Rotation set for first four games
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Feb 22, 2009 
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Here’s the rotation for the first week:
Wednesday at Toronto: Brett Tomko
Thursday vs. Tampa: Phil Hughes
Friday at Minnesota: Ian Kennedy
Saturday vs. Minnesota: Joba Chamberlain
With exhibition games starting so early this season, the Yankees will hold Sabathia, Burnett, Wang and Pettitte back until late next week.
Meanwhile Edwar Ramirez had to cut short his bullpen today because of a sore right shoulder. He will be examined by a doctor tomorrow. That sound you hear is opportunity knocking for guys like Dave Robertson and Mark Melancon. Maybe the injury is nothing. But even being shut down for a few days is a setback and gives other players a chance to step forward.
Jorge Posada liked what he saw from Melancon. His fastball, he said, has a late cut and that is what was leading to the swing and misses. Posada also liked his curveball.
Meanwhile, here’s a little tidbit from the catcher. As he was walking away from his locker, he turned around and called a few of us over. “Keep an eye on (Eric) Hacker,” he said. “It’s 95 and he does it easy. Very impressive.”
Derek Jeter has some hamstring soreness. Doesn’t appear to be a big deal.
Pete – How did Hughes look?
Hacker has battled injuries for the last several years. He seemed to really put it together last year. Being added to the 40 man makes him a heartbeat away. It would be a fantastic opportunity for a guy who has fought his way back.
So all these great arms are either going to be insurance for the unmentionable, or the Yankees can parlay them into something they need more?
How far would Hacker be? One season, two? Three?
You know, you just kinda keep your fingers crossed that they keep the best and move the second best. I hope their evaluators are really, really, really doing their jobs.
Looking forward to seeing IPK on Friday in person! Yeah!!
http://www.thebaseballcube.com.....cker.shtml
he’s gotten close, then gotten hurt.
Don Vito -
You know, it’s not really funny.
Hacker is hitting 95 mph on the gun ? he never did that as a starter.
Thursday’s game is the one being shown on YES, right? Will be nice to get a brief look at Hughes in the first televised game.
Sucks about Edwar…
Poor Edwar. How did Hughes look Pete?
thank god Phil is pitching on Tv someone at YES was probably smart enough to figure out that if Tomko was pitching they would get a zero rating.
Thursday and Saturday afternoon games are on YES.
Doreen- He has been doing this the last few days.
The YES TV schedule is up at their site….
10 Florida ST Games
2 Games versus Chicago Cubs ST 4//3 and 4/4
Last year we hardly ever saw Hughes pitch in a ST on TV.
Ill be there in person though to see him on Thursday.
Doreen
Are you going again this Year???
he following Yankees Spring Training games will be carried live on WCBS-AM 880.
Saturday 28-Feb 1:15 PM vs. Minnesota
Saturday 7-Mar 1:15 PM vs. Atlanta
Saturday 14-Mar 1:15 PM vs. Houston
Sunday 15-Mar 1:15 PM vs. Minnesota
Saturday 21-Mar 1:15 PM vs. Detroit
Tuesday 24-Mar 7:15 PM vs. Boston
Friday 27-Mar 7:15 PM vs. Cincinnati
Sunday 29-Mar 1:15 PM vs. Pittsburgh
Friday 3-Apr 7:05 PM vs. Chicago (NL)
(New Yankee Stadium)
Saturday 4-Apr 1:05 PM vs. Chicago (NL)
(New Yankee Stadium)
jennifer -
I noticed. The first one he did I nearly had a heart attack. I got tired of ignoring it, I guess.
Pete –
How did Hughes look?
Hacker was topping out at 95 last year as a starter. His velo went up and his slider got deadly just like Coke last year. They both just had to get healthy and keep the faith.
Doreen- Me too. I emailed Pete. I don’t know why people feel the need to act like 12 year olds. That sn seems familiar, although I can’t be 100% sure.
jennifer
Thanks for posting the 880 WCBS games
Phil must have looked like garbage, lol – not one mention, poor guy
It already starts with the injuries…..I feel kind of foolish for being so pumped up – now I’m depressed.
‘Hacker was topping out at 95 last year as a starter. His velo went up and his slider got deadly just like Coke last year. They both just had to get healthy and keep the faith.’
Every report I read on him was 91-93 last yr. so eh close enough, could be the 2nd coming of Ross Ohlendorfh or Brian Bruney
‘Hacker was topping out at 95 last year as a starter. His velo went up and his slider got deadly just like Coke last year. They both just had to get healthy and keep the faith.’
Every report I read on him was 91-93 last yr. so eh close enough, could be the 2nd coming of Ross Ohlendorfh or Brian Bruney
TAMPA, Fla. (AP)—Yankees captain Derek Jeter has a sore right hamstring and expects to resume running on Monday.
Jeter took part in all drills Sunday except a running program.
Jeter says his hamstring soreness will not impact his training timetable for next month’s World Baseball Classic. The shortstop is on the United States team.
Yankees reliever Edwar Ramirez shut down his bullpen session early due to right shoulder tendinitis. He will be examined by Dr. Allen Miller on Monday.
