I know it pains most of you to hear, but the Yankees haven’t gone anywhere just yet. Yes the Sawx continue to play good baseball, but in a two and a half week span the Yankees have put themselves right back into the mix. What is the reason for the Yankees resurgence? Well Bobby Abreau and Robinson Cano’s bats finally woke up, but it is consistent starting pitching. And adding Roger Clemens to that rotation bolsters that ability to get quality starts most nights. The two pitchers who have been the anchors are Chien Meng-Wang and the always reliable Andy Pettitte (but critics didn’t think he could pitch anymore and that it was a bad signing). Wang is a legitimate #1 starter in this league; just because he isn’t a high priced Yankee doesn’t mean he isn’t a quality Yankee. In 63 career starts Wang has 45 quality starts which is 71%, and this season he is on that same pace having 8 of 11 quality starts. Pettitte could still be a #1 but has settled in as the #2 starter. Over the past two seasons (in which many a baseball expert predicted his demise) he has started 50 games, 34 of them of the quality variety. And when you have a team that scores 6 runs a game, getting them into the 7th inning with less than three runs on the board gives your team a good chance to win. Those two pitchers along with Mussina and the Rocket for now give the Yanks a formidable rotation, and if they can get Phillip Hughes back healthy that only increases their pitching depth.
You know, if you look at the numbers the PGA Tour just isn’t that afraid of Tiger anymore. Now some will argue and say look at what happened to Aaorn Baddely yesterday who clearly shit himself, but that is one guy. Niclas Fasth of Sweden wasn’t intimidated, shooting a final round 70 (par) and finishing one stroke behind Woods, and Jim Furyk is the one who made the late charge on Sunday evening birdying three straight holes on the back nine. And then there was Angle Cabrera after making birdie on 15, stumbled on 16 and 17 giving two strokes back, then making his best recovery of all and paring the 18th and most difficult hole on the golf course. In Tigers first 21 majors he had 7 wins and no second place finishes, in his last 21 he has 5 wins and 4 second place finishes. Most famously in 2002 when Rich Beem refused to become unraveled as Tiger made four straight birdies to close out the tournament. At the 2005 US Open Michael Campbell shot a final round 69 while Tiger bogeyed three of the last four holes. And earlier this year Zach Johnson never wavered even after Tiger took a one stroke lead going into the back nine on Sunday; Johnson’s steadfast demeanor and game plan propelled him to victory over Tiger at the course he owns.
AND
As usual, I was correct. No, the Cavaliers didn’t win the NBA Finals in seven games; in fact they got their asses handed to them. However, if you look back at my post I talk about how it is a no lose situation for me to pick that. I spoke to everyone who called me a ridiculous clown for picking the Cavs this weekend and not one person mentioned was a fucking moron on am. I will always go on picking the under dog, because if I happen to be right I look way smarter. Just like always picking the field over Tiger, the percentages are in my favor.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
I'm not arguing your point about the Yanks pitching staff because facts are facts, but...
We as a people, as an intelligent fan base, must find a better way to gauge a quality start. Right now, it's the dumbest stat around.
Let me get this straight. A guy, say Steve Traschel, goes six innings and allows three runs before the bull pen takes over. Who doesn't know that equals out to a 4.50 ERA? Is that what we're taking as quality nowadays?
Post a Comment