Good stuff, but I think Pavano is actually pitching Sunday (if MLB.com is correct). Also, while I'd prefer to keep Posada's bat in the lineup, I don't think using Molina is "absurd". It might sound simple to tell AJ to suck it up, but he is a human being. If he doesn't feel Posada can block his curve with a man on third, for example, that is definitely going to weigh on his mind. Finally, I really think this series will be the start of a big post season for Alex, perhaps like Bonds 2002 post season. Of course, that might just be a lot of wishful thinking.
I'm hoping you are right william. Hey, that's our bad on Pavano, but we actually filmed the segment on Monday. We did one for the Tigers--which was a better preview, lol--and one for the Twins.
[3] LOL. Great episode. Have fun at the stadium tonight. I love getting sucked into the fervor, although I must admit I'm totally on edge wating for the series to get under way. So,laments the fan.
[1] Ya got my vote too. And Cliff, you are correct that someone in the AJ/Po duo should have made whatever changes necessary for them to both be in the game at the same time. But it appears they haven't. I fault Joe and the Yankees FO for not working this out a month ago. But Girardi is 100%correct is making his decision based on what HAS happened as opposed to what SHOULD have happened. It could be coincidence, SSS or just the RCNB, but AJ's last 6 games with Molina have been markedly (markedly?) better they his previous games.
And of all the various Banter opinions on this, I think William nailed it concerning AJ's curveball. Po calls it less and blocks it less. Good AJ is basically defined by his curveball. When it's off, that means more BBs and more mistake (fat) pitches. When it's on, he's a stud.
Also, Pettitte's game is really more important then AJs (Torre has always said game 3 is the crucial one). If we are down 0-2, the answer is obvious. If it's 1-1, a win, on the visitors field in game 3 guarantees a playoff game back at the Stadium. Unless we are up 2-0, game #3 will be the primo nail-biter.
Oh...our old drunken Buddy, Boomer Wells, is a TBS analyst for this series. Anyone has thoughts on that?
TBS just showed the 'LINE DRIVE, BASE HIT, CAUGHT' DP a few times. 2 things.
1) They showed a camera angle from 1B that showed the play much better then the live telecast. The play looked VERY close, and methinks the runner's hand may have gotten the plate before the tag.
2) The runner on third was OFF the base during the play. When he saw it caught, he actually had to take a step BACK to the bag and then tag up. Had he been standing on 3rd, he is in EASILY. I don't think that was shown or discussed during the live game.
[7] I actually thought he was safe as they did show that angle last night, but none of the broadcasters brought it up. They glossed over it completely, which I found odd. It was a very close play. The ball beat the runner to the bag, but he slid towards the pitcher's side of home plate and tagged before the ball got to him.
[1] I don't know if it's the curve ball, or what, but there is some (some, far from conclusive) evidence that Burnett does (does, not should) pitch better to Molina. I'm not sure what question Cliff and Jay are answering in the discussion. I would certainly agree that Burnett ought to be able to pitch to Posada, and if he has some irritation or whatever he should just get over it. But I keep thinking about Girardi's decision, and it's not under Girardi's control to make his pitchers into mature, reasonable men. He has to play the cards he has.
Whew.
On the other hand, [6], I honestly can't remember when was the last time we had a line-up I was so satisfied with. I hope BRAIN UNSIGNED is feeling a little dry-mouth when he contemplates it. Here's a little telepathic message for him: "BRIAN, YANKEE STADIUM IS A BANDBOX SANDBOX, BE SURE YOU DON"T GIVE THE MURDERERS ANY CHANCE TO HOMER..."
And to the bombers: "PATIENCE."
Hey there big fella. Lets's go C.C.!! Quick 1, 2, 3, inning and let's get the bats going. Oh shit. Not 6 o'clock yet. : D [8] Yeah they hardly showed the dp replay. Just a far away shot. Yes really spoils us in that regard. WIth them it's more like. enough already, you've shown it 10 times from 10 different angles. Damn TBS.
And the runner on third definitely butchered that "hit" (line drive out). I believe the booth mentioned in only in passing. Cuz, ya know, not really important to the outcome of the game or anything. Oy.
"I did not have the ball hitting him," Marsh told a pool reporter. "We looked at replays, too. And the replays that we've looked at, to be honest with you, were inconclusive. I did not see a replay that showed that it hit him."
I'm pretty sure the replays show the ball grazing Inge's jersey
Why can't YES get rights to broadcast the games for their loyal fans? I mean, Kay might be a insufferable goofus, but he's *our* insufferable goofus. We really deserve to get to go through the postseason with our own guys, both because we've formed as much of a relationship with them as we have with the team itself, but also because *they* have formed it too, and their commentary, banal as it might be sometimes, would still be infinitely more informed than that of some hacks who just parachuted in at the last moment.
