Batter's Box Interactive Magazine - New York Yankees

New York Yankees - September 19-20/2012

The Blue Jays, after a rainout on Tuesday in New York, get ready to battle the Yankees in a doubleheader on Wednesday before the series finale on Thursday. They will be without shortstop Yunel Escobar, who has been suspended for three games after having a homophobic slur on his eye black during this past Saturday's home game against Boston.

Yunel Escobar, between Blue Jays first base coach Torey Lovullo and Boston Red Sox first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, after an RBI single at the Dome April 11. Will Escobar be back in Toronto next season after this recent controversy?

Wednesday at 1:05 p.m. - RHP Henderson Alvarez (9-12, 4.91) vs. LHP Andy Pettitte (3-3, 3.22)

Pettitte will make his first start since suffering a broken leg during a start against Cleveland June 27. The 40 year-old was taken out by a comebacker off the bat of Casey Kotchman. In a handful of starts this season, Pettite has increased his strikeout rate by two from 7.1 to 9.1 from 2010 to 2012 after a 2011 sabbatical. He has also shaved his walk rate from 2.8 to 2.3. His batting average on balls in play of .275 this year suggests a bit of luck , down from a career BABIP of .308 but his FIP (fielding independent pitching ) is at 3.41. Pettite has lost a tick off his fastball, which averages around 87-88 miles per hour. He mixes in a cutter at 80-81, a curveball at 73-74 and a changeup around 79-80. FanGraphs says he is throwing four-and-a-half percent more cutters and three percent fewer curveballs. The Yankees will limit Pettitte's pitch count to 70. Rajai Davis is 3-for-6, Jeff Mathis is 4-for-11, Yorvit Torrealba is 3-for-9 and Kelly Johnson is 1-for-4 over the last five years against Pettite. On the flip side, Adam Lind is hitting just .158 against Pettitte in 19 at-bats.

Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. - LHP Ricky Romero (8-14, 5.87) vs. RHP David Phelps (4-4, 3.49)

The 25 year-old Phelps has rung up 85 batters in just as many innings and has walked 31 but has been prone to the long ball as he has yielded 13 home runs. His FIP is 4.36 and his strand rate is nearly 84 percent so lady luck has been on his side. His fastball clocks in at 90-91 and also uses a cutter at 87 and a curveball around 80. He even mixes in the odd changeup at 83-84. Phelps gave up four runs over 6 1/3 innings with a 7-1 K/BB ratio in his first career appearance against the Jays at Yankee Stadium August 27. He received a no-decision in a game the Yankees went on to lose 8-7. Yorvit Torrealba and Adam Lind both took Phelps deep in that one and Torrealba added a single. Adeiny Hechavarria and Colby Rasmus also had base hits off Phelps and Kelly Johnson drew a walk.

Thursday at 7:05 p.m. - LHP Aaron Laffey (3-5, 4.55) vs RHP Phil Hughes (15-12, 3.96)

Like Pettitte, the 26 year-old Hughes has significant boosted his K/9 rate from 5.6 to 7.6 from last year and has chopped down his BB/9 from 3.3 to 2.1. Like Phelps, he has been victimized by the big fly as that has gone up from 1.1 to 1.7 per nine innings. Hughes has been able to offset his gopher ball tendencies by stranding more runners as his rate has increased nearly 11 percent from last year to 76.2. His FIP is 4.61 so he has been appeasing the baseball gods somewhat. His repertoire features a heater around 92, a bender around 75 and a changeup clocking in around 84. He throws a rare slider and a rare cutter around 87 and 80 respectively. Edwin Encarnacion is 3-for-11 against Phelps and Adam Lind is 4-for-22 but does have a home run. Jeff Mathis is 1-for-5 with three RBI.

With the Advance Scout out of the way, let's turn our attention to the suspended one - Yunel Escobar. Gregg Zaun took him to task during Primetime Sports on Sportsnet 590 The Fan Tuesday afternoon and also doled out some criticism to Brett Lawrie and Moises Sierra among others. Give it a listen and give us your take on whether you agree with the former Jays catcher.

