Saturday, May 13, 2006
Baseball thoughts and themes
Baseball Thoughts and Themes
Hideki Matsui’s 1768 consecutive games played streak ended tonight. Technically it ended last night even though he started for the Yankees in left field. Because he broke his wrist diving for a ball in the top of the 1st inning, and if one plays less than a half inning of a game, one does not get credit for a game played. Matsui, or Godzilla as he is affectionately known, is a consummate pro, a hard worker, an effort player who did yeoman’s work without showmanship or braggadocio. Matsui today issued an statement to his teammates apologizing for letting them down by getting hurt and vowing to return to help them. See… Matsui's statement
Matsui’s consecutive game streak, recognized and admired by his teammates and manager Joe Torre, raises an interesting point because the first 1250 game of it were compiled outside of American Major League baseball in the Japanese professional league. I would tell you that Matsui’s streak should be considered among the greatest consecutive games played streaks of all time. Surpassed by Ripken and Gehrig to be sure, but in their class.
This is a theme the Content will come back to, the undervaluing of records and statistics achieved in Japanese baseball, especially in the light of what Japanese players have shown the can accomplish in American Major League Baseball.
Matsui’s injury created a unfortunate hole in the Yankee line-up. Three consecutive hundred RBI seasons disappeared with him. This is likely to be on of those situations that verify what Yankees haters everywhere despise, and all those who love the game know is undermining baseball’s integrity. The Yankees, already with highest payroll in baseball by $70 million or by 35%, are likely to go out and fill this spot with another high salary player. Matsui is out for months, if not the entire season. Additionally, wrist injuries are a slow rehab route normally, simply because wrists are so important to baseball players swings. The speculation has already started in the New York and the national media, the names being bandied about range from Bobby Abreu of the Phils to Torii Hunter of the Twins, Alphonso Soriano the reluctant left fielder of Frank Robinson’s Nationals and even the mythic Ichiro. Seattle couldn’t let him go ? Just because he doesn’t get along with Mike Hargrove, one would think they’d sooner see Grover go. All of those players listed are investments of well over $5 million in additional payroll. One of these trades will probably not happen for a few weeks because when it is consummated, which ever one of these small market teams has their star Hoovered up by the Yankee juggernaut will be immediately declaring to their fan base that this season is essentially over, even if though they bring back some top prospects from the Yankees.
The longest currently active consecutive games played streak now belongs to Miguel Tejada of the Baltimore Orioles with 942.
The Yankees won tonight night without Matsui behind the tremendous pitching of Chien-Ming Wang, and solo homers from Bernie Williams and Alex Rodriguez. I would still like to see the Yanks move Posada and especially Robinson Cano in front of Bernie in the order. An excellent defensive performance by the Yankees with five double plays, the highlight reel play tonight was Robinson Cano’s leaping throw from behind second base in the eighth inning after a sweet backhand stab of a grounder up the middle. Cano is the real deal, offensively and defensively. Long-term he might truly be a three hole hitter. Right now that would make the line-up read: Damon, Jeter, Cano, A-Rod, Giambi, Posada, Bernie, etc. This would be my preference until a trade is made or Sheffield returns. The only question would be the pressure of hitting three. I’d like to see Joe slide Cano up a little higher in the order, to at least fifth or sixth, more at-bats with men on base, not quite so much pressure as hitting third. Traditionally, third is the home of a teams best all around hitter. However, the Yanks line-up has as many political intrigues as the Nixon White House or an Oscar Awards ceremony.
Hideki Matsui’s 1768 consecutive games played streak ended tonight. Technically it ended last night even though he started for the Yankees in left field. Because he broke his wrist diving for a ball in the top of the 1st inning, and if one plays less than a half inning of a game, one does not get credit for a game played. Matsui, or Godzilla as he is affectionately known, is a consummate pro, a hard worker, an effort player who did yeoman’s work without showmanship or braggadocio. Matsui today issued an statement to his teammates apologizing for letting them down by getting hurt and vowing to return to help them. See… Matsui's statement
Matsui’s consecutive game streak, recognized and admired by his teammates and manager Joe Torre, raises an interesting point because the first 1250 game of it were compiled outside of American Major League baseball in the Japanese professional league. I would tell you that Matsui’s streak should be considered among the greatest consecutive games played streaks of all time. Surpassed by Ripken and Gehrig to be sure, but in their class.
