Does Size Matter?

Will chicks still dig Melky after seeing this?

Via Hit Tracker On-Line, the average standard tater distance for some Yankees long-ballers:

Player		HR	Avg Dist
Rodriguez Alex	4	426.8
Giambi Jason	5	396.0
Matsui Hideki	4	386.3
Damon Johnny	4	382.3
Abreu Bobby	4	375.0
Cabrera Melky	5	367.0

Note: These stats do not include yesterday’s game.

When you look at this, and Melky Cabrera’s homer total to date this season, it lends for some interesting perspective. Half of Melky’s homers were somewhat assisted by the short porch in right at Yankees Stadium. Yes, that doesn’t make them count any less. (Heck, Bobby Murcer and Graig Nettles sorta/kinda lived on that porch too.) But, it does, to an extent, explain Cabrera’s “power” surge this season.

May 5, 2008 | Filed Under Math Class

Comments

9 Responses to “Does Size Matter?”

bfriley76 on May 5th, 2008 1:49 pm

But, it does, to an extent, explain Cabrera’s “power” surge this season.

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Does it really though? It’s not like he JUST started playing half his games in Yankee Stadium.
Steve Lombardi on May 5th, 2008 1:54 pm

No question, it’s also a product of Melky growing as a hitter, looking for pitches to pull, and pulling them, etc. He deserves credit for that.

I’m just saying, if, he played in a park with a normal RF, he’d probably only have about 3 homers now.
hopbitters on May 5th, 2008 1:57 pm

If he is taking advantage of the short porch, that’s a good thing, isn’t it? Not only in that he’s hitting more HR, but in that he was willing to and capable of adjusting in a way that helps the team.
Rich on May 5th, 2008 2:05 pm

Size does matter. Melky still sucks.

hoopbitters is correct. Learning to hook the ball has long been a key to success for LH Yankee hitters.
nmc on May 5th, 2008 4:40 pm

What do you mean when you say “somewhat assisted?” It seems to me that you can either be assisted (if you hit a short one that would be a fly out or double or whatever elsewhere), or not assisted (if it’s a sure-fire bomb like yesterday’s was).

Now, looking at the data, there was only one that came in under 325 and that was the first one, and it still would have been good in 9 ballparks. The other one (now two) hit at Yankee stadium were sure fire homers in at least 20 parks. So, when you say “half” you really mean just that one, right? (especially since the other 3 didn’t even happen at Yankee Stadium)..
Joel on May 5th, 2008 4:41 pm

Let him average 314.25–and do it 30 times!
Steve Lombardi on May 5th, 2008 5:54 pm

nmc - yesterday’s was a bomb, really? How far it go?

Including yesterday’s HR to RF at YS, Melky as two others there - 4/1, 324 feet, and 4/17, 347 feet.

Hey, I’m not saying they would only be out at YS - I’m just saying that they would not be out in a lot of other parks, that’s all.
nmc on May 5th, 2008 6:52 pm

Fair enough. (Am I thinking of Cano’s homer yesterday that was a bomb? If so, I stand corrected. I was only watching the YES broadcast - don’t you love their 400-feet-away-can-you-see-the-ball camera angles?)

Anyway, I guess I’m just a little zealous in defending Melky. He’s one of the only bright spots right now (though if the last few games are any sign of the future)…

Now if you could only tell me that all of Jason Giambi’s hits would have been laser line drive ground rule doubles that went through the blue padding if not for the shift..
Steve Lombardi on May 5th, 2008 10:14 pm

Hey, I heart Melky as well. I just wanted to point this out so that…in case anyone thinks he’s going to be a 30+ homer guy…because that’s not fair to him. He’s good for 20 a year, and that’s just fine.