Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Remain Calm... All Is Well


I was taking a look at the team stats at ESPN.com and saw that while the Yankees have hit the most home runs in the American League, then are 5th in runs scored. I was ready to write about the fact that home runs are hits too, so people shouldn't worry so much about those "evil" home runs, as many of them would be hits anyway. But then I thought that would be a waste, because if you didn't already realize that then I don't know what else to say.

So I went to the 2012 Yankees' Baseball Reference page and was looking through the players stats, and decided to take a closer look. Here are some things I noticed...

  • In terms of line drive percentage, six of the eight Yankee regulars are above the AL average of 18%. One of the two men currently below average, Mark Teixeira, has had a LD% of 19, 19, and 17 the previous 3 years in New York. And the other, Russell Martin, is at 17%... the same he hit last year with the Pinstripers.
  • Four Yankee regulars are above the league average in strikeout percentage, while the other four are below league average. One of those players above league average in this category is Alex Rodriguez, who has been just below league average the previous 3 seasons with New York. And the 17% mark Russell Martin is currently at is his highest K% of his career.
  • When it comes to drawing walks the Yankees are pretty darn good. Other than the fact they've drawn the 3rd most in the AL, only two of the eight regular hitters are below league average. One of the men under that average, Derek Jeter, has been taking less walks the last few years. But outside of his horrendous 2011 Raul Ibanez, the other guy currently with a BB% below average, hasn't been under that 8.3% since 2004.
  • It's no surprise that the Yankees have quite a bit of "pop" in their lineup. But it's worth nothing that six of the eight Yankee regulars are above the league average in terms of isolated power (ISO). One of the two under that league average is no surprise... Derek Jeter, who hasn't been at the current league average of .154 since 2004. But the other is Alex Rodriguez, and his current .149 ISO is just a bit below his average ISO with the Yankees of .250, so... yeah... no worries there.
So while it's true the Yankees can credit much of their current 10-game winning streak to the starters and their 1.87 ERA during that run, it's not as if the Yankee offense is sputtering. So count me among those Yankee fans that aren't worried about when the Yankee starters come down to Earth.

Braves @ Yankees 6/19/12

It ends at 10...

Yankees lose 4-3


Can the Yankees make it 11 straight victories , all against National League East teams, tonight when they go up against the Atlanta Braves for the 5th time in a little over a week? On the mound to try and put the win streak at 11 is Yankees Hiroki Kuroda. On the mound opposing him will be Braves righty Tim Hudson. This is a rematch of the game last Wednesday, June 13th, that I attended down in Atlanta. The game will be televised on MY9 and MLB Network at 7:05 pm et. 

Lineups

Derek Jeter SS
Curtis Granderson CF
Alex Rodriguez DH
Robinson Cano 2B
Mark Teixeira 1B
Raul Ibanez LF
Nick Swisher RF
Eric Chavez 3B
Russell Martin C

The Yankees are 2.5 games ahead of the Baltimore Orioles and 4 games ahead of the Tampa Bay Rays for 1st place in the AL East

Go Yankees!!

Latest All Star Game Voting Results

Via Lohud 

Here is the latest in the All Star Voting. As you can see our Yankees need some help so I want everyone reading this to go to mlb.com or your local ballpark and vote those Yankees into the game in Kansas City. Do it.... Do it now. Now to those results...



CATCHER
1. Mike Napoli Rangers – 2,239,047
2. Joe Mauer Twins – 1,283,804
3. Matt Wieters Orioles — 1,242,247
4. A.J. Pierzynski White Sox – 1,048,603
5. Russell Martin Yankees – 867,495
FIRST BASE
1. Prince Fielder Tigers — 1,946,045
2. Paul Konerko White Sox — 1,680,793
3. Mark Teixeira Yankees – 1,405,187
4. Mitch Moreland Rangers — 1,202,724
5. Albert Pujols Angels – 1,047,722
SECOND BASE
1. Ian Kinsler Rangers – 2,580,306
2. Robinson Cano Yankees – 2,565,046
3. Dustin Pedroia Red Sox – 1,331,657
4. Jason Kipnis Indians — 615,409
5. Robert Andino Orioles – 554,717
THIRD BASE
1. Adrian Beltre Rangers — 2,251,304
2. Miguel Cabrera Tigers — 1,869,727
3. Evan Longoria Rays — 1,442,308
4. Alex Rodriguez Yankees — 1,312,968
5. Mike Moustakas Royals – 651,403
SHORTSTOP
1. Derek Jeter Yankees – 3,359,875
2. Elvis Andrus Rangers – 2,008,678
3. J.J. Hardy Orioles – 968,963
4. Asdrubal Cabrera Indians — 789,069
5. Alcides Escobar Royals – 584,547
OUTFIELD
1. Josh Hamilton Rangers — 5,414,880
2. Curtis Granderson Yankees – 2,818,535
3. Jose Bautista Blue Jays — 1,996,940
4. Adam Jones Orioles – 1,959,207
5. Nelson Cruz Rangers – 1,944,487
6. David Murphy Rangers – 1,229,190
7. Nick Swisher Yankees – 1,177,500
8. Jeff Francoeur Royals – 823,568
9. Brett Gardner Yankees – 818,164
10. Ichiro Suzuki Mariners — 795,665
11. B.J. Upton Rays – 753,581
12. Austin Jackson Tigers – 741,877
13. Nick Markakis Orioles – 696,720
14. Jacoby Ellsbury Red Sox – 631,899
15. Alex Gordon Royals – 609,890
DESIGNATED HITTER
1. David Ortiz Red Sox — 2,390,132
2. Michael Young Rangers – 1,892,150
3. Raul IbaƱez Yankees – 1,080,421
4. Adam Dunn White Sox – 979,447
5. Edwin EncarnaciĆ³n Blue Jays – 830,341