Archive for September, 2011
Mariano Rivera: New York Yankees Closer’s Top 5 »
Mariano Rivera is the greatest closer of all-time. It’s not even a debate. His consistent greatness is completely unparalleled. He’s notched over 35 saves nine times in his career and has turned in a WHIP of under 1.200 in every season since 1996, including eight seasons with a WHIP under 1.000. Oh, and he has [...]
AL vs. NL : The Success of Regular Season Champions »
This article comes from the blog 90% is Half Statistical and to read the other posts of this blog go to http://ninetypercentishalfstatistical.mlblogs.comIn the previous blog post, I talked about how the Phillies' regular season dominance does not guarantee that they will be successful in October. However, is the lack of success among National [...]
Hey, Joe Girardi, Do You Think CC Sabathia Likes the »
Joe Girardi never gives in, which might mean that Joe Girardi is either a slow learner, a non-learner or has succumbed to front office pressure. Last night, CC Sabathia, who averaged 7.1 innings in his first 28 starts, failed to get to the seventh inning for the third time in his last four games. Sabathia is a workhorse. Last season he started 34 [...]
MLB: Roger Maris Overcame the Pressure, the Criticism »
"Why can't they understand? I don't want to be Babe Ruth. He was a great ballplayer. I'm not trying to replace him. The record is there, and damn right I want to break it, but that isn't replacing Babe Ruth." Roger Maris lived under constant stress and suffocating, unrelenting pressure as he pursued Babe Ruth’s single-season home run mark. [...]
Derek Jeter: Has His Comeback Made Him an Elite Player »
Derek Jeter is a first-ballot hall of famer.He has been one of the best people to step on the field in Yankees history.He has five World Series rings—one fewer than Jordan.His career has been unique in that he is one of three shortstops to reach 3,000 hits.But at the beginning of this season, you thought this might have been a season to [...]
Boston Red Sox Collapse: 10 Things It Means for the »
Every year the race for the division title in the A.L East is exciting to the end. Clearly, this year is no different. Following this weekend's series with the Blue Jays, the Yankees finish up with two series against the Rays and one against the Red Sox. The A.L East victor is far from being crowned as much can still happen. However, as it stands [...]
MLB: Mickey Mantle’s Impact on Society »
Former New York Giants football player, Frank Gifford (who used Mickey Mantle’s locker when the baseball season ended, usually after Mantle helped lead the New York Yankees to another world championship), opened his mouth and proved the brilliance of Abe Lincoln’s expression: "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak [...]
MLB: Ted Williams Was the Best but Mickey Mantle Was »
By now, even younger fans know that Mickey Mantle's 1957 season was underrated until modern statistics revealed that it really was one of his greatest years. Mantle batted .365/.512/.665 and was voted the American League's MVP.But 38-year-old Ted Williams dwarfed Mantle's accomplishments. Williams won the batting title with a .388 average. He led [...]
Remembering Yankee Stadium: Photos from the Big »
I have been a lifelong Yankee fan, attending my first games at the original Yankee Stadium in the late 1950s.Those were precious times for me, a nine- or 10-year-old kid, accompanied by my dad, to the stadium. My father seemed to be working all the time, so to have a day off just with him was a very special occasion. And the experience of the [...]
New York Yankees: Players That Need To Improve Their »
With two weeks left until the playoffs begin, the Yankees are sitting atop the American League East with a nice four game lead over the Boston Red Sox.Barring any major collapses, the Yankees look like they should win the A.L. East division title and get home field advantage with the best record in the American League.Last year, the Yankees came [...]