Spring training Game 29: Yanks at Marlins
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Mar 29, 2008 
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YANKEES (This probably will be your Opening Day lineup)
Damon LF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Giambi 1B
Posada C
Cano 2B
Matsui DH
Cabrera CF
Pitching
Hughes
MARLINS
Ramirez SS
Uggla 2B
Jacobs 1B
Willingham LF
Gonzalez RF
Cantu 3B
Wood 1B
Hoover C
De Aza CF
Pitching
Volstad
Notes: How many teams have a No. 8 hitter who went .285/.367/.488 last season with 103 RBI? … Talked to Scott Patterson for a bit. He was convinced he was making the team and said he slept “maybe an hour” last night. … The Yankees are now watching a motivational film presentation from Director of Mental Conditioning” Chad Bohling. Just let the Big G pick a movie. The boys will be inspired plenty.
Aw, man. I feel really badly for Patterson. I hope his day comes soon. I mean, he did all that anyone could ask, and still fell short? I’m sure they all encouraged him and assured him it was for the best in the long-term, but how do you deal with seemingly succeeding and it just not being enough? I suppose knowing it was a difficult decision helps, but I bet not too much.
It would have been nice if Patterson made the team, he seemingly deserved it. But I feel Joe G knows best, and when he feels its time for Patterson to come up to the majors he will.
‘Zilla batting 8th – Whoa!
“but how do you deal with seemingly succeeding and it just not being enough?”
It’s rough, no doubt. But…it’s spring, and it’s really hard to jump a guy up from AA based on 8 innings in spring. I really hope he keeps succeeding, for the sake of everyone involved. Interesting that Joba was one of the guys that went over to talk to him. Interesting in a good way; if he (and the vets) keep success from going to his head, he could perhaps be a real clubhouse leader as he grows up with the team. Which would be cool, as it would let a guy like Hughes, who seems like a less vocal kind of guy, just pitch his games and not feel pressured to take on any more of the leadership role than he feels comfortable with.
Also…they should just trade off watching Rudy and Top Gun. And Braveheart. What other inspirational movies could you ever need? If you don’t cry watching Rudy, or when Goose dies in Top Gun, they come and revoke your man-card.
I don’t understand why he’s so bummed out. He’ll start the year at Scranton and if he continues to pitch well, he’ll be the next call-up. Between Hawkins’ ineffectiveness in the AL, Albaladejo and Ohlendorf’s inexperience and Bruney’s propensity to give up a lot of walks, chances are one of them will be out of a job sooner than later, and Patterson will be the next guy to be called up.
I agree with giving one of the other kids a chance over Patterson, for what it’s worth. Ohlendorf looked really good in September last year and I’m interested in seeing what Albaladejo can do. This is much different than Torre giving scrub veterans like Jim Brower a shot on the team…
I’m sure someone will screw up and they’ll bring Patterson up in favor of someone else. The bullpen is always in flux. He just can’t let it get to his head and pitch poorly while he’s down in AAA.
Actually Pete they can let Matsui donate his collection.
Whozat -
My head understands; my heart just feels bad for the guy. My husband had the same reaction — that spring training innings aren’t enough of a test for someone in Patterson’s position.
good heavens, Pete, what was the “motivational film” about? did you catch the title? for some reason I find that really interesting (and kind of funny).
Patterson is first in line on the Scranton Express. So long as he continues there what he did this Spring, he will definitely be in Pinstripes sooner or later–probably sooner.
Didn’t see the new thread. Follow up from the last – about lack of good third baseman in the game….
“Do you think teams have prioritized D over there a bit more?â€
This is a really good question. It’s always interesting how baseball changes and third base has been a strange position recently.
Last year only 9 third baseman in all of baseball who had more than 400 at bats had an OPS over 800.
(By the way – Chipper Jones last year had one of the more unheralded terrific seasons any player had had over the past several years. Didn’t hear much about him but he had a better season than the much talked about David Wright)
For comparison there were 8 centerfielders who had 400 AB and had an OPS over 800.
That’s sort of eye opening.
Just a hunch but I think the physical demands of the position are being squeezed across the talent pool.
Third base takes tremendous agility, reflexes and a great arm. I think ARod’s defense at third shows you how difficult the position is. He was coming off gold glove seasons at SS. I thought he’d move over and be a great defensive third baseman. He’s not bad by any means. But he’s really not good – about average (that really surprised me – i though he’d be great).
Offensively, third demands power. On one hand many players with those defensive skill sets are now playing SS (or sort of playing SS – see JJ Hardy)
But on the other end I think as players have gotten bigger and stronger through lifting weights (and yes other means) some have gotten less agile. While they have increased their power potential they’ve become less agile in the field (see Ryan Braun) making it harder for them to be effective defensive third baseman. I think this is part of why we’ve seen so many great first baseman over the past 10 years. This has made it more and more difficult to find guys with the defensive skills for a high demand position like third who also can hit for power.
It’s interesting to see how guys who are able to play third in college wind up not being able to hack it there in the majors.
Again – Ryan Braun – great example. This is also a big issue in the draft this year.
The best hitter in college (and perhaps best since Texeira) is Pedro Alvarez who is a third baseman. Absolutely mashes. But the question on him is can he stay at third. It looks iffy if he can. He’s still going to go very high (perhaps #1 overall) but whether he projects as a third baseman or 1st baseman changes his value a great deal.
