Here are some stats for Yankees batters since the All-Star break through last night’s game:

BATTER		G   PA	 R  2B  3B HR  RBI SB  BB  SO   BA   OBP  SLG  GDP BABIP
Derek Jeter	45  212	 39  7   1  7  24   6  16  28  .352 .403  .508  4  .384
Mark Teixeira	44  201	 26  12  0 11  38   1  24  34  .293 .383  .552  3  .308
Robinson Cano	45  187	 29  16  1  9  28   0   7  20  .344 .369  .594  5  .351
Alex Rodriguez	41  184	 28   5  1  6  25   6  22  42  .296 .391  .453  6  .369
Johnny Damon	40  177	 33  12  0  8  25   2  18  20  .327 .395  .553  3  .336
Melky Cabrera	44  170	 21  10  1  3  16   4  12  14  .258 .314  .394  5  .266
Nick Swisher	40  169	 24  10  0  9  25   0  27  39  .275 .393  .543  2  .315
Hideki Matsui	39  156	 20   6  0  9  33   0  14  20  .262 .333  .496  2  .250
Jorge Posada	35  142	 18  12  0  8  26   0  13  36  .273 .338  .555  6  .318
Jose Molina	18   58	  7   1  0  0   4   0   6  10  .196 .276  .216  3  .238
Jerry Hairston	26   54	 10   3  0  2  10   0   7   6  .273 .377  .477  0  .270
Eric Hinske	19   51	  7   3  0  4   8   0   6  15  .227 .314  .568  0  .231

Jerry Hairston out slugging A-Rod? Maybe General Joe should bench Alex for Jerry? Yes, I’m just kidding – although it’s somewhat interesting that A-Rod has 12 XBH since the ASB in 184 PA and Godzilla has 15 XBH since the ASB in 156 PA. What happened to Rodriguez’ pop? It’s not for the lack of big swings – see Alex’s SO total of 42 (which is tops for the Yanks in the second half…followed by Swisher and Posada).

Check out those post-ASB BA marks for Jeter (.352), Cano (.344) and Damon (.327). Those guys have been rifling hits since the break.

What numbers here, good and bad, stand out the most to you – and why?

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Picking up on the conversation stemming from yesterday’s post on Claudell Washington, I thought I would share some of my personal all-time favorite non-star Yankees. (And, by “non-star” I mean they were not stars by the time they got to New York – in case they were stars once somewhere else.) Here goes – using the classic rotisserie roster format:

C: Mike Stanley, Ron Hassey
1B: Steve Balboni
2B: Andy Stankiewicz
SS: Wayne Tolleson
3B: Aurelio Rodriguez
CM: Eric Soderholm
MI: Bert Campaneris
OF: Jerry Mumphrey, Claudell Washington, Bobby Brown, Dion James, Joe Lefebvre
UT: Henry Cotto

Pitchers: Tom Underwood, Bob Shirley, Rudy May, Jon Lieber, Ray Fontenot, John Candelaria, Doug Bird, Rich Bordi and Dick Tidrow

This is a quick stab at it – there’s probably at least 9 more guys I would like to squeeze on to the team. How about you? If you had to pick a 23-man roster, how would you fill it?

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This was the first time this season that the Yankees scored more than 4 runs in the 9th inning. Nice timing too – turning a close 3-2 game into a blow-out on an evening where Mo Rivera was out with a sore groin. (Prior to this game, there were 4 times this season where the Yankees scored 4 runs in the 9th inning.)

Sabathia was ace-like in this one. Combined with the Red Sox loss in Tampa, this puts New York 7.5 games over Boston with 29 games to go. This means…if the Yankees go 15-14 in their remaining games then the Red Sox would have to go 24-6 in their remaining games to pass New York in the standings. Then again, Mets fans probably remember 2007 pretty well…

So, it would be great to see the Yankees win something like 8 of their next 11 and put this thing on ice before their make-up game with the Angels on September 14th.

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An interesting view of the Boston Red Sox from Tom Scocca in an Op-Ed piece in the Boston Globe today:

If anything, I’m more concerned for the Toronto Blue Jays. The Jays outscored their opponents last year, and they’ve outscored their opponents this year too, and they’ve been buried in fourth place. At the trading deadline, the Sox tried to pick up Toronto’s best player, pitcher Roy Halladay. When Toronto set the trade price too high – high enough to maybe get the franchise back into contention someday – the Sox settled for taking the Cleveland Indians’ all-star catcher, Victor Martinez, instead.

