Baseball Toaster: Bronx Banter : The Wright Stuff

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The Wright Stuff

2006-05-23 19:01

by Cliff Corcoran

Don't look now, but Jaret Wright is turning into a legitimate number five starter. In four starts in May including last night's victory over the Red Sox, Wright has posted the following line:

22 1/3 IP, 18 H, 7 R, 2 HR, 7 BB, 13 K, 2-1, 1.12 WHIP, 2.82 ERA

Last night, Wright held the Red Sox scoreless through five innings before leaving with a tweaked groin. Wright initially injured himself while trying to dodge a line drive by Kevin Youkilis leading off the first inning. The ball wound up sticking in Wright's ribs for the first out. In the fifth, an attempt to dodge another comebacker by Youkilis, which Wright also turned into an out, exacerbated the injury, ending his night after the inning.

Given Wright's predilection for being hit with flying objects in the later part of last season and the fact that the injury prone hurler has managed to stay healthy while the rest of the Yankee roster has crumbled around him, it seemed only a matter of time before Wright would get his. Fortunately, the Yankees don't expect Wright to miss his next start, though one wonders if they'll rethink their plans to skip Aaron Small's turn this weekend, instead using Small on regular rest to give Wright an extra day off before his next start.

While Wright was stymieing the Red Sox, who stranded seven men against the Yankee starter through five innings, the Yankees were pecking away at Tim Wakefield. Johnny Damon started the game by wrapping a homer around the Pesky pole. In the third Damon followed a one-out Andy Phillips walk by hustling a single to center into a double. Derek Jeter then singled home both men on Wakefield's next pitch to put the Yanks up 3-0. Wakefield handed the Yanks another run in the sixth when Alex Rodriguez reached first on a passed ball after striking out swinging, then took second on another passed ball, moved to third on a fielder's choice, and scored on yet another passed ball one pitch before Terrence Long struck out to end the inning.

With Wright out of the game, Scott Proctor came on and gave that run right back on singles by Trot Nixon, Alex Cora and Doug Mirabelli to make it 4-1 after six.

After getting Phillips and Damon out on three pitches to start the seventh, Wakefield lost the strike zone, walking Jeter and Sheffield on his next eight pitches. Jeter and Sheffield then executed a double steal as Wakefield fell behind 2-0 on Alex Rodriguez, who then teed off on a pitch in the zone. Somehow Rodriguez lost track of the ball off the bat and kept looking up as if he though he had popped it up, meanwhile the ball was sailing into the Monster seats in left field for a three-run homer, making it 7-1 Yanks and driving Wakefield from the game.

Red Sox again answered Rodriguez in the bottom of the inning when Youkilis and Loretta lead-off the inning with walks off Proctor. Proctor then got David Ortiz to line-out to center for the first out and got ahead of Manny Ramirez 0-2 only to put his next pitch on a tee for Manny, who launched it to dead center for a three-run jack of his own that ended Proctor's night.

Mike Myers came on and walked Trot Nixon before yielding to Kyle Farnsworth, who finished the inning, but not before adding a walk of his own, the fourth of the inning. Farnsworth then issued one-out walks to Youkilis and Mark Loretta in the eighth, forcing Joe Torre to bring in Mariano Rivera for a five-out save.

Rivera's first task was facing David Ortiz, who represented the tying run with men on first and second and one out and the Yankees up 7-4 in the eighth. Rivera's first pitch was inside, belt high and Ortiz lined it foul beyond the Red Sox dugout. His next had a bead on Ortiz's heavily padded right elbow, which the lefty slugger leaves hanging in the strike zone as he leans over the plate. Ortiz checked his swing and fouled that pitch straight back to make it 0-2. Posada then called for high heat up around Ortiz's eyes, but Rivera missed high and away for ball one. Rivera then took aim at Ortiz's elbow again and Big Papi popped the pitch up to Jeter behind second. That elbow pad makes a mighty nice target for Rivera's cutter, which appeared to crack Ortiz's bat on that pop out as a pissed off Papi snapped his club over his knee on his way back to the dugout.

