Yankees-Astros: The live blog
-
- March
- 7
Good afternoon and welcome to Legends Field. It’s a balmy 79 degrees and mostly sunny here in Tampa as the Yankees prepare to play the Houston Astros.
The Yankees beat the Astros 7-6 on Monday and you can bet Houston will be itching for revenge. Or maybe not.
These teams will play a series during the regular season (June 13-15), so the pitchers will watch the game from the dugout to get a look at the Houston hitters. No going home early for those guys.
The game is on YES. Back later with some updates.
FIRST INNING
13 pitches and 9 strikes for Pettitte as he retires the side easily. The Yankees also went down 1-2-3 against Shawn Chacon.
SECOND INNING
Victor Diaz snuck one inside the right-field foul pole for a two-run homer. I covered the Mets when they first called him up. he can flat-out hit, sort of a mini-Manny. But he never sticks with anybody. I think the Astros are his fourth organization.
Meanwhile, A-Rod’s swing is fine as he opened the bottom of the second with a double into the left-field corner.
Jason Lane’s double makes it 2-1. Then Jose Molina’s single makes it 2-2. Underrated signing, keeping Molina. He’s the best backup they have had since Girardi backed up Posada.
Now we’re seeing why the Yankees cut Chacon loose. Brett Gardner (whom I really like to watch play) doubled Molina to third. Melky Cabrera then drew a walk to load the bases. All this with two outs, fans.
Jeter swung at a 3-1 pitch and grounded to short to end the inning. 2-2.
THIRD INNING
Pettitte allowed a single by Quintero. Houston sacrificed him to second. The catcher then tried to score on a single to left by Bourn that glanced off the glove of third baseman Wilson Betemit.
Brett Gardner’s throw killed a few worms along the way to the plate but Quintero was out.
FOURTH INNING
This just in: Mariano Rivera is pretty good. The Sandman came in to start the fourth inning. He threw 8 pitches, 7 strikes. Strikeout, groundout, strikeout looking.
FIFTH INNING
LaTroy Hawkins now pitching. An error by Shelley Duncan put a runner on base and led to an unearned run. Then an infield hit scored another. 4-2 Houston.
Pettitte and Mo are available to the writers now. Back later with some quotes.
UPDATE FROM THE CLUBHOUSE: Mariano Rivera said he threw mostly four-seam fastballs and kept his cutter under wraps today. He will pitch again on Monday. “I feel good,†he said. “I was able to throw all my pitches in the strike zone.†Rivera said he planned to throw only eight or nine more innings this spring.
Andy Pettitte was thrilled with his performance. “From the first pitch of the game everything felt good,” he said. “I really feel good about everything.”
The home run came on a backdoor curveball that was down. “I give (Victor Diaz) credit for hitting it,” he said. “Sometimes that happens.”
Pettitte said he took a few days off from his early-morning workouts and that led helped him physically. After missing the first few days of camp, he feels he has caught up.
The Yankees have emptied their bench for the most part. It’s 5-5 in the seventh.
This entry was posted
on Friday, March 7th, 2008 at 1:09 pm by Peter Abraham.
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Peter Abraham
m & md tearing farnsworth up for blaming joe. mike called him a “total failure.”
sunday night the big 3 are doing a ‘miked up’ together. should be great.
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/#20080307
you can follow the yanks via gameday if you want.
they are ranting about joba now
does Kay really need to say “Andrew Eugene Pettitte” every time Pettitte pitches?
Can somebody please post a link to the story where Farns blames Joe?
google it, it was in every newspaper today
3 pitches, 1K. not a bad start by andy.
Greetings, all.
6-10 inches of snow possible here today. In KENTUCKY. That’s right. Snow is not that odd here, but that much during the first week of March is. Good thing I have MLB.TV video of sunny Florida to watch right now. Well, sunny in relation to here anyway.
Is it just me or does Pettite look to be in better shape than last year?
hey guys..
andy looked very comfortable
Is Chacon good, or are Melky and Jeter just hitting it right to people?
And Cano.
‘is chacon good”?
lol.
What’s with everyone jumping on the first pitch. These pitchers will have to go all 9 innings to get their work in.
How is Gary Busey the “celebrity” in the Guiseppe Franco commercial?
Mike and Chris are lost.
chacon was great in 05!
Y’s Guy: 05 was 3 years ago.
did Shawn Chacon really only throw 3 pitches or is gameday screwing with me
Freakin’ MLB.TV…. they say “we go to the second” and show Pettitte in his windup for the first pitch….and then go to a commercial. WTH???
that’s just gameday…(though I’m not sure about chacon, but it showed the same thing for Hunter Pence and he flew out on a full count)
Lmao, Andrea i know exactly what your talking about… i cant stand that commercial
Pettitte pegged Blum. I suspect he did it to get his pitch count up.
Diaz homers..
2-0 Astros
Laptop not looking good right now 1 IP 3 H 3 R 3 ER 2 HR 21.00 ERA
That was a gorgeous piece of hitting on that Hr. No shame in giving that one up.
Pettitte’s legs look trimmer than last year.
