Yankees lose in ninth; no word on opener
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Mar 27, 2007 
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Joe Torre did not name Carl Pavano his Opening Day starter. He said he wanted to wait and see how Pavano felt tomorrow.
Bad day for Andy Phillips: 0 for 4 with four strikeouts. He is 4 for 21 this spring with no extra-base hits and no RBI.
Josh Phelps, meanwhile, was 2 for 4 with a homer and two RBI. He is 14 of 32 with 10 RBI. Just a guess but Phillips might suddenly get back spasms or a sore knee.
Chris Britton probably cashed his ticket to Scranton by blowing the save in the ninth inning.
Headline from Yankees.com:
Pavano stretches out in Yankees’ win
Somebody was a little quick with the headline writing.
If Andy does get “injured” does that mean he wont be exposed to waivers?
If Phelps doesn’t make the team, I may go on a shooting rampage.
I bet there are a lot of tears in Yankeeland to the fans who dubbed Britton as the next Rivera. I wish I would have saved all the people who ripped Torre for not thinking this overweight, no good pitcher was something special and thinking that maybe Villone or Henn were better.
Jamie – I noticed that too. As well as the subheading to the story: “New York starter lasts six innings in loss to Twins.” A little schizophrenic there.
Nick: Who exactly thought that?
Nick are you thinking about Bruney? That’s the only guy that people may have thought could have replaced Rivera after his performance last year.
“I bet there are a lot of tears in Yankeeland to the fans who dubbed Britton as the next Rivera. I wish I would have saved all the people who ripped Torre for not thinking this overweight, no good pitcher was something special and thinking that maybe Villone or Henn were better.”
seriously, this comment is pretty dumb.
the Yankees control Britton for the next FIVE seasons before he is a free agent. he is 24 years old and had a better ERA while pitching in the AL East than any other right hander on the Yankees last year not named Rivera or Bruney.
to declare him some sort of bust after 3 weeks of spring training is ridiculous.
and Villone looks terrible, so i don’t even understand that point.
hmmm, you left out Myers.
“any other right hander on the Yankees”
Nick B, if you actually heard someone ever say ANYONE was the next Rivera, that’s where you should have stopped listening, there is no “next” Mariano.
That said, give Britton and Bruney time before letting yourself become one of the many voices so vocal for or against someone based on meaningless spring training games.
Josh Phelps will win the MVP this year, you heard it here first!!!!!!
Britton will be back. He was very good for Baltimore last year around a trip to the minors. Hopefully Eiland or someone can help him find a consistent release point.
I was being sarcastic about the next Rivera bit, but people were going nuts when people mentioned Villone or Henn (basically another lefty) being put on the team before Britton during the first two weeks of the season.
Well, yeah, Nick. And it’s not unreasonable, Villone was absolutely horrid in the second half of the year, and he was only horrid once Joe actually started using him. He was only ‘overused’ once he started sucking, which is why Torre is such an aggravating bullpen manager. Meanwhile, Britton had just come off a rather good rookie season in the AL East. Henn hasn’t pitched well in the Majors ever. Your comment was uncalled for and ridiculous, just admit it and move on.
Nick, I get your point. And, I don’t think there’s any reason to go nuts over any of the 3… All could be decent for us, none anything spectacular.
People on here lately are definitely way to quick to crown MVP’s, Cy Youngs, and HOF-ers out of ST. It’s great to see guys doing well and fighting for spots, but are they legit or are they “Gym class All-Stars…..?”
That said, I do have higher hopes for Britton than “overweight, no good pitcher.”
Byebye Phillips, hello Phelps. Byebye Britton, hello Bruney.
I wonder how many people said the same types of things about Proctor the couple years he was in and out of the majors and got rocked most of the time he was up in the bigs? And I wonder how many of the same people are now (more appropriately) against trading him.
Baseball is the ultimate soap opera!
I’m really coming to believe that part of the absolute fun of the game is the back-and-forth, up-and-down, stay-and-go feelings that we, the fans, have about our team and the players. You can be 100% right today; 100% wrong tomorrow, about the exact same situation.
I really, really try not to live and die by the Yankees (there’s so many things in my life that are more important), but nonetheless, when you invite a guest into your home 162 days a year (not counting spring training and the playoffs, God willing), you really do end up having a relationship. For some people, this relationship with the Yankees is the most permanent one they have in their lives (not commenting on whether that’s good or bad).
So, because I like Andy Phillips (because for the last 2 seasons, I’ve developed a “relationship” with that player), I want him to be on the team; however, I would also like the Yankees to choose the player who will be the most effective for them for the season. I hate to admit that Andy really had a good shot last season, and started out well, only to disappoint, and so given Phelps’ performance this spring, he deserves the chance to make the team over Phillips. I am, however, hoping that Andy clears waivers and we get to hold on to him (unless he can make it on some other major league team — he’s a good guy and I wish him success).
I can’t get a good read on the back-up catcher. That person won’t play much, so I tend to think a veteran would be better suited for that role. But Nieves has done okay. I won’t be disappointed with either one, but probably, Pratt will be the one.
