Shocking Or Not? Yankees “Hitters” So Far This Post-Season
Here are the Yankees batting stats, this post-season, for the ALDS and ALCS, combined:
| Rk | Player | #Matching | PA | AB | H | HR | RBI | BB | SO | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brett Gardner | 3 | Ind. Games | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| 2 | Eric Chavez | 4 | Ind. Games | 11 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| 3 | Robinson Cano | 7 | Ind. Games | 33 | 32 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 4 | .063 | .091 | .125 |
| 4 | Alex Rodriguez | 6 | Ind. Games | 25 | 23 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 12 | .130 | .200 | .130 |
| 5 | Nick Swisher | 7 | Ind. Games | 30 | 26 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 8 | .154 | .233 | .192 |
| 6 | Curtis Granderson | 7 | Ind. Games | 29 | 26 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 14 | .115 | .207 | .231 |
| 7 | Russell Martin | 7 | Ind. Games | 29 | 26 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | .192 | .276 | .346 |
| 8 | Mark Teixeira | 7 | Ind. Games | 32 | 25 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 2 | .320 | .469 | .360 |
| 9 | Eduardo Nunez | 3 | Ind. Games | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .200 | .200 | .400 |
| 10 | Ichiro Suzuki | 7 | Ind. Games | 35 | 33 | 9 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 3 | .273 | .294 | .424 |
| 11 | Jayson Nix | 4 | Ind. Games | 7 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .286 | .286 | .429 |
| 12 | Derek Jeter | 6 | Ind. Games | 30 | 27 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 10 | .333 | .379 | .444 |
| 13 | Raul Ibanez | 6 | Ind. Games | 20 | 16 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3 | .438 | .550 | 1.063 |
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It is truly amazing how much Cano, A-Rod, Swisher, Granderson and Martin have been terrible this post-season. And, now that Jeter is out, it only leaves Teixeira, Ichiro and Ibanez as the sole guys who have provided some support this October in the line-up.
Could you imagine what would be happening now if George Steinbrenner were still alive and in his prime? Kevin Long would have been reassigned to the instructional league during the playoffs.
I suppose that Martin is not a total shock. For most of the season, he was a joke at the plate. But, it’s almost impossible to be as bad as Cano, A-Rod, Swisher and Granderson have been this post-season. Look at their numbers. Give CC Sabathia a stick and send him to the plate and he could probably do better than the numbers those four have produced so far.
Then again, maybe we should not be shocked with the others as well?
Seriously, A-Rod’s been in a decline for a while now and it has really accelerated this year. Plus, outside of 2009 – where he had help from the Canadian Dr. Feel Good and the benefit of facing the Twins and Angels who never get him out – he’s always been a bust for the Yankees in the post-season. So, this should not be a surprise.
And, Granderson, this season, like he was doing in Detroit before he came to New York, turned into Dave Kingman at the plate. Sure, he can crush a mistake fastball. But, his swing has more holes to exploit than the Bunny Ranch and these post-season pitchers are having an orgy facing him.
Swisher? Check the career post-season stats on ‘Lish, The Red Light Clown:
| Year | Age | Tm | Lg | Series | Opp | G | PA | HR | RBI | BB | SO | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 25 | OAK | AL | ALDS | MIN | 3 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | .300 | .417 | .500 |
| 2006 | 25 | OAK | AL | ALCS | DET | 4 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 | .100 | .400 | .100 |
| 2008 | 27 | CHW | AL | ALDS | TBR | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | .250 | .500 | .250 |
| 2009 | 28 | NYY | AL | ALDS | MIN | 3 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | .083 | .083 | .167 |
| 2009 | 28 | NYY | AL | ALCS | LAA | 6 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | .150 | .292 | .150 |
| 2009 | 28 | NYY | AL | WS | PHI | 5 | 19 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | .133 | .316 | .400 |
| 2010 | 29 | NYY | AL | ALDS | MIN | 3 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | .333 | .385 | .750 |
| 2010 | 29 | NYY | AL | ALCS | TEX | 6 | 25 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 7 | .091 | .200 | .273 |
| 2011 | 30 | NYY | AL | ALDS | DET | 5 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | .211 | .250 | .368 |
| 2012 | 31 | NYY | AL | ALDS | BAL | 5 | 21 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | .111 | .190 | .111 |
| 2012 | 31 | NYY | AL | ALCS | DET | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | .250 | .333 | .375 |
| 6 Yrs (11 Series) | 45 | 177 | 4 | 7 | 24 | 44 | .167 | .284 | .300 | |||||
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Swisher just may be the worst hitter (with a minimum of 100 PA) in post-season history. Therefore, what he’s doing now is what he always does in October: Choke.
