While the Yankees finished up the regular season going 15-12 compared to the impressive 7-20 record the Red Sox put together, both teams’ seasons ultimately ended in similar fashion – with their high-powered offenses going silent and their best pitchers faltering in a do or die game.
Just how bad was last night’s 3-2 loss to the Detroit Tigers? God knows New York had countless opportunities. New York went 2-9 with runners in scoring position, including a clutch 0-4 with the bases loaded. A-Rod hit .118 for the series, getting shown up by Mark Texiera’s .167 average. All of the earned runs in last nights game? Charged to either CC Sabathia or Ivan Nova, who were 35-12 combined on the season.
It’s now time for New York to feel the sting of disappointment.
Likewise for the Rays, who lost their series to Texas after punching the Red Sox in the gut and stealing the wild card. I always thought that the Rays had the pitching to win, but knew that they lacked the pop to get past the Yankees, Texas or Detroit. That was not the issue for the Yankees.
While there’s no doubt that the Red Sox are in the midst of a plethora of now well documented issues, the bottom line is the AL East did not produce a complete team this season – a team with serious championship potential. While there’s no doubt that the Red Sox were the biggest disappointment, especially given the expectations, none of these teams could make it past the Division Series. Tampa would play only 6 days longer than Boston, New York only 8. Everybody is now at home golfing – frustrated, disappointed, and with plenty of doubt.
I for one am looking forward to next season. May one team be good enough to make the ALCS.
I would encourage you all to remember fondly the city in which many of you received your undergraduate education, and throw your support tonight behind the Fightin Phils.
As long as the Phillies manage to win tonight, they should cruise to the World Series. If they loose we’ve got a major crap shoot on our hands.
This Yankee team had me nervous all year. They lacked something and I don’t think I was ever able to put my finger on it. There was no continuity or fluidity to the lineup. A ton of that is because nobody can hit for average besides cano and you can’t have you texeira hit as poorly as he did all year, nevermind arod on top of that. They can’t keep innings going on their own.
Until I read your comment and looked up Texiera’s average, I wasn’t aware that is was that low (.248). His power numbers were there, but for $23 mill you can expect more (not to mention A-Rods $32 mil). Still, they are a top 2 scary offense in baseball, no question. The bats went silent but let’s face it – Verlander and Fister are tough (and have been all year). I was expecting the pitching to eventually be their downfall in the playoffs.
Definitely props to fister and verlander but sherzer killed us too. I think texeira actually brought it UP to that final average at the end. You can’t constantly get people on base only for you main guys to pop out and strike out.
“they lacked something and I dont think I was ever able to put my finger on it”
ummmm quality pitching?
Yea Williams. Pitching was our problem. go crawl back into your hole.
the era of the yankees pitching staff for the series was 2.6, what is not quality about that? Clutch hitting would have been a good answer
The Brewers hopefully win tonight and then you get the best matchup possible in the NL. Phils/Brew. I said it 5 months ago and I stand by the fact that the Brewers pitching staff can match up with the Phillies.
“if colon and Garcia are in the yankees rotation at the end of the year they will come in third, maybe fourth in the al east” do you still stand by that one? Make enough comments in may something is bound to be true.
What you said 5 months ago was that the Brewers had the best starting pitching staff in the league. You were right in that they are very good, but they certainly are not the best.
I think I said it could be argued it was as good. And if the Brewers win today and the Phils lose I’m at least partially proven right
I think the Phillies rotation is undoubtedly better than the Brewers. I think the Yankees needed clutch hitting but would have ultimately been doomed by their pitching if they had moved on.
You two are literally only Yankee honks who believe their pitching was good. So we all should expect the front office to bring Colon and Garcia back right? Because your team ERA was so good?
are you are literally the only person clownish enough to stick to your point that was just plain wrong. you are looking in the face of stats and records and saying nah i am still right because…. you have no reason.
I love williams enthusiasm, but all i hear is crickets. and i hate when people make statements and then refuse to admit they were wrong.
I was wrong about them finishing in 3rd or 4th. Bad prediction on my part. However, I stand by the fact that Garcia and Colon aren’t good.
Baseball isn’t all about statistics. If it was Freddy Garcia would have started Game 2 of the playoffs. He did have a better ERA and his WHIP was almost identical to Ivan Novas. So why didn’t he start game 2? Because his stuff sucks and Nova was better? Or maybe it was because Nova has more playoff experience? Why did Burnett start game 3? Because he had the worst stats on the staff. Garcia and Colon should have started that game instead right? Or did Burnett get the start because when he is “on” he has easily the best stuff on the staff?
But keep bringing up stats and how good Garcia and Colon are when you know full well they are, at best, league average pitchers with marginal stuff and at worst are downright terrible.
you, matthew barnabis williams just said that baseball is not about stats, yet you have come on here and touted sabermetrics and scoffed at us “not being the sabermetrics crowd”. Whats changed now, you cant prove your point with those stats that you used to hold so dear?
and hey smart guy, Garcia did start game 2.
