25 Days Until Spring Training: Mark Teixeira

There are 25 days until pitchers and catchers are due to report to George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa so we begin our countdown to Spring Training, as we did last year, with Mark Teixeira.

While Jason Giambi was a valuable player during his career with the Yankees, the franchise made a major upgrade by replacing him with Mark Teixiera last winter. Better both defensively and at the plate, the Maryland native and Georgia Tech alum started of the Pinstriped portion of his career on the right foot.

Teixeira cleaned up the postseason awards by finishing second in the MVP vote, and being awarded both the Gold Glove and Silver Slugger among American League first baseman. Depsite the accolades, Teixeira's first season in the Bronx didn't quite measure up to the two previous ones he split between in Texas, Atlanta and Anaheim. However, being shuttled between the AL and NL midseason prevented him from getting credit for his robust production in the award voting.

In both 2007 and 2008 he batted over .300 and got on base at better than a 40% clip but in 2009 he did neither - hitting .292/.383/.565 - but did record a slugging percentage 20 points above his career average. He tied for the AL lead in home runs with 39 and led the Yanks in slugging percentage and OPS (.948) but he by no means reached his ceiling last year.

Part of this can be attributed to an an awful April which put him in a hole that took until the end of May to climb out. However, even in that terrible month, he walked 17 times in 90 plate appearances and had a respectable on-base percentage of .367.

Teixiera's defense is well-regarded by fans, broadcasters and scouts alike, but it doesn't seem to show up in UZR. He posted a below average rating last season and his defense over the the previous three comes out to be almost exactly neutral. Tom Tango acknowledges that there is likely something that UZR might be missing about Teixeira's defense. What might that be? Well for one, infield line drives aren't counted by UZR, and those go a long way in determining who the best defensive first basemen are.

Teixiera hit for a higher batting average and on-base percentage from the right side of the plate while slugging better as a lefty in 2009, which could be attributed to playing half of his games in the Bronx if it wasn't a patten that has been evident over his entire career. Of course, Yankee Stadium probably enhanced those splits, as 24 of his 39 long balls were hit at home and his numbers were better there across the board.

Partially lost in the Yankees' World Series victory was the fact that Teixeira struggled during the postseason. He made some sparkling defensive plays including one that helped David Robertson wriggle out of an 11th inning jam in Game 2 of the ALDS which he followed with a game-winning home run in the bottom half of the inning. But his overall line was .182/.282/.311, walking only 6 times in 71 plate appearances.

Similar to his funk at the beginning of the season, Teixeira could have been rusty from all the days off that the Yanks had during the postseason. He's said in the past that batting from both sides of the plate makes it harder to find his rhytym. While many players didn't seem to mind it, the inactivity might mess with Teix's timing more than it does with other players'. He's a notoriously slow starter, so there is likely some truth to that notion.

Odds are, Teixeira will have many more Aprils and Octobers in Pinstripes to try to sort these problems out.

April All Over Again

After a rain delay of 12 minutes the gametime temperature sat at a rather chilly 55 degrees. The air was opaque with mist and a huge amount of seats sat empty. The atmosphere was eerily reminiscent of the game that Schiff and I went to on April 21st. Andy Pettitte was the starter that night as well, but the main difference was that the lefty lasted seven innings, gave up two runs and the Yankees came away with the win. Not tonight.

Tonight was another frustrating outing with RISP (1-6) although it wasn't as bad as the series finale in Cleveland (3-16), which they won. Pettitte got the Yankees in the hole right off the bat, allowing three runs in the first inning. Nelson Cruz hit a ball right back toward Pettitte that would have likely become a double play if it hadn't deflected off it Andy's leg. A DP would have ended the inning, but Ian Kinsler scored on the play and the Rangers worked across two more runs on a groundout and a single. The inning would have continued on longer if it weren't for Melky Cabrera's outfield assist, throwing out Marlon Byrd at third base from right field.

Pettitte did not look sharp at any point in the game, but the first was the only inning where the Rangers would do significant damage. Allowing 13 baserunners in 5 innings typically leads to more than four runs, but Pettitte has always found ways to sneak out of tight situations. The six strikeouts and the double play he induced certainly helped his cause. 

It looked as though his back problem was flaring up as replays showed him wincing as he labored towards first base in the fourth inning. He apparently got through whatever it was and came back out for the fifth, finished the frame and ended up throwing 104 pitches.

