Is A-Rod Costing The Yankees Runs?
Know anything about RE24? Here’s some on it via Fangraphs:
RE24 (runs above average by the 24 base/out states): RE24 is the difference in run expectancy (RE) between the start of the play and the end of the play. That difference is then credited/debited to the batter and the pitcher. Over the course of the season, each players’ RE24 for individual plays is added up to get his season total RE24.
Why you should care: RE24 tells you how many runs a player contributed to his team. It’s similar to WPA (except in runs), but unlike WPA it does not take into account the inning or score of the game. Therefore, it is a more context neutral statistic. It does however take into account how many runners are on base and how many outs are left in the inning.
And, here’s how Yankees batters have done this season, to date, in RE24:
| Rk | Player | RE24 | PA | Year | Age | G |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Curtis Granderson | 12.209 | 358 | 2012 | 31 | 79 |
| 2 | Robinson Cano | 8.169 | 338 | 2012 | 29 | 79 |
| 3 | Mark Teixeira | 7.908 | 323 | 2012 | 32 | 76 |
| 4 | Nick Swisher | 5.199 | 291 | 2012 | 31 | 71 |
| 5 | Andruw Jones | 4.483 | 126 | 2012 | 35 | 45 |
| 6 | Brett Gardner | 3.008 | 34 | 2012 | 28 | 9 |
| 7 | Dewayne Wise | 1.065 | 47 | 2012 | 34 | 44 |
| 8 | Eduardo Nunez | 0.783 | 59 | 2012 | 25 | 20 |
| 9 | Derek Jeter | 0.143 | 361 | 2012 | 38 | 77 |
| 10 | Alex Rodriguez | -1.167 | 325 | 2012 | 36 | 76 |
| 11 | Raul Ibanez | -1.313 | 232 | 2012 | 40 | 67 |
| 12 | Jayson Nix | -1.473 | 62 | 2012 | 29 | 26 |
| 13 | Chris Stewart | -2.897 | 79 | 2012 | 30 | 27 |
| 14 | Russell Martin | -3.031 | 228 | 2012 | 29 | 64 |
| 15 | Eric Chavez | -3.198 | 134 | 2012 | 34 | 51 |
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So, what do these numbers tell you? For me, it makes me ask the question in the heading of this post.





And I thought RE24 was some new anabolic steroid.
It’s interesting to see both Cano and Tex with (just about) eight here. Who would have thought that?
I suspect that it’s because Cano has been bad with RISP, overall, and Tex (maybe?) has been getting some productive outs. (I’m guessing on the latter – reaching – since I did not look at the stats.)
Steve, all you had to say is Arod sucks and no one would disagree or ask for proof. He’s killing this team at cleanup.
ken wrote:
I wholeheartedly agree, although I can guarantee you that some people would disagree as Steve usually gets lambasted when he criticizes the almighty A-Rod.
I’ve seen enough of Russel Martin at this point. Honestly, I’d rather see Chris Stewart starting right now. Thank God Martin turned down that 3-yr 30M offer Cashman made to him.
And while they are at it, how about moving A-Rod down in the order? I’d bat Swisher second, Granderson third, Cano fourth, and A-Rod fifth. I know Girardi likes to break up his lefties with the righty but Granderson and Cano can both hit lefties pretty well and A-Rod really doesn’t deserve to be batting in the top of the order now. Should we really be batting him third just so we don’t bruise his ego? Come on Girardi, grow a pair and make the move.
Here we are, relying on the Mariners and the A’s once again …
It does seems silly to say this while they are in first place, but, the Yankees do have too many players who should be batting 7th (rather than where they do bat).
And, without question, they need to pull the plug on Martin. What are they waiting for, until he’s batting .170 in August?
I know i’m in the minority here but I don’t have hate for Martin. He is a former All star, had a good offensive year in 2011 and despite last night he is good behind the plate. (remember last year when all the BOS fans wondered why we “stole” Martin for nothing and they got “stuck” with Salty? How’s that looking this year?) This team’s problems, such as they are, are not due to the catcher/9th-spot-in-batting-order.
Arod is sucking up $30M as a singles hitter at cleanup (cleanup?) with warning track power. Tex is declining by the year and the pitching staff is finally starting to show the effects of injuries.
Martin ain’t the problem.
Oh, and who’s in first place with the 2nd best record in the AL?
@ ken:
If Martin was a true upgrade defensively over Stewart, then I would stick with Martin. I just don’t think he is. That being the case, I would rather have the guy who is batting .270 over the one who is batting .188. Stewart has been having some good at-bats lately. He should be getting 3-4 games a week IMO.
ken wrote:
Agreed but his struggles sure don’t help us.
ken wrote:
A-Rod’s power is gone. Even he looks surprised when a ball he has hammered lands on the warning track. Barring some miracle come back, we will be suffering with him in terms of production and financial flexibility for many years to come thanks to the Keystone Cop routine of Hank, Hal and Randy Levine. Cashman was absolutely right on that one.