I originally came up with the idea for a Nats, Yankees Simmonsish mega breakdown sometime in July when it looked as though the Nats were here to stay. I’ve given dannymac some pretty good natured ribbing over being the most fair whether fan in the history of sports, by jumping ship on the Sox after their fall collapse last year (in his defense I’m not sure there’s ever been a less likable team in the history of team sports than the 2011 and 2012 Red Sox), and moving in with the Young, hot Washington Nats. I’ll give him this credit though, he’s fully immersed himself with his new lover. This isn’t just having a fling on the side with a more attractive younger woman, this is full-fledged moving in with the new girl, getting married, buying a dog, and having three kids together. Dan’s been attending games faithfully, tweeting nonstop, sending creepy love letters to Bryce Harper, and most importantly, defending this team with his life to anyone who questions them. This article seemed like a fun way to compare two of the better teams in baseball, as well as compare our lovers (in my case the older, but still hot Yankees, and in Dan’s case, the young yoga instructor Nats).
When it started looking more and more like the Nats are firm in their stance that Strasburg will be shut down after 160 innings this season, I started to lose interest in writing this piece. What comparison are the Nats to the Yankees without Stras? After all, if the Yankees knew in advance that CC Sabbathia (or even Andy Pettite for that matter) wouldn’t be available for the postseason, would I be delusional enough to believe that the Yankees could win it all? Obviously not. That doesn’t stop Nats fans like Dan from getting carried away with his current team, a la Orangechuck on the syr.com message boards thinking SU could still win it all once Fab Melo went down. Anyways, this isn’t a piece for the topic of Strasburg-maybe Dan and I will publish the 50000000 words of email that we’ve exchanged in the last few days discussing the topic-but rather a position by position comparison of the Yankees and the Nationals. I researched these numbers free of any kind of bias, and really not having any idea what they were going to tell me. For the purpose of this article, we are comparing the two teams assuming that they are meeting in the World Series with the Nats having home field advantage, and that Strasburg WONT be pitching.
Positional Comparison
“The Battle for who wants it less…The Catchers”
Nats Kurt Suzuki- BA-.218 OBP-.257 Slug%-.284 1 HR 18 RBI’s, 20 runs scored
Yanks Russell Martin-BA-.194 OBP-.310 Slug%-.377 12 HR’s, 31 RBI’s
It’s pretty hard to believe that those are the numbers of two established major league players on contending teams. Watching Martin everyday this year just gives me that look you get when you are watching a catcher bat .194 two weeks into August, sorry I can’t word it any better. Meanwhile, I remember Suzuki being a decent offensive catcher as recently as two years ago with Oakland. That’s why it was staggering to see his numbers this year. There was nobodybetter out there to pick up for the Nats?
Both catchers are solid defensively, not only calling a good game/protecting the plate, but also at throwing runners out. As insane as this would sound to any Yankee fan, at least Martin is giving some kind of tangible power threat when he comes to the plate, despite offering literally nothing else offensively. In a category that’s really more of an indictment of National catchers, I give the Yankees a slight edge
First Base
Nats A LaRoche- BA-.274 OBP-.346 Slugging%-.521 23 HR, 72 RBI’s, 49 runs scored
Yanks Big Tex- BA-.255 OBP-.337 Slugging%-..481 20 HR, 72 RBI’s, 59 runs scored
It’s funny to watch LaRoche have a career year one year removed from Dan blasting him, and calling for him to be buried on the bench. I remember owning LaRoche two years ago in fantasy, and I probably would have agreed with Dan that he was shot. Meanwhile Big Tex is having a typical Tex year. Waste the first six weeks of the season, play the middle four months like an All Star, before a painfully predictable slump in October. I don’t love either guy. This years’ version of both players is pretty equal-above average power, incredibly sizzling hot streaks, and all world defense at first base. Obviously Big Tex’s pedigree says he’s the better player, but you can’t argue with this years’ stats, or the fact that all Yankee fans know that Tex will crumble in the playoffs. Overall I’m going to reward the player having the career year. Slight edge Nats
Second Base
Espinosa- BA-.243 OBP-.310 Slugging%-.398 11 Home Runs, 39 RBI’s, 17 Stolen Bases
Robbie Cano- BA-.313 OBP-.357 Slugging%-.558 24 HR 64 RBI’s, 68 Runs, an additional 32 extra base hits outside of HR’s
Obviously we have our first blow out in any category. Dan told me that in the playoffs the Nats best lineup features Espinosa at second base, so that’s why he’s listed here. Cano is obviously a top ten hitter in the majors by anyone’s measure, and without doubt the best overall hitter in the Yankees lineup. Both are great fielders, but even that is no given advantage for Espinosa, as Cano is as good or better than any second basemen in the league defensively.Major edge Yankees
Shortstop
Desmond- BA-.286 OBP-.322 Slugging%-.503 17 HR, 53 RBI, 51 Runs, 17 SB’s
Derek Jeter- BA-.314 OBP-.357 Slugging%-..413 8HR, 34 RBI’s, 61 Runs, 7 SB’s
Both players are having great years. It should be noted that Desmond’s numbers are in 89 games. Considering that people thought in the middle of last year that Jeter was shot, this year has been a vindicating one for Jeter, and really all Yankee fans. Comparing the two players, Desmond has more pop and is a better run producer, where Jeter is much better suited at the top of the lineup setting the table. Desmond probably has more range defensively, but at this point Jeter is a sure thing on routine grounders and can still occasionally give you a great play. At this point in his career Desmond will steal more bases than Jeter. Here’s where the format of this piece comes into play.