Posted by #2JBrumfield on Wednesday, September 19 2012 @ 01:42 AM EDT.

New York Yankees - September 19-20/2012 | 41 comments | Create New Account

The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.

TamRa - Wednesday, September 19 2012 @ 03:20 AM EDT (#263578) #

I think Esco has put AA in a tough spot going into the winter. Reports are that they marketed Esco in July, and would likely do so again this winter...that the team was kind of tired of him and having Hech on the cusp and shortstops at a premium...it would be a good time.

Now Esco has diminished his value in that he comes off as damaged goods,to say nothing of having put a magnifying glass on his being a flawed player rather than just a guy who plays a position of strength AND created a situation in which the Jays almost have to carry him over lest it look like they are washing their hands of him.

I'm still inclined to think they end up getting him out of town, the trick will be to do so in such a way as to pretend it's a baseball move and not a desperation move. Ideally, include him in a deal to the D'Backs for Justin Upton.

--------------------------------------
On another note - I'm listening to the podcast of the Zaun interview. I'm long since gave up on the idea that Zaun's word is golden, I've heard him say too many things that just did not compute with me. And I do think he in this interview is overstating the depth of the problem BUT....he might have a point about Farrell letting too much go. And i think Yunel gives them a really unique opportunity to call a team meeting at the end of this year, and restate it more extensively next spring that the culture must change. Let this come as a dictate from the front office that the organization cares about professionalism. It cares about the fundamental things (the remarks about Lawrie making dumb baserunning mistakes and not even admitting they were dumb and trying to correct them) right, and that no one is above scrutiny.

I don't think that it's a function of youth, as Zaun suggests. He comes across as a crotchty old man saying "kids today!" and I don't think it's helpful to imply NO young players have the right attitude. Besides, if that's true it is baseball tradition that the more veteran guys are supposed to address that. So you would have to point the finger at Bautista and Vizquel and Mathis and Davis and Johnson just as much as the kids. But it might well be something that is a problem with the coaching in the organization. I can't really argue with the illustration about Sierra and the shades.

greenfrog - Wednesday, September 19 2012 @ 08:32 AM EDT (#263581) #

This may be way off base (for fans a lot of this is guesswork), but sometimes I wonder whether Farrell is too eager to please, and therefore errs on the side of acquiescence or passivity. Obviously it's a fine line and I like that he's steady, polite, doesn't pick stupid fights, etc. But at times with the baserunning, subpar defensive play by certain players, shoddy OBP...he seems to let a lot of things slide. Which I could imagine leading to a slow erosion of standards and, over time, fewer wins.

John Northey - Wednesday, September 19 2012 @ 08:49 AM EDT (#263582) #

Days like this I really, really, really would've loved it if Ash or JP or AA had hired Davey Johnson before Washington did. He is the type who has a track record (I think just once he didn't come in 1st or 2nd when running a team from day one, plus he hit 40 HR in a season once thus lots of respect from players) and will do what it takes to win. He moved Cal Ripken off SS, he dealt with a toxic mix in the Mets clubhouse in the 80's and won, he was the last guy to win in Baltimore before this year, etc. If players are doing well he gives them lots of rope (see Mets of mid-80's), if they aren't he cuts them down quick.

Ah well. This winter it might be worth looking for a top notch manager and letting Farrell go to Boston (for a fee) - one who has a winning track record (ie: not just a guy who has been around) and experience with kids. I doubt it'd be Cito #3 (although I'd like him to get 17 more wins to pass Jimy Williams), and Earl Weaver & Whitey Herzog are both over 80. Terry Francona would probably be the best choice of the current not-managing right now group. Tom Kelly has been invisible since he was let go in 2001 but is in his early 60's so might still be worth a shot. Larry Dierker would be interesting as well - fair amount of success in Houston then dumped after his 4th 1st place finish in 5 seasons - no idea why he never got another managing job.

greenfrog - Wednesday, September 19 2012 @ 09:20 AM EDT (#263584) #

Kudos to Zaun for having the guts to speak out.

