Dreaming of Yankee bats, 2001 and 2004 cases in point

Waiting for bats to come alive can be a poor use of time: 2001 World Series (7 games)

• Runs scored by Diamondbacks: 37

• Runs scored by Yankees: 14

2004 ALDS (4 games)

• Runs scored by Minnesota: 17

• Runs scored by Yankees: 21

BUT, 2 of the 4 games were 1-run games won in extra innings (12 and 11 innings). Baseball-Reference.

• ***Both extra inning 1 run games featured 2 inning appearances by Mariano Rivera, Game 2, 8th and 9th innings; Game 4, 10th and 11th innings.

***Rivera pitched in all 4 games of the 2004 ALDS, twice for 2 innings, twice for 1 inning.

• He received 1 Win.

• He received no "Saves."***

***So, according to ESPN, Mo would've been bad because it's only "Saves" that count.***

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HOFFMAN'S LEGACY: A LOSER--John Shea, SF Chronicle

• MEMO TO TOM VERDUCCI, TIM KURKJIAN, ESPN, ET AL WHO TELL US TO LOOK AT "STATS:"

"Hoffman's legacy: Trevor Hoffman isn't the best closer of all time even though he's the only one with 500-plus saves. In their primes, we'd prefer Rich Gossage, Dennis Eckersley and Rollie Fingers. And, certainly, Mariano Rivera.

• While Hoffman has enjoyed the comfort of San Diego, Rivera has dealt with the pressure cooker of New York, posting a postseason ERA of 0.80 in 73 games (now .78 in 75 games) and succeeding nearly every time except once, Game 7 of the 2001 World Series, when Luis Gonzalez blooped a Series-clinching single for the Diamondbacks.

Meantime, the Padres have had an overall losing record since Hoffman became their closer in 1994 and had several expert setup men (Akinori Otsuka, Scott Linebrink, Heath Bell), allowing Hoffman to appear in limited eighth-inning situations.

• Hoffman has had a lot fewer save situations in the national spotlight than Rivera, and his record isn't overwhelming. Most recently, twice in three days at season's end, he had chances to clinch a playoff berth for the Padres, and both times he failed.

The first time, Milwaukee's Tony Gwynn Jr. hit a game-tying triple in the ninth, and the Brewers won in 11. In a one-game playoff with the Rockies, Hoffman failed to hold a two-run lead in the 13th, ending the Padres' season.

• In Hoffman's only World Series save opportunity, he blew Game 3 in 1998, walking Tino Martinez and surrendering Scott Brosius' three-run homer. That was a breakout October for Rivera, who was a World Series closer for the first time. Now, Rivera has 34 postseason saves to Hoffman's four.

In All-Star Games, Rivera has three saves, including one last year in Pittsburgh. It came after Hoffman blew a save opportunity by giving up Michael Young's two-run triple on an 86-mph fastball, costing the NL its first All-Star victory since 1996.

• Hoffman turns 40 on Oct. 13, and his time to shine on the national stage is running out."

From article by San Francisco Chronicle's national baseball writer John Shea, 10/7/07, "Parity Applies to NL not AL," from SFGate.com.

• P.S. What's so bad about the truth? To Verducci and all the MLB/ESPN guys--turn in your BBWAA credentials. Leave Trevor Hoffman to the record he earned. At least one national baseball writer, John Shea, has the courage and character to speak up about a great taboo--the obvious truth about Hoffman. (sm)

****UPDATE, MON. 10/8/07. 3PM: IN A SHOCKING DEVELOPMENT, THE ONE PERSON ESPN CAN RELIABLY DIAL UP TO TAKE THE HEAT OFF THEIR BUDDY HOFFMAN--MAINLY BY DISRESPECTING MARIANO RIVERA--GOOSE GOSSAGE, IS NOW LISTED ON ESPN.COM'S WEB PAGE FOR AN "INSIDER CHAT" IN THE TOP LEFT CORNER BOX.****

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Deep Perspective on Papelbon lands in shallow end of the pool on Yankee radio

The NY Daily News has a showcased appearance on every Yankee radio game. Personnel from the newspaper are generously introduced into the close, friendly environment by John Sterling for the purpose of lending exclusive, inside information for avid Yankee listeners, I think. I'm not sure if the appearance is sponsored (paid for) by the News, as that's not mentioned.

• Today, John asked the NY Daily News reporter what he thought about the Yankee-Red Sox game last night (8-7 Yankee win). First, his answer was the kind I'm accustomed to hearing across ESPN/MLB platforms and internet. A stab at the Yankee listeners as well as the player mentioned. Beyond that, it offered nothing that his privileged insider status supposedly brings with it. Instead of answering with any specifics about Papelbon (which we had earlier received from Suzyn Waldman, thanks Suzyn), he opened his showcased expert interview by putting down Mariano Rivera. Apparently, the Daily News knows neither the Yankees nor Rivera's agent will complain, so not to worry. He's gone this route before.He says:

"You may be seeing with Papelbon what you've seen with Mariano Rivera," that is, "the players are getting used to seeing him," as the "Red Sox have done well against Rivera."