For a short series, Jeter is still just as capable as Desmond at swiping bases, he’s just not going to waste his energy anymore at 38 doing that in July and August. For October though? Him and Desmond are about even in that sense. For these two statistically they are pretty close, and have the ying and yang thing going on statistically. The deciding factor? One is Derek Jeter, World Series Champion, MVP, and owner of the most hits in Post season history. When stats are that close, you go with the proven player, not the career .268 hitter. Slight Edge Yankees
Third Base
Zimmerman (100 games- BA-.276 OBP-.345 Slugging%-.458 16 HR’s, 65 RBI’s, 69 Runs
Rodriguez (94 games)- BA-.276 OBP-. 358 Slugging%-.449 15 HR’s, 44 RBI’s, 54 Runs
This looks to be a pretty clear advantage for the Nats right? Arod’s having another disappointing season, through both injury, and a not so surprising drop in power. Meanwhile, after battling injuries and slumps, Zimmerman is putting together a pretty good to great season depending on whether you see baseball objectively, or whether you are a Nats fan. Both have been playing good defense, and nothing should change on that front. I was going to say major edge Nats BUT…
Allow me to doctor some stats here to mix things up a little (a la Dan emailing me a chart that I believe was supposed to tell me that Edwin Jackson is a comparable pitcher to CC Sabbathia in Game 1 of a playoff series). Anyone who has watched the Yankees all year knows that third base is pretty much a platoon between Chavez and Rodriguez. Each will get spelled as the DH a couple of times a week, but typically they are not playing in the same game. The numbers show that they’ve been in the same game 57 times, but a large number of those is when Chavez gets inserted for defense late in the game, or pinch hits. What I’m trying to say is that for the season, and especially the postseason, this is a platoon. Using that logic let’s compare Zimmerman and ChaRod:
Zimmerman (100 games)- BA-.276 OBP-.345 Slugging%-.458 16 HR’s, 65 RBI’s, 69 Runs
ChaRod- BA-.283 OBP-.353 Slugging%-.488 27 HR’s, 73 RBI’s, 81 Runs scored, 11 SB’s (all by AROD)
Now at risk of Dan getting so upset at this interpretation that he threatens to hold his breath until I take it back, I will still give the slight edge to the Nats. I can’t ignore those stats either though, so what would have been a huge edge for the Nats becomes arguably a slight one, but I will still give it to Dan’s golden boy Zimm (As Dan put it to me “entrenched hitting third for the rest of his career” for Zimmerman. Anytime you can have someone who in six full seasons leading to this one averaged .287/.354/.477 with 21 Homers and 82 RBI’s hitting third for the next decade you have to do it). Slight Edge Nats
Left Field
Morse (64 games)- BA .299 OBP-.320 Slugging%-.477 11 HR’s, 39 RBI’s, 35 Runs
Ichiro- BA-.262 OBP-.289 Slugging%-.355 5 HR’s, 39 RBI’s, 53 Runs, 18 SB’s
On paper, another matchup that is probably a nod for the Nats. Morse in limited AB’s is showing that he is not a flash in the pan, and is probably the Nats best power hitter. Meanwhile, you can’t slice it any other way, Ichiro’s raw numbers look awful. To me though, that’s why you can’t use stats or sabermetrics as the sole basis behind any analysis. Scouts said that Ichiro looked bored in Seattle, and who could blame him?... Ichiro is a career .322 hitter, and Morse has basically had one good season in a five plus year big league career. Ad those things to the fact that Morse is a train wreck in the outfield, and Ichiro is still one of the best OF’s in the game, and this doesn’t become such a laugher. In the postseason, when you have the best pitchers in the game, who do you think is more suited to hit great pitching, Ichiro or Morse?... All that having been said I can’t ignore this season’s numbers, or the fact that, again, Morse is the Nats best power hitter and deserves such recognition. Slight Edge Nats
Centerfield
Werth (38 games)- BA-.308 OBP-.406 Slugging%-.459 3 HR’s, 17 RBI’s, 15 Runs,
Granderson- BA-.240 OBP-.335 Slugging%-..487 30 HR, 66 RBI’s, 79 Runs, 8 SB