Plucking the best players from the rest of the league has long been the Yankees’ approach. After slipping to third place last year, they outbid the world for C.C. Sabathia and Mark Teixeira – a number-one ace and a number-three hitter – and are on pace to win more than 100 games for the fourth time in this decade.

The Red Sox, with their state-of-the-art brain trust and perpetual-sellout revenues, are hoarding talent, too. But they haven’t won 100 games since 1946. And they’ve finished first only once since Clemens left. But they’ve finished second in nine of the last 11 seasons, and are on their way to making it 10 of 12.

Since baseball added the wild card, the Sox have been playing in their own world, where the only goal is to make the playoffs. Pennant races are for the little people, in their second-class divisions. The 18- or 19-game war of hype and attrition against the Yankees is just for show. The Sox will gladly be the footstool to the Yankees’ regular-season throne, as long as they both get to October. They’re in this together.

The Red Sox haven’t won 100 games in a season since 1946? I had to check that one myself – because it seemed too crazy to be true – but, it’s correct. Furrther, the time before 1946 when Boston won 100+ games was 1915.

Imagine that – just two 100-win seasons since 1915. What does that average out to…once every 47 years? I’ve been a Yankees fan since 1973 and I’ve never known this about Boston until today. Wish I knew this stat before…it would have come in handy at times, for sure.

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The Yankees are pretty much a lock to win 100 games (or more) this season – barring a tank job by New York this month.

If they hit the century mark in victories, it will be the 19th time in franchise history that they’ve reached this milestone. In the 18 previous times, they’ve gone on to win the World Series 11 times – when they got rings in 1927, 1928, 1932, 1936, 1937, 1939, 1941, 1961, 1977, 1978 and 1998.

In 1942, 1954, 1963, 1980, 2002, 2003, and 2004 the Yankees won 100+ games but did not win the World Series that year. (For the record, in 1954, they finished 2nd in the standings and did not play in October.)

If the Yankees win 100 games this season and do not win the World Series, that would make it four times in the last 8 years that New York has won 100+ games and did not win the World Series.

As a Yankees fan, would that bother you? As a baseball fan, in general, what would be your view of a team that wins 100+ games four times in a 8-year span without winning any World Series rings? Would you say they were unlucky or underachieving? Or, something else?

Me? I’ve always viewed the post-2001 Yankees as the team that Cashman built – because guys like O’Neill, Tino, et al, were gone after 2001. So, if the 2009 Yankees win 100+ games and get bounced from the post-season, I would look at this Yankees team the same as the 2002-2007 Yankees – meaning built in a way to win in the regular season but not in the post-season. And, I wouldn’t say they were unlucky or underachieving – just flawed in the sense that they were built to take advantage of their schedule (by beating up on bad teams) and not built to beat the better teams in the league (when they went head-to-head).

Hopefully the Yankees will win the World Series this year and this question is moot. But, just for kicks and giggles, let’s discuss it now. What do you think?

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…even with all their ‘problems,’ the Boston Red Sox have won 7 of their last 8 games. The Sox have also won 8 of their last 10, and 15 of their last 21 games.

There’s little chance that Boston can catch New York in the A.L. East now – even with them being hot. But, clearly, the Red Sox are still a team capable of winning some games in a row.

Something to think about if the Yankees make it to the ALCS this year and have to face the Red Sox, no?

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Swishalicious don’t play dat?

Below are Nick Swisher’s Home/Road splits, this season, to date:

Split	G  PA	AB   R	 H  2B	3B  HR	RBI  BB	SO  BA	 OBP	SLG
Home	60 230	175  23	35  10	0    3	20   47	49 .200	.373	.309
Away	64 268	233  42	66  17	1   20	52   31	59 .283	.363	.622

Any theories on why Swisher can’t get any hits and/or homers at Yankee Stadium – which is a hitter’s park, to say the least – this season?

Is it just a luck/sample size thing? Is he pressing at home? Partying too much at home?

Seems odd that Nick is still getting his walks, in the Bronx, but not hits and/or homeruns. Perhaps that’s a clue that it’s just a luck thing? Plus, because of the walks, Swisher only has 175 At Bats in the new Yankee Stadium. And, if he were to go, say, 25 for his next 60 in the Bronx (.417) then that would add 55 points to his home batting average.

Yet, the power numbers are puzzling. What do you think is going on there?