Hello ?
Yankees suck. Pettitte gives up a 2-run HR. What else is new?
The results here for Pettite really don’t matter.
Pettite has already said that because of all of his off season difficulties (not just the Mitchell report stuff but also the accident to his son) that his off season regimen was disrupted and that he was a little bit behind his usual routine.
They weren’t actually even certain whether he was going to make that first start that he did this spring. The yankees had Hughes penciled in for that game because they thought Pettite might not be ready for game action.
Andy’s a little behind. Again, that’s what spring training is about. No big deal at all if he struggles.
thanks brandon, i love hearing that
Hey Maxi they really do suck! watch labtop…
SMOKED by ARod! That shoulder can’t be hurting TOO much.
From ESPN’s Spring Training blog
Dusty Baker says the game’s current emphasis on on-base percentage is taking away from something else hitters need to do: swing the bat.
“A lot of this on-base percentage is taking away the aggressiveness of some young kids,” he said, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. “Most of the time you’ve got to put handcuffs on a young guy to keep him from swinging. [The young players are] playing good, real good. I’d like to see them more aggressive.”
“I really, really hate the called third strike. I hate that. You’re guessing and you ain’t ready to hit.”
The topic came up when Baker was discussing his desire to see Joey Votto, who has twice led his minor-league teams in walks, get more aggressive at the plate. Baker says the same goes for Adam Dunn, too.
“He doesn’t have to tell me,” Dunn said, according to the report. “I know I [need to be aggressive]. It’s hard for me to swing at that first pitch. But that may be the best one I get.”
Votto is getting the message, too. “I am an aggressive hitter,” he said, according to the Enquirer. “It just took me a little bit of time, a few at-bats, to get comfortable up there. And it just takes me a little longer to get my timing down, to get my swing ready to go. I’m not one of the guys who can just pick up and hammer fastballs. It takes me a little while.”
Oh I see our little friend is back. Just ignore him, maybe he’ll go away.
Max-Please tell me that is sarcasm.
Double for Alex
I guess Arods shoulder is hurting that bad. He roped the first pitch to left for a double.
Alex’s shoulder looked pretty good on that swing
How come Shawn Chacon’s hat never really fits properly, at least in the gameday photos? (same when he was a Yankee, a very goofy photo)
Rumbles? Come on Kay…
Oh. Never mind. Didn’t realize he was a troll.
HaHa – Houston announcers just said ARod looks like he will be a really good everyday baseball player. Then they giggled at their own joke.
I didn’t think there was an accident with Pettitte’s son. That’s sad.
Shelley looks like he’s going to fall over every time he hits the ball.
Audio link here:
http://espn790.com/main.html
another wasted lead-off double?
“How is Gary Busey the “celebrity†in the Guiseppe Franco commercial?”
but just look at his hair!!!111!! Guiseppe is the real deal!
Bettimet!!! More laps for you!! The guy was trotting like Manny to first. He could have made it interesting being that the first baseman bobbled and kicked it.
“I didn’t think there was an accident with Pettitte’s son. That’s sad.”
It was very serious. Young kid not wearing a helmut while riding on one of those four wheelers. He’s very lucky.
Jason Lane double
Alex scores
Who is this Lane guy? Is there really a chance for him to make the team? Is he AAA or DFA if he doesn’t make it?
ARod scroes! two sacker for Lane!
TIE GAME!!
Um – No Rishi. Not wasted at all.
There’s going to be some tough decisions to be made for that last roster spot with so many guys making their case. Jason Lane with that rbi double and then the hustle in to score on Molina’s at-bat. Dude’s had a fairly impressive spring so far.
Molina singles – game tied at 2!
I believe Lane will go to AAA if he doesn’t break camp.
He was signed for veteran insurance.
saucy: you have a point.
Molina runs funny.
2nd and 3rd, 2 outs
double for gardner. second and third.
Well, there’s the Chacon we all know.
Brett Gardner up….#91 slaps a 2 sacker in the corner – Molina to 2nd.
no love for Brett
Lori, Jason Lane is a journeyman OF hes not that great.
Don, Shawn Chacon’s hat never fits because hes mad G
frits, Dusty Baker is one of the worst managers in major league baseball. He singlehandedly destroyed Mark Prior’s and Kerry Wood’s careers.
Ugh. My gameday thing froze up
Love these two-out rallies. Too many times last year the Yankees were a victim of them.
Does anyone agree that the Astro announcers are far superior to the Twins announcers?
Guiseppe Franco Who IS this guy? And why does he charge so much in his salon?
Molina to 3rd obviously…Cabrera walks – bases loaded.
bases loaded for Jete.
“I believe Lane will go to AAA if he doesn’t break camp.”
Lane has a lot of major league experience. If he has a good spring but doesn’t make the team I’d guess he’s try to catch on with another team that has a need for a right handed bat. I don’t know if he’d take a AAA assignment with the yankees give the depth they have in the outfield/ first base.
The Mets for instance right now could desperately use a guy like Lane in camp.