This is a theme the Content will come back to, the undervaluing of records and statistics achieved in Japanese baseball, especially in the light of what Japanese players have shown the can accomplish in American Major League Baseball.
Matsui’s injury created a unfortunate hole in the Yankee line-up. Three consecutive hundred RBI seasons disappeared with him. This is likely to be on of those situations that verify what Yankees haters everywhere despise, and all those who love the game know is undermining baseball’s integrity. The Yankees, already with highest payroll in baseball by $70 million or by 35%, are likely to go out and fill this spot with another high salary player. Matsui is out for months, if not the entire season. Additionally, wrist injuries are a slow rehab route normally, simply because wrists are so important to baseball players swings. The speculation has already started in the New York and the national media, the names being bandied about range from Bobby Abreu of the Phils to Torii Hunter of the Twins, Alphonso Soriano the reluctant left fielder of Frank Robinson’s Nationals and even the mythic Ichiro. Seattle couldn’t let him go ? Just because he doesn’t get along with Mike Hargrove, one would think they’d sooner see Grover go. All of those players listed are investments of well over $5 million in additional payroll. One of these trades will probably not happen for a few weeks because when it is consummated, which ever one of these small market teams has their star Hoovered up by the Yankee juggernaut will be immediately declaring to their fan base that this season is essentially over, even if though they bring back some top prospects from the Yankees.
The longest currently active consecutive games played streak now belongs to Miguel Tejada of the Baltimore Orioles with 942.
The Yankees won tonight night without Matsui behind the tremendous pitching of Chien-Ming Wang, and solo homers from Bernie Williams and Alex Rodriguez. I would still like to see the Yanks move Posada and especially Robinson Cano in front of Bernie in the order. An excellent defensive performance by the Yankees with five double plays, the highlight reel play tonight was Robinson Cano’s leaping throw from behind second base in the eighth inning after a sweet backhand stab of a grounder up the middle. Cano is the real deal, offensively and defensively. Long-term he might truly be a three hole hitter. Right now that would make the line-up read: Damon, Jeter, Cano, A-Rod, Giambi, Posada, Bernie, etc. This would be my preference until a trade is made or Sheffield returns. The only question would be the pressure of hitting three. I’d like to see Joe slide Cano up a little higher in the order, to at least fifth or sixth, more at-bats with men on base, not quite so much pressure as hitting third. Traditionally, third is the home of a teams best all around hitter. However, the Yanks line-up has as many political intrigues as the Nixon White House or an Oscar Awards ceremony.
Comments:
So Joe Torre and the Content were on the same page. He followed my suggestion about moving Cano up in the line-up to a “T.”
Yesterday, Cano hit fifth and the Yankees got six hits and lost, by a count of 6-1. Cano was 1 for 4. The Yankees did manage two out of three against the A’s. If the weather continues to clear in the New York metropolitan area, we will see where Joe hits Cano, tonight, against the Texas Rangers.
Joe stuck with Cano in the five hole. Cano rewarded him with 2 for 4 and a RBI. The rain mostly held off, but the Yanks lost.
Two losses in a row with minimal run production, I'd be patient, but it seems unlikely that Steinbrenner, the Media and much of the fan base will be.
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Yesterday, Cano hit fifth and the Yankees got six hits and lost, by a count of 6-1. Cano was 1 for 4. The Yankees did manage two out of three against the A’s. If the weather continues to clear in the New York metropolitan area, we will see where Joe hits Cano, tonight, against the Texas Rangers.
Joe stuck with Cano in the five hole. Cano rewarded him with 2 for 4 and a RBI. The rain mostly held off, but the Yanks lost.
Two losses in a row with minimal run production, I'd be patient, but it seems unlikely that Steinbrenner, the Media and much of the fan base will be.
