The meeting is over
-
- February
- 20
The newly inspired Yankees have taken the field to stretch. Say this for Joe Girardi, he’s punctual.
There are a few thousand fans around today and they’re applauding as the players file out of the dugout. Girardi and Derek Jeter got the biggest hands.
Back later with a report and some audio from the manager.
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on Wednesday, February 20th, 2008 at 10:59 am by Peter Abraham.
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Peter Abraham
Hey heres another page to bookmark..
http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/ny-yspring-pg,0,3136687.photogallery
They update there photo gallery just about every day with new pictures.
waiting for Action Jackson , Montero and Jose Tabata’s new pics
Thanks for the pix, DMan.
Go Yankees!
over and under on Jetes finishing his first day of practice w/o going through what Mo did in fainting.
The Yankees get more fans for a spring training workout than the Marlins do for a game. That’s got to be a lift for the players.
For all you history buffs who don’t have tickets for the last home game. September 21st vs. O’s.
Presale for license plan holders sold the game out about 10:05 this morning (tix went on sale for last group at 10 am).
Stubhub has bleachers for $165 each up to field box for $17,000 (yep, you read that right).
We’ll have to see howmuch the “last” All-Star tickets go for.
Torre would have been in the middle of his pre-lunch nap, if I recall those days correctly. Energy is part of what this team needed early last year. And against the Indians.
Does anyone know of any reason, besides perhaps proven starting pitching, Boston would be the favorite to take the AL East this year?
haha Mark.
Torre’s philosophy worked when it worked. Unfortunately, the core Yankees of the dynasty days began to disappear from the deal with age and the percentage of players who embraced Torre’s ideas shrunk exponentially. For this reason, Girardi could be the perfect change of pace. Just listing names like Damon, Abreu, Giambi, Bruney coming into this year’s camp in substantially better shape is an early sign of his effect.
from earlier post by peter a.- “The only Yankee who looks like he spent the winter on the couch is Kei Igawa. He’s so behind in running drills it’s like he’s carrying his translator”
this should have been no surprise to the yankees because he did the same thing last year. guidry found out last year after igawa’s first few pitches of spring almost killed a few reporters because they were so wild. igawa told him it was the first time he had picked up a ball since the previous season.
so it is known igawa does nothing to prepare for the season. the question is did the yankees do anything to change this after what happened last season. if they didn’t. it’s the yankees fault as much as igawa’s for his not preparing properly.
japanese players have a different way of training. it’s up to the yankees to make sure they are on the same page as igawa. it’s also his job to to be on the same page as the yankees.
cashman is the gm so he needs to be asked about what is turning into an embarrassment for him with igawa. you’d think cashman would be so interested in igawa doing well because he signed him that he would have insisted that igawa work out and be ready for spring training. maybe he did and igawa just didn’t do what he was told.
but there’s a story there. either cashman or igawa or both didn’t do their jobs.
DMan: Thanks for the photos. Nice looking Michigan shirt Jetes!
Bronx Liason,
100% agreed.
So i read Petes post on Igawa not in shape. Can we finally trade this douche to the Padres and write it off. What more does he need to do for us to cut his sorry a$$. Im starting to think that he might be a worse investment than the fat toad.
Saw a picture of Melky. He looks bulked up this year. I think he will have his best year yet knowing he has been in trade talks for the last 2 years and having the youngsters in the minors knocking on the door.
Of course Jeter got the most applause. That’s because he’s the best!
What are the chances that they make a Jordan like statue of Jeter in front of the stadium when he retires. I grew up a Mattingly fan. But i dont recall him getting as much love and attention as Jete. Maybe a statue of the flip to Posada.
Statue for Jeter… That’s an interesting question..
But then wouldn’t you want a statue for a lot of the guys in monument park?
“but there’s a story there. either cashman or igawa or both didn’t do their jobs.”
randy 1:
You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him train.
Welcome to Hideki Irabu Re-Loaded. I’m pretty sure I’ve read that Monahan and/or Girardi reached out to ALL the players telling them to show up in shape. If Iggy really didn’t get ready after a personal invitation, that says it’s all on him.
DMan,
I see your point of view. My answer to that is they didnt play at the new stadium. The house that Jeter built.