The Yankees brought home a run on a single by A-Rod, the only one they would plate in the first six innings. Despite throwing only 59 of his 98 pitches for strikes, Feldman mostly stumped the Bombers. He gave up three walks and five hits, the last of which being a homer to Jorge Posada before getting pulled in the 7th. Of the 14 outs Feldman got on balls in play, 11 were grounders. Although he's not a name brand guy, Feldman's ERA of 3.79 and 5-0 record in seven starts (four in Arlington) is nothing to sneeze at. 

The Yanks shot themselves in the foot plenty of times, however. A-Rod rapped into a double play with one out and the bases loaded in the third inning. After Johnny Damon advanced to third on an errant pickoff throw by Feldman, A-Rod struck out in the sixth with a man on third and only one out. He struck out again in the eighth with Nick Swisher on first, bringing the total number of runners he left on base to five. The bottom third of the line up, (Melky, Matsui and Gardner) reached base only twice in ten plate appearances and Jeter went 0-4 in the leadoff spot. When a four person stretch in the order has a night that bad, it makes it tough to score runs without hitting long balls. 

On the bright side, Nick Swisher filled in admirably for Mark Teixeira, going 2-3 with a walk. Brett Tomko also pitched terrifically in relief of Pettitte, throwing three shutout innings and keeping the game well within reach. David Robertson added his own scoreless frame in the ninth. 

One difference between this and the games the Yankees were losing in April was the level of frustration. April started off bad, and never really got better. There was a sense of angst building, but the Yanks' success as of late makes routine losses like this one much easier to tolerate. The opposing pitcher had a good night and they didn't manage to score enough runs. It happens. Fortunately, the matinee on the schedule today means the loss won't linger too long, either.

Breaking News: We Are Three Weeks Into May

Dear MetLife & The Yankees,

If you are designate a Player of the Month, you might want to honor within a week or so of said month. That way, Brian Waldman won't have to stand next to a guy who is hitting .102/.262/.184 over the past three weeks. And please never use "Breaking News" in the subject line of one of your emails to me ever again unless something terrible has happened to everyone on the Red Sox or we signed Yu Darvish.

Sincerely,
Fack Youk

April Progress Report: Bullpen

[21 games into the season represents roughly 1/8th of the schedule, and the end of the first month seems like a good time to analyze what has thus far occurred. Following a tradition started by Boston Bren, mid-term evaluations are called Progress Reports (not Report Cards). These ratings are somewhat subjective, as they attempt to balance expectations and salary with value contributed to the team.

We already tackled the starting rotation, the infield, and the outfield]

(Click to enlarge)

By dissecting results after 21 games, we are already trafficking in small sample sizes. The fact that relievers have seen the least action of any group of players only exacerbates this problem. As I mentioned going into yesterday's game, the Yanks had the 2nd worst bullpen in the majors. Let's just take an overview to see what has gone wrong so far, and how bad it really is.

First of all, the bullpen has pitched 71 innings this year and surrendered 51 earned runs, good for a 6.46 ERA. However, if you want to be a super-apologist you could take into account that 21 of those runs came in 14 innings after Chien Ming Wang had been pulled from his two worst starts, in games that were all but over. Removing those from the equation, their ERA is 4.74, good for 19th in the MLB. Again, not good, but certainly better.

Mariano's numbers don't tell the entire story because he allowed two of Jonathan Albaledjo's inherited runners to score on Wednesday night, deflating his ERA and inflating Albie's. (He does have a 13K/0BB ratio, however). Jose Veras has a solid WHIP and good strikeout numbers but a bloated ERA because of one performance against Cleveland (the 22-4 game) where he gave up 3 runs without getting an out.

The bullpen has been poor, but there is reason to be optimistic, I think. Hopefully Brain Bruney comes back from the DL and picks up where he left off. I like what I've seen from Mark Melancon so far and David Roberston's minor league numbers are fantastic. It hasn't been a bring been a bright spot so far, but I'm willing to bet that the 'pen will be significantly better in May than it was in April.

April Progress Report: Outfielders

[21 games into the season represents roughly 1/8th of the schedule, and the end of the first month seems like a good time to analyze what has thus far occurred. Following a tradition started by Boston Bren, mid-term evaluations are called Progress Reports (not Report Cards). These ratings are somewhat subjective, as they attempt to balance expectations and salary with value contributed to the team.

We already tackled the starting rotation and the infield, and later today we will weigh in on the bullpen.]

(Click to enlarge)

Nick Swisher - A+
Comments: Nick is one of my very favorite students and is very well liked by his classmates.

