Big Numbers Confuse Bill Madden
WasWatching.com: Yanks Don’t Understand Watson’s Take On Farnsworth
Maybe they should send Bob Watson a clip from Bill Madden’s column today? This part:
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, since 2002 Yankee batters have been hit 69 times by Red Sox pitchers as opposed to 48 Red Sox hit by Yankee hurlers. But the figures are even more dramatic when you narrow it down to just the primary combatants, Jeter, Rodriguez, Ramirez and David Ortiz.
Over that same six-year span, including postseason, Jeter has been plunked 12 times by Red Sox pitchers and A-Rod 10 times. By contrast, Yankee pitchers have hit Manny only three times (not including Farnsworth’s near-miss Thursday night) and “Big Papi”? Never. Interestingly, for all his considerable bulk, Ortiz has managed to enjoy a relatively pain-free existence while causing so much pain to opposing pitchers. Ortiz has only been struck by pitches just 23 times in 1,208 at-bats from 1997 through last year.
So why doesn’t the Yankee front office make the same argument?
Since 1995 Derek Jeter has been hit by pitch 130 times. 9 times he’s been hit in double figures topping out at 14 twice.
Since 1994 Alex Rodriguez has been plunked 128 times. 7 times he’s reached double figures with a high of 21 in 2007. 4 out of the 7 times A-Rod was hit in double figures he was playing on teams other than the Yankees; once in Seattle, 3 times in Texas.
Since 1997 David Ortiz has been hit by pitch 24 times with a high of 4 reached 3 times. To put that into perspective Big Papi has been hit 3 more times his entire career than A-Rod was hit in 2007. Big Papi’s numbers from his Red Sox years are inline with his previous years in Minnesota.
Since 1994 Manny Ramirez has been hit by pitch 86 times. Only twice has the number reached double digits with a high of 13 in 1999 when Manny played in Cleveland. Like Ortiz, Manny’s numbers over a career spanning two teams have remained consistent.
To recap, Jeter* and A-Rod’s hit by pitch numbers have been consistently high their entire careers, and in the case of A-Rod, while playing for two teams. Ortiz and Manny have rarely been plunked their entire careers, both spanning time with two ball clubs.
It’s a lazy, foolish argument that falls apart with minimal research. If only the Yankee front office was that dumb.
*Anytime Derek Jeter is mentioned in this argument feel free to tune out. There’s a reason Jeter inside-outs so many hits to right field. Much like Kevin Youkilis, Jeter hangs over the plate and dives in as the pitch is delivered. Both bear much of the blame for their high HBP numbers.
