Spring Game 27: Yankees at Phillies
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Mar 23, 2009 
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YANKEES
(New lineup)
Posada C
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Nady RF
Cano 2B
Ransom 3B
Cabrera CF
Pena SS
Wang RHP
Pitching today: Brett Tomko followed by Dave Robertson, Jon Albaladejo, Dan Giese and Brian Bruney.
PHILLIES
Bruntlett 3B
Werth CF
Utley 2B
Howard 1B
Ibanez LF
Stairs RF
Donald SS
Paulino C
J.A. Happ RHP
Pitching today: Happ followed by Clay Condrey, Scott Eyre and Brad Lidge.
Notes: Chien-Ming Wang will hang back in Tampa and pitch in a minor-league game as the Yankees do not want him to swing a bat. Based on the minor-league schedule, it looks like Wang will pitch for Single-A Tampa against Toronto prospects. … After not playing at Clearwater all spring, the Yankees are there today and again on Thursday.
Back with more later.
UPDATE, 10:00 a.m.: Girardi said this morning that if the season started tomorrow, Xavier Nady would be his right fielder based on what he did last season.
UPDATE, 11:46 p.m.: The minor-league game in Tampa was rained out. Wang and Posada are headed to Dunedin to play in the AAA game.
UPDATE, 12:19 p.m.: The tarp is on the field here. No word yet on whether they will play.
UPDATE, 12:42 p.m.: OK, now we’re hearing that CMW got rained out in Dunedin and is headed here with Jorge Posada. So stay tuned for a lineup change.
UPDATE, 1:05 p.m.: CMW and Posada have arrived and the lineup has been changed. They’re also preparing to pull the tarp.
So … Wanger and Posada started the day in Tampa. Then then they went to Dunedin. Now they’re in Clearwater. They’re 0 for 2 in terms of rainouts.
UPDATE, 2:05 p.m.: This is hilarious. Wang is standing in the back far corner of the batters box not swinging the bat under orders. J.A. Happ fell behind 3-1 before striking Wang out as Joe Girardi watched nervously.
No score going into the bottom of the second.
UPDATE, 2:40 p.m.: Wang up again. 2-0 count. J.A. Happ should be ashamed of himself.
UPDATE, 2:41 p.m.: Wang fans looking. He has seen 11 pitches in two at-bats despite not being allowed to swing. He’s just so terrifying at the plate.
It’s 1-1 in the middle of the fourth.
UPDATE, 2:51 p.m.: Wang is pitching well despite his journeys today. He has allowed one run on three hits over four innings. Still 1-1. Plus he has seen more pitches than Melky and Robbie do in a week.
UPDATE, 3:03 p.m.: Xavier Nady’s RBI single gave the Yankees a 2-1 lead. Then Wang had a 1-2-3 fifth inning. CMW has 65 pitches through five innings. He might stay out there for another inning.
UPDATE, 3:09 p.m.: Clay Condrey saw the scouting report as he struck Wang out on three pitches. CMW looked like Manny facing Mariano last summer.
2-1 Yankees.
UPDATE, 3:17 p.m.: Wang allowed a double and a single to start the inning and was pulled. Melky might have had a chance to throw the runner out at the plate but he overran the ball in center.
UPDATE, 3:21 p.m.: It’s raining pretty hard here. Not sure why they are still playing.
UPDATE, 3:29 p.m.: Rough inning for Brian Bruney as Matt Stairs homers to center. 5-2 Phillies.
UPDATE, 3:35 p.m.: The Yankees just announced that Kei Igawa has been reassigned to the minor-league camp.
UPDATE, 3:47 p.m.: Miguel Cairo homers and it’s 8-2.
Looks like Nady is going to start in RF – they look at him as a power bat (and, by extension, that Swish is not):
http://www.newsday.com/sports/.....7406.story
Good to see Coke out there again…..
I just want to be the first to say, Welcome home DJ!
Benny I second that. I wonder if Jeter returns today or tomorrow.
Are they showcasing Tomko or are they considering him for the long man spot?
He’s had a great spring but the guy’s been around the block more than a few times.
Okay isn’t Brett back? Why is he hardly playing? Is Joe being ordered by management to play Melky? Are they showcasing him, to trade? Or now that he has a million dollar contract do they want him in CF?
Since Pena is in the line-up at SS today I guess that Derek won’t play until tomorrow night against the Red Sox.
Pete, Do you think Andy will pitch vs Phillies A team (at home) Wed and Phil will pitch vs their AAA team (away)? PH needs to pitch and not likely Andy will take a bus trip.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03.....ref=sports
If Jeter left after the game last night, he wouldn’t have gotten to Tampa until 5 or 6 this morning. Asking him to play a ST game today would be crazy.
When said I returns, I didn’t mean to play.
I only meant if he was returning to Tampa.
I’m so glad Jeter is coming back to where he belongs. I want to see him mingle with his teammates again – the team is mostly whole now and will be once Alex returns.
Phil was optioned to AAA, Bill. He’s going to pitch, but in the minor league camp.
Their oldest, 5-year-old Carsten Charles III, seemed just as invested as his father in the new surroundings. He wore a Yankees shirt, cap and backpack to the field; he also has a Yankees watch.
auh too cute!!
My family is going to this game. Cool.
Wish I was there, but I’m about literally as far away as possible (Korea).
“Take 5: Japan beats USA, will face Korea for title”
There will be a capacity crowd of 4,322 people in attendance. And 5 people from the United States will be watching from home.
Thank god, now we can get back to real baseball, get our captain back, and not have to watch other teams get pissed because their star players are getting injured.
Just what baseball needs. A tournament early in the season for a sport based on timing. Genius.
People can complain about it all they want about the WBC but it was better than waiting for YES to throw us a bone and let us get a ST game on tv. Might not “mean” anything but all the players were playing hard and I’ll be watching tonight. Started out against it but the classic sucked me in. Good baseball is always worth watching IMO.
jennifer…I wouldn’t be suprised if they’re trying to showcase Melky to peak trade interest or give him more of a shot to win the job, but I think it has more to do with Gardner missing time for the personal issue. Now that he’s back they are alternating as they were before and Gardner played yesterday.
Rob, I agree the classic has grown on me this year. I wish we could have seen some better defensive baseball out of USA last night but that’s going to happen when we have to fill in round holes with square pegs. If you want to see some fundamentally sound baseball I imagine tonight’s game will be as good as it gets.
Thanks for the link Rishi. Good read.
Not related to this post, but did anyone enter to purchase yankees tickets today? the winners were announced this past Friday and out of the 7 or 8 people I talked to, noone won the chance to purchase tickets. I am just curious as to what the odds were.
I feel so bad for Phil Hughes that he is pretty much ready to pitch in the Majors but does not have the opportunity to hone his stuff against real competition.
While I hope that no pitcher on the Yankees is injured this year, I know that I will secretly grin if it happens, because I’ll know that Phill will get his chance to perform.
But in the end, he’s just not better than the 5 we’re putting out there. Not yet. And it’s better to have those 5 healthy and throwing well than have Phil struggling and figuring himself out.
We’ll just have to let Pettitte walk to make room for Phil next season.
Thanks for the link Rishi-I like that CC!
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/notebook?page=bbtn
I think the plan is to let Pettite walk next year if hughes (and to a lesser degree, joba) show that they can step into the rotation with minimal negative impact…
Nick Swisher was on WFAN with Boomer and Kim Jones a little while ago. He is dyanamic. Kim told him that she requested Swisher play every day so she will have a good interview after every game. Guess he’d replace Damon as the “go-to” guy for her post-game interviews.
But the likelihood is that the Yanks will not get perfect attendance out of their rotation this year and if I were a betting man I would suspect Hughes – if he takes care of business at Triple-A – will get 10 major league starts, at least, throughout the season.
He is still only 22. He still can have a future as a Yankee and an important future at that. The ball literally is in his hand. I suspect that if he pitches well this year that the Yanks will either trade Wang (who can be a free agent after the 2010 season) or not re-up with Pettitte or put Chamberlain in the bullpen, especially if he demonstrates again in 2009 that he cannot get through a season as a starter healthy. But that is a long way away.
Hughes’ first job is to continue to pitch at Triple-A with the strong command and presence he displayed in spring training and make sure that he is first man called if the Yankee rotation endures an injury.
http://blogs.nypost.com/sports....._hugh.html
From Sherman’s blog
I think wang won’t be allowed to run the bases ever agin in his yankee career
anyone’s Yankees pre sale password not working? I won and it says the password is not in their system, I’ll keep trying
“I suspect that if he pitches well this year that the Yanks will either trade Wang (who can be a free agent after the 2010 season) ”
this is incorrect. 2011.
