You better believe it!
Just looking at the numbers the Yanks are the best team in baseball. There are 3 teams with 50 wins (Stros, Sux and Yanks) of those teams the Stros were the first to 50 wins by 1 day. (Yanks and Sux both won 50th the day after). But if you look at the numbers the Yanks have done it playing the least amount of games:
Yanks 50-22 72 total games that gives the Yanks a .694 win %
Astros 50-26 for 76 games with a .658 win %
Red Sux 50-26 for 76 games with a .658 win %
That means the Yanks did it in 4 less games. The Yanks have had several games rained out this year and had the Yanks played those games they would have won 1 or 2 of those games and got to 50 wins either before the Stros or on the same day as the Stros. Plus the Yanks are 3-3 in 6 games vs the Sux (a team with a good starting rotation with Sale, Price and Porcello and really good lineup with Betts, Martinez, Bogaerts) and 5-2 record vs the Astros (who have a great rotation in Verlander, Cole and Morton and a fantastic lineup with stars Correa, Altuve, Springer).
We have a number of walk off wins and a very solid bull pen. Our lineup has 5 players with more than 14 hrs each(including a rookie).
BEST TEAM IN BASEBALL!!
The team has already said they are going after starting pitching at the deadline (or before). JA Happ has been a name I have heard. I know he is having a good year but he is a 35 year old journeyman pitcher who is a UFA next year and I do not want to give up any good prospects for a half year rental. But the SP market is not good this year.
We now go into a weekend series in Tampa Bay and then play the now struggling Phillies. So lets go Yanks keep it up!!!
HGH
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Yankees: 50-22 at +106
Astros: 50-26 at +161
Yankees have a better record, but the massive difference in run differential is a far better indicator of performance and of future success. It's no surprise given how much better the Astros rotation is.
Run differential has absolutely no significance when we arent even at the midway point and these two teams have played completely different schedules. How is run differential against entirely different schedules/teams more significant than the the Yankees winning 5 of 7 in H2H against Houston?
It's also worth noting that per ESPN, Houston has faced a harder SOS than the Yankees (marginally so).
In the imbalanced schedule against everyone else,
Yankees: 45-20, +99
Astros: 48-21, +168
I think you are underrating the value in run differential in evaluating performance, particularly how much better the Astros have been at keeping runs off the board.
Is there a lot of baseball left to play? Of course. But it doesn't make sense to me to say that run differential should be ignored after nearly half the season in the context of discussing who the best team is in baseball nearly after nearly half the season.
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Motivation? AL contender vs Detrot Tigers? Health? He looked like he was heading towards retirement with the Tigers and then he found new life.
HGH
Kate Upton
ABSOLUTELY NOT
People are mesmerized by Snell's Ks and ERA. However, a look at his FIP shows that it is all a mirage. He carries a FIP of 3.60. In other words, he is pitching WAY over his head right now and will come back to earth shortly.
Further, if you break down his numbers, his walk rate is rising as the season goes along.
In addition, he is prone to HR- which is NOT a good thing in Yankee Stadium. He has already given up 4 HR in Yankee Stadium- in 41 plate appearances. Granted, that is facing the Yanks lineup, but that isn't good.
Just to demonstrate that it isn't just the Yanks, he has also given up 3 HR to the O's at Camden Yards- in just 19 plate appearances.
In short, Snell would rack up some K's, but give up the HR too much. Ironically, that is Tanaka's profile- who MANY posters here have roundly criticized and would give away in a minute. Yet, now a guy with that profile is a "#2 SP"? Really?
I get that some here are DESPERATE for a trade because you have been led around by the nose by the NY media to believe that is a necessity. They don't sell papers by telling everyone to wait for Sheffield- they sell by pushing trade ideas and selling the "next best thing."
Wake up- there is no magic #2 SP coming through the door- and it is BEYOND ridiculous to consider trading a SP prospect with as much, if not more upside, than Snell PLUS the Yanks top hitting prospect for Snell.