[25] word. At some point every postseason I wind up turning down the audio on the TV, and switching on "The Lumpy & Chuckles Show On The New York Yankee Radio Network." I don't care if the picture is in sync with the radio call, or if the radio call has nothing to do with the game action. I just can't listen to the "outsider" baseball weenies for a whole series..
[20] Was that OPS+ for Torre's career, or for his time at catcher?
BTW, the problem with using CS% is that its not adjusted to take into account the era. In other words, teams ran an awful, awful lot back in the 70s - far more than they do now - and so one could expect that the CS% will be higher, because guys who shouldn't have been stealing (and aren't today) were.
Not to diminish the accomplishments of Bench et al, but for me, unadjusted CS% is no way to measure catcher defense.
Oh, and OPS+ is a horrible way to measure anyone because it equates OBP with slugging, and they ain't even remotely close.
All I know for sure is that I-Rod is not the greatest catcher ever, and for my money, isn't even in the top 7 (some ordering of Bench, Berra, Dickey, Piazza, Hartnett, Cochrane, and Campanella). I think he's probably 8th; 9th if you figure Josh Gibson should be included (and why not?).
i can't believe i'm missing the 1st game of the playoffs. this sucks. but i have such little work, i have to take it when i can get it. damn this 6pm start!!! hope i can get home in time to catch us win at the end!!!
[25] Because MLB owns the TV broadcast rights to the postseason, not the individual teams, and MLB can get an awful lot more money selling the whole package (or two large chunks of it) to two national networks, than it could if it sold it to the individual team RSNs. They'd also have to re-negotiate the deals every year. Imagine what the difference in monies paid would be if MLB was getting money only from, say, the Twins and the A's RSNs, or the A's and the Tigers RSNs? (IIRC, those were the ALDS and ALCS matchups in 2006.)
Besides, MLB wants the postseason to reach the largest number of fans, and YES doesn't broadcast nationally.
I'd much rather hear Kay & Co (especially Singleton) that Chip Useless Caray too - but I'm biased. If the playoff games weren't on national TV, I couldn't see them, not living in YES's broadcast area and all.
"Was that OPS+ for Torre’s career, or for his time at catcher?"
It's his career number. I checked BR splits, but it doesn't give OPS+. However, looking at just his OPS at C and at other positions, it looks like that 128 would be very close to his OPS+ at Catcher only.
"Oh, and OPS+ is a horrible way to measure anyone because it equates OBP with slugging, and they ain’t even remotely close"
Equates them? It simply adds them together. Both stats (OBP and SLG) have value, but as you (may?) know, many feel OBP is more important, and 1 of many formula suggested was: OPS = (1.4 * OBP) + SLG. This would tend to make pure sluggers look worse and high BB guys look better.
What I like about OPS it that it combines TWO recognized stats. Obviuosly, no one (O or D) stat portrays the story. We need some 'super stats', that are a weighted combination of 3 or more recognized stats.
[32] Remeber back in the mid-90's when they tried to schedule the playoff games at the same time using the "Baseball Network" regional broadcast fiasco? It was the worst idea ever. Not only did they not show Game 2 of the ALDS (the extra inning game from 1995) in my area, they didn't even have the common courtesy to switch over to the game (which went 15 innings) after the other games were over. I remember having to check the ESPN bottom line to get updates on the game (didn't have internet back then). Consequently, I missed one of the greatest Yankee games in history (and Mattingly's homer)...and I'm still upset about it. Of course, 14 years later with all the technology that we have, I still can't watch *every* Yankee game (thanks to the guys at FOX) no matter how much money I'm willing to spend.
Good stuff, but I think Pavano is actually pitching Sunday (if MLB.com is correct). Also, while I'd prefer to keep Posada's bat in the lineup, I don't think using Molina is "absurd". It might sound simple to tell AJ to suck it up, but he is a human being. If he doesn't feel Posada can block his curve with a man on third, for example, that is definitely going to weigh on his mind. Finally, I really think this series will be the start of a big post season for Alex, perhaps like Bonds 2002 post season. Of course, that might just be a lot of wishful thinking.
I'm hoping you are right william. Hey, that's our bad on Pavano, but we actually filmed the segment on Monday. We did one for the Tigers--which was a better preview, lol--and one for the Twins.
is Jay taking a vacation from himself??
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZm_lijcOBg
[1] I agree with all your points.
[3] LOL. Great episode. Have fun at the stadium tonight. I love getting sucked into the fervor, although I must admit I'm totally on edge wating for the series to get under way. So,laments the fan.
