New York Yankees Gameday Thread

[Chamomile]

Which one? The graph shows three called strikes' date=' all well within the black outline.[/quote']

 

The black line is 24 inches wide, the strike zone is 17 inches wide. If we're using a regulation strike zone, two of his called strikes were balls.

[yankees228]

The black line is 24 inches wide' date=' the strike zone is 17 inches wide. If we're using a regulation strike zone, two of his called strikes were balls.[/quote']

 

Well, first off, none of those are four inches off the plate.

 

Second, the second strike to the leadoff hitter would be an inch off the edge, and the first strike to the second hitter would be right on the edge of the strike zone. On top of that, there was a pitch right on the bottom of the zone that was called a ball.

 

That means there were three pitches that could have gone either way, and two of them were called strikes. Doesn't seem bad at all to me.

[Chamomile]

Well, first off, none of those are four inches off the plate.

 

Second, the second strike to the leadoff hitter would be an inch off the edge, and the first strike to the second hitter would be right on the edge of the strike zone. On top of that, there was a pitch right on the bottom of the zone that was called a ball.

 

That means there were three pitches that could have gone either way, and two of them were called strikes. Doesn't seem bad at all to me.

 

You're trying to make a case that he didn't get a gift call and you showed me a bogus graph with a 2 foot wide strike zone that showed in reality he was given 2 gift strikes. I don't get why it's so hard to admit that Mo gets gift calls, even the Yankees announcers were joking about it. Veteran pitchers tend to get a little help from the umpires, it's not just Mo.

[yankees228]

You're trying to make a case that he didn't get a gift call and you showed me a bogus graph with a 2 foot wide strike zone that showed in reality he was given 2 gift strikes. I don't get why it's so hard to admit that Mo gets gift calls' date=' even the Yankees announcers were joking about it. Veteran pitchers tend to get a little help from the umpires, it's not just Mo.[/quote']

 

I wasn't trying to trick you or anything. While the graph is wide, it's helpful because it pinpoints where each pitch crosses the plate. Now, I completely agree, Mo often is the beneficiary of gift strikes. Tonight just wasn't one of those nights, and that's the only point I was debating. Umpires are hardly perfect, and I think it's reasonable to expect that, for all the borderline pitches, around half of them will be strikes, and around half of them will be balls. With Mo on the mound tonight there were three borderline pitches. Two were called strikes, and one was called a ball. I see absolutely no issue with that ratio.

[Chamomile]

I wasn't trying to trick you or anything. While the graph is wide' date=' it's helpful because it pinpoints where each pitch crosses the plate. Now, I completely agree, Mo often is the beneficiary of gift strikes. Tonight just wasn't one of those nights, and that's the only point I was debating. Umpires are hardly perfect, and I think it's reasonable to expect that, for all the borderline pitches, around half of them will be strikes, and around half of them will be balls. With Mo on the mound tonight there were three borderline pitches. Two were called strikes, and one was called a ball. I see absolutely no issue with that ratio.[/quote']

 

So you agree that he's often the beneficiary of gift strikes, and you showed me a graph that clearly demonstrates 2/3rds of his called strikes tonight were balls, yet you don't think he was the beneficiary of gift strikes tonight. I guess we agree to disagree then.

[yankees228]

So you agree that he's often the beneficiary of gift strikes' date=' and you showed me a graph that clearly demonstrates 2/3rds of his called strikes tonight were balls, yet you don't think he was the beneficiary of gift strikes tonight. I guess we agree to disagree.[/quote']

 

But they're both so close that it's hardly on the umpire, especially when he seemed to be giving a little bit off the corners all night. I don't think anyone can be upset about a borderline pitch being called one way, because with a human being back there (and I'm all for change), it's going to vary. Additionally, all you can ask for out of an umpire is consistency, and I believe he was for the entire night.