The reason Scott, or anyone for that matter, would be upset is because the window to make it to the top is soooo small. Think about all the things that could go wrong between now and a few weeks from now when he could possible be called up. All you can ask for is a chance to prove that you belong, and when you take advantage of that opportunity as best anyone could (1 baserunner all spring, getting pitchers out of jams, two years of AA domination, etc.) you get the feeling that you have to be rewarded NOW, since the chances aren’t guaranteed forever.
Where was it reported that Joba went up to him, by the way?
I just responded to your post in the last thread!
Curses!
In a few days Scott Patterson will come to grips with everything and realize that his time will arrive.
This will be a test of mental toughness and he’ll stay on course at AAA and be ready for the call.
Here’s what I said:
“Offensively, third demands power. On one hand many players with those defensive skill sets are now playing SSâ€
Hm. I was saying that teams were perhaps prioritizing D a bit more at 3B because SS was, overall, becoming defensively weaker and they needed to compensate. But this brings up another option…that teams care a bit less about D at SS these days, and thus guys who can hit really well and field SS tolerably STAY at SS, whereas in the past they might have been moved to 3B in the minors.
This, then, relegates the 3B pool to guys who can hit really wall but can’t hack it AT ALL at SS, or guys who’ve been 3Bs since they were kids, I guess. Or, guys who are blocked by an already very good SS and move for that reason. Like, if the Phillies had a promising SS in AA or AAA, they’d move him to 3B perhaps because of Rollins.
“Where was it reported that Joba went up to him, by the way?”
I don’t remember
I read a bunch of yankee blogs…it might’ve been Kepner’s blog?
desti(NY)
Scott doesn’t need any more tests of mental toughness…going undrafted and spending 4+ years in INDY ball and the garbage associated with it is more mental toughness testing than most players will ever have.
all patterson has to do is wait for bruney to get wild.. see ya april 15th scott
Does anyone know whatever happened to Melky and Duncan’s appeals to their suspensions? They playing Opening Day? Thanks
“I don’t understand why he’s so bummed out. ”
He faced 24 hitters this spring and got 23 of them out.
He’s 28 and was in the independent league for years.
If he’d have made the team out of spring training and sticked the whole season (rather than getting called up in say may) he’d have started his service time and potentially gotten a full year in. This would have bumped up his arbitration eligibility and free agency eligibility up an entire year.
When you’re 28 and still a rookie those things matter an enormous amount. That could be the difference between him getting a decent free agent deal at the age of 34 or having to go year to year as a journeyman free agent bull pen arm when he becomes a free agent at the age of 35.
Everyone’s concerned about their future and whether any of those scenario’s on service time are likely, it’s only natural to think about them.
Actually, it was in Pete’s latest “notebook”
http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.....8/SPORTS01
Scott Patterson will be up before he knows it.
STAY OPTIMISTIC SCOTT!
Patterson has to collect himself, because there’s a good chance he’ll have pitched for the Yankees by May/June.
The Yankees bullpen has unlimited question marks, and the people who turn out to succeed will stay, while the question marks who don’t will be replaced with more question marks until they succeed.
As bad as my wording was, it’s really quite simple.
“thus guys who can hit really well and field SS tolerably STAY at SS, whereas in the past they might have been moved to 3B in the minors.”
Yes – JJ Hardy and Hanley Ramirez come immediately to mind.
Let’s say there was a pool of players who could go either way – 20 years ago they would have wound up at third. Now with some marginal increase in athleticism teams are willing to keep them at short because of their bats because they just meet some threshold for tolerability at the position.
I think what we’re seeing now at third is a kind of selection bias.
It’s a big plus for the yankees as they have ARod there (and if Cabrera moves to first base ARod’s VORP/WARP will only go up that much higher).
whozat
What are you referring to?
you guys may have already seen a couple of my rants…so I’ll try no to repeat them all, but…
Bruney didn’t lose 20 pounds and become Greg Maddux. He WILL throw balls, he WILL walk guys in crucial situation and he will NOT be a guy anyone wants to see in a situation where men are on base and the Yankees need a guy to throw strikes and get outs. Unfortunately, this could come back to haunt he Yankees this fall when he blows a couple games for them. He has an EXTENSIVE track record, 9 innings of spring work with “ONLY” 3 walks does nothing for me. Patterson walking 28 guys in his last 135 innings covering 90 appearances and THEN not walking anyone in 8 ST appearances does, since it just shows that your career stats aren’t to be ignored just because you mixed in a salad once or twice and dropped 20 pounds.
you hope bruney fails?
“Patterson has to collect himself, because there’s a good chance he’ll have pitched for the Yankees by May/June.”
Knowing that intellectually and feeling good about it are two separate things.
“What are you referring to?”
That Joba was one of the guys Pete specifically mentioned as going over and talking to Patterson. It’s very possible that I’m reading a lot into a throw-away comment Pete made, but I thought it interesting.