UtilityMan
No problem.
Utility Man -
You must have me confused with someone else – I’ve never had the chance to go to ST! (Well, two years ago I got to see a game in Orlando, but not with the Yankees.)
I meant, I can’t wait to see Melancon for myself on tv.
(I doubt he’ll be pitching in Trenton this year. Missed him last season.)
jennifer -
Yes, that sn has been here before, but not for a while.
Been hearing good things about Hacker.
Injuries… the only thing that can derail the 09 Yankees. And sadly, it is out of our control.
Wednesday …
as in, this coming Wednesday …
So. Happy.
I hate the offseason …
Can’t wait!
Where did Hacker and Coke suddenly get this velo. from?
Love it though, more BP arms competing
Brandon,
read the articles about Hacker at Pinstripes Plus. He was sitting 91-93 and topping out at 95. Remember he’s had both elbow and shoulder surgery and he finally put it all back together last season. The arrow is pointing straight up for him. He’s got a dard good slider, too.
Pete,
You spelled Andy Pettitte’s name wrong!!
This is exactly why Hughes or Kennedy shouldn’t be discouraged, or why Nady shouldn’t be traded, or why we shouldn’t be giving away our excess bullpen arms…. injuries can spurn up at anytime. You never know when we might need to go to our depth. Judging from the pats few years, we’ll need to go to the injury vault a lot.
I know how you like to criticize other commenters’ spelling.
I’ve jumped on the Melancon bandwagon. He looks awesome.
Joba is my favorite Yankee, he is why I started watching baseball and he’s a phenom. For Melancon to be a second Joba almost seems to be too much to ask, and yet…I hope!
I think that, Brian Cashman, does not know what, he is doing…he should get rid, of Nady – and one other bullpen, arm.
Eric Hacker is a guy to keep an eye on. He’s one of those proverbial “under the radar” guys, but there’s a good chance he’s going to be in the majors this year, either as a middle-reliever or as a spot starter. Basically, he’s pitched well whenever he’s been healthy, and over the past year, both his four-seamer and his slider have improved. If he were not with the Yankees right now, I’m certain he’d be competing for a big league rotation spot with some other team.
Jennifer, link please? Thanks
LOL and Jeter is hurt, too. Unbelievable.
I’m so excited to be going to a Yankee game this year! Wish I could see a more exciting team than the Twins, but who cares? The Yankees look awesome, and if they got a set-up man (Melancon) their bullpen will be better than the Mets. I hope the first Spring Training game for the Yankees is on on Wednsday, I’ll have to miss the one on Thursday.
yikes, the waswatching guy is here!
betsy
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....id=3926360
It is also on cbsportsline
I’m not overreacting to Jeter, I bet he’s fine. They said he’s just a little sore, and Jeter could take care of himself.
if i had to pick the two i’d like to see most out of those four, it would be philly and joba. luckily those are the two games on YES. BOOM! last year wasn’t a great year for matchups in ST on YES, so hopefully this is a sign of better luck this year.
Does anyone know if that 1st Spring Training game is on a channel besides YES? I really want to see it.
“I think that, Brian Cashman, does not know what, he is doing…he should get rid, of Nady – and one other bullpen, arm.”
I’d love to hear your explanation for why he should just “get rid of Nady and one other bullpen arm.”
Thanks, Jen!
Is shoulder tendonitis just the general term they use when a shoulder is sore and there isn’t a more specific ciagnosis or is is it basically just a non-serious condition that probably will take care of itself with rest?
I’m sorry to be such a downer, but the last couple of years have been such disasters injury-wise that I’m a bit gun-shy now with any injury…Jeter sounds like he’ll be fine, but I do not want him rushing back just so he can play in this tournament
you can always check MLB.TV to see the ST games but if no TV station shows it then they won’t be showing it, obviously. i pretty much just listen to any spring training games on the radio.
Thanks Brian from PA. Like I said before, bet Jeter’s fine. They would report if it were serious, I think. Anyway we’ll know in a few hrs. with the NY media!
The Yankees are overloaded with talented pitching. A lot of it pretty young, also. Starting AND bullpen as well. They are simply stacked. Anyone talking about how this season is going to be such a challenge cuz the A-Rod crap, will they be able to focus, it’s going to be impossible… blah blah… it’s a joke. Our pitching is going to shut everyone up. They’re going to be out there on the mound trying to decide whether to put this guy away with a fastball or slider. A-Rod using steroids back in 2003 will be the farthest thing from their mind.
If the Yankees get a really dominant set-up guy their bullpen will be even better than the Mets’ bullpen (which, unfortunately, is pretty good). The Yankees’ starting pitching is better than the Mets’ (and Red Sox, for that matter), their lineup is better than both
Pete:
Any word on what position players will be playing in toronto on wed.?
Thanks
* in Dunedin
I see that the MLB network will be broadcasting ST games as well, but their entire schedule says Teams to be announced. So, keep an eye on their schedule as well!