[Chamomile]

But they're both so close that it's hardly on the umpire' date=' especially when he seemed to be giving a little bit off the corners all night. I don't think anyone can be upset about a borderline pitch being called one way, because with a human being back there (and I'm all for change), it's going to vary. Additionally, all you can ask for out of an umpire is consistency, and I believe he was for the entire night.[/quote']

 

Maybe tonight it was just human error, but this is a pretty routine thing now that Mo's getting called strikes on pitches that are balls. Tonight, two of his 3 called strikes were in fact balls and four days ago three of his five called strikes were in fact balls. Just look at the graph, he got a call that was 5 pitches off the strike and a call that was 8 inches off the plate.

 

http://www.brooksbaseball.net/pfx/cache/location.php-pitchSel=121250&game=gid_2010_04_18_texmlb_nyamlb_1&batterX=&innings=yyyyyyyyy&sp_type=1&s_type=.gif

[yankees228]

Maybe tonight it was just human error, but this is a pretty routine thing now that Mo's getting called strikes on pitches that are balls. Tonight, two of his 3 called strikes were in fact balls and four days ago three of his five called strikes were in fact balls. Just look at the graph, he got a call that was 5 pitches off the strike and a call that was 8 inches off the plate.

 

http://www.brooksbaseball.net/pfx/cache/location.php-pitchSel=121250&game=gid_2010_04_18_texmlb_nyamlb_1&batterX=&innings=yyyyyyyyy&sp_type=1&s_type=.gif

 

Again, I never claimed that, in general, Mo doesn't benefit from a wide strike zone. He does, without a doubt. My point was only about tonight.

 

As for tonight, I think it comes to the fact that we're approaching this discussion differently. It's all about how you look at it.

 

You've crafted your argument by stating that two of the three called strikes tonight were balls.

 

I've crafted my argument by stating that there were three borderline pitches, and two of them were called strikes.

 

I think you'd agree that if you look at it your way, your point holds water, but if you look at it my way, my point holds water.

 

So then it comes down to which is the best way to look at it. Obviously I think my way is the best, but, on the other hand, I'm sure you think your way is the best.

[Chamomile]

Again, I never claimed that, in general, Mo doesn't benefit from a wide strike zone. He does, without a doubt. My point was only about tonight.

 

As for tonight, I think it comes to the fact that we're approaching this discussion differently. It's all about how you look at it.

 

You've crafted your argument by stating that two of the three called strikes tonight were balls.

 

I've crafted my argument by stating that there were three borderline pitches, and two of them were called strikes.

 

I think you'd agree that if you look at it your way, your point holds water, but if you look at it my way, my point holds water.

 

So then it comes down to which is the best way to look at it. Obviously I think my way is the best, but, on the other hand, I'm sure you think your way is the best.

 

But my way is best!

 

I see what you're saying. The called strikes that he got tonight weren't really that bad. I simply said that Mo gets a lot of gift strikes then you said he didn't get any gift strikes according to your graph, then I pointed out you were using a graph with a 2 foot wide strike zone, then we just went further off topic from there.

 

We both agree on my original point, however. Mo does get a lot of gift strikes. It's usually worse than it is tonight, and it's gotten so bad that even the announcers are joking about it. I have a bunch of respect for Mo, he's an incredible athlete even at age 40. But the strike zone is the strike zone, the plate shouldn't grow a foot wider when he pitches.

[yankees228]

But my way is best!

 

I see what you're saying. The called strikes that he got tonight weren't really that bad. I simply said that Mo gets a lot of gift strikes then you said he didn't get any gift strikes according to your graph, then I pointed out you were using a graph with a 2 foot wide strike zone, then we just went further off topic from there.

 

We both agree on my original point, however. Mo does get a lot of gift strikes. It's usually worse than it is tonight, and it's gotten so bad that even the announcers are joking about it. I have a bunch of respect for Mo, he's an incredible athlete even at age 40. But the strike zone is the strike zone, the plate shouldn't grow a foot wider when he pitches.

 

Yup, I agree with the general point. Fair enough.