To keep repeating you know they stink, you know they are bad, you yankee honks are the only ones that see it that way, yet you have nothing other then saying they suck to back anything up does not prove anything. For 5 months you have said they are not good, and for 5 months they proved your wrong, with yes stats and yes wins and yes not finishing 3rd or 4th, they finished 1st.
At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.
I said I was wrong about the stats. Literally the very first thing I said in my last comment. Then I stated that stats aren’t everything (at least not the ones that most everyone pays attention to).
With that said I think it is fair to use the eye ball test. Seeing whether or not a pitcher is good or lucky (there are stats for that, by the way). Garcia and Colon have been unquestionably luck this year (hence they aren’t good) This is why the Yankees didn’t want either in a big situation. Yeah Garcia started Game 2. Why is that again? Oh because game one was suspended.
I am going to keep posting whatever I want on this site about however I feel. I will back it up when ever I feel like it with stats and what my eyes tell me and will continue to listen to the majority of you not respond to what I have written but instead throw out clever (?) quips and insults. Makes no difference to me.
Oh yeah, how about that shitty Brewers pitching staff that can’t be compared to the Phillies. Are they still in the playoffs?
Garcia was scheduled to start game three, burnett not scheduled to start at all you jamoke. again you are wrong.
You are more then welcome to post whatever you want, whenever you want. But when you are wrong people are going to tell you you are wrong, and my eyeballs are showing me that more often then not you are in fact wrong. How is your boy Ohcocinco doing, how about fat albert? I could not possibly judge a patriot signing fairly right?
How many yankee games did you watch this year? i would guess probably 25 at most between the red sox and national television. of those you probably saw what 4 starts each tops of the two, and that is good enough for your “scouts eyeballs” to tell you that they are lucky. I have never met anyone that is wrong about so much but has such a firm conviction that they are so damn smart. Back one of the 18 times we have argued about this you said that you had stats to back up that luck but we were not “the sabermetrics crowd”. Bring those stats.
I would also like to know what I havnt answered to? you are the one that says shit and then doesnt back any of it up. I would love to live in the fantasy land that is your brain.
Garcia’s BABIP was .292 – lower than league average of around .300 so he was lucky in a lot of respects. His xFIP was pretty high at .436 which is a pretty good indicator (some say the best indicator of future pitching succes) that Garcia will regress next year.
Not that any of this matter because I am either making things up or this stat doesn’t mean shit.
Colon on the other hand was unlucky .305 BABIP and actually should have pitched better than he did .357 xFIP. However, his diminshed velocity especially at the end of the year was of significant concern. Do I need to show pitch charts for that or are my eyes reading the radar gun good enough?
I see more Yankee games than 25. I have MLB.tv and tend to watch a lot of the games – granted they are of the condensed version.
Anything else I need to back up? What about the Brewers pitching staff?
hey, what do you know a well thought out argument supported with tangible facts, I did not know you had it in you.
I wouldnt say that Garcia having a few points below league average would make him a “joke” which is the comment that started this entire thing, and you wont find anyone that would say he was an allstar.
as far as fip goes, this isnt about next year. these guys were one year stop gaps. and coming into the year they were supposed to be our 5th and 6th starters. I would say that being an slightly below average pitcher is pretty good for the last 2 guys on the staff, agree?
as far as the brewers go they had the 7th best era in the nl, 6th best batting average against, won less games with a better offense then the phillies, 3rd best whip. The phillies were number 1 in all of those catagories. Are there any catagories that I should be look at that I did not? In looking at those I dont know how you can compare the two. The brewers do have a good staff, again you will get no argument, but the phillies were number 1 across the board, and the brewers were average to number 3.
Saying Garcia and Colon were jokes were an overstatement. They did have good years. I just don’t think they are worthy of anything more than stop gap status in a Yankee uniform.
Again, your right about the Phillies vs Brewers. Their stats were better – but the Brewers are younger and not only can pitch better going forward, but are also more likely have bad outings now as younger and new (2 from the AL) pitchers commonly do.
If you asked me to take the Brewers pitchin g staff or the Phillies for the next 3-5 years Id take the Brewers.
And now that I think of it… lets skip this part of the conversation
JBone – The Phillies had 4 guys under 3.00 Era and the Brewers had none
Williams – Yeah the Brewers are still in the playoffs – doesn’t that mean their better? I mean it is all about winning championships and making further into the playoffs right?
JBone – No not entirely.
Williams – oh in that case you are willing to say that the Red Sox were a better team this year?
JBone – 7-20
Williams – I thought championships were the only thing that mattered
Start over again.
i know have no idea what the hell you are talking about.
so the yankees having a better record means the red sox are better?
and the brewers advancing further, not playing the phillies, means that they are a better pitching staff?
you do realize that offense is part of baseball as well right? what you are hanging your hat on is the brewers advanced further?
and in your hypothical conversation above you stated that championships are the only thing that mattered, then stated the red sox are better and i said no and you said championships matter again, somehow proving me wrong when you repeated your own fact and THE RED SOX DID NOT WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP, THEY DIDNT MAKE THE PLAYOFFS.
boy you are completly out of your mind.