It’s Not Always About Hitting

Playing around with Baseball-Reference.com’s Play Index today, I noticed that the Boston Red Sox have been on a hot streak with their bats. In fact, to date, in games during the month of May, the Red Sox have the following team BA/OBP/SLG line: .316/.385/.524 (in 692 PA over 17 games).

Yet, in the month of May, so far, the Red Sox are 10-7. So, what gives?

It’s pitching. In those same 17 games, Boston has a team ERA of 4.00 - and 4 of those 7 losses were by one-run.

Just some food for thought for those in Yankeeland who think New York’s problems will be solved once A-Rod returns and hopefully the Yankees offense starts to produce better…a reminder that you still need to pitch effectively to win, as well.

May 19, 2008 | Filed Under Rivalry Snapshots

Comments

18 Responses to “It’s Not Always About Hitting”

Basura on May 19th, 2008 1:56 pm

I haven’t noticed anyone write that only Arod is needed to right the ship regardless of the pitching quality.
OnceIWasAYankeeFan on May 19th, 2008 2:02 pm

No doubt its the bats that have carried the Red Sox to date. The bullpen hasn’t been nearly as good; Beckett has yet to hit his stride and while Lester has shown overall improvement, Buchholz has been pretty up & down.

One interesting thing about the Red Sox offense is the mix of power and speed. They are third in SB, third in HR and first in SLG. And the ML leading BA can’t be ignored either.

We’ll see this week whether or not Theo was a genius for signing Colon or not. Personally, I’m optimistic.

And lest anyone wonder the reason for my screen name - when I was eight or nine, I thought Sparky Lyle and his tobacco chaw was the coolest thing going. I’d watch him close games on WPIX on the B&W tv in my parent’s room, then go outside, stuff two or three squares of Kraft caramel in my mouth, and strike out the side against the garage door.

Then I fell in with Rice, Yaz and Fisk in ‘75 and never looked back. There’s been some pain and distress along the way but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
TurnTwo on May 19th, 2008 2:37 pm

