Wrapping up the fun at Legends Field
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Feb 21, 2007 
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None of the pitchers had bullpen sessions today, so it was a fairly crisp workout at Legends Field.
Fielding drills for the pitchers, BP for the hitters with some defensive work mixed in. Beautiful sunny day here in Tampa.
It’ll get more interesting tomorrow with live batting practice. Seven pitchers (Wang, Mussina, Pettitte, Pavano, Igawa, Hughes and Sanchez) will work on the main field, throwing 30-40 pitches to hitters from behind a screen. The hitters will be the main guys.
The idea is to throw batting practice, not get outs. But the pitchers will be competing.
Other observations:
Steven White did some tossing in the bullpen from halfway up the mound. He seems to be OK. … Joe Torre didn’t much bite on the questions about Gary Sheffield taking shots at him. For all the times Joe defended him, Sheff should have more common sense. … I watched Alex Rodriguez throw for a while and the weight loss seems to have helped him. He was heating it up. … Ron Guidry did an interview session with the Japanese media in the hallway, talking about Kei Igawa. Johnny Damon walked by, flung an arm around Guidry and yelled, “Gator! Let’s go get us one!” The poor Japanese guys were confused. It’s just Johnny being Johnny.
The Bernie Williams talk is dying out. Finally. I’m working on a story on Bobby Abreu for tomorrow.
Back in a bit with some Joe Torre audio.
Sheffield needs to stop already.Everything around him is seen as a slight.Good riddance.
Is anyone surprised about Sheff? I’m surprised it took this long.
The more I hear about Johnny, the more I like him.
Same here Brian – Damon is the coolest guy the Yanks have picked up in years, IMO. I don’t even care about the “bonus” that he came from Boston.
Pete, a request. Any chance we get a story or some sound from Farnsworth? I am curious to know how his back is because his back will determine whether or not Joe can hold to his promise to only pitch Mariano one inning per outing.
Thanks in advance.
Re: Damon and Shef. One guy shows everyday why he has been a great addition to the team while the other guy shows why its great he is no longer on the team.
About Bobby Abreu, does anyone think that the Yankees could let him go next year in order to make a run at Ichiro? I know it seems sort of far fetched especially since I’m sure they’ll make a run at some of the great SP next year, but still… Is this just a pipe dream for me lol, I don’t know… anyways,
HALLELUJAH HOLLA BACK!
Glad to see you’re going to write about Abreu, Peter. Even with his terrific Yankee numbers last year, it seems he doesn’t get the attention he deserves.
I see them letting Abreu go and having Melky start next year. Ichiro is tempting, though…
Peter –
I was travelling for a few days, but I was able to keep up with Yankee news thanks to internet access in my hotel room and your blog. It was a great retreat at the end of the day.
I started reading Buzz Bissinger’s book “Three Nights in August”. I would heartily recommend it to anyone who loves baseball. It gives tremendous insight into the game, as well as a few interesting items about Tony LaRussa. One part that I found particularly iteresting was LaRussa’s frustrations with J. D. Drew when he was on the Cardinals. I wonder how Drew will play out in Boston, and if his reported “new wave” life philosophy will impact on his already “indifferent” style of play.
I don’t see Ichiro ever playing for the Yanks and I wouldn’t miss him. The length of an Ichiro deal would make Tabata and other trade bait. What’s the point of developing high upside prospects if you’re just gonna block them with overrated guys?
I agree with CA, though it depends on how much offense they think they can get out of Melky, depends on how he does this year. They could pick up the option on Abreu then let him go after that year to give Melky another year to improve, though he’d improve more by playing everyday.
Actually CA Yankee Fan, I agree with you. I totally forgot about Melky and although I would love to get Ichiro on board with us, I like Melky enough to say that I’d rather give him a shot.
If I were a betting man, and I am, I would bet that the Yankees pull the same type of option exercise-and-trade with Abreu that it did with Sheffield. There are some big name free agent outfielders next year (Ichiro, A. Jones, Hunter, Wells – he got an extension I think, etc.) and I would bet that the Yankees make a run at a big name.
agree with Phil too, don’t even persue Ichiro and his slap singles. Damon and if need be, Jeter add some power to the leadoff spot, even if Ichiro has more speed on the bases, those two can be pesky on the base paths too.
