Article:Pinstripe deficiency

From www.thebaseballfix.com

As I am sitting here watching the replay of the 2008 world series on MLB network of game 3 between the Rays and the Phillies. I am made more aware of why I still believe the Yankees are in world of trouble for the upcoming season.

It unfolds over a three play sequence that will not show up in any box score or game recap. Matt Garza is on the mound and the game is tied at one. Garza delivers the pitch and it is hit back up the middle. It looks like a sure base hit, until Jason Bartlett makes an amazing play on the run. A play most short stops won’t make and a play the worst fielding short stop in baseball certainly won’t. The next play, a scorching one hopper to first that Carlos Pena makes a play so good he even fooled the camera man at first as he started to track the ball behind Pena, only to realize it was in his glove. Good first baseman will make this play less often then they won’t. Great fielding first baseman will make it sometimes. The third and final play in the sequence came when Garza hung a pitch and Carlos Ruiz deposited it in the left field bleachers. The reason this is significant of course. Is that on most teams this would have been a three run shot. Yet, due to superior defense it was solo homer and did not bury the Rays.

Now some franchise are starting to realize that run prevention is nearly if not more important the run production. This lesson has apparently been lost on Brian Cashman’s bunch, as they feature one of the worst defenses in all of baseball (25 th last season). Not to mention they are the worst in baseball in the middle infield with Jeter and Cano both ranking in the bottom of their positions according to both UZR and +/-.

For those who will remain skeptical or maybe even try to dismiss this info. Consider these facts first. The Rays ranked dead last in Baseball prospectus team defensive efficiency. In 2008 they ranked first all of baseball. Not enough for ya? Well don’t worry it keeps coming. The Colorado Rockies made their first trip to the World Series in franchise history, yet fell off the map again in ’08. Well in 2007 they ranked 6 th in baseball. In 2008 they fell to 27 th. In 2008 five of the eight playoff teams finished in the top ten in defensive efficiency. None ranked out of the top fifteen. Homeruns might still sell the tickets. But glove work will win the championships.