How about Jorge tipping off Pete on Hacker, that’s great stuff right there! I am sure that Pete’s has a great reputation in the clubhouse!
This is a nice story – I’m rooting for Lance, big time. Phil won his 300th with the Yanks, but didn’t Joe also pitch for us as well?
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02.....ref=sports
Some people really have no right to call themselves human – like that Dodger fan, or the Indian fan who razzed David Wells after his mother died.
‘Eric Hacker is a guy to keep an eye on. He’s one of those proverbial “under the radar” guys, but there’s a good chance he’s going to be in the majors this year, either as a middle-reliever or as a spot starter. Basically, he’s pitched well whenever he’s been healthy, and over the past year, both his four-seamer and his slider have improved. If he were not with the Yankees right now, I’m certain he’d be competing for a big league rotation spot with some other team.’
Basically Brian Bruney or Brian Stokes type and come on man lets chill w/ the he’d be on a ML roster, he’d be in the minors getting seasoned unless someone on the NL wanted to risk pushing him, I wouldn’t rate him above Dunn or Delarosa or Garcia or Sanchez or Hughes, although he’s on the 40.
I hope the game at Tampa goes better than it did last year, with that brawl and Cervelli getting seriously hurt – what a nightmare.
dennis, if you’re still out there, I put together a few little teasers, just for kicks: combos of Rockets, Magic, Lakers, Cavs, St. Johns, Wake Forest, UL Lafeyette, and Arizona. I did a little hedge with Duke teased out to make a nice middle, but I’m heavier on Wake getting the points.
I remember reading somewhere that Cashman doesn’t develop any pitching except for Joba. But if any one of these pitchers (as you can see, I’m betting Melancon) ends up being really good, you can no longer say that. Joba alone is fantastic, but two great pitchers? Doesn’t develop pitching, you say?
Hope horne can get some BPs in, nasty stuff
I really hope we see Melancon and some other studs on Thursday on YES
I don’t want to watch Giese-Albaladejo-Igawa relieve Hughes lol
Just thinking out loud-Yanks have two games that they must win or suffer eternal embarrassment. One is opening day at New Yankee Stadium. The other is the first Yankee-Red Sox game there. If they lose one of those that’s pretty embarrassing.
Nick.
Thanks for the follow up. I am appreciative. Good Luck. I will follow the scores. What is Wake getting for points?
Again, safe travels and have a good week.
-dennis
Wake is getting 7.5, max-teased out to 17.5. Better than rooting for Dook!
If I were Veras, Albaladejo, and Giese, I’d feel Mark Melancon coming on like a non-stop freight train.
Why are they even bothering with Tomko? They seriously, seriously, do not need him. He’s not even good enough to crack our AAA rotation
Brandon (CC/AJ/Marky Mark..4 DAYS& PEDS !) Now batting #6 Alex Rodriguez
February 22nd, 2009 at 4:14 pm
‘Eric Hacker is a guy to keep an eye on. He’s one of those proverbial “under the radar” guys, but there’s a good chance he’s going to be in the majors this year, either as a middle-reliever or as a spot starter. Basically, he’s pitched well whenever he’s been healthy, and over the past year, both his four-seamer and his slider have improved. If he were not with the Yankees right now, I’m certain he’d be competing for a big league rotation spot with some other team.’
Basically Brian Bruney or Brian Stokes type and come on man lets chill w/ the he’d be on a ML roster, he’d be in the minors getting seasoned unless someone on the NL wanted to risk pushing him, I wouldn’t rate him above Dunn or Delarosa or Garcia or Sanchez or Hughes, although he’s on the 40.
No.
Bruney has always been a very hard thrower. Hacker’s always been a pitcher.
Hacker’s had +control throughout his minor league career and has always thrown 3-4 pitches. He’s had trouble staying healthy.
This past year, Hacker was able to bump up his fastball a couple of notches, so that he now can throw 92 consistently, and occasionally 94-95. He’s got a very good slider and a decent curve and change. On top of that, he’s a mature individual who takes a very strategic, thoughtful approach to his job.
Those other guys you mentioned are quite different. Sanchez, Dunn, and probably DeLaRosa are all being groomed for bullpen work. Dunn and DeLaRosa are lefties.
Hughes has got +stuff all around and is much younger than Hacker. Garcia has ++stuff and has always been a starter. While you are correct that Hacker doesn’t rate as highly as those other guys, he’s major league ready. And, yes, he would be competing for a rotation spot with some other clubs. No doubt.
I covered Hacker in the playoffs for the Trenton Thunder last season. He is a great kid who throws and assortment of pitches, all which move. He is a very easy guy to like and root for.
His control is impeccable, walking only 70 batters over 280 innings the last two seasons. Hacker also threw 7 innings of perfect baseball early last season in Tampa, but was removed due to the mandatory early season pitch count.
Check out this blog from the opening game of the first round of the playoffs, a game which Hacker started and got the victory:
http://nybaseballdigest.com/?p=1187
I had mentioned in the piece that Hacker reminds me of Greg Maddux. But, there is no way Hacker throws 95 MPH, not with a prior shoulder surgery.