Well, that last post was ridiculously long. It took me about 4 hours to write. That won't do. I'm trying to get stuff done here, people. Today's post will be a bit shorter. It will also be the first in a new series of monthly updates on the Bronx Bombers in 06. It's kind of pointless to try to do any serious analysis on the baseball season this early, but that's part of the joy of baseball. I haven't worked out a format for these updates yet, so I'll just start rambling. Despite Wednesday night's disappointing loss to the Devil Rays in which the Yanks failed to take advantage of getting the leadoff hitter on base in the first 8 innings and getting 14 walks, despite major inconsistency from the pitching staff in the first month, despite Randy Johnson's idiotic insistence on pitching to Kelley Stinnett, despite these things, I'm fairly happy with the way the Yanks' season is shaping up. Jeter is batting .408. The team's OBP is an absurd .392. And their starting pitching has been effective recently. According to mlb.com, "in their last five games, Yankees starters have allowed five runs over 34 1/3 innings, a 1.31 ERA." If Small, Pavano, and/or Dotel can come in and be effective, I like the looks of this staff. Last night, they won the rubber match against a scrappy tough Tampa Bay team. That brings me to this nice little piece by the kids over there at the Bronx Banter blog:
The three-game series is baseball's perfect package. It exposes enough of each team's pitching to prevent any single hurler from dominating the competition, but doesn't go on so long as to overstay is welcome. Five games may not be enough for a postseason series, but they are way too many for a regular-season confrontation, particularly when a team such as the 2006 Royals, Orioles, Mariners or Devil Rays is involved. Two games are unrewarding, over too fast and often without exposing the true nature of the teams involved. Baseball is a game for people who savor the moment and chew their food before swallowing. Until recently it wasn't uncommon for teams to have two games scheduled on the same day. A two-game "series" is as big an affront to the game as artificial turf (which may be why the Yankees always seem to play two against Toronto). Four games are fun for marquee matchups, such as when the Red Sox come to town, but the possibility of a 2-2 series split just doesn't belong in a game that refuses to end in a tie. Indeed, it's the fact that a three-game series must have a winner that, above all else, makes it baseball's ideal regular season sample size.
Tonight we start a 3 game series with Toronto. Sox on Monday and Tuesday. Not a 3 game series, but it's Yankees-Sox.
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3 comments:
Ladies and gentlemen, dewy24. aka Statty McStaterson.
"other that [sic] preventing wild pitches, limiting passed balls, throwing out runners trying to steal and what ever they can contribute to the offense."
Yeah, those things. Those are the reasons why he should pitch to Jorge. A catcher needs days off, but not necessarily every 5th day. But the major point here is that he is coming into a team atmosphere (been there for a year and 1/2 now) and specifically dissing one of the core leaders of that very successful team over the last 9 years. And an all-star to boot. It's a prick move that I'm positive is causing some tension in the clubhouse. Jorge caught Clemens, Pettitte, Wells, Mussina, El Duque, Contreras, Rivera, Cone, Key, The Asshole Who's Name Rhymes With Crown, etc, etc - but he's not good enough for Randy Pandy.
I won't dignify the shortstop comment with a response.
Word.
-dave's wife
"the most overrated defensive player in the history of baseball"
- OR -
Consummate Professional
?
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