Yankees ready to take the field
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- February
- 22
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CC Sabathia is back in action after some intestinal discomfort yesterday. He will throw BP today.
Here are the pitching assignments today for live BP:
Field 1 (starting at 12:25): Melancon, Tomko, Hacker, Brackman, De La Rosa, Claggett, Jackson.
Field 2: (starting at 12:25): Marte, Sabathia, Wang, Hughes, Aceves, Ramirez.
Melancon will be facing Cano, Jeter, Austin Jackson and Austin Romine. I’m planning to watch that then head over to see CC, CMW and Hughes.
Mark Feinsand, Tyler Kepner and I were talking to CC this morning about football. Mark is a Redskins fan, Tyler loves the Eagles, I’m with the Patriots and CC is a Raiders fan. CC was telling us about tailgating at Oakland Coliseum and playing tight end in high school.
He was recruited to play at UCLA and Cal but was going to go to Hawaii because they were willing to let him play football and baseball. “Then I got picked in the first round,” he said.
CC is a big JaMarcus Russell fan and believes he can be a good QB if he gets some time and decent receiver or two.
I’m not going to read a lot into a casual conversation on a Sunday morning. But CC really seems like a good dude.
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on Sunday, February 22nd, 2009 at 10:54 am by Peter Abraham.
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Chad Jennings
Sam Borden
Josh Thomson
Peter -
Mark was on WFAN on Friday and said he got in trouble while interning at the FAN because he ate someone else’s slice of pizza. Nobody would give up the offending party, but the suspects are either Russ Salzberg, Chris Russo, or Mike Francesa. Think you’d be able to dig a little deeper and solve the mystery?
I’m guessing it’s Francesa because he’s the only one out of the three still working there full-time, and it just sounds like something Francesa would do.
Wow, CC is back much quicker than I thought he would be; I’m glad he’s feeling better.
I can’t wait to read your reports, Pete – particularly on Phil, CC and Melancon. Who will the CC group be facing? Every report from everywhere basically is the same about CC – he’s a great guy. Everyone seems to love him and, just from the short time he’s been here, I can see why. I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall when you guys were just chatting away…..
Go Raiders BABY!
I love CC even more now.
http://www.newsday.com/sports/.....817.column
I thought this was funny – Tex seems like he is going to enjoy the rivalry and, thereby, thrive in it:
Come again? Arguably the most hated player in baseball, on the most hated team in baseball, cops to using steroids, and Red Sox Nation is going to get more worked up about the cheery, respected Teixeira?
“We really thought we had him,” Crawford said of Teixeira, who negotiated heavily with the Red Sox. “When he comes to the plate, he’s going to get booed as much as A-Rod, because he didn’t pick us. I think a lot of people weren’t surprised about A-Rod’s news.”
Teixeira laughed when I relayed Crawford’s sentiments to him. “They’re great fans,” he said of the Sawx supporters. “I wouldn’t expect anything less.”
They really, really need to start broadcasting everything in spring training on the yes network cause sick in the head baseball fans like myself would tape it and watch it every single day!
http://www.newsday.com/sports/.....7626.story
I think wanting to stay in the brutal AL East is a great sign. I am very confident that if he stays healthy, he’s going to be a guy that we can trust in a big spot. He clearly has no problem harnessing his adrenaline – in fact, he seems to use it to his advantage against the Sox, Rays (and, formerly, the Yanks).
Remaining in the division was a major reason the former Blue Jay signed with the Yankees over the Braves.
“I really wanted to stay in the American League East, from a competitive level,” Burnett said. “I really learned the American League hitters well over the last several years, and I wanted to come back in the American League East.”
I know it’s Wally Matthews, but this is a good piece on Swish:
http://www.newsday.com/sports/.....871.column
I should say that I also loved the Shelley Duncan story. I wish he could hit consistantly, cause he really is fun.
This year’s surprise team will be the K.C. Royals.
http://www.nypost.com/seven/02.....156427.htm
Mattingly is a god – I just love the guy so much.
Pete, good story on Girardi — gets my hopes up that his sophomore season will go better for him. Recognizing where he needs to improve and taking the first steps are no guarantees, but they’re positive signs and I’m ready to be hopeful.
But interesting that Mattingly indicates he had difficulty communicating with Rodriguez about hitting, and was moved to another coaching position (partly or largely) as a result.
I am glad to see that from Burnett; if he can be healthy and has really learned how to pitch, he may be our best pick-up this offseason in the long run.
Just think, Burnett would have been the odd man out probably, if the Yanks had made a trade for Peavy. I would much rather have a guy who wants to be in NY, and in the toughest division in baseball; than a guy like Peavy who has given all indications that he wants no part of the tougher league.