[1] Ya got my vote too. And Cliff, you are correct that someone in the AJ/Po duo should have made whatever changes necessary for them to both be in the game at the same time. But it appears they haven't. I fault Joe and the Yankees FO for not working this out a month ago. But Girardi is 100%correct is making his decision based on what HAS happened as opposed to what SHOULD have happened. It could be coincidence, SSS or just the RCNB, but AJ's last 6 games with Molina have been markedly (markedly?) better they his previous games.
And of all the various Banter opinions on this, I think William nailed it concerning AJ's curveball. Po calls it less and blocks it less. Good AJ is basically defined by his curveball. When it's off, that means more BBs and more mistake (fat) pitches. When it's on, he's a stud.
Also, Pettitte's game is really more important then AJs (Torre has always said game 3 is the crucial one). If we are down 0-2, the answer is obvious. If it's 1-1, a win, on the visitors field in game 3 guarantees a playoff game back at the Stadium. Unless we are up 2-0, game #3 will be the primo nail-biter.
OCTOBER YANKEES BASEBALL!!!!!!!
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Posada C
Cano 2B
Swisher RF
Cabrera CF
Oh...our old drunken Buddy, Boomer Wells, is a TBS analyst for this series. Anyone has thoughts on that?
TBS just showed the 'LINE DRIVE, BASE HIT, CAUGHT' DP a few times. 2 things.
1) They showed a camera angle from 1B that showed the play much better then the live telecast. The play looked VERY close, and methinks the runner's hand may have gotten the plate before the tag.
2) The runner on third was OFF the base during the play. When he saw it caught, he actually had to take a step BACK to the bag and then tag up. Had he been standing on 3rd, he is in EASILY. I don't think that was shown or discussed during the live game.
.... anyone HAVE thoughts...
[7] I actually thought he was safe as they did show that angle last night, but none of the broadcasters brought it up. They glossed over it completely, which I found odd. It was a very close play. The ball beat the runner to the bag, but he slid towards the pitcher's side of home plate and tagged before the ball got to him.
I didn't see him at 3rd base tagging up.
[1] I don't know if it's the curve ball, or what, but there is some (some, far from conclusive) evidence that Burnett does (does, not should) pitch better to Molina. I'm not sure what question Cliff and Jay are answering in the discussion. I would certainly agree that Burnett ought to be able to pitch to Posada, and if he has some irritation or whatever he should just get over it. But I keep thinking about Girardi's decision, and it's not under Girardi's control to make his pitchers into mature, reasonable men. He has to play the cards he has.
Whew.
On the other hand, [6], I honestly can't remember when was the last time we had a line-up I was so satisfied with. I hope BRAIN UNSIGNED is feeling a little dry-mouth when he contemplates it. Here's a little telepathic message for him: "BRIAN, YANKEE STADIUM IS A BANDBOX SANDBOX, BE SURE YOU DON"T GIVE THE MURDERERS ANY CHANCE TO HOMER..."
And to the bombers: "PATIENCE."
OMG! Terrible, terrible call just made at 3rd base. Bad break for the Rocks.
wow, TERRIBLE call at 3rd base! werth threw out torrealba tagging up. wasn't even close. bad, bad, bad umpiring...
[11] great minds drum alike! ; )
[10] Unsigned Brain = that rocks!
nice hook, ubaldo! what a name = ubaldo. yikes.
I've got that playoff knot in my stomach.
Hey there big fella. Lets's go C.C.!! Quick 1, 2, 3, inning and let's get the bats going. Oh shit. Not 6 o'clock yet. : D
[8] Yeah they hardly showed the dp replay. Just a far away shot. Yes really spoils us in that regard. WIth them it's more like. enough already, you've shown it 10 times from 10 different angles. Damn TBS.
And the runner on third definitely butchered that "hit" (line drive out). I believe the booth mentioned in only in passing. Cuz, ya know, not really important to the outcome of the game or anything. Oy.
Offtrack:
IRod has a career OPS+ of 108
Posada at 124
Yogi (listed as 5'8") at 125
Bench at 126
Mickey Cochrane at 128
Piazza is at 142.
I heard that Mauer is an excellent defensive Catcher.
He has a career CS% of 38!
And an OPS+ of 138.
Is he on track to become the greatest C in history?
Who would hold that title now? IRod? Bench? Yogi? Mickey Cochrane?
wat?
"I did not have the ball hitting him," Marsh told a pool reporter. "We looked at replays, too. And the replays that we've looked at, to be honest with you, were inconclusive. I did not see a replay that showed that it hit him."
I'm pretty sure the replays show the ball grazing Inge's jersey
[17] I say Johnny Bench.
LET'S GO YAN-KEES! (clap, clap, clap clap clap)
[17] Missed this guy. Name not familiar.
Joe Torre: OPS+ 128. CS% = 41%!
Bench CS= 43%
IRod CS= 46%
Really, is Torre underrated as a C or what?
[2] where's the link to the SNY vid?
