April 9th @ The Orioles
Nick Swisher had 5 RBI for the Yankees today. How many times, since 1954, has a Yankees batter had 5+ RBI in one game within the first three games of a season? Here’s the list, via Baseball-Reference.com, of those who did it before Swisher today:
Cnt Player Date Tm Opp GmReslt PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB IBB SO
+----+--------------+-------------+---+----+-------+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+--+---+--
1 Alex Rodriguez 2006-04-03 NYY @OAK W 15-2 6 5 2 3 0 0 1 5 1 0 0
2 Jorge Posada 2004-03-31 NYY @TBD W 12-1 5 5 2 2 0 0 2 6 0 0 0
3 Tino Martinez 1997-04-02 NYY @SEA W 16-2 7 6 5 4 0 0 3 7 1 0 1
4 Roberto Kelly 1991-04-11 NYY @DET L 5-11 5 4 1 2 1 0 1 5 0 0 1
5 Frank Fernandez 1969-04-10 NYY @WSA L 6-9 4 3 2 2 0 0 2 5 1 0 1
6 Bill Skowron 1959-04-14 NYY @BAL W 13-3 6 5 2 3 1 0 1 5 1 0 1
7 Yogi Berra 1956-04-17 NYY @WSH W 10-4 5 4 1 4 1 0 1 5 1 0 0
Interesting – each of these games happened on the road – including Swisher’s effort today.
I’m still not sold on Swisher. But, if he continues to play the way he played today, obviously, he’ll prove me wrong. And, I’ll gladly take those lumps if it means the Yankees will have someone in their line-up who is helping them win games. Me being correct takes a huge back-seat to the Yankees doing well.
For me, my mood is always better when the Yankees win. And, that more than trumps having to eat some crow in the process.
Swisher won me over before he played a game. I have a feeling this will be one of Cash’s best moves.
On the opposite side, Nady looks terrible. But whatever – as long as he hits league average the Yankees can get their draft picks.
I love Swish, but you’re right in saying today shouldn’t sell you on him Steve. He won’t be throwing up home runs and 5 rbi’s every night so as long as we agree today’s effort won’t sell you on him, we should also agree if he does anything less than a home run and 5 rbi’s next time it doesn’t mean he’s an invalid bench player.
I just think today is an example that, over time, more and more people will be saying, “Why isn’t this guy getting more at bats? What is he doing sitting on the bench when the guy starting over him is very league average?”
[...] April 9th @ The Orioles [...]
Interesting list. 3 of the 7 players are catchers. And I must admit, even I hadn’t thought of Frank Fernandez in years; but he was sort of a Gene Tenace before there was a Gene Tenace. His numbers as a Yankee:
AB BA HR RBI BB SO
392 .204 20 63 102 125
Speaking of catchers, Steve, did you see that hard hit ball off the bat of Jose Molina with the infield in in the 6th inning today? What were we saying?
Actually, two people very close to me know Frank Fernandez and his wife. And, many years ago, I was introduced to his wife, following a church service. From what I’ve been told, he works in the NYC financial sector and doesn’t really talk much about his former playing days.
FWIW, I missed the Molina play you’re referencing – it was a day game and I was at work. What happened?