I’ll go one step further and say that I hope that Wang never swings the bat again as a Yankee.
Betsy,Thanks for the info but I know PH was sent to the AAA camp. I figure his next day to pitch is Wed. But Pete said Andy is pitching a minor league game Wed. So I figure Andy will pitch vs the Phillies A team because it is a home game and I don’t think they’ll send Andy on a bus trip to pitch in the AAA game, which is out of town. Just wondered if Pete could then confirm Phil will pitch in the AAA game. Phil has had a great ST and I look forward to following his season. Chad Jennings has a great SWB blog (I asked him too.) I notice from your posts you are a big PH fan too. The SWB blog is a great way to follow him in AAA.
From Twitter:
bryanhoch
Confimed: Wang 4/3, Burnett and Pettitte parts of 4/4 vs. Cubs.
[The first games at new Yankee Stadium - good for Wang
]
Jeter will probably play either Wed, Fri. I’m sure he wants to get more AB’s. And after jete’s error last night, i’m sure the haters will be on the prowl today.
password is finally working but the only tickets I can find are $900 and up which is definitely out of my range, man these brokers really snatch the tix up fast
“I’ll go one step further and say that I hope that Wang never swings the bat again as a Yankee.”
i will say that i really, really hope he does.
in the NL park of a World Series.
“Jeter will probably play either Wed, Fri. I’m sure he wants to get more AB’s. And after jete’s error last night, i’m sure the haters will be on the prowl today.”
No doubt. I’ve already seen one article criticizing Davey Johnson for not putting Rollins at SS.
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/s.....by-Johnson
Jeter’s error last night was a tough play against a very fast runner. Also, if DeRosa was an everyday first baseman, chances are he’s lined up with the right foot on the bag and can at least make the grab if not the out. Broadcasters last night even went out of their way to say Jeter’s error was a tough one to give…
“Just as the emergence of shortstop Elvis Andrus persuaded the Rangers to move Michael Young to third base, the rapid development of two young shortstops eventually might compel the Yankees to approach Derek Jeter about a change
The issue could not be more sensitive — Jeter, who turns 35 on June 26, wants to continue playing short, and he will be a free agent at the end of the 2010 season.
Scouts, however, have been buzzing all spring about Ramiro Pena, 23, and Eduardo Nunez, 21, both of whom have received increased exposure with Jeter participating in the World Baseball Classic.”
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/9368910
There’s a story that Yankee insiders have been telling since the All-Star Game last July. As the Stadium clubhouse was being prepared for the influx of American Leaguers, Mariano Rivera pulled aside Yankees clubhouse manager Rob Cucuzza and made an emphatic request.
Keep K-Rod’s locker on the other side of the room.
The indictment couldn’t have been any more damning; the Yankee closer is as self-contained as a Hemingway hero, non-judgmental like a minister. Yet the idea of sharing air-space with K-Rod was more than he was willing to accept.
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/s.....in-in-East
One thing to consider is how huge the new york media hype will be surrounding CC and Johan this season. I can already envision the DN and Post constantly comparing the two to see who’s the better left-hander in NYC. And when they face off against eachother…get your popocorn ready.
While I too question some of Johnson’s moves, the issue is really the roster and the timing of this event. Until they get more players to agree to participate and until they find a better time to hold it (good luck with that!), the US will always have a problem at the WBC.
tampayank – Are there even single seats that go that high? Maybe for a luxury suite or something. I also know that some tickets go for that easily on stubhub, but I thought the highest face value was a few hundred dollars or something. Anyway I am hoping that there will be some left for the public.
Another new stadium update http://tinyurl.com/der8w8
“No doubt. I’ve already seen one article criticizing Davey Johnson for not putting Rollins at SS.”
Rollins, at this point, is better than Jeter.
The fight for the longer reliever is between Tomko and Giese.
“Scouts, however, have been buzzing all spring about Ramiro Pena, 23, and Eduardo Nunez, 21, both of whom have received increased exposure with Jeter participating in the World Baseball Classic.””
this is great. Jeter is going to have to abdicate his throne sooner rather than later, but it’s not going to be for either of those two guys.
neither of them have shown they can hit a lick in the minors.
it’s going to take an actual player to shift Jeter to LF or DH. JJ Hardy seems like the logical successor given the timing of his free agency, but maybe someone else will emerge from the Yankee system in the next 2 years.
“No doubt. I’ve already seen one article criticizing Davey Johnson for not putting Rollins at SS.”
i love Jeter, but it was pretty inexcusable. either you treat the game like an elimination game of a real tournament, or don’t have the tournament.
but don’t treat the game like Spring Trainins and play an obviously inferior lineup so you can say you stuck to alternating your players (or whatever the reason was).
Curt Schilling retired (i thought he already was retired):
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....id=4007993
“Jose Reyes recently responded by saying, “(the Phillies) should keep their mouths shut and enjoy (being world champions). That’s what we would do.”
What? Jose, stop acting like a ***** and go do your little *** dance in the clubhouse with all your other gangstas.
Plain and simple…..Davey Johnson has to be labeled a moron for playing Jeter at SS and DHing Rollins. Rollins is a MUCH superior defender. It’s not even close. Let me say that again, NOT EVEN CLOSE. And, this is coming from a guy who’s favorite player is none other than Derek Jeter.
We can talk about Jeter having to move off of SS until we are blue in the face. The real question is if he agrees to move (big if there), where do we move him? It would seem to me that the only positions not spoken for are LF and RF. Does Jeter have a strong enough arm for the throw home from those positions?
Some presale. The tickets available are a ton of money or in the far outfield. I did snatch up some terrace tickets behind the foul pole for the Monday night Oakland game for only $5 a piece! The foul pole doesn’t look like too much interference and for that price it’s a steal.
“Plain and simple…..Davey Johnson has to be labeled a moron for playing Jeter at SS and DHing Rollins. Rollins is a MUCH superior defender. It’s not even close. Let me say that again, NOT EVEN CLOSE. And, this is coming from a guy who’s favorite player is none other than Derek Jeter.”
I will begrudgingly admit that Rollins is probably a better SS than Derek. Derek probably got the nod because …. well, he’s Derek Jeter. Plus, he beats Rollins in the WS ring race 4 to 1.
Jeter’s not moving anywhere until there’s a worthy successor at short. You really think Jeter would move for some marginal prospect or an Orlando Cabrera type? The only way I see him moving is if the Yanks got Hanley Ramirez or if Camen Angelini plays to his potential a couple years down the road.
Put him at 2nd base, move Cano to LF. When the time comes of course.
“Curt Schilling retired (i thought he already was retired):”
He was retired as far as I was concerned. Question – does he get the Hall of Fame nod? I don’t think his stats are there, but you never know.
Can’t use the ring argument. Rollins won one last year. Derek and the Yanks haven’t done it since the CLINTON administration.
Jeter should have DH’d. Rollins should have played SS. But then again Oswalt should have been if not taken out earlier, at least been visited at the mound before giving up 5 runs. And Victorino should have pinch hit and JJ Putz should have been put in. Lots a second-guess opportunities last night.
“Jeter’s not moving anywhere until there’s a worthy successor at short.”
But what if his skills diminish like everyone says they will and the worthy successor isn’t ready? Are we going to field a subpar infield just because Jeter’s ego might get bruised?
“Can’t use the ring argument. Rollins won one last year. Derek and the Yanks haven’t done it since the CLINTON administration.”
Doesn’t matter. Jeter still has more rings than Rollins. It doesn’t matter that Derek’s rings have dust on them.
I’m not saying that’s my argument. I’m trying to guess at what Johnson was thinking.
“And Victorino should have pinch hit and JJ Putz should have been put in. ”
I read today that Putz wasn’t available because he had a headache. I guess they don’t carry aspirin at the WBC.
Laura – the Mets instructed the WBC before their players entered the tournament:
“Our players are girly men and need to be pampered. Also if you could remove that stick from behind Jose Reyes it would be appreciated”
“He was retired as far as I was concerned. Question – does he get the Hall of Fame nod? I don’t think his stats are there, but you never know.”
He probably gets in because of his postseason success. 3 rings. Also led the Phillies to the series in 93. The bloody sock game. Part of the staff that knocked off the dynasty Yanks. That kinda stuff gets guys into the Hall. He also won 216 games and 3116 Ks. Led the league in wins in both 04 and 01. Yeah, he’s probably in.
that “headache” business is not going to fly in the regular season unless it is followed by a “and was sent for a CT scan”
Why does last season hold any ground for this season’s performance from Nady.