Having retired Ortiz, Rivera missed Posada's low and away target on a 1-0 pitch to Manny Ramirez, leaving it belt high on the outside part of the plate, where Manny was able to get the barrel of the bat on it and line it past Jeter for an RBI single that made it 7-5. Mo then got Trot Nixon to pop out foul behind third for the final out and pitched around a one-out Alex Cora single in the ninth to pull the series even at a game a piece.

In Other News:

Jorge Posada pulled up lame while running out a groundout in the second inning. He finished the game without further sign of injury, but is listed as questionable for tonight's game with a strained tendon behind his knee. According to Joe Torre, Posada was putting heat on the tendon between innings all night last night.

Also, to clear room for Sheffield on the 25-man roster, the Yankees designated Colter Bean for assignment, an unnecessarily harsh demotion for Bean as he is only in his second option year (he was first added to the 40-man roster in November 2004) and the Yankees had just 39 men on their 40-man roster with Bean included. Even if the Yankees wanted to clear more room on their 40-man, they could easily have moved Sturtze, Pavano or Matsui to the 60-day DL. Besides which, Sheffield was already on the 40-man roster, meaning a space did not have to be cleared for him. The Yankees mistreatment of Bean remains utterly inexplicable.

Making matters worse, Scott Erickson and Terrence Long remain on the 25-man roster. Not only that, but Long has actually started the last two games. Hopefully the latter issue will be resolved starting tonight with Sheffield, Giambi and Melky Cabrera appearing in the line-up together for the first time this year as the Yanks look to beat up on Matt Clement to capture an unlikely series win. Torre has said he plans to bat Sheffield, Giambi and Rodriguez in that order in spots three through five in the line-up. Me likey.

Finally, Peter Abraham reports that the Yankees will call up a pitcher to replace Bean before tonight's game, likely at the expense of Kevin Reese. Peter thinks the hurler is likely to be Ramiro Mendoza. Me likey that'n too.

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Comments (146)

Show/Hide Comments 1-50

2006-05-24 02:11:41

1. Yu-Hsing Chen

After this game, would seem appropriate to write a quater review of the team in the offday?

2006-05-24 02:26:30

2. rabid stan

Cliff, Cliff, Cliff.

A play on Jaret Wright's name for a headline? Now, you wouldn't be mailing it in, would you?

Say it ain't so.

I would consider posting every headline I could find (on google, in the paper, from other blogs...) featuring some kind of word-play with that name if I thought for a minute that a list that long wouldn't crash the toaster. I really do have all the time in the world to do that sort of thing.

Imagine: every "The Wright Stuff", every "Wrighting the Ship", "Wright on Target", "Yankees all-Wright", "Wright of Way", "The Vast Wright-Wing Conspiracy", "If Loving You is Wrong, Then I don't Wanna be Wright", etc., etc...

Where was I?

Oh, Wright. I actually love playing around with names. Great headline.

2006-05-24 02:57:46

3. Yu-Hsing Chen

2 rofl, easy to think of headlines when u have a Wang and a Wright on ur rotation ;) not to meantion a Small...

2006-05-24 04:02:55

4. Dimelo

Cliff, Why are people so hung up on Bean? Is he really a major league pitcher? The guy I saw before last night's game does not look like a major league pitcher. Do I know what a major league pitcher looks like? Not entirely, but I'm pretty sure a junk-baller is not one I want to see on the Yankees. That said, Erickson is a junk baller. And given the choice between Long or Bean, I'd take Bean. But for the moment I'd take Erickson over Bean. I don't know why I feel that way, maybe Erickson gives me more confidence. Though I wouldn't send Reese down to AAA for Ramiro. I'd rather they release Long.

2006-05-24 04:42:04

5. joejoejoe

Did you know Scott Erickson and Joe Torre were teammates with the same player? Both played with Jim Dwyer, a career bench OF who played for 18 years with a ton of different teams. Which brings me to...

