The latest on A-Rod’s rehab
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on May 18, 2008 
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This from the AP in Tampa:
Alex Rodriguez remains on target to rejoin the New York Yankees on Tuesday.
The third baseman, out since April 28 with a strained right quadriceps, hit a grand slam to center field during his 15 at-bats in a simulated game Sunday. He is scheduled to play in an extended spring training game Monday against Philadelphia minor leaguers before returning to New York.
“It’s the best I’ve felt since the injury,†Rodriguez said.
A-Rod faced four different Yankees minor league pitchers, getting credit for five hits in his 15 at-bats. He also had a sacrifice fly and walked five times.
“It’s invaluable to get those at-bats,†Rodriguez said. “You can’t duplicate it anywhere else.â€
In the simulated game format, there were no fielders—just the pitcher, catcher and Rodriguez, who hit seven hard liners.
Rodriguez went though an intensive workout at third, fielding 54 grounders in a variety of situations. He also ran in the outfield and took batting practice in an indoor cage.
“I’m excited,†Rodriguez said. “I want to get back into the lineup and help my team.â€
Hi Pete -
Thanks for the updates and for putting up with me!
Trisha – Don’t get down on yourself.
How do you hit a grand slam when all you’ve got is a pitcher, catcher and one hitter? I realize this is “simulated,” but what are the mechanics of this? Does someone simply say “OK, lets pretend the bases are loaded now” and is this supposed to have a real influence on the way the pitcher pitches? I’d love to hear more details on this…………
So Pettitte will take Arod’s place on the DL?
Any news on that, Pete?
yeah, whatever. He’ll still go 0-4 the first game back.
Joe – thanks for that.
I do appreciate it, believe me.
We should tell Arod the bases are loaded every time he comes up to bat. The lineup better start waking up now, because they better not expect him to be superman. Atleast now we won’t have to see Ensberg in the lineup but we still have the pitcher batting 9th….Moeller or Molina.
Okay I am confused, how does one hit a sac fly in a simulated game with no fielder?
I’d love to hear more about how a simulated game works, as well
Of the 7 hard liners, I assume that 2 were considered outs; how do they figure what’s a successful hit and what’s nicely caught out?
Doc gooden’s no hitter is on yes, and Alex is up to bat. Wow he looks YOUNG!!
Tonight might be a first night in a long time that I don’t watch the Yankees who are nationally televised. Watching the likes of Ensberg, Molina, Moller, Gonzales, and Duncan makes my stomach turn. These are basically automatic outs every single time they are up. Duncan is downright horrible as is Ensberg. Moliana and Moller get somewhat of a pass because they catch. Ensberg is pathetic. Does anybody really get excited when the above stoll up to the plate? This team is not good at all. Year after year, millions upon millions, billions upon billions since 2001, this organization has let us fans down with the dumb multi year signings and no pitching. The money they have spent, and no return on their investment is embarassing. Keeping Hughes and Kennedy over Santana is embarassing. Wonder who scouted these two? Hughes is injured more than he plays. Then when he pitches, he has excuse (eye) after excuse. Kennedy is not a MLB pitcher, period and we could have dumped them. Please Yankees, get us some pitching next year, please.
You won’t see Boston run out and give Veritek 4yrs at $54 million. You don’t see Boston signing Damon to a multi year deal because they knew he would stink. Where’s the Yankees common sense these days? Yanks are in the same boat. When A Rod is 38 making $25 million a year and producing like Giambi it won’t be a surprise to me. And again, for those of you who will site “money is no issue and payroll”, then they should have bid more for Dice K and gotten Santana, so that argument is out the window. Thank you Jeter, his is a warrior, a champion, someone who cares and hustles all the time. The only people worth watching so far this year are Jeter, Mo, Wang, and most of the time Joba. Did someone say the Yanks should “play like the Rays”?????
http://www.slate.com/id/2121262/
That article does a pretty good job of explaining a simulated game.
In the simulated game format, there were no fielders—just the pitcher, catcher and Rodriguez
Um, in what sense, then, is it a “simulated game”?
Yanks are what 6/7 games back in the win column of Boston or Tampa? Could take them three weeks to win 6 games at the pace they are going. The season is a quarter over so far. I give the team as a whole a C- as a grade. I was looking at the schedule, it seems in the next month the Yanks should tear through it. But when 40% of your starting pitching hasn’t won a game, a bit hard.
I said it during the game yesterday that as well as Johan Santana pitched, they should list CC Sabathia as the WP.
I have major concerns about the fact that the big lefty is so BIG, but with Andy P and Moose probably moving on after this year and the questionable performance of the rookies I think that the Yanks are going to want to throw down megabucks for an ace. (and no, this is not a shot at Wanger – he is an ace too if not in the classical sense)
So bring on CC Sabathia and pray that he starts wearing his lid properly while he pitches lights out for the Yanks for 6 years at gazillions of dollars.
***On a separate front – Chad Jennings has Karstens as the likely starter for SWB today.
I hope Alex can simulate the same results when he gets back! Good luck to Wang and the gang. This is the last day without Alex, right?
Thanks Yewnork.
fly him up for the game tonight – get him in the line-up!!
How much pressure will ARod be under to “save” the Yankees?
