Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Early Team Leaders

While I was aware of some of the following things, I decided to look a little further into Yankees statistics, and here's what I found...

The three men that are tied for the team lead in home runs are Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixiera, and Stephen Drew. While Tex isn't a big surprise, who thought ARod would be hitting like this? A .411 OBP? An OPS of .600? Oh, and Stephen freakin Drew? Seriously? Plenty of fans didn't even want two of these three guys on the team (possibly all three if you include those that would rather see Greg Bird than Teixiera at first).

"Can you get off my back, already?"

Only two Yankees have hit triples this year. Would that be Brett Gardner and Jacoby Ellsbury? No. Well, one of them is Brett or Jacoby, right? Nope. One of those guys is Brian McCann, a man not known for being "fleet of foot", while the other player with a triple has only appeared in 7 of the team's 14 games... Garrett Jones.

Chris Young, the same guy that hit .200 for the Oakland Athletics last season, currently leads the Yankees in batting average at .344.

So what Yankees starter has the best ERA this season? Would it be the #1 starter Masahiro Tanaka? Their #2 starter Michael Pineda? CC Sabathia? No, no, and no. Nathan Eovaldi has the best ERA out of the five starters with a mark of 3.12.

Why stop with the Yankees? Let's look across MLB...

While Adrian Gonzalez leads MLB in batting average, I'm willing to bet that very few people outside of Coors Field have heard of the man with the next highest batting average in the league... DJ LeMauhieu.

Alongside the aforementioned Adrian Gonzalez, Adam Jones, Joey Votto, Paul Goldschmidt, Hanley Ramirez, and JD Martinez, the man tied for second in home runs in MLB is Luis Valbruena of the Houston Astros.

The MLB leader in ERA finished last season at 4.55. but has yet to give up a run in his first two starts this season. That man is the Texas Rangers' Nick Martinez.

Am I saying that Chris Young will be the Yankees best hitter by season's end? Will Nathan Eovaldi be the team's best starter? No... I'm not saying that at all. Just like I'd never say that DJ LeMauhieu will finish 2015 with the highest batting average in the league. Nor would I say that Luis Valbuena will be in the top three of home run hitters across MLB.

"Not even I believe that. Hell, I bet you didn't even know who I was."

Guys... it's been 14 games. That means that over 90% of regular season games remain to be played. Chances are Didi Gregorius will not have an OBP of .233. And before any of you start falling in love with Stephen Drew, you should realize that he's probably not going to be among the team's top home run hitters. Just like how Michael Pineda should finish the season with a sub-5.00 ERA.

I don't know about you, but the way this team started the season, I'm kinda psyched that they are 7-7. Not to mention that one of those wins came at the hands of a team tied with the most wins in MLB... the Tigers. And the Yankees are scoring runs! Who would have thought that would happen?

I'm saving my judgments for a little while longer. Perhaps you should too.

39 comments:

  1. I think JG's placement of AROD in the lineup was so detrimental to his stats... We may never have seen this if otherwise .. However you look at it Joe clearly never lost sight of the talent and AROD deserves the faith ...

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    1. I agree and I disagree at the same time. While it's only been 14 games many of those games, i don't know how many without looking it up but I would venture more than half, came at the bottom half of the order. He's hit wherever Girardi has put him. He may actually be hitting less in the #3 hole.

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  2. With A-Rod playing almost every game so far, how long will it be until he falls and then the Yankees will want to trade him eating half his contract. Oh, damn he has a no-trade contract, ok then we bench him and use him as a pinch-hitter...hoping his Ego will make him want a trade!
    But right now, those that are the least likely are the ones pulling the train! Hopefully, the ones that are paid to do the pulling will step up and do their job before the others come back to earth!

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    1. He's been DH'ing for most of them so his body, which is already well rested, should be up to the task for quite some time. Even at 39, soon to be 40.

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  3. By the way, I think A-Rod should have been a number three hitter for the Yankees long before this. I am in the minority, but I always had my #3 hitter as a good average hitter with good power and another power hitter behind him and on down the line...it worked for Babe and Lou and Maris and Mantle.

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  4. Chris Young didn't play for Oakland, did he? New York Mets?

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  5. ELF LAUGHS AT HANS-EL.....

    Last nights game had 4 stars...'The Magnificent Eovaldi', Mickey Young, Andrew Miller, and
    the reinvented one 'Quick Draw Drew'....Four stars !!!
    And guess who signed all four of them this past winter ? Mr. Cashman.......Genius !

    I will love for Drew to force me to eat my words. Are the Scare Crows days numbered ?

    Yes, I do hear laughter...loud & clear. The Elf is now back on top.