Yeah I heard that Joe either contacted the players personally or thru their agents. Igawa is a lazy bum.
S.o.S.27-
It’s an interesting idea…
Any idea who the last player was to have their likeness made into a statue outside a stadium? I feel like it happened in the last couple years.. Can’t remember..
I want to say Giants stadium. I think its a statue of Mays.
Igawa had a lot to prove this year and he’s off to a terrible start. Maybe he’ll Pavano the year and we can trade him to the NL West for a bucket of balls and some detergent.
Yeah, it’s a verb now. Pavano
I dunno guys. You may be jumping to conclusions. Give Igawa a chance. If he’s so out of shape, how’d he beat Edwar in a footrace? Ramirez is built like a marathoner.
Edwar can’t run ?
Dman there are statues outside of Citizens Bank Park (philly) which opened only a few years ago. They are of Robin Roberts, Richie Ashburn, Steve Carlton and Mike Schmidt. I think they are at each of the entrances to the park the entrance that I use has the Robin Roberts one.
You can blame Cashman or, more appropriately the entire organization, for the signing of Igawa.
However, you can’t blame him for Igawa’s conditioning. That’s on the player.
The Yankees sent letters and e-mails to every player AND agent on the 40 man roster re: coming into camp in condition.
Its not news to any player.
If Bobby Abreu, Jason Giambi and Johnny Damon got the hint, its hard for me to blame the organization for Kei Igawa not getting it.
Its not up to the GM, or anybody else in the organization, to babysit a player.
If the player doesn’t want to listen, then you move on without him.
In this case, I think the sooner they move on from Igawa the better.
Its just a move that did not work.
gayle-
Ahh. Thanks for that, I knew there had been some put up recently, just couldn’t remember where.. Still, I don’t know if the Yankees would ever do statues.. Seems like there would be a call for so many former players to have one..
give the guy a break, this was the first offseason he could go out and spend his newly found wealth on remote control cars and whatnot….
kidding… (at least the “give the guy a break” part…)
I see he still spending his money on sun glasses. I would call San Diego(who claimed him last summer)and see if they would part with Kouzmanoff or Headley(i believes his name)for Riskey Business and a minor leaguer.
SD isn’t trading high ceiling young players like Kouzmanoff or Headley for Igawa.
Its not what smaller market teams do.
If SD wants him, I bet they offer no more than either a journeyman AAA player or a AA prospect.
Igawa has no trade value right now. Not until he shows he can pitch effectively in the big leagues.
Comerica has 5 statues …Kaline, Newhouser, Gehringer, Horton and Mr. Nasty ..Cobb. Comerica also has a merry go round, ferris wheel…it’s a beautiful park but I felt like I was at an amusement park instead of a ballfield. What happened to the days you took the kids to learn and come to love baseball?? Instead of watching the game parents were online waiting for rides with the kids …maybe that’s why I like the present Yankee Stadium…no gimmicks ..just baseball.
Go Yankees 2008!!!
doesn’t scranton have a statue of some politician outside?
Man, you’d think, after last season, Igawa would do whatever it takes to get here in shape.
Just waiting for someone to call him a Fat Toad.
If saucY is right about that little piece of trivia he should get some kind of prize.
While I agree that Igawa not being in the best shape isn’t a great sign.. Lets see how he pitches before we vote him off.
He has potential, so lets see if the Yankees can filter it out. I think we’ll know pretty quickly once he starts facing live batters..
KD - I liked the use of Pavano as a verb. Nice … I hope it sticks. Maybe one of the ESPN guys will crack that one during Baseball Tonight or SportsCenter
When they posted for and signed Igawa the position from Cashman was that he was a long term project. He and the organization had no idea he would Irabu the off-season (there’s another noun/verb, KD) so what was a risky signing at the time turned into a bad signing. Cashman’s responsible for taking the risk, Igawa’s conditioning is all on him. I’ve got a little paunch myself, and it’s not Brian Cashman’s fault either.
It is great to hear that Girardi (and whomever else int he organization) was able to motivate guys to get in shape during the off season. If everyone except Igawavano is ripped already, they’ll perform better and be less injured. It gives the impression all their heads are in it from the get-go too.
