Tagged: Chad Jennings

Sabermetrics, Statistics and Silliness

     So today I want to focus my attention on the glut of statistics that is increasingly being forced upon us and proclaimed as the gospel’s truth as to player performance.  While I believe statistical analysis can be a useful tool, when is enough enough?  I still believe that evaluating whether a player will succeed in a particular situation has a lot to do with gut feel.  Billy Martin was one of the best managers ever to fill out a lineup card, but do you think he had any idea about UZR (Ultimate Zone Rating)?  He was good because he had a feel for the game.  Statistics may tell you how often a player might do something or how well overall, but they can never predict exactly when a player will be successful.  That takes a knowledge of the game and of people that statistics can never provide.  So for me,  I watch the game and very often am able to predict what a player will do just by gut feel.  I think the best managers have this ability as well.  So let’s not get carried away with statistical analysis.  It can only go so far in predicting success in a given situation.  While useful, it is far from the be all and end all that it is being portrayed as these days.   

   On another note, just how bad does the LoHud Yankees blog suck these days?  I never cared much for Pete Abraham, but the new guys just aren’t very interesting.  A blog needs to have a bit of personality and personal opininon in it, not just throwing up information.  Chad Jennings, Sam Borden and Josh Thompson just don’t seem to get it.  I used to read it several times a day and now it’s more like a couple times a week.  They just bore me to tears. 

Juan Miranda!

      Well, what can you say about that one?  Phil Coke singlehandedly tries to give the game away and the Yankees still manage a win.  Coke made three boneheaded plays in a row.  Not one, not two, but three in a row.  He mishandled the bunt, threw away a sure double play ball and then failed to come home on what appeared to be a sure out at home.  Personally, I have not been a fan of Coke for most of the season.  He almost always seems to give up at least one run and although he has pitched a lot of innings this year, his effectiveness has been very spotty.  You never know what you are going to get.  If he is to stay in the majors, he needs to work on being more consistent.  And he needs to extract his head from his posterior.

     Having said that, when Kyly Farnsworth entered the game, I knew the Yankees had a chance.  He did not disappoint and it was a pleasure to watch him blow a lead for some other team.  I watched him do it enough for the Yankees.  Hats off to the Yankees for continuing to battle in a game that meant nothing.  Meanwhile, Boston slid into the wild card despite their fifth straight loss as Texas lost to the Angels.

     Finally, good riddance to Pete Abraham over at LoHud Yankees.  Yesterday was his last day and he will be going to work for the Boston Globe covering the Sux.  Pete was a windbag who valued his own opinion much more than anyone else’s.  If you dared to disagree with him, you could count on a nasty e-mail.  He will be replaced by Chad Jennings who has been covering the Yankees AAA team in Scranton/Wilkesbarre.  Chad is a good writer and has had an excellent blog and I for one am looking forward to the change.  Good luck Chad.  I will be reading LoHud again for sure.