Right-hander Nathan Eovaldi lost a no-hitter in the seventh inning Wednesday after Nomar Mazara beat the Yankees‘ infield shift with a ball that would’ve been scooped up by a more traditional defensive alignment, but general manager Brian Cashman tells John Harper of the New York Daily News that he’s a steadfast believer in infield shifts. Cashman is dismissive of the the notion of abandoning infield shifts, likening the decision not to use them to playing hunches at the blackjack table. “It’d be like sitting next to the guy who’s hitting on 19,” said Cashman. “You’d be like, ‘dude, what are you doing?'” Cashman tells Harper that the Yankees have their own independent definitions for what constitutes a shift and adds that in some instances, the data can point to an 85 percent (or higher) likelihood of a ball being hit to a certain side of the field. “If a guy beats you on a 13 percent tendency, you tip your hat,” says the GM. Regardless of the results of that single batted ball, New York has to be pleased with what it’s seen from Eovaldi thus far. He’s running a 10.2 K/9 strikeout rate against just 1.8 BB/9, and his unexciting earned run average (4.38) has likely suffered in large part due to a somewhat unlucky 16.0% HR/FB rate.
Here’s more from the AL East:
- Blue Jays head trainer George Poulis provided a number of medical updates on injured players, writes MLB.com’s Gregor Chisholm. Notably, Poulis said that second baseman Devon Travis, recovering from shoulder surgery, will begin taking at-bats in extended Spring Training games, though he’s not yet ready to play in the field. Travis, 25, underwent shoulder surgery in mid-November that was said to come with a 16- to- 20-week recovery period. It’s already been 23 weeks since his operation, so his rehab has apparently been slower than expected, but a return to taking at-bats in a game setting is nonetheless a positive first step. Poulis also provided updates on Franklin Morales, Aaron Loup, Bo Schultz and some others that have day-to-day maladies.
- Red Sox third baseman Travis Shaw is not only impressing on the stat sheet, he’s making believers of his teammates, Tim Britton of the Providence Journal writes. He’s not alone in that regard, either. Per GM Mike Hazen, the team’s younger players have “done a very good job of ingratiating themselves by understanding the game, knowing that they have to play hard day-in, day-out — and that’s what the veterans respect and expect day-in, day-out — and keeping their mouth shut and going about it until they earn their stripes.” It doesn’t hurt, of course, that Boston has several quality young performers, and Shaw is the latest. He is off to a .329/.410/.548 slash in 83 plate appearances, though a .423 BABIP likely reflects not only solid contact but also some good fortune.
- Of course, Shaw improbably beat out Pablo Sandoval for the Red Sox‘ starting third base job this spring, and the Panda has since gone onto the DL with a still-mysterious shoulder ailment. Rob Bradford of WEEI.com has the latest on his situation, including several notes about his original signing with Boston. Bradford notes that the Sox do not have any weight target requirement in place for Sandoval, and adds that the club has “been encouraged by his approach — and results — the last two weeks.”
Ironic to see Cashman speaking about how much he likes the shift and Giardi talking about making them illegal
They are making different arguments. Girardi wants them banned because they work too well. Cashman wants use them because they work so well. They both agree they work, that’s not the question.
Yankees need starting pitching better than Eovoldi to hang our hopes on for the future. If Cashman spent some of the money on some young starting talent that is good he wouldn’t care about the shift and wouldn’t need it. Don’t overthink the game that needs talent to compete, not reinvented.
I always liked Eovaldi, it just he’s unlucky, and with Yankee stadiums short porch that is contributing to that 16% FB/HR rate
You can do a lot worse than a 26 year old who throws 100 MPH
Where’s all this young starting talent that can be had with just money?
Eovaldi’s bloated ERA has nothing to do with luck, good or bad. He is just not consistently able to command his pitches and often times has one bad inning. The other night, he was able to execute throughout his start and had an excellent outing against a good Texas lineup. If he can ever become consistent, look out. Although it is strange to watch a guy with a 98 mph fastball allow so much contact. Eovaldi is hard to make out, sometimes.
The Brooklyn Dodgers’ Sandy Koufax was in the major leagues for 5 years before he got his pitches under control. Have patience with Evoldi. He might end up being one of the great ones.
This is Eovaldi’s 6th season.. Eovaldi also made the majors 2 years older than Koufax.
There was another article in the NY Dailynews which said shifting has a minimal effect on preventing hits. Some teams have actually given up more base hits than prevented them using shifts. Personally, I can’t stand seeing the 2nd baseman playing shallow right field and the 3rd baseman playing behind the second base bag but who the hell am I?
You’re Southpaw2153. That’s who you are!
That’s a good argument against banning them. If they’re a flawed strategy, let teams use them at their own peril. Shifts are not impossible to beat, and the policy on them should be left as is.
Well the Daily News article is stupid then cause you can tell offense is down across the board and shifts have to have something to do with that. The shift doesn’t bother me don’t get mad at the shift get mad at the guys on your team for not being able to hit the ball the other way. Or better yet get mad at your teams hitting voach for not emphasizing hitting the ball the other way
I am amazed that any team would be shifting on a rookie with only, what, 50 ab’s of major league data to base it on. Unless they figure the quality of pitching Mazara was facing in the minors is the same as he is facing against their team, it doesn’t make sense. Fastballs are faster. Breaking balls are nastier. I would expect rookies to get fooled more often, initially. This would cause late swings, and an unpredictable spread pattern.
Girardi micromanages too much. Have to remember it’s a game and sometimes have to let the players play the game without thinking as much. Makes a tense Yankee team not like let em flow Joe. He wasn’t always right but for the most part he let them play.
Any Yankee fans know when Chase Headley’s contract is up ? And if the Braves took him in a deal do you think the Yankees would give up Sanchez in order to get out from under that contract. Maybe something like Sanchez and Chase for Kelly Johnson,Grilli & Jenkins ?maybe even throw in a Chris Ellis or a Thurmond as well ? I think Chase may got something left in the tank if u get him out the AL and he could keep 3B warm til Riley gets there. I like Ruiz but I don’t see the power potential and he hits LH we need some power and a RH bat. Come to think of it what bout Ruiz, Jace & Jenkins for Sanchez & Headley ? I think that would help both clubs.
Headley’s contract ends after 2018.
And there is no way the Yankees make such a horrible trade lol (referring to the first trade you mentioned)
Lol in your dreams, bud
Travis Shaw’s swing reminds me of Miami manager Don Mattingly’s when he first came up. So don’t be surprised if, by season’s end, Shaw is in the top 3 batting with 30+ homers to boot.
The shift works. Stop signing dead-pull hitters, and emphasize hitting the ball the other way. Then the scouting report will change on the player.