The '13 Andy Pettitte Connection To '14 Hiroki Kuroda

It has been well documented here on The Greedy Pinstripes and all across the Yankee Universe that Hiroki Kuroda has faded the last two seasons in the Bronx and I think I have the solution to prevent it from being a third times the charm type of scenario. Andy Pettitte was the oldest pitcher in 2013 and did not suffer from the loss of velocity or the loss of command and control of his pitches like Kuroda did, he actually seemed to get stronger as the season went on although some of that could be chalked up to adrenaline. Could we not follow the same protocol and such with this years oldest pitcher in the majors, Hiroki Kuroda, to prevent a similar melt down in the stats department?

Before coming to the Bronx the most innings that Kuroda had thrown in his Major League career with the Los Angeles Dodgers had been 202 IP, although he had only thrown 699 IP in his entire four year Dodgers career. In two seasons in pinstripes Kuroda has already thrown 421 IP and has set a new career high with 219.2 IP in 2012. The number would have been a whole lot more had it not been for those aforementioned well documented melt downs in late August and through September the last two seasons. This could have been a lot more of a glaring problem has Kuroda not pitched six or less innings in seven of his last 10 starts due to the meltdown. Pettitte pitched six or less innings in five of his final eleven starts, August and September, but Pettitte had a 6-5 record in those games where as Kuroda had a 3-7 record down the stretch.

Andy Pettitte on the other hand threw only 185.1 IP in 2013 including a complete game on his final start of his career down in Houston on the second to the last day of the season. While Pettitte's career high in IP in a single season was 240.1 that was way back in 1997. Pettitte had not gone over the 200 IP mark since the 2008 season, including his retirement in 2011 where he did not pitch at all, but his stats did not seem to suffer all that much from it. Pettitte did win a World Series titles in 2009 including pitching in all three of the series clinching games and getting the win with his reduced workload that came with age.

Using Baseball Reference we can see that Kuroda averaged 100 pitcher per start in 2013 and 101 pitcher per start in 2012. Using the same sources we see that Pettitte only averaged 97 pitches per start in 2013 and 94 pitcher per start in 2012. It is also worth noting that before Pettitte averaged 103 pitches in 2009 he did not average over 100 pitches per start since the 2003 season. A few pitches here or there over the course of a long season could be the difference between skipping a start or two, pitch wise, and can make the world of differences. Kuroda went over the 100 pitch mark 21 times in 2013 while Pettitte only did 14 times. It is worth noting also that both men had 11 wins in 2013 so the reduction in pitches should not affect Kuroda as a pitcher that much.

In closing Hiroki is not a spring chicken anymore and has a ton of innings on his arm, treat him like it. Joe Girardi is constantly throwing Kuroda out there like his stud 25 year old ace and not like the 40 year old pitcher that he is. Kuroda should not be throwing complete games much anymore and should not be pushing the 200 IP barrier before September even begins anymore, he is 40 not 30. Kuroda is great but Kuroda has earned the right to be babied and the load on his shoulders lightened as he gets older, not increased. If the Yankees want Kuroda to be fresh all season long and into the playoffs potentially then they need to take a page out of their own books and pretend the #46 is on his back and not the #18 because Kuroda cannot do it anymore for 200+ innings. Eight innings or less, 100 pitches or less, and one more ring and a ride into the sunset for Kuroda and the Yankees.

The Mark Teixeira Decision Expected Any Minute Today

The Mark Teixeira decision is expected to be made today, for better or worse. Either the Yankees will get bad news and have to place Teixeira on the disabled list or he will be in the lineup tonight. Obviously the Yankees are hoping for the latter more than the former although the Yankees are winning without him. 

The Yankees can backdate a DL stint for four days as Teixeira say out the entire series with the Texas Rangers. If the Yankees place Teixeira on the DL Zoilo Almonte will probably be the player called up to replace him. 

Kyle Roller should get a shot but I think we all know how much Brian Cashman seems to be against calling up the young guns. 

Quick Hit: The Yankees Will Be Buyers

Heading into the All Star break it was unclear whether the Yankees would be buyers or not at this year's trading deadline but now I think we know the answer. I know we all probably thought the Yankees would buy, we always do, especially with this being Derek Jeter's last season and all but now it seems like 100%.

