Pre-Game Yankees Notes

Here are some interesting notes as they pertain to the Yankees. As my schedule allows I'll occasionally be able to throw up stuff like this. My thoughts on each are italicized.

• The Yankees have yet to steal a base. Longest streak since 1948 when they got their first SB in the 17th game. You don't need to steal bases to win games. It does help when you're a struggling offense that's having trouble getting timely hits with men on base. Mix in a little hit-and-run action.
• Robinson Cano is a career .359 hitter in Fenway Park. It's 3rd highest among all active players and it's the highest among all American Leaguers. If there's anybody that needs to get it going it's Robinson. He obviously does well in Fenway. Let's hope it continues and jump starts his bat.
• The Yankees' 31 total runs in their 1st 10 games are the team's fewest through 10 games since 1977. Who won the World Series in 1977? For those of you looking for a silver lining to the slow offensive start, there you go.
• A-Rod needs 1 HR to tie HOFers Ted Williams and Willie McCovey for 15th on the all-time HR list. How awesome would it be if he hit 2 HRs and passed Teddy Ballgame in front of the Fenway Faithful. That would make my weekend.
• The Yankees have 3 wins this season in games where they've scored 3 or fewer runs. In 2007, they scored 3 or fewer runs 42 times and only won 6 of those games. They didn't win their 3rd game until July 17th in Toronto. Another silver lining. So far it looks like the ball is bouncing our way. Chalk that up to a better pitching staff.

Wang's career numbers vs. Sox hitters:

• Sean Casey: 1-10 w/ 1 K
• Alex Cora: 5-18 w/ 1 HR
• Coco Crisp: 6-23 w/ 1 3B, 1 BB, 2 K
• J.D. Drew: 1-11 w/ 1 BB
• Jacoby Ellsbury: 1-1
• Julio Lugo: 6-31 w/ 1 2B, 5 BB, 6 K
• David Ortiz: 15-30 w/4 2B, 2 HR, 6 BB, 4 K
• Dustin Pedroia: 4-10 w/ 2 2B
• Manjaya Ramirez: 13-22 w/2 HR, 4 BB, 3 K
• Jason Varitek: 1-16 w/ 1 HR, 2 BB, 3 K
• Kevin Youklis: 7-21 w/ 3 2B, 8 BB, 2 K
• Composite: 60-193 = .311

Wang doesn't have the greatest numbers vs. Sox hitters. But he handles a lot of them pretty well with the exceptions looking like Ortiz, Pedroia, Manny, and Kevin Youklis. Ortiz doesn't scare me. He and his whopping .083 batting average. The old grey mare just ain't what she used to be. But it'll be an interesting game. As I wrote a few posts ago Wang fares better against the Sox at home than in Fenway. I'll stick with my prediction that the Sox will win game one though I'll obviously be rooting against it feverishly. It all goes back to games not being played on paper.

Anything can happen and it often does.

J-Boogie