Why does Teixeira get a pass for his bad postseasons?

[Mattingly]

And by the way, he is NOT getting a free pass. Tex is stinking it up again this year and the NY sports talk shows and the media are starting to really get on him.

Even Suzyn has gotten on his case.

[dominik]

How is 1B a less important defensive position? The 1Bman is at the tail end of a 6-4-3, a 4-6-3, and a 5-4-3. If you have a speedy runner, he has to catch that poorly-thrown ball. If he can't step on the base, he has to tag the guy out, even while the guy's twisting and turning to avoid the tag.

He, like the 3Bman, has to run into foul territory.

Did you check out Giambi? We had to get defensive replacements for him. Tex can turn a double into an out. He could also turn a guy on 2B into a guy on 1B by throwing to 2B. In the grand scheme of things, that saves a few runs. Multiplied several times, it can also save a few games.

As to 1B being a strictly defensive position, when you have NL players who can hit but can't field, they're traditionally put at 1B. Even Casey Stengel once put JoeD at 1B (1 game in 1950), in order to say that he'd lost a step in the OF.

With the AL's DH rule, non-fielding guys like Ortiz and Edgar Martinez have thrived. However, that doesn't mean that 1B defense shouldn't be valued, unless you don't mind a few shots going into RF, or missed throws home. Don't forget the role of cutoff man either.

No one says it is not important. it is. but it is less important than other positions.if you want to know more about positional value ask in the stats section.

On short: the left side IFs are:
-involved in more plays (excluding catching the ball thrown to first-which is rather easy most of the time unless the throw is in the dirt)
-more and longer throws
-more difficult plays (more hard hit balls to the left side)

that doesn't mean at all that 1B is not important. It's just not as important as some other positions.

[GiambiJuice]

You can look at whatever stats someone tells you to look at, but when the game is played and you go from 1B/2B with 1 out (DP possibility) to 2B/3B with 1 out (2 RISP), you'll soon realize that there's one big difference. If the other team is able to get a few hits that inning, it could be a lot more wins than just 1.5 per season.

The entire team plays a part in terms of wins, since it's the rotation, bullpen, lineup, defense and managing. I have no idea how the 1.5 extra wins per season figure came about.

It's not 1.5 wins per season. It's a total of 1.5 since joining the Yankees.

[Mattingly]

No one says it is not important. it is. but it is less important than other positions.if you want to know more about positional value ask in the stats section.

On short: the left side IFs are:
-involved in more plays (excluding catching the ball thrown to first-which is rather easy most of the time unless the throw is in the dirt)
-more and longer throws
-more difficult plays (more hard hit balls to the left side)

that doesn't mean at all that 1B is not important. It's just not as important as some other positions.

In that case, please name all of the fielding positions in order of importance and/or fielding difficulty (as in, you need to be a better player to be above-par).

[Mattingly]

It's not 1.5 wins per season. It's a total of 1.5 since joining the Yankees.

I missed the "since ..." part the last time around. How is that 1.5 number calculated? Also, how highly do you rate Tex' defense (either vs other 1Bmen you can name or the statistical "league average")?

Say you've got corner runners, and you have someone like Tex vs someone like Giambi? If it's the 8th inning, Yanks are up by 1 run, how useful is the 3-6-1 play, or the 3-2-3 play in winning games? Throws that Giambi would likely not be able to execute properly?

[GiambiJuice]

I missed the "since ..." part the last time around. How is that 1.5 number calculated? Also, how highly do you rate Tex' defense (either vs other 1Bmen you can name or the statistical "league average")?

Say you've got corner runners, and you have someone like Tex vs someone like Giambi? If it's the 8th inning, Yanks are up by 1 run, how useful is the 3-6-1 play, or the 3-2-3 play in winning games? Throws that Giambi would likely not be able to execute properly?

That number doesn't mean anything to me. I was just throwing it out there that people who study these things rate him as slightly above average, but nothing spectacular.

Personally, I think defensive metrics have a LONG way to go. Any metric that rated Carlos Lee as one of the top outfielders in baseball this season is seriously flawed.

That being said, every Yankee fan thinks Teixeira is the best-fielding 1st baseman in baseball because they get to watch him every day. Fans of St Louis and Cincinatti certainly think Pujols or Votto is the best.

As far as the thread topic, another terrible postseason perfomance by Tex. He entered the series with a .170 BA and .318 SLG% in the postseason as a Yankee, and he actually managed to LOWER both of those numbers. But of course the Daily News blamed it all on A-Rod.

[PVNICK]

In fairness the News eventually came around to toss in Swisher and Tex. But yeah A Rod definitely gets his game ending Ks and outs highlighted compared to others.

[Yankwood]

In fairness the News eventually came around to toss in Swisher and Tex. But yeah A Rod definitely gets his game ending Ks and outs highlighted compared to others.

You think it could be because he bats clean up for the most famous, and most hated team in the country, makes 30 million bucks a year and sucks in those spots alot? I think it might.