The only reason he hit near .300 was from his time in Pittsburgh. He wasn’t abysmal in NY, but, he didn’t exactly light it up. It just makes no sense how last year dictates Nady’s ability this year, yet, when it comes to Cabrera, it’s still a competition?
I’m not hating on Cabrera, I think he and Gardner should continue to fight for CF job, but you can’t use last year’s numbers to give one guy a job and completely disregard another’s players numbers from the same prior season. Not to mention, Melky was here all year. If anything, Melky’s performance last year should be more indicative of what he will do this year, than Nady’s.
Swisher deserves the same shot at RF that Brett deserves at CF. I don’t see how last year’s numbers warrant anybody to win a position battle, especially when that logic isn’t being applied to each case.
“It would seem to me that the only positions not spoken for are LF and RF. Does Jeter have a strong enough arm for the throw home from those positions?”
Johnny Damon is currently the LFer and has no arm. Jeter’s arm should be fine.
there is also the DH position.
LF seems like the most logical destination.
“Our players are girly men and need to be pampered. Also if you could remove that stick from behind Jose Reyes it would be appreciated”
You are bad!
Nice piece in the NYTimes on CC. Hope Jeter doesn’t take offense on CC referring himself as the leader of the team.
“Yeah, he’s probably in.”
Drats!!
Nice piece in the NYTimes on CC. Hope Jeter doesn’t take offense on CC referring himself as the leader of the team.
Johnson’s thinking was Jeter was named Captain of the team, has been a good ambassador for baseball and because of that they had him play SS.
If Johnson was playing to win, do or die, the argument could be made that Rollins at SS and Longoria DH gave them the best chance to do that.
They have to sneak it in from the DR, where it’s available over the counter.
“Johnny Damon is currently the LFer and has no arm. Jeter’s arm should be fine.”
I forgot about that. Jeter definitely has a stronger arm than Johnny “I throw like a girl” Damon.
“there is also the DH position.”
Isn’t this going to be the final resting place for Jorge or Alex?
“LF seems like the most logical destination.”
I’d rather LF than 2B. Once Cano gets his head together, he could be our next lifetime franchise player.
Totally agree with logical destination for Jeter to be LF….with that in mind I wonder if Cashman is keeping his chips for a trade next year…..Could Ramirez, Hardy or Tulowitzki be in our future next year…I would not be shocked
“Swisher deserves the same shot at RF that Brett deserves at CF. I don’t see how last year’s numbers warrant anybody to win a position battle, especially when that logic isn’t being applied to each case.”
ok, but Swisher hasn’t outright won the job in Spring Training either, so your point doesn’t really hold.
guys, this is SO not a big deal. Nady might start the season as the starter, but whomever plays better will win the job.
there is plenty of time and ABs for Swisher to establish himself.
Nady had a much better season than Swisher last year, they are both playing about the same in ST, Nady is probably hitting a little better but not by much.
i don’t think it’s unreasonable to say that Nady is slightly ahead in the “race” right now.
i DO think the job will eventually go to Swisher, but so what if he doesn’t have it on Opening Day? things change during a season.
and guess what? if Swisher is so good, that means the yankees actually have a BENCH, something else everyone loves to complain about.
I’m not on the Swish bandwagon, I think Nady will have a solid year
curious-
my argument wasn’t for who is winning and/or losing the battle. Nady may very well be ahead of Swisher, in which case, he deserves to play RF.
My arguments stems from the fact that Girardi is sighting last year’s performance by Nady as the main reason why he is winning the job.
He was on the Pirates for half the season, and, when he came here, he hit well below his NL average.
So, I just don’t understand the logic behind using last year’s performance to dictate who is ahead in the competition this year.
Shouldn’t Gardner than be ahead of Melky?
yeah curious, I expect Nady, Swisher, Cabrera and Gardner to all contribute in one way or another to the Yankees this season. I think once the regular season starts all four will get their chances and whoever can make the most of them at that point will hold their respective positions for most of the season. ST in my opinion will just decide who gets to make their case first.
“Swisher deserves the same shot at RF that Brett deserves at CF. I don’t see how last year’s numbers warrant anybody to win a position battle, especially when that logic isn’t being applied to each case.”
also, i don’t get what you mean about Gardner. he didn’t really play last year in the majors much. and when he did, he wasn’t very good.
there is nothing inconsistent here.
last year CF:
Melky bad in majors, out of options
Gardner good in minors but bad in majors
===> ST competition, options give Melky slight head start
last year RF:
Nady good in majors
Swisher bad in majors
====> ST competition, 2008 gives Nady slight head start
“bryanhoch @ Clearwater, Fla. for some Yanks-Phillies action. Brett Tomko vs. J.A. Happ, 1:05 p.m. ET.”
Is it Moyer or Happ?
“So, I just don’t understand the logic behind using last year’s performance to dictate who is ahead in the competition this year.”
the logic is that he’s using it as a tie breaker.
like i said, neither has pulled away in ST. so right now, Nady owns the tie breaker b/c his 2008 season was WAY better than Swisher’s.
i don’t see the problem here.
Gardner should be our our starting CF . and Swisher should be our starting RF .
Sucks to hear that about Nick – he’s getting penalized because he wasn’t on the team last year? Sounds like a half-baked way to judge players – if the Yankees think Nady is the better player, fine (although most people don’t), but putting him out there because he was here last year is very unfair to Swish. It means there was never an open competition between the two. Sheesh.
“He was on the Pirates for half the season, and, when he came here, he hit well below his NL average.”
he was on the Pirates for 2/3 of the season and you seem to be implying that none of that counts for anything. which is odd considering Swisher wasn’t a Yankee either.
“Shouldn’t Gardner than be ahead of Melky?”
i think he IS ahead of Melky, but because Melky is out of options, they are giving him every chance to show what he can do. again, nothing unreasonable here.
Nady hit like 300 last year. Swish didn’t hit 250. Come on. I love Swish but the X-man deserves the job.
“Sucks to hear that about Nick – he’s getting penalized because he wasn’t on the team last year? ”
no, he’s getting “penalized” because he was horrible last year and he isn’t winning the “competition” in ST.
what am i missing here? Swisher isn’t outperforming Nady.
if he was, all of these complaints would be valid. but he isn’t.
If Jeter really puts winning above all else (including his ego), he’ll do whatever the Yanks ask to win another title with no griping.
On the CF front, rumors abound that the Angels are trying to unload Gary Matthews on the Yankees:
Angels manager Mike Scioscia says Matthews “isn’t comfortable” with his role as a fourth outfielder, but despite rumors that the Angels may try to work something out with the Yankees, the contract will be difficult to move.
No to Matthews…
I get the feeling more of you are impressed with Swisher’s cheerleading ability than his play. What have I missed seeing him do that says that has to be the starting RFer?
“Joe Girardi said this morning that is the season started tomorrow, Xavier Nady would be his right fielder based on what he did last season.”
If you have to make the decision based on something, last year’s performances aren’t a bad place to start. Unfortunately, I think that we are going to painfully discover that last year’s numbers for Nady were a fluke.
Oops, I misread the Girardi comment about Nick -
My bad – nonetheless, it’s the same result – Nady in RF and Nick having to be on a positional carousel.
It was Nady’s job to lose. Swisher hasn’t done anything in spring training, yet, to compel Girardi to give him the starting RF job.
“I think he IS ahead of Melky, but because Melky is out of options, they are giving him every chance to show what he can do.”
I agree. Either that or they are showcasing Melky as trade bait.
The Schill calls it a career!
“I get the feeling more of you are impressed with Swisher’s cheerleading ability than his play. What have I missed seeing him do that says that has to be the starting RFer?”
In the end, I think that Swisher is the better option, mainly due to his OBP. I think he’ll walk more than Nady and I won’t strike out as much. I like Nady a lot, but I’m just a little suspicious of his ’08 numbers.
Though I prefer Swish, I am very glad that we have both he and Nady on the team. I never wanted to get rid of X – he’s a solid player and having dept his important.
Uh-oh, Trisha is not going to like this:
bryanhoch: Kei Igawa sent to Minors.
4 minutes ago from txt
Oh boy- I meant having depth is important. Is there an edit feature here?