Thanks for the link
The first form of the Santana deal was Hughes, Cabrera, Marquez, and a A level prospect. Twins went to get Boston into the bidding game, Pettitte resigned, and then Yankees pulled Hughes (Bill Smith dropped the ball on that one)
Sometime during that or shortly after, Cameron signed with the Brewers (January 11); he was basically the one CF option who would sign for 1 year that the Yankees wanted as replacement for Cabrera
Twins then wanted Wang and Kennedy to replace Hughes; that gets shot down by the Yankees
Getting Santana means no Wang (and Cabrera for that matter). Which means directly replacing Wang with Santana. Which means an improvement of MAYBE 1 win by now in that slot (Yankees have lost twice when Wang started; one was 0-3, the other was 1-2. The 0-3 is a lost cause no matter who pitched, as 0 runs means you don’t win. The 1-2 would have required Santana to throw a shutout for the Yankees to have won). Hell, Wang’s era stands at 2.9 right now, while Santana’s at 3.3.
Replacement for Kennedy’s slot would be harder to predict. In games that the Yankees lost with Kennedy pitching, they scored 4, 0, 0, 3, 4, 2. The two 0′s are lost causes. The 4′s may have been winnable if the replacement + bullpen can keep the opposing team to 3 or less…but this is approximately 4th or 5th slot, so that’s iffy. A 4th/5th slot replacement + bullpen keeping the opposing team down to 2 or less (for the 3 run game) or 1 or less (for the 2 run game) is increasingly unlikely, of course.
Pete’s on espnews now.
Ewww. Pete talking about the gold thong. It hangs in Giambi’s locker and it’ll go in other’s lockers if they slump.
It’ll be in the news loop on espnews.
Boston/Brewers on TBS. Man in scoring position for Brewers.
No Oka (wrist).
my god atleast make it new individual thongs, that’s just freaking nasty
IT IS HIGH, IT IS FAR, IT IS GONE!!
Ryan Braun over the monster 2-0 Brewers against Becket
from the last thread:
“randy
If you hopped a vw bus for haight asbury, you must be old enough to be Cashman’s Dad.”
vrsce-
yes, it’s true i’m old enough to be his dad.
…i must say i’m really disappointed in that kid.
Ryan Braun making that extension work he already has the knack of killing RedSox pitching
The feds will be talking to the players in the Mitchell report to find out who their suppliers are/were.
GO BREWERS!!!!
GO CINCY!!!!!
got tickets for tonight, so I REALLY hope it stops raining.
Villevueva forgot to hold the runner
Lowell is Puerto Rican ?
Brandon,
Yes.
I believe Lowell moved to Puerto Rico as a child but his family actually has roots in Cuba.
Lowell is a refugee ?
I’m sure you guys will have a good time with this…..Colon is scheduled to pitch for the Sox on Wednesday.
I’m actually interested in how he will look.
arod was not having a very good year even when he was playing. he was part of the problem on offense.
as much as giambi is being bashed, one could make a case he’s offensively doing about as well as arod in a similar number of at bats.
arod needs to be arod if he’s going to be an offensive catalyst to get the team going.
Yeah, so this is my question and I admit to being confused on this issue.
Lowell’s father is Cuban. Lowell was born in Puerto Rico. What does that make Lowell?
The reason I ask is because my niece was born in France but we have no French in us. My brother just happened to be working there at the time…
“Colon is scheduled to pitch for the Sox on Wednesday.
I’m actually interested in how he will look.”
do the red sox uniforms stretch?
going down to A ball and refining his swing might do him some good, it gives him a break from NY.
Brandon,
Lowell’s father played on the Cuban baseball team for a while. But I also think that Lowell’s father in law spent about ten years in prison in Cuba as a political prisoner.
“do the red sox uniforms stretch?”
even Nick in SF saw that one coming
Attention Morgan Ensberg !!!
Pack your bags Monday and say your goodbyes. It’s been real.
ray: Ah, but it would be a better time if the Yankees figured out how to start winning
Lowell was born in Puerto Rico.
Jose Tabata rebounds
Trisha,
I would guess it just means your niece is a French citizen or eligible for dual citizenship. It doesn’t have any bearing on her ethnicity.
Rebecca – do you have Stadium pictures?
Lowell is a Cuba Rican.
Skippy, so are people incorrect in calling Lowell Puerto Rican just because he was born there, if his heritage is not Puerto Rican?
A little known fact….Lowell played on the same high school team for at least a couple years with Arod.
Rebekah….I hope you have a good time at the game and even I would say that you have an excellent chance of winning today with Wang pitching!
I know this will sound profoundly stupid, but then is anyone other than people with American Indian heritage truly American?
I guess we speak of these things in two different ways, no? I am American, of Italian heritage, since I was born in America. My parents were also born in America. Grandparents not so.
And if Mike Lowell was born in Puerto Rico, doesn’t that make him, umm, American?
(Is there an icon for “confused”?)
Not entirely incorrect; he can still be called Puerto Rican for having been born there (though technically he would be a natural-born US citizen, as anybody born in Puerto Rico since 1917 would be)
Good news about Alex. Looks like he’ll be back on Tuesday. Just having him back will give the team a lift. They keep talking (especially Damon in post game interviews) about waiting for Alex to get back.
I am not far from the stadium now and it is not raining. Supposed to clear out by early evening.
Blargh, my nephew, also born in France, moved back to America when he was about a month old.
As dumb as it would be, could he refer to himself as French?
trisha: I do, but waiting till after tonight to post them =)
Rebecca, I bet you’ll have some awesome additions after tonight’s game! Please give a link after you post them. Also, I keep hearing about your blog. Is there a link to it? I’m still a relative newbie here.
