(The following is being syndicated from The Captain’s Blog; follow me on Twitter at@williamnyy23).
In addition to defending his homerun derby crown tonight, Robinson Cano will lead a contingent of four Yankees in tomorrow’s All Star Game at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City. Although that total is half the amount of Bronx Bombers selected to the previous two Midseason Classics, the Yankees will have three starters for the first time since 2004. Seeing so many pinstripes take the field at the start of tomorrow’s game should be a treat for Yankees’ fans, but, considering how much the franchise’s representatives have struggled in the summer baseball showcase, the rest of the American League probably isn’t as excited.
Yankees’ All Star Game Selections by Year
Note: Not every player actually appeared in the game.
Source: baseball-reference.com
Since the inaugural All Star Game in 1933, the Yankees have had 121 (71 position players and 50 pitchers) different representatives account for 410 (285 position players and 125 pitchers) total selections, the most of any team. However, the team’s players haven’t exactly made the most of their opportunities to shine. In nearly 600 plate appearances, representatives from the Bronx have hit only .228/.300/.341, which ranks 22nd in terms of OPS. Yankees’ All Stars have also struggled in the clutch, compiling a WPA of -4.172, the lowest cumulative franchise figure and worst in the American League per plate appearance. After so much pinstriped failure, the pressure will be on Cano, Curtis Granderson and Derek Jeter to make amends.
Cumulative Franchise Performance in the All Star Game, by OPS
Source: baseball-reference.com
If one Yankee is capable of representing the team well in Kansas City, it’s Derek Jeter, who joins Joe DiMaggio as a 13 time All Star (Mickey Mantle at 20 and Yogi Berra at 18 are the only Yankees with more selections). In his previous 12 games (11 played), Jeter has not only compiled the highest All Star Game OPS by a member of the Yankees, but also ranks ninth among all players with at least 15 plate appearances. The Yankees’ short stop also owns the distinction of being the only team representative to win an All Star Game MVP, so the Captain has nothing to hang his head about when it comes to the franchise’s performance in the Midseason Classic.
Top-10 Yankees’ All Star Position Players, Ranked by OPS
Note: Minimum 10 plate appearances
Source: Baseball-reference.com
Although more productive than their offensive counterparts, Yankees’ pitchers also haven’t been a great help to their American League brethren. In 119 2/3 innings, franchise hurlers rank 19th (albeit in a much larger sample) with a 4.21 ERA, which is also one-half run per game higher than the All Star Game average. With CC Sabathia injured and unable to appear in the game, the Yankees will have to wait until next year to begin improving on that mark.
Cumulative Franchise Performance in the All Star Game, by ERA
Source: baseball-reference.com
On an individual basis, only seven Yankees have pitched at least five innings in the July exhibition, but two from that group have had notable success. Mariano Rivera, whose 12 All Star selections are tops among franchise pitchers, has not surrendered an earned run while recording a record four All Star Game saves. In addition to having the most prolific All Star closer, in Lefty Gomez, the Yankees can also boast one of the most successful starters. Not only are Gomez’ three wins unmatched in All Star history, but his five starts are tied with Don Drysdale and Robin Roberts for most all time.
Yankees’ All Star Pitchers, Ranked by Innings
Note: Includes all pitchers with at least five innings pitched
Source: Baseball-reference.com
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59 Responses to Yanks’ All Stars Haven’t Always Shined: Historical Look at Bronx Bombers in the Midseason Classic
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TIQ IQ
I guess there isn’t going to be an HR Derby Thread. So let’s take this one over. Go CANO!
Beltran got a late start, but 7′s a good total.
Beltran did really well.
I bet Bautista beats that total.
Who do you pick to win Professor? I’m going with Cano.
I’m rooting for Cano, but I have no actual prediction.
The announcers are pretty silly. They get excited, like each home run is winning a World Series. And they have to do that 100 times. It must wear them out.
Berman could set a record for saying “Back”
How the hell can Bautista hit an inside pitch? He’s hanging over the plate.
You read the article about how poorly Yankees have done in the All-Star game? Interesting.
Yeah. Not sure what it means. But Jiltin’ Joe’s numbers surprised me. I remember The Mick struggling.
I’m too young to have seen Mantle play, but I remember him hitting a home run in the first Old-Timers Day game I ever watched on TV, 1973.