[GiambiJuice]

You think it could be because he bats clean up for the most famous, and most hated team in the country, makes 30 million bucks a year and sucks in those spots alot? I think it might.

Yeah, Tex only makes $22.5 million. We should expect him to suck every single year.

A-Rod has enough good postseason series and big hits in the regular season to prove he can be clutch. Tex is terrible in the postseason every single year.

[dominik]

Yeah, Tex only makes $22.5 million. We should expect him to suck every single year.

A-Rod has enough good postseason series and big hits in the regular season to prove he can be clutch. Tex is terrible in the postseason every single year.

could it be that tex is not really unclutch but rather a "mistake hitter" who is hurt by the higher level of pitching in the post season?

I mean he has great power but he also misses quite some balls so he might have a harder time adjusting to very good pitching.

[NJYankeeFan]

could it be that tex is not really unclutch but rather a "mistake hitter" who is hurt by the higher level of pitching in the post season?

I mean he has great power but he also misses quite some balls so he might have a harder time adjusting to very good pitching.

If you think this is really the case, test it. Rlyw.net did this for Swisher under the same theory. I'd be curious to see the result.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using Tapatalk

[dominik]

If you think this is really the case, test it. Rlyw.net did this for Swisher under the same theory. I'd be curious to see the result.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using Tapatalk

you would need to compare his results against good pitchers (say sub 4.00 era) and bad pitchers (say above 4.00) and then compare the drop off to league average (everyone hits worse against good pitching-not even barry bonds or babe ruth would have the same stats if they faced halladay or pedro every day).

But I don't really have the computer tools to do that. I have heard about a study who claimed that there is not such thing as a mistake hitter but I don't really know.

[Broadway]

Yeah, Tex only makes $22.5 million. We should expect him to suck every single year.

A-Rod has enough good postseason series and big hits in the regular season to prove he can be clutch. Tex is terrible in the postseason every single year.

Really? Outside of 09, and I credit Kate Hudson, I don't remember any of these 'good postseason series'. I do remember that bat being in his hands when the game and the season are on the line and him sucking. Since he's gotten here, if he wasn't the final at bat, he was second to last at bat watching the balls fly by in every postseason finale. And, he's built enough of a pattern for all of us to see what he's about. He's not going to live 2011 down. Deja vu, deja vu and more deja vu all over again.
Tex is a dynamite first baseman and he brought them to the dance. We know he's streaky and even with the now he's good, now he's not '11 season, he still brought 30 homers to the table and makes a gold glove play in virtually every game. He's easy to forgive, easier than schmucky A-Rod.
Swishaliscious? I'll say this, if either Damon or Matsui were in that lineup, the Yankees would be playing tonight. Unfortunately, masterful DH's aren't an option as the DH spot will be clogged up for at least another five years.

[Yankeefan90]

Really? Outside of 09, and I credit Kate Hudson, I don't remember any of these 'good postseason series'. I do remember that bat being in his hands when the game and the season are on the line and him sucking. Since he's gotten here, if he wasn't the final at bat, he was second to last at bat watching the balls fly by in every postseason finale. And, he's built enough of a pattern for all of us to see what he's about. He's not going to live 2011 down. Deja vu, deja vu and more deja vu all over again.
Tex is a dynamite first baseman and he brought them to the dance. We know he's streaky and even with the now he's good, now he's not '11 season, he still brought 30 homers to the table and makes a gold glove play in virtually every game. He's easy to forgive, easier than schmucky A-Rod.
Swishaliscious? I'll say this, if either Damon or Matsui were in that lineup, the Yankees would be playing tonight. Unfortunately, masterful DH's aren't an option as the DH spot will be clogged up for at least another five years.

Alex Rodriguez had an excellent series versus the Twins in '04, and through the first three to four games against the Sox, he also hit well. Despite his low batting average in the '05 division series he had a high OBP, telling us the Angels gave him nothing to hit. Granted he wasn't great in '06, and quite mediocre in '07. With that said, even this year A-Rod wasn't as bad as the numbers suggested. He still drove in 3 runs, not bad considering he only got 2 hits. Also what is forgotten is that A-Rod was playing the ALDS hurt, he missed the last few games of the season and he still wasn't 100%. So say what you want, but the numbers suggest otherwise about A-Rod's production. Yanks have a hard time in '09 without A-Rod. This is coming from someone who very much dislikes A-Rod the person, but I can't argue he's a great player and the numbers simply don't suggest what you say.

[TonyStarks]

You think it could be because he bats clean up for the most famous, and most hated team in the country, makes 30 million bucks a year and sucks in those spots alot? I think it might.

I think it's mainly because he makes $30M. How quickly Yankee fans forget all the game winning and game tying Home Runs he hit in '09 to bring NY another World Series. The man would be golden in Boston, but in NY he's an overpaid bum.

