To DH or not to DH?

To DH or not to DH, that is the question facing Commissioner of Baseball Rob Manfred and the National League as we inch towards the owners meetings later this month. While there is no traction just yet and nothing seems imminent in the department of the National League adopting the DH like the American League the two sides are talking about it and that, in my opinion, is progress.

The St. Louis Cardinals GM John Mozeliak echoed these statements recently telling reporters that he has heard the discussion about the adoption of the DH more so in the last year than ever before in his time as the GM. That doesn’t necessarily mean he is in favor of it though as he quickly stated that he liked the way things were and honestly, I do too.

I will preface that statement with a small disclaimer. I prefer the DH and I do not find watching an automatic out come up to the plate four or five times a night, sometimes more if you’re 8^th hitter is just there for defense, and I don’t think the whole “strategy behind the game” thing sells itself enough. How many times a night do you see a true situation where a strategy needs to be employed? Not as often as the traditional baseball and NL fans would like you to think.

Is there more strategy in the NL? Sure there is but that can be counterproductive. Sometimes you have to take out a pitcher prematurely because you’re down on the scoreboard while sometimes a pitcher is left in for too long simply because he’s pitching a nice game. Is the game more boring because of the pitcher’s hitting? In my opinion, yes it is. What draws more casual fans (because truth be told the hardcore fans are going to watch regardless) to the game, offense or 1-0 games that are won in the 8^th inning by a suicide squeeze with a pinch hitter hitting for the pitcher? As exciting as that is many of the fair-weather or casual fans have already turned the game off and gone to bed by then anyway and don’t even get to see it.

Do I think the DH would be good for the NL? Absolutely. Do I think the DH should be pushed and forced on the NL? No, absolutely not. There are still pitchers that truly like to hit and managers that truly like the old school version of the game. Who am I, or anyway for that matter, to take that away from them? Do I think eventually it will come to a DH in both leagues if anything to boost offense, ratings and to protect the pitchers? Yes, absolutely I do. Maybe as soon as the next collective bargaining agreement.

It starts with discussions and it ends with action. The discussions are happening now as we speak. 

Twitter Poll: Are You Worried About Alex Rodriguez?

Twitter poll: are you beginning to worry about Alex Rodriguez and his production for the rest of the season?? May use answer in a blog post!

— Greedy Pinstripes (@GreedyStripes) August 14, 2015

The New York Yankees find themselves in a bit of a Catch 22 as we sit here on August 15^th. The team came into the season not expecting nor relying on now 40 year old Alex Rodriguez whatsoever but that has not gone according to plan. Alex has far exceeded anyone’s expectations and is now a daily staple in the #3 hole of the Yankees lineup. The Yankees have been able to keep him fresh and healthy by keeping him as a DH only but the dog days of summer may be starting to get to him. Alex has hit one home run in over two weeks now and may be finally starting to break down and wear out, but that’s just my opinion anyway. What’s yours? Twitter Poll incoming!

No RT @GreedyStripes A Rod hasn't hit a home run in 2 weeks. Worried?

— The Silent Assassin (@SilentAssassinM) August 14, 2015

@GreedyStripes slightly, bat looks a little slow these past 2 weeks. Weak grounder

— Niral Patel ॐ (@npatel114) August 14, 2015

@GreedyStripes yeah, he's looking old as hell

— Shane Corey (@Shane_Corey) August 14, 2015

@GreedyStripes a bit

— Kerri (@iamkerrixoxo) August 14, 2015

@GreedyStripes not really we all knew there was going to be a time during the season when he would be in a slump and not hitting A-Bombs

— Brian Donworth (@brddonworth) August 14, 2015

@AROD hits well in Toronto, he will get back on track this weekend #PinstripePride https://t.co/M5V9l7vFu1

— Jeremy Brewer (@j_brewer23) August 14, 2015

@GreedyStripes Beginning to worry? I'm worried already, looks like we're not getting much more out of him.

— 0 and counting (@_EduVL) August 14, 2015

@GreedyStripes He's gone cold before and come back strong. I'm not worried.

— Julie Ann Johnson (@Julie_Johnsoned) August 14, 2015

@GreedyStripes He is 40 now... Give him a day or two off & he'll be back on track. Not worried at all!