• He's told us nothing about Papelbon, but has put down Rivera (who did very well against the Red Sox Friday night). There's no comparison whatsoever between the 2 situations he cites. Papelbon has scant plate appearances v the Yankees. In addition to regular seasons going back to 1995, Rivera has faced the Red Sox in 2003 and 2004 post seasons. Last night Mariano struck out Jason Varitek. That doesn't mesh with the Daily News reporter's point.

Going into last night's strike-out, Varitek had faced Mariano 37 times, according to Baseball-Reference, regular season and post season (2003 and 2004) .

• Going into last night, Papelbon had faced Jeter 9 times, Abreu 7 times, and Arod 5 times.

This evaluation was not something the reporter "simply saw or heard," as might be claimed. This was taking up very finite moments on Yankee radio. It was not something said on a blog. And it was quite specific. The comparison served no purpose for the program's audience.

• I wrote down another statement the Daily News reporter made. I'm not concerned about the topic of Youkilis in general, and won't waste time on it. But in this very focused--sponsored or not, I don't know--high profile appearance, he said Youkilis was "hit by Proctor and then by Chamberlain." Neither John nor Suzyn corrected him. With all the reports on the Joba-Youkilis incident, I've never read that Chamberlain "hit" Youkilis. He was suspended for throwing dangerously but he did not "hit" him.

This is what was said on my Yankee radio broadcast. It's on tape and a matter of public record. I don't have the time to "rip" people, have posted several articles about the excess of negativity and general rudeness on the internet and don't intend to contribute to it. Nor am I a nit-picker.

• One more thing--I'm pretty sure there's a difference in the value of showcased interviews in a high-profile, highly emotional, world wide organization's broadcast--such as the Yankees--and a person's "blog." One's appearance in this venue naturally confers importance, validity and a sense of history to one's words. Not to mention the graciousness and professionalism provided by John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman.

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Joe Borowski for Cy Young---Buck Martinez said on XM 175

On Friday morning's (8/31) show on XM 175, Buck Martinez suggests names to consider for AL Cy Young this year, and Joe Borowski was on the list. He says Joe has given the Indians a great edge this year with "saves" in many tight games (this is true), acknowledges that in stats other than "saves," he doesn't look good, but...

• "OH, THOSE "SAVES." (Buck Martinez' words).
• (P.S. The Cy Young Award can mean millions of dollars and immortality). sm

Borowski had definitely pitched his heart out for the Indians the night before, and although he "blew the save," he got the "win" in the end (v Seattle) in a game Seattle needed more than the Indians. The guy's been out there doing a great job, no question. An Indian fan then emailed the XM show begging to differ with Buck's idea for Joe Borowski for Cy Young. They read the email on the air with the Indian fan saying he gets acute stomach pains every time Borowski comes in the game. Buck says, well, I know he looks bad in other stats, but...

• "OH, THOSE "SAVES." (says Buck Martinez again.).

Selling the "total saves" stat (which can only begin with "opportunities" supplied by a willing manager, team, and owner) to the exclusion of everything else has been job #1 for years by the centralized baseball media, ESPN/MLB/internet platforms, for several reasons. Which should be obvious, but if not, I've explained them here numerous times.

• If Buck and Baseball want to focus only on the "total save" stat, then certainly run a contest or create an award for this every year. Buck Martinez has completely lost his credibility for selling out in this way, and I used to enjoy listening to him. He's saying someone is the best pitcher only because of saves, a joke to begin with. The 2nd problem is Buck, who has more credibility than your average guy, uses it to wax poetic and romantic about the save stat itself, and repeatedly.

I looked up Borowski's performance on Baseball-Reference. What happens if your closer NEVER can pitch more than 1 inning?

• Answer: You need an entire other human being to pitch in the game. Is that a small thing? If it's a small thing, why doesn't Borowski ever pitch more than 1 inning if his team needs him?

Other closers do the work of 2 Joe Borowski's on occasion, but Buck has shown he wants to hide this fact, to cheat or ignore the extra, often more difficult work done by relievers with more skill and flexibility and more value to their team. He does the same in the case of closers "entering with runners on base"---doesn't mention it. Well, it's an official stat, so why not? Because then you might look at the many other stats that go into a closer's performance.

• I checked Borowski's 2006 record: It offers clues to Borowski's limited use: He had 3 occasions in 2006 when he pitched more than 1 inning, and none went well. On 5/16/06, he went 1.1IP and got a Loss; on 7/4/06, he went 1.1IP and got a Blown Save and Loss; and on 9/9/06, he went 1.2 IP and got a Blown Save and Win (3BB, 1H, 1 ER).

Baseball-Reference

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