Todd's Takes: Defending the Yankees and a Striking Rant

Yankees Cashing In

While it was certainly discussed during the Sunday night game, the improvement in the Yankees' defense was still understated. For years, Brian Cashman and the Yankees have been chided for roster construction, focusing on boppers. This offseason, Cashman flipped the script, dealing Gio Urshela and Gary Sanchez for Ben Rortvedt, Josh Donaldson and Isiah Kiner-Falefa. With Rortvedt hurt (and still not playing games, though he's close), Cashman acquired Jose Trevino from the Rangers in what was ostensibly a Band-Aid move.

Everyone knows about the Yankees' prolific offense and pitching staff, but the extent of the improvement in the field hasn't been talked about enough. Granted, defensive metrics are shaky (if not flawed), but everyone has their own favorite. I like DRS (defensive runs saved) as a down and dirty comparison tool. It can be found on FanGraphs. 

Last year, the Yankees were -41 DRS, the second worst in the league. So far this season, they're +55, by far the best in MLB. DRS is a volume/counting stat, so since we're just past the halfway point, the Yankees are on a pace to eclipse the century mark. Only four teams have done that since DRS was invented in 2002: 

Here is a list of DRS by player with a minimum of 50 total innings in the field:

Three of the top four weren't on the team last season. The addition of Kiner-Falefa pushed Torres to second, where he's been a plus defender. With those two up the middle, LeMahieu has played mostly third base, where he's garnered 5 DRS. The starting pitchers are helping themselves. 

The lowest three on the chart are Judge, Stanton and Rizzo, who have combined for 74 HR, 150 runs and 175 RBI. However, unlike prior seasons, the Yankees' defense is stellar, especially up the middle, so they can afford to be weak in left field and at first base.

I'm not much into award season, but if Cashman doesn't win Executive of the Year, there is something wrong.

A Striking Misperception

To be up front, I could be all wet with this. Admittedly, I don't know the ins-and-outs of the various rectangles drawn on our screens to represent the strike. What I do know is it's almost always a two-dimensional rectangle, while the actual strike zone is a three-dimensional cube. My gut sense is we're being mislead by putting absolute credence into whether the path of the ball truly passes through the box. We're being fooled by camera angles, parallax and having the rectangle display only one side of the cube.

Maybe the design is more complicated, and if so, I would love a tutorial. In the meantime, I'm viewing the rectangle for entertainment purposes only, and not judging pitches/umpires on what is shown. I wish broadcasters did the same, or at least learned the limitations of the feature, and passed those along to the audience if they're going to refer to the perceived results with such certainty.

Box Score Blitz (Sunday, July 10)

• BAL 9, LAA 5: Break up the Orioles. As has been mentioned all season, the top half of their order is solid, and now Adley Rutschman lengthens it a bit. The more pitcher-friendly Camden Yards may attract free agent hurlers, not to mention help prospects Grayson Rodriguez and DL Hall. 
• ATL 4, WSH 3 (F/12): Ian Anderson battled through 5.1 frames but walked four. He better pick it up, as Kyle Muller is shoving with Triple-A Gwinnett, recording a 2.75 ERA 1.06 WHIP with 82 strikeouts to just 19 walks in 68.2 innings since being sent back down on May 1.
• MIA 2, NYM 0 (F/10): Sandy Alcantara only threw seven stanzas, dropping his average innings per start a smidge. Let that sink in for a minute; he's averaging around 7.1 innings a start, over two more than league average. There was some concern whether Jon Berti and Joey Wendle would both be in the lineup together, but with Jazz Chisholm on the shelf, they're both playing almost every day.
• CIN 10, TB 5: I was looking forward to this game with two of my favorite young arms toeing the rubber. Shane Baz couldn't find any rhythm, yielding three homers in the third. Nick Lodolo wasn't sharp, but some of that was pitching with a big lead and letting his defense take care of the rest. Tyler Stephenson is back, picking up where he left off with his second straight multiple hit day, including a homer. 
• KC 5, CLE 1: He's strictly a streamer, but Zack Greinke has gone from "categorically ignore" to "in play against lesser lineups," of which there are many in the AL Central. Vinnie Pasquantino isn't getting results, but 53 percent of his contact has been in excess of 95 mph, with much of it in triple digits. 

           Edit to add: On cue, Pasquantino hit a homer Monday while this is being composed.

• CHW 4, DET 2: I'm sorry, but MLB needs to lower the mound every time Drew Hutchison posts a quality start. Still the White Sox got to Michael Fulmer to scratch out the win. Fulmer and Gregory Soto are officially on hug watch.
• PIT 8, MIL 6: I don't know why the Twitterverse was fat-shaming the shot of Daniel Vogelbach and Rowdy Tellez. They looked fine to me. In his last four games, Willy Adames is 6-for-17 with three doubles and a homer. He looks primed for a solid second half. He's not Berti, but Jonathan Davis notched his third steal this month if you need help in that department. With a pair of knocks, Kevin Newman has hit safely in the three games since returning from the IL. He has minimal power, but can get on and score from the leadoff spot.
• STL 4, PHI 3: Jordan Hicks picked up the win, recording his fourth straight scoreless outing since returning from the IL and moving to the bullpen. He only has four punchouts in five frames, but he's bringing the heat and looks healthy. 
• MIN 6, TEX 5: Byron Buxton hit a first-inning homer, then the bottom of the Twins order took over, taking advantage of an ineffective Dane Dunning. Dunning has been in a rut, perhaps due to an ankle injury forcing him to the IL. Sunday was Tyler Duffey's turn to close with Jhoan Duran setting up. Just as you think you know the answer, they change the question.
• HOU 6, OAK 1: The Athletics remain the panacea for struggling hurlers, as Jake Odorizzi fanned seven in seven frames. Houston has a problem, however, as the swelling in Yordan Alvarez's hand has gotten worse, forcing him to the IL heading into the break.
• LAD 11, CHC 9: Poor outfield defense by Gavin Lux paved the way for a first-inning P.J. Higgins grand slam off Julio Urias. However, the Dodgers picked up the lefty with Freddie Freeman, and Lux leading the way. Brusdar Graterol collected his third save with a two-inning effort. It would be nice if his solid stuff generated more whiffs, but a 62% ground ball rate is getting the job done.
• COL 3, ARI 2: German Marquez is back to being useful on the road, though the Diamondbacks aren't the best measuring stick. Kris Bryant finished the four-game series 6-for-15 with three doubles and two homers but will miss the early part of this week's homestand on paternity leave.
• SF 12, SD 0: Alex Wood dominated, looking like he could be out of his June rut. MacKenzie Gore, however, struggled again. His velocity remains down. I'll make a point of watching his next start and reporting later this week.
• SEA 6, TOR 5: Most of the time, fanning seven with no walks in six frames will result in a quality start, but the Blue Jays' potent lineup touched up Logan Gilbert for seven hits, including two homers to push across four runs. However, the Mariners took advantage of the Toronto bullpen while their own shut down the Blue Jays. Paul Sewald cemented his status as Seattle's closer with 10th save.
• BOS 11, NYY 6: Boston battled back for a series split, with Christian Vazquez leading the way. Bobby Dalbec looks lost again. With Kyle Schwarber's tutelage, Dalbec made some tangible improvements after the break last season, but he appears to be back at square one.