Games » New York Yankees
May22The fifth inning
Lee Judge
The Kansas City Star
Let’s look at the fifth inning of this game because it’s where the Royals lost the lead, but might’ve found a new Luke Hochevar. Royals up 2-1, Mark Teixieria led off the inning with a single, Jeff Francoeur reached down with a bare hand, missed the ball and Teixeira motored into second base. Teixeira represented the tying run, so the next batter, Russell Martin, needed to hit the ball to the right side. If Martin got a hit, so much the better, but Russell needed to make sure Teixeira at least wound up on third base.
This is one of the most interesting situations a fan can watch: a hitter wanting to hit the ball to the right side, a pitcher trying to force the hitter to put the ball in play on the left side. (If the ball is hit on the ground behind the runner, he can leave right away. If the ball is hit in front of the runner he has to hold at second until the ball gets through.)
So Hochevar was pitching the right-handed Martin inside, hoping to force him to pull the ball. On a 3-2 pitch, the home plate umpire said the pitch hit Martin, but replays revealed no evidence of that. Next, the number nine hitter, Dewayne Wise, laid down a bunt, attempting to move both runners over. The bunt was just about perfect and went for a hit.
Bases loaded, nobody out. An error, followed by an unlikely hit-by-pitch, followed by a sacrifice bunt so perfect it went for a hit.
This was a perfect scenario for a pitching meltdown. Instead, Luke Hochevar went right at Derek Jeter, gave up a weak single for one run, then followed that by going right at Curtis Granderson, giving up a ground ball for another run. Then Hochevar struck out Alex Rodriguez and Raul Ibanez to get out of the inning only down 3-2. He pitched another strong inning in the 6th and got two outs in the 7th before leaving the game.
The Royals lost this one, but if Luke Hochevar took another step toward being a consistent pitcher who knows how to limit the damage, it might’ve been a decent trade-off.
Lefty/Righty/Lefty
We’ve been talking about lineups with a right-handed hitter sandwiched between two lefties. In the 8th inning the Royals were sending Eric Hosmer, Billy Butler and Mike Moustakas to the plate. The Yankees only had a one-run lead, so any of the three could tie up the game.
Manager Joe Girardi thought it was worth using three pitchers to get through the inning, using left-handed Boone Logan, right-handed Cody Eppley and left-handed Clay Rapada. When Ned Yost was faced with the same lefty/righty/lefty situation in the bottom of the inning (Robinson Cano, Alex Rodriguez and Raul Ibanez), Ned stuck with Jose Mijares all the way (which worked, by the way).
But it did make me wonder if a manager is more likely to expend pitchers when ahead than behind. If you’re losing, why chew up your pen for the next day? If you’re winning, it might be worth it. I’ll have to ask that question when the Royals get back in town.
Two-strike approach
Jarrod Dyson has been showing more patience at the plate, but might be showing too much patience with two strikes. This isn’t a slam-dunk decision, but many ballplayers think you need to expand your strike zone with two strikes and get the ball in play. For what’s it worth—and that’s not much—I agree. Especially for a left-hander that can run.
Dyson leads the team in strikeouts looking, even though he has about half the plate appearances as Alex Gordon.
Slippery when wet
It rained throughout Monday’s game. Be aware that runners will be more likely to challenge outfielders on any ball that bounces several times on the wet grass—the ball will be dripping. Because of the drying compound used on the infield dirt, the running surface may still be OK.
Getzie
Chris Getz reinjured his ribs on a slide Monday night and is now on the DL. That brings up an interesting subject: why his teammates think more highly of Getz than some outsiders. Jason Kendall, who thinks almost everybody is kind of a pantywaist (although that’s not the term Jason would use), thinks Getz is “old school.”
Brayan Pena told me Chris would stand in and take a hit at second base to turn a double play. (Not all second baseman will.) He also said Getz had saved him from making errors with a willingness to dive over a sliding runner to keep an errant throw on the infield. (Another play some infielders refuse to attempt.) If the starting pitcher has had too easy an inning because the first two batters only saw a few pitches, Getz is willing to take until he has two strikes to make the pitcher work.
Teammates know who is selfish and who isn’t. As one Royals player put it to me, “How come everybody wants to play with Derek Jeter and nobody wanted to play with Barry Bonds?” Jeter is known as a great teammate who makes everyone around him better. Barry Bonds wasn’t.
