Pretty brilliant. This was an even better strategy considering that Gwynn’s relatively low power numbers during this period (17 HR in 1997, 16 in 1998, 10 in 1999, 1 in 2000) meant that even if he got a hold of one he might not have done much more than he would have with a pitch on the outside edge.

Jeez, and all this time I thought Tomko threw it right down the middle to everyone.

Since we’re talking Yankees, here’s why I love the internet.  Listening to the game at work (hey, it’s why I work for myself) and Sterling says “Because of injuries, Nick Swisher has been batting second a lot, and done very well there.”  Well, that strikes me as fishy, and so I jump on to Baseball Reference (again, I work alone) and see that yes, Nick Swisher is hitting over .400 as the #2 hitter.  In three games, 12 ABs.  Which doesn’t strike me as a particularly large sample. I don’t know why, but the ability to prove instantly that John Sterling is full of it made me strangely happy.  Is that wrong?

Interesting story, but here’s the oddest part:

Tony Gwynn vs. Pete Harnisch

51 PAs, .364/.412/.523

Pete should have followed his own advice.