And, that leaves Cano. How a guy can hit six-fifteen in his last 9 games of the season, and then set a major league post-season record for going hitless in 26 straight at-bats, the next minute is beyond reason. Unless, of course, Cano is the new A-Rod for the Yankees. And, then, naturally, it makes sense.
For Yankees fans, the good news is that Swisher should soon be gone and Granderson will not be far behind him. And, for all we know, Cano may leave New York once he becomes a Free Agent. But, Brian Cashman is the G.M. who brought in Swisher and Granderson. So, as long as he’s still in charge, their replacements may be more of the same. And, A-Rod’s not going anywhere, most likely, because of his contract. (Unless, like he did in Texas, Rodriguez brokers his own deal out of town.)
Then again, maybe the Yankees will turn this all around this post-season and make all this lamenting seem silly? Just don’t bet the house on it. Because, if that happens, then that will be truly shocking.
I did read the other day that the Dodgers have interest in Arod if the Yanks pickup a lot of the money he is owed.
EHawk wrote:
At this point, if it means eating twenty five cents on the dollar, the Yankees should do it. But, of course, they need to get A-Rod to agree. And, he might just do it for L.A.
@ Steve L.:
That would have the Dodgers paying Arod about $15.5 M per year (w/ the Yanks paying about $5M). Plus there are the $6 million per HR goal. I can’t see the Dodgers or anyone else stupid enough to do that.
With Alex’s demise, it’s somewhat shocking, but a bit expected given his age and the like. Martin is not as much of a shock due to his performance this season, though his performance this season was very disappointing, so take that as you will.
However, Swisher and technically Granderson are in their contract years (Granderson with a team option). Swisher wants that Jayson Werth money at a Cano-like production level in the post-season. Cano is gunning for a 20 mil a year or more contract. All are significantly younger than Alex, all three are in their prime years. And this is what they show us? All three have millions to lose and it seems like they’re losing money after every strikeout, whining to the media, or every lethargic run-out of groundouts.
Steve, can you actually research if Swisher is the worst postseason hitter given like 100 PAs or something similar? Who would be second or third on that list? Just curious.
@ Brent:
I was trying to do that last night and got side tracked. I may try again later.
redbug wrote:
The Angels are paying Vernon Wells what, 20 mil/year?
Haven’t we seen this before, in ’06? Best Offense In The League gets shut down / shut out by Tiger starters Rodgers, Bonderman, etc.
IIRC
sorry…
IIRC the Yankee offense went 20+ innings w/out scoring a run. It was painful to watch, as is this post season.
However….they aren’t dead yet and have mounted comebacks in the past. Like in ’96 (so long ago, is it even relavent?) and ’01.
The good news is that the Yankees have the wherewithal to unload most of these guys. Swisher and Martin will be free agents. The Yankees have a team option on Granderson so they can let him walk. Of course if they are so inclined they would do better to pick up the option and trade him. But I don’t have any faith in Cashman’s ability to rebuild this team. I don’t think Cashman knows how to build a team other than to go out and buy star players which they will not be able to do with the new cap rules. My guess is he will let Swisher walk, keep Granderson, and re-sign Martin.
The player the Yankees should be letting out the door is Cano. For what he’s going to cost in free agency right at the time he hits the magic age of 32 — the prime age of decline for second basemen — he’s the best guy to kick out the front door.
With Swisher, and to a lesser extant, A-Rod, the bad hitting is already “priced in”. Granderson is extremely streaky, so this, while very bad news, is at least explicable.
The unforgiveable one is Cano, the team’s only elite hitter in his prime. That’s the one the team can’t afford, and it’s unacceptable.
The Yanks will have to let Cano go, and the dropoff from him to his replacement might have the Yanks out of the playoffs for a couple of seasons. But if they sign him to the deal Boras will insist on, they will cripple the team to 2020 and possibly beyond.
I have no problem trading Cano or Granderson who will both be in their walk year in 2013. The problem is, I don’t trust Cashman and our scouting department to make a trade that will give us good value back. We seem unable to effectively evaluate young talent.
LMJ229 wrote:
The organization isn’t willing to go through the growing pains that comes with young talent. There’s a reason only a handful of MiL players have come through the org and stuck.
Raf wrote:
I agree with your explanation but that doesn’t mean its the right thing to do. These players are sticking elsewhere. It would be nice to at least give them a shot.