A second baseman who eats the ball and gets out of the way of a sliding runner doesn’t get much respect. A second baseman who steps into the runner with his left foot, planning on jumping over that runner with his right—a move called a pirouette step—gets a lot of respect. He’s risked his ankle and knee in order to get more on the throw to first base.
When Chris Getz walks by after a game, ice bag taped to his shin or a deep gash in his ankle from getting spiked—and I’ve seen both—teammates notice.
The stolen base
We’ve talked a lot about delivery times and someone asked about the Royals pitchers: Have they cut down their times to the plate? Well, I know they were working on it in spring training.
Here are a few salient numbers: if I’ve done the math correctly, Brayan Pena has thrown out 36% of attempted base stealers and Humberto Quintero has thrown out 37%. The last time I heard, 33% was an acceptable average.
Always keep the pitcher in mind. Nate Adcock took a long time to deliver the ball to the plate in his last start and no throw was possible. It still goes against the Brayan Pena’s record.
Hochevar
Falu
Francoeur
Jim Fetterolf
12 months agoLuke did exactly what was needed, went over six innings and gave up three runs.
The box score shows what went wrong, bottom five hitters had six hits, top four batters had one. There are games like that, Yankees pitchers did a good job. Sometimes you get the bear, sometimes the bear gets you. The Royals are competitive right now against some good teams and I think most fans appreciate that. I do.
Good info on the catchers, supports my opinion that Brayan Pena is growing as a catcher and that Humberto Quintero was a solid acquisition, good defender and surprisingly productive stick. Seems to get some RBIs and has gotten more patient at the plate.
Ryan Jones
12 months agoI’ve heard alot of people complaining about giavotella not playing everyday, and now with getz out it’s even more. What do you think about it?? I see with Falu hitting really well it makes sense platooning him and gio so they both get AB’s.
Joel Kallem
12 months agoJim, I agree on Luke. He continues a run of strong starting pitching and gave the team a chance to win. Holding the Yankees to 3 runs should be enough if the offense does its job. Tonight it didn’t, but that shouldn’t take away from all of the positives the Royals showed. Little worried by the funk that Dyson is in and hope he turns it around; we need him setting the table for the big guns. Hopefully, we can pull out game 3 and win the series.
Jim Fetterolf
12 months agoWorried about Dyce, also, but that’s why Kevin Seitzer gets the big money:) I think Lee pointed out a possible problem and Dyson is still making adjustments to the adjustments pitchers are making to him.
Ryan, Irving Falu is a switch-hitter, so doesn’t need to platoon. Best chance to see Gio will be against a nasty lefty to give Hoz a break or when Escobar needs a day off and Falu takes SS. I think it all gets down to the glove, critical with Adcock, Mendoza, and Hochevar being ground ball pitchers. Irv looked pretty good tonight and has earned the starting job.
Mark Harkins
12 months agoI noticed the Yankee bullpen use in the Box score, and wondered the same thing. I think more than just having a lead, they were trying to break the 3-game losing streak. I think that shows a W for them last night was valued even higher than just any other normal situation.
MOST teams will do ANYTHING to break any kind of losing streak (wink, nod… JUST KIDDING).
Larry Tindle
12 months agoNice to see Luke hold it together especially after the bogus hit by pitch. That could have caused him to hesitate to come inside again. Didn’t seem to affect his game plan. Had to wait till this morning to watch the game and see the replays. Was at the Storm Chasers game last night and was watching the Royals on Game Day on my phone. Better than nothing but no details on plays.
Wil Myers looks good. Hit a mammoth home run. However very stong wind blowing to left probably helped. Verdugo gave up 3 homers in 4 innings. If anyone wants to make a short road trip, I suggest going to Omaha to watch a game. Great new stadium. Had second row seat behind home plate and it cost $11.50. Parking was $2.00 and large can of beer was $7.00. If you don’t mind driving it can be done in one day with you arriving back home around midnight.
Jim Fetterolf
12 months agoLarry, congratulations on the Omaha trip. How did Myers look in the field? Haven’t checked the ‘Chasers’ box score yet for his position. How did Clint Robinson look at 1st, is his fielding getting any better, his range?
Larry Tindle
12 months agoSmall sample size only being one game, but don’t remember anything special good or bad in the field. Next time I will probably sit down one of the lines and higher up. Had good view of hitters and catchers but was difficult to really see what was going on in outfield as far as routes run.
I get to Omaha for work quite often. Just got lucky this time that they had a home game.