“Patterson walking 28 guys in his last 135 innings covering 90 appearances and THEN not walking anyone in 8 ST appearances does, since it just shows that your career stats aren’t to be ignored”
Yes, but I’d still like to see him perform against the more disciplined veteran hitters in AAA. I know Bruney will throw some balls, and I’d not really want to bring him in in a bases-loaded no-outs situation…but if he can cut his walks to a more reasonable 3-4 per nine, he could be very useful starting the 7th or 8th inning.
If he can’t, jettison him. No worries. I’m hoping that, if he performs like you predict, he WON’T be around come the fall because Joe G will tell Cash he needs a different arm.
The interesting thing to see with the bull pen in the near future is what happens when Pettite comes off the DL.
For the first few games the yankees will have an 8 man bullpen. You can have a four man starting rotation for the first few games of the season but that’s just temporary.
Pettite will come back and take Albabladejo’s spot.
With 8 guys in the pen you really don’t need a long man. But with 7 guys in the pen the dynamic changes.
Once the pen gets down to its normal 7 man staff, does Girardi bring in a long man?
He’s said all spring the won’t have a long man but once the staff gets down to 7 relievers I’d guess he’ll call up Rasner.
Then it’ll be either Bruney or Ohlendorf who goes down.
Interesting to see which one. I’d guess it will be Ohlendorf but the first 4 games will probably be an extended try out for both of them.
Darn. I feel bad for Patterson. Stay strong Scott. I am sure we will see you some time this season in the Bronx
# anti-mussina March 29th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
you hope bruney fails?
That is funny coming from you, since you hope Mussina fails.
jenn, there is no explaining types like him. not even worth trying to…
DON’T GIVE UP ON US SCOTT WE WANT YOU IN BRONX !!!
Mike
You are right. I don’t know why I bother.
i guess because we are strongly in the Anti-Anti camp ( and of course supporting the new movement- alex being alex)
If grasshoppers had hand grenades, birds wouldn’t EFF with them…I hate if’s.
IF Bruney cuts his walks…He has to cut his walks just based on his past. 114 walks in 148 innings? How can he not cut that? But the thing is, why do we even have to ask that question? If noone wants him to come in a close game with men on base, what good is he as a reliever? If you have nobody else to throw I understand, but the Yankees are not in that position.
So in recap, they kept a guy that has proven over his career he can’t throw strikes. They kept a guy that most would agree should be as far from the field as possible with men on base in a close game. Why did they keep him? Wouldn’t you want to start the year with a guy you know will at the very LEAST give the team a CHANCE to record an out by throwing a strike now and then?
Patterson throwing 90-92 and hitting 94 (with deception) and Bruney throwing 93-94 and hitting 97…is 3 mph worth 7 bb/9?
“Between Hawkins’ ineffectiveness in the AL”
you mean the 357 innings of 3.33 ERA he has pitched in the AL as a reliever?
Don’t you guys think Matsui is batting a bit too low in the line-up?
Bruney is the reliever with the most points to prove. Joe Girardi is giving him the benefit of the doubt with his attitude change, loss of weight, and good outings he’s been giving. He has to be fully aware that things are different this year in that there’s competition ready to pounce on any opportunity given. The rest is up to him.
Who knows if Patterson will ever get another chance? I believe he’s pitched something like 110 innings in the last year, including a long and needless stint in winter ball. That’s a huge workload. And he only had a few weeks off before reporting to spring traiing. I fear the Yankees, who have over used other promising bullpen arms like Cox and Whelan, will grind down patterson too. A real shame. At least if he had made the team, we might have gotten a few good weeks (months?) out of him. I really hope they lighten his load in AAA and bring him back soon
“Think about all the things that could go wrong between now and a few weeks from now when he could possible be called up.”
Great insights Joe, and CB as well. I feel for him. More importantly, I thought bringing Patterson to the Bronx now gives us our best bullpen. I trust Girardi more than myself, but I sure think Patterson deserves a shot right now.
http://tinyurl.com/2va3b6
I like what Girardi’s former players had to say about him.. sorry if this was already posted
“who have over used other promising bullpen arms like Cox and Whelan, will grind down patterson too.”
They have? I’m pretty sure that their injuries had nothing to do with heavy workload.
“They kept a guy that most would agree should be as far from the field as possible with men on base in a close game. Why did they keep him?”
Because, in his limited sample this spring, he threw more strikes than before. If he maintains that, then he’ll be a big asset. If not, then he’s gone.
Patterson has never gotten out batters above the AA level, except in 8 innings this spring. Bruney, while also walking too many, has. He’s, apparently, given them reason to see if he can keep his walks down now that spring is over. Let’s see if he does.
I did not know Phil Hughes was going to be the opening day starter. ?????
There will be a need in the bullpen for a long reliever every fifth day to relieve a certain pitcher that I will not name. This long reliever should expect to enter in the third (hopefully the fourth) and pitch to the seventh and hope the Yankees are ahead or tied.
A pitcher in SWB should have this job in mind as his way to get on the 25 man roster.
# anti-mussina March 29th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
you hope bruney fails?
That is funny coming from you, since you hope Mussina fails.
Then we’re even.
Relief pitchers are a crapshoot, for the most part. There is no use pretending at this point that we know who will perform well and who won’t.
I expect Mo still to be dominant, but less so. After that, nothing would surprise me. Maybe Bruney turns the corner, but maybe he doesn’t. Maybe Patterson gets lit up in AAA and never gets called up; maybe he’s lights out and plays a key role. Maybe Ohlendorf becomes the next Scott Proctor; maybe he becomes the next Bret Prinz.