— Jessica (@FinnGirlJess) August 14, 2015

@GreedyStripes I think he is just tired maybe bird n tex can flip flop dh or let tex b switch hitter dh

— donaldday (@donaldday0129) August 14, 2015

Personally I think the call up for Greg Bird will be Rodriguez’s, and the Yankees, saving grace. The offense pretty much needs one of Alex or Mark Teixeira in the lineup at all times to have a chance to win on most nights and having Bird allows the team to get a little flexible. While Teixeira DH’s Bird can play first base while Alex rides the bench and gets a much needed rest. While Alex DH’s Teixeira can sit and relax knowing a suitable backup in Bird is in the field and at the plate. This rotation can get Bird plenty of at bats and can keep Teixeira and Rodriguez healthy and fresh for the stretch run and for the chase of the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League East Division race.

To be involved in our next Twitter Poll head on over to the app and give @GreedyStripes a follow, you won’t be sorry. Then all you have to do is be on the lookout for our next Twitter Poll tweet where we will not use your responses without informing you first.

Sunday Night Open Thread

The New York Yankees are done playing a 17 games in 17 days stretch and have a much needed day off tomorrow before traveling to Washington to take on the Washington Nationals. Honestly this weekend has been crazy for me so I am leaving this open thread for you because I will be away for much of the evening. Chat it up about anything including whether or not the NL should adapt the DH position (Yankees pitchers will hit on Tuesday and Wednesday), the Jorge Posada book or whatever you like.

Enjoy your evening Yankees family.

A Rod Will Only Play Defense in Emergencies

I thought it was a little weird on Wednesday night when I saw the lineup for the game between the New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays and I saw that Stephen Drew was playing third base. My initial thought was Alex Rodriguez must be getting the day off and Chase Headley must be the DH but I was surprised when I saw that Rodriguez was the DH and Headley was off. My second thought was that Pirela has experience at third base in the minor leagues while Drew does not but then I remembered what binder I was dealing with and put the thought immediately out of my head. The whole scenario was a little weird to me and today we received some clarification as to why it happened, Rodriguez has been delegated to a DH only by the New York Yankees.

Manager Joe Girardi did say he preferred to use A Rod as a DH only but we all know how quickly that could change in the case of an injury or an emergency but this screams the Jorge Posada treatment that we saw in 2011, minus the whole batting him 9^th thing and A Rod throwing a temper tantrum, taking his ball and going home thing. Girardi’s mindset is that keeping Rodriguez out of the field will keep him healthy and fresh at the plate and honestly with a guy who basically took two years off from the game and is creeping up on 40 years old it is hard to argue against that.

If making Rodriguez a full-time DH helps the team then Alex is all for it and so am I. Rodriguez is not 25 years old anymore and his hamstring problems have shown that so anything to keep him healthy for the regular season and potentially beyond is a good thing for all parties involved. 

Twitter Poll: Yankees Fans Don’t Want Tulo?

Good morning yankees family. Do you think the Yankees trade for Tulo if he requests a trade as expected this week?

— Greedy Pinstripes (@GreedyStripes) May 13, 2015

I didn’t plan on doing another Twitter poll yesterday but it just kind of happened when I asked the question whether the Yankees should acquire Troy Tulowitzki if he asked for a trade like he is expected to do this week. Even with the Yankees winning despite the black holes that are Stephen Drew and Didi Gregorius I expected the Yankees family, despite his injury history and large contract, to be all for acquiring their next #2 but I was shocked to see some of the responses I got. I posted this morning my post clamoring for Tulo in the Bronx and truth be told I wrote that on Tuesday night halfway expecting the majority of the Yankees fans to agree with me. I was shocked to read some of the responses and felt compelled to share them with you this afternoon before the game tonight with the Rays.

@GreedyStripes don't want another injury risk in this team I don't care how good they are.

—  (@Ror925) May 13, 2015

@GreedyStripes No way on earth

— Mr. Wolf (@BigBadWolf_1) May 13, 2015

@GreedyStripes Why would we?

— Rooney (@CelticYankees) May 13, 2015

@GreedyStripes No but it is time to end the Drew and Jones experiments and find some upgrades. Carpenter in the bullpen also trade him.