Six Degrees of Scott Erickson

As a rookie, Scott Erickson was teammates with Jim Dwyer (1), who as a rookie was a teammate of Joe Torre (2), who as a rookie was a teammate of Warren Spahn (3), who as a rookie was a teammate of Paul Waner (4), who as a rookie was a teammate of Babe Adams (5), who as a rookie was a teammate of Jack Beckley (6), who was a rookie in 1888.

Can anyone make a chain from a current Yankee player (or any current player) all the way back to 1876 (first year of organized baseball) in six steps of teammates? I used rookie years above but you can use any year players were teammates if you think it will help. I don't know if it can be done but linking Harold Baines to Minnie Minoso seems promising.

2006-05-24 04:56:07

6. The Mick 536

A-Rod comes through with a PB/K trip to first that ends up in a run scored and a big homer.

Two nights in a row, Manny hits an 0-2 yard. Why do I always think our star 3ber will wiff in the same count?

2006-05-24 05:07:37

7. murphy

cliff, dimelo4:

bean: in alex's interview with joel sherman he said something to the effect of "the general consensus around the majors is that bean just does not have good enough stuff to suceed at the MLB level". i am guessing sherman and his cohort have actually SEEN a bit more of bean than we have, so there may be something to that.

HOWEVER!!!

dimelo: erickson over bean? are you secretly bunking up with torre? more confidence? wow.

also: phillips came up with the big RBI against the mets. he's also been showing some ability in taking a pitch or two. he and bernie are starting to feel a LITTLE less like a DH black hole.

2006-05-24 05:09:44

8. murphy

mick. please don't piss on our proverbial ice cream cone concerning ARod. while seemingly icing on the cake at the time, his HR is the differnce of an entire game in the standings.

2006-05-24 05:17:45

9. vockins

Bean got DFA'd? I just got my kid his shirt!

If you see a 18 month old with a Bean T on at the stadium this season, say hi to the guy holding her hand, because it's me.

2006-05-24 05:24:47

10. rbj

Big game for A-Rod. Scores twice and knocks in two more. Without him the game was lost. I got in after the fifth, so I didn't see Jaret, but nice to see those numbers.
What the heck was up with the bullpen last night? Did everyone this side of Mo forget where the strikezone was? One guy having an off night I can understand, but all three?!?

2006-05-24 05:47:49

11. Dimelo

7 I know what you are saying about Erickson...I just have no faith in Bean. I just feel better with Erickson than Bean. Now, I don't think he should be on the team either and hopefully after Dotel comes back Smith stays and Erikson is booted out of here.

2006-05-24 05:48:15

12. BobbyBaseBall

It was great seeing Mo being Mo against Papi in the 8th. And the fat Cookie Monster's reaction afterwards made it even sweeter.

In other observations, has anyone else notice that Papelbon has the Private Pyle look from "Full Metal Jacket"? With that blank country boy stare, I can't wait for his first blown save. Let's hope it's tonite.

2006-05-24 05:48:57

13. joe in boston

Nice win, a really nice win.

Almost a "must win", but I won't call it that. Felt good.

Any thoughts on Manny showboatin' - watching that homer ???

2006-05-24 05:52:48

14. murphy

12 funny wish. i was hoping we'd be so far ahead (giambi, plus ARod, plus sheffield back) that they don't even bother bringing Papalbomb in.

2006-05-24 05:57:35

15. BobbyBaseBall

14 I know, I know. But it's gotta happen sometime, and I just want to be watching it. Truthfully, I wish it was one of those 17-3 games, but then I remembered who is pitching. Which begs the question, which is more demoralizing for the losing team: a comeback in the 9th, or a blow-out?

2006-05-24 06:08:49

16. Dimelo

Really nice piece on ARod.
http://tinyurl.com/ledzk

2006-05-24 06:27:45

17. Sliced Bread

Is there a video game villain or puffed up pro wrestler more cartoonishly cocky than that obnoxious clown Ramirez?