I’m clueless with regard to the bullpen and won’t even venture a guess as to how that situation ends up.
But, as the Yankees turn, sure as we’re sitting here, whatever the group looks like on April 2 is not the same group at the All-Star break and not the same group as in September (not counting the minor league call-ups). And whether I intend to or not, like it or not, I will be living and dying with the Yankees, yet again, this season.
(I’ll confess that in a close game, I run upstairs and my husband watches. I’m superstitious. In close games, I feel like if I’m not watching, they’ll do much, much better, since I came to be a REAL Yankees fan a little later than probably most of you here.)
Clearly Britton is not ready to break camp with the yanks. They always need more pitcher than they break camp with. Let’s hope he gets his stuff straighten out at AAA and maybe he will help them down the line.
Does anyone know if Nieves has any options left…or will go on waivers?
I think its pretty safe to say Britton will be back. The more pitchers, the better.
Please remember we had Darrel May and Tim Redding pitch big games for us.
Stock piling pitching is a really good strategy.
Does it really matter who the backup catcher is out of spring training?
You got a small sample to produce so you better take advantage. And if you dont, they’ll find a new one. Ask Kelly Stinnett.
I still say Greg Zaun would have made way too much sense.
How was I wrong? People were saying Torre was an idiot if Britton wasn’t on the club, these people I guarantee never even saw this bum pitch 1 inning, and if they said they did, and they remember it, they are probably lying. There were about 90 post on the thread when this argument broke and many sane people (like me) said Torre will make the best decision for the club and everything will work itself out during the spring. Surprise, it worked itself out during the spring. Some people need to realize this is a 162 game season and people are going to struggle (ala ARod) and they are going to have unbelievable stretches (ala Arod), you have to take the good with the bad. It is stupid to boo a player when he strikes out b/c a player is good if they fail 7/10 times. Gotta realize that.
“I still say Greg Zaun would have made way too much sense.”
unfortunately, he was never an option. he’s Toronto’s starting catcher. why would he want to be a backup in NY?
Phelps won’t win the MVP this year, Pavano will. Along with the Cy Young and Triple Crown. He’s the next Johan Santana.
…You heard it here first?
Does anyone know for sure if Phillips is actually out of options? I don’t remember exactly when he was added to the 40 man, and while he’s been on for at least 3 seasons and was optioned in ’04 and ’05, I don’t believe he was actually optioned to the minors last season (a DL rehab assignment doesn’t count as option), so he wouldn’t have used 1 in ’06. If the latter is true, and he wasn’t added until ’04, then he may well have 1 option left. Then he could be sent out, Phelps could be kept, and all’s right with the world. I’d like to see the Yanks hang on to AP – think he might still have something to bring to the table, and if so I’d rather see us get the benefit. I agree Phelps has earned the spot, although I think we’re seeing his best right now and might not be quite so high on the guy by July.
Nieves was out of options last year.He would have to clear waivers and I believe he could refuse the assignment then.I liked Phillips up till last year also but once he was put in a competition Phelps ate his lunch.Id keep Pratt also.
Rey22, I’m assuming you know I was being just as sarcastic with my Phelps “prediction” as you were with your Pavano….
Hey Andrew…
“Well, yeah, Nick. And it’s not unreasonable, Villone was absolutely horrid in the second half of the year, and he was only horrid once Joe actually started using him. He was only ‘overused’ once he started sucking, which is why Torre is such an aggravating bullpen manager. Meanwhile, Britton had just come off a rather good rookie season in the AL East. Henn hasn’t pitched well in the Majors ever. Your comment was uncalled for and ridiculous, just admit it and move on.”
do you watch baseball? Villone became horrid BECAUSE of the overuse. Look at his stats year by year before and after the allstar breaks. He wears out. Torre just accelerated the process last season and then ran with it with his poor bullpen management. As for the “Henn hasn’t pitched well in the majors ever”… yea but it’s not like he’s been in the majors for years. He’s only appeared in 7 major league games total and many of which were for very few innings. He’s not even a starter anymore. He’s only 25. and perhaps you remember someone else who was horrible and got lit up as a starter but then became the best closer in history after he was moved to the pen. Hint: his last name was Rivera. If you were GM years ago you’d have sent Mo to AAA before trading him. (by the way before people try to hang me, I’m not putting him on the same level as Mo. Just using that for a point of reference.)
Chris Britton will head to Scranton. He was unknown by Torre and didn’t do very much to attract positive attention to himself- unlike Karstens, Rasner and Henn.
Britton proved last year that he can pitch in the AL East, but with a cellar dwelling team. He is young, with a good arm. Let him do well in Scranton, gain some confidence then earn a promotion. If he is good he will be back.
The Scranton pitching staff has the potential be very good. Heck possibly better than some MLB staffs !
Doreen. Do yourself a favor and watch during the close situations. That’s where the memories are made. You sound like a more than “worthy” fan to me.