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April 08, 2008
Mano De Piedra Posada?
Emma Span, over at Bronx Banter, wonders "Is Jorge Posada good at calling games?"
Well, the good folks at The Hardball Times have some data that is helpful at looking at such a question.
In terms of ERA, it seems as if it really doesn't matter who the Yankees catcher is, since 2004:
Year Last First Inn ERA 2007 Phelps Josh 1 0.00 2004 Navarro Dioner 13 1.38 2008 Posada Jorge 27 2.00 2005 Nieves Wil 9 4.00 2005 Flaherty John 345 4.12 2006 Posada Jorge 1050 4.37 2007 Nieves Wil 169 4.37 2006 Stinnett Kelly 222 4.39 2007 Posada Jorge 1111 4.50 2007 Molina Jose 169 4.62 2004 Posada Jorge 1102 4.65 2005 Posada Jorge 1077 4.67 2006 Nieves Wil 19 4.74 2006 Fasano Sal 153 4.83 2004 Flaherty John 328 4.93 2008 Molina Jose 36 5.00
A third of a run difference, here and there, doesn't seem huge.
But, there's something else to consider here. Check out the numbers for WP+PB per game:
Year Last First Inn WP+PB/G 2006 Nieves Wil 19 1.421 2007 Posada Jorge 1111 .526 2008 Molina Jose 36 .500 2004 Posada Jorge 1102 .482 2006 Posada Jorge 1050 .428 2005 Posada Jorge 1077 .343 2007 Molina Jose 169 .319 2004 Flaherty John 328 .302 2006 Stinnett Kelly 222 .244 2006 Fasano Sal 153 .236 2007 Nieves Wil 169 .213 2005 Flaherty John 345 .183 2008 Posada Jorge 27 .000 2004 Navarro Dioner 13 .000 2005 Nieves Wil 9 .000 2007 Phelps Josh 1 .000
Over the last four seasons, Posada is good for at least one wild pitch or passed ball (just about) every 2.25 games played behind the plate. And, that could be the rub as to why some Yankees pitchers prefer to pitch to someone other than Jorge - if it's true that some don't like throwing to him. It could be possible that some pitchers see those PB and/or WP as plays that should be made - and situations that they just don't want to deal with when they happen...maybe.
Posted by Steve Lombardi at April 8, 2008 01:00 PM
Comments
It seems to me that this would make pitchers nervous to throw their stuff w/ the most movement in that case. It only matters w/ runners on base, but that's when a pitcher is most pressured anyway. I can see the advantage of having the confidence to just "let it rip" and leave the rest to the catcher.
Posted by: Stu
at April 8, 2008 02:31 PM
Thanks, Steve. Interesting stuff.
Posted by: Emma
at April 8, 2008 06:10 PM