I love Posada's response when asked how he felt about Manny's showboating (as quoted in the Daily News): "I can't answer that question correctly."

2006-05-24 06:32:17

18. joe in boston

Sliced Bread -

I'd love some chin music from Randy to Ramirez tonight. It's really just what BOTH of them need.

2006-05-24 06:45:27

19. bp1

18 Yup. Totally.

17 Jorge and Proctor both showed amazing restraint in answering that question, but I think they got their feelings across.

Enough with the "Manny being Manny" already. Time for a little "Unit being Unit" tonight.

2006-05-24 06:53:10

20. ric

"Time for a little "Unit being Unit" tonight. "

that being 4 innings pitched, 7 earned runs?

2006-05-24 07:03:01

21. Shawn Clap

On Manny: You know what time it is?
Time for someone to get their clock cleaned.

2006-05-24 07:12:38

22. YankeeInMichigan

Why would Torre skip Small's spot against KC and then insert him in Detroit? Is it because Randy is hung up on his 5-day rythm? On a personal note, I'm headed to Comerica Monday and Tuesday and would rather see Wright and Randy than Randy and Small. Perhaps, as Cliff noted, Wright's groin may change things. Who knows? Last July, I woke up Sunday morning expecting to see Pavano and instead got treated to a masterpiece by Wang (Pavano hasn't pitched since).

As for the Bean DFA, it's so illogical that it almost has to be something personal. Perhaps after being informed of being optioned, Bean blew up and said "I want no part of you."

2006-05-24 07:22:46

23. Mattpat11

I'm not crying for Bean. He didnt even look a little impressive. Not every 30 year old in the minors deserves a three month trial up here.

2006-05-24 07:28:52

24. Sliced Bread

If I'm the Yankees, particularly the slumping Johnson, I wouldn't bother "sending a message" to Meathead Ramirez. Why feed into that jerk's childish game?

Tonight is an important game for Johnson, and the Yanks. I'm just hoping Randy can step up and pitch effectively, let alone try to dominate and intimidate.

That said, if Johnson (or any Yankee pitcher) thinks brushing back Ramirez (or any opposing hitter) is necessary, and can help win the game, I'm all for it.

2006-05-24 07:37:02

25. bp1

24 Agreed that some sort of "Golden Sombrero" for Manny would be the best revenge, coupled with a clean win (which he may or may not notice), but he has shown in the past that he can be rattled by a close pitch.

Sure, it's an emtional reaction, and I'm sure Joe would be 100% dead set against it, but geez. Enough.

2006-05-24 07:46:50

26. Shawn Clap

24
I think that's just the thing. The only way RJ is effective if he is intimidating. When batters can dig in and feel comfortable in the box, well the result is Big Unit 2006.

2006-05-24 07:49:07

27. unpopster

If The Unit wasn't going through such a difficult period, I'd say that hit cheese to Manny was guaranteed. But I think Randy just wants to right his ship right now and he's not interested in getting off his game plan.

However, with Randy, you just never know. Many he's been missing that killer instinct the last month or so and a nice adrenaline-pumping beanball might just do the trick for him.

On a side note, I think someone should ask Josh "The Sheriff" Beckett what he thinks of Manny's pose. If I hear that's "Manny Being Manny" from any Sox players another time, I think we should just bean every single player that ever mutters that phrase for the remainder of the season.

2006-05-24 07:53:18

28. unpopster

27 that should have read "high cheese"

2006-05-24 07:54:47

29. Fred Vincy

joejoejoe (5):

He's not a current Yankee, but:

Cap Anson (1876 Chicago White Stockings) played with (1) Buttons Briggs (1897 Chicago Colts) who played with (2) Johnny Evers (1905 Chicago Cubs) who played with (3) Johnny Cooney (1929 Boston Braves) who played with (4) Warren Spahn (1942 Boston Braves) who played with (5) Phil Niekro (1964 Milwaukee Braves) who played with (6) David Wells (1987 Toronto Blue Jays)

