Anyone else watching the Yankees....

[Westheim]

How do you guys put up with Sanchez' defensive package behind the plate? I mean... it's gross.

(Yes, the Mets' D is also gross, but there is a separate thread for that. -.-)

[Déjà Bru]

I haven't been a fan of Sanchez for two years. A guy with that weak a bat (occasional monstrous home runs notwithstanding) better have good defense. He doesn't. At times, he looks lost back there; you can see it in his eyes after the latest passed ball.

Today's batting average: "Easy as .1-2-3."

The thing with him is that he is a power hitter, when he hits. Last year, 34 HRs and 77 RBIs made the .232 batting average tolerable. That is why he is still here.

But catcher is supposed to be high-D position and a team leader, even if the batting is not very good. He doesn't make the grade in defense and I have not heard any vibes about leadership.

So when he is struggling for long stretches, like he is now, and his BA is below .200, way below, I want to get rid of him.

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

Today's batting average: "Easy as .1-2-3."

Of course, now he's batting .134 because he just pinch-hit a grand slam moon shot. That's why he's still here, even though he's likely to go 1 for 20 now.

[Westheim]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

Of course, now he's batting .134 because he just pinch-hit a grand slam moon shot. That's why he's still here, even though he's likely to go 1 for 20 now.

That's calming to know!

-.-

[Déjà Bru]

The Yankees beat the Rays yesterday. I repeat, the Yankees beat the Rays. Take note; this does not happen very often these days.

[Déjà Bru]

Think fast: Beside Miguel Andújar, who has been thoroughly eclipsed, who was the last regular third baseman for the Yankees before Gio Urshela? Yeah I had to look it up: Chase Headley from 2015 through 2017. He wasn't too bad offensively but defensively? Urshela is definitely an upgrade.

And before Headley? Names like Yangervis Solarte, Kelly Johnson, Jayson Nix, David Adams, and Eric Chavez float around, all the way back to 2010 when Alex Rodriguez was the full-time 3B (Chavez and Rodriguez split time at the position in 2011 and 2012 and Todd Frazier wasn't around long enough in 2017 to count).

Urshela was not drafted; he signed with the Indians as an "amateur free agent." Then he was traded to the Blue Jays for a "player to be named or cash." Then he was "purchased" by the Yankees, like an item at a flea market!

So the kid blossoms offensively in 2019, shows that he can handle the position with the best of them, and is now the regular third baseman. Quite a rise from humble beginnings. The Yankees better be looking to sign this guy long-term. (Meaning three or four years, when he becomes a free agent. No decade-long contracts for anybody!)

[CBeisbol]

Pitchers are cruising - until they are not. Exhibit 3736

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by CBeisbol

Pitchers are cruising - until they are not. Exhibit 3736

If you are talking about tonight's game against the Orioles, yes indeed. Estrada did not help matters with his error; Cole technically gave up only one earned run out of the five scored in that inning.

[CBeisbol]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

If you are talking about tonight's game against the Orioles, yes indeed. Estrada did not help matters with his error; Cole technically gave up only one earned run out of the five scored in that inning.

Earned and unearned runs are not a good way to to evaluate a pitching performance

First 16 batters faced, 9 K's, 0 walks, 0 HR
Next 9 batters faced, 1 K, 2 walks, 1 HR

He was cruising, then he wasn't.

I hope people will remember this when a "cruising" starter is pulled from a playoff game and the team loses the game with a reliever pitching,

[Déjà Bru]

Yeah, those back-to-back walks were killers. Well, something is definitely awry in the universe when the Yanks have a losing-streak (2 games) versus the Birds!

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

Well, something is definitely awry in the universe when the Yanks have a losing-streak (2 games) versus the Birds!

Make that 3 games. Big guns injured; everybody else in a slump; two more errors today sabotaging a decent pitching effort. This is not their (half-)year.

By the way, the announcers keep pounding on Sanchez and rightly so. Remember when I said he would go something like 1 for 20 after that grand slam? Sure enough. And seeing what Kratz can do at the plate and behind it, even at 40-years old (snap throw from his knees to 2B to nail a runner today), plus his leadership, means the Yankees waited too long to trade Sanchez.

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

By the way, the announcers keep pounding on Sanchez and rightly so. Remember when I said he would go something like 1 for 20 after that grand slam? Sure enough. And seeing what Kratz can do at the plate and behind it, even at 40-years old (snap throw from his knees to 2B to nail a runner today), plus his leadership, means the Yankees waited too long to trade Sanchez.

I should clarify this. Obviously Kratz is not a long-term solution at 40. (Did you know he did not make it to the big leagues until he was 30?) At some point, he is going to revert back to his mean; he's never been great with the bat.

Over the course of a season, though, with enough at-bats, he seems to hold his own. At 38, he hit .236 in 203 AB's. For a good defensive catcher with leadership skills, that's more than good enough. (My own criterion for decent catchers is the Mendoza Line: .200).

My point, though, is that he is hitting well right now at least, has a much lower catcher ERA than "others" (Sanchez and Higashioka - the difference is striking) and is a mentor to young players. Plus, his defense seems top-notch.

It's the distinction that he is bringing to the catcher position with his bat, glove, brain, and poise that is showing up Sanchez so badly. Not that Kratz means to do so but that's how bad Sanchez is most of the time. Sometimes Sanchez can get hot, and of course his homers are impressive, but most of the time he is in these extended slumps. His glovework and presence are nowhere near where they should be to make up for hitting .130.

[Déjà Bru]

I don't know if there are any Orioles fans out there but if so, please take this with a grain of salt: Thank goodness for the Baltimore Orioles.

[Déjà Bru]

Heh, this tidbit from today:

"The first leadoff, walk-off sacrifice fly in major league history put the New York Yankees back in commanding position for a playoff berth with just over two weeks left in the regular season. Yes, that's right, Luke Voit LED OFF the 10th inning with a game-ending sacrifice fly."

EDIT: To clarify, the runner on second base had taken third on a wild pitch.

[Déjà Bru]

"The Yankees are the first team in major league history to hit at least six home runs in three straight games.

It was the first time the Yankees . . . hit five home runs in an inning and they are one of only seven teams to have ever done it."

I'd be more impressed by this if I did not know that the ball is juiced these days.

[Déjà Bru]

After viewing these games with Toronto, there's no longer any doubt: Clint Frazier is an everyday player. Now that Judge is back, Gardner sits down and Frazier plays left field. It's time.

[Déjà Bru]

Heh, a headline for today: "Can Yankees, Rays coexist peacefully in the same hotel?"

[Déjà Bru]

Both pitchers tonight have never pitched on less than 4 days rest. While I am tempted to say "Look for a slugfest because both of them are going to wilt from the interruption in their routines," I have a feeling that one of them is going to rise to the occasion while the other one falters. Which one for which fate? We'll know in about 12 hours.

[CBeisbol]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

I have a feeling

https://youtu.be/FUdetzGkQ_4

[CBeisbol]

Originally Posted by CONN CHRIS

One of these men will be victorious tonight while the other most certainly will not!

The victorious pitcher will obviously be the morally superior person who was able to overcome the moment while the other will have succumbed to the pressure