BtB Game Thread: Yankees @ Tigers -- May 12, 2010

by Sky Kalkman on May 12, 2010 6:44 PM EDT in Game of the Week

The game's on ESPN, so unless you're like me and only have MLB.tv (without cable), nearly everyone should be able to watch this game.

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The Yankees, who have already lost 2-0 today, send Phil Hughes to the mound, who is finally living up to expectations with a 2.77 FIP so far in 2010 (3.86 xFIP) and a ZiPS rest-of-season projected 3.60 FIP.

Detroit's Jeremy Bonderman has been nearly as good, with a 3.50 FIP (4.01 xFIP), even though his ERA is an ugly 5.74. Part of the explanation is a .333 BABIP, although he's been known as one of those guys who can't seem to post a league-average BABIP.

Game on.

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I know Randy Winn's gotten a lot of hate from Yankee fans, but he's got to be one of the better 4th outfielder option around, no?

Or is he just done?

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by Sky Kalkman on May 12, 2010 7:11 PM EDT reply actions

I think that Winn can still be a good fourth outfielder

He’s capable of playing a solid center field and he’s a plus defender on the corners, although I’m somewhat worried about his bat.

His plate discipline has wavered some (more swings on pitches out of the zone), he’s swinging and missing more often, his contact rates are down, and he didn’t exactly have huge power to begin with. The guy posted a 4.9 fWAR in 2008 and was a good player for essentially the entire previous decade. I think he’s still a useful guy, especially against lefties.

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I write for Beyond the Box Score and The Hardball Times Fantasy

by Satchel Price on May 12, 2010 7:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Hughes has been great this year

He’s really emerging right now. His fastball is harder than it was in his last stint as a starter, and he’s shown a better repetoire of offspeed stuff, too.

Right now, the Yankees clearly made the right decision going with Hughes instead of Joba for the No. 5 spot in the rotation. Hughes looks like he’ll end up being a No. 2 right now.

I like baseball.
I write for Beyond the Box Score and The Hardball Times Fantasy

by Satchel Price on May 12, 2010 7:13 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Yeah, I'm replying to myself, don't worry about it.

But seriously, Hughes continues to thrive. He didn’t get through the seventh inning, but I’ll take this line:

6.2 IP, 4 hits, 0 runs, 8 strikeouts, 1 walk

By the way, Hughes leads the AL in ERA now. Here’s a scary question to ask: Is Hughes the Yankees’ second-best starter now?

I like baseball.
I write for Beyond the Box Score and The Hardball Times Fantasy

by Satchel Price on May 12, 2010 10:21 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

A ball in play for Jackson that wasn't a hit. Weird.

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by Sky Kalkman on May 12, 2010 7:21 PM EDT reply actions

That was his one for the day.

He’ll hit a couple bloop singles now and call it a day.

I like baseball.
I write for Beyond the Box Score and The Hardball Times Fantasy

by Satchel Price on May 12, 2010 7:25 PM EDT up reply actions

There we go, twitter widget appears to be working now. Sometimes it takes a while to warm up, evidently.

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by Sky Kalkman on May 12, 2010 7:24 PM EDT reply actions

Derek Holland already has two Ks through two innings and nothing allowed.

And That Happened: Sports with a Hint of Sarcasm

by philkid3 on May 12, 2010 8:38 PM EDT reply actions

Hughes and Bonderman are bringing it tonight, too.

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by Sky Kalkman on May 12, 2010 8:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Did he get called up finally?

I’ve been waiting a while for this.

He’s clearly one of Texas’ five best starters, and he’s on my BOAB team, too, which could desperately use some pitching help. Losing Jurrjens is killing me, although I’m absolutely loving John Danks right now.

I like baseball.
I write for Beyond the Box Score and The Hardball Times Fantasy

by Satchel Price on May 12, 2010 8:41 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Yeah, a couple days ago, Harrison got hurt and Dutch got called up.

And That Happened: Sports with a Hint of Sarcasm

by philkid3 on May 12, 2010 9:30 PM EDT up reply actions

There was actually a HUGE argument on LSB a couple weeks ago.

A scout was telling us that Harrison was the better option this year because he had better stuff. I had a lot of trouble buying it but, y’know, I’m not a scout, so what am I supposed to say?

And That Happened: Sports with a Hint of Sarcasm

by philkid3 on May 12, 2010 9:49 PM EDT up reply actions

The guy argued that Harrison's stuff is better than Holland's?

That’d be news to me. Harrison’s prospect stock has been a fraction of Holland’s for years, and it’s not like Holland was way closer to the majors at any point.

Holland throws harder and has been described as a potential TOR starter, while Harrison generally hasn’t received that kind of hype.

I’d love to hear that scout, as well as his background, because that seems like an odd assertion.

I like baseball.
I write for Beyond the Box Score and The Hardball Times Fantasy

by Satchel Price on May 12, 2010 10:14 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I'll see if I can't find the conversation.

A lot of it was based on Harrison’s new mechanics this year that “maximized his natural stuff.” I thought it was entirely possible, but I didn’t think you could say he had markedly improved until he actually went out and did it.

And That Happened: Sports with a Hint of Sarcasm

by philkid3 on May 13, 2010 12:54 AM EDT up reply actions

I think the conversation started here.