BlueJayWay - Wednesday, September 19 2012 @ 09:41 AM EDT (#263585) #

Baltimore wins in 18 innings last night after tying it in the ninth. Calling up Dylan Bundy today.

Super Bluto - Wednesday, September 19 2012 @ 10:03 AM EDT (#263586) #

While I don't necessarily agree with all the commentators on the severity of the offense (though indeed it was offensive), the fact remains that what Escobar did was colossally stupid, unprofessional, and embarrassing to the club and its fans. Like an unwanted polyp, he should be removed from the team and yes, he's not going to get anything in return but on this one, fans should understand.

greenfrog - Wednesday, September 19 2012 @ 10:39 AM EDT (#263587) #

Wieters must be pretty tired. Imagine being the starting catcher (133 games played so far) and having to go 18 innings in a late-September game. Being in a pennant race probably helps.

eudaimon - Wednesday, September 19 2012 @ 11:05 AM EDT (#263588) #

I say give the kid a break. Sure, what he did was stupid by our standards, but like someone else said in a different post, it's probably pretty normal by Cuban standards. That doesn't make it right, of course, but I don't think we should be so harsh on him. Culture dies hard, even when parts of it don't make any damn sense. The best way for people to open up about their prejudices is for them to meet people who fit that category who are cool, or for someone admirable to admit they are one, or whatever. These things take time, and no one's really going to be better off if we release Yunel Escobar. The best thing for him is to be in Toronto where homosexuality is such a relative non-issue.

electric carrot - Wednesday, September 19 2012 @ 11:29 AM EDT (#263590) #

I don't like what Yunel did. And unlike Dewey I don't think capital P capital C Political Correctness is one of the top 10 problems of our times. Not even top 1000. But still, how about a little tolerance? Many of us were probably homophobic before we weren't. Difference is always difficult to overcome when were honest about it. And I think if we remember how we travelled that distance, and the constellation of people and events that got us there, it might make us a little less judgmental of someone whose still on the other side.

Richard S.S. - Wednesday, September 19 2012 @ 12:01 PM EDT (#263591) #

Not the best choice of highlighting both Ecobar and NEW YORK. I understand the difficulties in finding a suitable photo, but this one matters.

Escobar is seen as a good defender; is known to hit decent, with reasonable power; and can be stupid. This is a top value asset and should be used as such. There will be a lot of interest in him this offseason, many teams have holes. Offhand I'd say his shelf-life (best before date) on a team seems to be about 2-ish years.

Greg Zaun is bang-on about Lawrie and mostly accurate this time on what's going on, Catchers usually are. He's been off the mark at times this year when he goes off on a pet peeve, but usually accurate. Escobar was just stupid, again. Lawrie however, "is never wrong", might be a bigger problem.

It's getting harder to read whetther A.A. is keeping Farrell or not. It's also getting harder on deciding if I would keep him. However, when Managers are "let go", there's a reason for it. If you understand why and are still interested, go for it. If you don't understand why and are still interested, run. Through 1993, Cito Gaston was the right man for the Team. Afterward, his tendancies weren't always the best for this club.

rtcaino - Wednesday, September 19 2012 @ 12:43 PM EDT (#263594) #

One thing I found weird, was that JF stated Yunel frequently has little phrases on his eye black. Consequently, JF did not take notice this time.

However, the following article states that Yunel very rarely wears eye black. Let alone eye black with phrases.

http://outsports.com/jocktalkblog/2012/09/18/did-yunel-escobar-previously-write-no-penis-on-his-eye-black/

I don't want to make a mountain of a mole hill - however, it is weird that JF would claim something that was in no way accurate to absolve himself.

I'd rather someone make mistakes than lie. But I suppose as long as he knows the truth...

