Yanks drop finale to Detroit 6-0
ByThere was little to like about this game. In fact, had it not been for Ivan Nova‘s two scoreless innings I could have removed the word “little” from the above paragraph. The game was all around ugly, from the Yankees’ hitters flailing to the Tigers’ hitters squaring up tons of pitches, especially in the sixth. The Yanks drop just their second series of the year. Too bad that came in a four-game set.
Biggest Hit: Jeter leads off with a single
This photo sums up the game | Paul Sancya/AP
How you know your team played a horrible game: the biggest positive WPA swing came when the first batter of the game singled. That’s the most the Yankees got. It increased their chances of winning by 3.5 percent, a modest little boost but nothing that would last. After Brett Gardner traded places with Jeter and then took second on an errant pickoff throw, Justin Verlander struck out Mark Teixeira looking on a cuveball, and then got A-Rod to pop out to first on a 98 mph fastball.
The second highest WPA swing of the game also involved Jeter. That would be when Verlander hit him with a pitch in the fifth. That came with one out and, with the score just 3-0 at the time, raised the Yankees’ chances of winning by 2.6 percent. Both Brett Gardner and Mark Teixeira made outs behind him, though, so the Yanks couldn’t bring home the run. Story of their day. Of their week, really.
Biggest Pitch: Cabrera crushes CC
Photo credit: Paul Sancya/AP
The Tigers struck first in the second, when Gerald Laird blooped one over Juan Miranda‘s head. That brought home Brennan Boesch. One run, though, usually doesn’t phase the Yankees. They had just been shut out the previous day, and considering it was the first time that happened all season we couldn’t have expected it to happen again. Things just sometimes work out that way…
In any case, the Tigers opened up the game in the fourth when Miguel Cabrera absolutely hammered a 2-1 fastball into the right field stands. It was a solo shot, and Cabrera can do that against any pitcher. That made it 2-0. One batter later Boesch reached out and slammed a slider the same way, just clearing the right field fence. While Cabrera’s homer was a bit more valuable, when Boesch hit his it was the first time in the game where I seriously doubted the Yanks’ ability to win it.
CC in the sixth
Photo credit: Duane Burleson/AP
Heading into the sixth inning CC Sabathia had allowed three runs. It’s not ideal, especially from the ace, but again, an offense like the Yankees’ should be able to stay in a game like this. One more inning and CC would have had the arbitrary quality start, and since he was at just 54 pitches he might have been able to go all eight. A 25-pitch, 3-run sixth ended that.
When we’re watching the game live, any pitch that ends with a bad result is going to look bad. If CC had thrown an on-target changeup low and away to Brandon Laird in the sixth and he hit a double off it, the initial reaction is almost always going to point to a bad pitch. CC didn’t spot the changeup perfectly as it turns out — it was around the knees but caught a bit too much of the plate — but upon further review it didn’t look like a bad pitch. Not a great pitch, no. Maybe not even a good pitch. It was decent at worst, though. Laird just happen to hit it squarely.
Just to extrapolate the point, mostly because there’s not much to talk about in this recap, a well-struck ball is not always the pitcher’s fault. Good hitters, like Miguel Cabrera, can square up pitches that others cannot. Young and vigorous hitters, like Brennan Boesch, can take advantage of the lack of a scouting report on them. Bad hitters, like Laird, get lucky, too.
That’s not to excuse Sabathia’s outing. It just seemed like he pitched better than the results indicated. That’s going to happen from time to time with an ace.
Annoyances
Can I just say “the whole game” and get it out of the way?
The best hitters in the lineup just aren’t hitting, and there’s nothing more frustrating than that. I can’t help but think that if the game was tied heading into the sixth that CC would have finished the game with a much better line. Maybe that’s wishful thinking, but I think that the lack of run scoring has to affect the pitchers, whether consciously or subconsciously.
Hitters like Gerald Laird driving in multiple runs. Guy was hitting .157/.263/.257 heading into the game, and he drove home two of the Tigers’ runs, including their first? You gotta be kidding me. The first was an excuse me hit, which makes it that much more frustrating. It’s right up there with walking the 9 hitter.
Joys
There was no joy in Detroit today…except that Sabathia didn’t walk anyone.
Nor did Ivan Nova, who made his major league debut. Chances of him starting the game Sunday are slim to none, but I think he should get a shot. Might as well keep Mitre around for long relief and let the actual starting prospect get a chance.