“..I’m pretty sure that their injuries had nothing to do with heavy workload”
You may be sure but Whelan was trotting out of the bullpen for two or three innings every second game for much of last year. Cox was on a similar schedule the year before. This was essentially a new plan by Yankee minor league development — throw certain relievers out there every other day for multiple innings. Sure, it may be coincidence but two of the lab rats paid the price. Let’s see how long Patterson lasts this year.
I act and that’s a business that’s basically 95% rejection (and I write too, another rejection heavy profession…I must be a glutton for punishment). One of the things you have to get used to pretty quick is that sometimes everything seems perfect–you’re absolutely right for a part, you did a knockout audition and then you don’t get it and you don’t know why. The worst thing you can do then is dwell on it, or obsess about the idea that that might have been your last, best chance. If you let yourself think about things like that, you’ll be paralyzed every time you do something. When you go into your next audition you have to do the weird balancing act of not treating it like it’s the end of the world yet still give 100% as if it is. So that’s kind of what Patterson has to do–he did fantastic in spring training, but if he dwells on the question of why that wasn’t enough, he’ll destroy himself and not pitch as well. He just needs to remain confident in what he’s doing, then when something opens up, he’ll be ready.
Today’s not opening day @ whoever said Phil as opening day starter. Pete was just refering to the line up.
Since Joe G was talking about the “Younger Team” this year awhile back, I tend to think he contradicted himself by not giving Patterson the shot. He seemed ready for a *shot*. I am sure he will be brought up soon enough, but to me that was silly.
I love how Joe G says, “We’ll have a long man once the BP starts getting taxed”. Well, we already know that is going ot be sooner rather than later..
I’m also disappointed that we don’t have Gardner for opening day.. put him on base and he can move.. all those 1 run losses last year? Heck, having speed on the bases like Gardner can manufacturer another run.. a little small-ball will ya? I thought Joe G was about the small-ball?
Oh well..
Put aside the “who was to go for Santana” for a moment..
Everybody is so caught up in the.. “It’s not worth it, or It won’t be worth it if we have to give up so and so..” All that may very well be true.. but I will tell you something else that is true…
We still neeed an Ace! We still need a strong Lefty! We need someone that can pitch 200+ innings this year.. Our pitching has been the primary cause of this team not advancing in the post-season for 4+ years now..
With those facts, how could you not make a deal for someone of Santana’s stature..
Keep finding all of your excuses as to why we didn’t get Johan.. but I will tell you this.. it is a decision that will undoubtably be regretful.
This team is not a team you *expect* to be in the post-season this year, it is a team that you *hope* to be in the post-season… That my friends is a big change from Capt. Jeter’s philosophy.. and the rest of the Yankee organization for that matter.
whozat -
When Patterson came into games this spring, did he face “A” lineups or did he face the AA/AAA/AAAA guys? Because that’s important, too.
Oops, I realized that might have been confusing. Did he face MLB lineups?
I’m sure Pete was referring to the positional players, not the starting pitcher, who of course will be the Wanger.
Oops – that might have been confusing. I meant, did he face major league hitters?
Yankees.com has todays game listed as the “season opener” on the schedule, according to their legend/map.. It confused me as well.. It says tomorrow is the “Home Opener” and today is the “Away Opener”. Shame on MLB for misleading us..
Wang: Uhm, he sure showed me that he is ready to pitch this year with his terrible spring.. all but one *fair* outing.
I hope something changes for him tomorrow, because saying he looked rusty this spring was being kind.
I for one will not second guess the final roster moves. There’s nobody posting on this blog that’s privvy to the conversations that Girardi, Eiland, and Cashman had or their reasons that went into decisions before announcing them to the players and the media.
They are professional baseball people and take more into account than we realize on a daily basis. What we perceive as great numbers may find them looking for certain other intangibles that weigh on decisions. Ultimately, they hold themselves accountable for what they decide and we don’t. We just get to rag on them for what we don’t care for in what they do.
He usually came in late and rarely faced MLB lineups.
Skippy -
Great insight. One of my friends is a dancer. She lost out on a Broadway role because, in the end, they decided they liked the idea that two of the dancers looked alike. Totally arbitrary and having nothing to do with her talent. And this decision on Patterson, well, it could be argued that the decision was a coin-flip.
Thanks, Rudy.
Joe Ordinary -
I wouldn’t pre-suppose to know anything about why they do what they do, but the purpose of this blog, I guess, is to think out loud, in a forum. I certainly hope that none of us think we have anything to say about these things in reality!
My husband just told me to tell all you guys planning to go to opening day, that the rain forecast is for the p.m. So trisha, I hope you didn’t lose your ticket!
“Wang: Uhm, he sure showed me that he is ready to pitch this year with his terrible spring.. all but one *fair* outing.”
Reminds me of Bedard
They’ll both be fine
“He usually came in late and rarely faced MLB lineups.”
False. At least later in the spring, he frequently came in earlyish than that and faced legit MLB hitters. I remember him working through the heart of the Cleveland lineup, for instance.
Early in the spring, pretty much all the relievers saw minor league hitters.