Molina and Gardner on the bases at the same time is great. Maybe the fastest and slowest guys in the entire organization sharing the base paths.
Jimmy – yeah, not even close. They actually talk knowledgably – talking about what we’ve said all along about the purpose of spring training, etc.
As psyched as I am for the new Yankees season I’m dreading those damn Giuseppe Franco ads that run seemingly every commercial break.
damn it, Jeter.
why did he swing at a 3-1 pitch
Jeter chops out to short – innning over
what is it that you enjoy so much about watching Gardner, Pete? can you elaborate for us?
Molina and Gardner on the bases at the same time is great. Maybe the fastest and slowest guys in the entire organization sharing the base paths.
Damn. Jeter got out. I wanted to see Gardner get home from second before Molina at third.
I keep hearing good things about Kerry Wood. I wonder if we should have gone after him.
Brandon,
What did you think about the Spurs uniform last night? Or should i say LOS SPURS. I had to do a double take on sportcenter.
Good Morning, All. That’s the second slick fielding of a bunt I’ve seen from Betemit.
I’m glad that Chacon didn’t get totally lit up in that inning. I really appreciate what he gave us when we picked him up in ‘05.
Molina’s underrated indeed.
BRETT GARDNER!!!
Edwar warming in the pen…
A single and a throw out at home!!
Wow! Sweet tag by Molina at the plate!
“Dusty Baker says the game’s current emphasis on on-base percentage is taking away from something else hitters need to do: swing the bat.
“A lot of this on-base percentage is taking away the aggressiveness of some young kids,†he said, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.”
Sounds like Dusty is well on his way to ruining a number of young careers in Cinncinnati just like he did in Chicago.
I bet it wouldn’t be too hard to find some quotes from Dusty about how ridiculous it is to have young pitchers on pitch counts and innings limits when he was “nurturing” the careers of Wood and Prior.
Not the best of throws from Gardner (he actually almost hit betimit lol) BUT good enough for Molina to do what he does and get the tag.
Should i say a 15 hopper to home to throw out the runner.
Pettitte out – Edwar in – #46 threw 41 pitches…
its only ST but it looks like gardener could hold his own if damon misses any time this year.
“Edwar warming in the pen.”
So it should be 7-2 Astros within a few minutes, right?
Wasn’t Mo supposed to pitch after Andy?
I’m just not used to the left fielder actually getting the ball home with a shot at getting the runner out
pasta diving jeter…
mel,
My los spurs beat the pacers. If i was them i would keep wearing the jersey till they lose a game. Maybe it can be good luck. Half game lead now.
Looks like Jeter didn’t solve his range problems. A routine groundball and he can’t even dive for it.
CB – I hear you. When the post started by saying that Dusty Baker was afraid that OBP discouraged players from swinging, I knew we were in for it. How this guy has a job is truly beyond me. He is flat-out awful.
Why would you take a young hitter like Votto and discourage him from walking? A young, good hitting prospect with a sharp eye for balls and strikes, and you want to take that away and turn him into a hacker?
Yikes.
Pence past the dive of Jeter into center field for a single…
one more ESPN quote for today. from rob neyer’s insider blog:
• I know it’s too early to pencil in Ian Kennedy for 300 wins (or even 100), but he looks like yet another example that you don’t have to throw 100 mph (or even 90) to make a good living as a major league pitcher. As Tyler Kepner writes, “Kennedy’s average fastball is probably 89 miles an hour, and what was exceptional in high school … is nothing special now. But Kennedy, who studies the control artist Greg Maddux closely, has extra life on the pitch to make it seem harder.” The scary thing — unless you don’t believe in pitching prospects at all (and there are days I don’t) — is that Kennedy is supposedly the Yankees’ third-best pitching prospect.
pop out on the change – inning over
I’m sure someone’s said it before, but Edwar Ramirez really looks like that chocolate rain guy.
Andrew I guess you dont consider getting on the ground flat from an upright position diving lol.
I think they wanted to bring Mo in at the start of an inning rather than in the middle thus why Ramirez came in but I could be wrong
Lori – I think you are right but maybe they wanted Mo to pitch one full inning so they were waiting for the next inning.
Y’s Guy- its only ST but it looks like gardener could hold his own if damon misses any time this year.
They should have Damon play deep left and Gardner be in shallow left. So there arent as many hops home from either. Use the Ramirez cutting of Damon method.
Mo warming up now.
I think I saw that Little Bit Of Luck guy sitting behind the Yankee dugout. How can he see over the person in front of him ?
Gayle and Fran – Thanks. That makes sense.
Arod grounds to thirs 2 outs.
What’s up with gameday? I’m still waiting for the first pitch to Cano.
Enter Sandman blasting in the 4th inning. Strange.
S.o.S. it’s a marketing thing w/ Los Spurs it really didn’t effect me or anyone else that watches the NBA
P.S. somebody asked why Pete likes Brett you have to watch him to understand, mostly his speed and the routes he takes in the OF, he has a decent arm except for that throw and can make the dramatic catch.
Sandman playing in the 4th inning…In comes Mo.
gameday still has Brett Gardner batting >___>
Rivera is still Rivera!
