Upon Something for Sherm

Name that player:

1) Batting .339 in May, slugging .726 in May, with and OPS of….wait for it….1.207

2) 4th in the league in Home Runs, 7th in OBP, 4th in OPS- for the whole season

3) 5th best OBP, 3rd in slugging, and 3rd in OPS among all players at his position in MLB

 

Any guesses?

Upon the Moose Watch

After a long Memorial Day Weekend, back to the Moose Watch. I was there in person for this one.

5/24/08

Opponent- Seattle Mariners

5 Innings Pitched, 7 hits, 4 runs, 4 earned, 1 BB, 4K, 2 HR

Mussina- W, 7-4, 4.39 ERA, 1.32 WHIP

Mussina was staked to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the 2nd, but gave it all back in the top of the third with a 3-run jack to Jose Vidro, and a solo shot to Adrian Beltre. He scattered 3 hits during his other 4 innings of work, and the Yankees won another easy one against the Mariners. Mussina gave way to Joba, as he likely will in the rotation next year.

Upon the Moose Watch

5/20/2008

Opponent- Baltimore Orioles

.2 Innings Pitched, 5 hits, 7 runs, 1 earned, 2 BB, 1K

Mussia- Loss (6-4) 4.11 ERA

Jeter threw and missed, Damon dove and missed, and Mussina got bombed in the first for 7 runs, though just 1 was earned. Mussina should have been out of the inning down only 1-0, but Jeter threw high to first and then the wheels fell completely off.

Upon a Pretty Safe Prediction

I bet there are more than a few people who were glad to say “Screw A-Rod, let him go” who are now eating their words. How’s life without the MVP treating you? Its not that the Yankees are without superstars absent Rodriguez, but it is undeniable that he (along with Posada) have left a gaping hole in the lineup.  Sure the pitching isn’t there like it should be, but it makes a huge difference if the lineup goes:

Damon, Jeter, Abreu, Rodriguez, Posada, Matsui, Giambi, Cano, Cabrera

as opposed to:

Damon, Cabrera, Jeter, Abreu, Matsui, Giambi, Cano, Molina and Alberto Gonzalez 

Upon the Moose Watch

6/14/08

Opponent- Tampa Bay Rays

6.1 IP, 5 hits, 1 Run, 1 earned, 1 BB, 4K

Result- Yankees Win 2-1

Mussina- W (6-3) 3.99 ERA, 1.17 WHIP

The win was Mussina’s 5th in a row. The run in the game was charged to him, but really came off Ohlendorf, who relieved him.

Upon a 4th Starter, Maybe?

Two 6 inning outings, 9 hits, 2 runs, 2 earned, 1 HR, 1 BB, 5K, 3.00 ERA.

And most importantly, a 2-0 Record.

Could it be, possibly, that the Yankees have found their back of the rotation starter? Darrell Rasner has given the Yankees Quality Starts in each of his two outings, and has plugged what was an ever expanding hole.

Rasner’s numbers in the minors were certainly up to snuff. At Scranton Wilkes-Barre, Rasner was 4-0 with a 0.87 ERA. His WHIP was a miniscule 0.77, and he had 27 K in 31 IP. He was the most likely candidate to be called up, and has not disappointed thus far (you hear that Kei Igawa?)

In his 2007 work with the Yankees, Rasner never made it out of the 6th, and finished 1-3 with a 4.01 ERA.  Though it is certainly premature, perhaps his start to 2008 is an inidcation of what some more minor league pitching will do for Kennedy and Hughes.

Upon the Moose Watch

5/8/08

Opponent- Cleveland

Mussina- Win (5-3) 5 IP, 4 hits, 3 runs, 3 earned, 0 BB, 3 K,

Result- Yankees Win 6-3

Not quite a quality start, and he handed back the lead the Yankees grabbed in the bottom of the 4th by giving up 3 in the top of the 5th. He did hang in to finish the inning, and the Yankees grabbed the lead with a run in the bottom of the frame. the top of the fifth was the only problem for Moose, as after a single leading off the game he didnt allow a baserunner until a HBP to lead off the 5th.

 

Upon the Moose Watch

Since Sherm seems to be convinced that Mike Mussina is finished, and I tend to disagree, today we will be introducing a new segment…The Moose Watch. For the rest of the season, we will track the starts and appearances of Mike Mussina, and monitor whose view of Moose is closer to accurate. I will try to get this up, win-or-lose, as an interesting reference point when the season ends. 

5/3/2008 vs Seattle

6 innings pitched, 7 hits, 1 Run, 1 earned, 0 bb, 5K

Yankees win 6-1

Mussina ERA: 4.23 (-.50)

The victory was Mussina’s third straight, and matched some of his finest pitching of the season.