Doreen -
Patterson faced a mixture of opponents but in many cases came in with runners on base and worked his way out of a jam.
In the early exhibition games he saw more of the lesser hitters and recent games saw the more experienced ones as cuts were made.
“earlyish than that ”
I am the king of grammar.
Reported from earlier thread:
FINALLY!
The perfect gift.
Check it out boys and girls (and you too McLovin).
http://www.artsnow.com/bronxblock
Plan on watching the NCAA tournament while listening to the Yanks at MLB.com, and btw, am sure hoping for a sharp outing from Phil Hughes, whose pitching thus far this spring has…uh, been less than inspiring.
Whatever.
where were you when Hughes had a hitless streak going? Oh yeah, those innings don’t count because….
Hmm, has anybody paid attention to game reports for Diamondbacks/Mariners/Padres/Brewers? Check out the ERAs and hits allowed for Webb, Bedard, Peavy, and Sheets this spring. Are they trying out stuff? Are defenses being sloppy?
Ronnie,
Anybody that thinks Hughes has looked good this spring, especially lately, is either in denial or not paying attention. But, you know, it’s just spring training, right?
I’m trying to listen to the game on Gameday Audio. I don’t have Microsoft Silverlight installed because it doens’t work right on my PC. How do I change back to Windows Media Player with this site redesign?
yup Spring training games dictate how a major leaguer will perform over the regular season /sarcasm
Hughes looked pretty sharp in his last start. He made one mistake (a two-run HR) but other than that looked good.
“Are they trying out stuff? Are defenses being sloppy?”
I suspect that all of this is true. I also am pretty sure that no one’s really going over scouting reports, setting up batters like they would in the regular season, all that stuff. Pitchers are working on getting their stuff going, and kind of working in general on establishing the FB and then working with offspeed stuff, but it’s not like they have the hours long meeting with the catchers before games to go over all the hitters and develop a game plan and all that.
Well, I for one wouldn’t mind if John Maine kept up his sub 2 era through the real games, for my fantasy team’s benefit
Hughes is not locating his fastball.
Well, half of that post got eaten up
For those who haven’t looked it up, Webb’s got a 8.5 era, Bedard’s got a 8.63, Peavy’s got a 9.39, and Sheets got a 9.56 so far this spring
Are they gonna pitch like this for the real games? Of course they’ll do a helluva lot better.
Insert LaTroy Hawkins’s quote here
whozat or CB or whoever tell me the Yankees didn’y fall asleep on this guy…….
The Tigers have signed left-hander Aaron Fultz to a contract with AAA Toledo. Fultz, an eight-year big-league veteran, was released this week by Cleveland.
Bobby Seay is currently the only left-hander in Detroit’s bullpen. So if Fultz can get his act together, there’s probably a spot for him on the big league club.
PECOTA projects Fultz will have a 3.92 ERA in roughly 45 innings pitched in 2008. But, as we all know, predicting what a reliever will do from one season to the next is far more difficult that predicting a position player, or even a starting pitcher.
I’m having a terrible time with the MLB audio, it comes on for a second and then quits, is anyone else having the same issue?
I’m surprised he has so much trouble locating his fastball. Normally he has really good command of his fastball.
Listening to the game and Susan says that Hughes does not look good. He can’t control his fastball again. Gave up a hit to Ramirez, a strikeout, then a walk, a hit to Gonzalez..Marlins 1-0..Now 2 runners on base and 2 outs..
A run given up by Hughes, and he’s already above 20 pitches in the 1st inning. I’m telling you this shaky, shaky starting staff is going to be the death of any playoff chances the Yankees have. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH.
25 pitches on pace for 4 innings, a ST era of 7.13 and he’s our #3.
“whozat or CB or whoever tell me the Yankees didn’y fall asleep on this guy”
Aaron Fultz? No. He’s another veteran retread. No better than Traber, certainly, as a lefty-specialist type.
If you assume that they never “fall asleep” on a guy, you’ll probably be right. They may make decisions we disagree with, but I don’t think they’ll ever fail to notice a possible acquisition.
^^^^ no big deal
Let’s hope Phil settles in after the rough 1st inning.
thanks whozat
“25 pitches on pace for 4 innings, a ST era of 7.13 and he’s our #3.”
Wow. Giving up on the team during spring training. Please, PLEASE go root for another team so that we don’t have to hear from you all season.
Here’s hoping Jorgie has a good offensive year again…
I think 6-8 will be juggled around depending on production, but I expect big things out of ‘zilla, he’ll end up being the 6.
Matsui is batting way too low for my tastes. He shouldn’t be lower than 6th in the order.
Let’s play a game. It’s called “What’s more likely?”
A) Hughes has lost the fastball command that he has shown almost all year, every year since he was drafted and the Yankees are thus screwed.
B) Hughes is having a bad start, possibly due to some mechanical flaw.
“A run given up by Hughes, and he’s already above 20 pitches in the 1st inning. I’m telling you this shaky, shaky starting staff is going to be the death of any playoff chances the Yankees have. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH.”
Do you need a hug? Or a Valium? Chill..
Have some people never paid attention to spring training before?
“Matsui is batting way too low for my tastes. He shouldn’t be lower than 6th in the order.”
