Comments on: Yanks outlast Tigers in pitchers’ duel

By: Dave S.

Dave S. — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 18:20:36 +0000

Cheater’s homer: not a pop-up, but a lazy fly that reached the first row of the seats.

Thames’ homer: a line drive that did the same.

By: CB

CB — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 15:48:06 +0000

Miguel Cabrera didn’t do a great job stretching on that ball Melky hit and that was decisive. He’s much better than he was at 3b but still has a lot of work there.

But the statistics go against that impression. Interestingly, Cabrera has second best UZR and third best UZR/150 amongst all AL first basemans. His UZR: 2.2. UZR/150: 3.8.

Per UZR Mark Teixeira has been nowhere close to as good a defensive player this year as Cabrera has been. Tex’s UZR is -1.7. UZR/150: -2.2.

By UZR Paul Konerko has been bar none the best defensive 1b in the entire game this year. His UZR is 6 and UZR/150 is 11. So Konerko has already been close to 0.8 wins better already than Tex.

By: Rick in Boston

Rick in Boston — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 15:07:16 +0000

If Verlander keeps his FB right where it is, it’ll be the highest average speed he’s had with it since his SSSS cup of coffee in 2005 (95.5 mph/avg).

By: steve (different one)

steve (different one) — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 14:32:06 +0000

Verlander’s average FB last year was almost 2 MPH slower than this year.

many attributed his stuggles to the lost velocity. same as Joba this year. same as Hughes last year.

this is what developing young pitchers looks like sometimes.

By: mr yankee

mr yankee — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 14:20:23 +0000

I agree but my issue with Joba has not been patience, its been that he seems to refuse to throw the ball instead trying to be a finesse putcher. While watching Verlander you see that you can throw hard throughout the game. Also when verlander was struggling he was still hrowing the ball hard

By: steve (different one)

steve (different one) — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 14:17:32 +0000

just as i was hoping yankee fans were watching Verlander and realize he struggled mightily last season, only to come back and be an ace this year.

he, and today’s starter Edwin Jackson, are exhibits A and B why Yankee fans need to be patient with Joba.

By: Zach

Zach — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 14:07:00 +0000

You can hope, but you know how its going to be. Game 5 World Series Buck and McCarver are going to be bitching about the walls, or jet stream, or whatever else.

By: mr yankee

mr yankee — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 14:01:40 +0000

I hope Joba was watching a real power pitcher at work yesterday Justin Verlander. Wow a pitcher who can throw 99mph late in the game. All I have been hearing was that nobody can throw that hard as a starter? I hope Girardi makes Joba sit down and watch Verlander pitch.

By: Zach

Zach — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 14:00:43 +0000

eh, ive seen too many fly balls off the end of the bat go for doubles for ortiz/lowell/etc.

By: 27 this year

27 this year — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 13:32:26 +0000

I got it, Arod hits a HR that would be a 2 run homer but because he is so blazing fast, he runs right past Tex and the third out is made although I don’t know how the run would count.