WPA Graphs and box score
I’m only posting this graph because we do it every game. If I had my druthers I’d give it the Trey Hillman treatment.
Up Next
Home again! The Yanks start a three-game set with Minnesota tomorrow night at the Stadium. It’ll be a tough one, with A.J. Burnett going against Francisco Liriano.
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The Mason Williams Watch
I’ll be at the game tomorrow too. If Boone Logan comes in to face Joe Mauer at any point you’ll probably be able to hear me yelling!
Heh, the Boone Logan Anti-Fan Club. Excellent.
We even have a logo.
My weekend is made.
tough home stand coming up. is it bad that i’d be happy to go 4-3?
Yes. Dominance, accept nothing less. Fill the Hudson with the blood of the enemies.
chicago is awesome!
/little nicky’d
I LOVE OHIO!!
/Drew Carey’d
I am glad I missed today’s game, sounded like a doozy.
Three of my joys came on curveballs. The first two were the knee bucklers Verlander threw to Golson. You can only hwlp but smile as you see the kid mentally prepare for 97 mph gas only to get two of the nastiest curves the major leagues have to offer. Verlander got a little cute trying to get a third one past the youngster but Golson savwd somew face and at least put it in play. The third joy was Novas K curve to sizemore. After effortless 93-94 mph heat he dropped a beauty over the inside corner to catch him looking.
hey i just noticed the Mormons are advertising here… kinda odd.
I know it was just 2 innings in a no pressure situation but I think that we should keep Nova up here to pitch out of the pen. The idea behind this would be this is if Nova pitches good in relief then it will help give him confidence that he can get big league hitters out. Also, it wouldn’t be as a mop-up guy but as someone who starts off in low pressure spot and eventually becomes the 7th inning guy. It worked for Hughes last and maybe it could work again this time for Nova. I am not saying he will be as good as Hughes but it couldn’t hurt to give him a shot at gaining some confidence. This is something that has worked for many other teams and I think could work for us again. I would rather have a guy who could help us in the pen now and start later then just start in the minors without gaining any real confidence that he can get Major Leaguers out.
How about sending D-Rob down? He hasn’t pitched well at all this year. He can go down to Scranton, take some pressure off and be back in no time. Plus does any one have confidence in Park? He is guy that is a 5 or 6 ERA waiting to happen. By the time D-Rob would be ready to come back up Cashman and Girardi should figure out that Park is complete garbage
Re: the big hitters aren’t hitting …
There’s been a lot of talk on here about Jeter but when should we be concerned about A-Rod? 3 HRs and a lot of warning track power so far.
Hope this isn’t a PED regression.
Yeah, I’m worried about that too, I mean, usually a player will stop using, win two MVPs in the next 7 years, hit at least 30/100 in each season, then fall of the cliff.
Wait..what?
Yeah, and everybody else is as naive as you too…
Wake UP, sheeple!!!!!
That’s funny. I get it. You’re saying A-Rod didn’t do steroids after 2003. Because that was his story? Okay cool. I’m due back on the planet earth now. have fun.
Don’t you miss Cody Ransom? He’ll be so much better.
I’m telling you…him plus Jeter in about 5 years (hopefully not sooner) on this team is going to look pretty ugly
Based on what?
old people
PLenty of idiocy so far in this thread.
Let the actual styarting prospect start? Probably won’t happen. Every prospect has to go to the bullpen.
/stillangry’d
It was one series. Yesterday was cold and big poppa and the bats wanted to hibernate. I could’t blame them.
Even with CC’s rough outing and a Mitre start the pitching was good from the Yanks. (3.25 ERA over the four games.) The runs will come.
Our bench needs an upgrade.We could use another OFer.Just read Andruw Jones may become available and/or McCoult(sp).I have no faith in Urkell,er,I mean Granderson,who is a fine man,no doubt,but I do not beleive he is made for NY.Hope I am wrong though.Ryan Garko if Miranda cannot adequately replace Nicked Johnson.
I have no faith in Urkell,er,I mean Granderson,who is a fine man,no doubt,but I do not beleive he is made for NY.
Did you feel this way when he hit a game-winning home run off Papelbon? Or when he had two triples in one game?
Andruw Jones? Yeah, no, I’m not gonna trade anything for an old chunky guy whose performance will probably start to fall off very soon. And who the heck is McCoult?