Going into Spring Training the Yankees had, barring some disaster or an unexpected loss of form, 4 of the starting positions firmly fixed. 3 of those were carry-overs from the 2009 World Champs – Sabathia, Burnett and Pettitte.
The Yankees have used an amazing 16 outfielders in Spring Training as they have sought to fill the hardest three spots on their roster. In the infield, we have merely been debating the bench spots. In the outfield, nothing is certain – an amazing situation for a team coming off a World Series win to find themselves in. In 2009, Melky Cabrera beat out Brett Gardner to fill the centrefield slot (despite opening the season as second choice). Leftfield went to Johnny Damon primarily because Hideki Matsui’s balky knees prevented him playing the outfield all year. Rightfield went to Nick Swisher who was the lightweight of the three but a good clubhouse presence. Now only Swisher remains.
Jorge Posada has been a tremendous player for the last 15 years. The suspicion is that the Yankees will soon have to find a replacement for their veteran catcher, He is safely ensconced for 2010 but 2011 or 2012 might be another matter and so the young pretenders are making their moves.
Shortstop is a very key position when it comes to estimating the Yankees roster for 2010. Obviously, Derek Jeter is the incumbent and will remain so for a few years yet. But Ramiro Pena is the key figure when it comes to trying to figure how well the Yankees will do well off the bench. Last season, Pena was a refreshing presence who did well at all the infield positions he was used in. During the season he was sent to Triple-A Scranton to learn the outfield. What the Yankees brass saw during that stint was obviously a disappointment because his standing seems to have slipped somewhat in their eyes.
There will be no surprises at 3b from the Yankees beyond Spring training. Alex Rodriguez was always going to be the first choice third baseman and the Yankees have not often carried a bench player who specialises at third.
The Yankees have used 5 players in Spring Training that you might consider second basemen. Of these four are junior members of the farm system – Luis Nunez, David Adams, Kevin Russo and Reegie Corona. Russo has seen a good number of at-bats in the Spring games and produced some decent stats but realistically he will be looking for a September call-up when the roster expands.
So far in Spring Training, the Yankees seem to be looking at 4 first baseman. There is no question going into the season about who will be the everyday player. The puzzle is more whether the Yankees need a dedicated first base backup on the bench or whether they will go with a middle-infield utility man and use Nick Johnson at 1B on those days when Teixeira does not start there.
I haven’t had chance to post anything on here recently but I promise to keep the journal busy over the next few weeks. What’s been happening?
1. I have a new website. The writing side of my work has become busy enough to encourage me to promote it further and one of my publishers were happy to help me do it as they get more work too if I’m busy. If you’re inclined to take a look, it’s here: www.darrenhirst.com
2. One of the bands that I have been working with have attracted interest from Sony/BMG which has meant some high flown meetings which seem to have gone well.
3. You can read all about my work with Sad Cafe on the new version of their website which I believe is going live today. I’m impressed with the design of this one. It was done by a company called project42 who are very talented and very efficient. You can see the site here: www.sadcafe.co.uk
4. The new issue of Natural Progressions which I edit will go to the printers on Monday. That looks good too.
5. The RSC has a new group of productions. The first is King Lear and a review of this excellent performance should be on this site in a few days time.
6. Some of my favourite artists are doing gigs in the next few weeks and I’ll do reviews which will eventually find their way here. I’ll be writing about Panic Room, Timothy B. Schmit, John Foxx and Swarf.
7. I’ve been involved in negotiations with John Foxx’s manager, Steve Malins, with a view to staging an exhibition of John’s art in Stratford-Upon-Avon. This has been frustrating and may come to nothing.
8. Baseball Spring Training has begun and I’m going to be writing an analysis of the Yankees’ Spring squad which will also eventually find it’s way here.
Busy, busy, busy………..
That’s TWI-D (Twilight Dawning) not TWIB (This week in Baseball)
Here’s the roll of honour:
Batter of the Year 2009: Derek Jeter
Pitcher of the Year 2009: C.C. Sabathia
Bench player of the Year 2009: Ramiro Pena
Relief Pitcher of the Year 2009: A three-way tie:
David Robertson – Mariano Rivera – Alfredo Aceves
For the record, here are the total points gained:
Batters
Derek Jeter 8
Alex Rodriguez 5
Robinson Cano 4
Jorge Posada 3
Hideki Matsui 2
Melky Cabrera 2
Johnny Damon 2
Mark Teixeira 1
Brett Gardner -1
Xavier Nady -1
Nick Swisher -2
Bench
Ramiro Pena 4
Francisco Cervelli 3
Jerry Hairston jr 1
Juan Miranda 1
Kevin Cash -1
Cody Ransom -2
Eric Hinske -2
Shelley Duncan -2
Freddy Guzman -2
Angel Berroa -2
Jose Molina -3
Pitchers
C.C. Sabathia 6
David Robertson 5
Mariano Rivera 5
Alfredo Aceves 5
Andy Pettitte 3
Joba Chamberlain 3
Phil Hughes 1
Mark Melancon 1
Phil Coke 1
Chad Gaudin 1
A.J. Burnett 0
Damaso Marte 0
Brett Tomko 0
Brian Bruney -1
Jose Veras -1
Sergio Mitre -1
Ian Kennedy -1
Jonathan Albaladejo -2
Chien-Ming Wang -2
Anthony Claggett -2
Edwar Ramirez -3
The way that is calculated favours those players that are consistent. Teixeira’s awful April and October explains why he might have ranked lower than on other season summaries. Other than I think it’s pretty reflective.