“I’m not going to read a lot into a casual conversation on a Sunday morning.”
What’s that supposed to mean???
Alex Rodriguez was signing autographs for fans during batting practice when he noticed a woman lean over the railing and place her small daughter on the field. He notified security and the little girl was removed from harm’s way …
This is like a horror movie— Selena Roberts’ presence is everywhere that ARod is!
So excited about Melancon. I hope they give him a fair shot to make the bullpen. He is going to be a good one.
Even if he doesn’t make the team out of ST, they’ll use a placeholder like Albaladejo or someone for a couple of weeks while Melancon is ready, then he will replace him.
“I’m not going to read a lot into a casual conversation on a Sunday morning. But CC really seems like a good dude.”
Unlike Alex, right Pete?
Sorry, Pete. After our email exchange, I just couldn’t resist.
Jason,
Agree about Melancon. He is a STUD. I also really like Coke, I think he’s going to be a good one. If they allow Girardi to take him north as a reliever, I think he is definitely one of the favorites to make the team.
Pete,
I don’t agree with everything you write and I find Springsteen infinitely boring, but your tolerance for smirking snarkiness must be almost inhumanly high. Or the hit rate makes the cheap shots bearable. In any case I look forward to your blogging each day, but only some days feel up to reading the comments, among the least worthwhile in the blogosphere.
Odd thing, but I’ve noted elsewhere (on another blog where the excellence is distributed in the opposite way, blah blogs but very intelligent commentary) — the two things often don’t go together.
So it’s NOT you…
I love the fact that all these guys have outgoing personalities, great clubhouse guys, and are good dudes. I just hope they keep their personalities when they head up north and the pressure is on.
ST is such a fun atmosphere. Stress-free, games don’t count, laid back clubhouse, no injuries, no booing fans, bad results are brushed aside and good results are accentuated etc.
I wish it could last forever. But in about 6 weeks, the pressure=packed journey begins and there is no looking back. Everyone from Cashman to Girardi to CC to AJ to ARod to Rivera to Pettitte to Joba etc. must perform.
“CC is a big JaMarcus Russell fan and believes he can be a good QB ”
he probably belives in Santa too
Rishi
What is wrong with the mother? What happens if a batted ball hit the girl in the head? Than the mother would sue, never mind the fact that she was on the one who put the kid in harms way.
Has anyone seen Melancon pitch in person? what type of stuff does he have? Is he Joba like (high octane) of more like Phil Hughes low 90’s?
Pete,
Good article on Girardi. But sometimes the player and the GM put the manager in a difficult situation as well, huh?
Love, absolutely love, this quote: “I was a player that never asked why I wasn’t in the lineup that day. My thought process was that a manager isn’t going to put a lineup out there he thinks is going to lose.” These big league players can be so diva. If you’re not in the lineup, there’s probably a good reason.
CC would’ve fit in very well at Hawaii. He’s so laid back.
I hope that’s him being a homer when he’s talking about JaMarcus Russell. A lot of experts don’t share that opinion.
Sweeny Murti on WFAN with Neer– just mentioned Pete’s great article about Girardi lol
Damon is so hot and cold– Girardi shouldn’t take it personally that he was upset. Just a couple of days later, he said Girardi was the best manager he ever had.
Jason, Alabadejo is not a placeholder for Melancon or anyone. He’s a very solid piece to the pen who did a good job last year and will do another good job this year. I would not sell him short.
Pete, terrific article on Joe. He’s a good guy and a smart man, so I would be shocked if he didn’t learn from last year to become a better manager.
cc played tight end? i never got a good look at him on the basepaths while he was with mil. – how well does he run? you’d think he might have been a decent quarterback himself; he’s obviously got the arm, good size, and if he played tight end he might have good scrambling ability.
Melancon can get it up to 96 if he wants. But he works in 90-94 and has the 4-seamer and 2-seamer. He has a power sinker generates a ton of movement like a slider and gets a ton of groundballs. He has has a sick curveball– a 12-6 hammer. Also has an above average changeup that he uses occasionally.
His biggest assets are his bulldog makeup and his excellent command of his power stuff. Reminds me of Scott Shields moreso than Joba/Broxton.
Jennifer, I was thinking the same thing – and the scary thing is, this is not the first time I’ve read about this. One woman was up in the press box at a well-known racetrack and put her small daughter up on a railing – the daughter slipped, fell onto the track and was killed. These types of tragedies are so easily avoided…….so sad.
Albaladejo = This year’s Chris Britton. The mediocre arm who everyone clamors for.
http://www.nypost.com/seven/02.....156414.htm
q&a with CC
Q: Knicks fans want to know if you’ll help them recruit LeBron.
A: I’ll do my best (chuckles).
Q: Favorite tattoo?