My feelings on Werth are pretty well known. In my opinion it’s the worst contract in baseball history all things considered. Imagine how the Nats could have used that $130 Million to build around the rest of the team if they hadn’t signed Werth. Meanwhile, I’m not as high on Granderson as other Yankee fans are. I mean the dude has struck out 140 times already this season. Couple that with the fact that he’s walking less, and stealing less bases, and I know for sure that in two years I don’t want to give him $100 million when his contract is up.
The great part about Granderson though, is that he will single handedly win you games. I can think of three or four playoff games since he’s been a Yankee where he’s hit a two or three run homer, and made unbelievable plays in center to save runs. His ceiling is just so high. If he gets on a hot streak, he will carry the Yankees for four five games at a time. At this stage in his career, Werth isn’t even close, he’s basically their ARod with even less power. Major edge Yankees
Right Field
Harper (92 gms)- BA-.249 OBP-.328 Slugging%.406 10 HR, 32 RBI’s, 59 Runs, 13 SB
Swisher(100 gms)- BA-.262 OBP-.345 Slugging%-.454 14 HR, 58 RBI’s, 48 Runs
I’ve enjoyed seeing things like ESPN’s “Phenom Watch” or whatever they call it, and Dan blow Twitter up in May and June over things never before seen in baseball like stolen bases, intangibles, and a great arm. How Bryce Harper is being compared to Mike Trout in any way on ESPN should remove ESPN’s credibility for the rest of time. Basically I hate Bryce Harper. Unfortunately I hate Nick Swisher too. Suck isn’t even the right word for what Nick has done the last three postseason’s (In 28 playoff games as a Yankee he’s batting .167 with 4 RBI’s…all of which came on Home Runs), even though Girardi (in my biggest gripe with him as manager to date) keeps stubbornly trotting him out there to hit sixth, despite the fact that again, he hasn’t driven in a run in 28 playoff games that wasn’t a solo Home Run. Really, this was my least favorite part of the entire analysis.
While I can’t picture swisher doing much, I have to give him the edge here based on stats. I saw Harper’s splits the other day, and he’s basically hitting .001 after June, when people realized he can’t hit off speed pitches at this point. While if you put a gun to my head and asked me who I thought would have a better series if these teams matched up, I’d say Harper, I simply have to go with the stats for this year (especially since just going off what “should” happen would mean the Yankees would win the advantage at 1B, 3B, and LF). Slight edge Yankees
Bench (games 1,2,6,7)/DH (games 3-5)
Nats- Bernadina, Moore, Tracy, Lombardozzi, Flores
Yankees- Ibanez, Andrew Jones, Jason Nix, occasionally Chavez, Stewart (catcher), McGahee
I didn’t even look up the stats on this one. That’s a landslide victory for the Yankee bench/DH, and really one of the major strengths of the team. For the year, Ibanez and Jones platoon based on the righty/leftie matchup. Their splits (Jones and Ibanez) combined into one player are .232/.302/.468 and 27/54/77. That’s power numbers that most teams would take from their cleanup hitter, out of our DH spot. That alone blasts any of the Nats bench players out of the water, and makes this category not even worth discussing. Major edge Yankees
Overall Hitting for series
Nats have the better player at 1B, 3B, an LF. None of them are humungous advantages like the Yankees have at 2B, DH/bench or CF, but you can make the argument that LF will be unless Ichiro plays motivated baseball, which nobody can really say for sure. Meanwhile Yankees win some close matchups, namely C, SS, and RF with players on both sides that have their share of question marks. Overall the Yankees are a much better offensive team, and I don’t think anyone would debate that. Advantage Yankees
Starters Game 1
Zimmerman- 8 wins, 2.45 ERA, 6.39 k/9, 1.08 WHIP
Sabbathia- 11 wins, 3.53 ERA, 8.87 k/9, 1.2 WHIP (ability to pitch on three days’ rest)
Dan has gone so far as to call Jordan Zimmerman “arguably the best player in baseball” which could be my favorite irrational Dan quote of all time. You can’t deny Zimmerman’s numbers though, and obviously the ERA and WHIP speak for themselves. The low strikeout rate is a bit concerning, especially in the postseason when making batters swing and miss is so much more important when you have every hitters full attention. Zimmerman also has the strike against him that he hasn’t thrown a single pressure pitch in his life.
