Yankee Bats

As the Yankees throw away a subpar, but still, quality start from Tanaka, it's time to ponder why they can't score against a guy who came into the game with an ERA up near 5.   Part of it is certainly that they don't grind out at bats like the champions of the past have.  And there are at least two parts to that:  they acquired some middling to bad OBP players to fill holes, and they've had either an indifferent feel for OBP in their system or forgotten how to train it into players, like they did from the `20s through the `60s, before pausing the `70s and most of the `80's and picking it up again in the late `80's and about until Nick Johnson got hurt in the minors.

There are a few other problems with the offensive training that goes on in the system.    And those are basically manifest in the 70 and better speed players that pass through there, like Brett Gardner.   Brett Gardner is a great defender and a streaky offensive player.  If Brett Gardner had been taught how to really bunt, and steal bases, he wouldn't be given to long slump or periods where he is reticent to use his superior speed to swipe a key base. You see this playing out in the minors, too with Mason Williams.  He's gone through a 15 month slump because he doesn't know how to bunt, or drag bunt or butcher ball or to really take his walks.   It's been a problem for Katoh down in low A this year, too.   All they have him doing is trying to swing his way out of his struggles, even though he has 70 speed and his greatest value is in getting on base and using that speed.

So, while the fooligentsia wants to trade elite pitching prospects for old pitchers, the pitching problem is basically short term.   The hitting problem is basically infinite, until they change the way they train hitters or remember to only acquire those with good OBP skills.    Babe, Lou, Joe, Charlie and Mickey are spinning in their graves.