The Yankees have stormed out of the gate by sweeping the Cincinnati Reds and have taken three out of four from the Texas Rangers. The Yankees finish a home stand this weekend against the Toronto Blue Jays who have struggled over the years in Yankee Stadium. Pencil in the Yankees for probably at least two wins in this series.

After that the Yankees go out on the road to play Texas again, this time in Arlington, to close out the month and the trading deadline. Meanwhile the Orioles, the team New York is chasing in the division, and the Mariners, the team the Yankees are chasing in the Wild Card, are playing each other making it easier for the Yankees to gain ground.

It's official, the Yankees are buying. It started with Brandon McCarthy, it continued with Chase Headley and Chris Capuano, and will end with... stay tuned for that.

Reminder: It's Derek Jeter's Final Season

 

It's not often that I try and use a post here on the blog for a cheap plug but it's Friday and we're about to start the last series of this home stand. With this home stand ending it's just one series closer to saying goodbye to Derek Jeter as a member of the Yankees. Personally I want to savor and remember every single game and memory that I can and what better way to do that then with memorabilia.

The Greedy Pinstripes have a unique partnership with Steiner Yankees Sports that can bring you great deals for all your Yankee memorabilia. We can offer you $50 off any $250 or more purchase through us and Yankee Steiner Sports by clicking HERE. You can also use THIS code to get 20% off your entire order.

Jeter has signed exclusively with Yankee Steiner Sports and Collectibles for all his memorabilia so if you get it anywhere else you really have to question their authenticity. Head over to Yankee Steiner Sports and grab your Yankee memorabilia now. Derek Jeter Signature Collection

This Day In New York Yankees History 7/25: DiMaggio Gets The Call From The Call On Fourth Try

For all those who don't know the full story I will cover it briefly. Yankee pitcher Jim Bouton wrote a book called "Ball Four" that got him banished from Yankee Stadium. For all those who want to read the book a quick Google search can find it for you. On this day in 1998 at Old Timer's Day Bouton was invited back to Yankee Stadium for the first time in almost 30 seasons. Jim's son, Michael, wrote a letter to the New York Times urging the Yankees to reconsider their decision about Bouton and New York obliged.

Also on this day in 1998 the Yankees dedicated a plaque in the memory of Mel Allen, the team's long time play by play announcer. Allen died of heart failure in 1996, he was 83 years old. The plaque described Allen as a "Yankee institution, a national treasure" and even included his signature punch line" How about that?"

Finally on this day in 1995 Joe DiMaggio was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown after spending 13 season with the Bronx Bombers. DiMaggio retired with a .325 batting average and it still took four tries on the ballot before the Yankee Clipper was elected.

Yankees Acquire Chris Capuano For Cash

More when I am not mobile but the New York Yankees have acquired left handed starting pitcher Chris Capuano from the Colorado Rockies. The Yankees will send cash considerations back to Colorado for the veteran lefty. 

Remembering Yankees of the Past: Wade Boggs

Chase Headley wearing Alfonso Soriano’s old #12 got me thinking about another Yankee third basemen that was acquired “a year or two too late” in Wade Boggs. Wade Anthony Boggs will forever be remembered as a Boston Red Sox, his Hall of Fame plaque (and all the controversy that surrounded that ordeal) even has him wearing a Sox hat, the only place he was a winner was in New York.

In 1992 Wade Boggs slumped to a .259 batting average which was only one of three times in his career that he failed to reach the .300 mark. Boggs left Boston at the end of that season and was heavily recruited by both the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Yankees. We wouldn’t be here speaking about him if he hadn’t chose the Yankees as New York added a third year to a contract offer that Los Angeles would not. Boggs rewarded the Yankees with three straight All Star appearances, four straight seasons of hitting .300 or better, and won a Gold Glove award while in New York.

Boggs helped the Yankees win their first World Series championship in 18 years in 1996, Boggs’ only World Series title of his career. Boggs was asked to pinch hit in the tenth inning of Game 4 against the Atlanta Braves and drew a bases loaded walk against Steve Avery that gave the Yankees the lead and eventually led to an 8-6 victory. The Yankees came back from six runs in that game and the Yankees won in six games. Boggs most memorable moment was when he was celebrating the victory by riding a on the back of a horse with an NYPD officer touring the field with one finger raised in the air. Boggs was scared of horses but Boggs was a champion.

Boggs finished his career by collecting his 3,000^th hit in a Tampa Bay Devil Rays uniform. What could have been though if he had been at third base in that 1996 World Series Game 6 six and not Charlie Hayes. Boggs may never get a plaque in Monument Park and won’t get much recognition at all as a member of the Yankees but we thank him anyway, have some chicken on us.