Sabbathia (and all the Yankee starters for that matter) simply put don’t treat the regular season the same way someone like Zimmerman does. Sababthia has nothing to prove, and uses the season as more or less a tune up (hence two DL visits for basically invisible injuries). Only a few times this year has he dialed up his four seemer to the mid to upper 90’s, and instead is working on his two seemer and changeup much more than he would in a playoff game. You also can’t discount his playoff experience in leading the 09 staff to a World Series, including the willingness and ability to pitch on three days’ rest.
If I was betting money on one pitcher, I would take Sabbathia. That’s not the bias in me, I just would. For the sake of this article though, and the fact that this would be a home game for the Nats, I would give Zimmerman the nod over Sabbathia just so again, Dan doesn’t start kicking and screaming. Slight Edge Nats
Game 2
Gonzalez- 13 wins, 2.97 ERA, 11.31 k/9, 1.13 WHIP
Pettite- 3 wins, 3.22 ERA, 9.05 k/9, 1.09 WHIP
In my opinion, Gonzalez is the Nats scariest/best pitcher (excluding Stras obviously). He’s the one Nats pitcher that has dominant, strikeout stuff, and he’s a hard throwing lefty-never the Yankees cup of tea. He really does scare me as a Yankee fan (as opposed to Zimmerman who doesn’t to say the least). I can picture him throwing seven innings of one run, 10k ball without question.
Pettite has come back this year, and hasn’t missed a beat. His stuff is sharper than ever, as evident by his impressive K/9 ratio. There’s also the small fact that Pettite has 19 career playoff wins, and hasn’t had a start that wasn’t quality in the postseason since the 2005 NLCS with Houston. Torre/Girardi have always pitched Pettite in Games 2 or 3 of a series, because they know that he’s not going to wilt under the pressure of possible being down 0-1 or 0-2, and Andy delivers the goods just about every time. Also speaking as a fan, there is no pitcher on the Yankees that I’m more confident in during a big game. Again, I’ll give the Nats the slightest of edges, even though that’s not what I really believe, based on Gonzalez’s numbers, and the fact that he passes the eye test as well.
Game 3
Jackson- 6 wins, 3.56 ERA, 7.13 K/9, 1.18 WHIP
Kuroda- 10 Wins, 3.19 ERA, 6.95 K/9, 1.18 WHIP
Jackson supposedly could be the Yankees number one starter. Dan said this in not so many words to me. Aside from his numbers, that show he’s having a decent year in a great pitchers park, let’s take a look at some numbers that are relevant to evaluating Jackson. Consider first, that starting in 2006 (his first full year in the majors), he’s had two years with a sub 4.00 ERA in six years. Also his postseason “experience” is 1 win, and a 4.91 ERA, including a 6.72 ERA in last years’ playoffs.
