From Theo DeRosa:
Not long into the Yankees’ series opener against the Athletics on Friday, manager Aaron Boone couldn’t help but consider placing a call to the bullpen.
Starter Carlos Rodón was looking shaky at best, giving up a solo home run to Nick Kurtz in the first inning, allowing a walk and a single to start the second and issuing a four-pitch walk to the A’s leadoff hitter, Darell Hernaiz, in the third.
Boone wasn’t optimistic.
“I was like, ‘I don’t know how long he’s going to be out there tonight,’” the skipper admitted.
But by the time he walked off the mound for good, Rodón had turned things around, delivering his longest start of the season — six innings of one-run ball in an 8-2 win over the A’s at Sutter Health Park.
“In the beginning, it wasn’t great, but there was a job to be done,” Rodón said.
The Athletics had to replace their starter after one inning, and yet it looked like the Yankees’ bullpen was going to have to eat almost as many innings as the A’s! But then Rodon shockingly settled down, and pitched well enough that I would have probably seen if he could get through seven, so that Headrick and Cruz could have been saved from pitching (Headrick was so rusty that he probably DID need the work. After using Headrick CONSTANTLY, to then give him so much time off must have been weird for him).
It kills me to give Rodon the featured image, but the dude DID throw a quality start and pick up the win, so I’m bound to give him the featured image.
Ben Rice was excellent, Paul Goldschmidt had a big knock, Trent Grisham is now comfortably over .200 BA and .700 OPS, and even Ryan McMahon popped another home run, and got his BA up to .200, and his OPS over .600 (will small wonders never cease?).
The Yankees winning tonight, though, pushes the Athletics further under .500, and that hurts the Yankees’ record against teams with winning records. They have to think long term on this stuff! What about the narrative, Yankees?!
About the Author
American League SRS LeadersNew York Yankees: +1.0Tampa Bay Rays:0.9
National League SRS Atlanta Braves: +1.7Los Angeles Dodgers: +1.6
Pinstripe Alley: Next breakout prospect
“Lovich leads the Florida State League with 11 home runs and is third with a 162 wRC+. He posts well above-average barrel and hard-hit rates, while also displaying great speed and athleticism, with 11 stolen bases. He’s wrapping up a stellar May that’s seeing him slash .362/.438/.797 through Thursday night, including a three-homer game last Wednesday.”
“Wilberson De Pena raking. In 18 games, he’s slashing .392/.451/.743 with an FCL-leading six home runs, 27 RBI, 13 extra-base hits, and 11 stolen bases. His 184 wRC+ is eighth in the FCL.”
Rookie league 19yo longshot acquired for Oswald Peraza.
Murakami to mis 4–6 weeks with a hamstring injury.
https://www.mlb.com/news/munetaka-murakami-to-injured-list-with-right-hamstring-strain?t=mlb-pipeline-coverage
Following on the SRS discussion, there’s a system of chess rating/ranking called ELO which takes into account strength of opponents, and I think 538 used to do one for baseball. Dunno if anyone is still doing it.
You keep insisting on the changing records, but someone here established long ago that its’ the record of the team at the time the game was played.
In which case that’s just wrong.
But a weighting system that integrates opponent strength over the league would be so much better, of course!
Have to look up whatt SRS is.
It is not, it is based on the current record. It is why the Yankees don’t get credit for taking two out of three from the 5-1 Marlins. And why they went from 1-8 to 0-6 when the Athletics fell under .500.
And as soon as the Mariners and Blue Jays go over .500, they’ll gain four more wins. It’s just absurdity.
WP different sites may use different methods but some definitely use the opponents current record
Yes, FG, I know you’re right. How about let’s agree with Brian to dismiss the ones that keep changing the records.
But not necessarily the ones that don’t!
Devil Rays got boatraced by the Angels today. One game back, two in the loss column.
Orioles get 5 in the ninth, send the Blue Jays back under .500.
Congrats to Amed Rosario on becoming a dad. Will be nifty to see if his bat speed improves with his newfound Dad Strength, and/or if he makes a bunch of mental errors in the Wild Card Game because his kid is in the middle of the 4 month sleep regression.