Gardenhire is in YES right now. Goddamn, that guy sounds just like Harry Sheerer.
[18] Inge was definitely grazed. Bad, bad call.
2 HOURS TIL GAMETIIME!
Why can't YES get rights to broadcast the games for their loyal fans? I mean, Kay might be a insufferable goofus, but he's *our* insufferable goofus. We really deserve to get to go through the postseason with our own guys, both because we've formed as much of a relationship with them as we have with the team itself, but also because *they* have formed it too, and their commentary, banal as it might be sometimes, would still be infinitely more informed than that of some hacks who just parachuted in at the last moment.
Fucking bullshit.
[25] word. At some point every postseason I wind up turning down the audio on the TV, and switching on "The Lumpy & Chuckles Show On The New York Yankee Radio Network." I don't care if the picture is in sync with the radio call, or if the radio call has nothing to do with the game action. I just can't listen to the "outsider" baseball weenies for a whole series..
[20] Was that OPS+ for Torre's career, or for his time at catcher?
BTW, the problem with using CS% is that its not adjusted to take into account the era. In other words, teams ran an awful, awful lot back in the 70s - far more than they do now - and so one could expect that the CS% will be higher, because guys who shouldn't have been stealing (and aren't today) were.
Not to diminish the accomplishments of Bench et al, but for me, unadjusted CS% is no way to measure catcher defense.
Oh, and OPS+ is a horrible way to measure anyone because it equates OBP with slugging, and they ain't even remotely close.
All I know for sure is that I-Rod is not the greatest catcher ever, and for my money, isn't even in the top 7 (some ordering of Bench, Berra, Dickey, Piazza, Hartnett, Cochrane, and Campanella). I think he's probably 8th; 9th if you figure Josh Gibson should be included (and why not?).
i can't believe i'm missing the 1st game of the playoffs. this sucks. but i have such little work, i have to take it when i can get it. damn this 6pm start!!! hope i can get home in time to catch us win at the end!!!
[26] It's just not right. Just not right.
[28] Same here. I can't believe I'll miss most of it.
jayson werth having himself a game. 4-0, about to be 5. (man on 3rd, no out)
[25] Because MLB owns the TV broadcast rights to the postseason, not the individual teams, and MLB can get an awful lot more money selling the whole package (or two large chunks of it) to two national networks, than it could if it sold it to the individual team RSNs. They'd also have to re-negotiate the deals every year. Imagine what the difference in monies paid would be if MLB was getting money only from, say, the Twins and the A's RSNs, or the A's and the Tigers RSNs? (IIRC, those were the ALDS and ALCS matchups in 2006.)
Besides, MLB wants the postseason to reach the largest number of fans, and YES doesn't broadcast nationally.
I'd much rather hear Kay & Co (especially Singleton) that Chip Useless Caray too - but I'm biased. If the playoff games weren't on national TV, I couldn't see them, not living in YES's broadcast area and all.
Philthies setting the tone early. Cliff Lee will probably go the distance, too.
"Was that OPS+ for Torre’s career, or for his time at catcher?"
It's his career number. I checked BR splits, but it doesn't give OPS+. However, looking at just his OPS at C and at other positions, it looks like that 128 would be very close to his OPS+ at Catcher only.
"Oh, and OPS+ is a horrible way to measure anyone because it equates OBP with slugging, and they ain’t even remotely close"
Equates them? It simply adds them together. Both stats (OBP and SLG) have value, but as you (may?) know, many feel OBP is more important, and 1 of many formula suggested was: OPS = (1.4 * OBP) + SLG. This would tend to make pure sluggers look worse and high BB guys look better.
What I like about OPS it that it combines TWO recognized stats. Obviuosly, no one (O or D) stat portrays the story. We need some 'super stats', that are a weighted combination of 3 or more recognized stats.
Series preview post is up.
Very cool !!!!!
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xapplh_get-ready-for-the-showdown_sport
I especially like the dugout scenes.
[32] Remeber back in the mid-90's when they tried to schedule the playoff games at the same time using the "Baseball Network" regional broadcast fiasco? It was the worst idea ever. Not only did they not show Game 2 of the ALDS (the extra inning game from 1995) in my area, they didn't even have the common courtesy to switch over to the game (which went 15 innings) after the other games were over. I remember having to check the ESPN bottom line to get updates on the game (didn't have internet back then). Consequently, I missed one of the greatest Yankee games in history (and Mattingly's homer)...and I'm still upset about it. Of course, 14 years later with all the technology that we have, I still can't watch *every* Yankee game (thanks to the guys at FOX) no matter how much money I'm willing to spend.
[32] Yeah, sure, but why can't they simply have three broadcasts?--National, local, local?
I know, they wouldn't make a zillion dollars that way.
I get it, but I don't like it.