Really? Outside of 09, and I credit Kate Hudson, I don't remember any of these 'good postseason series'. I do remember that bat being in his hands when the game and the season are on the line and him sucking. Since he's gotten here, if he wasn't the final at bat, he was second to last at bat watching the balls fly by in every postseason finale. And, he's built enough of a pattern for all of us to see what he's about. He's not going to live 2011 down. Deja vu, deja vu and more deja vu all over again.
Tex is a dynamite first baseman and he brought them to the dance. We know he's streaky and even with the now he's good, now he's not '11 season, he still brought 30 homers to the table and makes a gold glove play in virtually every game. He's easy to forgive, easier than schmucky A-Rod.
Swishaliscious? I'll say this, if either Damon or Matsui were in that lineup, the Yankees would be playing tonight. Unfortunately, masterful DH's aren't an option as the DH spot will be clogged up for at least another five years.

Did you not watch the 2004 Post Season? Prior to the epic collapse of the Yanks, ARod was having a great series.

Look at his numbers in 2005. Aug thru early Oct, he was on fire. And going into the playoffs the Angels just pitched around him. You can't produce when they aren't pitching to you. His OBP in the ALDS was around .435.

Does this mean to say that you don't think in 2007 Alex took this team on his back and drove them to the playoffs?
Aug: .330 AVG | .434 OBP | 1.054 OPS | 9 HR / 22 RBI | 9/9 SB
Sept/Oct: .362 AVG | .470 OBP | 1.193 OPS | 10 HR / 31 RBI | 4/6 SB

--

Why exactly is Tex easier to forgive then Alex? What exactly has Tex done in the Post Season that makes him so forgivable?
Because at least Alex has produced in the playoffs.....while Tex has been H-O-R-R-I-B-L-E year in and year out!!! More strikeouts than hits!
And if anything, it was Cano's bat that brought them into the playoffs this season not Teixeira's.

So again, what makes Mark easier to forgive?

[Broadway]

Alex Rodriguez had an excellent series versus the Twins in '04, and through the first three to four games against the Sox, he also hit well. Despite his low batting average in the '05 division series he had a high OBP, telling us the Angels gave him nothing to hit. Granted he wasn't great in '06, and quite mediocre in '07. With that said, even this year A-Rod wasn't as bad as the numbers suggested. He still drove in 3 runs, not bad considering he only got 2 hits. Also what is forgotten is that A-Rod was playing the ALDS hurt, he missed the last few games of the season and he still wasn't 100%. So say what you want, but the numbers suggest otherwise about A-Rod's production. Yanks have a hard time in '09 without A-Rod. This is coming from someone who very much dislikes A-Rod the person, but I can't argue he's a great player and the numbers simply don't suggest what you say.

I think those days are behind us and we're going to see more breakdown and more DL for our stat stacking third baseman.

[Broadway]

I think it's mainly because he makes $30M. How quickly Yankee fans forget all the game winning and game tying Home Runs he hit in '09 to bring NY another World Series. The man would be golden in Boston, but in NY he's an overpaid bum.






Did you not watch the 2004 Post Season? Prior to the epic collapse of the Yanks, ARod was having a great series.

Look at his numbers in 2005. Aug thru early Oct, he was on fire. And going into the playoffs the Angels just pitched around him. You can't produce when they aren't pitching to you. His OBP in the ALDS was around .435.

Does this mean to say that you don't think in 2007 Alex took this team on his back and drove them to the playoffs?
Aug: .330 AVG | .434 OBP | 1.054 OPS | 9 HR / 22 RBI | 9/9 SB
Sept/Oct: .362 AVG | .470 OBP | 1.193 OPS | 10 HR / 31 RBI | 4/6 SB

--

Why exactly is Tex easier to forgive then Alex? What exactly has Tex done in the Post Season that makes him so forgivable?
Because at least Alex has produced in the playoffs.....while Tex has been H-O-R-R-I-B-L-E year in and year out!!! More strikeouts than hits!
And if anything, it was Cano's bat that brought them into the playoffs this season not Teixeira's.

So again, what makes Mark easier to forgive?

Guys, stop with the numbers. Arod is the very picture of postseason choke.
He's here to come up big in the big spots and (outside of 09's exception) he just doesn't. I'm sure the numbers can be jumbled any number of different ways, but the big numbers are he went 2 for 18 with no extra base hits and six strikeouts this last series.
Numbers don't don't stand at bat, men do and as we see our stat stacking friend WIFF the last at bat away, again, those are images that stay with us and supersede the numbers. Common sense numbers go like this; on six occasions he was up in the 9th inning being the only thing standing between staying alive & elimination- on two of those occasions he grounds into double plays, killing the rally, while the last two, 2010 and 2011, he struck out to end the series.
Call that what you like. If you have confidence with him in the big spot, cool, but you'd be in a wishful minority.
Tex? Sure he sucked, but truth be told, he's just not Arod or any of the nonsense that came with him. Nothing scientific, just two different kinds of guy.