Yanks & Rays Over Last 24 Games: Difference Is Pitching
Posted by Steve L. on August 23rd, 2012 · Comments (8)
The Tampa Bay Rays have gone 18-6 in their last 24 games.
During this time, their pitching staff had an ERA of 1.77 and their batters had a BA/OBA/SLG line of .253/.315/.402 (in 914 PA).
Yes, that’s a team ERA of one-seventy-seven.
The New York Yankees have gone 12-12 in their last 24 games.
During this time, their pitching staff had an ERA of 4.31 and their batters had a BA/OBA/SLG line of .276/.339/.457 (in 920 PA).
It’s all about pitching, my friends. It’s all about pitching.
Falls into your philosophy of not falling too much in love with your prospects, no?
Very impressive run of hot pitching by the Rays.
It won’t last much longer.
And in their hottest run of the season, the Yanks had an ERA of 2.68 over 24 games.
Well, it’s not ALL about pitching. Yanks had Clemens/Pettitte/Mussina/Wells, didn’t win (came close). Phils had Halladay/Lee/Hamels knocked out in 1st round. M’s had Felix/Lee and were a last place team. Stud pitching staff gives you a chance, but you’d better have some timely hitting.
Yanks normally lose from lack of hitting. Blowout wins, close losses. When the hr’s are flying out of the park, they circle the bases w/ grins and tongues hanging out (you know who). But moving a runner over and scratching out a run? Forget it.
The Yanks, the Rays, and the A’s have all had some very hot streaks fueled by their pitching. The Yanks and A’s have come back to earth and I suspect the Rays will too eventually. Let’s just hope their streak ends soon before they take over the division lead. If the yanks get stuck having to play a one game play-in I’m gonna be pissed.
It’s about scoring more runs than your opponents, whether by preventing them from doing so or by doing it yourself.
While it’s true that you need pitching (Think about how many World Series winners in your lifetime have had average or less piching staffs) I do know that I’ve seen Yankee World Series games started by the likes of Doyle Alexander, Jim Beattie, Kenny Rogers & Denny Neagle.
So it’s not exactly about having an All-Star staff one through twelve.
Mr. Faded Glory wrote:
Works for me!