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  6. First off Pete Moss head. I wanted the Yanks to sign Drew to play short and alternate with Ryan the same player as Didi. I liked the Miller move, however before you anoint Eovaldi as the stud of the staff lets look at his 16 win career. See how quick it passed us by. Hey he only needs three more wins this year to tie last seasons mark.

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  7. Hans-el & Gretel...The cold black heart, that misspelled peat moss.

    First off, Gretel....thank you for pointing out those needed three more wins for Eovaldi.
    Those should be tucked away during May.
    Eovaldi was a classic old time Block Buster trade. Brian's courage, and foresight, brought
    this young fireballer to the Yankees.
    No mention of Mr. Young in your rebuttal ? Young is the team's offensive leader.

    Hear the laughter ? It is the Elf laughing at your poor spelling.

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  8. Ask me if I give a crap about my spelling. Are you the spelling police? Second your boy Didi just made two more mistakes. In bottom of first, his first mistake not going to third thats mental error number one of inning. Mental error number two is under-handing the throw to second base on routine DP. I think he is a member of St. Patty's school of stupid

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  9. Gretel...Pretty in pink.........
    Why do you link the brainless scare crow, Gregorius, to me ?
    The more errors he makes, the quicker the problem is resolved.

    If you can not spell correctly, admit it. If you can't admit it, then everyone, like the Elf, will
    continue to laugh at you....Oh no, laughter ! Do you hear it ?

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    1. I admit I don't check my spelling, who gives a chit yes spelled wrong on purpose. I'm not writing for the NY Times or going for a Pulitzer. You can bring up all my spelling or grammatical mistakes, while I'll bring up all your praising for inept players i.e Mr. 16 Career Wins Eovaldi

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  10. Hans, you win. I'm done defending Didi. This guy is absolutely horrific defensively. I'm not giving up on Didi, mind you, but I'm done wasting my breathe defending the guy. It's every freaking game.

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    1. Burch Numbers don't lie I keep telling you guys that. The back of the card is the most accurate read you can have on a player.

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    2. Bull chit, they only show what was done, not will happen every year. Look at the back of Jeter's card...one would think he was the best SS that ever played (other than A-Rod). Not even close, he was one of the better hitters but not a good defensive player at all, on the Defensive WAR list he wasn't good enough to make the list at #984, while Phil Rizzuto was at 27th and was a MVP in 1950. All facts fans, and it makes me a Jeter hater...that is the word for telling the truth nowadays! I still would have Jeter as my SS for 7 of his 20 years and A-Rod for the first 9.

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    3. You're wrong again Reed. The numbers don't lie, you might have an occasional spike in numbers one year but for the most part you are what you are. Numbers never lie so Bull Chit to you

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    4. And so the world turns again, you have to be right because you said so! I said BS to the comment, not to you KH, why all the animosity?
      Check out McCann and Tex last three years stats, a spike is one year, not three years!

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    5. Tex has had one good year average wise as a Yank. Tell me Reed what his averages are since his first year? They are all terrible. He starts off slow every April that is what he is. Get over it. You don't like what I say thats fine do us both a favor and don't answer me. I'm sure your blood pressure goes up replying to me, I know mine does replying to you

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    6. You, my friend, have no idea what pressure is! My blood pressure has been the same for over 55 years...low!
      Until you have been there and done what I have you will never understand how little, little things bother me. It bothers you, when shown to be wrong and won't admit being wrong ever!
      I will admit when wrong, and as I am "The Jeter Hater" around here and very seldom get comments to my posts, I should be upset but not at all. This place gives me a nice outlet without being called names.
      Many around here grew up with Jeter and the Core 4+1 as I did with Mickey, Joe "D", Yogi and Whitey. So I understand them not appreciating when I point out a fault of his, even though I am not alone in doing so. Jeter is an icon in New York and every generation needs their Heros!

      A little long winded as usual!

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    7. Reed my last post to you EVER I promise. What am I wrong about? Didi the numbers that don't lie. Eovaldi, this team not placing any higher than 3rd. Tell me of Genius what I'm wrong on?

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    8. If one can't take the heat don't burn the wood...I like being different! Children and liberals always pick up their marbles and run home to mommy because they can't deal with the facts.

      Mr.Hans, I am sorry to hear your childish response to a simple comment by an old man that never offended anyone. But you may wish to join a long line of people that don't like me, but then again most of them are long gone.

      You may be able to write negative and snide remarks about my team and think they are funny, and change the subject by adding something that was discussed days ago into a conversation because you can't backup most of what you write with facts. You give one example as proof you are right about something that is prevalent among many players, if not most players. There is always a time of adjusting to new people and places let alone with teammates one will be spending much time with...psychology 101...some handle it differently than others! So again, I must be wrong, right?