Hopefully a lot of the guys we all were trashing last year can play like we hoped they could when we were trashing them. If they do it’ll be a good year.
Igawavano!
JGNYC-
Now thats just plain mean =P
I skimmed this, but he might be right.
http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/ballpark/page.jsp?ymd=20051121&content_id=34771&vkey=ballpark_t531&fext=.jsp&sid=t531
hey that was mine …
Just GOFERIT- YANKS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just GOFERIT-Yanks !!!!!
Hi Pete,
when you’ve finished those 5 Big Macs and 2 diet Pepsis, please post those full squad pix. Yahoo! Sports only has old pix from yesterday.
Thank you.
you guys may find this funny: i made a bet with a friend on who will have the better start to win ratio, igawa or pavano? i figured pavano wouldn’t see the field this year so i took igawa hoping the offense can help him out on some spot starts. the one clause is if pavano never makes a start, i win.
who would you all have taken, igawa or pavano?
Yes Ranting Guy, that one is all yours!
hey RJPinstripes…i hope your name is r.j. and you’re not referring to randy johnson. if you’re referring to the unit i may hate you forever
ToddDrew, I was kind of joking. Though I do remember Pete mentioning a politician from the area being printed on SWB tickets… So it really wouldn’t surprise me all that much…
Speaking of Japanese players. Has anyone seen the pictures of Matsui? He seems skinnier now than Jeter. I can recall a few years ago when he came in 20 pounds heavier of muscle and had a great year. I just hope he doesnt become a warning track hitter. Go from Godzilla to Pokeman.
Trust me, there are no statues outside PNC Field.
Amen to Pavano being used as a verb…
Looking forward to the day Sterling calls out…
“…And Papi and Manny collide at home plate. Both are expected to be Pavanoed for the year.”
YankCrank - I would have taken Igawa with stipulations on whether Pavano even pitches in the bigs, or Igawa wasn’t traded before pitching in the bigs.
I really don’t think either will get a start this year although sometime in the mid-season Irabugawa (oohhh I’m unstoppable) could be used as innings-eating relief arm when NY’s on the wrong side of a laugher.
However if he had come into camp in shape I’d have said Igawa had a shot for a few starts if a couple starters hit a rough stretch. Now? MAX one start between the two of them, if they’re both lucky.
I don’t see the Yanks bringing Pavano up after his minor league rehab unless the season’s clinched or the pitching staff is decimated with injuries. And even if there were enough injuries, they’d try Igawa a couple times before Pavano. If he gave up five in six, the bats could knock in 7 so he’d get the win.
The only way Pavano gets any ML innings (maaaaaybe) is if he’s on the trading block and the Yanks want to try to salvage some value out of his time in pinstripes (in traction) before his contract’s up. Still, minor league innings should suffice in that case.
There’s ‘Pavanoed’ again … oh man I love it.
Can that be added to Wikipedia?
Peter, you are the man! You are on the ball bigtime, per usual. Thanks for keeping us all up to date!
How much do you love your job?
But once Pavano were to begin rehab doesn’t he “clock” start? He would have to be brought back up by a certain date?
clock?
RANDOM QUESTION -
Does anyone know where Tyler Kepner has gone?
Other than Peter, Tyler at the Times is one of the best guys on the beat.
Haven’t seen him write a word in weeks…vacation maybe?
I know Igawa does work with Eiland before the team workout. Is it possible that his slowness is from the early individual workout, or is he visibly out of shape?
ranting guy that is a great idea!!
lol
http://tinyurl.com/2hpe4t
Yeah clock, I think once a major league starts rehab appearences he has to be back on the roster by a certain date. Hense clock. Where is sj when you need him?
Anyone know if Pavano’s on a rehab stint in the minors in July, and it appears he might be a serviceable ML pitcher in September (not counting on it) would the Yanks be able make some trade deadline deal with a team and get a low-cost player that could be helpful down the stretch and may even be available beyond? Pavano could get his ML innings, and NY could get an inexpensive late season boost wherever they need it.
NY eating Pavano’s salary is already a given, so why not offer to pay it to the end?
We need a nick name for Igawa. Irabu is the Fat Toad. How about the Lazy Lizard or Fat Igawana.
