The Yankees are now 19-9 since Alex Rodriguez has come off the disabled list (on May 20th).
In fact, here is the Yankees record, along with some pitching and hitting stats, broken into three slices: Before A-Rod went on the D.L., while A-Rod was on the D.L., and since A-Rod has returned from the D.L. -
Games W L RA/G RS/G 1-27 14 13 4.48 4.41 28-44 6 11 4.47 3.53 45-72 19 9 4.39 5.86
These numbers are interesting. On the whole, the Yankees pitching has been consistently around 4.4 runs allowed per game – before, during, and after Alex’s trip to the disabled list.
The difference in what’s happening now with New York is their offense. Before A-Rod went down, they were pretty much just matching what their pitchers were allowing – and that’s why they were a .500 club back then. Once Rodriguez was out, the offense tanked – badly – and that’s why they went 6-11 in those 17 games. And, since Alex’s return, the offense has been awesome…which is why the Yankees have won 19 of their last 28 games.
But, how much of this improvement in offense is due to Alex Rodriguez? Check out these stats:
Yankees batters while A-Rod was on the D.L. -
Batter AB BA OBA SLG Jeter 70 .357 .408 .514 Giambi 44 .227 .400 .500 Betemit 13 .385 .385 .769 Abreu 64 .281 .370 .453 Duncan 25 .240 .345 .320 Matsui 66 .288 .329 .409 Cano 59 .288 .323 .475 Ensberg 31 .161 .278 .161 Damon 65 .215 .261 .369 Cabrera 62 .210 .258 .306 Gonzalz 19 .158 .200 .158 Molina 33 .152 .194 .212 Moeller 17 .118 .167 .118 Stewart 3 .000 .000 .000
Yankees batters since A-Rod has returned from the D.L. -
Batter AB BA OBA SLG Posada 29 .379 .538 .621 Damon 112 .446 .488 .571 Rodrigz 102 .382 .476 .765 Giambi 84 .357 .455 .738 Matsui 92 .348 .434 .446 Moeller 24 .292 .393 .417 Abreu 109 .284 .345 .468 Cabrera 99 .253 .306 .323 Cano 108 .269 .304 .361 Jeter 109 .211 .298 .303 Molina 47 .234 .265 .298 Betemit 37 .243 .256 .486 Duncan 21 .143 .208 .333 Gonzalz 9 .000 .000 .000 Ensberg 4 .000 .000 .000
As you can see, yes, Alex Rodriguez has been a monster with the bat since he’s come off the disabled list.
However, note the before/after difference in these last two charts for Jorge Posada, Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui.
Posada was out when A-Rod was out. And, he’s batted .379/.538/.621 since A-Rod’s return.
Damon batted .215/.261/.369 while A-Rod was out. And, he’s batted .446/.488/.571 since A-Rod’s return.
Matsui batted .288/.329/.409 while A-Rod was out. And, he’s batted .348/.434/.446 since A-Rod’s return.
Also, Jason Giambi – who was fine when Alex was out – has taken his offensive game to a higher level in the last 28 games.
Bottom line, the Yankees are 19-9 in their last 28 games because their offense has picked-up. And, while having Alex Rodriguez back has helped New York’s offense, it’s not all just about him. The bats of Posada, Damon, Matsui, Giambi and Rodriguez have been blazing since May 20th. And, that’s what’s saved the Yankees – the team effort. It’s not just about Alex Rodriguez coming off the disabled list.
9 Responses to “Has A-Rod’s Return Saved The Yankees?”
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June 19th, 2008 at 10:01 am
I think its the success of Damon and Giambi, two guys who finished last season with big question marks hovering above them, that’s been most important.
It’s certainly possible right now that the Yankees can slug their way to the post-season again. But there’s another troublesome stat – the ratio of starter innings to relief innings is second worst in the league, trailing only the Rangers.
Can they survive that in the long term? Can Pettitte and Joba appreciably change that stat with Wang out? Or will overuse of the bullpen result in more soul-crushing implosions in August-September?
Its going to be an interesting summer.
June 19th, 2008 at 10:10 am
A month ago, you were sure it was the pitching that needed to get better in order for the Yankees to have a competitive team. I argued that the Yankees were 1 run/game away from being a competitive team: either they needed to improve their pitching to a 3.5 runs/game effort, improve their hitting to a 5.5 runs/game effort, or improve both about 0.5 runs per game.
Sure enough, the Yankees offense has improved by one run/game, and the Yankees have gone 19-9 since A-Rod’s return. This Yankees team CAN win even with a 4.5 runs/game pitching staff.
June 19th, 2008 at 10:40 am
~~~This Yankees team CAN win even with a 4.5 runs/game pitching staff.~~~
Only if Damon, Posada, Matsui, Giambi, and A-Rod keep hitting like mad. Is that possible?
June 19th, 2008 at 10:48 am
They don’t all have to hit like mad, they have to hit like they were projected to from the beginning of the season. 4.5 runs per game goes to 729 runs/season, which is awful. 5.5 runs per game is a much more respectable 891 runs/season. If you keep the Yankees runs allowed at 4.4 runs/game (from your post) and scores 5.5, that works out to a run differential of 891-713 on the season, a .600 winning percentage, and a 97-65 overall record.
I think the Yankees would take that kind of performance. The Yankees scored 968 runs last year (5.98 runs/game). With the same exact team, just one year later, I think they can be expected to get to 5.5 runs/game.
June 19th, 2008 at 10:49 am
That’s the thing about depth – not all the Yankees have to be on a hot streak all at once. As good as Matsui was in April and May (.337/.417/.495) he’s been as bad in June (.260/.351/.340). But we don’t notice it, because Giambi and A-Rod have 1.300 OPS’s in June (not to disrespect Damon, who has a 1.043 OPS in June, and a .454 average since May 21, which is ridiculous).
And I don’t think Cano is going to be batting to a .600 OPS over the rest of the season, and while Jeter looks like he’s having the worst season of his career, I wouldn’t bet against him hitting around .300, the fabled “back of the baseball card” over the rest of the season.
June 19th, 2008 at 11:30 am
~~I think they can be expected to get to 5.5 runs/game.~~
If Jeter, Cano, and Melky continue to slump – and if Abreu continues to be just OK, then the Yankees are going to need Posada, Damon, Giambi, Matsui and A-Rod to be red hot, to get that 5.5, no?
June 19th, 2008 at 11:30 am
~~And I don’t think Cano is going to be batting to a .600 OPS over the rest of the season~~
Why not?
June 19th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
^ because he’s too good a hitter, that’s why. he has a career .800 OPS. and hitters tend to improve through their mid 20s, not decline.
but you’re just playing devil’s advocate, aren’t you?
June 19th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
I’ll make the less quantitative argument that A-Rod’s contribution to the Yankee offense transcends what he alone does at the plate. Beyond getting on base and protecting hitters around him in the lineup, I really do think that the team has gained a certain swagger now that their reigning MVP is back. For example, I’m pretty sure Giambi feels like more a badass when he’s hitting behind A-Rod. I mean, he literally has the best view in the world of A-Rod’s immaculate swing from the on-deck circle. That’s got to pump a guy like him up.