And That Happened: Sports with a Hint of Sarcasm

by philkid3 on May 13, 2010 12:56 AM EDT up reply actions

I should point out I like Jason.

I just disagreed with him on Harrison > Holland this season.

And That Happened: Sports with a Hint of Sarcasm

by philkid3 on May 13, 2010 12:56 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah he seems to know a good deal

I just wish that he’d show more of his scouting acumen in his comments. Harrison’s stuff is better now post-surgery? Why? What’s different about his mechanics and stuff as a pitcher that’s completely changed the quality of what he throws? It seems like he just keeps saying, “Harrison’s a new pitcher now.”

Which is fine, and he could certainly be right, that’s not the first time I’ve heard good things about Harrison this year. But from a scout, it’d be nice to get some really specific stuff, about his mechanics and arm angles and stuff.

I like both Harrison and Holland, it’s just that Holland was the consensus better pitcher for so long and it’s not that often that a pitcher comes back from surgery with better stuff than he even had before he was hurt.

Harrison could very well be better than Holland right now, but I’ll need more than a limited scouting report to convince me.

I like baseball.
I write for Beyond the Box Score and The Hardball Times Fantasy

by Satchel Price on May 13, 2010 10:06 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Ian Kinsler just tried to steal home.

But the pitch was thrown away before he got there. And in the midst of all that, the pitcher balked.

Weird play.

And That Happened: Sports with a Hint of Sarcasm

by philkid3 on May 12, 2010 9:30 PM EDT reply actions

Thrown away

In what sense?

Does sound like a weird play.

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by Daniel Moroz on May 12, 2010 9:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Thrown away as in way over the catcher's mitt.

And That Happened: Sports with a Hint of Sarcasm

by philkid3 on May 12, 2010 9:50 PM EDT up reply actions

So

Does he score on the balk or get the steal then?

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by Daniel Moroz on May 12, 2010 9:51 PM EDT up reply actions

I think it was scored a balk.

But at different times they also said it was scored a wild pitch.

And That Happened: Sports with a Hint of Sarcasm

by philkid3 on May 12, 2010 9:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Am I the only one

Who thinks it would have been cool to see Brad Bergesen pitch a second straight scoreless game with 0 strike-outs?

He K’ed 2 in the 6th – his first one of the game – and had 6.2 shutout innings against the Twins last time out with 2 BB and 0 K.

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by Daniel Moroz on May 12, 2010 9:31 PM EDT reply actions

I'm no Joba fan

But that was a pretty rockin’ play in the bottom of the 8th. Umpire missed the call, he got him.
-j

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by JinAZ on May 12, 2010 9:47 PM EDT reply actions

Important question

Orioles’ closer: Alfredo “Shutdown Sauce” Simon

Great nickname, or the greatest nickname?

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by Daniel Moroz on May 12, 2010 10:06 PM EDT reply actions

Seriously?

I mean, not only is that nickname pretty great, but who the hell saw Alfredo Simon saving games in the AL this season?

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by Satchel Price on May 12, 2010 10:16 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I know, right?

But he’s come back from Tommy John throwing 95 with sink, a wicked splitter, and a 90 mph slider. Striking out more than a batter an inning and getting groundballs. Still developing the control though. Picked up the save tonight, and is now 4 for 4.

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by Daniel Moroz on May 12, 2010 10:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah his stuff looks legit right now

As you noted, his stuff looks nothing like it did in 2008 and 2009, and even with his subpar command he’s been churning out strikeouts and groundballs.

Another reason to love baseball? A 29-year-old with a career FIP near 8 in the majors and an awful Triple-A track record can emerge as a pretty good closer.

I like baseball.
I write for Beyond the Box Score and The Hardball Times Fantasy

by Satchel Price on May 12, 2010 10:37 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Reason #53

For not giving OK free agent relievers a bunch of money.

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by Daniel Moroz on May 12, 2010 10:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Good point, although it's tough to predict the breakouts of guys like Simon or say, Mike Adams.

Although to be fair, Mikey Gonzalez has been a pretty great reliever when he’s healthy.

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by Satchel Price on May 12, 2010 10:59 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Sure

But not really $12 M great. Especially for a team in the O’s position. Throw some arms at the mound, and see which ones stick.

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by Daniel Moroz on May 12, 2010 11:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, it's more questionable

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by Satchel Price on May 12, 2010 11:25 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Yeah, it's more questionable because of the position that Baltimore was in

I mean, what good does a $6M per year Closer do on a 65-70 win team?

Additionally, Atlanta rode the hell out of his arm before he signed with Baltimore. I think that Gonzalez’s bigger issue was the high risk of injury than his performance when he’s right.

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I write for Beyond the Box Score and The Hardball Times Fantasy

by Satchel Price on May 12, 2010 11:28 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

And

It’s not like Gonzalez had a good track-record of health before that.

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by Daniel Moroz on May 13, 2010 5:46 AM EDT up reply actions

Thanks for the Cecil link(s), Peter.

I love video scouting stuff like that. Not sure if you can always trust the good/bad aspect of it, but having smart people point out differences/techniques is at least interesting.

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by Sky Kalkman on May 13, 2010 10:28 AM EDT reply actions