Posada can bat righty, and even if he regresses to his career norms, he’s still just as productive a hitter as Matsui. I don’t really have a problem with it. Cano’s dangerous with the bat, and having the more disciplined and powerful Matsui behind him can only help him.
“Have some people never paid attention to spring training before?”
I think that’s exactly the problem.
Robbie on fire this spring!
Whozat, Nick -
Thanks for your answers. Much appreciated. Also makes me more, um, confused about their ultimate decision. But, I think Patterson’s not done.
yeah, wasn’t jeff Weaver the ST ace in 2003?
“Cano’s dangerous with the bat, and having the more disciplined and powerful Matsui behind him can only help him.”
Very true. However, I’m still looking for Cano to develop his own discipline at the plate. Way too many times he swings at balls he shouldn’t be. Maybe this will be his year to change.
Gameday Audio isn’t working for me. Does anyone else have this problem?
“You may be sure but Whelan was trotting out of the bullpen for two or three innings every second game for much of last year. Cox was on a similar schedule the year before.”
This is completely in accurate.
First of all, we have no idea what Kevin Whelan’s injury is or if its serious at all. No idea. Sounds like its just some soreness.
Second, the biggest problem Kevin Whelan has right now in his career is his lack of command and lack of experience.
The two are related. Whelan was a catcher in college and threw very few innings and has poor mechanics.
They threw him multiple innings so that he could work on his command and make up for his lack of experience.
JB Cox’s arm injury was related to his experience at college. His arm was bothering him very early on after they drafted him.
according to gameday hughes isnt missing by much
Give Mr. Bruney 4 appearances after season started, he’ll be back in AAAA. Anyone wanna wager?
“Maybe this will be his year to change.”
He’s already begun to change. He nearly doubled his walk rate from 06 to 07. Hopefully that’s the beginning of a progression.
“Give Mr. Bruney 4 appearances after season started, he’ll be back in AAAA. Anyone wanna wager?”
Given that there’s no such thing as AAAA, I’d gladly take your bet (and your money!)
Jeter error . way to pick up Hughes.
Well that inning would have been scoreless if not for the error by Derek.
Yeah, well, spring training doesn’t mean all that much, but on the other hand, when your 2 days away from opening day it’s kind of nice to see some good performances from your starting staff. And let’s face it, the Yank’s fortunes this year are going to hinge on how their starters do. Call me crazy.
One through one, the Marlins have the best lineup in baseball.
“according to gameday Hughes isn’t missing by much”
This isn’t horseshoes, Ronnie.
“but on the other hand, when your 2 days away from opening day it’s kind of nice to see some good performances from your starting staff.”
Yes.
But, it’s also not really worth freaking out when a 21 year old pitcher has a bad day. Especially when his command was fine last time out.
Every team hinges on their starting pitchers
“This isn’t horseshoes, Ronnie.’
No. But it would indicate that his command isn’t off by THAT much. Which would seem likely, given the exemplary command he’s always had.
Folks…there will be ups and downs all season. If you’re going to live and die with every performance by the young pitchers, you’re going to lose it. Also, if you come here raving after every bad start, you’re going to ruin the blog for everyone.
“This isn’t horseshoes, Ronnie.”
Thanks moron. So by this logic youd rather have Hughes throwing balls to the backstop than just missing off the plate? You don’t have to answer that, just take your kneejerk clueless self to Masslive where you belong
Of course, what’s there to worry? The great Hughes, with his great “pose” will carry him through right? lol.
He’ll reach his pitch count by 3rd inning. Girardi needs to carry a personal long reliever for Hughes.
whozat,
Point out any of my posts where I’m freaking out.
“Every team hinges on their starting pitchers”
True. The Yanks less than most, actually, given the offense.
“Anybody that thinks Hughes has looked good this spring, especially lately, is either in denial or not paying attention.”
That’s not a particularly rational viewpoint. He looked awesome early, had a rough start or two, looked good last start except for one homer, and is having a rough time tonight. oooh.
Hearing STerling tell the story about the LA coliseum and how Scully had to call the game being so far away can you imagine if Sterling had to do that he can barely get it right at a regular stadium
Ronnie,
Havin’ a bad day? Are you like, messed up in the head, or what?
“Of course, what’s there to worry? The great Hughes, with his great “pose†will carry him through right? lol.”
assuming that you’re trying to say “poise” genius. you need your own personal English tutor to make it through the day.
So chicken littles. How do you line them apples?
Isn’t there a game going on right now? Where’s the live blog?
whozat,
Almost every preview I’ve read this spring have all mentioned the starters as the big ? on the 2008 Yankees. But you figure the Yankee’s staff is going to be lights out, huh?
I don’t know what Alex said to Hughes but he should say it again next inning. 5 pitches, 3 outs.
3 innings 45 pitches. omg his pitchcount is fine, now we can all relax
**like**
anyone know why jeter came out so soon? unusual
They said that Jeter came out?
Well from game day, it seem that Hughes fastball velocity is pretty good. 93 94MPH.
wow. You certainly are demonstrating that impressive intelligence you have. lol. Joeker. or is it Joker. Can you figure it out, “Looser” or “Loser”?
Ok, while I wouldn’t want to give up any of our starters, I have to admit I get really jealous when I see Johan Santana’s picture as a starting pitcher for the Mets.