for me, while not perfect, the pitching hasnt been the problem for the yankees this season. it’s the lack of offense, including the injuries to ARod and Posada, but also due to the slow start of Cano, on again/off again inconsistency of Johnny Damon, and Giambi’s inability to use the whole field anymore.
Steve Lombardi on May 19th, 2008 2:51 pm

~~~I haven’t noticed anyone write that only Arod is needed to right the ship regardless of the pitching quality~~~

Have there not been many claims that the Yankees issue this season has been injuries? Outside of A-Rod and Posada, have there been any major ones? Therefore, is it not safe to assume that those who claim A-Rod’s injury is the reason for the Yankees recent slide will assume that his return will right the ship?
MJ on May 19th, 2008 4:35 pm

And lest anyone wonder the reason for my screen name…when I was eight or nine, I thought Sparky Lyle…was the coolest thing going…Then I fell in with Rice, Yaz and Fisk in ‘75 and never looked back.
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How does something like that happen? Did you move from NY area to New England? Were your folks or relatives Red Sox fans? Were you exposed to paint thinner and plastic bags?
Basura on May 19th, 2008 4:41 pm

Have there not been many claims that the Yankees issue this season has been injuries? Outside of A-Rod and Posada, have there been any major ones? Therefore, is it not safe to assume that those who claim A-Rod’s injury is the reason for the Yankees recent slide will assume that his return will right the ship?

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You know what happens when one ASSumes, don’t you?
baileywalk on May 19th, 2008 4:47 pm

I don’t think A-Rod’s return is going to change things much. Except that his early struggles will probably engender a lot of booing and blaming him for the team’s bad play.

His return has to spark this team A BIT, though — I mean, if bringing back the MVP and sitting worthless players like Gonzo and Ensberg doesn’t get you going, what will?

As it’s been pointed out a million times before (this is NOT an original thought here) Molina, Gonzalez and Ensberg has done absolutely nothing subbing for Posada and A-Rod, and it has hurt.

Speaking of worthless… hey, I love him, you love him, he killed it in AAA, and he’s not playing regularly, but at what point does Duncan have to earn his roster spot? He has simply not hit in the big leagues all year. He’s also failed as a pinch-hitter. At what point do they label the way-too-old-to-be-a-prospect Shelley a AAAA player with one fluke partial season in the big leagues?

I suppose there’s really no one worth bringing up right now. All the exciting players in the upper levels for the Yanks, who could play at the big-league level right now, are pitchers. Speaking of which… Robertson will soon be known by everyone in Yankeeland, and Cox and Melancon are both pitching well. But keep your eyes open for Robertson.
OnceIWasAYankeeFan on May 19th, 2008 5:08 pm

And lest anyone wonder the reason for my screen name…when I was eight or nine, I thought Sparky Lyle…was the coolest thing going…Then I fell in with Rice, Yaz and Fisk in ‘75 and never looked back.
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How does something like that happen? Did you move from NY area to New England? Were your folks or relatives Red Sox fans? Were you exposed to paint thinner and plastic bags?

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We were living on Long Island at the time I made the switch, but understand that I come from a family of Cub fans, all the kids save one were born in Chicago. Then in ‘76 it was easy to root for the Reds because Mom was raised in Ohio, so that reinforced my “switch”. At the same time my older brother was becoming a Yankee fan, soon to be joined by my younger brother. So it was easy to commit to their “enemy”.
MJ on May 19th, 2008 5:42 pm

OnceIWasAYankeeFan, you grew up in New York as a Yankee fan but were the child of Cubs/Reds fans and turned your coat red to antagonize your brothers. Did I get that right?!

Holy moly that’s nuts. That’s five different teams. Did you do the same with your NFL/NBA/NHL/NCAA affiliations too?!
MJ on May 19th, 2008 5:43 pm

That’s five different teams
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Sorry, “just” four.
OnceIWasAYankeeFan on May 19th, 2008 7:18 pm

I was never an actual Reds fan, I just joined my Mother in rooting for them in ‘76 (at that point I figured the Red Sox were sure to win a WS soon so I felt no need to be vindictive to the Big Red Machine). We were Cub fans when I was a child, when we moved to Long Island when I was five, we’d go to Shea regularly to see them. Given a choice between the Cubs and any other team in the WS, we would all choose the Cubbies.

I will however cop to a certain fan promiscuity when I was a child - my “second” National League team was the Dodgers. That interest faded with the demise of the Garvey-Lopes-Russell-Cey-Yeager infield.

But trust me, I’ve been die hard with the Sox since ‘78. Jim Rice was THE man for me, I’m still pissed off that he isn’t going into the HoF with Goose, which would have been a very nice combo, the ultra-intimidating slugger being enshrined with the ultra-intimidating closer.
Steve Lombardi on May 19th, 2008 7:21 pm

~~~You know what happens when one ASSumes, don’t you?~~~

Hey, in the Times the other day, did not Cashman said the Yankees’ slow start has been more the result of a lack of offense than poor pitching?

Is he assuming that things will be better when A-Rod is back?
Basura on May 19th, 2008 8:46 pm

Give it up. I haven’t met anyone who doesn’t think things will most likely be better when A-Rod is back.

The trouble is that’s not you wrote. You wrote of the many people you claim who think ALL of the problem(s) will be solved with his return.
Steve Lombardi on May 19th, 2008 10:50 pm

Try reading the papers instead of trying to meet people Basura - and you’ll see what I suggested.
Basura on May 20th, 2008 5:42 am

Try reading the papers instead of trying to meet people Basura - and you’ll see what I suggested.

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wtf? Great comeback Steve though like many of your replies when you’re challenged you don’t address the challenge and bring things from “out of left field.”

I realize I’m wasting my time trying to have a discussion with you.
Steve Lombardi on May 20th, 2008 8:59 am

Funny, I feel the same way, sometimes, about replying to your comments.
Basura on May 20th, 2008 9:10 am

Funny, I feel the same way, sometimes, about replying to your comments.

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Good to know. TaTa.
Steve Lombardi on May 20th, 2008 9:23 am

Basura - this one is for you. From today’s Newsday:

http://tinyurl.com/5hlj4m

“Alex Rodriguez to the rescue!

That is what Yankees fans hope happens once A-Rod is activated from the disabled list today after missing three weeks with a strained right quadriceps. Rodriguez will bring his three-time American League Most Valuable Player resume with him and all will be right with the Yankees’ offense. He’ll put up numbers (at least on a per-game basis) similar to 2007, and the rest of the team suddenly will fall into line.”