Mike Vaccaro,
Post:
Well, if you're looking for silver linings about the second half of the Yankees' season, maybe you can start with this: They only have 10 games left with the Red Sox. And they only have three games left in Anaheim.
Erik Boland,
Newsday:
Three days ago, the All-Star break looked like an inconvenience, something that could only serve as a momentum-buster for one of baseball's hottest teams.
Three days later, few teams appear more in need of the time off.
George A. King, III,
Post:
Aggravating the Yankees further was the fact they flushed four-run leads Friday and Saturday before a brutal fourth inning by ace CC Sabathia did them in yesterday.
Mark Feinsand,
Daily News:
Alex Rodriguez hit three homers and drove in five runs in the three-game series against the Angels, but when the Yankees needed him most, his bat was nowhere to be found.
A-Rod grounded into a bases-loaded double play in the seventh inning Sunday, then struck out to end the game ...
W L PCT GB RS RA DIFF EXP
Red Sox 54 34 .614 -- 465 380 + 85 52-36
Yankees 51 37 .580 3.0 495 435 + 60 49-39
Mike Vaccaro, Post:
Erik Boland, Newsday:
George A. King, III, Post:
4 comments:
I've been thinking about this a bit lately...the idea that home runs are more important in the late innings. clutch.
I think the impact an early inning home run has on a game is just as important, although for difference reasons, as a late inning, game tying or winning home run is.
If a player hits a 2 run jack in inning 2, and puts his team up 3-0 (as they were winning 1-0 previously), the pitchers for both teams are affected in a major way going forward. There is much value in a 3-0 lead in inning 2 for a pitcher, and could considerably have more impact on whether a team walks away with a win or a loss than a 8th inning home run that ties the game, no?
If a player hits that home run in inning 2 or 3, the team will be my less likely to need anyone to hit it in inning 8 or 9.
maybe some stats refute this - I have no idea. What do you guys think?
WPA stats at Fangraphs might help.
That would show how much an HR in the 2nd inning -- or any out or hit in any inning -- increased or decreased the chances of the team winning.
Is that stat subjective though?
Does that stat take into account the impact an early HR has on a game? The difference between walking in a run instead of pitching to a hot hitter with loaded bases could spell victory just as much as if Papi hits an 8th inning 2 run shot to take the lead or tie it. His services may not be needed if the HR is hit by FY in the 1st.
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