Someone else commented on this today and suggested Jeter as the leadoff, where he does do well, but he’s more suited to the #2, as shown by his numbers and his MVP season (yes, he was robbed).
Also, I wouldn’t worry about Ichiro or another outfielder potentially blocking Tabata. By the time Tabata is ready, Damon and Matsui should be just about gone and the Yankees do always have the benefit of playing in the DH league.
Tom- there is a slight difference between Abreu and Sheffield.
Where Sheffield did not negotiate a no trade into his contract, Abreu has one… so if the Yankees picked up that option (which i think they’ll do anyway if he has a good season this year), they need him to approve any deal. not saying he wouldnt approve it to go to the right place (he did it to come here, after all), but it would certainly make things more difficult.
Pete… liking the audio, but is there any chance we could get some more pics up on the site, too?
It’s about time the Yankees got back to the youth movement that turned them into four-time World Series winners in the late 90s. While it’s sad to see Bernie go out the way he is, it had to happen some time, and I would much rather see guys like Melky Cabrera get a shot at playing time. That’s not to say Bernie can’t produce anymore. He just can’t play the field and his arm is probably worse than Damon’s, which is saying a lot. Personally, I blame Giambi’s defensive ineptness for Bernie’s departure.
For more Yankees thoughts, visit my blog at http://msg.typepad.com/the_knuckler . I have a link to this blog on msg.com, so hopefully we can cross-promote each other.
TurnTwo:
I agree with you, however i do think that Abreu would be movable and I do think that as long as the team trading for him agreed to some type of extension (a la Sheffield) then he wouldn’t be too difficult to trade, especially in the offseason. Don’t forget that Sheffield’s antics (to say the least) basically created a type of no-trade clause.
TurnTwo: I have a cell phone camera and I am by no means a professional photographer. There are plenty of sites (Yahoo.com, for starters) that have photo sections in their baseball coverage.
I disagree with that last part, Tom. His antics bought him a ticket out faster, made the decision easier. May have turned off some teams, sure, possibly, but obviously didn’t make him impossible to move. He’s still an RBI machine, so there’s always a few teams willing to put up with a Sheff or a Manny for their production, including NY at one point, since this isn’t anything new for him (though his uncle Doc Gooden said he’d grown up).
The other problem I can see in picking up his option just to deal him while I love the idea if it’s possible, since his value will be high in that market, is just that. His value will be high, pushed up by some of the other big names coming out, so he may warn that he won’t accept a trade, or at least that he would require an immediate extension for more money, alla sheff. Certainly feasible and worth exploring though. I’m sure Cash will be all over it, especially if Melky looks ready to take over.
The rumors seem to have Ichiro headed to Boston since he’s friends with Matsuzaka, unless the Mariners re-sign him, which I think is still a good possibility, they have the money and will not hold back to keep him. I wonder if Ichiro would want to play with Matsui, they’re such rivals for popularity and Japan. Plus, we already have a lead-off guy in Damon.
If Melky shows that he will make an above average player by building upon his performance of last year, he might be the next RF, but I think there’s a better chance he finds himself traded at some point or relegated to 4th outfielder status for another year and we either sign Abreu to a smaller deal than he has now or make a big run at Andruw Jones. If ARod goes anywhere, nothing will stand in the way of our pursuit of Jones to replace the right handed power, that’s for sure.
I’d be shocked if they signed Ichiro.
If the Yankees are smart, they will just let Abreu go and give Melky a shot, then let Tabata take over when he is ready. There are many big names available next year, but the Yankees need none of them. Ichiro is not overrated, it’s just that we don’t need him.
I think the plan in the OF is for Melky to take over for Abreu…unless Abreu has an MVP like year (which is very possible)…and then in 2 years when Giambi is gone they will move Matsui to the DH and put Tabata in RF.
By the time the new stadium opens they will be
LF- Melky
CF- Damon
RF- Tabata
1b- Texiera
2b- Cano
ss- Jeter
3b- AROD
C- Posada (I hope I hope I hope)
I love how almost anyone on our team could be an AL MVP… ILL!
Pete: I dont know about other people, but I wasnt necessarily looking for close to professional stuff… even just a couple of quick snapshots of players on the field would do the trick… but if you cant get to it, not a big deal, it was just a humble reuqest.