Comments on: Should Yanks Bat Jeter 1st & Damon 2nd?

By: Justin

Justin — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 11:33:49 +0000

Steve, I think you’re right about line-ups not really mattering that much. That said, if this switch means that Derek Jeter hits into even one fewer double play, it will be worth it. Cause I’m really freaking sick of seeing him hit into double plays.

By: Evan3457

Evan3457 — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 05:20:17 +0000

I just got off the phone with Joe OldLineSportsGuy and he told me this:

“Dis move is stupid. Jeter’s a #2 hitter, and Damon’s a born leadoff guy. Dat’s da roles dese guys have had forever and ever.

Youse risk messin up deir heads, and for what? So some statistikal slob says de Yanks gain 3 runs. So big deal.

Youse wanna stop them Jeter DP balls? Have Joe Girardi hit and run and more, and let Derek hit ‘em where dey ain’t. Have him bunt more, and move the guys over. Besides which, none of dem DP balls ever came in a key spot. Jeter’s too clutch for dat.

So what if Damon has more power den Jeter at dis pernt? De Yanks ain’t payin’ eider one of dem guys to hit homers anyways.

This is what stat goofs like Girardi can never figger. When a guy’s got a job an’ he’s good at it, leave him alone.

If it ain’t broken, den don’t fix it for no reason. Dat’s what I dink, anyways.

See youse at the park. Well, if I still had a job, I’d see youse dere.

By: Pat F

Pat F — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 04:08:37 +0000

“Anyone who wants to make a case that this potential line-up switch is a good or bad thing for the Yankees is trying to make themselves look smart.”

You read minds, and know why people think what they do? What if some people just have a different opinion, and think it does matter?

Especially because you didn’t consider all of the data. You just looked at the data (PA and OBP) that fit your argument. You didn’t look at things like GB%, XBH upward/downward trends, or the fact that Jeter has grounded into 45 DBP’s the last two years to Damon’s 9, a difference of 18 double plays per season. Just based off of that alone, being that these players are going to bat next to each other no matter what, it is going to mean eliminating baserunners less often, because Jeter undoubtedly eliminated Damon more the last two years than Damon would have eliminated him. That could be the difference in at least one game over the course of the year. And in an ever more competitive division, we need to get every win we can.

I’m not saying it is definitely going to matter, either. But to dismiss it as if there is no possible argument against it and claim that anyone who disagrees “is trying to make themselves look smart” is really silly. Especially when you didn’t take a comprehensive look at the issue as is possible, and others with reputable sites have postulated that it might matter.

By: yagottagotomo1

yagottagotomo1 — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 03:16:57 +0000

Except that at this point, Damon is likely to hit for a bit more power, and Jeter hits a lot more groundballs. I am not sure why you brush that aside so easily. Dave Pinto said that statistically, it gains three runs a season, and that is before considering the ground ball issue. It is probably worth half a win, which is plenty in this tight a division.