It’s only Spring Training
March 13, 2011 by Ray Rothfeldt
I’ve been hearing a lot of rumbling from some folks about the lack of offense during Spring Training. Folks, it’s only Spring Training. What’s more, it’s early in Spring Training. If you’re thinking you’ll be seeing this much of Ramiro Pena come the regular season, then you are probably a lost cause. Of course, if you also think this is really a preview of things to come, then I suppose we should fit Ivan Nova for a Cy Young trophy now, as he’d have the most incredible season in history. For that matter, unheralded Jorge Vazquez would slam 72 homers (career high in MiLB: 33, 5 years ago). In other words, you can’t place any faith in Spring Training statistics. Guys don’t play complete games, the level of competition is all over the place and both managers and players are trying different things to see how they work. But in case you’re the type who does place a misguided faith in the numbers, consider this: so far, the nine guys who comprise the Yankee’s starting line-up have accounted for just 39% of the team’s plate appearances this spring. As a group they’ve combined for an .282 batting average and slugged their way to an .831 OPS. That is otherworldly production. Here’s the breakdown:
ST Stats through March 13, 2011
I’ll take this level of production over 162 games, along with Nova’s Cy Young. :)
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M. B. Rozell
Kevin Rozell
I notice there’s no mention of RBI’s!!!!!!!!!!! Grrrrr….
Just for you, Mystic: the 9 regulars have accounted for 44% of the team’s run production this Spring, despite only getting 39% of the PA’s. Relax! -Ray
Arods lookin’ ready this year. I wish he had fallen to me in my fantasy draft.
So you’re saying they’ve knocked in 4 of the 9 runs this year? What the hell is a PA? Don’t hit me with sabermetric stats, I hate that crap. AVG., HR’s and RBI’s is all I care about. And W-L and ERA from pitchers.
Mystic: A PA is a plate appearance, or how many times a player has been to bat, including walks. In other words: the Yankee regulars have played less than the bench and minor league players (a lot less) but have done more damage. The actual number is 32 runs scored out of 69, and 26 RBI out of 62.
Think of it this way: if the regulars were getting the chances the bench guys are, the team would have scored 108 runs this spring (all things being equal). But Girardi and the coaching staff wouldn’t have a clue about what any of the young guys can do. The Yanks aren’t the Indians – the regulars aren’t rookies who are in their first big league camp and need all the practice they can get. :)
Luckily, my draft is this weekend, because yep – this looks like the A-Rod of 2000-03 vintage!
Homos 2
Bums 1
I rest my case. Bums. BUMS!!!!