Crunching some numbers on the Yankees

A few quick stats on the Yankees, who after last night's 5-2 win over the Mariners now stand at a season-best 31 games over .500.

1.) In 2009, the Yankees have had twice as many winning streaks of 7 or greater (4) than they've had losing streaks of 4 or greater (2). They haven't lost more than three games in a row since May 7.

2.) The Yankees have lost just two series against teams currently under .500 this season: their season-opening series against the Orioles from April 6-April 9, and -- amazingly -- an interleague series at home against the Nationals from June 16-June 18.

3.) That three-game set against the Nationals was also the last time the Yankees lost a series at home. They are an astounding 20-4 at Yankee Stadium since then.

4.) In 83 fewer plate appearances, Nick Swisher has just 4 fewer home runs and 8 more RBIs than Tigers All-Star center fielder Curtis Granderson. Swisher's on-base percentage is also 34 points higher and his slugging 3 points better than Granderson. This is not to say that a corner outfielder who bats mostly sixth for maybe the best lineup in baseball and who gets to hit in a bandbox is better than a center fielder who puts up similar production out of the leadoff spot in the cavernous Comerica Park for a team that bats Clete Thomas third -- and who, by the way, also has 20 stolen bases. But it just gives a good sense of the tremendous value the Yankees got for nothing more than Wilson Betemit and two minor leaguers.

5.) For a grand total of $2,874,525, which amounts to less than what the Yankees paid LaTroy Hawkins and less than half of what they paid Kyle Farnsworth last year, this is what they are getting out of the combination of Hughes, Coke, Aceves, Bruney, and Robertson in the bullpen:

• (From a graphic on the 8/15 YESNetwork.com Postgame Plus) Since, June 1, the Yankee bullpen leads the American League in wins (17), saves (28), ERA (3.21), opponent's batting average (.209), and strikeouts (210).
• There were plenty who thought the Yankees would never be able to replace Joba Chamberlain in the bullpen. But Hughes' 33.1 innings as a reliever this year are strikingly similar to Chamberlain's first 33.1 innings in relief between 07 and 08. Hughes' WHIP (0.87) and batting average against (.169) are exactly the same as Chamberlain's were, while his strikeout (11.9 vs. 12.15 K/9) and control (4.89 vs. 5.00 K/BB) numbers are close enough.
• Oh, and that Rivera guy is still pretty good, too. These are his numbers in 187.2 innings since April 23, 2007: 2.01 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 100-for-104 in save chances, 143 hits (including just 35 for extra bases), 8.46 K/BB. Ridiculous.