Dewey - Wednesday, September 19 2012 @ 12:53 PM EDT (#263595) #

I don't like what Yunel did. And unlike Dewey I don't think capital P capital C Political Correctness is one of the top 10 problems of our times. Not even top 1000. But still, how about a little tolerance?

A pretty cheap shot, don’t you agree? And utterly gratuitous. I don’t mind being disagreed with--indeed I often expect that--but I do find it repugnant when people find it necessary to misrepresent what I said in order to express their displeasure with it. Can you show me where I said anything like what you indicate here?

Very curious in a post championing “tolerance”.

electric carrot - Wednesday, September 19 2012 @ 01:02 PM EDT (#263600) #

My apologies Dewey I was picking up on your statement:

Few things are more frightening than the fearsome powers of Political Correctness. They’re terrifying.

I exaggerated.

hypobole - Wednesday, September 19 2012 @ 01:10 PM EDT (#263602) #

I'm sure if you only scan images of day games, you would think Yunel almost always wears eye black.

adrianveidt - Wednesday, September 19 2012 @ 02:11 PM EDT (#263605) #

You know what, all of the apologists who are posting here, and all of the people who are using this thread as an opportunity to comment on Baltimore, it's just mind-boggling what's being said in this thread.

Did Rogers ruin the GTA sports scene, or was it already this bad when they came in and bought it all? The Blue Jays had a bunch of good seasons when they weren't a joke, right?

At one time, all of the media in Toronto wasn't owned by Rogers or TSN, so it had some credibility right?

When did matters reach this level of awfulness, and why didn't anybody stop it before it got this bad, and why isn't anybody doing anything about it now?

Has everybody sold out to the Rogers gravy train, or are there still people talking about what the real problems are?

Dewey - Wednesday, September 19 2012 @ 03:50 PM EDT (#263607) #

O.K., e.c. Accepted, with thanks and no hard feelings. We all seem to get heated by certain subjects; and this plainly is one of them.

Mike Green - Wednesday, September 19 2012 @ 04:26 PM EDT (#263609) #

make us a little less judgmental of someone whose still on the other side.

I am never judgmental of someone whose still is on the other side. We all need a drink sometime...

Political correctness, gay rights and grammatical foibles. George Carlin would have had something serious and something funny to say about it all.

Gerry - Wednesday, September 19 2012 @ 04:51 PM EDT (#263610) #

AA has given a lengthy interview to the Score.

katman - Wednesday, September 19 2012 @ 05:05 PM EDT (#263611) #

A little tolerance would be nice, and I'm not seeing much of it.

First off, Yunel comes from a culture that, as AA has pointed out, often uses this word. It doesn't mean quite the same thing. The player has said he's sorry, he has nothing against homosexuals. He has been punished, and will have the matter explained to him in more depth. Which needs to happen.

But to many Torontonians, I have to say: How about accepting that sometimes other people come from a different culture that is, by definition, not the same as yours? Now, Canadians have the right to demand a certain level of respect for our culture by those who are here. Hence the terms of the discipline meted out. But there's a flip side to that, and that flip side is to show respect and understanding ourselves when someone from a different place acts like it, crosses a line here, and then has the grace to apologize. Otherwise, it's just its own form of thinly-veiled prejudice, with a dash of moral smugness to wash the racism down easier. And I use that word advisedly. If you deny the apology, you're not upholding a standard any more. You're setting things up to say that people from other cultures can never really change - i.e. permanent moral inferiority.

If that's what floats your boat, great. Be it officially proclaimed that you're more enlightened and better than those Latinos down there. Happy now?

I would hope that most, if not all, Bauxites are able to be above that. Unfortunately, it's clear that many Torontonians aren't.

