Lineups via LoHud: YANKEES Derek Jeter SS Johnny Damon LF Mark Teixeira 1B Alex Rodriguez 3B Jorge Posada C Robinson Cano 2B Nick Swisher RF Melky Cabrera CF Andy Pettitte P Pitching: LHP Andy Pettitte (2-0, 2.37 postseason ERA) PHILLIES Jimmy Rollins SS Shane Victorino CF Chase Utley 2B Ryan Howard 1B Jayson Werth RF [...]
Today, Joe Girardi announced that CC Sabathia will start Game 4 of the WS on short-rest. Also, Nick Swisher is back in right field for Game 3.
Cole Hamels’ best pitch this year is, once again, his changeup. The pitch, which generally clocks in around 78-81 mph, on average, was thrown just over 30% of the time in 2009. It serves as Hamels’ main strikeout offering and, according to pitch value data, was 11.7 runs above average, the second best changeup value [...]
My gut instinct, upon looking at the schedule, was to dig in my heels against it. I had heard, as most of you have, the famous 4.65 ERA statistic for pitchers on 3 days rest since the wildcard era began (see here – prior to 2009). A closer examination of that arguments, however, shows just [...]
Tonight’s Game 3 of the World Series between the Phillies and the Yankees features another battle of lefthanders, as Cole Hamels (1-1, 6.75, 12Ks) battles Andy Pettitte (2-0, 2.37, 15Ks). Much has been made of Game 3 being a critical juncture, and there’s no question this is a big game for both teams. The Yankees [...]
Last postseason, Cole Hamels took MLB by storm, bringing home both the NLCS and World Series MVP awards. He ended up with an ESPN commercial, a Sports Illustrated cover and a shiny new world championship ring for his efforts.
In 2009, he’s the owner of a sterling 3.91 K/BB, a solid (if not spectacular) 3.72 FIP and the third highest swinging strike rate in the majors (11.8%, behind Javier Vasquez and Rich Harden).
Hamels hasn’t been as superhuman in this season as he was in October of 2008. He’s been merely very good remember that 3.72 is not nearly as impressive in the NL as it would be in the AL. Over the last month, though, he’s been doing his best Livan Hernandez impression See the table below:
| IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | K | ERA | FIP | K/BB | |
| Since 9/23 | 31.1 | 40 | 24 | 24 | 8 | 7 | 23 | 6.89 | 5.75 | 3.29 |
| Regular Season | 193.2 | 206 | 95 | 93 | 24 | 43 | 168 | 4.32 | 3.72 | 3.91 |
The thought here is that Hamels is simply worn out. Consider his innings totals since coming to the majors 181.1 in 2006, 183.1 in 2007, and then 227.1 in 2008. Now, it appears he may have hit a wall after 160 innings in 2009.
Select View Full Post to continue reading.
By Mike Jaggers-Radolf Charlie Manuel is doing his best to channel his inner Joe Girardi. The Phillies’ heralded manager may have cost his team the game last night keeping Pedro in to start the 7th. The decision was puzzling considering the pitcher’s age (38), pitch count after the 6th (99), and the fact that the [...]
Alex Rodriguez has 6 strikeouts, thus far, in the World Series. He’s performing like it’s 2006. Here’s Tom Verducci’s (SI) take on A-Rod’s first two games of the series: Those were some funky swings Alex Rodriguez took in Games 1 and 2 in the World Series, looking nothing like the compact, balanced strokes he took [...]
I’ll miss having Matsui’s bat in the lineup when the Yanks venture down the NJ Turnpike in Game 3 tomorrow. However, I can’t endorse this idea:
“That’s something we’re going to have to talk about,” Girardi said of using the 35-year-old Matsui in the outfield for the first time this season. “We’ll see how he’s doing. We’ll have to see. We’ll make a decision when we get there. We have all day to think about it [during Friday's off-day.]“
Despite the ice wrapped around both his knees, Matsui, who went 2-for-3 and reached base three times, was confident his legs could hold up in the outfield at Citizens Bank Park.
Does that sound like a smart move? Granted his bat is worthy of starting, but at the expense of the defense? And would he play LF (bumping Damon to RF or the bench?) or RF (bumping Swisher or whoever else Girardi would otherwise start)?
Select View Full Post to continue reading.
IIATMS MASTHEAD
Co-Founders and Editors Emeritus
Jason Rosenberg, Larry Koestler,
Moshe Mandel, Brien Jackson
Editors-in-Chief
Michael Eder, Stacey Gotsulias, Matt Imbrogno
Writers
Tamar Chalker, William Tasker, EJ Fagan, Mike Jaggers-Radolf, Brad Vietrogoski, Domenic Lanza
SNY
SNY
In Mo We Trust