A: I’ve got my (three) kids’ footprints from when they were born (on my forearm).
The BP compisition is going to be fascinating.
Rivera and Marte are locks. Bruney is virtually a lock. And you’re going to carry Aceves/Giese or someone as your long man.
That means there are only 3 spots available for Veras, Edwar, Coke, Melancon, Robertson, Sanchez, Albaladejo, etc.
Edwar and Veras are obviously the favorites based on their work last year, Joe seems to really trust them. Unless they completely tank in ST, they will probably make the team.
The last spot is eventually going to go to Melancon, just a matter of when. Does Cashman allow him to make the team out of ST? If so, he could win it outright.
Out of all the guys competing for BP spots, Albeladejo has the most mediocre stuff.
Hard to see who he beats out for a spot. Guys like Veras and Edwar have the luxury of being Girardi’s trusted guys from last yr. Coke did VERY well in his Sept callup. Robertson showed some flashes. Mark Melancon is better than all these guys.
The pen competition is going to be sick.
I think Cashman will let Joe take Coke as a reliever if he wanted to.
Cash said he wanted Coke to prepare as a starter when it was assumed that Andy wouldn’t be coming back and there would be an open competition. That made sense. Now? Not so much. The guy is going to be 27. Unless they feel he can beat out Hughes for the 6th starter spot, when will he get the chance to pitch unless massive injuries occur in the rotation?
And in 2010, only one spot is available and it is probably going to Hughes or maybe even Chris Garcia. Hardly doubt he beats out those guys. So essentially, his value us going to be trade bait. But how many prospects in their late 20s bring back good value? You’re better off using him as a late inning reliever and maximizing his value on our team.
Zolio, you must be referring to another Alabadejo or you didn’t see him pitch last year. You don’t have to throw 95 MPH to be a good, solid pitcher.
I think we should be very careful not making Melancon into Superman. Whenever he’s brought up, or if he makes the team, he’s going to struggle at some point. ML hitters are too good – they will make adjustments to him and Melancon will have to adjust right back. We can’t expect him to be our savior – it’s not fair.
Jen, that link isn’t working.
betsy- That is strange. If you go to nypost.com- than sports-baseball you will see it.
i too am wondering where all this albaldejo lust is coming from/ what exactly did he do that was so impressive last year? he was injured to boot and is behind his fellow competitors. high 80s/low 90s stuff with no real outpitch.
he isin’t beating out bruney, marte, veras, ramirez, coke, melancon etc. for a spot
Let me try again.
http://www.nypost.com/seven/02.....htm?page=0
I think the problem is the underscores are getting shortened.
Alabedjo is a good guy to have in the middle innings – he can give you 2 innings of solid relief and I think he’s versatile and underrated. I like Coke, but most people are judging him based on a few good innings at the end of last year. Let’s see what happens when ML hitters make adjustments. I also like Robertson, but Alabadejo would have the edge on him. A lot of it does come down to ST peformance, but fortunately, the Scranton shuttle still works. If one guy struggles, he can always be sent down in exchange for someone else.
Coke’s asset is that he can do multiple things for you— setup man, lefty specialist, multiple innings, long man, bridging the gap to Bruney in the 6th-7th etc. He was a former starter so he can give you some length if needed.
He has real value in the pen
Any Jets fans on the Yankees?
What can I say, Jax? We were obviously watching different games…….and I’m not lusting for him, I like him a lot. Coke is the one people are lusting about based on a few good innings.
Coke pitched 14.2 innings last year with a 0.61 ERA, Albaladejo pitched 13.2 innings with a 3.95 ERA.
If we’re judging Coke on a few good innings, then what are we judging Albaladejo’s few mediocre innings on?
Neither of them have a track record but based on stuff and limited ML innings, Coke is clearly ahead of him.
Jen, thanks. Unfortunately I ended up going to the Post’s site and seeing a bunch of trashy headlines -lol.
Anyway, I love those Q& A’s – how sweet is it that CC has his children’s footprints tatooed on his forearm?
By the looks of CC, he could of played football easily.
Thanks Al for the report on Melancon.
The fact that Albaladejo seemingly has no spot on this team is a testament to how far out bullpen arms have come. We have so many options now that a mediocre guy like Alby is lost in the shuffle. In previous years, he would have been our best reliever next to MO. Now? Probably a Scranton filler.
Very excited about the bullpen this year. Bruney especially looks great and appears to be highly motivated.
Albaladejo had a terrific winter. After his injury, he ended the year very strong.
http://mlb.mlb.com/milb/stats/.....pid=452293
CF shuttle I guess
jamarcus russell will continue to suck
how the hell did fiensand and kepner become fans of the redskins and eagles? i thought they were local?