Boston needs to lead by 5 going into the 9th because their BP is put a guy in-,hold your breath shaky, and their hitting rises and falls together. They can win 9-1 5 games in a row then lose 4-3, 3-2,2-1, then next 3.
Houston looks better than earlier in the year, but they are still shaky.
In the NL, the Dodgers have the best talent and getting healthy with the best potential there at this point, and the other good teams will make 7/31 moves to get to the top.
At this point, it's NYY unless something radical happen the next 85+ games.
Boston needs to lead by 5 going into the 9th because their BP is put a guy in-,hold your breath shaky, and their hitting rises and falls together. They can win 9-1 5 games in a row then lose 4-3, 3-2,2-1, then next 3.
Houston looks better than earlier in the year, but they are still shaky.
In the NL, the Dodgers have the best talent and getting healthy with the best potential there at this point, and the other good teams will make 7/31 moves to get to the top.
At this point, it's NYY unless something radical happen the next 85+ games.
Cmon, Houston isn't "shaky", they're an elite team right now. They literally do everything well.
It's too early for me to say they're better or we're better, but there's nothing shaky about the defending champs. They're loaded.
Gee, I wonder if this guy is a troll or not.
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After getting treatment at minor league complex today Ellsbury said hes feeling significantly better and hopes to begin rehab games soon. Asked if in his mind hell play in 2018 he said yes without hesitation
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After getting treatment at minor league complex today Ellsbury said hes feeling significantly better and hopes to begin rehab games soon. Asked if in his mind hell play in 2018 he said yes without hesitation
He'll be playing in 2018 alright. In the minors... :)
I agree with your analysis completely. I'd rather be the team with the better rotation, but here we are.
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After getting treatment at minor league complex today Ellsbury said hes feeling significantly better and hopes to begin rehab games soon. Asked if in his mind hell play in 2018 he said yes without hesitation
"In his mind" being the key words.
I dunno, but the organization with dynasty written all over them this year or next is the Yankees.
We cant trade away the infield or the outfield pieces will need sooner or later.
This transition is 2 years ahead of where we thought we would be in March of 2017.
Lets get under the cap and add. Lets free up spaces for prospects in the offseason.
Once we get another year of experience for some of our MLB cusp pitchers and get the next round of pitching prospects ready we have likely built up a perpetual supply chain that's a year away. imho.
Its the run and not the year that matters. If Cash finds a good trade...im all for it. If not, we have a decade to root for a collection of home grown talent that seems asshole free so far.
Its good to be a Yankee fan these days
I dunno, but the organization with dynasty written all over them this year or next is the Yankees.
We cant trade away the infield or the outfield pieces will need sooner or later.
This transition is 2 years ahead of where we thought we would be in March of 2017.
Lets get under the cap and add. Lets free up spaces for prospects in the offseason.
Once we get another year of experience for some of our MLB cusp pitchers and get the next round of pitching prospects ready we have likely built up a perpetual supply chain that's a year away. imho.
Its the run and not the year that matters. If Cash finds a good trade...im all for it. If not, we have a decade to root for a collection of home grown talent that seems asshole free so far.
Its good to be a Yankee fan these days
Post of the year. Wish I had written it.
I think Cash will move cautiously and only make a move that is an obvious win. Besides, I think this team will start to peak later in the second half and scare people. Patience in our climb is key.
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Erik Boland
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After getting treatment at minor league complex today Ellsbury said hes feeling significantly better and hopes to begin rehab games soon. Asked if in his mind hell play in 2018 he said yes without hesitation
"In his mind" being the key words.
My first reaction to reading that was an eye roll too - but looking at it this way...we know Hicks is injury prone, and while Gardy's been very durable the last several years, he's older now and resting some dings this week.
No way Ellsbury cracks the roster as currently set up, but it's worth it to get him healthy and ready for depth reasons.
He's essentially our 6th OF, but never know, we may end up needing him for depth at some point.
I keep seeing you pop up on Yankee threads seemingly rooting for them, but I seem to recall you being a Mets fan before? (No complaints but I just didn't know if I was remembering this correctly)
I found this post to be very compelling. Maybe there is something to it.