Thanks!
I’m confused about what his citizenship would be in that case; from what I’m reading now, it sounds like if both of his parents were US citizens at the time of his birth AND at least one of the parents had lived in the US sometime prior to his birth, then he would be a natural-born US citizen. Otherwise, he would have been stateless and thus automatically acquire French citizenship.
Damn, Cincy has a run and it isn’t even an earned run. When will someone get to Lee???
rain delay in Trenton
McCutchen’s line so far
3.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 6 K’s
Cutch’s fastball today
credit to Mike Ashmore from Thunder Thoughts Blog always on his game
Trisha: Just click on my username. It’s not that good but it’s a ton of fun to write.
Does anyone else just want to punch Pedroia in the face whenever they see him?
Trisha,
Peter lists other Yankee sites. Scroll down the list until you get to “This Purist Bleeds Pinstripes” and that is Rebecca’s excellent blog.
Bob alot of people do
Little Pedroia just hit one over the wall. 2-2.
Crap, and this is why you don’t let a pitcher off the ropes. Brewers had a chance to score on hayseed Beckett last inning and didn’t. Snow White’s dwarf, Pedroia, just tied the score.
And you know how it is when pitchers start to feel their oats again. (Well, I’ve read about it, anyway.)
And as I’m posting, F’Ortiz hits one out.
this Villenueva is throwing meatballs down the middle to RHB, down and in to LHB
Trisha – aside from Boston tying the game, are you feeling better today?
Ray, even though you’re a S_X fan, thanks!
And I too have heard that Rebecca’s blog is excellent.
down the middle and Manny just missed one
Ortiz just made it back to back. 3-2 Boston.
So how would you like to be a player who got tested in 2003 and were told that these tests would be confidential and were only to be used as a basis to determine how things would proceed going forward and now you see that he feds want to question all 104 players that tested positive that year as part of their steroid investigation.
As much as I do not like the fact that these players cheated i find this patently unfair.
trisha Ryan Braun is coming to bat 3 more times, something tells me he’s feeling froggy
Sorry, there is a case where a foreign-born with just one parent having US citizenship can have US citizenship upon birth. If the citizen parent has lived at least 5 years in the US prior to the birth and at least 2 of those years were after the citizen parent’s 14th birthday, then the child born would have US citizenship (after November 14, 1986)
What makes it more interesting is that a child born in France (or its territories) with at least one French citizen parent acquires French citizenship automatically. I wonder if dual-citizenship through birth is allowed…
Fran –
Thanks for asking. I feel good as new. It really was a weird thing, and it has only happened a few times with my allergies, but I actually ended up sleeping most of the day and night. (Too bad I didn’t sleep through the Yanks game…)
I wonder what the roster move will be on Tuesday when Alex comes back. I guess they could DFA Ensberg since it seems they really don’t use him much. Or maybe a pitcher – after all Chris Britton has not been sent down in a few days. It may be his turn again!
my god Prince is as fat as his daddy was
Blargh, geeze louise, now I’m more confused than ever!
I wonder what Lowell considers himself?
trisha,
Ask and you shall receive. Lee just gave up a dinger. Now you should wonder why Beckett’s not giving up too many homeruns this year. Man on base for the Brewers.
What? Cliff Lee just gave up a run?!
HAHA! It worked!
HARDY !
Stupid rain..go away.
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love the Hardy boy!!!
Rebecca,
Yes! And my wishful thinking worked. Beckett just gave up another 2-run homer. Brewers back on top.
Mel – it’s magic!!!!
Hats off to ya!
Trisha and Mel – I hope your magic works tonight starting about 8PM!
Rebecca,
You know how hard it is for Colon to contain his hair? Check out the Cincy pitcher Volquez on Gameday. It’s wild!
Cincinatti scored 2; how was the first run not charged to Lee?
Too bad that wasn’t a vegan sandwich. He dropped the ball like it was radioactive.
gayle: It’d certainly add tension to players-ownership relations…
mel: Were you talking about his hair or his clown hair?
Lee gave up a HR to Adam Dunn
c’mon Brewers. Don’t give the sox the lead again.
…Wow. I’m watching Doc Gooden’s no hitter on YES, and no lies, Michael Kay just said:
“It’s a big crowd on hand tonight, considering the Knicks are playing”
Take a minute and try to digest that.
It looks like Ortiz has found his way out of his slump. He had said that Giambi would too. Still waiting on that one.
Blargh, not sure except that when I looked at the box score when there was just one run, it was not listed as ER
On Beckett already giving up two home runs today….it is clear that he is not as dominating as he was last year.
It seems that pitchers more than other positions can dramatically change from year to year. Probably one reason why neither the Sox or the Yankees pulled the trigger on a trade for Santana.
Plus is anyone on either the Yankees or Sox regretting not signing Barry Zito to a 125 million dollar contract for his 0-8 record so far this year?
Blargh- There was a passed ball in that first inning that allowed Ryan Freel to go to third before he eventually scored.
Volquez does have a rough Gameday pic. Orioles CF Adam Jones also has a funny one, in my opinion. He looks like he was photographed while taking a nap.
Is Villanueva the best the Brewers could do for a SP today??
Laura – maybe Giambi sent Ortiz his g-string?
Not a pretty thought at all.
Remember when the Knicks weren’t an embarrassment to the NBA and humans all over..good times…good times..
BTW..Lets go Cavs! Dunno if they can pull it off..but I can dream.
LOL, Rebecca. The hair under his cap.
