Yanks slap Boston 10 -3 as Youk cries

by John Amato on Jul 26, 2008 8:44 PM EDT

You'll notice that Kevin Youkilis wasn't hit by Joba with a pitch last year after two whizzed up high and neither was he hit last night, but if you listened to the Red Sox after the game you would have thought he was carted off the field. Look, throwing up high is not a good thing, but whenever the Sox hit the Yanks like Jeter and Soriano---they end up in the hospital. . .

I say 46 wins. Young team, loaded conference. Some unanswered questions and unknown quantities. But it's fun to think about.

Who does coach Nate start? Who comes off the bench for heavy minutes? Who gets light duty?

What combo are you most itching to see in mid-season form?

For me, it's the Roy, Fernandez, Outlaw, Aldridge, and Oden combo. But I can see how that could be too much of a good thing.

The All-Star game is an exhibition of stars. It is also the new battleground for home-field advantage in the World Series.

While browsing the numerous blogs and subsequent comments in the YBN pages, I am surprised by the volume of people who have voiced their shock at his inclusion in the All-Star game. If offensive numbers alone were to decide who deserved to be in the game then by a narrow margin, Michael Young is your AL starter. But it's a narrow margin. I included Peralta in the discussion because he is the name I frequently hear included in the conversation.

Consider the numbers:

Statistic....[MYoung]...[DJeter].....[JPeralta]

AB...............(365).......(332).............(320)

AVE............(.293)......(.284).............(.250)

OBP...........(.342)......(.345)..............(.297)

H..................107...........95.................80

HR..................7.............4..................14

RBI................46...........39.................40

SB..................5.............5...................2

Strikeouts......55...........39................68

If you throw in fielding percentage (a factor few fans follow) Young still comes out on top.

For those of you who think great hitting shortstops grow on trees, or that it is even reasonable to expect a shortstop to lead his position in both batting and fielding for an entire season, consider this:

Jose Reyes and Hanley Ramirez, regarded as the offensive gold standard in the MLB are each fielding at a significantly poorer clip than is Derek Jeter. Reyes has a 2008 FP of .966 and Ramirez is at .963, compared with Jeter's .976.

You go ahead and talk about Sabermetrics—I personally am not a fan of statistics that involve "what if?" scenarios. But, if you insist, Jeter ranks number two in hitting on the Sabermetrics chart (behind Young- Peralta is 10th). Zone Rating? This season Jeter is 3rd in the AL at .841. Orlando Cabrera and Tony Pena are tops in that category. Peralta and Young have a ZR of .831 and .825 respectively.

Putting my nerdhood aside for a moment and using old-fashioned common sense as my guide, Jeter is on his way to Cooperstown. The 2008 All-Star game is in The Stadium, the last year before the most accomplished franchise in MLB history moves into The House that Jeter built. Michael Young starting the game at shortstop won't be on anyone's list of great sports moments (except for his mother maybe).

The fan vote is just that—the fan's vote. If they really wanted to see Michael Young, he would have been voted the starter.

But he wasn't.

And now maybe you can put your emotions aside and let the numbers assuage your indignation. Jeter deserves to be an all-star, and the fans decided he's the one they want to spend their flashbulbs on.

In general, Derek Jeter isn't overrated. He can't possibly be. Google it. You'll see.

It isn't just because I am a Yankee honk. I am. But I am also a realist, and a writer. I think that combination of fanatical allegiance, perpetual examination, and obligation to facts has brought me to the point where I must voice my objection to the use of the term "overrated" in situations where no high rating actually exists.

The most glaring example of late is the bashing that Derek Jeter is taking by so many of those who reside on the other side of that line which divides the Yankee and nearly everyone else on the planet. There is no middle ground on which a true fan of baseball can stand. The Yanks are not anyone's second favorite team. Met fans boo Jeter enthusiastically. A cottage tee-shirt industry exists in Boston dedicated to Jeter hating. Even a city like Seattle, whose crowning moment was winning one division series against the Yankees (13 years ago), has its Jeter detractors and, you see where this is going. They certainly don't rate him highly.

The point is made that the media loves Jeter. True. Why shouldn't they? He is a rich bachelor with titles and models and plenty of media who loves such things. But don't confuse "beloved" with "highly rated".

To be highly rated you have to be placed among the best. You have to be touted as the best or nearly the best at a particular thing. But still, I can't seem to find anyone with baseball chops willing to anoint him the best shortstop ever without making some sort of qualifying remark.