SI.com – “David Wright (1-for-5, 1 RBI) left a team-high 5 men on base vs. Japan”
Odd, where are the “NY’s best third basemen” cracks? Pete: “But wait! The most clutch third baseman in New York, David Wright, saves Team USA in the bottom of the ninth.”
ha ha! Just yankin’ your chain Pete!
Nady: .244/.262/.488
Swisher: .265/.409/.324
Spring Training so far has looked like an exaggerated version of what each player does well. Swisher has better OBP skills than Nady, though Nady’s OBP will be much better than the .262 he’s had in ST.
Nady projects to slug higher than Swisher, those Swisher’s SLG% will be much better than the .324 he’s had in ST.
layer on that Swisher’s 2008 season makes him a little more of a question mark (Nady is also a question mark, but in the other direction. I.e. Will he be closer to his career numbers or his career best 2008, wheras Swisher the question is will he be closer to his career numbers or his career worst 2008), and Nady is JUST SLIGHTLY ahead right now.
like i said, this is all going to sort itself out over the first few months of the season, and whoever “loses” the job will be a pretty great bench player.
i am not at all worried about any of this.
“Angels manager Mike Scioscia says Matthews “isn’t comfortable” with his role as a fourth outfielder, but despite rumors that the Angels may try to work something out with the Yankees, the contract will be difficult to move.”
if the Angels are willing to eat about 80% of the contract, then MAYBE.
anything other than that, PASS…
Rishi, Trisha will be upset and she’ll have to change her tagline! I don’t think it’s a surprise that he was sent down, although I thought that the Yanks might keep him around a little longer to show him for a possible trade.
“I get the feeling more of you are impressed with Swisher’s cheerleading ability than his play. What have I missed seeing him do that says that has to be the starting RFer?”
Bingo. People are getting way too bent out of shape over this. If Swisher was a quiet, laid-back guy who kept to himself, this would not even be an issue.
“if the Angels are willing to eat about 80% of the contract, then MAYBE.
anything other than that, PASS…”
LAA eats most of that contract or sends Chone Figgins with him. Other than that, PASS!
“Bingo. People are getting way too bent out of shape over this. If Swisher was a quiet, laid-back guy who kept to himself, this would not even be an issue.”
This is a blanket statement that is not true for everyone. I don’t pay much attention to what Swisher says in the press. I haven’t listened to all of his interviews on WFAN or read any newspaper articles about him. I’m more interested in his on field abilities. In my mind, he will get on base more than Nady. I could be wrong, but that’s what I think.
I haven’t paid attention to Pena. Where is he likely to start the year? Trenton? Scranton? What’s his best case scenario timeline for making it to the majors?
Shouldn’t Nady get the opportunity to prove last year wasn’t a fluke?
If he struggles out of the gate, Swisher will be in right.
UPDATE, 11:46 p.m.: The minor-league game in Tampa was rained out. Wang and Posada are headed to Dunedin to play in the AAA game.
curious-
no doubt, it’s a great problem to have. Nobody is arguing that by any means.
MLBTR has an article up from Rosenthal on Jeter’s successor, namely Pena and Nunez.
Does anybody have any insight into these two guys. All I’ve heard about either is Pena is a +++ defender but doesn’t back it up with his bat. Seems like the same issue we have with Cervelli.
Fortunately for Pena, he doesn’t have a Montero-esque player coming up at SS.
Any insight is greatly appreciated
also, i think people are underestimating how many games we will probably see BOTH of Nady and Swisher in the lineup.
there will probably be a handful of games where:
1. Damon DH’s and Matsui rests his knees
2. Swisher plays LF and Damon rests
3. Damon plays CF
4. Swisher plays CF (maybe)
5. Swisher plays 1B and Teixeira DHs (very rarely though)
it’s not like Melky vs. Gardner where one guy plays and the other guy sits.
it will be more like a rotation.
On FAN update it was said that Arod’s rehab going extremely well. I just have a feeling that arod will be back quicker than what people think. ***enter theme song for darth vader*****
I hope so, Benny, have tickets for May 3rd and would love to see him in the game – he’s the sister’s fav and those are the only tickets we have so far this year (I know it’s waaay too early to expect him back, but I can hope, right?)
Benny, I think you are right. The NY Times on Saturday also reported that the doctor was extremely pleased with ARod’s recovery and said he was ahead of schedule. One think about Alex is that I am sure he is working very hard to get back.
If you want a preview of A-Rod’s interview with Kay for the preseason show airing tomorrow night or a funny dig AJ gave Jeter:
http://weblogs.newsday.com/spo.....h_yes.html
I didn’t realize that they had started dismantling the old stadium. They’ve removed all of the grass from the field.
If the game gets rained out today, will they play a Day/Night DH on Thursday when we play the Phillies next?
Or would we find a mutual off-day before the end of ST to get the game in?
In Arod’s mind (????? ) I’m sure he’s has 4/16/09 written down somewhere. And his PR people are probably telling him..” alex, If you come back early the fans are going to love it bc they dont want to go through the growing pains of Cody Randsom for 30 days.”
I cant wait for him to fire these hanger-ons. They wont give a crap about him 9 years from now.
I do’nt know that they reschedule missed Spring Training games…
Gary Matthews is breaking down rapidly.. He’s got bad knees… little power… poor average (@.250) and even worse OBP…plus he’ll be 35 in august is owed around 33 million over the 3 years… Gritty Gardner or The Milk man will hit .250 for ya and for a lot cheaper….
In cases of injury, doctors outvote PR people. Until Philippon clears him to the Yankees, the Yankes aren’t going to clear him to practice let alone play.
Pat, Michael Kay was talking about that ARod interview on his show last week. He said it was one of the best and most honest interviews Alex has given. He attributed it to the fact that Alex was there by himself, uncoached and without his PR people.
No, they don’t re-schedule ST games. There will be no makeup if it’s rained out.
That’s cute that somebody would think Alex went into an interview uncoached.
Does anyone know if they’re going to use every starter/half starters/ or no starters in the exhibition games vs the cubs? I’m heading home to Ny for a wedding and would like to catch the first game but tickets start at 35 on stub hub. Would it be worth it or is it gonna be all scrubs playing giving the vets rest?
Rooooooaaad TRIP
Green Day on the stereo and out on the Freeway
Hey Peter
Whats your take on the Gary Matthews rumours and have you had a chance to read Ken Rosenthal’s article from last night…
He’s got some Jeter bashing and some Joba debating stuff.
Thoughts?
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/s.....038;ATT=49
Pete,
If you speak to Girardi later, tell him that his logic regarding Nady is saddening to all Yankees fans and that if Nick Swisher is benched over Nady to start the season, he’s in as few words as possible, brain dead. But say it in a nice way, so you don’t lose your job. Haha.
Pete – Michael Kay’s words. He said it was one of the few times he saw Alex alone without his entourage.
Hey I heard today on NPR that Curt Shilling is retiring.
If that is indeed true do you think he’ll retire his mouth now? We can only hope huh?
Alex not coached in an interview is like Barack Obama without his teleprompter.
Never happens.
Just because Alex wasn’t with his entourage, doesn’t mean he wasn’t coached. A-rod was definitely coached!
Pete, we’ll just all have to make up our own minds about Alex. You feel one way about him and you’re entitled to that, but not everyone agrees. Different strokes kind of thing…. Kay was pretty rough on Alex, so he has no reason to lie now. Again, we’ll have to judge for ourselves.
Pat, thanks for posting – I can see AJ and DJ getting into a catfight over this. AJ is right – DJ likes CC better than him and it’s pathetic. Great – Jeter is going to break up the hot bromance going on between our new pitchers. Some captain.. LOL – actually, I’ve read that Jeter did encourage the Yankees to pursue AJ……Maybe that’s one reason why AJ has fit in so well (in part, at least) – who doesn’t want to be wanted? He knows that the Yankee players wanted him (some of them took him out for dinner in September – this in addition to the recruiting calls). That has to feel good.
Yes. I’m sure the YES Network would allow Kay to bash A-Rod.
As much as the Yankees brass dislikes A-Rod, they still have to sugarcoat things for the YES audience.
Kay’s radio show and YES broadcasts are 2 separate entities.
I highly doubt that ARod’s lunatic advisers would allow him to conduct an interview without boundaries.
I would doubt this interview is anymore revealing than the Gammons one. Everybody says their interviews are 100% real with no limits. Hardly ever the case.
How far apart are all these cities that the Yankees are having them drive everywhere?
I’m fairly certain the Kay reference was from his RADIO show – where ESPN is the master, not YES
Just send Wang and Posada to Phoenix to get their simulated game in and then fly them back to Tampa afterward
so…is the tarp still down?
