Mystery Graph #8

0 Responses to Mystery Graph #8

1. Dangerous Dean says:

   January 2, 2011 at 9:03 pm

   Just a wild guess…Robinson Cano's HR to fly ball ratio?

   Reply
2. Larry Koestler says:

   January 2, 2011 at 10:40 pm

   That's a very good guess, but not quite.

   The stat we're looking at is O-Swing% — percentage of pitches a batter swings at out of the strike zone. The white line is the career number.

   Reply
3. Alex Taffet says:

   January 2, 2011 at 11:21 pm

   Nick Swisher? I know his isoD was a lot lower this year.

   Reply
4. Wayne says:

   January 3, 2011 at 2:51 am

   Mr. Koestler, I really enjoy your articles, but these graphs don't seem to be eliciting much interest from myself and my fellow Yankee fans.

   I’d be more interested in your opinion and observations on whether we should go with Montero full time at catcher. I’m afraid that the Yankees are going to screw up Montero’s development at the MLB level with the acquisition of Russell Martin.

   If they go north with Montero and only give him, say, 250 ABs, it could mess up his timing, derail his short-term development, and lessen his trade value (although I hope they don’t trade him).

   I’m of the opinion that we should give Montero the full-time catching job if he hits well in spring training and plays at least decent behind the plate. It’s time (or past time) for the Yankees to take a chance on a high-ceiling kid again. The last kid we took a chance on was Jeter, for god’s sake. Christ, that was a decade and a half ago. And we only took the chance then, I seem to recall, because of an injury to the guy who was supposed to be the starting shortstop.

   Let’s give Montero a shot at the catcher’s position full time and find out what we have in him. If he hits great, but doesn’t field well, try him in a corner outfield spot in 2012 or make him the DH in 2012. (I don’t expect Posada will be back after this year.) Of course, we could also trade him to a team that needs a young power hitter if he produces at the level we believe he can.

   I’d love to hear your thoughts on this subject in a full length article, along with everyone else’s thoughts. I realize starting Montero would be a gamble, but I think that’s the kind of upside gamble we need to take in 2011 to keep pace with Boston and the other teams that greatly improved themselves this offseason (unlike the Yankees).

   I hope the Yankees only acquired Martin as a safety valve in case Montero fails completely at the MLB level . . . otherwise I'm afraid the Martin acquisition is only going to forestall Montero's development.

   Reply
5. Sherri says:

   January 3, 2011 at 10:38 am

   When will we find out the answer? I'm curious whose chart this is. Sherri

   Reply
6. Larry Koestler says:

   January 3, 2011 at 10:41 am

   Oh ha, right. Sorry about that – glad at least some of you enjoyed the mystery charts.

   Alex Taffet is right; it's Swisher.

   Reply
7. Sherri says:

   January 3, 2011 at 11:10 am

   Thanks!

   Reply