Lee Judge
12 months agoYou can’t expect to win them all, but you can expect to play well in almost all of them. If Hochevar continues to give this kind of effort, the Royals have solved a major part of the problem.
Ryan, I think Jim nailed it: the Royals have consistently gone with Getz or Falu when they needed defense. Giavotella probably gets some starts against lefties.
As for Dyson and all the other hitters: Kevin Seitzer is like one of those plate spinners they used to have on variety shows, running from emergency to emergency. The hitter you can set and forget is rare. They all come out of round once in a while and need attention.
Mark, you’re probably right about Girardi’s use of pitchers—if you’re in a losing streak, do whatever’s necessary.
Larry, haven’t seen the stadium in Omaha yet, but plan to. Another good minor league trip is Des Moines. Great park and hotels within walking distance.
Larry Tindle
12 months agoLee, agree that Des Moines is a good one. Will be there tonight. The city not ball park unless there is a game there. Nothing is withing walking distance of Werner Park, outside Omaha, except maybe some cows.
Jay Hall
12 months agoIf the Royals are still that concerned with Giavotella’s glove work, he should be in Omaha where he would be playing every day to work on it in game situations. To bring him up to the majors and be a DH, pinch hitter or not play at all 4 or 5 times a week doesn’t do anything for his development defensively.
I like Gio, and I like that he’s up, but I think it’s a waste for him to be up and not play.
Jim Wilson
12 months agoYost said in an interveiw he plans a straight platoon of Falu and Gio to keep them both involved.
Jim Fetterolf
12 months ago“If the Royals are still that concerned with Giavotella’s glove work, he should be in Omaha where he would be playing every day to work on it in game situations.”
Gio has had glove issues for years and I’ve concluded that he’ll never get better, may not have the quickness and agility and reflexes. They have some faith in his bat, so right-handed DH is probably the perfect spot for him at the moment. His situation is complicated by Irving Falu coming out of nowhere with versatility, glove, and bat.
Jim Fetterolf
12 months agoVery brief note on Royals’ pitching: Three of the starters are #2s, per fangraphs’ fWAR, and the team is up to 13th in the pitching WAR rankings. Felipe Paulino is 1/10th of a WAR behind Tim Lincecum on 1/3rd the starts, Luke Hochevar, in spite of three disastrous starts is toward the bottom of the second page. Not all that bad considering three starters and three of last year’s relievers have spent time on the DL and Luke probably should have with that ankle.
Lee Judge
12 months agoJim W: Thanks for the update on the Gio/Falu situtation, I hadn’t heard that. I’m under the impression Giavotella would be in Omaha playing every day if not for the injury to Betancourt.
They needed a right-handed bat.
Jay Hall
12 months agoI know Gio has glove issues. I don’t know whether they can be fixed or not.
But here’s the thing. We know that Yuni is a below average fielder, mostly because he cannot get to balls hit to his left. That was the case at short, that’s been the case at second, injured ankle or not. On top of that, Yuni’s career slash line is .269/.293/.392. His career OPS+ (with league average being 100) is 83. The last three years he has been 68, 88, 75. This year he’s at 107 through 54 at bats, but there are over 3600 reasons why we should expect regression from that number. And he’s 30. We know exactly what type of player Betancourt is at the ML level because he’s proved it over the course of his career. We know Yuni is a below average fielder and a below average hitter with some power and little speed on the bases.
We know that Chris Getz is an average to slightly above average glove man at second. His career triple slash is .255/.315/.313. His career OPS+ is 70, with the last three years being 73, 61, 67. This year he’s sitting at 95, and that’s playing his best baseball ever. There are 1100 reasons to believe that Getz will regress some with the bat. Getz turns 29 in August. We know the type of player that he is at the ML level because, again, he’s proved that over his career. We know that Getz is an average to above average fielder and a below average hitter with little power and some speed on the bases.
We can look at intangibles and give Getz a bonus because he does things the right way, breaks up double plays, hustles, etc.
Now let’s look at Giavotella. He has a total of 202 at bats at the ML level. That’s a third of a season, roughly. His triple slash is .243/.272/.361. His AAA numbers this year are .331/.408/.504. Plugging that into a Major League Equivalency calculator (flawed yes, but for comparison) his numbers are .283/.347/.418. We don’t know if Gio can do that with the bat at the ML level, but we haven’t tried to find out, either. Is he limited with the glove? Probably, but Moustakas was supposed to be limited with the glove, too and he has looked pretty good at the hot corner.
