The minors today. Branyan is finally playing.

The big guys were off, but there was minor league action.

One note: Russell Branyan is finally over his back troubles. He played in Tampa, High A, and homered. It was his third game back. He was 1 for 3 Tue., 0 for 4 last night, and 3 for 5 tonight. 4 for 12 so far.
AAA: SWB (Empire State) lost 3-0. D.J. Mitchell 3 R, 6 IP, 7 K (4-2, 4.42). Brandon Laird, Kevin Russo 2 hits each.

AA: 11-0 shutout win for Trenton. Brett Marshall six scoreless, (6-2, 2.44). Dave Adams, Cody Johnson (HR), Luke Murton (HR) and Jose Gil with 2 RBI each.

High A. Tampa lost 10-9 in 13 innings. Sean Black 7 R in 4 iP. Mark Montgomery 2 IP, 0 R, 4 K ERA now 1.35. Ramon Flores 4 hits. Kyle Higashioka HR, 3 RBI. Russell Branyan  3 hits, solo HR. Kelvin Castro 3 hits, 3 rbi.

Low A:   13-2 win for Charleston. Angelo Gumbs HR, 3 RBI. Cito Culver 2 h, 2 RBI. Dante Bichette, Jr. HR, 2 RBI. Tyler Austin (.327) 2 hits. Gary Sanchez 3 hits, 2 HR and 5 RBI. (.295-7-36).

Gardner injury affecting Chavez

Brett Gardner can’t come back quickly enough, especially if you look at Eric Chavez’ recent numbers.

With Gardner on the shelf for all but nine games so far this season, and not expected back for some ten days, Raul Ibanez has been playing more OF than expected instead of DH-ing. That has led to Eric Chavez getting more playing time. To keep both fresh, he and A-Rod have basically been alternating at 3B.

But it seems to be catching up to the fragile Chavez now. For one thing, Chavez is 0 for 16 this year with RISP.

But now his OPS+ has dropped below 100 to 90. Since May 14th, he hasn’t driven in a run, and is six for 33 (.182).

The return of Gardner will have a trickle down effect. It will infuse the lineup with some badly needed speed. Of course, Gardner has to hit and get on base. It’ll improve the OF defense. It’ll push Ibanez back to the DH spot.

And hopefully (you never know when the next injury will strike), it’ll give Chavez time to recharge his batteries.

The Yanks are off today. They are in Detroit this weekend.

Umpires have to realize we don’t pay to see THEM

http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2012/05/31/martins-fued-with-diaz-adds-odd-twist-to-big-win/

 

Click the link above. Unbelievable. Some umps have to stifle their egos and realize we don’t tune in or watch to see THEM. Are they important to the game? Obviously. You can’t have one without umps. Are they why we watch? No. Do your job, shut up, don’t bring attention to yourself. What went on here is ridiculous. Now Martin may get fined for his comments. How about the umpire?

Game 50. Yanks escape with 6-5 win.

It wasn’t easy, as the tying run was on second and the winning run was on first.

Such is life without Mo.

But the Yanks held on and won 6-5 to go to 27-23 and snap the Angels eight game winning streak and their own two game losing streak.

Nova had one bad inning. More on that later.

Granderson doubled in the first. A-Rod (.170) and Cano (.136) struck out. Averages listed what they were with RISP. True to form.

Nova was lucky to get out of the first giving up just one run. HBP, single, walk. Bases loaded, no one out. K, SF9, F9. Considering bases loaded, no out, we’ll take giving up just one. Considering the Yanks won 6-5, an early turning point.

The Yanks got two on, one out in the second, but Chavez, 0 for 15 with RISP stretched it to 0 for 16 by GIDP.

The Yanks broke through with five in the third. Martin walked. Jeter got hit #3159. Granderson hit #16. After A-Rod was HBP, Cano got #8. 5-1 Yanks.

But… and this drives you nuts. Two nights ago, Hughes couldn’t hold a 3-0 lead. He gives back four.

Tonight? In the fourth, Nova, up 5-1, gave back four. Tie game. Two run HR by that pain in the buttocks this series, Trumbo. The kid, Trout (does he look good or what) ties the game with a double.

In the sixth, Ibanez tripled. SF by Swisher (finally, a SF! As I’ve said on here often, sometimes you’d KILL for a SF!). 6-5 Yanks.