Predicting the 2015 Yankees Lineup

Earlier today we took a look at whether the Yankees had enough at bats and baseballs to go around throwing both Alex Rodriguez and Chase Headley in the same infield next season and that got me thinking. What would next year’s lineup look like assuming everyone is healthy and back with the club next season including Headley and A Rod.

The thought intrigues me as having three switch hitters in the lineup reminds me a lot of the dynasty Yankees and the 2000’s Yankees where the success was there, just not in October. Having the right handed bat of Rodriguez, again assuming health and productivity, balances out of a pretty lefty heavy lineup as well which looks more like the Bronx Bombers of old then what we have seen for the past two seasons.

This was just for fun really but this is the lineup I came up with. I assumed that the Yankees would replace Brian Roberts at second base with the right handed Robert Refsnyder and did not even attempt to make a prediction at the Derek Jeter replacement. Let’s just assume he hits 9^th and is Brendan Ryan at this point but if it were Troy Tulowitzki or Hanley Ramirez then obviously this lineup changes a lot.

Brett Gardner

Jacoby Ellsbury

Carlos Beltran

Mark Teixeira

Brian McCann

Chase Headley

Alex Rodriguez

Robert Refsnyder

That guy replacing Derek Jeter

I love having the two leadoff hitters at the top of the lineup before the absolute barrage of switch hitters and McCann. If you wanted to make things realty difficult for opposing managers to match up you could plug in Headley, Rodriguez, or even Refsnyder in the second spot to break up the lefties and become even more balanced. Either way you look at it that’s one tough lineup to run through four times a night without giving up too many runs and that’s just what the Yankees need after two years of dismal offenses and less than stellar lineups. 

McCarthy Throws Another Quality Outing in Series-Clinching Win Over Rangers

Since he was 3-10 in Arizona this season, it's obviously expected that Yankees' newcomer Brandon McCarthy will struggle sometimes.

The 31-year-old right-hander, 1-0 with a sub-two ERA in his first two appearances with the Yanks, is not exactly an ace, but rather a number three who will usually give you six-seven innings. 

Just make sure not to tell him that, as the veteran again tossed six frames of one-run ball today in the Bombers' 4-2 win over the Rangers.

Now in this afternoon's contest, as I just mentioned we should look for from him occasionally, McCarthy didn't seem that sharp, throwing 109 pitches in the eighteen-out performance.

Still, since he did allow just four hits and out-dueled Colby Lewis (6 1/3 IP, 3 ER) you can't really complain about how he threw, as it was apparently good enough to earn his second AL W.

Again, McCarthy didn't amaze in this one, but thanks to an RBI Single from Chase Headley, an RBI Double from Francisco Cervelli, and an RBI Sac Fly from Brett Gardner in the fourth and fifth he and the Bombers did hold a two-run advantage when he was removed. 

Later on in the seventh, in a rare showing of weakness, Adam Warren was strangely taken deep to left by J.P. Arencibia, bringing the score at that time to 3-2.

Fortunetaly, though, that blast wouldn't lead to anything big, as Dellin Betances backed up Warren with a scoreless eighth inning, in which the former retired Shin-Soo Choo, Elvis Andrus, and Alex Rios on nine pitches. 

Now when Rios got out, a fly ball off his bat did send Ichiro pretty close to the right-field wall, but since the outfielder still caught it feet from the short fence Betances was given the hold, his fourteen of the year.

Open Game Thread 7/24: Yankees vs. Rangers

Welcome to the afternoon edition of our daily open thread for the game between the New York Yankees and the Texas Rangers. This will be the finale of the four game set between these two teams that has been played at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees will send Brandon McCarthy to the mound to face off with Colby Lewis for the Rangers. The game will be played at 1:05 pm ET and can be seen on the YES Network, MLB Network, MLB TV, and can be heard on the radio with WFAN.

Get your Yankees tickets HERE on the blog to see the Yankees home or away for the rest of the season. If you can't see the team live then join us on Twitter by following @GreedyStripes or find us on Facebook by searching for The Greedy Pinstripes. We're always live and always looking for more Yankees discussion.

It's an open thread and you're probably not working anyway so leave us a line in the comments section of the site. Enjoy the game Yankees family and enjoy the rest of your day. Go Yankees.