I think we need to lie to both Ian and Phil about what inning it is. They both have trouble in the first. We should tell them the game starts in the second.
Oh, god. If Jeter got injured on the last ST game….
would anyone who’s listening to the game mind giving me a quick description of how the marlins scored?
What happened to Pete?
Hope Derek is ok
gameday says Phil is throwing 94…..
Phil in a nice groove now. Good to see.
lol. Still a Torre green tea commercial.
I’m sure Jeter is OK. He probably has an early dinner date.
Hughes is looking sharp but i hope this is the last game our offense takes off…
http://www.nytimes.com/pages/s.....index.html
Cool photo video. It is behind the scenes of Yankee Stadium!!
and thank you melky for answering my call
Nice Melky honey!
Melky with da bomb!
Just got in. Melky welcomes me with a homerun!
Leche!
Whozat, You seem to lack virtue of optimism…..I read your postings usually with great interest, but that being said you do relish the devil’s advocate role rather well…..Hughes will win 15 games this season if he stays relatively healthy……It’s always easier to spin a negative perspective….Go on the record, what’s your numbers for him…..
I hope Melky has a good year. I would love to see him prove all his doubters wrong.
Anyone else seeing only a white tab on Gameday? Nothing comes up. Help anyone?
THAT’S MY BOY!!!!!!!!!
Gameday has been fine for me. Maybe close it and open it up again?
Waldman and Sterling picking the Yanks to win the AL East. Hmmm, imagine that. Hope to God they’re right.
2 on with Alex up…
I thought we had gotten rid of the green tea commercials for the season sad to say we didnt
Tried closing, no luck. Any other suggestions?
Whatever,
You know the team’s in trouble if Suzyn starts picking against the Yanks. My audio cut out in the middle of her Buchholz story. What did she say?
losing again.. what else is new.
why won’t gameday work?
ARod chases the down and away changeup on 3-2 count. End of inning.
How long until the Arod bashers come out?
Tell me Jeter is OK. Please.
They can’t figure out what happened with Jeter.
Arod K’d with men on base!! We are doomed!!!!
It seems that Jeter came out for injury.
Anyone know why Jeter is out of the game already?
It’s still not working?
Strange..mine has been fine..
Maybe try opening it again? Here is the link:
http://tinyurl.com/35fpzt
Please tell me Jeter’s okay.
mel, The pizza delivery man showed up during Suzyn’s remark’s about Clay Bucholz and I missed what she said about him.
Blogfather…you with us and if so what is the deal with DJ?
Another great inning for Phil. 1 earned run over 5 innings.
Too bad we can’t see that beautiful breaking ball.
The new gameday on mlb is awesome.
It also shows Hughes throwing 95 at times.
Gameday link anyone? i havent seen one yet,…
wow Phil throwing 95 in 5th inning according to gameday very encouraging.
Yay Phil!
That small case whatever that’s posting negative comments is not me.
Something about wanting him to start at A ball.
Speaking of food. Should I bake chocolate pretzels or black and white cookies.
MLB has this new gameday thing so you have to download some flash player.
So no one has Jeter information?
Suzyn said that the Red Sox were maybe talking about sending Bucholtz to AAA because he was struggling with his control.
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday.....de=gameday
Be OK, Jete!
If your gameday isn’t working (and you haven’t used it this season), they have a new look… close all your browser windows, and download the latest version of “Adobe Flash” (search for “adobe flash download” in google or yahoo), and download the latest update. Once installation is complete, close all your browser windows again and go back to MLB gameday.
I want to know why is it so difficult to find out if Jeet is okay or not.
lol,whatever, I was confused. I thought Waldman & Sterling ordered pizza.
Now I got it.
Jeter pulled a hamstring, could be 3-5 weeks.
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday.....de=gameday
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday.....de=gameday
hopefully that data is not coming from the Yes camera’s at least.
source?
Now the question is who should they bring up from AAA to replace Jeter.
WHAT?????
Don’t believe it, I don’t see this on any other blogs.
thanks guys, trapped at work, needed to see the haps
What’s the source on jeter’s hamstring or is it just a guess?
Weaver pitched to the tune of 2.25 era over 24 innings in 2003′s spring training
If Peavy pitched for your team and his last spring outing was 3 innings, 4 earned runs (4 hits and 1 walk), what would your reaction be, assuming that he’s lined up to be opening day starter?
whatever messing with you. Calm down.
I think that person just made it up about Jeter..
Hope he’s ok though
I don’t see anything about Jeter anywhere! Checked various message boards, blogs etc. No one knows why he was out.
Hughes has really pitched well since the first.
Jax,
Thanks it cut out at the part where she said they were thinking of sending him down because he couldn’t throw strikes. I was just wondering if they changed their mind. Colon’s looked good in non-Yankee games so he’ll probably be their 5th starter.
Matsuzaka, Lester, Wakefield, Tavares, Colon to start the year. I feel like I’m missing someone.
Phil Hughes: 1 ER, 3 hits, 5 IP
I don’t care how you slice that, but that’s not a bad start for the innings pitched.
Since there hasn’t been any news on this for so long, Jeter’s injury must be very serious. I hope it won’t be season-ending.
