20 replies to this topic

[EvilEmpire]

Second game of three with the hated Angels. If the Yankees want to win the series they better do it today since Weaver is pitching tomorrow.

[jon abbey]

I hope Mr. Trout did some serious partying post-game last night, he tweeted this around 8 AM:

Mike Trout ‏@Trouty20
NYC is crazzzzzy !!

[jon abbey]

Derek Jeter SS
Curtis Granderson CF
Alex Rodriguez DH
Robinson Cano 2B
Mark Teixeira 1B
Nick Swisher RF
Raul Ibanez LF
Eric Chavez 3B
Chris Stewart C

[terrynever]

Derek Jeter SS
Curtis Granderson CF
Alex Rodriguez DH
Robinson Cano 2B
Mark Teixeira 1B
Nick Swisher RF
Raul Ibanez LF
Eric Chavez 3B
Chris Stewart C

A-Rod might benefit from a drop to sixth in the lineup, just to take away the pressure he puts on himself. Let him be just one of the contributors to this team's success, instead of the 3-hole or cleanup hitter who doesn't produce. Besides, he doesn't belong n the 3 or 4 holes anymore.
Put Teix third every day and Cano fourth, then Swish, then Alex.

[priestvalon]

Freddy Garcia and the strange case of the "sliding sinker"
"Explaining Freddy Garcia’s “Swing” Ball" by Yankee Analysts

It was Saturday when I was sitting at home and watching Freddy Garcia pitch to the Red Sox in the first inning. A pitch to Pedro Ciriaco caught me off guard. I’ve gotten pretty good at identifying pitches, but what I saw absolutely stumped me. YES was nice enough to take a second look at the pitch that David Cone called a splitter with sliding action. Although it was thrown with a splitter grip, the pitch moved in the opposite direction of what was expected, acting more like a hard curveball. I should also mention that the spin of the pitch was so far off from the results, that I suspected Freddy Garcia broke one of the laws of physics.

It was previously believed that the large area of the figure-eight seam pattern on a baseball, as well as the high rotation of a pitch, neutralized any irregularity in movement from the ball’s seam. The knuckleball, which has very limited spin, was the only pitch known to significantly move due to the seam. Freddy Garcia’s pitch above destroys this assumption.

Rather than being a complete mystery, Garcia is throwing a pitch adapted from one commonly found in cricket (probably without knowing the origin of it.) It has a forward facing smooth side AND seam as it spins during its flight. This gives it both the hard snap downwards of a good curve, but also dives away from righties.

Turns out Garcia has figured out a few tricks to help out with his diminished pitch speed.

Edited by priestvalon, 14 July 2012 - 11:36 AM.

[jon abbey]

A-Rod might benefit from a drop to sixth in the lineup, just to take away the pressure he puts on himself. Let him be just one of the contributors to this team's success, instead of the 3-hole or cleanup hitter who doesn't produce. Besides, he doesn't belong n the 3 or 4 holes anymore.
Put Teix third every day and Cano fourth, then Swish, then Alex.

A-Rod's splits are worth noting, .920 OPS against LHP and .718 OPS against RHP. I personally wouldn't move him quite yet.

[terrynever]

A-Rod's splits are worth noting, .920 OPS against LHP and .718 OPS against RHP. I personally wouldn't move him quite yet.

Yet is the operative word here. He is definitely the missing link in this homer- happy lineup. One has to wonder if his pride would be hurt by dropping to fifth or sixth. I guess fifth would be easier to swallow.

[priestvalon]

A-Rod might benefit from a drop to sixth in the lineup, just to take away the pressure he puts on himself. Let him be just one of the contributors to this team's success, instead of the 3-hole or cleanup hitter who doesn't produce. Besides, he doesn't belong n the 3 or 4 holes anymore.
Put Teix third every day and Cano fourth, then Swish, then Alex.

Hit him 2nd. He still gets on base.

[jon abbey]

Mike Trout is ridiculous, not that that's news at this point.

[jon abbey]

I don't predict HRs too often, but I called the first Tex one yesterday and that Cano one. Whoo, me.

[terrynever]

Mike Trout is ridiculous, not that that's news at this point.

Yeah, and Yanks wanted him. Angels took Trout with 25th pick, Yanks got Heathcock at 29.

[jon abbey]

It's kind of nice when Trout gets a double, then you don't have to worry about him stealing second.

[terrynever]

It's kind of nice when Trout gets a double, then you don't have to worry about him stealing second.

Nice when Trout comes up with two outs in the books, too.

[jon abbey]

As someone said on Twitter earlier, the only one who can get Cano out these days is his dad.

[jon abbey]

Man, Eppley has been incredible recently, two innings through the meat of the order in a game like this is huge.

[jon abbey]

Nervous about this save attempt.

[jon abbey]

Guess I didn't need to worry, great job by the bullpen today.

[terrynever]

Never thot a Rivera-less season could be this stress-free. Eppley was huge today, as you noted. Cano's homer hit off top of fence and caromed into first row of bleachers. Sterling said it went into bleachers on a fly. Wrong again.

Edited by terrynever, 14 July 2012 - 03:15 PM.

[nycdoc999]

Sterling is blind.

Nice win. Time to get greedy tomorrow.

[priestvalon]

Man, Eppley has been incredible recently, two innings through the meat of the order in a game like this is huge.

At some point you stop having to say "Who the hell is this Eppley guy, and why is he coming out of the bullpen," and to start thinking he is making a case for himself in the bullpen.

[jon abbey]

Yep, he and Rapada have definitely earned their spots. Wade is likely buried in AAA until rosters expand or guys get hurt (knock on wood), Qualls will be bumped when Joba is ready.