(The following is being syndicated fromThe Captain’s Blog).
should be fired. choked again. and aren’t tough enough to perform in the postseason. The Yankees should just let opt out. He can’t win in October anymore.
For Yankees' fans, an early playoff exit shouldn't have to mean total despair (Photo: AP).
Undoubtedly, many of the sentiments above will be expressed today by Yankees’ fans who are still angry over their team’s early dismissal from the 2011 postseason. Unfortunately, too many of those who follow the Bronx Bombers are of the opinion that if the season doesn’t end with champagne, it must be a failure. Of course, you really can’t blame them when that “all or nothing all” philosophy has also become an organizational mantra.
It might be blasphemous to say in Yankeeland, but winning the division is just as important as winning the World Series. Although most seem to view the 162 marathon as nothing more than a qualifying heat for an October sprint, common sense seems to dictate that these two formats be viewed separately. In many ways, the relationship between baseball’s regular season and playoffs is akin to European soccer teams playing a league schedule along with an international tournament. Both are important, but failure in one shouldn’t take away from success in the other.
Yankees Historical Per Game Run Differential
Source: Baseball-reference.com
Instead of using the postseason to validate the regular season, it makes much more sense to put the Yankees’ 2011 campaign in historical context. Even though many fans of the team take regular season success for granted, it’s worth pointing out that the Yankees’ league leading winning percentage of .599 ranks among the top-10% all-time. Even more impressive, the Yankees’ run differential in 2011 was better than more than 96% of the 2,286 teams that have played a full season since 1901. What’s more, the Yankees’ success was rooted on all sides, as the offense (20% more runs scored) and pitching staff (9% fewer runs allowed) both out performed the league average significantly. Comparatively speaking, the Yankees’ lineup was more productive than 97% of all other starting nines since 1901, while the team’s hurlers were stinger than more than 75% of past pitching staffs.
Historical Comparison of Yankees Runs’ Scored versus the League Average
Note: Graphs represents the percentage by which the team overperformed or underperformed the average (x-axis). Figures are not park adjusted.
Source: Baseball-reference.com
Historical Comparison of Yankees’ Runs Allowed versus the League Average
Note: Graphs represents the percentage by which the team overperformed or underperformed the average (x-axis). Figures are not park adjusted.
Source: Baseball-reference.com
It’s easy to understand why fans would be frustrated, disappointed and even angry about the Yankees’ early postseason exit, but they should remember that all of the players being labeled public enemy number one were, only one week ago, the heroes who propelled the Yankees to the American League’s best record and compiled all of the impressive statistics referenced above.
It’s also constructive to consider that each of the team’s three playoff losses ended with the tying run at the plate. If the Yankees had just one break in either of those games, they would be advancing with a 3-2 series win. Why is that significant? Because the .600 winning percentage over that tiny five game span would then have equaled what the Yankees compiled over 162 games. In all honesty, which of the two is really more impressive? If you’ve answered logically, it makes little sense to essentially allow one at bat to invalidate all that was accomplished over six months.
Unfortunately, a significant number of Yankees’ fans will likely eschew common sense when evaluating the 2011 season. They are the ones who boo Arod.
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Only need little improvements. They need a frontline SP. Need another lefty in pen. Need Hughes in better shape. Cc resigned. The b’s to keep improving. Nova too. Tex needs a winter with Long. Swish a sports psychologist. And Montero needs 500 ab’s.
The lefty in the pen could come from within. Feliciano should be ready to go by ST, and with the money we’re paying him he should get first shot at it.
I agree though we only need a couple of additions to key spots. Honestly if we just add CJ Wilson I think we have a Championship contending team.
Fairly easily obtained. Hughes was almost doomed coming into this season due to the dreaded “Verducci Effect.” In 2010 he pitches 70 more innings than he had ever thrown in his life, so this upcoming year we will have a better grasp as to who he really is. CC is probably coming back though for how long is something to be concerned with. Montero is the starting DH regardless of pitcher and when he catches you give the DH spot to one of the veterans. Pen guys come and go, not concerned with finding another lefty. Maybe Affeldt or Sherrill for a strictly LOOGY.
Betances and Banuelos should NOT be in consideration for the rotation, they need more seasoning in AAA and if you disagree look at how they rushed Hughes, Joba, and IPK. Nova is going to be a fine starter hopefully in the Chien Ming Wang mold. Phelps, Warren, Noesi, and Mitchell are all major league ready the way Nova was and are ready to step up to the bigs. As for a frontline starter iv been banging the Yu Darvish drum all season. Exactly the kind of risk we an organization like the Yankees should take. Japan is regarded as a AAAA club. Well look at Darvish’s numbers. If he had been doing what he has in our AAA club he would be one of if not the best pitching prospect in baseball. Signing him is a high reward risk that costs only money.
As for Tex, ARod, Martin, and Swish well Swish’s option should def be picked up. 10 million for a guy whose a lock for 25 homer and a high OBP with above average defense. One more year to prove himself. Martin should definately be kept around for defense and to teach Romine(and JR Murphy and Gary Sanchez) how to be a better catcher. ARod and Tex are here for another 6 years (!!!) so lets just hope they do better next year.
I would like to see the Yankees bid high on Darvish, but it’s hard to tell how much it would cost on bidding as it’s blind bidding I believe. Reports are coming out that the Rangers really like him. I’m not sure if that is if Cj Wilson leaves, or if they really want to step up to the big boy leagues and sign both.
Terrific piece, William. Agreed on all counts, if folks understand the element of randomness in the game you can’t value a 5 game sample over what was achieved over the full season. Also, the AL featured 4 (5 with the Rays) that were all fairly evenly matched. Small edge here or there, but 4 very good teams, all of whom could beat each other with a break here or there.
Couldn’t agree more with the overall sentiment. Successful season…playoff results can be varied and random. But….not as certain that continued failures of guys like Tex and Swish, every series every year, can be considered random anymore. Not saying to break up the team, but that is a real problem