What Is It, Slap A Yankee Day?
Posted by Steve L. on July 3rd, 2011 · Comments (14)
Ivan Nova must feel like he’s been slapped. Ditto CC and Tex.
Man, I would have told Hughes he’s going to the pen and had to earn his way back into the rotation. And, for sure, I would have named Sabathia to the All-Star quad. Teixeira? O.K., maybe I understand that one…a little…low batting average and the fact that some first sacker gets screwed every year because of that “every team must be represented” rule.
By the way, Tyler Clippard made the All-Stars. Is that a slap for Brian Cashman? It should be…
Don’t worry about Cash. If he starts getting down about Clippard, he can just think about Colon and Garcia and Nunez.
Clippard made the All Star game because somebody on the Nats had to.
If I were doing to picking, I’d have chosen Morse outright, instead of putting him in the “last man” vote, or Jordan Zimmerman, who’s pitched brilliantly with no run support.
clintfsu813 wrote:
Speaking of Nunez, why was he doing a bad Ramiro Pena impression in today’s game? Oh, wait that was a bad Ramiro Pena out there – when Nunez is 7 for 8 in this series? Anyone know why he was sitting, other than maybe he was sore from smacking the ball all over the place for the past three days?
Tight hamstring yesterday, wet field today, nothing serious I guess but what was Pena doing out there today? He was lost.
clintfsu813 wrote:
And David Robertson.
I wouldn’t consider Tyler Clippard making the All Star team a slap at Brian Cashman IF he was traded for a decent player. Like when Ian Kennedy was traded for Granderson. But Clippard for Albaledejo? That trade made no sense then and makes even less sense now. Cashman was fleeced.
Steve Lombardi3 wrote:
I agree. Nova did not deserve the demotion. In fact, Nova has been getting better with each start.
Steve Lombardi wrote:
Makes absolutely no sense that Sabathia wasn’t named. Indefensible.
I agree with the statement on Nova. Hughes should have to earn his way back into the rotation. He was mediocre at best the second half of last year. He was less than mediocre in the postseason. This year, terrible, why all this gets overlooked is beyond me.
CC’s pitching on Sunday. He could have been named and been replaced by another pitcher because he had just pitched. It’s clear it was decided there were all ready too many Yanks in already.
Evan3457 wrote:
To say that he didn’t earn it is unfair though. He put up all star numbers.
Corey Italiano wrote:
This is true, but there are lots of setup relievers in each league with great numbers, like, say, David Robertson. Setup guys only make the All-Star team when it’s perceived the team in question has nobody else worth sending, or when they pitch for the team managed by the All-Star game manager as a reward.
As for Clippard, the following NL relievers who are not closers all have higher WAR (fWAR):
Johnny Venters, Braves
Sean Marshall, Cubs
Mike Adams, Padres
Sergio Romo, Giants
Eric O’Flaherty, Braves
Bill Bray, Reds
David Hernandez, D’backs (just got promoted to closer because of the injury to J.J. Putz)
Matt Lindstrom, Rockies.
Jason Motte, Cards
Matt Reynolds, Rockies
Chris Resop, Pirates
Antonio Bastardo, Phillies (just got promoted to closer because of the injuries to Lidge, Contreras and Madson)
Chad Qualls
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Clippard does lead all non-closers in WPA, if you believe in WPA. He’s 24th in the NL among non-closers in FIP, 5th in xFI, 17th in adjusted ERA.
As I say, yes, he’s having an excellent year, but examined closely, no better than 6-12 other middle relievers in the NL.
My statement stands: he’s on the team as the Nats’ representative.
You can probably make the case that Jeff freaking Karstens deserved a nod as well. I don’t know where this is coming from, but good for him.
JeremyM wrote:
It’s coming from a lower than average BABIP; .238 (.281 career). He’s striking out batters at the same rate, he’s walking them at the same rate.
There’s a huge discrepancy between his ERA (2.65) and FIP (4.70)