Over the last week, there have been a number of reasons we have lost... from pitching to defense to baserunning to offense. We've had big failures all around. However (from PeteAbe) CAREER OPPORTUNITIES: The Yankees are 10 of 47 with runners in sc:oring position (.213) on the road trip.

There is no reason for RISP numbers to be less then non-RISP numbers. No matter what else happens, if we continue to fail with RISP, our league leading Offense will just be a deception and the PS will not be assured.

[1] I'm not sure RISP mayters all that much IF the offense continues to lead the league, since for both to happen presumably the team must do well above average batting with runners not in scoring position.

If, however, they continue to scuffle with RISP for the rest of the season, presumably they will stop leading the leading the league in offense, and thus there will be no deception.

I for one am not going to get too worked up about poor RISP over a what, six game span? That they have had 47 opportunities at least indicates they are still getting men on base. This is far preferable to, say, 5 for 10 (.5000 BA!!!) over the same period.

[1] Look at it this way, over the current road trip they have averaged 5.2 R/G, for the season they have averaged 5.5 R/G. I'm not that worried about BAWRISP, yet.

I wonder why batting average with runners in scoring position is seen as more important than OBP (aka not making an out) with runners in scoring position. Yes, I know a hit with a guy on second usually gets the run in, and a walk does not, but not making outs > getting hits.

Note too that 47 ABs (ugh! again ignoring walks) is somewhat of a small sample.

[4] Because it leaves it to the next batter to drive in the run, and the next batter may be an inferior hitter?

[5] Unless we're talking about Molina filling in for Posada, or Ransom or Hairston filling in for whoever, the Yanks lineup does not have an inferior hitter.

Note too - the more runners on base, the more likely a team is to score more runs. So a walk with RISP is not necessarily as good as a hit - but it has some value.

[6] I didn't mean an inferior hitter in the general sense. I meant inferior relative to the batter who hits before him (and I'm speaking in general terms, not just about the Yankees).

The hitter that hits behind A-Rod is inferior to him. Damon is probably inferior to Jeter. Melky is inferior to Cano.

That doesn't make OBA with RISP irrelevant. I agree, a walk with RISP has value.

[7] That's an interesting point, sorry I missed it the first time.

I wonder, though . . . given that the ordering of a lineup is essentially meaningless over the course of a season - only a 1 or 2 run difference between the most optimally organized lineup and the least - if that doesn't negate it. I'm not convinced it does, but the two ideas certainly but heads.

BARISP is also, apparently, not a skill - that is, its not something hitters do consistently from year to year. I wonder about OBPRISP, though.

In recovery from hip surgery, only hoping I can once again hit a tennis ball. I played bb when young. The game sucks for players. Not sure I will be a follower for long. Too passive. But the chemistry addicts.