Hmm, didn’t know that a passed ball would wipe away the credit to the pitcher (since he got on with a single and there was no official error)
If this were the Yanks on the bases, we would probably have already seen a K followed by a DP!
I’m hoping for a pop up for starters here…
Doesn’t it seem like the soxs are always at home?
Hey Fran, can I grab credit for that just because???
Could be worse. Could be Gagne pitching.
c’mon Villanueva..get out of this
Trisha, I just had lunch. You’re going to make me hurl.
“Remember when the Knicks weren’t an embarrassment to the NBA and humans all over..good times…good times..”
……. sigh
Laura -
I had to do some immediate suspension of thought process to get past that one!
Rebecca: May 14, 1996 sounds like a Ewing’s Knicks against Jordan’s Bulls playoff night
How can you guys stomach watching the Crock Sox? I can barely stand to watch them when they are playing the Yankees.
“Plus is anyone on either the Yankees or Sox regretting not signing Barry Zito to a 125 million dollar contract for his 0-8 record so far this year?”
Seriously. I’m curious about how many of the people who wanted Santana at any cost wanted Zito as well. I remember plenty of people on the boards I used to read back then being livid that the Yanks didn’t sign him. He was an Ace, after all.
this kid on the mound is awful…. he obviously hasn’t been on this website before – ATTACK THE ZONE!!
Trisha – absolutely. By the way you know how you talk about Kay being a jinx? Well yesterday on the Yanks pre-game show they were doing a piece on Wells perfect game (it was the anniversary). Wells talks about how he came into the clubhouse after the top of the 6th and he hears on TV Micheal Kay saying, “Wells is pitching a perfect game.” Wells said he wanted to kill Kay.
Okay, a new hitter. Let’s hope for a DP…
GO BREW CREW!!!
Anyone hear that D’antoni wants to bring back Ewing?
And the wifebeater draws the tying walk.
Are the Yankees so boring that we get more excited about a Red Sox/Brewer game?
Lugo can escape the law, but he can’t escape the rundown.
So when did Lugo beat up his wife?
And on that same May 14, 1996 night, the Knicks were eliminated from the playoffs in a 94-81 loss to the Bulls in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semis.
Fran, the word out on Kay is that he loves doing it just because he knows it bothers people. I have to believe that he has that in him. I mean how much more on top of the world can you feel than being the lead “face” for Yanks television. I often wonder if his being related to (whoever the actor is) got him the recognition.
The Reds just scored another run off Lee. Up 3-1.
Blargh: Ah, okay.
Fran: On this game, both Kay and Sterling have said ‘no hitter’ a number of times
I wonder if the jinx holds for tv but not for radio?
whozat -
I can honestly confess to wanting neither, no time, no how!
Maybe we can get Lugo to beat up Michael Kay. LOL!
“Lugo can escape the law, but he can’t escape the rundown.”
damn you, for making me choke on my Pepsi
Trisha – you mean Danny Aiello. That is his uncle (his mother’s brother)
Rebecca, the superstition supposedly holds til the end of the the 5th inning, at which time all bets are off. I wonder if they mention it on the radio past that time.
Laura-I think it was 2003..I think he slammed her head against a car or something..
Danny Aiello is Michael Kay’s uncle? Funny, Kay didn’t seem Italian to me.
Trisha: They did
Rebecca –
“I wonder if the jinx holds for tv but not for radio?”
That’s a good question. I have never listened to a potential no hitter on the radio.
Laura,
I never heard the whole story, but here it is.
http://espn.go.com/mlb/news/2003/0716/1581601.html
Apparently his wife hit herself with the truck. Sad how she changed her story.
In other news, Fielder needs liposuction and Lee has an ERA over 1.
“I think it was 2003..I think he slammed her head against a car or something..”
I just goggled it. The wife later recanted after Lugo paid her some hush money.
That’s right, Danny Aiello. I sure don’t find enough panache in Michael Kay that I think he is a good “face of the Yankees” – though the way they’ve been playing lately, he matches them perfectly.
4 runs given up by Lee
Anyone know if they will play this game tonight? The weather report doesn’t look promising and I’d rather not spend 5 hours in the car for no reason.
I was wondering what type of game he played in. I read that A-Rod played in a game and I was like, “what? where?” Thanks for the update.
Brandon – funny that it took a national league team (and not a great one at that) to solve Lee.
Rebecca, what I mean to say is: if you mention “no hitter” and it is past the end of the 5th in ning, you don’t jinx the pitcher. So I am wondering if they waited til after the 5th inning was over to mention it on the radio.
I tuned in to a Mets game one day when someone said one of their pitchers was pitching a no no. I have to tell you what tremendous respect I had for their announcers. Neither of them said the words no hitter or perfect game, but both continued to refer to “something special” happening. I just thought it was such a tremendous tip of the broadcast hat to the magical superstitions that are indeed part of the game!
Brandon – hooray! About Lee that is.
Sweeny was on w/ Richard Neer he said they should get this game in tonight.
anyway listening to Richard Neer and the ridiculousness of his view, this guy thinks waaaaay outside the box, according to him Joba should have pitched the 7th and 8th inning yesterday, it’s like he discounted and didn’t pay attention (yeh believe it or not) Farnsy has been pitching good, he just pitched the wrong pitch in the wrong count. But you see this is the type of opinion I can’t stand is Joba going to be the quick Monday QB to when an inning goes wrong, so now no one can pitch above the 6th inning ? May god have mercy on the 29 other MLB teams.
