NYY Stat of the Week | Sports by the Numbers's Blog

NYY Stat of the Week

6 The number of pitches (6) it took for Pirates starter Paul Maholm to strike out actor-comedian Billy Crystal. Maholm set him down swinging on a 3-2 slider. Crystal later said of his lone at bat, "It was surreal more than anything else. It was unbelievable and the greatest moment of my life. I really don't know how to describe it. It was intensely good."

Honorable Mentions

3 The number of games (3) Shelley Duncan and Melky Cabrera were suspended by Major League Baseball for their part in a brawl last Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Rays. The incident was a carryover from a hit several days earlier that Rays infielder Elliot Johnson put on Yankees catching prospect Francisco Cervelli -a hit that fractured Cervelli's wrist. The Yankees general partner, Hank Steinbrenner, later told the New York Post, "There are going to be problems, especially if they go after our stars. It's not going to be tolerated."

5 The number of perfect innings (5) for pitcher Mike Mussina against the Pirates on March 13. Phil Hughes got the start the next day against Cincinnati, entering the contest without having allowed a hit during his first five innings of the spring - but then he got knocked around for nine hits and four runs in two-plus innings of work.

16 The number of homeruns (16) the Yankees hit during their first 14 spring games. The team leader is Alex Rodriguez with three.

389 The winning percentage (.389) for the Los Angeles Dodgers through 18 spring games. Joe Torre is 7-11 so far during play in the Grapefruit League with his new club.

500 The winning percentage (.500) for manager Joe Girardi through 14 spring games. Girardi and the Yankees are 7-7 so far during play in the Grapefruit League.

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