I don’t have much analysis of Kuroda. His numbers are pretty good. Most games he pitches, you look up and he’s pitched 6 innings, and given up two runs. Nothing too fancy. I’m not in love with him, but I can’t imagine Edwin Jackson in a million years pitching a good game against the Yankees in Yankee Stadium during the World Series. Again, I don’t love Kuroda, but aside from his better numbers, I don’t even buy that Jackson sniffs Kuroda as a pitcher.Edge Yankees
Game 4
Detwiler- 6 Wins, 2.99 ERA, 5.82 K/9, 1.18 WHIP
Sabbathia- 11 wins, 3.53 ERA, 8.87 k/9, 1.2 WHIP (ability to pitch on three days’ rest)
This is where it gets a little interesting. The advantage of not treating your pitchers like baby chickens comes into play for the first time here (other than if you want to count shutting down a top five pitcher in baseball for no apparent reason). Sabbathia has proven time after time that he’s not only willing to pitch on short rest, but that he is great on it. In 2009, when the Yankees only used three starters the entire postseason en route to a championship, Sabbathia started games four of both the ALCs and World Series on short rest. How did he fare?
Game 4 ALCS- 8IP, 5 hits, 1 ER, 5 SO
Game 4 World Series- 6.2 IP, 7 hits, 3ER, 6 SO
Don’t forget with Milwaukee he pitched the last month and a half of the season on three days’ rest in a pennant race, and had a 1.65 ERA in the three months he pitched for the Brewers. Detwiler appears to be a decent pitcher, posting a sub 3 ERA, and a WHIP comparable to CC’s, but this really isn’t very comparable (unless you’re Dan, who I’m sure is coming up with a theorem to prove that Zach Duke is better than Andy Petitte) when we look at who these two pitchers are. Detwiler has such a small body of good work, that if his numbers are even close to CC’s within a given season I’m going to give CC the edge. Edge Yankees
Game 5
Zimmerman- 8 wins, 2.45 ERA, 6.39 k/9, 1.08 WHIP
Phil Hughes- 11 wins, 4.10 ERA, 7.66 K/9, 1.28/Ivan Nova-12 wins, 4.81 ERA, 8.07 k/9, 1.47 WHIP (whichever one is hotter)
I’m lukewarm on Hughes and Nova, despite at least Hughes being much better since May, when he accumulated most of his bad numbers. Still, I don’t trust either player as much as I could throw either of their doughy bodies. I have to give the Nats a big major edge here. Major Edge Nats
Game 6
Gonzalez- 13 wins, 2.97 ERA, 11.31 k/9, 1.13 WHIP
Pettite- 3 wins, 3.22 ERA, 9.05 k/9, 1.09 WHIP
Based on everything I said above about these two, I can’t picture either pitcher beating the other one twice in the same series. Due to Gio’s slightly better overall numbers I won’t say that he loses, but each will pitch better than the other once in the series if it comes down to two head to head matchups. One of the two games will go to the bullpens. Overall Gio wins this series going 1-0-1 against Pettite, but that isn’t a crystal clear advantage. No advantage
Game 7
Jackson- 6 wins, 3.56 ERA, 7.13 K/9, 1.18 WHIP
Sabbathia- 11 wins, 3.53 ERA, 8.87 k/9, 1.2 WHIP
I hope you really believe your assessment of Jackson v. CC to be true. I sure don’t. Edge Yankees
Overall Starting pitching for series
1-4 the Nats are probably better at the bottom of the rotation, as Detwiler’s numbers seem good enough, while Hughes and Nova can’t get out of their own way. That being said, both have pitched much better of late, and let’s not forget that both pitchers (along with Pettite) shut the Nats down in June when they faced them. Gio really scares me as a Yankee fan, and matched up against most number two’s could get the better of his counterpart. Even with Andy’s good numbers this year, you just can’t measure how good he is in big games (something Dan should remember counts as a former Curt Schilling supporter), and how much grit he has, something that Dan admits Gio hasn’t had to show yet, and can get flustered. As for CC v Zimmerman at the top, I’ll give you his (Zimmerman’s) numbers are better this year. You can probably talk me into thinking that three games of CC is better than two from Zimmerman, but I want to give the Nats any border line matchups here, so I’ll give the Nats that matchup, and begrudgingly the overall advantage in Starting pitching, though people are really discounting playoff experience/pressure in any analysis of Nats starters. Edge Nats overall
Closers
Storen- 1 save, 2.57 ERA, 6.43 K/9, 1.43 WHIP
Soriano- 26 saves, 1.88 ERA, 9.21 K/9, 1.23 WHIP
As great a year as Soriano is having, there is no describing the loss of security that you have as a Yankee fan with anyone but Mo coming out to close a game out. I get the strange feeling that he will blow a big game somewhere along the line in October. Obviously going off this year though, you have to give this edge to the Yankees
Setup Guy
Clippard- 3.10 ERA, 11.18 K/9, 1.07 WHIP