A friend of mine has a relative who’s been a Yankee fan forever. My friend once went up to himand said, “Hey, it must have been great getting to watch MIckey Mantle play.” And he said, “Ah, Mantle was a bum. Always hit his homers when they were way ahead. The guy I wanted to see up with the game on the line was Yogi Berra.”
First game I saw, bottom of the 9th Berra ties it with an HR and in the 10th Mantle’s HR won it. Hooked for life.
What year was that?
Don’t remember, maybe ’56
“When rooting for the Yankees was like rooting for US Steel.”
One of the seminal baseball books of my youth was Peter Golenback’s Dynasty. It gave me my first player-level view of the game, and I just loved it. I must have read that book 20 times. Since then I’ve loved those 50s Yankee teams, even though I wasn’t there to see them.
Good idea–let R.A. Dickey pitch the home run derby.
Looks like Ruiz gets to catch him during the game.
I was reading on RAB that the Yanks have an offer to Hensley (or whatever) for just over $1.8M and he’s got till Friday to decide between that & college.
The experts are saying that there’s no advantage for him to turn the money down, but maybe Boras has something up his sleeve.
Take the cash in hand.
They’re saying (on HardBallTalk, anyway) that it looks like Appel won’t sign with the Pirates. It’s kind of a weird game of chicken.
If they don’t sign this year, how long before they’re eligible again?
Next year. But next year Appel will be a senior and he’ll have less leverage. Plus he risks a worse season, or an injury.
Car-Go won’t make the 2nd round
How the hell did the LAA get Trout & Trumbo. I don’t remember them getting real high draft choices.
Half-way through, the AL is kicking some NL butt.
The NL stinks.
I lived in ATL from 1983 to 2003, and with TBS I became a secondary Braves fan. But never liked the NL.
Why are both teams wearing blue?
No idea. Some blue dye manufacturer must have bought the rights to the color blue for the game.
Justin Smoak has the 5th worse OPS in baseball at .597.
Smoak and Montero–the Mariners are not doing well in picking guys to trade for.
Still Montero’s playing. Last I saw he was hitting well when catching, abysmal when DHing.
Well, let’s go over to baseball-referene.comand see.
Ugh. He’s not cutting it. His OBP is .281, and his slugging is .376. That’s good for an 87 OPS+.
He’s tatooing lefties: .337/.368/.530. And, yeah, he’s doing really well as a catcher: .309/.338/.496.
Please don’t show me the Yank’s catchers numbers. I’m not sure how Monero’s defense is, but Martin & Stewart are not looking stellar there.
I’d trade Russell Martin for Montero.
Martin’s actually pounding lefties: .275/.383/.549
McCutchen failed to be McClutchen tonight. He’s out too.
What can a Prince do at a Royal stadium?
450. That was a shot.
I expected more than 5. But he some long ones.
Kemp looks like he should be on the DL.
Yeah, if that was MLB pitching it would be a lot of swings & misses.
The blue just dawned on me. Royal blue.
Heeeeeeeeeeeeere’s Cano.
Line drive!
Support from Granderson & Sabatthia.
OMG Shut out.
Ah, well. Can’t win it every year.
Rough fans. But it was fun.
Do you think Cashman will make a move? SP? Catcher?
I don’t think so. They don’t really have the chips–talent or money–to do anything major, and I think Cashman’s knows it’s a seller’s market. I think he might take a flyer or two on some rejects–Chad Qualls types. Of course, I’m always wrong about stuff like this. Maybe he’ll wind up with Cole Hamels.
Hamels will be way too expensive for a rental. The only thing that worries me is whether Gardner will come back and if he’ll be willing to steal. A lot of guys getting injured sliding head first this year.
Even if they could get permission to negotiate a contract with Hamels before a trade, I don’t know if they have the prospects or the budget space for him.
Prince is putting on a show!
What a job Kruk has, he gets paid to eat.
Looks good.
With Banualos, Betances, & Romine regressing & / or injured, the Yanks don’t have anyone with good upsides close to MLB ready.
Trumbo’s hitting a lot of 450-foot shots.
Professor, I’m going to call it a night. Yard work just wore me out today. Chat at ya tomorrow.
Ciao.