On a baseball level, if we can't get full value for Yunel, and fill his slot in the middle infield, we'd better keep him. Right now we have no 2nd baseman for next year, and a SS candidate whose ability to add value at this level is uncertain. Without any more help to be expected from our minor leagues, and a lot of other holes to boot. A bit of tolerance re: Yunel is the right thing to do, period. This time, it also happens to be the right thing for the team.

katman - Wednesday, September 19 2012 @ 05:27 PM EDT (#263613) #

I do lean toward agreement with Zaun re: too much tolerance of stupid mistakes by the team. His point re: Sierra was pretty iron-clad, and that may actually deserve an answer more than Yunel's situation. I can imagine that people may not have read Yunel's eyeblack, but I can't imagine that an outfielder wouldn't know how to use flipshades, and no-one would pick up on that. Yikes, team...

John Northey - Wednesday, September 19 2012 @ 06:08 PM EDT (#263615) #

I think stupid mistakes are something that we always have seen from kids. I remember the same stuff being said in the 80's about the various kids coming up (how could Bell not know how to bunt for example, the flip throws by Fernandez drove some people nuts).

More coaches would be a good idea. Not always to be on the bench, but for pre-game and post-game coverage with the players. Go over the basics like flip shades for example with guys who seem to have issues with it.

Beyonder - Wednesday, September 19 2012 @ 07:17 PM EDT (#263616) #

"Many of us were probably homophobic before we weren't. Difference is always difficult to overcome when were honest about it. And I think if we remember how we travelled that distance, and the constellation of people and events that got us there, it might make us a little less judgmental of someone whose still on the other side."

This is a nice thought, and a good formulation of it EC. Reminds me of a line: not George Carlin, but Ricky Gervais (as David Brent): "What's an idiot? An idiot is a person who doesn't know today what I learned yesterday.". I suspect many of us are relatively new to our current enlightened state of awareness.

Ryan Day - Wednesday, September 19 2012 @ 07:44 PM EDT (#263618) #

I'd say Yunel deserves a little more credit - and blame - than being just an uncultured latino.

He didn't just get off the raft from Cuba: he's 29, and he's been playing in North America for seven years. He didn't say something insensitive in the dugout that was accidentally overheard - he wrote it on his face prior to a game. Even the most benign interpretation of it would have been pretty dumb, moving up towards "idiotic" as you interpret it more severely.

Somehow, other players from Latin America have managed to avoid doing this. Even those who'd agree the word isn't that bad seem to understand it's not a good idea to write it on your body during a game.

No one's saying Escobar is a hatemonger. But his lack of judgment lands him somewhere between idiot and jackass.

eudaimon - Wednesday, September 19 2012 @ 08:30 PM EDT (#263619) #

I just don't really see the point in labeling him as such, creating all these rationales that he "should have known." There's all kinds of factors that determine this sort of thing. Should Vladimir Guerrero / Ichiro have learned English sooner? Does it matter?

Also, did Latin players not do it before out of "knowing what they should have known?," or does it have to do with the personality types of the individuals (who's style is it to prod their opponent in this way), and perhaps the strictness of the manager (baseball has been fairly strict on appearances in general historically, see: George Steinbrenner and long hair/facial hair), maybe the development of HD TV which makes things like this impossible to not see.

Just some things to think about, I guess. I just don't like absolute labels like "idiot," since that's a label that tends to stick, regardless of how a person evolves, changes, matures, or doesn't.

ComebyDeanChance - Wednesday, September 19 2012 @ 08:57 PM EDT (#263620) #

First of all, anyone who quotes from the Brit Office wins the internet, in my opinion.

If Toronto loses tonight and Boston wins, the Red Sox will have an insurmountable 3 game lead in the win column, with only 15 games remaining. Ensuring us the deserved higher draft pick. I believe this is the first time in decades of watching baseball that I have hoped for the Boston Red Sox to win. Petty pleasures are better than none.

christaylor - Wednesday, September 19 2012 @ 10:30 PM EDT (#263621) #

I saw the outsports.com article yesterday, the statement that Escobar doesn't wear eye-black doesn't mesh with my memory of him as a player. Even before this incident, he's one of the few on the Jays I would think of as wearing eye-black on the Jays.