First pitch from Mo 94 mph.
Mo opens with a K!
sweet strikeout- high velocity
4 pitches, 2 outs for Mo. He’s ready.
4 pitches=2 outs, K, Grounder
grounder to 2nd – 2 away!
Lori,
Do you like John and Suzyn? – I like the the fact that they are so different than the rest.
THE LEGEND LIVES
Mo seems ready
he’s just so awesome to watch..
Nice quick inning for Mo. He looks pretty sharp for a guy making his first appearance, huh?
out #3 – inning over…Newhan w/ a backwards K
Strikes him out to end the inning!!
Fritz,
I hear you on Dusty and Votto. I missed your post before but when I read that my jaw sort of dropped – though I shouldn’t have been surprised.
The thing is – to make that comment about Votto and about Dunn and OBP is essentially to completely misunderstand the value and the core game of both of those players. It’s to entirely miss what is by far the most important skill as baseball players.
As Votto has added power in the minors his strikeouts have gone up fairly dramatically. The only thing that makes those strikeouts tolerable is Votto’s excellent eye and ability to get on base consistently.
If you try to start making him swing more you’ll risk his selectivity and eye and he’ll probably wind up striking out more!
And to say the same thing about a veteran like Dunn who is in the walk year of his contract is just nieve and misguided. Dunn’s going to suddenly change his entire game because Dusty says so?
It’s amazing Dusty has gotten a chance again. But the Reds are a joke. Wayne Krivsky just got lucky that he inherited 4 high end prospects from the prior regime – all he’s done is weaken the team since.
Now the rumor is that Krivsky is hot to trade Homer Bailey. What is he thinking?
Same Mo – different year.
Nice inning Mo. That was sharp.
Jimmy – I like John, but Suzyn makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. No question she is very knowledgable, but her voice gets to me.
Wow that was impresive, and he hit 94 consistently
jimmy 27-
i really like both of them, despite their many detractors. i think they give some personality and color to the broadcast
Mo was worth waiting for!
Lori – Maybe it is her Boston accent!
I agree with you Pete. The Molina signing was excellent. He is amazing defensively and is far from an automatic out, what more can you ask from your backup?
I went to a couple Mets games last year (a friend has season tickets and no one to go with–go figure) and I actually really liked Newhan. He was always all smiles and very personable with the fans. I wonder if he’ll be the same way with Houston. Anyone know if he’s starting out with their MLB club, or someone in the minors, or does no one care?
Mo
“I know it’s too early to pencil in Ian Kennedy for 300 wins (or even 100), but he looks like yet another example that you don’t have to throw 100 mph (or even 90) to make a good living as a major league pitcher.”
If people missed it – check out Tyler Keppner’s story about Ian Kennedy from yesterday in the NY Times. It’s a great piece that puts his “struggles” in that first game in the larger context of kennedy’s talent and career.
The quotes from PJ Pillietere about catching Kennedy when Kennedy first got to AA are very striking:
“I remember his very first start, the way he was locating his fastball, I was like, ‘Wow, this is different than most guys,’ †Pilittere said. “It was fastball away at will, fastball in at will. I was thinking: ‘Man, this is easy to catch. This is fun.’ I could just sit there and go No. 1, No. 1, No. 1, and we could just blow through guys.â€
Pilittere said Kennedy had such command of his fastball that he could probably throw no other pitches and still succeed”
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/06/sports/baseball/06yankees.html?scp=9&sq=march+06+2008&st=nyt
Fran – While that IS annoying (;)), I don’t think that is the reason. Her voice is very nasal and she shrieks too often.
1-2-3 yanks done in order
Andrea – anti-anti,
I’ll go with the don’t care option, but I like your blog!
Hawkins in to pitch…
newhan is just one of those “nice guys” in baseball, like sean casey. everyone likes them
Fernando Alejandro: Thanks! It’s usually just me rambling, but thanks!
“[Molina's] the best backup they have had since Girardi backed up Posada.”
Talk about damning with faint praise.
what a horrible picture of LaTroy
Andrea, that’s how most blogs are!
com’on Shelley
Lori
Mike Eff
I know what you mean about her voice.
She can relate a story well. I also appreciate the fact she gets emotional -sometimes too emotional- but you know she’s a human being.
Sterling is just a showman – in a good way.
What is up with the picture of LaTroy Hawkins on gameday?
SoS,
Congrats to your Los Lobos. What’s the story with the jersey?
newhan’s a 4a player, bench in the majors or starting in the minors, was that way with both the mets and o’s.
Bad tag by shelly
Lori – I do agree with you about Suzyn’s voice. It’s kind of hard to believe that she actually sang on Broadway.
Awesome running catch from Melky to save a run.
i thought melky had that one…
Fernando: nah, some people have actual information sometimes.
Hawkins looks weird when he takes his arm out of the glove and holds it for a second before he throws it. It looks awkward.
SOSI also thought he made that catch, He didin’t.