OK then. Who pays Kay more, ESPN or YES?
pete did you get my email apology email
How dumb can Arod be? Why would you admit to a hooker that you used steroids. He met her and told he used in 07 but supposedly he only used them in Texas. Atleast that’s what he told the media/fans. So you’re telling her about your prior use 4 years ago? That makes no sense.
The Kay interview was for YES – a spring trainig special to be aired..Kay talked about it right after he did the interview.
The worst thing Joe can do is ‘platoon’ Swisher and Nady and alternate them often just to get them ABs to make them happy.
Neither player will get in a groove that way and you’re going to end up hurting their production. You have to name one of them a starter, and let him get the majority of the ABs and the other guy needs to accept his role on the bench.
Trev -
A-Rod is just a clown. No point in trying to figure him out. 9 more years of this PR disaster…..
So I wonder if the car waits for Wang/Posada and drives them back to Tampa or if they have to wait for the team bus
Ideally, he would start the better player, but that’s not what he seems to be planning to do right now.
I’d imagine that YES pays him more. He is the face of the network, whereas he is just another voice on ESPN.
The better question is, why would he tell ANYBODY he took steroids?
If he told some random hooker he took them, I’d imagine that quite a few other people knew.
You never know who tapes phone conversations or reveals private e-mails. You would think A-Rod would be a little more guarded with information that could ruin his career, no? Apparently not, if he told some random hooker this damaging information.
Carl,
The Yankees are the face of the YES Network. Michael Kay is not what drives the ad dollars.
“If you speak to Girardi later, tell him that his logic regarding Nady is saddening to all Yankees fans and that if Nick Swisher is benched over Nady to start the season, he’s in as few words as possible, brain dead.”
yes, it’s “brain dead” to give the initial nod to the guy who was great last year over the guy who was terrible.
Who gets the Final 2 Spots in the Bullpen to start the year??
I have as locks
Rivera
Bruney
Marte
Coke
Mop – Up Guy – (Tomko, Giess, Igawa, me)
(open)
(open)
Any word? Any Predictions?
Girardi said that Veras and Ramirez would get in if they pitched well, based on the work they did last year
Veras will make it considering he is out of options and has had a pretty good Spring.
So it’s between Edwar, Robertson, and Alby for the final spot.
The bigger news is that he told her in 2007, when he first met her, he was taking steroids. But claims he only took steroids during his Texas days. So you’re letting a hooker know in 2007 about your roid use years prior?
It’s official Arod is stupid.
Schilling retiring is music to my ears. Now all I need is for Pedro to retire and I’ll be set.
Veras and Edwar
Does anybody know if they’re using a real lineup for the exhibition games or AAA scrubs?
Doesn’t Nady deserve the opportunity to prove that last year wasn’t a fluke?
If he doesn’t do well, Girardi won’t hesitate to yank him. Being named the ‘opening day starter’ doesn’t mean much. You still have to produce to keep your job. If Nady hits .260 and swings at balls over his head, he won’t keep the job for long.
Swisher won’t be the opening day starter, but if Nady plays like he has most of his career, he’ll go back to the bench shortly and Swish will start in right.
Why do you automatically believe it. This hooker could be looking at this as a way to make a name for herself.
AD, Seems to me Giardi sticks with guys who have done the job for him, so I think unless someone steps up or blows up the last 2 spots will be Veras & Edwar. But it is very hard to ignore Robertson’s ST #s. At any rate, just as you never go through a whole season with 5 SP, you don’t make it with just 7 RP either. Some time in 2009 all those guys will get a chance.
Edwar is just such a head case, and the second he walks one guy its over
I hope if veras is a lock that Giradi gives the final spot to D-Rob or Alby
“He was retired as far as I was concerned. Question – does he get the Hall of Fame nod? I don’t think his stats are there, but you never know.”
Compare his postseason stats to Mussina, and if you consider Mussina a lock (which I don’t), then Schilling is too.
Kristin Davis is already a famous madam, she doesn’t need to use A-Rod to get her name out there.
She was the one who hooked up Spitzer with his hooker. She’s done numerous interviews with news networks before (she did one with Barbara Walters a few weeks ago actually). She isin’t some fly by night hooker.
I wouldn’t worry about Girardi’s comments. Nady may be the starting RF but Swisher will get his at bats and Nady needs to keep his job by putting up numbers. If he rakes he stays if he faulters Swish gets a shot its a win-win.
Dunedin and Clearwater and less than a 45 minute ride from Tampa.
Not that it matters (Swish will get his at-bats somehow), but what’s the point in holding a competition for the starting RF job if it’s all but decided based on last year’s stats?
Great Point as well, about the 7RP’s Bill
It’s official, anyone who believes, without question, that A-Rod told the hooker he used steroids is stupid.
This is complete lunacy. So now anything arod says idicates he’s being coached. Pete, I will admit that your around the yankee players much more than everyone else in this forum, thus having more (inside )knowledge about what goes on in yankee camp. You say we (arod apologists) blindy defend the guy without knowing the full details of his actions or intentions.
First, as a yankee fan, I root for all 25 players, not just the best player….i.e A-ROD. When Giambi had his issues, I supported him. When Pettite had his issues , I supported him, etc…etc..so on and so forth.
Secondly, I do not judge, condemn, or criticize he or she for their actions, bc ultimately they have to answer to someone else. (especially if it’s none sport related)
Third, I strongly believe in Reconcilation/Redemption. Arod has inner demons that HE has to deal and hopefully he can recover mentally from all the kaos that has engulfed him. I truly hope someday that he leads the yanks to a WS title.
“Not that it matters (Swish will get his at-bats somehow), but what’s the point in holding a competition for the starting RF job if it’s all but decided based on last year’s stats?”
I think there was a competition but it was too close to call as neither player showed much. Girardi is a guy who has loyalty he figures Nady put up great stats for him down the stretch last year and that puts him ahead of Swish.
“It’s official, anyone who believes, without question, that A-Rod told the hooker he used steroids is stupid.”
It’s also official that anyone who believes A-Rod never took PEDs before 2001 or after 2003 is clueless.
We all shouldn’t be screaming for Nady. We should be screaming for Gardner. Whether Nady or Swisher are in RF we will get good production. If Melky is in CF we won’t.
“It’s also official that anyone who believes A-Rod never took PEDs before 2001 or after 2003 is clueless.”
In your mind.
Benny- Don’t worry A-Rod will bring this team to the Series its going to happen sooner than later with the additions if CC , Tex and Burnett this team will be bulletproof when A-Rod returns. Also didn’t A-Rod admit to using roids? So why is there a continuing debate. We should all just focus on baseball as fans we owe ourselves that.
“It’s also official that anyone who believes A-Rod never took PEDs before 2001 or after 2003 is clueless.”
Don’t conflate that with telling a hooker all about it.
the minute anyone even hints at something arod everyone comes out of the woodwork with their opinions (not facts…opinions)/nasty comments. If you could harness that energy to talk about the stuff that is actually happening with the team on the field, imagine how much you could add to the daily blog conversation.
So what’s next? Are we going to learn what porn movies Arods been renting in his hotel rooms?
The game against the Phillies has started.
Thanks, Phil
Who knew “PR” was a baseball stat
A-Rod should be banned from the Yankees and stripped off his United States citinzenchip and send to a consentration camp in the Dominican Republic.
I honestly don’t care if he dates hookers, as long as he hits the ball in October.
Yeah, A-Rod clearly is a low-character guy, but he is a great ballplayer even without steroids. As long as plays well, he can be as shady as he wants.
citinzenchip
consentration
Good Morning, guys (yawn!).
Skimming the comments and lol’d at the Mo/K-rod thing. Don’t know if it’s true, but it’s sinfully delightful to read.
Jeter in the WBC was a blessing, how else would Pena & Nunez get extensive playing time with the big club.
I’m all for Nady starting in right field. Have said all along, he’s not for long here. The ladies need to get their fill.
Schilling retired? What took so long. Unfortunately the mouth hasn’t retired. But the good news is that maybe he’ll start dishing about the Sox and get over his obsession with the Yankees.
jennifer, Gardner started in CF yesterday. But I agree, Melky will be given a chance to win the position. If they put Al on the DL does that open up a spot for an extra OF? Not really, because we’re taking that 7th reliever, utility IF. It comes down to the extra OF vs. 3rd catcher. The interesting one will be who starts in CF against the Cubbies.
Did the game start yet?