Swish broke onto the scene in New York like no one else I can remember. He hit .219 and had an OPS+ of 92 (below league average) last year. Cashman picked him up for spare parts (Wilson Betemit, Jeff Marquez and Jhonny Nunez) during the offseason, and I don't think even Cash could have expected how well this has worked out so far. Swish has smashed home runs, made great catches, and even pitched an inning in relief. The guy always has a smile on his face, and it's basically impossible not to like him. Who knows if it will last, but let's just appreciate it while it's happening.

Johnny Damon - A
Comments: Johnny doesn't speak up in class very often, but does make thoughtful contributions to the discussion.

This is probably extending the metaphor a little too far, but Damon goes largely unnoticed by Yankees fans. He's a solid hitter, even for a corner outfielder, rarely strikes out, still hits home runs, can steal bases... The ambivalence obviously stems from his previous team. We've gotten over the initial revulsion of him being on the roster, but he will never be truly embraced or appreciated for what he does in Pinstripes save for some future postseason heroics. Let's just not forget that he's an extremely competent hitter and decent in left field.

Brett Gardner - D
Comments: Despite trying his very hardest, Brett is simply not equipped to handle the coursework of this grade level.

It would be an F, but my expectations for the gutsy scrapper weren't really that high to begin with. Just like he did in 127 PAs last year, Gardner has amassed a line that doesn't exceed .300 in average, on-base or slugging. See Melky Cabrera for more.

Hideki Matsui - B
Comments: While he can not participate in all classroom activities, Hideki has done well with the tasks he has been assigned.

I'm tossing him in with the OF's because that is his natural position, but it doesn't look like he's going to see any action in the field anytime soon. Giving him a "B" is mostly a function of his .410 OBP, which is totally acceptable even if his average and slugging are pretty low. Godzirra is in the last year of his contract and due to his knee problems, it looks like this could be the end of his career in the MLB.

Melky Cabrera - A+
Comments: After failing several classes last year, Melky has shown tremendous improvement and an eagerness to get back on track.

I've gotta give credit where credit is due here. When I launched my assault on Melky a little over a week ago, I didn't bother to compare his numbers to Brett Gardner's. Pretty lazy, I know, but it was 15 games into the season and last year devoured any love I had for the guy. After doing a side by side, it's pretty obvious that no amount of differential in fielding range or speed on the basepaths could make Gardner as valuable as Melky has been thus far. It's gotta be a mirage... Melky is hitting like an All-Star CF right now. It's only 55 plate appearances, so I feel pretty comfortable saying that if his OPS+ is still 150 at the All-Star break, I'll eat a live goldfish. And then you can kick me in the balls. It will be worth it.

Xavier Nady - INC
Comments: Xavier has missed too many classes and may have to repeat the grade if he tansfers to another school next year.

His injury really screws Nady considering that this is his walk year. Even though Boras is his agent, it's going to cost him multiple millions of dollars on the open market. It's not great for the Yanks either. X was the only pure right handed hitter in the OF and was actually hitting at a decent clip when he went down with his elbow injury. Due to Swisher's blistering start, Nady is mostly forgotten about in the minds of most Yanks fans, but it will be nice to get him back off the DL.

April Progress Report: Infielders

[21 games into the season represents roughly 1/8th of the schedule, and the end of the first month seems like a good time to analyze what has thus far occurred. Following a tradition started by Boston Bren, mid-term evaluations are called Progress Reports (not Report Cards). These ratings are somewhat subjective, as they attempt to balance expectations and salary with value contributed to the team.

We already tackled the starting rotation and later today we will weigh in on the outfield and the bullpen.]

(Click to enlarge)

Mark Teixeira - C
Comments: Mark has not been scoring well on his tests, but has shown the desire to improve.

Teix's average is pretty anemic, but as we know, that's a luck based statistic and he has a BABIP of .200 at the moment. Most importantly, he's been getting on base (16 walks, .365 OBP), which tells me he's still taking the right approach, and it's just a matter of time before his average and slugging percentage start to perk up.

Robinson Cano - A+
Comments: Robinson is extremely bright and has made valuable contributions to the class.

Yup, I'm going with the A+. He's on pace for for 39 HRs, 123 RsBI and almost twice as many walks as he drew last year. With a BABIP of .367, you'd expect Cano to came back down to earth a bit, but there's nothing not to like about what Robby has done so far. An early look at his defensive metrics show that he's been above average and he's only been charged with one error. FWIW, he's looked good to naked eye as well.