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You can look at this game and do a happy dance, like Nick Swisher and Eric Hinske did in the dugout during this contest after their homeruns, over the fact that the Yankees won this game. Or, you can look at this game and now say that A.J. Burnett has allowed 31 earned runs in his last 42.6 innings – over seven starts.

I’m going the latter route – because that’s the bigger story here. The Yankees will need Burnett to be sharp, in the post-season, if they’re going to advance in October. So, A.J. has about five or six more starts to get himself corrected. That’s enough time – but, the sooner he starts, the better.

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…well, you know what…

If you haven’t seen Mike Ashmore’s interview with Yankees Vice President of Scouting Damon Oppenheimer check it out. Here’s Part One and Part Two of the interview.

My favorite parts:

What are your impressions of Eduardo Nunez?

Oppenheimer: “There’s no question that the kid has a lot of natural tools. He can really throw, that’s as good of an arm as you’re going to see in some parks in all the minor leagues and some of the big leagues. He’s got ability to square up a ball and hit. That’s why he’s here, he’s got to get more consistent and I think he’ll do that. There’s life to him and with his athleticism, he’ll be a pretty good player.”

Is there any concern in regards to the amount of errors he’s made? And what’s leading to those errors from what you’ve seen?

Oppenheimer: “I can’t really answer it, because I’ve only been here a couple of days. So I can’t tell you why. But he needs to work on that. We’re addressing it, and we’re going to help him get better at it.”

Is there a player in the organization who kind of stands out to you as being under the radar and maybe someone the fans should be keeping an eye on?

Oppenheimer: “Well, I think you guys had one in Kevin Russo here. He’s made a lot of progress and he’s done a good job. I don’t know if that’s under the radar anymore, he’s hitting .330-something in Triple-A. But he wasn’t a big name guy. Kevin’s a guy that people should really keep their eye on. He can play and he’s performed.”

Eduardo Nunez and Kevin Russo…future Yankees, trading chips, or the second coming of Domingo Ramos and George Zeber? What’s your opinion?

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I had a chance to view the Prison Break: The Final Break DVD this evening. Going into it, I was afraid that it was going to be a bit slapdash. However, having now seen it, I can say that’s not the case. As it began, I got the feeling that it was more in the mode of seasons three and four of the series rather than seasons one and two. But, then, there were moments in the storyline that were filled with tension – somewhat near what the viewer got in seasons one and two. There were not as many shocking twists and turns in this one as expected from a Prison Break episode. Yet, I’m very happy to have watched it. In fact, if you are a fan of the series, you owe it to yourself to view this one. There’s something in there that you didn’t get in the series finale that’s now a huge part of the overall Prison Break story.

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A blast from the past via the New York Times on April 30, 1990:

When the season turns to September, Claudell Washington will turn 36 years old. But the newest Yankee, who is actually an old face returning to the Bronx, is still regarded as a capable hitter and outfielder.

Washington, acquired yesterday from the California Angels for Luis Polonia, is currently in his 17th season, with his seventh team. He began his career with the Oakland Athletics in 1974 but has also played for the Texas Rangers, the Chicago White Sox, the Mets, the Atlanta Braves, the Yankees and the Angels.

The Yankees, looking for a left-handed batter with punch, needed him now for his defense and his potential power. They have lost six of nine games in decisions against right-handed pitchers.

”Physically, the things he does will help us,” said Don Mattingly, the Yankee first baseman. ”He’s an excellent outfielder; he runs well; he has pop in his bat, and he’s a positive influence in the clubhouse. He’s a good guy to have around.”

Washington also owns a piece of Yankee history. On April 20, 1988, he hit the 10,000th home run in franchise history, a shot off the Minnesota Twins in the Metrodome.

”This is a different kind of homecoming,” he said yesterday after the trade was announced. ”A lot of the guys I played with are gone, so maybe this is not as big.”

Only a few former teammates remain: Mattingly, Dave Winfield, Dave Righetti, Lee Guetterman and Wayne Tolleson.

Washington is a .279 career hitter with 164 home runs, but he has been mired in a seasonlong slump with California. He went hitless in his first 12 times at bat but is 6 for 22 since. After yesterday’s game, he was batting .176.

The Yankees first picked up Washington in a trade with the Braves in June 1986, sending Ken Griffey to Atlanta. Washington batted .237 in 54 games with the Yankees that season, then hit .279 with 9 home runs in 1987 and .308 with 11 homers in 1988. Last year’s figures with the Angels were .273 with 13 home runs.