Man I like Goose but his talking on the YES Network about how he worked a crap load more then closers now and how he’s stats would be differant had he worked 1 inning.And I remember a couple of years ago when Goose talked about how much better he was then closers of now and Mariano said that closers now face bigger hitters and smaller ballparks.
Goose ain’t Mariano no matter how many innings he pitched more in games.
Y’s Guy: do you think he’ll start out on the bench with the Astros, or do you think he’ll be in AAA?
Grounder to Jeter a run scores. 2 outs a man on third.
mel,
dont know. Whatever works. They can have Los Mujeres on their jersey if it gets us #5.
96 on Hawkins last pitch. Did they amp up the gun?
lol @ Latroy’s gameday pic
SoS27-
i saw that too…96? wow
YankeesBen,
If you wouldnt have said anything i would still be marvelled by it. I dont have sound on my computer so i have to go with sight. Time to wear my glasses.
Who’s that guy behind Goose, he looks a bit like McNamee
Just as a side note, I see the BoSox are losing 5-0, twice! (each of their split squads are down)
Pence is frickin’ quick
4-2. Infeild single. I dont like Bettimet much. Give me Morgan instead. He just looks slow to me. Great battle at the plate before that though.
andrea, impossible to tell at this point, they’ve completely blown up the roster. they’re at the point now of sorting out who’s gonna start and what the lineup works like. he is competing for the utility job, he’s played 4 positions already. it wont be determined until late in camp.
Nice at bat by Pence, bad defense
how many runs did laptops give up Lori?
I think the GameDay radar gun is not accurate for spring training.
There’s something about it technically where its not particularly good and not meant to be followed.
I don’t think LaTroy’s thrown 96 in a long time.
Y’s Guy: gotcha. I didn’t know when he got traded to/acquired by Houston and if he was their utility guy last year or something.
this stop updating?
no errors posted on mlb gameday or yankees.com scoreboard
TRIPLE!!!
oh wow is he fast!!
CB,
Im watching it on mlb tv and it showed 96 on that as well.
HOLY SHT he is fast
see what i mean, if the yanks are cruising along and damon misses 2 weeks, i could see damon stepping right in there for a couple of weeks.
#5? That’s all? Seems more than that.
So they had Los Mujeres on their jerseys?
The Lakers did a game last season where they all the Latin flags on the trim of their home whites. It was really nice. I thought they’d do something for Pau’s first home game, but it wasn’t that big of a deal I guess. lol.
triple followed by a double. 4-3. Man Gardner is freekin quick. I think we should have him as a fourth outfielder and use him like Roberts was in Boston.
The game is tied.
4-4 on Canos single. Still free swinging though.
“Im watching it on mlb tv and it showed 96 on that as well.”
Well that’s something then. Still don’t know if I believe it. LaTroy used to throw hard but he’s changed his game and doesn’t throw that hard anymore. I think its a faulty gun but maybe he’s overthrowing?
i wish i could have seen Brett hit that triple. i would like to see how fast everyone says he is.
How is Posada’s helmet already disgusting?
i meant GARDENER could spell Damon, sorry
I flicked the tv saw this white kid busting it, I said oh snap Brett must have been pissed as he pulled into 3B
mel,
4 since 99 going on 5. No. they had Los Spurs on their jerseys. I would accept Los Mujeres if it got us another ring.
They should have a Pua day. Where the players have spain flag on them.
oh, the error is now officially an error
cb,
I go with faulty gun.
Good base running by Cano.
Cano steals second goes to third on an overthrow.
Im still in awe of Gardner speed on the base pads. Seriously. We need him as a pinch runner.
That Cano stolen base is a good example of Girardi trying to be more aggressive on the bases than the past yankee teams have been.
I think we’ll see much more of that during the year. Girardi sending Cano there is sending a message to the team that we are going to try to create runs in different ways. No advantage to trying to steal a base in a meaningless spring training game. It’s about establishing the attitude of the team.
damn Action almost got that one
I just caught a mouse in my office
a little wall problem for ajax there?
mel,
I changed my mind. They should wear LOS CAMPIONES. Sounds better.
Hawkins was showing an ERA of over 5 on Gameday. Magically went back to zero.
Those of you who were wondering about Laptops, he gave up 3 runs on 2HR nin 2IP and Paps gave up 2 runs in 2IP.
i cant help but root for niekro. i LOVED uncle phil when he played for the yankees!
Jackson isnt affraid of the wall thats for sure.
what’s a Mujeres ? it’s not showing up on the spanish/english transation sites.
I’m glad to know I’m not the only one blowing off work to keep track of the game….no mice to catch though
not to be negative in any way, but shouldn’t we be beating the “B” team from houston?
CB: the point of trying to steal a base in a ST game is to practice! Cano’s not much of a base stealer.
mujeres = women
campeones = champions
Alright folks, my elbow is barking and its time to get someone else to dh. I will rest my elbow for monday. Till then, have a good weekend.
YANKEES #27 IN 08!!
BET !!!
While im logging off Bettimet ties it with a blast. Take everything bad i said about him today. See Ya!!
hahaha.