Derek Jeter - B
Comments: Derek has fared well on important tests so far this year, and has been a joy to have in class.

Captain clutch has come up with some huge hits so far this year, especially with two outs and runners in scoring position. He had one of those just last night, actually. Overall with RISP, he has an OPS of 1.107, and has been markedly better in high leverage situations. That said, his poor defense has been well chronicled, he seems to have lost a step on the way to first, and at least one person doesn't think he's the right fit for the lead-off spot. You really can't complain so far, though.

Cody Ransom/Ramiro Pena - F/D
Comments: Cody and Ramiro have not shown the ability to grasp the material at this grade level.

Their combined line is .177/.253/.292. with 0 HRs and 6 RsBI. For those not statistically inclined... THAT'S FUCKING AWFUL. Never thought I'd say this, but I want "Bitch Tits" back. Immediately.

Jorge Posada - B
Comments: Jorge has completed all of his homework and assignments but sometimes appears tired in class.

Jorgie's numbers are a near mirror image of his 2006 season stats (122 OPS+ for both), and while he didn't make the All-Star team that year, he ended the year with better numbers than both A.J. Pierzynski and Pudge Rodriguez, who did. He might be diminished defensively and painfully slow on the basepaths, but Posada has been hitting and taking his plate behind the dish. That's a lot more than you could say for him last year. (Jose Molina also gets a B for decent hitting and his handling of the pitching staff.)

April Progress Report: Starting Rotation

[21 games into the season represents roughly 1/8th of the schedule, and the end of the first month seems like a good time to analyze what has thus far occurred. Following a tradition started by Boston Bren, mid-term evaluations are called Progress Reports (not Report Cards). These ratings are somewhat subjective, as they attempt to balance expectations and salary with value contributed to the team.

Later today we will weigh in on the infield, outfield and the bullpen.]

(Click to enlarge)

CC Sabathia - C+
Comments: CC is making an effort to reduce his careless mistakes, but has not worked to his full ability.

For a guy who is known as a control pitcher, his K/BB ratio is alarmingly high. But that's not all that out of the ordinary considering his career splits by month. Even in games where he hasn't had his best stuff, Sabathia has absorbed a lot of innings, (hey, I didn't say "ate"!) and that counts for something. He hasn't been disastrous, but he is a long way from meeting expectations.

A.J. Burnett - B+
Comments: A.J. accepts responsibility well, but has been inconsistent in his efforts.

Burnett has had the unfortunate designation of being slotted behind Chien Ming Wang in the rotation which shoved him into the role of "stopper". The Yanks came away with three wins in the three starts after CMW's atrocities, two of which were credited to Burnett. He had one bad start in Boston and a marginal one last night against the Angels, but the Yanks had a chance to win both of those games, for what it's worth.

Andy Pettitte - A
Comments: Andy has shown good leadership traits and is a pleasure to have in class.

Pettitte leads all starters in ERA, WHIP, and K/BB ratio. Considered by many to be the 5th man in this rotation going into the season, his performance thus far places him at #1. His season-long durability is certainly an obstacle on the horizon, but April has been a great month for the crafty veteran. Where would the Yanks be if they hadn't signed him?

Joba Chamberlain - B+
Comments: Justin has shown tremendous potential and is learning to accept more responsibility.

Of the four starts Joba has made thus far this year, three were pretty solid, the one exception being the game against Cleveland. He's struggled with his control (17K/13BB) his velocity is starting to build. It appears as though the Yankees are paying more attention to the number of pitches, as opposed to the number of innings, he's thrown. His pitch counts so far (88, 93, 91, 88) indicate some reluctance to stretch him out too soon. This should change as the weather gets warmer and he gets more starts on his belt.

Chien Ming Wang - F------
Comments: Chein Ming has not put enough time and effort into his assignments and as a result, he has been placed on academic probation for at least two weeks.

The grade is not hyperbole. 6 innings and 23 ER in 3 starts. FAIL. It's one of those times you wish you could use a "G" for God Awful, an "H" for Historically Horrendous or an "I" for Indescribably Ineffective. He's been batting practice bad. Who knows, he could put together a quality start next time he takes the mound. Baseball is weird like that. His performance over the last three years has earned him at least one more chance.

Phil Hughes - INC
Comments: Phillip recently skipped a grade and has been a pleasant addition to the classroom.

His first start this year was truly enjoyable to watch. However, who is to say that the next time out, Hughes pulls a CMW and can't make it through the second inning. Would you be willing to bet your life savings it doesn't happen? Let's give him some time as well.