Well, if he's actually healthy, once his rehab stint is over, he either cracks the roster or gets released. I don't think they want to release him, so...
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In comment 13997426 Ryan in Albany said:
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Erik Boland
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1h1 hour ago
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After getting treatment at minor league complex today Ellsbury said hes feeling significantly better and hopes to begin rehab games soon. Asked if in his mind hell play in 2018 he said yes without hesitation
"In his mind" being the key words.
My first reaction to reading that was an eye roll too - but looking at it this way...we know Hicks is injury prone, and while Gardy's been very durable the last several years, he's older now and resting some dings this week.
No way Ellsbury cracks the roster as currently set up, but it's worth it to get him healthy and ready for depth reasons.
He's essentially our 6th OF, but never know, we may end up needing him for depth at some point.
No question it's worth it to get him ready and for him to even have that confident approach.
I agree he's 6th on the OF depth chart and really only meant he's dreaming if he thinks he steps right in and plays when he's 100% healthy. I think at best he's a September call up or as you said, injury insurance.
2. Judge (RF)
3. Stanton (DH)
4. Gregorius (SS)
5. Sanchez (C)
6. Hicks (CF)
7. Bird (1B)
8. Andujar (3B)
9. Torres (2B)
SP: Sabathia
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No chance in hell Frazier is going to TOR in a deal for Happ.
I keep seeing you pop up on Yankee threads seemingly rooting for them, but I seem to recall you being a Mets fan before? (No complaints but I just didn't know if I was remembering this correctly)
Hah yeah, there was a big to do about all of this...
I've come over to the dark side. The Mets broke me after like 25 years of mostly not being able to enjoy baseball. Never hated the Yanks, found myself constantly wishing the Mets would take note of how to actually run a successful baseball team here in NY rather than a circus, but soon figured out it was basically insanity hoping that would ever happen and that I was wasting my time.
I wish them well and gave this much thought, but I'm all in on the Baby Bombers now. :)
2. Judge (RF)
3. Stanton (DH)
4. Gregorius (SS)
5. Sanchez (C)
6. Hicks (CF)
7. Bird (1B)
8. Andujar (3B)
9. Torres (2B)
SP: Sabathia
I like it and think this is our best lineup vs righties but I hope they find a way to keep Frazier up. I'm not crazy about Hicks batting from the right side and wouldn't mind seeing Frazier get a couple of games in the OF in his place vs lefties.
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In comment 13997024 arcarsenal said:
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Hah yeah, there was a big to do about all of this...
I've come over to the dark side. The Mets broke me after like 25 years of mostly not being able to enjoy baseball. Never hated the Yanks, found myself constantly wishing the Mets would take note of how to actually run a successful baseball team here in NY rather than a circus, but soon figured out it was basically insanity hoping that would ever happen and that I was wasting my time.
I wish them well and gave this much thought, but I'm all in on the Baby Bombers now. :)
Lol that takes guts. Welcome aboard!
Candidly I gradually lost interest in baseball as I went through the oughts. I could watch some playoff games but the chances of catching a regular season game was slim. I can and do watch bad Knicks teams and Giants teams but maybe it was just that the overpaid under-performing Yankees were a loathsome bunch or this team is just so much fun to root for but the baby bombers have brought me back to watching all the nationally televised games. (I probably would get MLB.TV but there are just too many games and my girlfriend hates baseball)
Long and the short of it, I understand how you'd make the transition. Such a 180 on the culture from even a few years ago. Watching these guys play is just fun. A guy like Stanton who has won an MVP and clearly was taking things a little to seriously, seeing him run around the bases the other night like a kid in little league that just got the walk off, hard not to bring a smile to your face.
I don't expect Verlander and Cole to be as unhittable in October as they are now. It may turn out to be the case, but I wouldn't count on it. Some pitchers start strong, some finish strong, but it's very difficult for a pitcher to maintain dominance from April through October.