I prefer “los champiñones”
=P
LOL PJ’s song is “I love it when you call me big papa”
better meat
Lane won’t make the team, not with an at bat like that.
Kay said Bet last season had 28 RBIs in 80 ABs
Porter w/ a sweet hard drive
Kay said Bet last season had 28 RBIs in 80 ABs
Porter w/ a sweet hard drive
thanks Attorney General
and the AG G into yet another DP
ag g?
Update on this thread with quotes from Andy and Mo for those interested.
Porter almost got Action hurt !!
EXPLAIN PLEASE
J Train
ag-g
alberto gonzalez grounds into a double play
Steve White has not helped himself this spring at all. He was always a long shot for the team. However, he’s going to be the most experienced starter in AAA and he had a case for being the first starter brought up in case someone got hurt or they needed a spot start.
This spring is not helping to make that case.
porter almost cut-off action, but he was quick enough to swerve out of the way!
Great Pete – you’re the man!
Interesting to see that Mo was apparently so dominating without his cutter. Bodes very well for the season and probably strikes fear in the heart of every batter out there.
I put the tv on mute and wason the phone who pitched before bruney and was so god awful
so this is a BIG opportunity for bruney
one way or the other
bruney comes in bases loaded with 1 out… give up 1 and get us out of it here brian…
Gayle – it was Steve White. Not looking good for him.
that was heat, bad location !!
big K there! 97
Thanks Pete!
ouch he put it on a tee!
well at least he didn’t walk a run in…
The new Brian Bruney doesn’t seem so different from the old one.
Not impressive at all.
Big opportunity for Heath Phillips here in the middle of an inning with men on base and facing a lefty.
Looking forward to Veras.
Heath looks good in ST, and why is Woodward still here
“The new Brian Bruney doesn’t seem so different from the old one.”
Yup.
Do you think anyone will trade for him? Or are teams going to wait for the waiver wire? The Tigers are kinda desperate, no?
I love that Kay thinks he’s funny.
“Ryan HOUSTON comes in for HOUSTON…unbelievable.”
“Big opportunity for Heath Phillips here in the middle of an inning with men on base and facing a lefty.”
Both he and Traber certainly have good numbers, thus far.
Is there a significant difference between then scouting-wise? I know Traber has at least a small MLB sample from last season that’s promising, but I’m curious how they differ stuff-wise.
Well you can say this for Joe he is giving Steven a lot of chances to redeeem himself.
“I think its a faulty gun but maybe he’s overthrowing?”
It might not be FAULTY, so much as just juiced to give the fans a little excitement.
“Well you can say this for Joe he is giving Steven a lot of chances to redeeem himself.”
Well, if he’s a guy that’s put himself on the radar for a possible callup this season, you want to see how he bounces back mentally from getting shelled, you know?
“Do you think anyone will trade for him? Or are teams going to wait for the waiver wire? The Tigers are kinda desperate, no?”
That’s a real good question. You’d think that someone would take a flier on him given that he throws so hard and bull pen issues are so widespread.
But then he’s been so bad. If a team just waits until he’s waived they get him essentially for free.
The yanks won’t have much leverage because he’s out of options but maybe they could work out some kind of minor deal.
How can Farnsworth blame Joe T. for his performance?? With his stuff, he should be dominating. It is all mental.
http://www.recreateyourlifenow.com
“But then he’s been so bad. If a team just waits until he’s waived they get him essentially for free.”
I guess Cash’ll have to find a pair of teams that get all excited by “raw stuff” instead of nerdy stats like BB/9 and play them off each other.
Maybe he can pull it together enough that someone will jump on him and we can trade high. Also, maybe we’re overreacting. I’m willing to give Moose, Wang, Joba and Ian the benefit of the doubt…I figure Bruney gets another couple outings before I start wanting to give up on him. I mean…part of his problem was that he was uncoachable, no? Maybe his new attitude means that he’s trying to incorporate suggestions from Eiland, but he’s got to get used to the new mechanics.
I dunno. I still say that if Veras keeps his walks down this spring, you gotta go with him. Even if Bruney improves later this month.
“Is there a significant difference between then scouting-wise? I know Traber has at least a small MLB sample from last season that’s promising, but I’m curious how they differ stuff-wise.”
I think Traber is the better pitcher and has more of a track record.
Billy Traber has talent but has been a big dissappointment. The mets took him in the first round in 2000 and he was part of the Roberto Alomar trade. Kind of floudered in the minors with Cleveland. But the mets must have seen something because they took him #16 in the first round.
Finding stuff on Phillips has been tough. The best thing I’ve seen on him was something from Baseball America – it was from their ask BA blog where a white sox fan asked a question about Phillips back in 2006:
Born: March 24, 1982. B-T: L-L. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 205. Drafted: Lake City (Fla.) CC, D/F 2000 (10th round). Signed by: Larry Grefer/Doug Laumann.
