Hank: Yes To Bats, No To Stats
Via Kevin Kernan –
The Yankees are dead last in the AL East and the Subway Series was a disaster, but Hank Steinbrenner said yesterday it would be a mistake to count out Joe Girardi’s club, especially with Alex Rodriguez due to come back to the lineup tonight against the Orioles.
“A huge mistake, abso-freakin’-lutely,” Steinbrenner colorfully told The Post.
“I think we’re just about ready to go on a tear. We’re too good a team. And getting A-Rod back is big. The hitters are going to start hitting soon.
“This is a mirage,” he said of the hitting woes. “This team hasn’t forgotten how to hit. They’re going to start hitting at some point.”
Boss Jr. also said the Yankees want to get back to more hands-on scouting, like they do in the amateur market, and get away from relying too much on computers.
“Statistics are important to a degree,” he said, “but we have to get away from relying too much on that computer stuff, that’s gotten out of hand. We’ve got to get back to doing a little bit more of the old-fashioned scouting like the Yankees and Dodgers did.”
Well, even if Hank doesn’t want to see the stats, I’ll share the current ones here – via the CBE:
Player PA RCAA OWP RC/G SEC Bobby Abreu 180 0 .499 4.7 .268 Johnny Damon 179 3 .554 5.3 .353 Robinson Cano 168 -12 .209 2.3 .172 Derek Jeter 167 2 .549 5.2 .167 Hideki Matsui 167 7 .650 6.6 .277 Melky Cabrera 162 -1 .478 4.5 .276 Jason Giambi 143 4 .588 5.7 .500 Alex Rodriguez 99 3 .614 6.0 .286 Jose Molina 87 -7 .158 1.9 .134 Morgan Ensberg 76 -5 .229 2.4 .129 Jorge Posada 66 0 .482 4.5 .222 Alberto Gonzalez 44 -3 .235 2.5 .158 Shelley Duncan 41 -2 .280 2.8 .194 Chad Moeller 41 0 .513 4.8 .243 Wilson Betemit 27 1 .589 5.7 .192 Chris Stewart 3 -1 .000 0.0 .000
Well, if anything, there’s a lot of room for improvement in there – for sure.
That is the most troubling thing that I have read from Hank to date.
I dunno. It’s not like he’s saying no to stats…just that he’s saying you can’t go 100% by the stats alone.
I can dig that.
The stats, alone, would have said that playing Scott Brosius was a mistake…and, the stats alone said that Tino Martinez was over-hyped…yet, those guys had something to offer that only a scout could see…
I think the Yankees need to put a greater emphasis on statistical analysis. That doesn’t mean to ignore scouting, but I would use it to supplement sabermetric principles, not to supercede them.
They traded Rogers for Brosius, right? I see that as a deal of opportunity. As for Tino, that trade points to being able to sagaciously analyze/scout one’s own system. With the surplus of young talent the Yankees are accumulating, they need to be very good at that aspect.
That is why saint Brian missed out on a Ryan Church. What is needed is the sharp eyed-era of Gene Michael and Bob Watson. Or must every veteran be making a minimum of $10 million? The Betemit obsession notwithstanding.
That is the Papa Steinbrenner way of ‘building’ a team, names, names, names. Only great effort, and Prince Hal, made certain that Johan Santana would not be a Yankee for $150+ million. They lost the A-Freud battle though, with that albatross of a contract.
When Papa was sat down, the result was great success, on the field. Since Papa, and now Sonny, are running the ship, well it will be a minimum of nine years between a WS victory. ‘Nuff said.
That is why saint Brian missed out on a Ryan Church.
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No space… The OF is at least 5 deep, not counting the guys on the farm. Given the durability & potency, (as well as limited flexibility) of the Yankees’ lineup, it’s not surprising that “saint Bryan” missed on Ryan Church. Wasn’t a reason to show interest in him.
OTOH, the pitching staff (a noted trouble spot) has seen a few effective low-buck pickups over the years; Bruney, Rasner, Small, Britton, etc, etc.
~~Bruney, Rasner, Small, Britton, etc, etc.~~
Outside of Small’s magic, and lucky, season, what large body of work have these guys done for NY?
That is why saint Brian missed out on a Ryan Church.
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Well, besides what Raf said about the overcrowded outfield, which is true, who were we going to offer the Nats that was more attractive than a 23-year-old centerfielder? Would you have traded Melky for him? Or Austin Jackson?
When that Milledge trade was made, most people thought the Mets were selling low, even though they were getting back two useful players. It’s not like Church was handed away. And I don’t think any GM can be held responsible for every other team’s successful moves.
Outside of Small’s magic, and lucky, season, what large body of work have these guys done for NY?
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Goalposts are being moved…
The point was that “That is why saint Brian missed out on a Ryan Church.” My point was that
1. There was no reason to go after a Ryan Church, be it the player or his type (productive, low-salaried players)
2. That those kind of players (productive low-salaried) players, have been acquired by the Yanks.
Anyway, since you asked;
Bruney: 519 ERA+ in 2006, performing well before injury this year.
Rasner: Made team out of ST 2007, injured same, above average all 3 seasons with the Yanks
Small: “magic, and lucky, season” 2005
Britton: Has done the job when given a chance, and there’s the benefit of not having Jaret Wright around; Britton has pitched more that Wright since the trade had been made.
More excuses for saint Brian than Yankees losses.
Wah! Too many OF’ers. Don’t pick up Abreu’s option, get rid of Damon, by any means. Takes care of the ‘overcrowding’.
Keep drinkin’ the Ca$hman Kool-Aid boyos.
*sigh*
It has already been pointed out that there are 5 OF’s on the team, with several more in the system.
I’ll gladly trade my kool-aid for some of whatever it is you’re smoking.