Wrapping up the day at camp
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Feb 15, 2008 
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Mike Mussina, Chien-Ming Wang, Joba Chamberlain, Ian Kennedy, Edwar Ramirez, Sean Henn, Jeff Karstens, Darrell Rasner, Ross Ohlendorf, Mark Melancon and Billy Traber were among the pitchers who threw in the bullpen today.
Don’t ask how they looked. The object today was not to fall off the mound. They weren’t throwing at anything close to full speed.
Hideki Matsui and Shelley Duncan took part in drills and toook BP. As injury rehab players, they’re allowed to be in camp early.
Watched Jesus Montero take some BP. The 19-year-old goes the other way with ease. He generates a ton of power. Scouts are right, he looks like a first baseman.
It was interesting to watch Joe Girardi. He ran from place to place and clearly is more hands-on than Joe Torre was. Is that a good thing? We’ll know a few months into the season. If running made you a good manager, Alberto Salazar would have been hired.
Girardi said that Joba Chamberlain will be worked as a starter this spring and be part of the rotation. Depending on what shakes out, his role will be determined at the end of March.
Check back shortly for some audio from Girardi.
i’m absolutely loving that 27 jersey. girardi has the right idea.
girardi running. Hands-on, etc…
i love it.
Wow, Cash really is short, haha. I always thought Girardi was short compared to other players and he’s still a good deal taller than Cash.
hello Peter, any news from Wang’s arbitration??
Is there really only 6 weeks till the opener?
I love this time of year!
I saw last year a few people at the Stadium with #27 jerseys, and I thought it was a great idea then. I knew they couldn’t be huge Darrel Rasner fans.
“Watched Jesus Montero take some BP. The 19-year-old goes the other way with ease. He generates a ton of power. Scouts are right, he looks like a first baseman.”
With that in mind, does it make any sense for the Yankees to go after Tex next year? From everything I’ve heard about Montero his bat is for real. Where will Montero start the year? Charleston?
#27 ok. kevin brown’s number, will not be retired then.
unless the offense completely tanks this year. And austin/tabata, fall off the high prospect list, it may be intelligent to pass on tex.
prefer to keep the emphasis on the farm system/homegrown players. No long contracts. We should have ++ arms to trade for hitting, if need be.
That’s a good point about maybe you sign Texiera if Montero is going be at first. But then again he’s no where near the major leagues and your banking on an A-ball player to work out for you and not be a bust.
FYI Montero recently turned 18. That 1 year means alot in the world of prospects.
It is a glorious day in Tampa today. …Just got back from soaking up some rays.
I am very excited about the potential this team has. That’s what ST is about really, but for most teams it is not very realistic. The Yanks and their young pitchers have a chance to make some noise this year.
Ray
Montero is at least another three years away from joining the big club and by then who knows where the DH/C roles will be defined. If Teixeira can be had at an acceptable price the Yankees will take the proven commodity over a (current) catching prospect – though I agree Montero has the chance to become an enormous player
I just join in. Can someone please help me out? Why does not Peter mention Hughes all day? What happen to him?
good point…where was hughes?
Montero looks like a firstbaseman because he is 6’4″ 220 and is still growing. Scouts never think someone that big can play catcher. But Montero opened some eyes last year with his play behind the plate. Let’s see. The guy has an 80 on the 20/80 scale with power, so that’s all that matters.
BTW, as was pointed out, he just turned 18.
Bronx Liaison,
I know Montero is a ways away, but what if he puts up a monster year this year? By the time November gets here he will be even closer to the bigs, right?
Jorge will be signed for 3 more years and I doubt he’ll still be catching by then. Not to mention Jeter and Arod who will have to move some time in the future.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying they shouldn’t go after Tex, but it’ll be an interesting situation they’ll be in if Montero is the hitter it’s believed he’ll be.
I couldn’t be more excited about Girardi being the new skipper. He’s got a ton of energy and will do wonders with the young pitchers (provided that he lets Eiland do his job, which I anticipate he will). I’m not concerned about how he handles the media. He’s affable and shrewd and has been immersed in the Yankee limelight.
I’m looking forward to hearing about how Kyle looks, mechanics-wise. At the end of 2007, we saw his devastating slider freeze Ordonez, Sheffield, and others. Girardi has been a big Farnsworth fan for years (they played together in Chicago) and last July outlined a plan to ‘save’ his career.
That’s good news on Montero, but I don’t think the Yankees can afford to pass on Tex when he becomes a FA. He’s relatively young and he’s got a ton of power. An infield consisting of Alex, Derek, Robbie and Texeira will be awfully formidable.
Montero just turned 18.
Ray: I agree it’s an interesting situation well keeping an eye on. B,ut even if Montero has a monster season, the Yankees will be very careful with him and he will not be skipping any levels. This is due to his age and his position. Ryan Pope, for example, is a polished college pitcher who will skip right into Tampa this year along with other pitchers. Montero’s defense – which is better than initially thought – has a longgg way to go. For instance, basestealers ran all day on Montero last year. He still may grow larger in time, but I totally agree the Tex idea is interesting to forecast. I was talking more in terms of what the Yankees would do than what I personally would do.
*well worth
If running made you manager, Kei Igawa would be skipper.
Pete Jesus Montero is 17 years old not 19
whoops 18 my bad
Igawa vs K-Ram
Hey, where’s Molina? I haven’t heard a thing about him. Surely here’s there…
Hey Pete,
How’d the pitchers look?
And don’t mention Montero looking like a first baseman. You’ll have people up in arms here trying to convince Yankee management that he must play there THIS year.
Britton, Bruney, and Molina have all lost weight. Farnsworth with longer hair.
“Montero looks like a firstbaseman because he is 6′4″ 220 and is still growing. Scouts never think someone that big can play catcher.”
JOE MAUER…It can be done!
Montero looks like he could be 240 pounds by the time he’s 21. Unless he really keeps his weight down to where it is now–and that’s not very likely, considering he’s only 18–he’s going to be huge for a catcher. He impressed everyone this past season with his agility, arm, and coachability, but most scouts just can’t see him being agile enough down the road to remain at C.
With all the other C prospects the yankees now have–Romine, Weems, Cervelli, Anson–I’m not worried. Montero looks like he’s going to be a big-time slugger, and that’s good in and of itself.