Bud Selig's Thank You Letter to Texas Rangers

Dear Texas Rangers,

I owe you a debt of gratitude after last night’s ALCS Game 4. The path carved by this game was wrought with hazard for me personally and I would certainly be mistaken if I didn’t thank you for your scoring outburst in the later innings to make the story today about your fine performance and Joe Girardi’s questionable managerial tactics instead of my resistance to technological advancements which would certainly make life easier for my umpiring crews.

I also would like to extend thanks to you on behalf of Major League Baseball fans everywhere for saving us from Jared Macchirole. He certainly will have his 15 minutes of fame; however, it would be very hard for us all to accept this “gentleman” reaching the folk hero/villain status of Jeffrey Maier.

Your team has been a breathe of fresh air in this series and certainly has helped drown out the even worse than usual viciousness of New York Yankees fans.

I wish you continued success in masking my ineptitude and saving me from modern times.

Sincerely,

Bud Selig
Commissioner: Major League Baseball

Sabermetrics vs. Slugging: Stats have been the Yankees doom

Interesting column from Bob Klapisch on how Joe Girardi's reliance on stats cost the Yankees last night.

That was the rationale for plowing through the inning, which soon reached its crossroads with a runner on second and two out. With an open base, Girardi again refused to listen to his inner voice, ignoring common sense to intentionally put the go-ahead run on base.

Why? Because of his maddening attachment to numbers. Girardi was uncomfortable with David Murphy's career 5-for-18 against Burnett, so he called for an intentional walk. Never once did Girardi consider what an extra base runner would do to Burnett's fragile psyche.

Girardi does know that Bill James works for the Red Sox doesn't he?

A.J. Burnett vs. Tommy Hunter by the numbers

Yankees fans have to be cringing at the thought of A.J. Burnett taking the mound tonight (especially knowing that they have to win 3 straight games to avoid seeing Cliff Lee again in Game 7). Much has been made of Burnett's contract so we decided to take a look at the value each of tonight's starters have provided for their respective teams.

A.J. Burnett 2010 salary - $16,500,000 Record - 10-15 G - 33 IP - 186.2 K - 145 BB - 78 H - 204 R - 118 ER - 109 HR - 25

Tommy Hunter 2010 salary - $409,850 Record - 13-4 G - 23 IP - 128 K - 68 BB - 33 H - 126 R - 55 ER - 53 HR - 21

If you average it all out Burnett got paid $500,000 per game($1,650,000 per win). His average length was just under 5.2 IP, average strikeouts per game was 4.4, he walked 2.4 batters, gave up 6.2 hits, 3.6 runs, 3.3 earned runs and 0.8 homeruns.

Hunter on the other hand was paid $17,819.56 per game ($31,526.92 per win). His average length was also just under 5.2 IP, average strikeouts per game was just about 3 per game, he walked 1.4 batters, gave up 5.5 hits, 2.4 runs, 2.3 earned runs and 0.9 homeruns.

As you can see Burnett only has a significant advantage in stikeouts (and he should, he led the AL in strikeouts in 2008), Joe Girardi is putting a lot on Burnett's shoulders tonight probably because Girardi is afraid to put Phil Hughes out on short rest for the first time ever. If it doesn't work, Burnett will shoulder a lot of the blame, which is probably unfair, however if it does, the Yanks have got to feel good with C.C. Sabathia going again in game 5, win there and then all the pressure will come full circle to Phil Hughes in game 6.