It’s amazing how many people turn out to be omniscient.
A-Rod should be executed for what he has done to baseball
“Third, I strongly believe in Reconcilation/Redemption. Arod has inner demons that HE has to deal and hopefully he can recover mentally from all the kaos that has engulfed him. I truly hope someday that he leads the yanks to a WS title.”
Junior Mints, this is truly one of the most honest, insightful, compassionate, and right-on posts that I have read on this forum. Good for you. I would be honored to call someone like you a friend.
Arod, on top of being a highly-talented ballplayer, is a troubled man with a lot of inner demons. Anyone who sees three different psychiatrists each week (Arod admitted to that in an interview) deserves our compassion/pity more than he deserves us to sit like the high priests, condemning his every move. There but for the grace of God go we…
uh – according to gameday the top of the first ended with 2 outs
>citinzenchip
Awh man those taste great
Jim,
It’s not an either/or. Alex can be good and not be such a creep. Being good off the field doesn’t sap his superhuman hitting powers. Why can’t he be good on and off the field? Best of both worlds.
What? Nady actually worked a walk!?
Enjoy that sight, we may not see it again this season.
PR = Pretend Runs.
Two applications:
PRA = Pretend Runs Against
PRF = Pretend Runs For
Like when a referee screws up a play and a run scores when he shouldn’t have. Yankees have 2.3 PRA/game.
Pete: I didn’t read all 170 comments, so if someone’s asked previously, my apologies: What’s the protocol that has CMW & Jorge running from ClearH2O, to Dunedin, back to Tampa? I can’t imagine that it’s as haphazard as jumping into their rental car(s) & driving themselves or even having an organizational flunky put them into a mini-van and drive around the West Coast of Fla. looking for a game? And I have neither and atlas nor a working knowledge of Fla. geography, but what’s the distance that they’ve got to cover to get back and forth to try & get their work in (I know that ClearH2O is part of the Tampa metro area)?
“uh – according to gameday the top of the first ended with 2 outs”
Damned umps. Will they EVER get it right????
ahhh – they fixed it now
Wang works a 1-2-3 first.
do you have a link—Rishi
gameday link please
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday.....b_phimlb_1
Can someone post a link to the Gameday for today’s game?
Thanks
AD, Outside of Mo I don’t really have a favorite RP. All I care is that they get the job done. Edwar does amaze me though, hard to believe he can keep SO hitters with that changeup, even when they know it’s coming. D-Rob is kind of interesting too, in that he SO a lot of hitters and only throws low 90s, must be his CB. Veras is good because he throws mid90s and nothing goes straight. He and Edwar seem to be very hot or ice cold. As a group they are an interesting bunch, fun to watch.
live blogging of todays game here:
http://offthewall.mlblogs.com/.....vs_ph.html
Pena singles on a hot shot past Howard.
mel,
I agree, but A-Rod is just a shady person. Whether it stems from inner demons, insecurity, or whatever, he is an abnormal person who is addicted to attention. He is a narc who is allergic to normalcy and continually shows bad judgment.
We just have to accept it and root for the uniform, not the person. He is here for 9 years unfortunately, and he is making a habit of embarrassing the Yankees.
Just have to hope he hits the ball and hits it when it counts. His personality is what it is.
thanks for the live blog link
Melky is heating up
Melky singles. Wang up with 2 outs. Working a walk here.
Wang is hitting? uh…
Thank you Rishi… right before I asked. Get out of my head!
Jim,
Gotcha. Accept him in spite of his personality, not because of it. There are people who actually admire his, uh, prowess.
Tom Mcarthy doing the radio broadcast. I liked him as a broadcaster for the Mets. Why did he leave town?
Wang is instructed not to swing and he works a 3-2 count? Maybe we overvalued Bobby Abreu lol
so pete billy chrystal had a better at bat than wang
Clearwater to Dunedin is about 10 minutes in moderate traffic. The Yankee complex in Tampa to the Phillie complex is about 15 minutes. I think it is safe to say that Yuri Sucart was not driving them. Maybe they are in Arod’s Maybach.
tishbi or anyone listening,
Play-by-play would by greatly appreciated if it’s not too much trouble. Thanks in advance!
but, on the flipside, Wang is funnier than Billy Crystal.
“We just have to accept it and root for the uniform, not the person. He is here for 9 years unfortunately, and he is making a habit of embarrassing the Yankees.”
How does A-Rod’s off the field behavior embarrass the Yankees? If it’s true that he only took PEDs with the Rangers, that does not embarrass the Yankees. If it’s true that he slept with hookers, several players have from all organizations so that does not embarrass the Yankees. The picture where A-Rod is staring himself down is stupid, but does not embarrass the Yankees.
Where is Yuri Sucart these days?
Is he driving A-Rod to various Ski Lodges out in Colo now?
1st and 3rd, no outs
stand still Wang
Wang in trouble. 1-3 nobody out.
If he could develop a legitimate strikeout pitch he would be so dominant in these situations. Get the K and then the DP.
Unless gameday is real time. It’s showing first and third, no outs with matt stairs at the plate.
just dont walk Stairs!
One pitch away from basses loaded and no outs.
He gets the GIDP. If he could only get that occasional K…..
In play, runs
m
Fixing clutch and character at the same time? That is worthy of an MVP regardless of results.
Steve Phillips last night as Team USA was on the verge of elimination went into a schpeel about how Team USA was full of high character guys who had alot of fun together. If I cared who won the game, I would have gladly traded a few chuckles to avoid an error and clubhouse bonding for an RBI.
At the end of the day, character matters but at the end of the game, not so much.
well that is annoying – get the 2 outs, but the run scores…yuck
“How does A-Rod’s off the field behavior embarrass the Yankees? If it’s true that he only took PEDs with the Rangers, that does not embarrass the Yankees. If it’s true that he slept with hookers, several players have from all organizations so that does not embarrass the Yankees. The picture where A-Rod is staring himself down is stupid, but does not embarrass the Yankees.”
So true. Have all the felonies involving guns & knives committed by NBA & NFL players embarrassed their respective teams? I’m thinking those are solo deals.
well at least he traded to outs for that run.
wang got the double play.
Wait… dating a notorious hooker ISN’T embarrassing? (You have no proof of other players who do BTW)
Admitting taking steroids after signing a 10 yr contract to break the clean HR record isin’t embarrassing?
What are the Garry Mathews rumors Ive been hearing about?
4 pitch walk
tishbi – they wanna trade him and his 30 million dollars. Nothing new.
can we not do this for one day? the next thing you know we are going to get lists of NFL players who failed steriod tests and drove drunk and knifed people (I’m pretty sure I saw something like that on ESPN)…gmab – these are highly paid people who are not paid to be even the least bit intelligent, they are played to play a game. Too much time, money and access generally = trouble. Unless you are perfect and never made a mistake, can we just give it a freaking rest?
Right, no other MLB player has ever gone to a prostitute. LOL.
phil coke interview:
http://web.yesnetwork.com/medi.....#038;_mp=1
i love me some coke
“Wait… dating a notorious hooker ISN’T embarrassing? (You have no proof of other players who do BTW)”
You aren’t trying to convince us that baseball players don’t cheat on their wives with other women, some of whom may be hookers, are you? If so, I’ve got a bridge in Brooklyn I’d like to sell you.
“Admitting taking steroids after signing a 10 yr contract to break the clean HR record isn’t embarrassing?”
According to Alex, he was using while wearing a Rangers uniform. That is not a mark against the Yankees. That’s a mark against Alex.
So the benchmark for Alex is now doing something criminal/illegal?
So as long as he doesn’t possess illegal weapons, he is not an embarrassment?
Sad.
Soul
Kristin Davis is a notorious madam not a notorious hooker. Titles are important to some people.
pat,
Agreed that results are the main thing. But is it too much to ask that you stay out of trouble? They are getting paid millions and the Yankees are their employers. Doesn’t seem to hard for most of the guys.
“Unless you are perfect and never made a mistake, can we just give it a freaking rest?”
I’m in.
Posada walks.
The spin job some of the A-Rod apologists are putting on is laughable.
Pete is 100% correct.
Happ losing the strike zone? that’s 2 walks
Two walks, cant find the plate
Damon walks.
Once again, fighting for the wrong.
Steroids is wrong, especially if you puported yourself to be something else.
Prositution’s not too bad. But a prostitution ring? That’s hard core. And I feel for his wife if he was married at the time.
And “everyone does it” is not an acceptable defense.
Double play for Tex. Overrated. Waste of space.
