# Baseball September 2009 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [September 2, 2009, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-september-2009/508570 "2009-09-02T00:03:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Hawkeyeop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@Hawkeyeop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hawkeyeop)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-september-2009/508570/181 "2009-09-25T02:01:02Z")
Yankee stadium has in fact been an ever so slight pitcher’s park. [MLB on ESPN - Scores, Stats and Highlights](http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/parkfactor) I’ll admit that this surprised me to look up. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-september-2009/508570/182 "2009-09-25T02:15:56Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > Yankee stadium has been that, a bandbox with huge scoring games. It distorts pitching and hitting. Verlander, Jackson and Porcello may well shut them down. > I know you can not guarantee anything in baseball, but some of you are just so sure you have it figured out. The Yankee fans get that way every year. My brother has lived in New York for 40 years and I hear it all the time. Do you actually read what anyone else posts? Or do you just veer off into Tourette’s-style rants for the fun of it? Here it is, in as simple language as possible: The Yankees are a better team than Detroit. Their pitching is probably very slightly weaker overall, and their hitting is considerably stronger. Even if you completely remove Yankee Stadium as a factor, and look at Yankee hitting only is other stadiums, the Yankees have hit far better than Detroit this year. None of this means that Detroit cannot or will not beat the Yankees in a 5-game series. Nor does it mean that everyone who says the Yankees are better is a closet Yankee fan just trying to mess with your head. I’ve already said i’ll be rooting for the Tigers. No-one ever said they had it figured out, at least regarding who would win the Division Series. Not me, not **RickJay** , not **Munch** , not **Hawkeyeop**. No-one. All i’ve been arguing is that, based on their actual performance is actual games actually completed in the actual year 2009, the Yankees are a better team than the Tigers. > [@Hawkeyeop](#): > > Yankee stadium has in fact been an ever so slight pitcher’s park. > > [MLB on ESPN - Scores, Stats and Highlights](http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/parkfactor) > > I’ll admit that this surprised me to look up. Yeah, what it gives up in extra home runs, it more than takes back in reduced doubles and triples. I’m not sure how this might factor into a New York-Detroit series. It would require working out things like line drive percentage, groundball to flyball ratios, etc. Luck and performance on the night are going to be much more important than park factors in a five-game series anyway. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-september-2009/508570/183 "2009-09-25T03:50:32Z")
Tigers won 6 to 5 ,sweeping Cleveland and going 3 up over the Twits. 10 games left. It the Tigers split, the Twits have to go 8 and 2 to tie. Tigers play 6 with the White Sox and 4 with the Twits .The 4 game series with Minnesota will be tense. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-september-2009/508570/184 "2009-09-25T05:08:13Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > So you guarantee a Yankee victory? > Why is the bandbox an excuse for weaker pitching but not a reason for padded hitting stats.? I guaranteed nothing. Read more carefully. The Tigers hav allowed 32 runs fewer than the Yankees, which is a small difference. They have scored 178 fewer runs, a gigantic difference. It’s also interesting to note that because of the unbalanced schedule, the Yankees have had to play a lot of games against better hitting opponents than Detroit; Boston, Tampa and Toronto are all above average in runs scored, with Baltimore being below. By comparison, Detroit’s divisional opponents include only one team above average (Minnesota) and three below (Chicago, Kansas City, and Cleveland, thought Cleveland’s close enough to average to call them that.) The Yankees are a better team. **That’s why they’ve won more games.** they aren’t a lock to win, but I’ll put smart money on, you know, the better team. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-september-2009/508570/185 "2009-09-25T05:17:05Z")
The Padres managed to come back and beat the Rockies tonight, but the Giants couldn’t take advantage, giving up a 2-run homer in the 9th to lose 3-2 to the Cubs. The Padres have been pretty fun to watch over the last month, going 18-9 over that stretch. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-september-2009/508570/186 "2009-09-25T12:37:42Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > and three below (Chicago, Kansas City, and Cleveland, thought Cleveland’s close enough to average to call them that.) I think you meant Chicago there, right? Because while my Royals sure do stink, at least they’re better than the Wahoos. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-september-2009/508570/187 "2009-09-25T12:44:53Z")
