Out of left field is our occasional entry with items that may not need 1,000 words of analysis but we think should be addressed anyway.
In no particular order…
Brandon Drury. This is what I wrote when the Yankees acquired Brandon Drury:
“Drury regressed offensively from 2016 to 2017, which at age 24 is a little bit of a red flag to me (101 OPS+ in ’16, 89 OPS+ in ’17 – that’s not an insignificant drop). What’s confusing about the decline is that there doesn’t seem to be an explanation: His chase rate, which isn’t good, was about the same over the two years as were his batting average on balls in play and his percentages of balls hit hard/soft. There certainly is an explanation, but it’s one that hopefully exists behind the scenes and Brian Cashman is aware of it.”
I need some help: Do you know if anyone at Simpleton Summer Camp (the YES network) asked anyone among the Yankees’ think tank, that if they were unaware of Drury’s concussion and vision issues, did they have an explanation for his decline? My guess is no one at Simpleton Summer Camp did – but if I’m wrong, let me know.
Speaking of which…
I don’t watch the Simpleton Summer Camp post game anymore, so I need help again. Regarding Aaron Boone inserting David Robertson into a 9-0 game in the 9th inning Tuesday night: Did anyone ask Aaron effing Boone that if the case was that Robertson “needed work”, why wasn’t he used earlier in the game when the outcome was still in doubt? Seems silly – if you have one of your best relievers not only available, but you know you’re putting him tonight no matter what, why wait until it’s a 9-0 game? I’m asking somewhat rhetorically again – I know no one at Simpleton Summer Camp would think to ask. Boone has done some wacky things with the bullpen this year, with nary an odd glance from the sycophant crowd.
I started to write a blog the other day about the most surprising stats in MLB so far this season. Then, as I was researching, it hit me: That would be stupid. It’s April 18th. There really is no stat that’s worth taking note of with this small of a sample size. For the most part, the same people who are telling me that Didi Gregorius is one of the best short stops in baseball are the same people who told me Starlin Castro was one of the best 2nd basemen in baseball this time last season. That being said…
Adam Ottavino of the Rockies has struck out 64.7% of the batters he’s faced over 10 2/3 innings. Josh Hader of the Brewers has struck out 61% of batters faced over 11 2/3 innings.
Wow. Just…wow.
But what I really like is how they are being used: Both are being used in predominantly close games regardless of the inning, i.e., when the game is on the line. Go figure, right? (He asked, sarcastically…) With only 2 saves between them and appearances as early as the 6th inning, it’s good to see more managers are moving past the “wait until the 9th inning to use our big guns, just…because…well it’s the 9th inning!” ideology.
Bad weather.
With the ridiculous number of game postponements, delays, and reschedules due to bad weather – to say nothing of the number of games that have been played in miserable conditions – it’s time to revisit the common sense scheduling debate. In full disclosure, I have no idea why this is even a debate.
When the idea is brought up that maybe – just maybe – MLB can set a schedule where the predominance of April games are played in cities with either domes or warm weather, the answer is no can do. The rationale? Because teams that play in domes and in warm weather cities want as many home games as other teams over the summer when attendance is higher.
(Blinks twice. Stares.)
Now, I was never a great problem solver, but why don’t we do this:
Have the majority of games in April played in cities with domes or warm weather. Then the majority of games in May are played in cities that are generally cold weather cities. From June on it’s 50/50.
Problem solved, crisis averted.
Do I have to think of everything?
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