I don’t think there’s a chance Pavano pitches anywhere for the Yanks this year. The only reason he’s on the roster is so the Yanks can collect the insurance money on his contract. I doubt they give up the insurance money to bring him back to pitch.
Seriously … being able to trade Pavano at the very end for some utility guy that fills a role would be like getting something for nothing.
Even if there was a trade of a couple equal utility players and NY just threw Pavano in for free to get rid of him.
SJ is that even remotely possible, or am I totally out of my gord? Or both?
Wow– Damon almost retired, according to Jon Heyman
link:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/jon_heyman/02/20/heyman.damon/index.html?eref=writers
My guess is that Pavano and Igawa will just hang out in Florida all season and go to Disneyland.
Let’s just hope that Pavanoitis is not contagious. Would hate to see one of the trinity get it.
rodg12 makes a good point. Where’s SJ when you need him?
Pavanoitis .. yer killin’ me ….
kd,
You mean DisneyWorld(florida).
Who has worse teeth Goofie or Kei?
No one is going to be taking Pavano, there is no reason for it, he most likely won’t pitch this year and will be a free agent.
We need a nick name for Igawa. Irabu is the Fat Toad. How about the Lazy Lizard or Fat Igawana.
SOS27,
I’ve always called Igawa ‘The Homerun King’ or ‘The Iron Beaver’…depending on my mood. Poor guy… he probably doesn’t deserve it either. It just helps with my own low self-esteem.
If he’s not going to pitch,cant he go hang out in another fascility? Is there a rule that he has to show up to spring training with the rest of the team? Cant we just change the locks or something. I cant stand that loser mingling with the team. I fear that he can give someone the thought of pulling a but muscle and cash in. I think Pavanoitis is contagious.
“We need a nick name for Igawa. Irabu is the Fat Toad. How about the Lazy Lizard or Fat Igawana.”—
How about “The $46 million mistake”
So . . . What are they doing now-a-days when they wake up in a sorority house?
I think we deserve to know.
“What are they doing now-a-days when they wake up in a sorority house?”
calling team-mates to brag, i hope…
Yeah Nate– Good Call…
Where is Kepner ? I noticed Jack Curry had taken over his Bats blog recently. Aside from our boy Pete here, Tyler Kepner is the only good-read from the Beat collection.
Kat? Heck No. Feinsand? Sometimes (doesn’t update his blog enough). Hoch? Just discovered his action. King the 3rd? Would rather stab my own ‘junk’ with an ice pick.
Price, Caldera and Murti? Pretty good. Enjoy all their work. But no one holds a candle to Tyler Kepner. However, even Kepner doesn’t deserve to carry Pete’s laptop, IMHO.
Pete is King of the Beat. P-Abe is king of the beat and boss of the blogs—
P-Abe for MVBW
(most valuable beat writer)
“How about “The $46 million mistake””
…Say, what do we call Pavano? “The $40 million mistake” then?
S.o.S.27(jekyll/hyde)
Worst part of all, Phil was lockering next to Pavano. Good thing Mike wanted him moved. Mike says it was because he wanted to talk to him, I think it was also cause he didn’t want the kid anywhere near Pavano.
Pavano won’t fetch a bag of balls. He’s coming off TJ surgery. He might be able to pitch late in the year, but there’s no way of knowing what the results would be. Pitchers tend to take 18-24 months to get back to pre surgery ability. With Pavano’s track record, what team would have the slightest of confidence in trading anything of value for him? None.
Gus,
“Iron Beaver” i like the sound of that. The iron part sounds a little to tough for him, but i like it. Beaver would probably do.
Re: Igawa.
How about the “Fat Plastic Beaver”
????????????????????????????????????????
Or one could hit below the belt and call him….
“Dentist’s Dream”
“Iron Beaver”
That only reminds me of Grace Jones’ character’s perfume in the movie “Boomerang”.
…Say, what do we call Pavano? “The $40 million mistake” then?
The $40 million insurance policy
Or one could hit below the belt and call him….
“Dentist’s Dream”
Rock Chewer?
C.O.(can opener)Beaver
The Hernia calls him IrabuGawa
He also looks EXACTLY like Napoleon Dynamite.
why not “the bamboo beaver”?