I doubt that even if Farrell saw the writing on the eyeblack that he knew what it meant (or well enough to be confident call a player out).

My bet is the Jays keep Escobar for one more year, as Hech ain't ready, and probably don't pick up the team options on his contract. Losing out on $10M in income is probably punishment enough (for both his poor performance and his thoughtless behavior).

TamRa - Thursday, September 20 2012 @ 01:27 AM EDT (#263622) #

My bet is the Jays keep Escobar for one more year, as Hech ain't ready, and probably don't pick up the team options on his contract. Losing out on $10M in income is probably punishment enough (for both his poor performance and his thoughtless behavior).

I don't think there is ANY way that AA willingly let's Esco walk without getting something for him. They WILL trade him at some point. Whether that's this winter or next July, or they exercise the option and then trade him.

I can see a good argument for carrying him over, and a good one for dealing him now and starting fresh. But there's no way they just let him walk.

By the way, on whether Hech is ready - it's just a 22 game stretch, and surely counter-adjustments will be made, but since August 12, his slash lines are

.284.314/.433/.747

He may not be ready entierly, but he's more ready than he's been given credit for apparently. Compare that line to Starlin Castro on the season:

.283;/.320/.427/.747
(n nine times as many AB of course)

TamRa - Thursday, September 20 2012 @ 01:29 AM EDT (#263623) #

Castro and Esco are tied with 2.6 WAR apiece, by the way, and Hech is probably a better glove than either.

(Esco's OPS is 100 points lower than Castro's)

hypobole - Thursday, September 20 2012 @ 02:00 AM EDT (#263624) #

ESPN Insider has an article on 2013 ZIPS projections for key MLB callups, including 2 Jays.

Hech: .245/.279/.346, 8 HR, 10 SB, 1.3 WAR
Gose: .234/.305/.341, 8 HR, 49 SB, 1.4 WAR

Magpie - Thursday, September 20 2012 @ 08:25 AM EDT (#263626) #

the Red Sox will have an insurmountable 3 game lead in the win column, with only 15 games remaining.

Not that it matters even a teeny-tiny bit, but insurmountable? I wish.


Standings At Close of Play of September 26, 1987

AL East

Team Name                        G    W    L    T   PCT    GB    RS   RA
Toronto Blue Jays              155   96   59    0  .619     -   829  628
Detroit Tigers                 154   92   62    0  .597   3.5   863  712
Milwaukee Brewers              155   86   69    0  .555  10.0   827  791
New York Yankees               154   85   69    0  .552  10.5   752  721
Boston Red Sox                 154   74   80    0  .481  21.5   804  786
Baltimore Orioles              154   63   91    0  .409  32.5   697  842
Cleveland Indians              155   60   95    0  .387  36.0   703  900

I still have scars from that one.

John Northey - Thursday, September 20 2012 @ 08:38 AM EDT (#263628) #

Ugh. 1987 was a nightmare at the end. I worked at McDonalds (in high school) and a friend there was a big Tigers fan so you can imagine how that made the last week all the more painful. For an odd note, it blew my mind when I went to a Tigers/Jays game in late '88 (just one year from that amazing race) and was able to get a seat behind home plate at Tigers Stadium an hour before game time. Sadly, the Tigers won again with a 9th inning hit from Alan Trammell to George Bell iirc.

greenfrog - Thursday, September 20 2012 @ 08:46 AM EDT (#263629) #

I still have scars from that one.

'Tis better to have loved and lost / Than never to have loved at all. / (Or in a really long time, like 20 years.)

I think that's how the poem goes.

Magpie - Thursday, September 20 2012 @ 11:35 AM EDT (#263635) #

Ugh. 1987 was a nightmare at the end.

Just be glad you're not a middle-aged Phillies fan.