The media outlets of the world love extreme winners and extreme losers. They love Cinderella stories but only for a while. Also-rans and nearly-weres don't sell ad space.

To be overrated your placement among your peers must be above that which evidence will support. It is not enough to think someone is overrated. It also isn't enough to have an emotional reaction to a person and then conclude that they certainly are overrated. They must actually underperform statistically compared to their rating. Sure, screaming teens in pink NY caps might overrate him, but I'm sure they don't know his career fielding percentage is .975 or that he has more career hits than Joe Dimaggio, Mickey Mantle and only 68 fewer than Babe Ruth.

But sure, the Google hits when I type in the search string "Jeter best SS" number near a million. So he must be overrated, right? Google it. Then find the first hit that doesn't say "Jeter is not the best shortstop" or something of that ilk.

It's on page two. And that person's credentials are suspect.

Overrated is a word that implies contempt. It reeks of disrespect. In Jeter's case it is unwarranted by virtue that he is rated low in the court of public opinion.

Show me otherwise. Show me the respected journalist who places Jeter too highly, and doesn't weigh his opinion based on hitting. YES Network doesn't count for obvious conflict of interest issues.

I started a fantasy baseball league for some of us Yardbarker blogger-types to join. Bragging rights only, of course. Obviously this is in no way officially connected to Yardbarker the web site. Rather, it is a league for those of us who love baseball and Yardbarker. Join soon so we can draft soon.

Join at Yahoo!

League ID# 269423

Password: yard

They cheated. I get it.

Can we talk about something else?

Maybe it's that I too am aging, my knees seizing with the winter cold, belly no longer resilient to beer and pizza. Perhaps I feel I am the six foot version of the slowing, limping diesel.

Maybe it's that I have forgotten the obnoxious way that Shaq never got called for charging when he'd barrel into Arvydas Sabonis.

Maybe I have forgotten that he played for the team we Blazer fans hate the most.

Maybe it's that I hate Pat Riley that much.

Whatever my problem is, I find myself hoping that Shaq has a good finish to the rest of the season. I find myself choosing the Big Aristotle over the Big Fundamental.

I know the Blazers aren't going to the top of the mountain this year.

I hate Utah and the whole state of Texas, and Warriors fans are nuts* (so I certainly won't pull for them to get more ammo).

Still, rooting for Shaq? What the hell is the matter with me?

*you know it's true jus10gee

The Oregonian's Jason Quick just announced on the radio that he has word that Brandon Roy will indeed be named to the All-Star team.

Sweet.

Some guy called into The Fan and just claimed that Kevin Love is the next Carlos Boozer or Elton Brand. I'm not feeling that.

I was thinking Troy Murphy.

Is my NCAA to NBA translator broken?

Help me out: Finish this sentence -- Kevin Love is the next...

Thanks.

The divorce is final.

The papers are signed.

The Portland Trail Blazers can finally put that messy string of marriages to Zach Randolph, Ruben Patterson, JR Rider, Bonzi Wells, and the other dozen or so villains of the hardwood behind them. They have a new beau now and he is a family man. Finally, a husband who comes home every night, and shows up to the piano recitals and soccer games; finally, a husband who doesn't get loaded at family functions or grope his secretary in the conference room. Ladies and gentlemen, I present Mr. and Mrs. Brandon Roy.

Blazers executives and fans are eager to show off their latest love. This team is filled with do-gooders and poster boys, its leader more Superman than Lex Luther. But as Brandon Roy ascends tall buildings and leads his first-place NW Division team through the guard-heavy Western Conference, a debate stirs over where Roy fits amongst the likes of Deron Williams, Manu Ginobli, and the other 1s and 2s who will undoubtedly fill out the Western Conference All-Star roster. An all-star selection is, after all, a sign of respect. It is an invitation into the fraternity of the NBA elite. It is an official pat-on-the-back.

Unfortunately for Brandon Roy, it looks like he is going to have to settle for the unofficial pat instead. After all, there is a divide between the Blazers' warm rebirth and the cold reality of the NBA. Simply put, Roy is an alternate. Roy is the player called up if Chris Paul can't go. If my favorite bearded bad-ass, Baron Davis, strains a hammy vacuuming his crib, Roy gets the call.