Background: Some players are worth waiting for, and Phillips could be one of those. The guy long considered Mark Buehrle Lite appeared among on the White Sox’ Top 30 in Baseball America’s annual rankings in 2002 and ‘03 but disappeared in recent years, his results unimpressive and his tools marginal. Phillips went both unprotected and uninvited to big league camp by the Sox after 2005, and went unclaimed by the other 29 organizations. Then he reeled off a huge season, winning 16 times, including two victories for Team USA in the Olympic qualifier in Cuba and another in the Triple-A All-Star Game. It was enough to even impress his neighbors in Evansville, Ind., the (Don) Mattinglys.
Strengths: Phillips loves a challenge, as he demonstrated by pleading unsuccessfully with Davey Johnson to let him face Cuba on three days’ rest in the championship game in Havana. He also knows how to pitch, changing speeds off his 86-88 mph fastball and hitting spots. He has learned a cut fastball that he can sink. His curveball is a serviceable pitch. Like a young Buehrle, he works fast and takes advantage of baserunners who stray too far from first, picking off 20 in Triple-A.
Weaknesses: Phillips’ lack of big league stuff has made him a hard sell at organization meetings through the years. He doesn’t have a true out pitch. His changeup can be one at times but he often lacks the pop on his fastball to set it up. He gets in trouble when he tries to muscle up on hitters and his fastball straightens out. He can be forced to nibble when he falls behind hitters.
The Future: It’s hard to see how the White Sox can let Phillips get away without getting a true read on his ceiling, but they had not given him serious roster consideration in his six years in the organization. Another organization may snap him up if the Sox don’t add him to their 40-man roster by November.
http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/askba/262726.html
Has Jose Veras always worn that massive gold chain?? Wow Ican see the shine all the way up here
Bruney was not all that bad today, I really do think he makes the team, mainly because he’s out of options…..at least to start the year.
why couldn’t that ball get more to CF
Bad game for the pen today. Veras was disappointing.
It’s early but Ohlendorf has set himself apart for that last spot in the pen.
Eiland and Girardi may have concerns about Ohlendorf’s development and transition to the pen. They may think that he needs some more time in the minors to work on his second pitch and to get used to relieving more.
I can buy that. However, if he continues to outperform other people up for that spot, and they think he’s ready, he should get that spot.
There is no way that Brian Bruney’s lack of option should somehow work to his advantage in making this team. He is far too marginal a talent with too poor a track record to afford him that type of trust.
Outside of that brief period at the end of 2006, he’s never shown himself to be a decent pitcher.
Girardi has emphasized competition and performance over and over. If he gives a spot on the roster to a guy like Bruney if his performance continues as it is or gives that last spot to a guy like Giese because he’s “experienced” that would be disappointing.
3 straight losses (even though it’s just spring training)
Joe G’s not going to be happy
Despite Bruney’s great era at the end of 2006, he still had a bunch of walks. He was putting them on at the time….they just weren’t coming home yet.
Keeping a player because he’s out of options is not a valid reason. Joe Girardi wants the best 25 players to leave spring training.
John Kruk just can’t STFU about the Hank Steinbreiner thing
“Eiland and Girardi may have concerns about Ohlendorf’s development and transition to the pen. They may think that he needs some more time in the minors to work on his second pitch and to get used to relieving more.”
I was thinking yesterday that there was no way that both Bruney AND Veras would stink so badly that they’d take Patterson north with the team. But, if they feel strongly that Ross needs development time with his splitter, and neither of those guys outperforms Patterson…maybe Bruney’s gone, Veras goes back to AAA, and Patterson comes north to give Ross that buffer of time to work on the splitty.
CB – the logical choice seems to be Ohlendorf but I think that he does need regular work, and he won’t get that if he makes the team, so he probably starts in AAA……and if its Veras or Bruney, I just see them going with Bruney.
Or, Chris Britton over Patterson. I’d like to see him get more shots instead of a guy like Giese.
“CB – the logical choice seems to be Ohlendorf but I think that he does need regular work, and he won’t get that if he makes the team,”
Why wouldn’t he get regular work? The first month is grueling. As opposed to a normal april, they have a day off the second day of the season and then none for literally three weeks or so. They play 18 out of 20 consecutive games on the road. I feel like the pen is going to need all hands on deck, you know?
Albaladejo would go north before Patterson I think.
But Patterson has looked good. I do think he could use some time in AAA. Patterson also doesn’t have that great of a secondary pitch and his fastball is supposed to be rather straight and flat. But he gets outs and that’s what picking players based on performance is supposed to be about.
Hopefully Ohlendorf contnues to progress in his development and also put up good outings. He was very good in the Arizona fall league and good down the stretch last year.
He has by far the highest ceiling of any of the potential arms to fill in that last spot. If he can do the job they will have a strong pen this year.
He is still talking about it? It is old news!
Uh Oh We lost again. Joe is going to flip his lid. 3 in a row!!
good point whozat…i keep forgetting about their brutal april schedule.
I’m not so sure Ohlendorf wouldn’t get regular work, since this season, the Yankees have a full schedule in April, and will probably be relying on the bullpen quite a bit.
Hah! Whozat – I missed your post prior to mine. See, I read and I learn!
go yankees !
“Why wouldn’t he get regular work? The first month is grueling.”
