Reporters and fans love to debate the question of which player you’d like to see up in a big spot. With the Yankees, most would say Derek Jeter, while others might say Alex Rodriguez or perhaps Mark Teixeira. I have a different answer for which 2010 Yankee I’d most like to see at bat with the game on the line. My choice – at least for this season so far – is Francisco Cervelli!
The young backup catcher is hitting .400 in 20 games this year, and has a .471 OBP and .987 OPS, which is crazy enough. But his numbers with runners in scoring position are through the roof. I told Brian Sinkoff of Albany’s Sound-Off With Sinkoff radio show yesterday that it seems that Cervelli does something great every single time he plays. And my perception isn’t far off the mark.
Check out Frankie’s “clutch” numbers. With runners in scoring position, he hits:
.786 BA .824 OBP 1.071 Slugging 1.895 OPS
Make it two outs and runners in scoring position, and the numbers are even better:
.857 BA .857 OBP 1.000 Slugging 1.857 OPS
If Jonathan Papelbon had pitched to Cervelli, instead of plunking him last night, I have a feeling he might have done something great against the Red Sox. But in a way he did – he scored the winning run!
What do you think? Tell us about it!
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