Standings At Close of Play of September 20, 1964

NL

Team Name                        G    W    L    T   PCT    GB    RS   RA
Philadelphia Phillies          150   90   60    0  .600     -   645  564
Cincinnati Reds                150   83   66    1  .557   6.5   616  535
St. Louis Cardinals            149   83   66    0  .557   6.5   655  612
San Francisco Giants           150   83   67    0  .553   7.0   607  546
Milwaukee Braves               149   77   72    0  .517  12.5   721  691
Pittsburgh Pirates             148   76   72    0  .514  13.0   629  577
Los Angeles Dodgers            152   75   75    2  .500  15.0   569  539
Chicago Cubs                   149   67   82    0  .450  22.5   598  681
Houston Colt .45s              151   63   88    0  .417  27.5   472  577
New York Mets                  150   50   99    1  .336  39.5   527  717

The mind boggles, still. How did they not win that one?

Mike Green - Thursday, September 20 2012 @ 11:59 AM EDT (#263638) #

Gene Mauch went with a short (pun intended) rotation, and it didn't work. The mythology associated with the horse pitcher is long-standing...you can ride 'em until after the sun sets but they might just collapse and die on you.

Dave Till - Thursday, September 20 2012 @ 02:14 PM EDT (#263650) #

This reminds me of one of my favourite bits of baseball trivia ever: the 1964 Phillies and the 1987 Blue Jays had the same pitching coach - Al Widmar.

ComebyDeanChance - Thursday, September 20 2012 @ 08:38 PM EDT (#263655) #

I still have scars from that one.

I remember it well. I was a truly middle-aged man then, not one pretending that the blue line is center ice. 'Insurmountable' was a fray at fun, joking about two clodhoppers teams who may not win 3 games each the rest of the season.

Lylemcr - Friday, September 21 2012 @ 11:31 AM EDT (#263666) #

Personally, I hope it gives Escobar a swift kick in the butt and he gets a little more serious. But... highly unlikely.

BTW, Hech is looking very good lately in my opinion. (I with I could say the same for Gose and Sierra).

grjas - Friday, September 21 2012 @ 10:48 PM EDT (#263697) #

ComebyDeanChance - Saturday, September 22 2012 @ 10:25 AM EDT (#263705) #

Hech is looking very good lately in my opinion. (I wish I could say the same for Gose and Sierra).

Hech is indeed putting together a nice little streak of late, both with the leather and the bat. But I've also been very impressed with Gose's approach at the plate. He seems to have excellent strike zone judgment on the fastball at least, sometimes better than the umpires who've wrung him up on bad calls. Still, his OBP since his recall on Sept 4 is .354, which is good. Hech's is a nice .371 and Sierra's .303. Sierra and Eric Thames (.307) are fairly close. And over the same period Snider's OBP is .142. Now these are all somewhat small samples of course, but that flows from the 'of late' observation.

Original Ryan - Sunday, September 23 2012 @ 02:44 PM EDT (#263743) #

Does anyone else hate the centre field camera angle Sportsnet uses at Tropicana Field? I realize they're trying to put the batter and home plate in the centre of the screen, but in order to do that while keeping the pitcher in the shot, they have to zoom out quite a bit. Roughly a third of the screen is taken up by the stands. As I have not yet won a 70" Sharp Aquos, I feel too far away from the action.

I wish they'd stick with the offset camera angle they use at Rogers Centre and most other ballparks. It's not the ideal angle, but I prefer it over the dead-centre one they use at The Trop, Fenway Park and Target Field.

vw_fan17 - Monday, September 24 2012 @ 02:57 PM EDT (#263770) #

1987

Two horrid members in particular for me:
. Matlock wandering into centrefield to take Fernandez out at the knees, running the "basepaths"
. Jimy one M sitting on the bench in the 7th inning of the last one run loss looking like he'd already packked in. Inspirational.

I think you want (Bill) Madlock here.. Although, perhaps Matlock could have helped us press our case against the Tigers for unsportsmanlike conduct.. :-)

New York Yankees - September 19-20/2012 | 41 comments | Create New Account

The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.