Mel,
Buchholz…But Beckett should be back soon.
Maybe he got the runs. Jesus chill out!
C’mon guys, be optimistic. Jeter’s just come out as a precaution.
SHAME ON PETE FOR NOT UPDATING THE STATUS OF JETER.
We can speculate all we want, people can make up things all they want until we hear from the Yanks or Girari everything is a guess for all we know he came out cause he has the flu bug or something amazing how everyone thinks the worst
Don’t you think if he got injured on the field, there would be something about it on somewhere?
Guys, stop worrying. Jeter just came out of the game so he can get married.
Good job by Phil today.
Mark Feinsand said on the radio the writers don’t know anything about Jeter but it would be the first question asked during the postgame with Girardi.
whatever,
Is that your post at 7:42?
Give Pete a break wouldn’t you? He’s packing for the trip back to NY.
I like Andrea’s solution.
I’ve got the inside scoop, Rebecca. I just don’t like to share it that often
Now most of the starters are out, they all must be hurt. You guys need to chill.
I hope Jeter’s okay.
Sounds like in spite of the nervous nellies in the 1st inning that Phil put together a very, very good outing.
Off-topic:
Anyone ever stayed at the Rogers Center in Toronto? I’m putting together our family vacation in August and can get a room at the Renaissance Toronto Hotel. My husband just wants me to make sure it’s not noisy. Now, since I’ve never been there, and I’m sure if I called the hotel they’d say it’s fine, I didn’t really know how I’d go about finding that out. Then I thought of all you very, very helpful people….
Jennifer – didn’t you go to Toronto?
Thanks in advance,
Doreen
mel, No there’s an imposter. I know nothing about why Derek came out.
Thanks Eric – I’d left here to do something else.
If the media/press knew something about Jeter we aould have heard it from Peter or Sterling.
Just chill out!
People who are predicting injuries dont have any sources as proof.
I am selling 2 tickets for 4/5. Anyone here interested?
Also, I just logged on. What happened to Jeter?
Doreen I am going in July. I booked a room at the Intercontinental hotel. It looked nice, so I took a shot.
Doreen,
I’m also going in July and I’m staying at the Renaissance, but I’ve never been there before.
Clare have you bought your airline tickets yet? I keep checking continentals site waiting for the price to go down.
Clay: where are the tickets and how much? I might know someone who’s interested–I’d have to check though
Thanks, Jennifer. We’re going in August. Unfortunately, our vacation time doesn’t coincide with when the Yankees will be in town, but that’s probably good from a ticket price standpoint. We’d see the Indians, I think. Or the A’s.
I paid 230 for 2 tickets to 3 games. 6 total tickets.
No I haven’t. I still haven’t gotten my train tix to Balt for April yet, so I’m a little slow. I did book the hotels though.
Andrea,
Tier Box MVP. Near home plate (section 6). The face value is $60.
Farnsworth and Bruney look to be ready for the season to start.
I booked the rooms in January. I learned the hard way that you can’t wait.
Any Jeter word?
I’m really happy Phil looked good today. One, because I love the Yankees and I want to see them win and the other is for selfish reasons. I drafted him on all of my fantasy teams so he better do good this year!! lol
Nick Johnson playing first game in over a year tomorrow.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....id=3319494
Nick Johnson will get hurt falling over himself and he’ll be out for half the year.
We’re going to see the Yankees in Baltimore later on in August. I’ve already got my rooms for that.
I’m trying to figure out if we want to do the Toronto/Sandusky/Cleveland vacation or the Virginia Beach/Williamsburg/Amusement Park/Smithsonian vacation. I would love to have it all worked out by Monday at the latest so I can make reservations. So far, at first glance, there are rooms available everywhere in Trip #1. We were originally planning to go to Paris this summer, but the exchange rate is more than I can swallow right now.
Jennifer -
That’s great news about Nick Johnson. I hope he can stay healthy. Just because, you know?
Yeah the exchange rate is terrible. Co-worker went to Paris and England, everything was double!
I just wanted you to know that I was teasing you about Nick Johnson and didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.
More like, I wasn’t “trying” to hurt your feelings.
sheesh, doesn’t take much to get people all worked up about something no one is even sure of, around here.
Pete, Why is Matsui so far down in the lineup?
I don’t like it but I can understand the logic of “Needs more experience”, as far as Patterson goes. However I can definitely see why he would be mad. I’m sure he was told all spring that he was in competition for a bullpen spot, and let’s be honest…it’s clear now that was a lie. He wasn’t in the competition. He did absolutely nothing, not one thing, no matter the situation, to lose a spot if he was ever in competition for one, so he apparently was not.
I mean, that’s all fine and good. But maybe someone should have told him early in Spring that while they very much wanted to see what he could do and he would certainly be an option during the season if he proved himself, it would be impossible for him to open the season with the roster. Why give him false hope when the guy not only doesn’t give up a run but only allows a single BASERUNNER the entire spring while striking out more than a hitter per inning, doing so in all kinds of big situations (starting innings, runners on, multiple innings, etc.)?
I guess that’s the part of it that bothered me.
Law and order,
You wouldn’t have the stones to boo a terrorist.
Chickensh*t.
Hey! Just thought I’d respond. I truly loved this blog. Keep up the great effort.