Jose Veras and 2-0 and 2-1 Pitches Are Most Important

Think the first pitch is the most important? Or maybe that 1-1 pitch? Nope. According to my research, the most important pitches are the 2-0 and 2-1 pitch. I looked at the data based on the count for every game played in 2009 through last Thursday, May 28th (found here in this Google Docs Spreadsheet).

The most amazing part of the research was the idea of first pitch strikes. As a pitcher, you're actually better off throwing a ball then laying one over and letting the batter put the ball in play. So the idea of just throwing strikes on the first pitch is an overrated one; throwing first pitch strikes is what you're looking to do as a pitcher. The subtle difference is you want to make sure that it's not just throwing a ball over to get a strike.

Now is where I need to harp on the idea that Jose Veras can't be on this team. The OPS against Jose Veras on the first pitch is just under 300 points greater than the league average. He walks a lot of guys, but when he doesn't, he lays over fastballs on the first pitch. The Yankees have a lot of arms in the minor leagues. Someone needs to understand how to pitch a little better than Jose Veras, no?

Just asking...Wang to the Pen?

Just asking...are all those "Joba-to-the-'pen" folks advocating "Wang-to-the-'pen" now?

Just asking...is Girardi making Chien-Ming Wang into his setup man with Brian Bruney out?

Just asking...when is it a good idea to take a perennial 19-game winner and waste him away in blowout games?

Just asking...what are Angel Berroa and Jose Veras still doing on this team (especially now with NO backup outfielders)?

Just asking...why is AJ Burnett so inconsistent?

Just asking...why do some Yankee broadcasts not have a play-by-play guy? I actually really like Flaherty and Singleton but neither guy is a play-by-play and they've been stuck in a booth together in Texas for 3 games

Just asking...do you see what speed does for a team? Gardner dropping down a bunt proved to be a big play in blowing this game wide open

Just asking...can the Yankees keep up this momentum? We'll see as they head to Cleveland tomorrow...

Another Great Comeback But You Can't Win 'Em All

"Have they ever lost before?"
"Basketball? No, they sure haven't."
"It just feels wrong, that's all."
"Maybe that's where they get that saying, 'You can't win 'em all.'"
"That's a good point, Ralph. They do have that saying."
-Pleasantville

That quote from the movie Pleasantville sort of sums up my feeling right about now. Another well pitched game from the Yankees starters and bullpen. Another weak hitting effort until the 9th. Another come-from-behind in the 9th with a blown save for the opposing closer.

Just this time it ended up in a loss. Some may second guess Joe Girardi for taking out Robinson Cano for Ramiro Pena, but the truth is that the Yankees needed to score that third run to score and you can't worry about the consequences if that spot comes up again in the game (and it looked like it wouldn't). The Yankees had chances to win it in the 9th and 10th and couldn't muster a baserunner with the bottom part of their lineup in the 11th. Maybe the mistake was pitch hitting for Cervelli since he's a .300 hitter. Swisher's bat could have been used to pitch hit later on for somone like Pena. But that may be nit-picking.

Who is looking great? Melky Cabrera and Jose Veras. Melky came up with another huge hit for the Yankees and looks like he took his demotion at the end of last season and losing out on the starting job this year personally and has done a great job coming back. Jose Veras was horrendous in the Yankees bullpen for most of the season, but after almost being demoted recently (Edwar Ramirez was sent down instead of Veras being released) and realizing he was on his last legs, he's come back with a vengence recently.

Who is not looking great? A-Rod and Hideki Matsui. A-Rod is a true three outcome player now: homerun, walk or strikeout. But thankfully a lot of those homeruns have been in big spots. Matsui just looks lost at the plate and you wonder if those knees are bothering him again. If Nady comes back soon, it may pay to put Matsui on the bench for a while to rest those knees.

Regardless, I think this was the best Yankee homestand in a while and maybe their most exciting ever. They never really went down without a fight and they showed that no matter the closer, they were never done until that last out. Remember, Lidge never blew a save last year in the regular season or post season. So to do what the Yankees did to him on two consecutive days--even if only one ended up in a win and even if he may not be the same Brad Lidge this season--is still quite impressive. Let's hope they keep up this momentum as they head on the road.