronx, but across the major leagues as well. In fact, the league-wide K rates this season have been the highest recorded since 1901. Since the early 1980s, strike outs have been on gradual increase throughout the game, but that trend has accelerated in the last five years. As a result, the Yankees’ record setting rates don’t really stand out when compared to the league leaders. On offense, the Bronx Bombers actually have struck out below the MLB average of 19.7%, leading to a ranking in the bottom third of the lead. On the pitching side, the Yankees do rank third in the American League and sixth in the majors, but the team’s punch out percentage isn’t far above the norm.
Historical Strikeouts Rates (Offense), Since 1913
Source: fangraphs.com
Historical Strikeouts Rates (Pitching), Since 1901
Source: fangraphs.com
There are lots of theories that could explain the accelerating increase in strikeouts. PED withdrawal, a new crop of young, strong-armed pitchers, umpire evaluation technology that has forced an expansion in the strike zone, and bullpen specialization are theories that either by themselves or in conjuction could be responsible for the upward trend. Regardless of the reason, baseball is the midst of the golden age of the strikeout, so players like Curtis Granderson shouldn’t hang their heads in shame. Besides, nothing beats a nice cool breeze in the summer anyway.
If DJ can stand tonight, he’ll play tonight.
Meanwhile, over at River Ave Blues, Mike Axisa maps out the starting rotation for the rest of the year.
[Photo Credit: N.Y. Daily News]
It ain’t easy. The Yankees held a 5-3 lead going to the bottom of the ninth tonight. Rafael Soriano was on the mound. Minutes earlier, Nate McClouth pegged a line drive off the right field fence down in Baltimore to give the Orioles a 3-2 win over the Rays. Because, as we all know by now, the Orioles don’t lose one-run games.
Cody Ross, Bobby Valentine and coach Jerry Royster had all been thrown out of the game in the bottom of the eighth when Soriano’s 3-2 slider was called strike three. The pitch was low though it may have crossed the plate in the strike zone. It was enough to make Ross, and Valentine go batshit crazy.
The biggest concern for Yankee fans, however, was that Derek Jeter left the game with an apparent ankle injury after hitting into a double play to end the top of the eighth. Early word has it as a bone bruise in his left ankle with Girardi saying Jeter will try to play tomorrow (he’ll have to be unable to walk to stay out of the game).
So Soriano gives up a solo home run to Jared Saltalamacchia. He gets the next two outs and then botches a ground ball putting the tying run on base. Then Jacoby Ellsbury hits another one right at Soriano. He fielded it this time, underhanded the ball softly to first, and the Yankees had the game, 5-4.
Curtis Granderson hit two long home runs, Robinson Cano had a two-run shot over the Monster, Nick Swisher had a couple of hits, and David Phelps pitched a fine game. Best start of his career. The first part of the game sailed by, the last half was plodding, a typical, Yankee-Red Sox affair.
We exhale for now.
[Photo Credit: Jared Wickerham/Getty Images; Elise Amendola/AP ]
No speeches, no bitching, just rooting.
Derek Jeter SS
Curtis Granderson CF
Alex Rodriguez DH
Robinson Cano 2B
Nick Swisher 1B
Raul Ibanez LF
Eric Chavez 3B
Ichiro Suzuki RF
Chris Stewart C
Fuck Everyone: Let’s Go Yank-ees!
This is the best thing I’ve seen all week. Thank you, Hardball Talk.
It won’t mess up your hair.
As Jon mentioned in the previous thread:
Yanks record by month:
13-9
14-14
20-7
13-13
15-13
4-5
Apart from the 20-7 run, this is a mediocre team. Yes, they’ve been hurt by injuries but right now they are a group of underachievers.
[Image Via: Photo Blur]
Who knows if this is rock bottom or not but if Saturday night was a punch to the stomach this one here’s a kick to the balls.
The Yankees put the first two men on base, scored one, then left the bases loaded against Jon Lester in the first inning. They went 1-637 with runners in scoring position tonight and got what they deserved against an inept Red Sox team when they couldn’t score more than three runs and the Sox won it on a base hit in the 9th inning.
I’d recap the game but most of you saw it and reliving it would just angry up the blood. Going to be hard enough to fall asleep as it is.
Sox 4, Yanks 3; O’s 9, Rays 2.
We’re tied again.
The Yankees have not won two games in a row since August 14-15th. Believe it.
We’ve talked a lot about the Yankees reaching rock bottom lately. Worst case scenario, they miss the playoffs. Worser case: the Red Sox knock them out. Boston has nothing to play for other than to inflict pain on the Yankees.
Three game series starts tonight in Boston and their ace, Jon Lester, is on the hill. The Yanks counter with Hiroki Kuroda who is due for a good start.
Derek Jeter SS
Nick Swisher RF
Alex Rodriguez DH
Robinson Cano 2B
Russell Martin C
Steve Pearce 1B
Curtis Granderson CF
Andruw Jones LF
Jayson Nix 3B
Never mind the paranoia: Let’s Go Yank-ees!
Still Diggin’…
Here is a good piece on Sarah Burns whose documentary on the Central Park Five is making the rounds at the film festivals.
It is cool and sunny in New York today just like it was yesterday. This is just the kind of brilliant autumn day we had on September 11, 2001.
Let’s take a moment to remember everything about that day.
Salute.
[Images Via: This Isn’t Happiness and Manzari]