2006-05-24 07:57:14

30. Dimelo

Did Bean really inspire that much confidence in some of you? I don't get it....after all the hype, I expected to see Sidd Finch. He's a pitcher that gets by on junk. He throws junk, looks like junk and should never be called back up because he is junk. No offense to Colter Bean the person, it's the pitcher I don't particularly like. I think some people overvalued Bean's success in the minors, part of me wants him back up just to see him get hammered for the sheer pleasure of going to NoMaas and seeing how they respond with their love fest with Colter Bean. Will they give him the same ridicule they gave Sturtze, Torre, Bernie, Mel Stot, etc? Not that those players and coaches aren't above criticism, I just don't get the philosophy "we love this guy" but "we hate this guy". And some the guys they love or care deeply for haven't really done much at the major league level.

With that said, I'm quickly falling in love with Melky and I'm starting to like his demeanor and approach. It also seems like he's tracking the balls better, too. He doesn't scare me anymore when a ball is hit to him. T-Long...he scares the crap out of me. Everything about him scares me, the scariest part is seeing him in a Yankee uniform.

2006-05-24 08:08:40

31. Dimelo

I didn't know this..I just read this at RotoWorld.

Shortly before playing in Tuesday's game, Gary Sheffield said "he has a broken hamate bone in his left hand."
Sheffield reportedly considered surgery, which would have kept him out for 4-6 weeks. I don't have time for surgery," Sheffield said. "Not anymore." Don't be surprised if Sheffield fails to hit for his typical power. May. 24 - 10:03 am et
Source: Newark Star Ledger

2006-05-24 08:10:07

32. bp1

30 Re: Melky. The "deer in the headlights" look of sheer panic seems to be slowly morphing into "I think I'm having fun". It's fun to watch.

2006-05-24 08:11:42

33. bp1

31 Dunno. If he connect with one of those swings in the 9th last night, nobody would be talking about Manny's monster blast today. The bat still looks mighty quick to my untrained eyes. I sure hope the wrist thing won't be a lingering problem.

2006-05-24 08:33:59

34. vockins

30 Bean pitched two innings!

I know Sturtze sucks because there is a mountain of evidence declaring he sucks.

2006-05-24 08:40:56

35. Cliff Corcoran

31 There were whispers about this a couple of weeks back, but I thought they had been dismissed and that there was no hamate problem. Curious.

As for Bean, I don't care how he does it, but Bean gets hitters out at an alarming rate. That's all I need to know. Just because he's 300 pounds and lacks Scott Erickson's deep piercing blue eyes doesn't mean he's not effective (did you see Bean make David Wright look silly on Sunday?). There are junk ball pitchers in the Hall of Fame, you know.

Minor League numbers do translate to major league performance. Here are Bean's:

2006: 1.69 ERA, 26 2/3 IP, 16 H, 0 HR, 33 K

Career through 2005: 2.69 ERA, 371 1/3 IP, 276 H, 18 HR, 471 K

Explain to me why he doesn't deserve a longer trial at the big league level?

2006-05-24 08:42:17

36. Shaun P

Just speculation, but I wonder if Bean's size and demeanor played into this. Normally I wouldn't speculate, but when I heard even Jon Miller and Joe Morgan, who are usually very professional - Joe's stupidity about Moneyball and stats aside - making fun of Bean, "Bean probably blocked for Joe Namath at Alabama" or something like that, it really makes me wonder.

I've never understood the phrase, "He doesn't look like a major leaguer." What, exactly, does a major leaguer look like? Guys of all heights (6'10" Unit, 5'10" (snigger) Rickey) and weights (170lb-soaking-wet Roy Oswalt, 250+lb Boomer Wells) have succeed in the bigs.

Who cares what Bean looks like? He has a great track record in the minors of getting people out and ought to be judged on that, not two innings.

Just my $0.02.

2006-05-24 08:45:08

37. Maz

Perhaps what happens regarding this whole Manny thing is that Torre waits. With Johnson not on his game of late you really can't afford to have him deliver the payback. But, say late in this game, or the next series, Torre has Proctor in and lets him send the message.