GIDP for Tex.
Not possessing illegal weapons…*using* them.
It’s sad that the bar is so low nowadays, but it is what it is.
at least X brings in the run
RBI infield hit? for Nady.
nice job nady
But he got Posada into scoring position. And Nady knocked him in with a single. Yeahhh.
Why are they afraid of Wang swinging the bat. Their real fear should be of Wang running the bases. And if he stands in the back of the batters box with the bat on his shoulder, he may walk.
I really could care less about A-Rod’s personal life. I also refuse to believe he is the only player to ever pay a hooker for company. If I had 300 million dollars I would do whatever I wanted, who are we to judge? I care about A-Rod getting back on the field and hitting the damn baseball.
This Kristen Davis looks like man. If you want a hooker Arod at-least get one who looks a woman.
Nady was safe on an error by Bruntlett. No hit, no RBI. No problem, it’s just bookkeeping.
they changed X’s hit to an error on the 3b
that CMW and double plays…
Nady let one drop in right, par for the fact that he’s ten or more runs worse than Swish out there…
Al,
I understand what you’re saying.
But you can do steroids and hookers even if you don’t have $300M.
Having that kind of money doesn’t protect you from public scrutiny and the law like it used to.
The more famous you are, the more the spotlight and magnifying glass is focused on you. Maybe one day, Alex will figure that out. That he can do anything he wants, but they world’s going to know about it and yes, heaven forbid, judge him on it.
lol wang works the count better than melky does…
haha
off topic: is Davey Johnson comatose?
“Wang fans looking. He has seen 11 pitches in two at-bats despite not being allowed to swing. He’s just so terrifying at the plate.”
LOL!
Whew, I thought it was 4-1 Phillies but that was just the inning number. Heart skipped a beat.
Just goes to show you it isn’t that easy to throw strikes.
I guess Happ didn’t get the scouting report on Wang. That he was supposed to stand there with the bat on his shoulder. I mean, why even send him out with the bat? Just send him out with a glove or something.
someone on the Michael Kay show, just proposed:
Jets #1 draft pick, Kris Jenkins, and Gholston, to Tennesee for Vince Young
wow.
What would Girardi do if Wang works a walk? would he call in a pinch runner?
tell wang to camp out at 1st and be called out at 2nd??
Nady is a veteran outfielder and is in a contract year. I can’t blame the Yanks with going with Nady over Swish..
I’m forced to watch Mets v Braves on SNY on an very rare off-day. Oh, Johan… what could have been.
Anyway, nice to find out Wang has a better pitch/PA average than Cano or Melky. What kind of a dolt is this Philies pitcher that he just doesn’t throw FB after FB down the middle if he knows Wang ain’t swinging.
“What would Girardi do if Wang works a walk? would he call in a pinch runner?”
No, he would give Wang the signal to steal second. Duh.
“Top 5th: HAPP STILL PITCHING
Jorge Posada still in and leads off the inning…Posada grounded out to third in his first at bat…walked and scored the only run in his second…and grounded out to short here to lead off the 5th…one out…and now Johnny Damon is up 2-2 count”
If Wang works a walk, let him then start talking slowly towards 2nd and get caught stealing.
I never want to see Wang at the plate again.
tell the umpire you will concede the out.
“What kind of a dolt is this Philies pitcher that he just doesn’t throw FB after FB down the middle if he knows Wang ain’t swinging.”
A dolt who realizes its spring training and wants to work on his pitches.
*walking
“I’m forced to watch Mets v Braves on SNY on an very rare off-day. Oh, Johan… what could have been”
you must be bored, cuz that game is taped
“What kind of a dolt is this Philies pitcher that he just doesn’t throw FB after FB down the middle if he knows Wang ain’t swinging.”
maybe b/c it’s Spring Trainging, the games are meaningless, and he just wants to work on a specific pitch?
how does throwing 3 BP fastballs help prepare you for the season?
the primary goal of ST is not to win games.
Top 5th: HAPP STILL PITCHING
Jorge Posada still in and leads off the inning…Posada grounded out to third in his first at bat…walked and scored the only run in his second…and grounded out to short here to lead off the 5th…one out…and now Johnny Damon is up 2-2 count…3-2 count now and Damon hits a fly ball that almost brought the rain back into RF…Matt Stairs camped under it and made the catch…Mark Teixeira now up…he popped out in his first at bat…and grounded into a 5-4-3 DP with runners on 1st and 2nd in his second at bat…but this time doubles on a line drive down the left field line and he is promptly brought in by Xavier Nady as he singles on a liner into left…Robinson Cano flew out to left and the inning is over…but the Yankees pick up a run to take the lead…Yankees 2 Phillies 1
Jerry Manual should assign Happ back to minor league camp after today’s performance. How do you almost walk a guy who isin’t going to Swing?
vinny-b, I hope that caller who proposed the Jets trade wasn’t Mike Tanenbaum.
Couldn’t he instruct Wang to talk back to the dugout, and he’d get tagged out?
“you must be bored, cuz that game is taped”
See? I didn’t even realize that. My pathetic little existence. I should have known better than taking the day off today.
Jeery Manual? I think you mean Charlie Manual…
*Jerry
Nady feeling good today, knocked in his second (first?) run of the day.
Nasy gaining confidence after he was given the RF job
He is in a contract yr, I expect big things out of him.
it was his first rbi.
Nady is gonna walk any way. Just trade high on him. He’s a 265 hitter in NY.
Nady is still not as good as Swisher and saying he would start on March 23 isn’t the same as writing his name in in April.
Any idea what pitch counts are up to? like 60-65?
How are we supposed to trade Nady if Girardi puts him on the bench?
“Nady is still not as good as Swisher and saying he would start on March 23 isn’t the same as writing his name in in April.”
Are you saying that you think Girardi may have a change of heart and put Nick in there as his starting RF?
You trade him before the season starts…
so pena keeps insisting on having Wang come up? second inning where there were 2 outs and pena gets a hit so wang’s up
RussW210
You must think you’re real witty. You’re not.
I think Pena is gonna make the team as the UT, for at least as long as ARod is out.
And yeah, I think Swisher will end up being the right fielder. They may be trying to move Nady.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/.....peavy.html
I hate Gammons. This is hilarious.
Pete – Posada’s out b/c that was the plan, or is something up?
If Nady reverts back to his normal numbers like we all think he will, Swisher will be in right in no time.
I don’t know why people are so frustrated. The only way Nady assumes the RF job full-time is if he starts out on fire and sustains it en route to a career year.
Girardi isin’t going to just sit back and watch Nady hit .265 and swing at pitches over his head while Swisher is on the bench. He is giving Nady a fair chance to prove last yr was not a fluke. If he doesn’t do that, Swish will take his spot.
BTW, Penny had a nice outing for Boston. 3 IP, 0 hits, 1 walk, 3 K’s.
“vinny-b, I hope that caller who proposed the Jets trade wasn’t Mike Tanenbaum”
Fran: Hope not either. It took me until now, to stop laughing.
personally I wouldn’t take Vince Young, for free
Bruney’s in – tie score, runner on 1st
oh – and 0 outs
That was a wonderful outing by Wang to show us that he still knows how to be economical.
Great with the double plays while barely throwing any pitches.
c’mon bruney!
“Bottom 6th: Jose Molina now catching…
Eric Bruntlett leads off…he is 1-2 with a single…make that 2-3…he hit a grounder right over the third base bag…for a lead off double…after a brief meeting between Molina and Wang…we are set for Jayson Werth 0-2 today…he singles into center field on a line drive…the ball was bobbled by Melky Cabrera and Bruntlett scored…Bruntlett would have scored anyway…single and an RBI for Werth and we are tied at two…and that ends the day for Wang…Brian Bruney will make his way in from the pen…”
Is the reason why nobody on here seems to want Nady starting because he used to be on the Mets?
I cant for the life me understand why Nick Swisher is regarded as some sort of god-like figure on here. Sure Nady mightve hit .265 with NYY last year, but Swisher hit.219! I know he is better than that, but really, how is everyone ready to ship Nady to the bench/out via trade so quickly? Doesnt make any sense to me.
There’s not a chance in hell that Cashman trades for Matthews.
He’s now essentially Melky Cabrera with a $33M contract.
Penny is going to be a great pickup for BOS.
Power pitcher, won a WS ring, bull-dog mentality, durable etc.
Very good pickup as a #5. When Smoltz comes back, Wakefield may be the one going to the pen.
Nice to see Utley back. And help us with a K.