— Jill Poock (@ejpoock) May 13, 2015

@GreedyStripes no way, Cashman has a record of trying to "prove" his moves were the right ones. He will stick with Didi no matter what.

— Michael P. (@MichaelPawluk) May 13, 2015

@GreedyStripes But he couldn't wear the #2.

— JT (@JabooNJ) May 13, 2015

@GreedyStripes nothing to trade for him and think to contract is a big road block as well

— AJammin' (@AJammin2788) May 13, 2015

@GreedyStripes The bad thing about a deal like that would be that either Bird, Judge, or Severino would go and that's not good.

— Michael (@Crash9172) May 13, 2015

I know the guy has been injured a lot but so was AJ Burnett when the team acquired him off the free agent market and got at least a good season and a half of production out of him. He may not have pitched as well as the team had hoped but he took the ball every 5^th day and seemed like he was a late bloomer when it came to durability. Getting Tulo out of the elevation in Colorado and surrounding him with a manager that will rest those nagging injuries and a team that is great in both range and overall defense, not to mention the DH position, I think Tulo could be fine. Apparently I’m in the minority here.

To be a part of our next twitter poll give us a follow on Twitter (@GreedyStripes) and be on the lookout for our next twitter poll tweet. We do these quite often because frankly I enjoy them and the people who are quoted seem very positive about them as well when they see their twitter handles on the blog. We will always let you know in advance that we will use your tweets on the blog post. 

Will Travis Hafner Be Released?

The question has been raised lately whether the Yankees DH Travis Hafner will be released when the Yankees get Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter back this season. The Yankees will need that DH spot more and more as we ease back both Jeter and A Rod back into full time play and Hafner is not exactly making this decision hard. Hafner has not been hitting for a high average, which honestly I do not think many people expected anyway, but his lack of power is what may finally do him in. Hafner may have a week or two to turn things on and make the decision at least hard but right now it seems like a no brainer that the countdown has begun for Hafner in pinstripes.

Alex Rodriguez 0-4 In Latest Rehab Game

Alex Rodriguez has been on fire lately in his rehab assignment but went a little cold last night with an 0-4 day. Alex had three strike outs and a fly out which is not great sign on the same day that he is DH'ing because of a sore quad. A Rod did play the entire game at DH though and apparently did not have to run much so this was almost like a day off for him. Sunday is what was supposed to be his final rehab game before rejoining the big league team so hopefully that plan does not change.

Yankees In "Serious Discussion" W/ Bill Hall

"Serious" Discussions... Seriously?

The Yankees are said to be in serious discussions with utility player Bill Hall according to Ken Rosenthal on twitter.

Ken Rosenthal @Ken_Rosenthal
Sources: #Yankees in serious talks with Bill Hall. Role could be similar to what he had with #RedSox in 2010. Backup IF, RH bat in OF. #MLB

My question is... why? Is Bill Hall any better then current Yankee Brandon Laird? Is Bill Hall any better then most of the current free agent utility players? I would say no personally to both of those questions.

In the last 4 seasons, which is more then enough of a sample size of what his CURRENT production equates to, he has a WAR (wins above a replacement player from AAA like Brandon Laird) of -0.1. If we left out the 2008 campaign of a 0.8 WAR then he has a -1.0 WAR in his last 3 seasons.He also has terrible batting averages in the low to mid .200's for the most part and extremely high BABIP(batting average on ball's in play) in each of those seasons touching in the low .300's. This basically means he has been "lucky" and his batting stats are inflated according to the stat.

Bill Hall does not steal bases. Bill Hall does not take walks. He strikes out a third of his plate appearances. He does not hit for extra bases. He does not hit right handed pitching well at all. Then again he is going to be used much like he was used in Boston last season as a utility infielder and outfielder. At least he defends well right?

Terrible UZR (ultimate zone rating) and UZR/150 (ultimate zone rating in a 150 game "full season") at 2B, LF and RF while he held his own at 3B and was above average at SS.Since 2009, according to Fangraphs.com, Bill Hall has been worth $10 million with the vast majority of it ($7.0 million) being made in 2011 with his two teams.

In closing, Brian Cashman, please Please PLEASE stay away from Bill Hall. Call up Brandon Laird if you must or continue to use Ramiro Pena... just please do not sign Bill Hall