Joe Girardi has had, by all accounts, an excellent year managing. He has built up a bullpen that was devoid of good arms back in April, into one of the best in the league. The workload has been spread out among different players and nobody has gotten the Scott Proctor treatment. Joe does a good job of juggling the bench to make sure everybody gets the rest they need, as well. His team could win 100 games, exceeding expectations, and should win the toughest division in baseball. His decision to loosen things up back in Spring Training appears to have gone over well and these Yankees look like they're having fun.
Derek Jeter has had an incredible bounce back year. Before the season, all signs pointed to Derek Jeter hitting a steep and unpleasant decline. For three straight years his numbers had plummeted from MVP levels in 2006 to the worst year of his career in 2008. His wOBA fell to .343 that year and his defense was terrible to the point that Michael Kay actually noticed. However, he has made a remarkable turnaround. His power has returned, his base stealing ability is back, he's hitting over .330, and he's finally living up to his reputation on defense. Where it not for Joe Mauer's ridiculous season, Jeter would be a real MVP candidate.
Pettitte has surpassed everybody's expectations with the year he's having. Early on it looked like Cashman had made a familiar mistake by putting to much faith in an aging pitcher. However, since the All Star Break Andy has been on fire. He's either the Yankees #2 or #3 right now and figures to be a big part of the rotation this October. He's given the Yanks quality innings and is racking up strikeouts at a rate that wouldn't have looked unusual in the prime of his career. He's been indispensable for the Yankees and has made up for the loss of Chien Ming Wang very nicely.
Of course Mariano Rivera is having another quietly excellent year, as well. Mr. Automatic has converted 37 of 38 saves and is well on his way to another 40 save season. He hasn't been quite as good as he was last year but that's to be expected. His ERA is still under 2.00 and his strikeout rate is the second highest of his career. It was only higher way back in '96. Mariano is still going strong and looks like he has a couple more good years in him. In the playoffs his role is going to expand more and I'm sure he'll be able to rise to the occasion, like he has so many other times.
And where would we be without Jorge Posada right now? The man has gotten his share of criticism this year for his game calling skills, which always have been an issue. However, their is no disputing his offensive value. Their aren't many catcher's playing better than Jorge right now. You have Mauer, Martinez McCann, and then what? There's not much and fans would do well to remember how things went last year with Jose Molina as the backstop before they rush to bury Posada. His days as a catcher are numbered but I'd take .278/.354/.508 from a catcher any day. The guy is tough as nails and has not slowed down one bit since hitting the first home run at the new stadium.Despite the focus on inserting younger, homegrown, players onto their roster, the Yankees are still benefiting from their older homegrown players tremendously. These guys want to win at least one more championship before they hang up the spikes and they appear to be well on their way to achieving their goals. The combined WAR of those four players is 13.8. That means, that they old guard has accounted for about 17% of the Yankees' 83 wins this year. That's a big deal and come playoff time, the playoff experience of these guys is going to be huge. So let's not forget about these guys when we give credit for the Yankees success, so far, this year.
Nice post Mike. The Old Guard has been great this year, and they're really going to be the keys to succeeding in the postseason.
ReplyDeleteThey are all warrior type players with the eye on the prize. I believe every one of them will be remembered as Yankee greats. You can hate them if you're against them but you better damn well respect them.
ReplyDelete-G
Yeah the old guard as been great. Only criticism is Posada needs to get on the same page with some of the newer pitches.
ReplyDeleteAlso the other veterans like Damon & Matsui are having great years. They have been huge in the team succuess.
The "4 Rings Club" plus "3 Rings Jorge"...
ReplyDeleteGreat post...
The older guys have done a tremendous job. Posada has had another typical Posada year. Jeter is having the best year of his life on both sides of the ball. Pettitte has reverted back to the Andy of old, and Mo just continues to be the greatest closer ever.
ReplyDeleteNice post Mike.
Are you saying Jeter is currently NOT an MVP candidate?
ReplyDeleteMauer obviously has the numbers, but how badly will the record of the Twins be held against him?
I think both Tex are Jeter have as a good a shot as Mauer.
Can you at least wait until they accomplish something first or no.....? Seriously this team hasn't won a playoff series in how long? Don't you guys remember that?
ReplyDeleteAnon that has nothing to do with this team, or the old guard for that matter. They haven't had a good enough team to win anything since '03. Look at those pitching staffs, they were not built to win in the postseason.
ReplyDeleteRegardless, it doesn't take away from the great seasons guys like Jeter and Mo are having.
AL MVP is TOUGH this year. Mauer is having a great year by any standard but he doesn't get my 1st place MVP vote.
ReplyDeleteM. Kay mis-stated that Mauer beat out Jeter for MVP in 2006 when Jeter came in 2nd in MVP voting. Thats not accurate.
Morneau won the MVP in 2006 not Mauer. Morneau who beat out Jeter in 06' for MVP behind a very good season statistically AND a central division championship.
Mauer beat out Jeter in 06' for the batting title.
Anyways, at least the Twins (96 wins) had essentially the same record as the Yankees (97 wins) when Morneau won in 2006. The 2009 Twins are 1 game over .500 after going 8-2 in their last ten.
Catchers do not play every day. I dont think a Catcher has ever won an MVP on a team that didnt go to the playoffs. Then again catchers dont hit .370...
*From Wiki
The rules of the voting remain the same as they were written on the first ballot in 1931:
"1. Actual value of a player to his team, that is, strength of offense and defense. 2. Number of games played. 3. General character, disposition, loyalty and effort."
Mauer not winning the MVP is B.S.
ReplyDeleteHe is worth about 7 wins to that team.
To the people who say that Tex is more valuable, do you think that if The Twins replace Mauer with Tex that they will magically win more games?
It is not his fault that he doesn't have a good supporting cast like Teixeira and we shouldn't just eliminate a player from MVP consideration because the pitchers suck.
Jeter is our MVP anyway. But people seem to think, "Hey, Jeter doesn't get a lot of HRs or RBIs, he has never been the most valuable to his team!"
If Jeter is our MVP (which I agree with) then he must be the league MVP b/c the Yankees are the best team in baseball and Jeter is the backbone of the team. Where are the Yankee without Jeter? Ask yourself that question? Kay made a good point the other night, if Jeter hit 3rd or 4th he'd have an absurd amount of RBI's the guy is a hit machine.
ReplyDeleteTHe .370 has a magical ring to it, its rare that anyone hits for that kind of average and hes got alot of homers its a great statistical line it comes down to what is the MVP? the best numbers or the most valuable player this season...my personal opinion doesn't mean squat but I dont think Mauer is more valuable to the Twins than Jeter is to the Yankees
Half of what Jeter brings to the table isnt on the stat sheet but it sure as hell gets you more than 7 wins
I am not trying to be disagreeable or express any idea as irrefutable fact just trying to stimulate debate ultimately I agree with Collin in that
ReplyDelete"I think both Tex are Jeter have as a good a shot as Mauer."