How’s this for depressing:
Boston is gonna have more wins in the past 24 hours than we’ve had in almost 2 weeks.
AlbanyYankee: No idea. I’ve got tickets to tonight’s game and probably won’t decide until I have to leave a little after five.
There’s just one band, but the problem is the band’s not movingg at all.
someone tell Yost to put a pitcher that can throw above 87 mph vs Papi
That wasn’t too predictable. Oh well. DeFelice will have better days. And the Sux will have badder days.
I also have enough faith in the Sux relief pitching to think this could still be made into a game.
Time to go and get some bird food.
(see my next post if you find feeding wildlife a rivetting experience…)
Farnsworth should be gone two years ago. I admit the first 40 games of the this season he has been good, but he is who he is.
the Yankees will score more then the Sox today…. that’s right… I said it.
Pettitte bad luck? Once is bad luck, twice is bad luck, but four times? after he goes through the lineup twice the eat Petitite up
Thanks, Rebecca. I have to leave in 30 minutes or so and am going to have to make a call. I don’t want to get there and just have to turn around and come back. ARGGH!
Lee’s given up 5 ER today to boost his ERA to 1.37. Un-freaking-believable.
Albany: I’m totally with you. I did just that on Friday, though all things considered, I was lucky because we had inside seats. Not so tonight.
AlbanyNY,
Take a chance. If there’s no game, then have a nice dinner at a posh place with the money you saved on parking and the concession.
off topic
I had a house built and moved in last year. My neighbors gave me a bird feeder for Christmas and I have it hanging off the top deck (not sure why but I wanted a double deck.) I love watching the birds come and eat. In fact I have a very pretty winter shot of the feeder. If I can track it down I’ll post it. Anyway, one of my sisters told me to put seed on the deck rails. Mistake. The squirrels decided to join the party! Not only that but they decided to hang onto the feeder and eat that seed too! So I went and bought them their own critter food. Mistake. It seems that big black crows and blue jays both like critter food! So I started feeling bad for the squirrels and the birds too so instead of putting food out once a day, I started putting it out twice a day – before I leave for work and when I get home. Mistake. They now wait for it. And they love to eat!!!
These little guys are costing me a fortune!
Brandon pay little attention to Neer. He’s the only host on that station who’s never in the studio while he does the show. Instead he’s in North Carolina.
Talk about a good gig. He doesn’t even have to show up for work, just stay home and talk and get paid.
Brandon – good call on froggy Braun!!!
GO BREW CREW!!!
Braun is having his own HR derby in Boston
Brandon: How many? I can’t load ESPN scores without freezing my browser…ugh…
Cecil Jr !
Brewers back to back HR’s off Beckett – pull to within 2.
BACK TO BACK…. ANDDD A BELLY TO BELLY!!
Wow! 4 dingers for Beckett.
rebecca – Braun and Papi both have 2 today
I heard Richard Neer earlier when Sweeny was on. I wanted to reach through my car radio and slap the crap outta Neer. Whatever!
HR day against Beckett
I like
JoeT: Thanks!
Ryan Braun = Red Sox Killer
too bad he doesn’t play 1B I’d trade some talent for that bat
Too bad the Brewers pitchers have sucked today.
Brandon,
Surprised you miss this:
David Robertson today: 1 2/3 innings, 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 BB, 3 K’s.
AAA numbers to date: 10.2 innings, 4 hits, 2 runs, 6 BB, 8K’s. 2.16 ERA. 1-0 record.
I should be noted that both of his runs were given up in his first AAA outing.
He has pitched 8 shutout innings since that time.
I guess Beckett got the memo from Santana that you’re not a real ace unless you give up multi-homers. I hope nobody translates that memo into Chinese.
Wow, I’ve never seen that Joe Torre State Farm ad before. Really weird to see Mr. T with a bandana on his head!
Pawtucket slapped Steve White around in the 3rd inning since then David Robertson stepped in the 4th inning and has done a Hercules effort, inherited a runner 1-0
1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K’s
What’s the problem ??
Being 5 games out only means the Yankees need to GAIN one game each week and be in 1st place before July.
And the key ? Start playing consistent baseball and get a win streak going.
The rest of the AL East is almost begging the Yankees to do it. Right there …. ripe for the picking.
SJ: Whoa. You think maybe they want him to step in for Joba?
Hi All!
Well, the family and I decided to go with the positive weather forecast and head out to see the Trenton Thunder play. They stopped play in the 4th inning due to the rain — as far as I know it’s still raining there, it is at my home 25 minutes northeast. It was kinda fun sitting with an umbrella, my jeans getting soaked, trying to get some pictures. We had really good seats, about 10 rows up between homeplate and the 3B side dugout.
So, McCutchen started the game. I have to say, not impressive today. He struck out 4, walked two, had given up 4 hits and 1 run at the stopping point. He was throwing a lot of pitches, and while his fast ball sounded good and looked good and he got a lot of swinging strikes, his breaking stuff, not so good – he struggled with his control, a lot of 3-2 counts. My husband said he looked like he was forcing the breaking stuff – very uncomfortable with it and a couple of pitches bounced in front of the plate, as well.
One of the hits was a misplayed ball that fell between Tabata, Jackson and the 2B. Tabata didn’t move well on the ball at all. The other three hits allowed were solid hits.
I got to see Austin Jackson hit a weak full-swing nubbler between the pitcher and 3B, and get thrown out at first, and I got to see Jose Tabata ground into an inning-ending double play.