In the seventh, a huge at bat, and my star of the game is Wade, who lost it two nights ago.

Nova gets the first two guys. He is taken out for Logan.

Nova (6-2, 5.60). 6 2/3 IP, 5 R, 8 H, 3 walks, 2 K. Record? Good. ERA? Lousy.

Logan faced two batters. Both got hits. 0 ip, 0 r, 2 h, 0 walks, 0 k. ERA stayed at 2.89.

Down 3-0 in the count, Wade got a K to get out of it in a nine pitch AB.

Wade had an uneventful 8th.

Wade 1 1/3, 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks, 3 K. ERA to 2.35.

Sorino made us sweat. Such is life without Mo.

Groundout, walk, single. A forceout and a flyout. Game over, but not without putting the tying run and the winning run on base.

Save #6 for Soriano. 1 IP, 0 R, 1 h, 1 walk, o K. ERA 1.96.

The minors today.

AAA: SWB (Emp. St.) won 5-2. Betances 2 R in 6 IP (3-4, 5.30). The newly acquired Igarashi 2 IP, 0 R, 4 K.

AA: Trenton completed the suspended game, winning 4-3. Solo HR Cody Johnson. (.275-13-31) .

Regular game shortened to 7 innings (league rule). 3-2 win. Shaeffer Hall 1 R in 5 ip. 2 h, solo HR, Kevin Mahoney. Solo HR Addison Maruszak.

High A: 5-4 loss for Tampa. Matt Tracy 1 R in 6 ip. Branden Pinder 3 r, 1 2/3, the loss. 2 rbi Segedin, 2 h, Medchill.

Low A: Lots of offense.

Charleston finishes the suspended game by winning 19-6. Tyler Austin 5 for 5, double, triple, 2 RBI. Gary Sanchez 3 hits, 2 doubles, HR, 7 RBI. 3 h Cito Culver. 2 h, 2 RBI Ben Gamel. HR, 3 RBI Angelo Gumbs. HR 2 RBI Casey Stevenson. Kelvin De Leon 3 RBI. 10 for 21 with RISP (if only the big club could do that!)

In the 7-inning game, a 10-5 loss. Evan Rutckyj 6 R in 3 2/3. (1-2, 9.90). Ali Castillo triple, HR, 3 RBI. Solo HR Gumbs.

Game 50. The lineup

Yanks 26-23, have lost two in a row.
2 1/2 back in AL East, 3rd place. Right now, NOT in a playoff position.
Even with the Pythagorean record. OPS+ 111, ERA+ 105.

Jeter 6 .338-5-18   3/4  126
Granderson 8 .254-15-26  1/4  134   .200 with RISP
Alex 5 .287-7-19   6/6  116   .170 with RISP
Cano 4 .287-7-20  1/1  120  .136 with RISP
Teix 3  .263-9-30  1/2  115
Ibanez 7  .261-9-28  2/2  121
Swisher 9 .242-8-31  0/0  102   .226 with RISP
Chavez DH  .268-3-6  0/0  101   0 for 15 with RISP
Martin 2  .190-4-12  1/1  82

Nova 1  5-2, 5.46   ERA+ 79

Rockies DFA 49 1/2 year old Jamie Moyer. 269 career wins.

See the previous post re: Yanks and RISP.

RISP woes continue. The stats.

If there is a song called Stranded, I haven’t heard it. But there should be one. It could be the Yanks’ anthem.

The numbers in today’s Post about the Yanks’ stats with the bases loaded aren’t good. .153. 8 for 53. 0 for the last 15.

Robbie Cano struck out twice last night with the bases loaded.

Team with RISP: .223.
Man on 3d only: .125
1st and 2nd: .226
1st and 3rd: .184
2nd and 3rd: .226
Bases loaded: .151
on 3rd, LESS THAN 2 out: .206
On 3rd, Two out: .140.
2 outs, RISP: .205

Those are sick numbers. Just sick.

We are 49 games into the season. Now I know there is an ebb and flow over the course of the season. People cold will get hot and vice-versa—usually. There could be someone (Martin?) who NEVER heats up.

But let’s prorate this lineup. You’ll see a BIG problem in the middle of the order.