If the Yankees were to win the World Series or even get there, they were going to have to rely heavily on their starting rotation. The problem was that by the time of the ALCS, the Yankees effectively had a three-man rotation. Sabathia, Burnett, Pettitte and…………..
This meant that those three guys could not slip up and Rivera had to be as solid as ever and some how or other they had to keep a tight bridge in the late innings before they got to Mo. It couldn’t happen could it…… A round of applause for the Yankees’ pitching.
| New York Yankees – Pitching – Month – October (American League Championship Series) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Name | GP | GS | GF | IP | H | RA | ER | BB | SO | W | L | Sv | ERA | OBA | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Marte, Damaso | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | .000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Coke, Phil | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | .500 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Robertson, David | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | .143 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Gaudin, Chad | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | .000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Sabathia, CC | 2 | 2 | 0 | 16.0 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.13 | .161 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Rivera, Mariano | 5 | 0 | 3 | 7.0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1.29 | .125 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Pettitte, Andy | 2 | 2 | 0 | 12.2 | 14 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2.84 | .298 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Hughes, Phil | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2.2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3.38 | .308 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Chamberlain, Joba | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1.2 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5.40 | .556 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Burnett, AJ | 2 | 2 | 0 | 12.1 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5.84 | .234 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Aceves, Alfredo | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1.1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13.50 | .600 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 28 | 6 | 6 | 58.2 | 51 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 38 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2.91 | .236 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| New York Yankees – Pitching (World Series) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Name | GP | GS | GF | IP | H | RA | ER | BB | SO | W | L | Sv | ERA | OBA | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Marte, Damaso | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | .000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Rivera, Mariano | 4 | 0 | 4 | 5.1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.00 | .167 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Robertson, David | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2.1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | .222 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Aceves, Alfredo | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | .143 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Chamberlain, Joba | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3.0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3.00 | .182 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Sabathia, CC | 2 | 2 | 0 | 13.2 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3.29 | .216 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Pettitte, Andy | 2 | 2 | 0 | 11.2 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5.40 | .225 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Burnett, AJ | 2 | 2 | 0 | 9.0 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7.00 | .235 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Coke, Phil | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1.1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13.50 | .500 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Hughes, Phil | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1.2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16.20 | .333 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Bruney, Brian | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 54.00 | .750 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 26 | 6 | 6 | 53.0 | 44 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 50 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4.58 | .227 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Positives
David Robertson. Robertson is beginning to impress as a reliever and can be an important part of the Yankees’ bullpen in 2010. He had some injuries to contend with during the latter part of the season but again in the ALCS and WS, he was everything he could have been.
CC Sabathia. Sabathia was great in the American League Championship Series and then so-so in the World Series. He averaged 8 innings a game in the ALCS and earned the win in both games. In the World Series, he was not as strong but still came out with a better ERA than his two fellow starters.
Mariano Rivera. Rivera was seldom called on to pitch more than one innings during the regular series. In the post-season as confidence in Hughes and Chamberlain was at its lowest, Rivera was pressed into pitching 7 innings in 5 appearances in the ALCS and 5.1 in 4 appearances in the World Series. He earned 4 saves and achieved a miniscule ERA. One day he will retire and what will poor Yankees do then…..?
Andy Pettitte. Andy was not everything he could have been in the last two sections of the season but he did enough. He took 3 wins in 4 starts and the other game was a no decision. That’ll do.
Negatives
AJ Burnett. Burnett wasn’t as good as he needed to be in the Championship Series and World Series but somehow he managed to finish with only one loss. We couldn’t really afford this with only 3 starters but somehow we got away with it.
Phil Hughes. Hughes really needed to bounce back after the American League Division series and truth be told, he did a little better in the ALCS but close examination of the video and the statistics suggests he was lucky and his performance in the World Series confirmed this.
His OBP didn’t rise a lot but his ERA ballooned to over 16. Will the real Phil Hughes please stand up?
Brian Bruney. A mixed season saw Bruney left off the ALDS and ALCS rosters only to be recalled for the World Series. He made one appearance. He got one out and gave up 3 hits and two runs. Last chance gone.
Surprises
Damaso Marte. 7 appearances, 4 innings, no hits, no runs, no walks. There were times this season when Marte looked like he was at the end of his time with the Yankees. His work for them in 2008 had not matched his C.V. and when he was fit in 2009, he was uneven and inconsistent at best but when it really mattered he came up with the goods. We would however like a whole season of these kind of performances.
Alfredo Aceves. Aceves was disappointing in the Championship Series but bounced back in the World Series where his 2 innings in one appearance was virtually spotless…… as did…….
Joba Chamberlain with 3 innings in 3 appearances which was more important for what it wasn’t than what it was. It wasn’t a performance to match Marte but it was so much better than Chamberlain had been for several weeks and that gives hope for the future.
twilightdawning 