Batter's Box Interactive Magazine - Barroom Debate: One Small Surprise ...

Here's a point for discussion ... what's the biggest surprise in MLB this season? As we wind down the entire season, we can start to draw some conclusions, rather than rely on projections, so speaking as an avowed fan of the interlocking NY and pinstripes, I would humbly suggest that the biggest surprise of 2005 ...

... is the New York Yankees pitching staff.

Nobody would have been surprised if in April you had projected that Mike Mussina and Randy Johnson would be leading the team in wins -- and with 13 and 15, respectively (and a combined 28-16), that projection would bave been right on. No projection objections there, anyway.

But with Carl Pavano and Jaret Wright, the two sexy off-season pitching pickups, at a combined 9-10 and both out for the year, well. THAT's trouble. Right?

Uh, no. See, Aaron Small (9-0), Shawn Chacon (6-3 with NYY) and Chien-Ming Wang (8-4) are a combined 23-7, meaning the 3-4-5 spots in the rotation are 32-17, or approximately the record the Yankee brass would have hoped for from Pavano and Wright. Heck, Small might win this category all by hissownself.

Throw in the fact that Steve Karsay and Buddy Groom are two relievers no longer in pinstripes while Al Leiter is ... well. And the Yankees are in first place.

C'mon, I dare you. Come up with a bigger surprise than THAT.

Posted by Mick Doherty on Monday, September 26 2005 @ 09:58 PM EDT.

Barroom Debate: One Small Surprise ... | 14 comments | Create New Account

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Mike Green - Monday, September 26 2005 @ 10:24 PM EDT (#128945) #

The White Sox having the best record in the AL with a week to go surprises me. The Nationals stealing 15 of the wins that I figured that the Dodgers would get was the other big surprise of the season for me. I suppose that Derrek Lee's late breakout season was the individual surprise of the year.

Ron - Monday, September 26 2005 @ 10:35 PM EDT (#128946) #

Biggest surprise for me this season has been Chris Capuano winning 18 games so far. I'll be honest I know nothing about the guy. Up until one month ago I've never even heard of his name before.

My runner up surprise is Griffey actually playing 128 games this season.

Mylegacy - Monday, September 26 2005 @ 10:47 PM EDT (#128947) #

I can't.

It blows my mind, and turns my stomach, what the Evil Empire have done with pitchers this year who are never-wases and or never-will-bes.

Bah humbug.

DepecheJay - Monday, September 26 2005 @ 11:28 PM EDT (#128949) #

Biggest shock of the season for me was finding out in this very thread that Steve Karsay is in fact left-handed. The guy is from my alma-matter high school (Christ the King Regional High School) and I always thought he was a righty... ;)

I'm only messin with ya Mick, easy mistake to make. But in general, I agree, the Yanks rotation has been pretty damn good no matter how much Yankee Haters want to deny it.

Mick Doherty - Monday, September 26 2005 @ 11:34 PM EDT (#128951) #

DJ, thanks for catching my typo -- I accidentally misspelled "relievers" l-e-f-t-i-e-s ... I have corrected it.

VBF - Monday, September 26 2005 @ 11:37 PM EDT (#128952) #

I think the question is why? Is Yankee management and scouting that good? Is it luck?

Lefty - Monday, September 26 2005 @ 11:51 PM EDT (#128954) #

Biggest suprise for me is in season as opposed to the start of the season. I expected a bounce back season from the Giambino, but had given up on the notion by June. And I mean really given up. Then before you could say kaboom he rocks the league.

Pitching staff's, Ken Griffey etc. don't even come close to this shocker.

GreenMonster - Tuesday, September 27 2005 @ 01:56 AM EDT (#128957) #

For me, the most surprising statistic is that the Yankees will finish the season with only 3 pitchers having thrown over 100 innings--and one of them was Chien-Ming Wang.

Magpie - Tuesday, September 27 2005 @ 02:03 AM EDT (#128958) #

I was a little surprised by Andruw Jones hitting 50 home runs...

Gitz - Tuesday, September 27 2005 @ 02:46 AM EDT (#128959) #

For individuals, I'm surprised about Bruce Chen. In general, I'm surprised the NL West has been so bad. I thought the Padres, Dodgers, and Giants would all have between 85-92 wins.

Twilight - Tuesday, September 27 2005 @ 04:39 AM EDT (#128960) #

I don't know why Bruce Chen has been kicked around the leagues so much. From what I have seen he pitches fairly well. He's no power pitcher, but he seems like a consistent, reliable guy for a #4 or #5 spot in a rotation or as a long man in a bullpen.

Jordan - Tuesday, September 27 2005 @ 08:54 AM EDT (#128964) #

Jose Canseco was right. That really shouldn't have been a surprise, but my faith in human nature led me astray again.

Lugnut Fan - Tuesday, September 27 2005 @ 10:15 AM EDT (#128965) #

The biggest surpises of the 2005 season from my stand point.

1) Cleveland the past couple of years has had a saying "Tribe in 05". I guess they were right on there.

2) The fact that the White Sox have basically revamped their team and philosophy and have dominated the AL Central pretty much all season is shocking.

3) The Yankees pitching staff. It was no suprise to me that Pavano struggled or that Wright struggled. Pavano is a career .500 pitcher and Wright always has been inconsistent and arm problems. Chacon, Wang, Small, etc. have saved that staff.

4) Derek Lee's season for the Cubs. Simply phenomenal and he is finally living up to his expectations.

5) Rafael Palmerio. The whole mess. Nuff said.

6) The NL West. What the heck is that? Are the Padres going to be a team that makes the playoffs with a sub-.500 record or will Barry Bonds be the Giants savior and steal this division from the Padres.

Nigel - Tuesday, September 27 2005 @ 10:52 AM EDT (#128972) #

Actually, a little closer to home, the fact that the Jays have managed a team ERA just north of 4 with Halladay missing nearly half the year and Lilly being, well Lilly, and not the '04 incarnation has surprised the heck out of me.

Barroom Debate: One Small Surprise ... | 14 comments | Create New Account

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