I completely agree with this. This is one of my major concerns with the pen.
The yankees aren’t playing a normal April, partly because the Pope’s visit to the stadium has rearranged their schedule.
They will absolutely need a 5th starter and the bull pen is going to wind up throwing a lot of innings that month because the starters may still be building arm strenght and the innings caps on Phil and Kennedy.
On top of that – with Joba limited out of the pen with the Joba rules the other arms in the pens may have heavy workloads. And of course its possible/ probable that Farnsworth will be awful and unusable.
They are going to need a deep pen this year with a good long reliever and they are going to need it right from the get go.
I don’t think Girardi’s going to flip his lip over losing ST games. He’s going to flip his lid over poor pitching, meaning, not throwing strikes, not giving the team the best chance to win.
bruney was very, very goos for the the first 2 months of the season last year.
For what it’s worth, last season (spring training, that is), I was quite heartened because the bullpen did such a great job – their walks were down and they seemed efficient. But then the regular season started and it was like a BB epidemic for the Yankees.
So, perhaps this year it could be the reverse – having trouble with location during spring, but finding the groove during the season. I know, there’s no correlation, but it’s just to say one never really knows what’s going to happen until it happens.
One of the things that I’ve been thinking about is this. Girardi is demanding that his pitchers throw strikes, and of course everyone is on board with that, and you’d be crazy not to be. But knowing you’re supposed to throw strikes and actually doing it – well, what happens if they just don’t? I mean, do they get a time out? Or what? Seriously, I know you want to establish a good count, strike one, from the get go. Is it all that easy to do that?
Henn will not make this team. The Yankees have seen enough of his “vanilla” 95 mph fastball.
Houston has no LHP for their bullpen. Send him there for a minor league position player.
pitching is not as easy as it looks
“Seriously, I know you want to establish a good count, strike one, from the get go. Is it all that easy to do that?”
Doreen,
I think people forget at times that throwing strikes is an athletic skill. In some ways its not that much different than velocity.
It’s like a jump shot – some people are great at doing it and some people just can’t, no matter how much they practice.
That’s why I’m so leary of Farnsworth and Bruney. I think both have a track record that shows that they just don’t have that skill. At all. On occasions they do but they don’t have the skill to do it consistently, game to game.
That’s one of the things guys like Ohlendorf, Albaldejo, Hawkins and even Traber and Scott Patterson have going for them – they have shown either in the minors or majors that they can throw strikes consistently.
That’s what really distinguishes Ohlendorf from a guy like Veras. Veras has a better secondary pitch right now and both throw hard.
But Ohlendorf has excellent control – he’s walked less than 2.5/ 9 innings.
That’s a big reason why I hope he can make the team.
The staff in the pen will be one of the last decisions made. They’re gonna need to see all guys go against majors competition – Ohlendorf and plenty of the other guys have only faced AAA hitters so far, since most of the relief candidates have pitched in the last 4 innings this week.
Some have done well and kept themselves in the running, but nobady’s blown themselves out of it yet – White wasn’t a real candidate, better as rotation insurance in AAA for now. They will need to thin the field shortly as next go around the starters and secondary starters / long relief guys will soak up even more innings.
The only guys I see likely to shipped this week are White, Jackson, Melancon (only becasue he needs IP to continue rehab). Haven’t even seen Horne, Marquez, or Wright, so they might go soon as well – just not enough innings to go around. Still a crowded field. First significant cuts won’t come until after next Saturday’s split squads. Henn and Bruney will likely stick around til the bitter end unless their performance turns ugly – better chance to sneak them through waivers when players are dropping all over at end of the spring.
Surprising we haven’t had any B games to get more work in – maybe next week. Could have used another split squad set earlier – so many arms in camp to see.
CB -
Thanks.
And thanks for the comparison to the jump shot. Or a free throw, for that matter. When watching basketball, I often marvel that all these guys do is practice shooting from the foul line, and there are just some players who are not good at it.
If being able to throw strikes consistently is the threshhold for making this team, then you can’t take a guy like Bruney. Farnsworth, well, there’s that contract, so he’ll have every opportunity to re-learn with Eiland. But every other spot should be on ability.
I do feel bad for Bruney because he came into camp ready to go. But sometimes it’s just not enough. There’s still time, though, and I’m looking forward to see who steps up, who’s able to show improvement or progress over time.
The fact is so far with a couple of exceptions the Yanks have done very well with their control. Very few BB’s, mostly from a couple of bad outings (Rasner e.g.), and White. Some bad locating, but Girardi also knows it’s early, just wants to make the point strongly. You’d think the mandate bodes ill for Bruney, but look at today – 4 pitches, 4 strikes. The 4th 1 was perhaps a little too good, but still.
Still lots of time on who’s in the pen. Many of the young candidates have only faced AAA hitters to now since they’ve pitched the later innings. Don’t forget that. They’re gonna have to do it against majors hitters before they’re on the club. Intersting that Patterson has seemed to appear earlier – seems they want to get a good look at him right away.
What template are you running on this site ? I really like it. Could you post where you got it from ?