All in all, if I had to give my opinion, based on today only, I’d say that if AA Trenton is the future of the Yankees, the future is a little longer off than a lot of people assume.
Tabata is a big kid; McCutchen looked smaller than I thought he would, and the same with Jackson.
I know McCutchen’s last outing was not good, and this one not good either. Gene Michael had said last night the he’s expected to be able to help the major league club in a month or 2. It was tough to see that today.
The pitcher for the other side, Brandon Magee, was very impressive. It was the Blue Jays AA affiliate that they played, New Hampshire Fisher Cats. He looked poised and had good stuff. He seemed to be getting a little bothered as they rain picked up in the bottom of the 3rd, though.
I didnt know until I got home that had the game been played out, I also would have gotten to see Mark Melancon pitch today. Oh, well.
Randy l -
I saw Stick on the Thunder game last night. I had missed the part where he was talking about Giambi. But I heard eveyrthing else and I did hear him say he was not surprised that the Yankees were getting off to a slow start and thought his reason was interesting, though he went out of his way to make sure he wasn’t misunderstood – he didn’t want anyone to think he was saying they started off slow because of their big, guaranteed contracts.
I don’t think you needed to give a dig to Cashman, though, based on Michael’s interview last night. Clearly, the interview last night was of a friendly, relaxed nature, as opposed to the more emotionally charged atmosphere usually surrounding Cashman. And I’m sorry, the man is asked about Joba starting vs. Joba relieving every single day and every single day he gives the same answer; I forgive him if one day he just said he didn’t want to answer the question again – since THERE WAS NOTHING NEW TO REPORT. Also, Stick Michael was being interviewed during a AA game on CN8. Just how many people do you think, besides you and me, were listening???
Not exactly the same pressure. Yes, Gene Michael looks like he really enjoys his job! 
And I don’t like the way the Yankees are playing and they’re not exciting right now, and the prospects are not going along with the script. I don’t know, it really does seem like everything that could possibly go wrong is going wrong. Almost every situation that had a best/worst case scenario is seeing not only the worst case scenario unfold, but even worst-er case scenarios are playing out.
But I said before the season started, and I’ll stick with it, if this is a rebuilding year, and the Yankees are committed to becoming a more well-rounded team organization-wide, then I’m more than willing to let this year go. I don’t care what kind of resources the Yankees have, the people involved in this game are human beings, not robots, and sometimes stuff happens (or doesn’t).
Wow fielder could afford to lose about 50!
SJ I just scrolled up and saw your post about Robertson…his pitches break atleast a foot, he has a 6-8 inch break on his fastball. Nasty. And I saw JB Cox the other night through Scranton video it’s like watching Jeff Nelson throw a frisbee
“too bad he doesn’t play 1B I’d trade some talent for that bat”
For one of the best young hitters in the game? I’d trade some talent for him no matter WHERE he plays.
I’d also trade some talent for Markakis, either Upton, and Evan Longoria.
Oh, and Chase Utley and David Wright.
But it’s kind of pointless to say all that, isn’t it? I mean…it’s obvious.
Boy F’Ortiz looked pretty bad there!
Meanwhile I still have faith in the Sux relief pitching…
GO BREWERS!
GO CINCY!!
SJ44 -
I see you’re here. What do you know of Brandon Magee? It was only three short innings that I saw, but he looks like a good pitcher in the Blue Jays system.
I’d take Justin Upton over BJ–younger and a higher ceiling. Though that’s not to say I’d consider BJ a bad pick.
“SJ: Whoa. You think maybe they want him to step in for Joba?”
I think that he’s one of the many candidates they’d love to see step up before this year is out.
You don’t designate heirs-apparent. Too often, your plans don’t work out. You get as much talent as you can and you see who seems ready first and give them a shot.
Rebecca,
I’m sitting here in Scranton and watching this game today.
First time I’ve seen Robertson this year.
My initial read (as he just gave up a triple and a single), solid arm, really good mechanics, nasty breaking ball.
Fastball has been 91-92 with late movement. More than good enough for bullpen work at the major league level.
Replace Joba? Not seeing it. He is a nice 7th inning-type of guy. Not really seeing the kind of 8th inning stuff needed for that role.
Mark Melancon has that kind of stuff. So does Jose Veras, FWIW.
Robertson? I could see him replacing Farnsworth (either later in the season or next year) in the 7th inning role. That role seem taylor made for him. Especially because he can pitch multiple innings. Sort of like a 6th/7th inning type of guy.
Just based on what I have seen today, I think another 2 months in AAA won’t hurt him a bit. Still needs to refine a few things but definitely is a legit propsect for future bullpen use.
He went 2 2/3 innings today and gave up a run and struck out 5. He threw 36 pitches and 26 were strikes.
All in all not a bad outing considering the circumstances he inherited.
SJ they finally scored a run on Robertson
2.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K’s
it took 3 innings
SJ your in Scranton, interesting I hope you get to see Cox today
“All in all, if I had to give my opinion, based on today only, I’d say that if AA Trenton is the future of the Yankees, the future is a little longer off than a lot of people assume.”
I think that the rational people don’t expect Jackson or Tabata to hit the majors before some time in 2010, realistically. Maybe late-season callups in 09 if they just catch fire and destroy AA and AAA over the next 15 months.
AS for McCutchen…he had two mediocre outings. I think they see him as maybe a late-season pen addition this year, not a starting fixture.
