Most appearances by a pitcher for each club

 

The Rangers have signed right-handed reliever Jason Frasor to a one-year deal with a base salary of $1.5 million. He is expected to fit into a middle-relief role, appearing ahead of new setup reliever Josh Lindblom. The significance of this deal is that no pitcher has appeared in more games on the mound for the Blue Jays than Frasor’s 505. The Jays current active leader is Casey Janssen with 283, so he has a ways to go. Here are the all-time pitching games appeared leader for each team, followed by the active pitcher currently on the team Yankees: Mariano Rivera 1051, Andy Pettitte 417 Padres: Trevor Hoffman 902, Luke Gregerson 290 Pirates: Roy Face 802, Tony Watson 111 Twins (Senators): Walter Johnson 802, Glen Perkins 215 Braves: Phil Niekro 740, Eric O’Flaherty 276 Mets: John Franco 695, Bobby Parnell 249 Royals: Jeff Montgomery 686, Tim Collins 140 White Sox: Red Faber 669, Matt Thornton 472 Giants: Gary Lavelle 647, Sergio Romo 276 Red  Sox: Bob Stanley 637, Daniel Bard 209 Cubs: Charlie Root 605, Carlos Marmol 452 Indians: Mel Harder 582, Rafael Perez 338 Angels: Troy Percival 579, Jered Weaver 207 Astros: Dave Smith 563, Wesley Wright 232 Orioles: Jim Palmer 558, Jim Johnson 286 Cardinals: Jesse Haines 554, Jason Motte 282 Dodgers: Don Sutton 550, Chad Billingsley 217 Tigers: John Hiller 545, Justin Verlander 232 Reds: Pedro Borbon 531, Bronson Arroyo 233 Phillies: Robin Roberts 529, Cole Hamels 212 Rangers: Kenny Rogers 528, Neftali Feliz 162 A’s: Dennis Eckersley 525, Jerry Blevins 214 Blue Jays: Jason Frasor 505, Casey Janssen 283 Rockies: Steve Reed 461, Matt Belisle 254 Mariners: Jeff Nelson 432, Felix Hernandez 238 Nationals (Expos): Tim Burke 425, Tyler Clippard 267 Marlins: Braden Looper 368, Ricky Nolasco 195 Brewers: Dan Plesac 365, John Axford 206 Rays: Esteban Yan 266, J.P. Howell 252 Diamondbacks: Jose Valverde 253, David Hernandez 146

Do the Yankees miss David Robertson more than Mo?

Where is the 2011 David Robertson?

The 2012 version is similar in name only.

Last night, the Baltimore Orioles hit like their Beltway buddy Washington Nationals slamming six homers off Yankee pitchers in a dominant 10-6 victory. I'll give you that Robin Ventura is the Rookie Manager of the Year, but there should be no doubt in any observer's mind that Buck Showalter is the Manager of the Year. As Red Sox owner John Henry told Tom Verducci in (another) brilliant piece for Sports Illustrated in describing his embarrassing Red Sox, “What appeared to be an outlier month in September 2011 turned out to be a harbinger instead.” The same thing could be said for Showalter's Orioles who went 15-13 last September including taking five-of-seven from the Dead Sox and playing the Yankees and the Rays even.

In the opener of a four-game set in sold out Baltimore last night, the Orioles had built a 6-1 lead against Yankee starter David Phelps (the fact that Phelps started last night for NY spoke volumes) but after Orioles starter Jason Hammel left the game (in his first start since coming off the DL, Hammel gave up just one run and six hits in five-plus innings) the Yankees scored five times in the 8th surrounding a few key hits around four walks.

So, with the score tied 6-6 entering the bottom of the 8th, the 2012 version of David Robertson entered the game.

The Yankees certainly can't complain that with Mariano Rivera lost for the season, Rafael Soriano has done an outstanding job as the team's closer replacement, leapfrogging Robertson from his 2011 7th inning role when the Yanks featured a last three-inning trio known as "So-Ro-Mo." And had Robertson performed in a fashion similar to his brilliant 2011 season, the Yankees would have been able to get away with surviving the loss of Mo. But Robertson has been a different pitcher.