[jacksonianmarch]

Hughes was dominant last night. Granted, it was the A's, but it is pretty tough to throw 7 no-hit innings. His stuff has improved and his location was much better. When he came up, he was a curveball first pitcher and it was a loopy curve. Now, he is a FB first pitcher capable of throwing 92-93 on the corners, he can cut it, he can run it. He uses a spike curve now to compliment his pitches and occasionally throws a changeup. He is becoming a very, very good pitcher.

 

In terms of the offense, once again, we got a pitcher out. He came out after 6 innings as he was closing on 100 pitches, even though Sheets was pretty tough. If we can win games scoring 3 runs, then this team is gonna be f***ing great.

[Gom]

As good as Hughes's line was good, he missed his spots all night. He had a tremendous amount of movement, which is the norm, so even when he misses, the batter missed the ball. The only thing he needs to learn is control.

[a700hitter]

Hughes was dominant last night. Granted, it was the A's, but it is pretty tough to throw 7 no-hit innings. His stuff has improved and his location was much better. When he came up, he was a curveball first pitcher and it was a loopy curve. Now, he is a FB first pitcher capable of throwing 92-93 on the corners, he can cut it, he can run it. He uses a spike curve now to compliment his pitches and occasionally throws a changeup. He is becoming a very, very good pitcher.

 

In terms of the offense, once again, we got a pitcher out. He came out after 6 innings as he was closing on 100 pitches, even though Sheets was pretty tough. If we can win games scoring 3 runs, then this team is gonna be f***ing great.

Schilling no-hit them for 8 2/3 innings with his shoulder hanging by a thread and barely hitting 90 on the gun.

[yankees228]

Well, Joe said that Cervelli wasn't going to be CC's personal catcher. However, he's doing nothing to quell those rumors.

[yankees228]

I'm a bit concerned about the Yankees offense going against a soft tosser like Braden, especially considering his changeup.

[a700hitter]

I'm a bit concerned about the Yankees offense going against a soft tosser like Braden' date=' especially considering his changeup.[/quote']Yeah, they might score only 6 runs against this bum.

[yankees228]

Yeah' date=' they might score only 6 runs against this bum.[/quote']

 

Haha, we'll see. Braden is a junk baller, but he is very deceptive, and the Yankees have problems from time to time against guys like him.

[yankees228]

CC is all over the place. Not even close to hitting his spots.

[Jasonbay44]

Kurt Suzuki 3 run bomb. 3-0 A's in bottom of first.

 

CC isn't looking thus far.

[yankees228]

First game so far this season that I would be surprised if they ended up winning. When you combine the fact that CC isn't sharp, with what I already said about Braden, and the Yankees sitting two starters, I'd be impressed if they came out on top.

[yankees228]

Admittedly, Braden doesn't look great, but the Yankees offense hasn't looked great in this series (benefitted from wildness on Tuesday), and the combination of that and the junk baller doesn't bode well.

 

With that being said, you really see the impact that his changeup has when he's able to blow 88 MPH fastballs by people.

[jacksonianmarch]

CC rights the ship, but it might be too late. Braden is a good pitcher and their pen is pretty good

[yankees228]

Yeah, good inning for CC. His control problems to the first three hitters just seemed like a fluke, and he paid for trying to get ahead early against Suzuki.

[jacksonianmarch]

Braden was exactly the kind of pitcher I hated facing. The lefty with change of speed ability, movement on everything and crappy velocity. I would much rather face a fireballer than this kind of pitcher, and most of the Yankee players seem to be agreeing with me with their weak hacks

[yankees228]

Tex continues to get pitches to hit, and continues to miss them.

[jacksonianmarch]

He was turned around the entire AB. This guy is a mindf*** on the hill. Gotta wear him down

[yankees228]

He was turned around the entire AB. This guy is a mindf*** on the hill. Gotta wear him down

 

This is true, but both of his ABs have finished with good pitches to hit that Tex seems to have timed. He's just not squaring up the ball.

[yankees228]

Nice play from Robbie.

[jacksonianmarch]

This guy just has us by the balls. And, we arent working him too hard. He might be able to hand it directly to Bailey, which wouldnt be a good thing

[yankees228]

Can't afford anymore tack on runs.