Add to that the fact that Gio has been a key cog in the lineup for the NW Arkansas team that won the Texas League title (and many of the players point to Gio as the sparkplug of that team) and the Omaha team that won the PCL last year until his call-up and I don’t understand why he isn’t getting a chance. He’s got good intangibles, too. Listen to Moustakas and Hosmer talk about playing with him in the minors.
We know we have a quarter in Getz and a quarter in Betancourt. We have no idea if Gio is a quarter or a shiny silver dollar because we haven’t taken the time to look yet.
Whether he’s in KC or Omaha, Gio won’t improve with the glove enough to help the team if he doesn’t play. If he’s that far off with the glove, send him to Omaha to work on it. If he’s not, put him in the ML lineup and let him play every day and see if the infield of the future can be the infield of right now.
Jim Fetterolf
12 months agoJay, good research.
“I know Gio has glove issues. I don’t know whether they can be fixed or not.”
His history suggests not and the Royals seem to believe that, shown by the way they are using him.
“We know that Yuni is a below average fielder.”
I agree, but Yuni isn’t really an issue. Getz is hitting well enough due to several off-season changes and his defense looks good both in Polk and eyeballs, the pie-slice systems like him less because they can’t account for shifts or outstanding plays.
“his numbers are .283/.347/.418. We don’t know if Gio can do that with the bat at the ML level, but we haven’t tried to find out, either.”
Even granting MLE, is that slashline sufficient to compensate for a hit allowed every game or two games? Gio hasn’t shown the bat of Dan Uggla, my personal comp for his fielding.
“I don’t understand why he isn’t getting a chance”
He has gotten chances, last fall, spring training, now. Eventually he is going to have to perform. Irving Falu came up from the same Omaha team as Giavotella and is making the most of his opportunity, on top of being ably to play six positions at Omaha and hitting well in his time here.
“If he’s not, put him in the ML lineup”
Royals are still trying to win, so the job won’t be given to Gio while Falu and Getz are playing better.
Personally, the way things are shaping up, if Irv keeps performing and Getz gets healthy and if Gio doesn’t seize his moment, I can see Getz and Falu staying with Gio sent to Omaha and Yuni released. Of course, I wanted Falu called up last year instead of Gio and wanted Falu promoted instead of Yuni being signed.
“We have no idea if Gio is a quarter or a shiny silver dollar because we haven’t taken the time to look yet.”
Based on his time in the majors so far, he may be a nickle. Report I got from Omaha, a guy who sees every home game, is that Gio’s defense hadn’t improved over his time there last year. He’ll continue to get his chances but he needs to start producing to stay. Lot of competition for the first time in the last few decades.
Good post, thanks for the effort.
Alex Chen
12 months agoGreat blog and great comments, guys. I enjoy reading this whenever I get a chance.
Be kind to the first-time commenter when I ask this. Lee brought this up early in his blog post. I know the conventional wisdom is that when there is a runner on second, less than two outs, a ground ball to the right side of the infield will almost automatically move a runner over to third. But why is that? What if there was a slow runner at second and he got a bad jump on the ground ball? Why wouldn’t the infielder attempt a throw to third and try to get the runner out? (Or at least get him into a rundown.) Why isn’t that attempted more often?
It just seemed like this was one of those “by the book” things that I never quite understood.
Jim Fetterolf
12 months agoAlex, my guess is that a runner on second tends to have a better lead and has a good look at the ball off the bat, as well as a 2B or 1B having a long throw to 3rd. There would be exceptions, one on a screaming short-hopper right at the 2nd baseman where the runner on 2nd has to be sure it hits the ground. That’s my best guess.
Thayne Griffin
12 months agoI think the difference for Luke in this start was his ability to pitch inside. It was pointed out in earlier game posts that he strayed from that gameplan and that was when he got shelled. Last night, he pitched in and I thought he pitched very well (even in the 5th inning and he got SCREWED on the HBP call).
Another thing I noticed: tied at 2 in the 5th with bases loaded and no outs why were we not playing with the infield in? Granderson’s groundout in my opinion could have easily cut down the runner at home to keep the score tied with one out and the double play in order. Lee, is there any reason we played back? Were we going for a DP and surrendering the one run even if it put us behind? I would understand if we were still in the lead, but I would rather keep it tied than take two outs and go down one run.
My thoughts on the 2B position: I think Falu should get the reps for now because I believe he’s earned them both in the field and at the plate (and he’s a switch hitter!).