Year	W	L	W-L%	ERA	G	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	IBB	SO	WHIP
2011	4	0	1.000	1.08	70	66.2	40	9	8	1	35	6	100	1.125
2012	1	6	.143	2.77	51	48.2	42	16	15	5	17	0	63	1.212

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 9/7/2012.

I can't help but stare at the one homer that the 2011 Robertson surrendered in 66.2 innings and think about the two homers that the 2012 Robertson surrendered while facing three Orioles last night, retiring none of them as Baltimore scored four times to wrap up the 10-6 win. Last season in the 7th through 9th innings, batters hit .175 aginst Robertson, this season the number is 50 points higher and while a .225 average may sound good it's already resulted in five more runs surrendered in 15 fewer appearances.

Check out the cool blue of Robertson in 2011

Now look at the "hotter" 2012 Robertson

Here's what Robertson's two homers and a single looks like

The Yankees aren't tied with the Orioles just because of David Robertson, in fact how much complaining can you do about a guy who is one of the four relievers who has pitched at least 100 innings since the start of 2011 and has an ERA of under 2.00.

Rk	Player	ERA	IP	G	W	L	W-L%	SV	H	R	ER	BB	SO
1	Eric O'Flaherty	1.41	121.1	132	4	4	.500	0	103	23	19	38	108
3	Craig Kimbrel	1.75	128.1	130	4	4	.500	80	69	26	25	45	221
4	David Robertson	1.79	115.1	121	5	6	.455	2	82	25	23	52	163
5	Mike Adams	1.94	120.2	130	9	7	.563	3	91	29	26	27	114

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 9/7/2012.

But it's September and there is no room for error for any contending team. The Yankees had battled back to tie the game and they looked for the 2011 David Robertson and he just wasn't there.

If the interlocking NY wants to see the postseason, they better send out search party for that guy because they need all the help they can get.

Mariano Rivera Versus Lefties

Yankees' closer Mariano Rivera notched his 602nd career save yesterday, making him the all time saves leader.  And he did it much like the 601 that came before.  Rivera has been as close to a constant that the game of baseball has seen in the last two decades.

This year, Mariano Rivera has mostly been his usual dominant self, although he's had a few rough outings scattered throughout.  Looking at his splits, it seems like lefties, against which he is usually deadly, have hit him a bit better.

First, let's compare his pitch location from this season to the previous three:

Mariano Rivera (Click image to enlarge)

There isn't a tremendous difference, although you can see a bit more pitches out over the middle of the plate this season. 

Mariano Rivera Overall

	G	P	PA	AVG	BABIP	OBP	SLG	wOBA
2008-2010	209	3293	831	.181	.229	.222	.260	.213
2011	61	876	224	.217	.279	.247	.292	.237

The one thing that stands out is the jump in batting average on balls in play. It's always difficult to determine whether a BABIP jump is a result of decreased effectiveness or luck. For relievers, the sample size is fairly low for one season making it even more difficult to surmise.

However, we do know that it is mostly left-handed batters that account for the BABIP jump.

Mariano Rivera vs. LHB

	G	P	PA	AVG	BABIP	OBP	SLG	wOBA
2008-2010	195	1631	423	.181	.221	.226	.251	.212
2011	55	391	106	.238	.289	.267	.327	.261

Opposing left-handed batters have seen more than a 65 point jump in BABIP against Rivera this season. From 2008-2010, lefties had a 17.5% line drive rate. This season, it is up to 21.5%. This is hardly enough of a bump in such a small period of time to suggest Rivera is getting hit harder. So while it's possible more lefty batters have been squaring him up better, the increase in BABIP is probably more a product of luck than anything else. When coupled with the fact that his strikeout rate against LHB has been 21.7% this season, which is unchanged from his previous three year average, it is even more likely that we're not seeing an actual decline in effectiveness versus lefties.

Update on Tuesday, September 20, 2011 at 6:29PM by Bill Chuck

Here's 81 to know about the great Mo!

http://www.billy-ball.com/2011/09/the-great-mariano-rivera/