SJ Cox is in the game I want your opinion after frame 1
whozat -
Based on my very small sample size of 3 (one at-bat each for Tabata and Jackson) innings, I’d agree that 2010 with a late 2009 call-up sounds a lot more realistic. I do realize 3 innings is not something to make a judgment on.
McCutchen – okay. I just know they’d recently done a highlight piece on him in the Star Ledger and his name’s been popping up a lot. When Gene Michael mentioned last night that he could be with the Yankees later this season, I didn’t know in what capacity. But I was excited when I got to the game today and saw he was pitching. Maybe my expectations were too high. A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing, you know?
Doreen,
The Jays are hot and cold on him. Some days, he looks like a worldbeater. Other days, he doesn’t and his attitude gets in the way.
He’s talented but, like most kids in AA, he needs to realize he’s not going to dominate these guys everytime out.
But, no doubt, he is a talented kid.
AA is tough for young players. Its the toughest level and sometimes, guys have to repeat AA to get themselves going at the professional level.
I saw Trenton play the other night. Tabata? JMO but, I think he would benefit more being in Tampa than Trenton right now.
He’s a little overwhelmed for AA. The talent is there but its RAW. In some ways, too raw for AA.
I know the Yankees like to push the envelope with the prospects they feel can handle it. Its why Austin Jackson was promoted from Charleston last year even though he was struggling at the time of his promotion.
JMO but, I think Tabata would be better off in Tampa than Trenton. Hope he proves me wrong.
Jackson? I love Jackson. That kid can play.
He’s athletic, competitive and handles the ups and down of the game a little better than Tabata at this time.
Although, I was told Tabata has been great in that department since his meltdown.
Jackson looks and plays the part of a kid whose better days are ahead of him. Its just a matter of continuing to grind at it.
I think September ’09, with a reasonable shot at being in the Yankees OF in 2010 (provided he continues his development at this pace) is a reasonable projection for him.
We used to have an offense that would let our best pitcher go 7IP on a day he didn’t have his best stuff. Sigh.
Thanks, SJ44. I appreciate your feedback. Austin Jackson definitely LOOKS
doreen-
i stumbled across the trenton game. i think it was on up this way because of the fischer cats. it was totally enjoyable listening to michael. it was ,as you say such a disarming conversation that i think there was a lot said that you could read between the lines. you can tell michael knows what the yankees are thinking.
he also said joba could close right now if the yankees needed him to do that, but they obviously don’t need him. if michael is right that the yankees are slow starters because of their “veteraness” than we should see some better play soon.
Oops –
That wasn’t good!
Wanted to say that Jackson has a very athletic build — he looks, I don’t know, lithe?
Brandon,
If you’re still upset about D’antoni, just turn on the Cleveland/Boston game. U-G-L-Y.
SJ who got hurt in Scranton ?
Doreen,
If Jackson’s other sport was basketball, then the word you may be looking for is “wiry”. Stop looking!
“Brandon,
If you’re still upset about D’antoni, just turn on the Cleveland/Boston game. U-G-L-Y.”
mel ofcourse I’m upset I didn’t really ever want that f…….
I know many people are frustrated and tired of hearing about young players but there’s very little doubt that the yankees are at a real tipping point for the franchise.
The depth of good pitching in the minors is very impressive and on the whole there’s been a ton of positives in terms of the pitchers in the minors already this season.
The arms are moving up the system very fast performing up to expectations and forcing promotions or just allowing the yankees to follow their optimal plans for their development.
Scranton started the season with one of the best bull pens in all of AAA. Since the start of the season they’ve added 3 arms promoted from the lower minors – Robertson, JB Cox and Stephen Jackson. All have pitched well to very well.
Dan McCuthchen has pitched very well in AA as have a number of other pitchers who could be useful in the future in specific roles.
In Charleston Zach McCallister has had a fantastic season and Dellin Betances is having a very strong season after the elbow problems he had last year that essentially made the season a wash for him. He’s having trouble with his control – but that’s to be expected given how young he is and the fact that he’s 6’8-6’9. He’s given up very few hits, striking out a ton of batters and getting a lot of ground balls.
One of the best stories of the year has been the great progress the guys coming back from TJ have made. Christian Garcia made his debut yesterday. Garcia in terms of pure stuff has as much potential as nearly anyone in the system other than Andrew Brackman. He’s never been healthy but if he puts it together he’ll be something special.
The team may look old and unathletic in the big leagues but there on they’re way to changing that. Their biggest achilles heal has always been lack of pitching – that is going to change in a big way.
And that’s not just overly optimistic pinning hopes on a couple of kids. It’s probability. They’ve acquired such a critical mass of talented arms that at least a few of them will work out and live up to their potential. It’s gong to happen – the numbers and talent are their.
There’s still a long way to go with this season. But this is also the last year where the team is weighed down by some very bad contracts.
Yanks top three:
Wang – 2.90 6-1
Moose – 3.99 6-3
Andy – 4.42 3-5
closer – .053
Sux top three:
Matsuzuka – 2.15 7-0
Lester – 3.95 2-2
Wakefield – 4.33 3-2
closer – 2.75
What a difference some runs make…
CB when I heard you speak about Garcia it made me want to post this.
Alan Horne’s take on Garcia, this was around January or February
I think Beckett should be in the Red Sox top 3?
But the point on the runs is well taken. The Red Sox have scored 11 runs today (as of the 7th inning with one out and two on).