Hey, if the Indians blow it tonight, they’ll tie a franchise record set in 1931 for 12 consecutive losses. We gotta have something to shoot for. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-september-2009/508570/188 "2009-09-25T13:59:14Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > I think you meant Chicago there, right? Because while my Royals sure do stink, at least they’re better than the Wahoos. But he was talking only about hitting. In the AL this year, Cleveland rank 8th in runs scored per game, the White Sox are 12th, and the Royals are 13th. It’s pitching that’s really killed the Indians. The only AL team that gives up more runs per game is the Orioles. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-september-2009/508570/189 "2009-09-25T14:14:18Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > But he was talking only about hitting. Are you saying that Yunieksy Betancourt and Tony Pena Jr. leave something to be desired at the plate? ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-september-2009/508570/190 "2009-09-25T14:23:59Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > The Yankees are a better team. **That’s why they’ve won more games.** they aren’t a lock to win, but I’ll put smart money on, you know, the better team. As a Boston fan it pains me to admit this, but the Yankees really do look pretty darn good right now. Fortunately, Boston also appears to be hitting their stride so it could be an interesting ALCS if both teams make it through the first round, as I think they will. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-september-2009/508570/191 "2009-09-25T15:08:19Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Are you saying that Yunieksy Betancourt and Tony Pena Jr. leave something to be desired at the plate? That will always be my favorite thing about this season (unless the Cards win the World Series). The Royals, recognizing their complete black hole at SS, decide to acquire _Yuniesky Betancourt_. Even though he was about to be cut they actually _gave up_ something to get him. All the market-size arguments in the world can’t cover up that level of stupidity. The Royals really are a font of amusing anecdotes and head-scratching personnel decisions. The good folks of Kansas City deserve better. That Denkinger curse really is a strong one 😉 ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-september-2009/508570/192 "2009-09-25T15:21:47Z")
I hate K.C. They have been hurting the Tigers for a while. If we split with them last week, the Tigers would be planning their rotation for the playoffs. Now we have to fight til the end. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-september-2009/508570/193 "2009-09-25T19:56:50Z")
A team that struggles to beat KC shouldn’t be much trouble for New York. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-september-2009/508570/194 "2009-09-25T20:17:12Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > The Royals really are a font of amusing anecdotes and head-scratching personnel decisions. The good folks of Kansas City deserve better. That Denkinger curse really is a strong one 😉 It’s just awful. The thing is - management has the city wrapped around their pinky. I went to KC to visit a week after Betancourt was signed, and everyone was absolutely perplexed at how distraught I was over the signing. “What do you mean - he brings a great amount of potential. Moore loves him!” “Betancourt’s just the right fit - what we had previously at SS was bad defense and terrible hitting.” Wha…what?!? It just didn’t parse. It was like no one had even taken a look at his most basic numbers, let alone fancy things like On-Base Percentage or Range Factor. Everyone in the city had helped themselves to a giant glass of kool-aid, and were coming back for more. And then they gave Moore an extension… ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-september-2009/508570/195 "2009-09-26T14:37:16Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > “What do you mean - he brings a great amount of potential. Moore loves him!” > “Betancourt’s just the right fit - what we had previously at SS was bad defense and terrible hitting.” A lot of KC fans are apoplectic about Betancourt. You have to bear in mind that in any baseball town, a base percentage of fans will be optimistic about everything the home team does; any name put in the team’s uniform will be regarded as great, and everyone who leaves is a bum. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-september-2009/508570/196 "2009-09-26T18:10:25Z")
A couple of weeks ago, i was certain that Phat Albert was going to cruise to 50 homers this season. But he hit #47 on September 9, and hasn’t hit another since then. Albert’s the sort of guy, though, who could still pull off another 4 or 5 over the last 8 games of the season if he gets on a hot streak. I’d love to see him do it. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2009, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-september-2009/508570/197 "2009-09-27T21:19:48Z")
The Yankees clinch the East by beating the Red Sox for the 3rd straight game. Good outing by Pettitte, as the rotation looks like it’s in playoff shape. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2009, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-september-2009/508570/198 "2009-09-27T21:30:20Z")
One more note about Pettitte. This is his 12th season of 14 or more wins. Now, I know he’s usually had a power-house lineup behind him, and his ERA is always high, but you have to tip the cap to him for his consistency. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2009, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-september-2009/508570/199 "2009-09-27T22:29:27Z")
“But, Joe, what are you going to do with Joba?” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2009, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-september-2009/508570/200 "2009-09-27T22:45:13Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > “But, Joe, what are you going to do with Joba?” 😃 He pitched 6 pretty good innings Friday night. I’ll be the first to admit that, a) I’ve questioned his mental toughness, which is still a big concern to me, and b) the Yankees have messed with him so much I don’t know what to expect from him, but… he really does have great stuff when he’s on. I’m not sure why, but apparently the Yankees can choose which format they want their first round to be (I know it’s because they have the best record, I just don’t know why they get to choose all of the sudden?) If they choose the format where there is a day off between Games 1 and 2, they will only need 3 starters in this round. We’ll see how it goes. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-september-2009/508570.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-september-2009/508570.md?page=11)