Quite fitting I would think.

2006-05-24 08:53:37

38. chris in c-bus

dimelo - i couldnt agree more...nomaas and some on this board love Bean but cant really say why...being a better option than erickson isnt a good enough reason to have him up here...not that erickson should be in the majors, but at least he can throw mop up innings whereas I dont think bean could go many innings in a row based on his actual role being a setup or closer at the AAA level. I've seen him pitch for the clippers many times and Bean is decent, but why people lobby for him so vehemently is beyond me...hopefully dotel comes back healthy and none of this matters...also, the same folks who love bean hated proctor and I think he's been a part of the yanks avoiding a total collapse in the last month. If farnsworth and dotel perform, proctor is the 3rd RH reliever and I will take that...At least proctor can throw hard...bean's junk isnt likely to get out big league hitters consistently after they've seen him a couple times...

2006-05-24 09:08:17

39. chris in c-bus

sounds like posada's out tonight, but I guess he might have been anyway with unit on the hill..

2006-05-24 09:10:57

40. Cliff Corcoran

38 Right because throwing hard translates directly into getting guys out, as we've seen with Mussina this year.

There's more than one way to skin a cat. In fact, the only reason Proctor's getting guys out now is because his breaking pitches are far more effective. Same with Wright. There are very few pitchers who can get by on heat alone. Junk is what gets hitters out in the major leagues. Wake's knuckler, Moose's change (both of which top out around 70 MPH), Zito's curve, Randy's slider (well, it used to), Roger's split finger, Wang's sinker. Movement, not speed is how you succeed in the major leagues. Even the best fastballs have to have movement (Mo's cutter, for example). Proctor threw hard, but straight and gave up homers in bunches. Now he's got breaking pitches and he's getting guys out. Bean's "junk" would work just fine in the majors, if he ever got a shot. Myself, I don't care how he does it, the results in 35 speak for themselves.

2006-05-24 09:14:21

41. Dimelo

35Here's what I saw on Monday:
Bottom 8TH B:0 S:0 O:0
Pitcher Change: Colter Bean replaces Ron Villone.

Bottom 8TH B:4 S:2 O:0
Jason Varitek walks.

Bottom 8TH B:2 S:2 O:0
Mike Lowell doubles (21) on a fly ball to left fielder Terrence Long. Jason Varitek to 3rd.

Bottom 8TH B:3 S:1 O:1
Willie Harris out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Bernie Williams. Jason Varitek scores.

Bottom 8TH B:1 S:1 O:1
Alex Cora singles on a line drive to left fielder Terrence Long. Mike Lowell scores.

Bottom 8TH B:1 S:2 O:3
Kevin Youkilis grounds into double play, second baseman Robinson Cano to first baseman Jason Giambi. Alex Cora out at 2nd.

--Good job, Bean. Only two runs scored.
Sunday vs. Mets

Bottom 6TH B:0 S:0 O:0
Pitcher Change: Colter Bean replaces Mike Myers, batting 9th.

Bottom 6TH B:3 S:3 O:1
David Wright strikes out swinging.

Bottom 6TH B:1 S:1 O:2
Cliff Floyd flies out to left fielder Bernie Williams.

Bottom 6TH B:1 S:0 O:2
Xavier Nady hit by pitch.

Bottom 6TH B:2 S:0 O:2
With Kazuo Matsui batting, Xavier Nady steals (2) 2nd base.

Bottom 6TH B:3 S:1 O:3
Kazuo Matsui grounds out, shortstop Derek Jeter to first baseman Jason Giambi.
--------------------------- MIDDLE 7TH

Bottom 7TH B:0 S:0 O:0
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Jose Valentin replaces Aaron Heilman.

Bottom 7TH B:4 S:0 O:0
Jose Valentin walks.

Bottom 7TH B:1 S:0 O:0
Pitcher Change: Ron Villone replaces Colter Bean, batting 9th.