I’m sure to many fans of the team, Claudell Washington was a nondescript Yankee. But, personally, he was one of my favorite journeymen to have a stop in the Bronx. Who were some of your favorite ships to pass through Yankeeland in the night?

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This one is…oh…so…nineteen eighty eight to me…

…how about you?

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Courtesy of an article on the Baseball America website, the Yanks will be sending a handful of their prospects to play for the Surprise Rafters of the Arizona Fall League.

The Yanks playing in Arizona this fall are:

Ian Kennedy, RHP (AAA, SWB)
Austin Romine, C (Hi-A, TAM)
Brandon Laird, 3B (Hi-A, TAM)
Colin Curtis, LF (AAA, SWB)

The league also has spots for three more Yankee pitchers although those players haven’t been named yet.

Joining the Yanks in Surprise, AZ is none other than the Mets’ 2008 first round draft pick Ike Davis.  After a wretched start to his pro career last year, Davis has had a very promising season and is now probably on the Mets radar for late 2010…

Also, congrats to the aforementioned Romine.  He was selected as the Florida State League’s “Player of the Year” for the 2009 season.

-Posted by MJ

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This is an interesting stat. So far, this season, a Yankees starting pitcher has thrown 7+ innings in his start 45 times. Via Baseball-Reference.com, here’s how the Yankees have done in this type of slice since 1996:

Year	Games
----    -----
2003	87
1998	81
2002	79
1997	77
1999	69
2000	67
2001	64
2005	56
1996	54
2004	53
2009	45
2007	44
2006	44
2008	33

If you would have asked me “Are the Yankees starters going deeper into games this season – more often than recent seasons?” – without looking – I would have guessed “yes” (based on the conventional wisdom that Sabathia, Burnett and Pettitte are giving them innings each time out).

Well, maybe CC, A.J. and Andy are giving them innings – and the rest of the crew (Joba, Wang, Mitre, et al) are not – at least not like the 1997-1999 and 2002-2003 Yankees got from their starters…

That could be it…

Look at those 1998 and 2003 Yankeees. Every other game, their starting pitcher went 7+ innings in a start – on average. (And, the 1997 and 2002 Yanks were not far off from this too.) Now, that will save a pen, huh?

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Today’s wild thought is meant to be a fun one. Let’s look ahead – way ahead, past the post-season- and towards the 2010 season. In your opinion, what are the THREE critical moves (for lack of a better handle) that the Yankees must make during the 2009-2010 off-season? Is it resigning Johnny Damon? Is it moving Phil Hughes to the rotation? Is it keeping Hughes in the bullpen? Is it finding a center fielder other than Melky Caberea or Brett Gardner? Is it upgrading on Nick Swisher? Upgrading on Andy Pettitte? Is it trading Robinson Cano? Is it locking up Derek Jeter to a long-term deal? Is it trading Joba Chamberlain? Is it moving Chamberlain to the bullpen? These are just some spitball examples…and not necessarily “must moves” for me…

…what do you think? In your opinion, what are the THREE critical moves that the Yankees must make during the off-season? It could be fun to make a list…and then look back at during November, December and January…at least that’s this wild thought.

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There’s a few ways for a player to win a league MVP award. You can be among the three best batters in the league and play a key defensive position well – and win the award…even if your team stinks. See: Rodriquez, Alex, circa 2003. Or, you can be the best hitter in terms of HR and RBI on a semi-contending team in a major media market – and win the award. See, Mattingly, Don, circa 1985. Or, you can be the heart and soul of a team that wins a somewhat close race after having a terrible season the year before – and win the award. See: Gibson, Kirk, circa 1988.

Many like to say that Derek Jeter should be the A.L. MVP Award winner in 2009.

But, is Jeter among the three best batters in the league this season? Joe Mauer, Miguel Cabrera, Justin Morneau, Kevin Youkilis and Kendry Morales have better numbers than Jeter, don’t they? And, Mauer plays a key defensive position – like Jeter – no?

Is Jeter the best hitter in terms of HR and RBI on a semi-contending team in a major media market? Well, Derek does play in New York. But, on the Yankees, Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez are the power poster-children…not Jeter.

Can you say that Jeter is the heart and soul of a team that will win a somewhat close race after having a terrible season the year before? Well, yes, you probably could make that case…and not break a sweat doing it. So, if Kirk Gibson can win a league MVP in 1988. And, if Terry Pendleton can be an league MVP in 1991. Why can’t Derek Jeter be a league MVP in 2009?

What do you think about this debate?

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