The Sommer Frieze

BA-HR-RBI-SB/SB attempts-OPS+ and comments. * team leader, ** league leader

Jeter SS .333*-17-65-30*/35*-127    2743 and counting
Damon LF .281-24-79-12/12-122
Teixeira 1B .295-39**-121**-2/2-148*
Rodriguez 3B .286-28-93-14/16-142   581* hr
Matsui DH .278-28-90-0/1-131
Posada C .290-22-81-1/1-134
Cano 2B .322-25-85-5/12-127 (do not give him the steal sign)
Swisher RF .250-28-80-125  not bad for a #8 hitter, eh?
Cabrera CF .273-13-67-10/12-97

Pitching: RHP Joba Chamberlain (9-6, 4.72) ERA+ 95

The “A” lineup. A thank-you to the fans in the home regular season finale? 

A few days ago, I read a good article about how the comebacks of Posada and Matsui (both injured last year) have been key to the Yanks’ offense this year. Given their ages (38 and 35), you can’t exactly say it was expected. Both are strong candidates for Comeback Player of the Year.   

Updates: Ok, how many of you were surprised to see Pavano spit the bit in the Twins’ biggest game of the year? Hmmm….just what I expected. Not too many hands up out there.

Looking like Yankees-Tigers in the ALDS.

Based on the last few weeks, who would you like to see start Game 4 of the ALCS should the Yanks make it there? Gaudin has outpitched Joba in the last month, hands down. It will be an interesting decision. Joba did not distinguish himself tonight. 3 R in 3 2/3. 7 hits. 4 walks. 91 pitches. He will end the year 9-6, 4.78.

Maybe there IS something to limiting Joba’s innings….for he has looked out of gas the last two months.

Joba? 

The Yanks did get a HR by Jeter leading off the bottom of the 1st (#18) and a 2-run HR by Swisher #29 that tied the game. Aceves gave 2 scoreless. Albaladejo got an out. Marte got an out but walked a batter. The Meat Tray came in…and another meatball.

Please. No Meat Tray (Mitre)
meatballs in 2010.

Triple. 4-3 KC. Now tell me. What was John Buck trying to do in attempting to steal home?

Girardi went to the bench. For example, Jeter was pulled after two hits that brought his BA up to .335.

Hughes in the 8th was unreal. 3 up, 3 down. 2 K. What a weapon he should be come October. A 2.95 ERA now. It was 5.45 when he went to the bullpen.

OUCH! I was watching last night when first, the Phils’ Jamie Moyer (the 46 year old ancient ex-Mariner) got hurt, then in the next inning, an Astros pitcher. Today we find out that Moyer is done for the year. He needed surgery for not one, not two, but THREE torn muscles in the groin/thigh area.

Bottom of the 8th. Yanks down 4-3. Just three hits. They did enter tonight with a seven-game win streak.

How much does this game matter? Consider that Jeter was pulled for Hairston. Damon for Gardner. Alex for Hinske. Jorge for Cervelli. Cano for Pena. Swisher for Guzman. … and that the Meat Tray was actually used. If the Yanks win, fine but Girardi isn’t going full bore for it.

Something you’d never see except that it’s the last week of the season, the Yanks have clinched and people need work: Mo comes into a game even though the Yanks are losing.

Speaking of Mo….I got to get the SI with him on the cover.

Now Miranda replaces Teix. It’s like Spring Training.

Where I am, I get Phillies’ games all the time. One thing I hate about Comcast.…WAY too many crowd shots. It seems like they show cheering fans between every stinking pitch. I mean it. Show what we want to see….the GAME.

A 1-2-3 for the GREAT ONE. ERA down to 1.79. 1.79 for a pitcher coming off shoulder surgery who will be 40 in November. Who may be having his NINTH sub-2.00 ERA season. I will repeat myself for the millioneth time. NO OTHER CLOSER HAS MORE THAN FOUR OF THOSE SEASONS.

Hmm…GM is going to close the Saturn brand. I have 1994 Saturn Twin Cam. Does mean I now own a “classic” car?

The Yanks lose, but make it exciting in the 9th. With two out, Cervelli singles. Um…Cervelli at .304 after that hit?! Guzman reaches on a two-base error. 2nd and 3rd, two out and could Ramiro Pena get the pie in the face? Nope. He pops up.

4-3 Royals. 102-57.   

Update II: To be fair, Buck was caught in the middle during an attempted suicide squeeze and hung out to dry. The triple off the Meat Tray was misplayed by Swisher, but it’s not like the Meat Tray gives many encouraging outings.

One writer where I live has the line “most dangerous lineup in baseball” in his column today. About the Phillies. Granted the defending champs have a dangerous lineup, but I would guess the writer hasn’t been to the Bronx lately. Yankees OPS+ before last night? 120. Phils (granted other league, but the OPS+ is how you are relative to your league) 102. Really, would you take (offensively now) Feliz or A-Rod? Ruiz or Posada? C’mon now.

Update III: I made the comment above and some Phils fan came right back and said something about the money. Forget the money, how about a reasonable argument. Look at the stats. I guess when people don’t know the numbers or can’t back themselves up, they throw out the money line. For the sake of being fair, I will NOT include the DH Matsui since the Phils don’t play with a DH. (OPS+) If I did include that, would you rather have Godzilla (129 OPS+) or Greg Dobbs (84)? Really, now.

Ruiz .253-9-43 (102) vs. Posada .287-22-81 (132)
Howard .276-43-138 (136) vs. Teixeira .294-39-121 (146)
Utley .285-31-93 (137) vs. Cano .322-25-85 (127)
Rollins .250-21-77 (86) vs. Jeter .335-18-66 (130)
Feliz .267-12-80 (81) vs. A-Rod .284-28-93 (140)
Ibanez .275-34-92 (133) vs. Damon .280-24-79 (122)
Victorino .293-10-61 (110) vs. Melky .273-13-67 (97)
Werth .267-35-97 (127) vs. Swisher .251-29-82 (127)

You be the judge. To me, it’s C and 3B that make the difference (I’ll excuse the off-year by Rollins). I will note however that Rollins, for all his ability and his MVP that he won, has a career OPS+ of 97. Jeter’s? 121. Excuse me? 

To repeat, the Phils have a good lineup. They could repeat this year (although they have MAJOR, MAJOR, MAJOR bullpen issues). But best lineup in baseball? I don’t think so.