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In comment 13997512 NoGainDayne said:
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In comment 13997024 arcarsenal said:
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Hah yeah, there was a big to do about all of this...
I've come over to the dark side. The Mets broke me after like 25 years of mostly not being able to enjoy baseball. Never hated the Yanks, found myself constantly wishing the Mets would take note of how to actually run a successful baseball team here in NY rather than a circus, but soon figured out it was basically insanity hoping that would ever happen and that I was wasting my time.
I wish them well and gave this much thought, but I'm all in on the Baby Bombers now. :)
Lol that takes guts. Welcome aboard!
Candidly I gradually lost interest in baseball as I went through the oughts. I could watch some playoff games but the chances of catching a regular season game was slim. I can and do watch bad Knicks teams and Giants teams but maybe it was just that the overpaid under-performing Yankees were a loathsome bunch or this team is just so much fun to root for but the baby bombers have brought me back to watching all the nationally televised games. (I probably would get MLB.TV but there are just too many games and my girlfriend hates baseball)
Long and the short of it, I understand how you'd make the transition. Such a 180 on the culture from even a few years ago. Watching these guys play is just fun. A guy like Stanton who has won an MVP and clearly was taking things a little to seriously, seeing him run around the bases the other night like a kid in little league that just got the walk off, hard not to bring a smile to your face.
Thanks, man!
I understand what you mean - I've been going through the same type of apathetic period you had with the Yankees, but with the Knicks. I do think Knox was a good pick and I think the future may finally be brightening for us, so I'm a bit more optimistic now, but boy - they've been a tough follow.
In any event, I just loved how this Yankee team came together from afar and felt like if I was ever going to do this, now was the time... while all these kids are just getting started.
All of you guys have been cool about welcoming me aboard, and even the Mets fans here wished me well (which I didn't expect!)
It's a new journey, one I intend on making permanent, and I'm really excited about this team and where they're headed.
The Red Sox are now the team that pays unlimited amounts to get talent and not the Yankees. Are the Yankees the best team in Baseball right now? NO they are not but they could have been if Cashman was allowed to deal for Verlander last year and use established vets like Brandon Drury at third and Neil walker at second. Sonny Gray was a total waste. You get what you pay for. Then they signed Stanton with his heavy Contract. Stanton is keeping Clint Frazier in AAA and a combo of Judge & Frazier would have worked out better and the Yanks could have traded the young studs Andujar and Torres for Gerrit Cole who now makes the WS Champion Astros the best team in baseball once again.
If the Yanks wanted to keep Stanton off of he Red Sox the result FAILED. Since the Sox signed JD Martinez in response who leads the majors with 25 HRs already. He has been more productive than Stanton. So Cashman can be viewed as a stupid stubborn fool. The goal is to win the WS and not to be given accolades by fans who think this is like the old days and you build from within or from sports writers who "ADMIRE" his baby bomber approach. That does not count for anything. Only winning counts, and not feel good stories. Besides that the Yankees will not be able to keep all of these baby bombers once they reach free agency years under the new austerity budget of Hal Steinbrenner...so overall, and so far, i give Cashmnan an F grade as the GM. And Gary Sanchez is no Thurman Munson.. he does not stay in proper shape and i don't trust him to call pitches or handle the staff. Romine is a better catcher who can communicate better since Sanchez still has not learned to speak English.. Maybe they should trade Sanchez and Sheffield for Happ. Sanchez needs a change of scenery with a team with lower expectations. AAA ace Sheffield is not being given a chance to pitch in the ML and is passed over for the likes of Jonathan Loaisiga who is talented but making a big jump from AA to The Majors. So Sheffield should be sent somewhere where he can be given a chance to shine. it appears that the Yankees dont see enough from him. Can he be worse than Sonny Gray?
There is a three game series coming up with the Sox. which team has the better chance of sweeping the other right now? If the Yanks fall tree or four games behind the Sox, Cashman will have to deal his precious jewels or have a lot of explaining to do.
What is going on in Tampa?