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  11. SO.............................
    If Gegorius is on the skids. As he should be. He earned it.
    If Drew is moved to SS, where he excels.....than who is 2nd base ?

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    1. Everyone has trouble adapting to playing in NY, give him the same brake everyone else has gotten over the years...then chit can him if he hasn't improved!

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    2. The answer my friend, patrick, is simple. His name is Robert Refsnyder (Paulson)

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    3. To be fair Gregorius is getting no longer of a leash than anyone else ever has. However short and unfair that leash is.

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    4. I don't remember Jeter having troubles adjusting. I can name many players who came to the Yanks and hit the ground running

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    5. I didn't say anything about that. Jeter did. Jeter was also pretty damn special. I said Gregorius had a short leash with the fans like any other Yankees free agent has had.

      if Jeter would have struggled coming out of the gates and not hit a home run on Opening Day people would probably have the same discussions they are having right now about Didi. That's the nature of the beast when hitting in New York.

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    6. Amen!
      And there is a big difference between FA coming to NY than someone coming from the System.

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    7. How did CC do when he got here? How did Tanaka do last year until he got here as a FA/ That comment of coming here through the system or as a FA is hog wash.

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  12. I was speaking to Reed Mr. Burch. He thinks everyone comes to NY and falters.

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    1. It mostly has depended on the personality of the player, age and time in the majors. We have two guys right now that had troubles adjusting to NY in the person of McCann and Beltran although I would give Beltran a break for being injured we had other players such as Tino, Sierra, Tartabull, Posada among others. Then we had players such as O'Neill, his personality wouldn't let him fail.

      Do you see the pattern yet? Some, most have a lot of troubles adjusting and other have only a blip of problems at first but all seem to have an adjustment time of some sort. Yes, even A-Rod and Jeter to some extent but both of their talents and personalities were strong and never let errors get to them so it never bothered great hitting.

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  13. DIDI GREGORIUS...aka..The Scare Crow.
    Ever think he is NOT struggling ? That he has hit the ground running ?
    Frightening, isn't it ? It is to me.

    I have missed more games than I have watched. But I can read.
    And from what I garner, something is really wrong here.
    After playing this game all of his life, how can he do such stupid things, that people are now
    calling you brainless ?

    Maybe Gregoius, really is a AA-AAA player, with occasional sexy flashes.
    Maybe you have seen his whole act ? A one act play. A dumb trade. It happens all the time.
    That's what I think.

    Pardon my ignorance with names, and for being repetitive, but if this bottom of the
    line-up-middle infielder situation continues...it must be addressed soon.

    My two cents...Release Ryan, and make Petit (.190) and Gregorius (.200) disappear.
    That wasn't so hard ? But we have two empty roster spots ? Duh ?
    Robert Refsnyder & Jose Pirela.
    The line-up is lengthened, and the team is better offensively.
    What is so hard ?

    The Elf is nodding his head now in agreement.



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    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    2. It would be nice except neither one can really play SS although they have Pirela playing 2nd base at times on the farm. They could have Refsy at 2nd and Drew at SS. Of course they could go after the guy everyone has been talking about in a trade!

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    3. It's probably a good thing you guys didn't read this blog in it's first three weeks with the big boys, probably would have never came back.

      And yes little p, make Ryan go away.

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    4. Peat Moss how is that spelling? There are some ignorant people on here and they know who they are. They think because they have been around since the 10 commandments were made by Moses that they have a clue. Didi is not ready for prime time nor will he ever be. He is what he is and you are seeing the real Didi. I would rather have Ref at 2nd and Drew at SS and have the learning curb come from Ref. The kid Refsnyder knows how to pay the game and should be given the opportunity to learn on the job just as Didi was given. Time to make the move and pick up a better offensive player as well.

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    5. I agree that Refsnyder should be allowed to learn on the job. Not only did Didi get that same luxury but so did Stephen Drew at second base.

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  14. Well, there he goes again, showing his word, is not his bond! I expected more from him!
    After less than 20 games, you send a guy to the wood shed? Didi is what his card says he is, right? Again I say his card shows him a well above average glove at SS and a lot of ???s about how well he will hit.
    Beltran, on the other hand, has had one season (part of which he was injured) and less than 20 games plus all of Spring training to show his suff...he has and we don't like it! But again, he may need a bit more time...maybe!
    About a week ago it was pointed out we may be better with Drew at SS and Refsy at 2nd. Another point was made to make a trade for Peraza but, the Braves say No Way! Dumping Ryan and sending Didi (if he can't do better) to the Farm (if he has options) opens up a place for Refsy and Pirela. One can't have too much hitting!

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  15. I think I will leave it at that!

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Sorry for the Capatcha... Blame the Russians :)