Robertson- 2.02 ERA, 13.37 K/9, 1.15 WHIP
I didn’t use holds in this analysis, because Clippard has closed most of the year in the absence of Storen. Obviously both guys are at the top of the list when it comes to K’s, and both have respectable ERA’s and WHIP’s. Aside from Robertson having the better raw numbers though, he has plenty of playoff experience, and of the two, I never attended a Yankee game in which he was bombed as the starter in pinstripes (same can’t be said for Clippard, as a game against the Mets in 2007 had “The Yankee Clippard” not make it out of the third inning. Big Mark was not happy). Edge Yankees
“Rest of” Bullpen
Competent Relievers for the Nats- Burnett, Stammen, Gonzalez, Matthews
Competent Yankee Relievers- Phelps, Ropada, Eppley, Logan
Both teams have great bullpens, both in quality and quantity, probably two of the best in the game. I thought about giving the Yankees the edge with two legit strikeout lefties in Logan and Rapada, to compliment the other guys, but will throw the Nats pen a bone, as they’ve been just as impressive with four guys with sub 3 ERA’s (Yankees have two below and two just above out of the four relievers mentioned above). Slight Edge Nats
Speed
Neither team is particularly fast. The Yankees, especially once Gardner went down are pretty stationary. Really only Ichiro and Granderson would be considered quick, though AROD and Jeter are both capable base stealers, especially when it comes to postseason. The Nats do have the edge here as Harper, Werth, Desmond are all good base stealers. Overall I’ll give the edge to the Nats
Defense
Again, both teams are good defensive teams. The Nats make more errors than the Yankees, but also have more range defensively at more positions. The Yankees have no train wrecks defensively, and have at least four very good defenders in Cano, Martin, Ichiro, and Tex, with ChaRod, Jeter, and Granderson all being solid defensively, and Swisher having a good arm in right despite a sometimes scary glove, and lack of reading ability. It really comes down to preference. Would you rather have more spectacular plays, or less risk of giving up an unearned run. I’ll be fair and say push
Managers
Pretty even matchup. Each manager has lead a team to a World Series, and managed multiple other playoffs series. Both seem to shuffle their lineups a little more than they should. Both seem like deep down they’re momma’s boys. All things considered I’d call it a push
Team of Destiny/karma
If you had asked me this question before it became definitive that the Nats were shutting Strasburg down, I would have said the Nats in a landslide. They’re a young, somewhat likable team, nice ballpark, have won a good amount of close games (another one in Houston last week of the fluky extra inning variety), and a fan base that I thought was starved for success. News of Nats shutting Stras down, and Nats fans being totally OK with this is a spit in the face of the baseball Gods. With Strasburg this team reminds me a lot of the 05 White Sox. Great top two pitchers (Strasburg and Zimmerman being Garcia and Buerhle), followed by career years from decent to mediocre pitchers (with Jackson and Detwiler playing the roles of John Garland and Jose Contreras), all coming together with a serviceable offense to blow through baseball’s postseason. Now? How can any “team of destiny” sit their best player with a legit shot to win it all. I’ll give the edge to the Yankees because they are at least all in to win it this year, and we’ll win one for Mo, who couldn’t be here with us tonight.
That’s all I’ve got. Despite embracing them as useful, I didn’t use as many sabermetrics as some would. One, I don’t fully have access to them at work, and two, it would have taken the writing time/research of this piece from five plus hours to ten plus hours. Most of the stats listed provide a pretty good idea of where they may be when it comes to a potential matchup. I don’t say this because I love the Yankees (which I do), or because I now hate the Nats (which thanks to Dan I do), but I think the Yankees are a better team this season, especially without Strasburg. Stats (and advanced stats for that matter) only tell us so much about a team. Even with the Yankees looking better statistically, that doesn’t factor at all that they would be a team with infinite more experience and success in big games, as compared to the Nats, who frankly haven’t ever accomplished a thing, either individually or as an organization. I respect the Nats, but I guess next year they will be trying to win, and maybe that will be the year they overtake the big bad Yankees. For now, Andy Pettite will continue to give Bryce Harper wedgies, the Yankees will march into the Nats stadium in their most marquee matchup of the season and brutally rape them like they did in June.