At this pace:

Jeter  .338-17-60  10 SB.
He’d get MVP consideration, and have a 231 hit season, putting him at 3319 heading into 2013—in the top 10 of all-time. He’d pass Willie Mays’ hit total. He’d be tied with  Paul Molitor for 8th place (baseball reference would have ninth, but MLB discounts Cap Anson’s National Association numbers from 1871-1875).  It’s safe to say that Jeter will be slowing down in the dog days.

Granderson .254-50-86. 3 SB.
Now I would venture a safe guess that the RBI total would be the lowest ever by a 50 HR hitter. Did you really think, two years ago, that the MAIN power threat in the lineup would come from him? A #2 hitter? Let’s not forget that he led off in Detroit. Having said that, where has the speed gone? Granderson stole 25 last year. Granderson is also on pace for…. 185 strikeouts.  .200 RISP. Oh those strikeouts? Granderson would break the Yankees record HE set last year… 169.

A-Rod .287-23-63  20 SB.
Um. There is a problem here. Those aren’t the numbers of someone who missed 60 games or so. Those are full season numbers. The SB would lead the team (we aren’t counting Gardner and his eventual return here). 63 RBI for the season for someone hitting 3 or 4 all year long. Five more years on the contract of someone putting up the stats of someone who has lost his power. The .287? Good. RISP? .170. Not good. 1 slam short of tying Gehrig’s grand slam record, Alex is 1 for 9 with the bases loaded this year. Man on 2d? .111; 1st and 3rd? .000. 2nd and 3rd? .000. Men on? .210. (No one on? .350). On 3d, less than 2 out? .091.

Cano .287-23-66
Yup. Compounding the problem of having a 63 RBI guy in the middle of the order is that you have another guy in the middle of the lineup on a 66 RBI pace. He’s on pace for 60 doubles (he leads the AL with 18 now). Here’s the biggest problem: RISP .136. Read that again. .136. And usually Robbie is hitting 3, 4, or 5. With 1st and 2nd? .067. Bases loaded? .100.

You can see the HUGE problem Cano and A-Rod are providing the Yankees right now. Not to mention Granderson’s HR are mostly solo HR. 

Teixeira .263-30-99
His stats a few weeks ago would have been far worse. Maybe he is finally coming out of it.

Ibanez .261-30-93
For a 40 year old (soon), not bad. He’s played the OF more than expected due to Gardner’s injury.

Swisher .242-26-102
We know about his postseason struggles, and Swish is just at .226 w/RISP. .298 bases empty, .185 men on. 0 for 10 with 1st and 3rd.

Chavez .268-10-20
Yup. 20 RBI pace with 235 AB. His last RBI was on 5/14. 20 rbi in 235 at bats? That’s about Ramiro Pena-like. Worse, even. (Pena, in his career, has 32 RBI in 309 AB). Chavez is 0 for 15 with RISP. .000. Three goose eggs. Nada. Zippo. Zilch.    

Jones .224-17-33
Another whose RBI total to HR would be 2.0 or worse.  RISP .176. On pace for 222 at bats. UPDATE: Jones has 25 strikeouts in 67 at bats. At that pace, he’d strike out 83 times in those 222 at bats.

Ok. Let’s combine Chavez and Jones into one ballplayer. You’d get 457 at bats, about one full season and one full-time player, right? You’d get a .245 hitter or thereabouts. 27 HR, 53 RBI.

Um, like Granderson. Too many SOLO hr.

Now, the Mick had a year of 42 HR, 97 RBI. He was walked a lot. 129 times in 1958. It led the majors. He also hit .304 that year. Went 18 for 21 in SB. Led the majors with an OPS+ of 188. That was different. Teams wouldn’t let him beat them. They pitched around him as much as they could. It’s a different story with these stats.

Now we come to Martin. .190-13-40.
We wonder if, or when, he’ll get off the “Interstate.” .185 with RISP, but then, Martin’s numbers are just bad, period.

I won’t get into the bench players. No need to, really. But the numbers above help to show a major reason why the Yanks are just 26-23. The Yanks as a team have an OPS+ of 111. The OPS is second in the league. But in runs scored, they are sixth.

And without Gardner (injured) or Nunez (demoted and now on the DL), they are 11th in the league in SB.

Hmmmm…. I found a song called Stranded. It’s by Heart. Maybe these Yanks need more Heart and less Stranded.

Could Nancy Wilson hit with RISP?