In two innings pitched he's allowed 2 walks, 1 HBP, 2 ER, and one great strikeout of David Wright. I noticed that if players like Lowell just sit and wait on his junk that they can hit it hard. There are a lot of prospects/minor-leaguers who when they get to the majors quickly turned into suspects and their minor leaguers didn't always translate.

Something I've often been confused by is the following, which you said Cliff, "Minor League numbers do translate to major league performance". What exactly is the % of that being true? Are we only looking at players who were successful at the major leagues and saying that it translates perfectly, within some standard deviation, and therefore the statement is true? Or have we looked at every minor leaguer who (eventually) reached the big leagues, who has a minimum number of at-bats or innings pitched, and come to this conclusion? I would say the latter is more accurate. Correct me if I'm wrong, but that should also be accompanied by some percentage too. Is it 51% of the time that the stats translate from the minors to the majors, or is it 75% of the times, etc. The talent pool at AAA and high double A aren't anywhere near as good as in the majors, so I don't think the stats always translate. Again if there's a place I can read and look at the data and study their findings then great.

I remember looking for the same sortive quantitative analysis in Shandler's Forecaster, but nothing exists. However, references are constantly made how they translate and I was a little confused because I don't think that's always the case. Then again I haven't asked the question till now.

2006-05-24 09:21:12

42. alterity

38 Did you even bother to read 35? And as far as I'm concerned, if someone is a better option than someone else they should be on the major league roster. I maen, how does it make any sense at all to say that Bean is a better option than Erickson but the Yanks shouldn't use him? Answer: it doesn't.

And for all the people out there asking other people to justify their love of Bean, well it's based on 350+ innings of work in the minors. How do you justify not liking him based on FOUR! innings of MLB experience, not all of which happened in the past week?

What's amazing is that in the Joe Torre era the Yankees, to my knowledge, have not developed more than a couple of relievers: Mendoza and Rivera (and Mendoza is a stretch to call a reliever). Anyone else? Why the hell are we always spending so much money or giving away even grade C prospects when right handed relievers are about a dime-a-dozen, often to be had from within? It's not so much that the Bean situation is frustrating so much as Torre et al act like unless you make more than $2 million per or were good before the turn of the century you can't help the team. And BTW, no doubt Dotel will help when he gets back, but he will also further add to the specialization of the bullpen. Basically we're going to have a bunch of guys who Torre will only want to pitch with a lead or Myers who should only be used against lefties in key situations, which leaves Proctor for everything else (although now that he'ss in the circle of trust, I wonder what his role will be in teh future).

2006-05-24 09:33:44

43. Cliff Corcoran

41 The term is translate, meaning there's some reduction there to adjust for the level of play (you have to translate them into the new level), but the relationship between performances at the different levels is consistant. This revelation dates back to Bill James who wrote in his 1985 Abstract:

"As a guide to major league performance, minor league batting statistics are reliable virtually 100% of the time. . .In anticipating future major league performance, minor league batting records are of essentially the same degree of reliability as previous major league batting statistics."

In that book, James figured that players lost 18% of their production in jumping from AAA to the majors (or rather, retained 82 percent of their production). You can read Rich Lederer's summary of James' material on minor league translations here:

http://tinyurl.com/l72ea

2006-05-24 09:40:43

44. Zack

This debate I think is typical of us fans wanting it both ways: we want guys from our system to get a chance and avoid the older, crappy veterans we are plagued with, yet when a guy does come up, 2 innings of work and how a guy "looks or feels" are allowed to stand in for history.
As Cliff has already pointed out just about every time this debate comes up (which is often and ditto for Andy), its not that these guys have wallowed in the minors because they stink, the #'s don't lie. They have wallowed in AAA because our team doesn't understand about giving them a chance. So cut the he's a 30 year old minor leaguer he can't be good crap. And stop acting like we say that Bean would have been the savior of this team, because no one ever said that. What we all did propose, however, was that given a fair trial, Bean could be a solid addition to the bullpen and serve a Nelson type role complimenti