Jay Hall
12 months agoGio’s been up two weeks so far this season. He’s played in 8 games. In his first 8 AB’s (2 games started, 1 pinch hit appearance) he was hitless.
Since that time he’s got 5 hits in 16 AB’s with 1 run and 3 RBIs. But it’s hard to say if the bat is coming around or not because he’s not playing very much. It’s impossible to say if his glove is making progress because he’s hardly been in the field at all. He’s had 23 ABs. And once Betancourt and Getz come off the DL, probably in early June, Gio will either go back to doing a lot of watching or return to Omaha. Why not send him back now if he’s not going to play?
I guess that’s my point - Gio’s 24 and not yet at his ML peak, whatever that may be. To have him not playing in game situations to improve is disrupting his growth and destroying any trade value he may have if the Royals don’t have him in their future plans. Either play him in the majors or play him at AAA, but don’t have him just watching and waiting because that accomplishes nothing.
Thayne Griffin
12 months agoAnd another thought I forgot to post. I know Frenchy attributes his improved bat as of late to Seitzer changing the bat angle, but do you think he’s feeling the pressure from Myers in RF as well? I think Myers could be up the near future if he keeps hitting in AAA and our bats don’t start warming up.
Jim Fetterolf
12 months ago“Why not send him back now if he’s not going to play?”
Because they need him for when Falu gives Escobar a break or when Hosmer gets a break, Billy plays 1st, and Gio DHs. Falu and Gio are the only 2nd basemen in town and Falu is the backup for like six positions, so Falu can’t spell anyone if he’s the only 2B. Gio has an opportunity, all he has to do is perform. I hope he does, I like working class-type ball players and hoped healing from his hip surgery would help his defense. If he hits enough to compensate for his glove, then Getz goes to Omaha to play SS and 3rd and enhance his utility value, what was expected before spring training.
“It’s impossible to say if his glove is making progress because he’s hardly been in the field at all.”
He was in Omaha and the team knows what he did there, they know what the glove did in spring training, they know what the glove does in warm-ups when the coach is hitting fungoes and processing reaction times and range. The coaches see his glove every day.
“do you think he’s feeling the pressure from Myers in RF as well?”
Possible. Getz changed his stance and swing in the face of Gio being crowned second baseman of the future. Of course, Dyson and Gordon may also be feeling the pressure. I think that is why Myers has been getting reps in CF. If he could play 2nd he’ld already be up:)
“I think Myers could be up the near future if he keeps hitting in AAA and our bats don’t start warming up.”
I don’t expect him til September unless ‘Zo Cain doesn’t get over his injury and Dyson collapses. Of course, he may pull a Hosmer and force a call up. A lot depends on how he does in CF. GMDM will also be keeping an eye on service time for contracts, all else being equal he’ld rather save a year and spread the hit five or six years down the road.
Lee Judge
12 months agoCouple things: I’m under the impression that major leaguers feel pressure constantly. There’s always someone trying to take your place, so nothing new there. Even if a guy has a guaranteed contract, there’s pressure to perform and prove he’s worth the money.
Some guys might mail it in, but that would seem to be exception. And these are some of the most competitive people on Earth. Whether Myers was playing well or not, Francoeur wants to hit.
Alex: If a runner on second base breaks right away, by the time the ball gets to an infielder on the right side, the runner should almost be at third.
So the infielder is faced with a choice: a risky tag play at third or a sure force out at first. Most of the time the defensive team is going to take the sure out.
You will sometimes see the shortstop go for the lead runner, depending on positioning and how hard the ball is hit.
Thayne: I couldn’t tell you about the infield positioning in the 5th. They never do anything without a reason, but I don’t know what it is in this case.
If you don’t play the infield in, the usual reasoning is you’re trying to stay out of a big, back-breaking inning and you’re willing to trade two outs for one run.
They mave have thought they were going to make up for whatever happened with the four innings they had left, but all that’s speculation on my part.
Brian Robinson
12 months agoMike Moustakas = Ground Ball Vacuum
Jay Hall
12 months agoJim,
That’s ultimately my point. Rather than platoon Gio with the utility guy, let him START at second every day and let Falu spell those postions and start at second, third or short once or twice a week until Getz and Betancourt are healthy. Then make some decisions. Gio is a second baseman. There is no point in having a guy that can ONLY play second base on the roster if he isn’t going to start at second base. Yet this is the second straight year that the Royals have made this odd roster move.