But a case can indeed be made for Roy. Around Portland, the fact that the Blazers are in first place has not escaped those inclined to talk sports; most agree that being in such a position despite the previous year's horrific finish should garner extra all-star consideration for the team's best player. In addition, the hard-core homer can legitimately argue that Roy lacks a marquee sidekick and that Portland's recent dominance is proof positive that he is indeed more valuable to his team than some of the potential coach's picks. A.I. has Melo. T.P. has The Big Fundamental. Deron Williams has Carlos Boozer. Although no one can argue that LaMarcus Aldridge will eventually develop into a top tier power forward, he is still an inconsistent sophomore. Brandon Roy's greatest ally in the transformation of Portland for this half-season has been his coach.

Yes, it takes a team to win on the basketball court. But every good team has an identity, and usually a superstar. Roy is a budding superstar, and Portland has been a good team thus far. Perhaps next year, the word will have spread: Roy is for real. Perhaps next year lions like Allen Iverson and Tony Parker will give way to tigers like Brandon Roy, and Portland will finally get the official praise it so desires. Let's not be in a big hurry, Portland. Your man looks good. Go ahead and enjoy him for awhile.

Joe Torre made 7.5 million for the 2007 season. The next two closest managers in salary were Lou Piniella and Bobby Cox, who combined to make 6.5 million. Does the average Yankee critic (who I assume cite outrageous salary among the transgressions) want the Yankees to pay market value for Torre? I suspect many of those were hoping all along that the board would offer a smaller (yet 1.5 million more than any one else's) contract so they could say "see, those Yankees are a-holes. Torre has done so much, they should just pay him."

I suspect it wouldn't matter.

New York is going to be asked to make some serious financial decisions this off-season. Those decisions are going to pose a similar dilemma: Do you pay the aging superstar for what he will probably do for you, or do you pay him for what he has done?

The emotional argument begs for a reward-based pay. Of course, this would mean paying an aging, but still effective Mariano Rivera an incredible 12-15 million. Jonathan Papelbon will be watching very closely what the former greatest closer in the game makes, and you can bet Theo Epstein will as well.

Jorge Posada will reload his vault this year as well. With the catcher's curse of sudden and fading health looming in the near horizon, talks of moving Jorge to first base already began this year. If he doesn't take a pay cut, he should also make in the neighborhood of 12 million.

The dilemma is such: Reward the guys who made you champions or pay reasonable market value and lower the total salaries?

Critics will damn the Yankees either way. It looks, however, like they may do a bit a of both. Torre's large contract offer (by league standards) showed they are aware of public sentiment. The pre-offer stall tactics showed they are the same old Yankees.

Sometimes an organization just needs a little outside input when things get stale. I'll file this in the category of unsolicited advice, but I think I'm onto something here.

The Yankees lost their third in a row tonight, but with my lineup I think they can reel off 10 wins in 10 games.

DH Johnny Damon (I know, he's hitting .250) his career numbers indicate that, given his health is good, he just needs a consistent dose of ABs in order to right the ship.

SS Jeter

RF Abreu

3B A-Rod

RF Matsui-San

C Posada

1B Andy Phillips (Defense, decent bat make him the choice over Duncan. Also, the Yankees need guys willing to play small(er) ball, which makes him the choice over Giambi. Also, I think Giambi is bad luck).

2B Cano (Posada and Matsui are on base enough to put Cano's RBI ability to use, even from the 8-spot). Also, he sets the table for the Melk-man.

CF Cabrera The second lead-off hitter.

That leaves Giambi, Betemit, and Duncan as solid PHs

The rotation is set with Pettitte, Clemens, Mussina, Wang, and Hughes, but I would make Joba Chamberlin the long reliever and cap his appearances (for the future of course).

Jason Giambi wants to return real soon. He has stated that he can be ready as early as next week. Mr. Torre says he doubts the club will be ready for him that soon.

I like the current look for the Yanks, and it's not just because they are winning; I like players who hit for average, and even when hitting for poor average stick to the plan of setting the table for A-Rod and Matsui, the RBI guys.

I sure hope the Yankees drag their feet in bringing him back.

It started as an innocent search for a scouting report on Steve Blake's defense. It turned into learning that Steve Blake was the centerpiece of a Florida HS recruiting scandal, and a lifetime ban that sent him off to Oak Hill Academy.

This sound familiar to you guys? Until he became a Terp I had never heard of him (being on the West Coast and all). I've got my boys in the sports department on it, but until I hear back--any of you have any info?