The Yankees have scored a total of 10 runs in their past 5 games.
mel -
All I CAN do is look – so, I’m gonna enjoy it!!!!
Wiry would fit. I like the word “lithe,” though. (I guess it’s a more sensual word – that for me it evokes a kind of grace and smoothness of motion. For me, wiry equates with gangly and not smooth at all.)
Brandon,
Cox looked good. Gave up a leadoff single, a ball in which Miranda dove for, missed, and hurt his shoulder. They had to take him out of the game.
Got the next hitter to hit into a DP, working a fastball (91) in on his hands.
Next hitter flied out. 13 pitches, 8 strikes.
Funky arm angles. Has that frisbee slider, which is a nice pitch for him.
Kind of looks like he did at Texas. A little more confident on the mound than when I saw him in Tampa and Trenton, prior to his injury.
His stuff in a short view is also sharper. I guess having a good elbow helps in that regard! lol
I won’t get the chance to see another inning because I have to leave to take care of some business before heading out.
Nice initial views of Cox and Robertson though. Steve White? Not the answer as the fifth starter for the Yankees. The search continues.
Quick word on Brett Gardner. He’s 0-4 today and is slumping a bit.
That said, he is a better bench option than Duncan in NY at this time. He can do more things than Shelley and the Yankees need more versatility from their bench.
Yes, he’s a LH hitter. But, his wheels are something the Yankees do not have on their bench. He’s also better defensively than I thought he would be.
His bat isn’t yet ready for 500+ plate appearances at the ML level. But, his legs and defense are.
Tough spot for the Yankees. IMO, if he was a RH hitter, he would be with the big club. Absent that, slumping or not, he’s got a bounce to his step that missing in NY right now.
I wish he would go on a hot streak to give the front office something to think about.
mel -
I should add I’m not a big basketball fan!
Well I’ve seen about enough of that game.
What really makes me sick is to see teams get hits. I forget what the merry-go-round on the bases looks like.
Before we get too down on ourselves about depending on one or two players, I remember the Sux looking like doo doo when Manny being Manny has been out or hasn’t been hitting and then all of a sudden the Sux looking like a real team when Manny gets on the stick. So it is with Arod and Jorge, unfortunately.
GO CAVS!!!
Interestingly enough, Beckett is no longer in the top 3.
His ERA is now 4.67!
Gotcha.
thanks SJ I have been impressed w/ Cox too, he’s going to be an interesting call up for late June or mid July
Brandon,
I think here’s the thing with Garcia. If Garcia was a guy you were counting on as an organization – you’d be in a lot of trouble.
The talent has been there. But so have the injuries.
However, for the yanks Garcia is just a luxury. He’s not a guy they are counting on at all at this point.
That’s what depth allows you to do. Pitchers are always going to get hurt.
Those injuries become devastating when it happens to guys you are depending on.
As of right now the yankees are really only counting on two guys long term – Joba and Hughes (in addition to Wang). Even Kennedy is only expected to fill in the back end of the rotation. Ideally, the some of the higher end arms pan out and they move past kennedy.
That’s why they can wait and take risks on a Garcia, Brackman and Betances.
They have a core of young pitchers in place and a large number of high potential pieces to surround them with. If a couple of them pan out then the rotation is going to be in very good shape for years.
And they are going to need it because the AL East is going to be filled with great young pitching for the near term future.
New Pete post, btw
my question CB is can Garcia pull a Joba and rocket through this system like Horne said ?, I’d really hate to think of him being the next great rule 5 pick up for an MLB team out there.
randy l -
I agree – I hope Gene Michael was right about the veteran-ness being the reason for the slow start. In a way it made sense, at least the way he said it, which was, more or less, there isn’t the urgency that the younger guys have, because they know it’s a long, long season.
One of the things he said last night that especially piqued my interest was that he said he was there to “value” players – Yankees players and other players. I got the feeling he meant for trade, but I’m not sure that’s what he meant. But if they are, indeed, a little backed up with pitching prospects, it would be nice if he could make some recommendations on which one(s) could bring a nice return for some help this season. Sounds like he has a great job.
The Yankees are giving nothing away with regard to their plans for Joba. And I suspect it will have a lot to do with whether their ship rights itself in the next 3 weeks or so. (Clemens didn’t come on board until, what, mid to late June, last year?) If they’re winning and Joba is needed at the back end, I suspect they’ll keep him there longer than initially planned; if they’ve still got problems with their starters, or if Pettitte’s situation worsens, or if they still can’t score runs, then I think Joba moves to the starting rotation sooner. Mainly because if they’re not winning, Joba’s not going to get anywhere near the number of innings he needs to be a starter from day one next season.
Can’t stomach the Celtics. Unfortunately they seem to play well at home…
Cripes the Cavs don’t even look like a pro team today – plus the refs seem to be favoring the Celts.
I’m not a big basketball fan, either. Just a fan of any team facing any Boston team.
0-3, 8.48, pitched 28.2 innings, given up 27 runs on 33 hits and walked 21 guys….this guy is a KEEPER….These stats include the 6 games out of the 7 he has played in that he started. In the 6 games he started, he has lasted 2.1, 6, 2.2, 5, 4.2 and 5 innings…average time in the game when he starts is 4.1 innings….THIS GUY ROCKS ! and he REALLY is our only choice for the #5 spot…right ???…WRONG…Someone go rile up Hank and tell him that IPK is about to make his beloved Yankees look like crap again soon when he gets mashed again….see if he even really cares….