That means we can expect our own hip patient back in no time.
At least it looks like Gameday is up to snuff and there’s no delays.
c’mon Bruney! get it done!
“There’s not a chance in hell that Cashman trades for Matthews.
He’s now essentially Melky Cabrera with a $33M contract”
outside of 1 good season in Texas, and a circus catch, he always was.
2 K’s for Bruney so far
Hey Pete – say’s it’s raining really hard (on another site) – do you think they are going to suspend it?
I like Brian Bruney
Funny:
Ibanez with his bat soaking wet took a swing on a 2-1 pitch…lost the bat and it flew out to first base…Teixeira had to run to get out of the way…with a smile on his face…no harm no foul…Ibanez back in the box…2-2 count
5-2 Phillies
Bruney allows a RBI double to Ibanez followed by a 2-R HR to Matt Stairs…
“Is the reason why nobody on here seems to want Nady starting because he used to be on the Mets?”
Actually, I had forgotten that he was on the Mets. No, that’s not why I don’t want Nady starting.
“I cant for the life me understand why Nick Swisher is regarded as some sort of god-like figure on here.”
Nick Swisher God Like? Um, that’s a stretch.
“Sure Nady mightve hit .265 with NYY last year, but Swisher hit.219! I know he is better than that, but really, how is everyone ready to ship Nady to the bench/out via trade so quickly? Doesnt make any sense to me.”
I’m not looking to ship Nady anywhere. I like a Nick/Nady platoon. I just think that Swisher should get the majority of the starts based on his higher OBP.
thanks bruney
Damaso Marte – Congrats! You are the new opening day setup man
Well, that sucked
I think you need to keep Bruney’s performance in perspective, that rain sounds like it’s a mess
why did Tampa Bay sign Pat Burrell, when they could have had Bobby Abreu?
What the heckle? I walk away with 2 outs and come back to find that Bruney imploded? Should we start worrying or chalk it up to “working on his pitches”?
Bruney’s spring ERA is now 7.56 after another dreadful outing.
He struck out Howard and Utley then lost it
I don’t want to use rain as an excuse because there will be games this year where it’s pouring and the umps won’t stop it until the inning is over and Bruney has to pitch through it.
Obviously in short time… Bruney this spring: 7.56 ERA.
m,
nahh i dont think you should worry just yet, it sounds like it is raining pretty hard, if bruney pitches like this during april though then we have a problem.
I’m gonna blame it on the rain
yeah yeah
Yanks 17, that makes no sense. It’s not an excuse, it is a fact. So you don’t pitch him in the rain… whatever. It isn’t an indication of how good he is.
Brian Bruney will be fine
The ‘working on things’ excuse gets pretty old right about this time. It’s already March 23rd. Players have been in camp for 6 weeks.
Girardi needs to start thinking about his contingency plans if Bruney continues his implosion at the ML level. Marte is obviously next in line, but whos after that? Veras? Coke?
MIGUEL CAIRO is in playing 3rd for the Phillies!!
Coke is going to play a huge role in the pen. Can he handle the 8th inning right now?
“Yankees’ rivals should be pleased that the Bombers are leaning towards going with Nady in right and either Melky Cabrera or Brett Gardner in center… Nady is the weaker fielder of the two and hasn’t been as good against right-handed pitchers in his career”
-rotoworld.com
please, lets not worry about Brian Bruney now. I beg of you
Wouldn’t get too emotional about Bruney getting rumswabbed today. Consider that in a situation like this in a regular season game (read: tight game late, 4 consecutive lefty bats camong up), Marte would have been the pitcher.
How did “working on things” get old between the 4-5th inning (when the Phillies pitchers had a hard time striking out Wang) and now?
infield single for Gardy. Swisher will hit for Tex.
“Girardi needs to start thinking about his contingency plans if Bruney continues his implosion at the ML level”
gotta love the panic. maybe the Yanks can trade Bruney for Brandon Webb. He’s stuggling in spring training too.
Let’s forget what players did in actual regular season games. Spring training is all that matters.
also its not like bruney was being wild and walking everyone in sight, it was a 1-2 pitch that stairs hit the homer off of. maybe im just optimistic but i still think worrying right is just a waste of time.
Damaso Marte – Congrats! You are the new opening day setup man
———-
No, not exactly.
Bruney earned a lot of brownie points with his performance last season in addition to his work ethic and attitude.
Girardi isn’t going to drop him from that role based on his ST numbers.
“why did Tampa Bay sign Pat Burrell, when they could have had Bobby Abreu?”
Abreu still wanted a huge multi-year contract at that time. Tampa Bay didn’t want to wait. The Phillies gave Ibanez a huge deal (relative to Abreu) as well. In this case, patience would have paid off but sometimes it backfires.
Swish lines into a DP.
Does Bruney have a ‘dead arm’?
I must say I’m a little concerned about Bruney, I’m not one to get all bent out of shape but his numbers in Spring have not been very good to warrant pitching the 8th inning, they have to count for something and his numbers are not good
8 games, 9 innings, 8 hits, 7 ER, 6 walks, 10 K’s, 7.56 ERA
I don’t know those aren’t good numbers at all for a setup man.
Hey if you talk the talk, gotta walk the walk Brian.
What brand of teeth whitner does Gammons use ?
Brett Gardner is unstoppable.
If ST is meaningless… why do any teams have competitions for anything?
Let’s not jump the gun that Bruney will not be the 8th inning guy, but let’s also not assume he will be. He has always been inconsistent except for a relatively short stretch last year.
“Girardi needs to start thinking about his contingency plans if Bruney continues his implosion at the ML level. Marte is obviously next in line,”
Bruney isn’t the definitive 8th inning guy at this point. I think it’s he and Marte, with the determination coming down to situation/who’s up on a given night. As I mentioned before, in a regular season game, it would be Marte who would be sent out to face Utley, Howard, Ibanez and Stairs. If it were Upton, Longoria and Burrell, it would be Bruney.
“Damaso Marte – Congrats! You are the new opening day setup man”
I must agree, not that he has done much either, barely has any innings.
Miranda to first, Swish to Right, AJack to left and Gardy to second.
Pardon me, Gardy to center and Nunez to short.
“Bruney earned a lot of brownie points with his performance last season in addition to his work ethic and attitude.”
exactly. and it’s not like marte couldn’t be a setup man either. The Yankees didn’t get him to be a 1-out lefty specialist. History (which actually matters) has shown that he is better than that.
Yanks seem to have gone cold at the plate – but Wang pitched well. Bruney? Ugh – I’m not worried about him, but sheesh – he’s been brutal.
Phil,
lol i was just about to ask since when did gardner play second? lol
“8 games, 9 innings, 8 hits, 7 ER, 6 walks, 10 K’s, 7.56 ERA”
Great K rate, but the walks remain a concern. Walks have always been an issue for him, even last year. Last year he made up for it by being damn near impossible to hit.
Where did Girardi say that Bruney was his 8th inning guy?
A lot of people are making assumptions that the manager doesn’t care about his Spring stats and already gave him the job.
Pesky Phillies hitters.
“Let’s not jump the gun that Bruney will not be the 8th inning guy, but let’s also not assume he will be. He has always been inconsistent except for a relatively short stretch last year.”
Bingo. There has been no indication that Bruney will be the 8th inning guy.
Remember Bruney has been talking up his expectations of himself, if he is fully aware of his desired role and can’t step up to that role, questions must be asked.
The fact is his numbers in Spring are not good, if he was having a terrific spring we would be cementing him for that 8th spot, but he is the one that is raising the questions with every outing. Last season is last season, every year presents new challenges unless you are a proven, established star in the game, ala Rivera.
Posada comes back and the Yankees start to lose.
No biggie of course. Next to Jeter, Posada is never to be questioned.
OMG!!!! They need Joba in the bullpen!!!!!1!!!!!1!!!
The 6 walks and 3 HRs in those 9 innings is a concern.
So when exactly does he need to start showing something this Spring? You really think Girardi is going to throw him out there on opening day in the 8th inningof a 1 run game if he doesn’t improve this Spring?
Cairo just hit a monster shot off of Giese. Cairo.
What exactly do people see in this journeyman Dan Giese, I have never liked this guy, he is a glorified minor leaguer with that goofy delivery of his, looks like an Ian Kennedy redux, just older. Yankees would do well to not carry him.
He is the epitome of a mop up man, just nothing to him.
Marte has a much more extensive track record than Bruney.
He is preferable against lefties only, but he can pitch to righties too. He just can’t be overused.
miggy
“Cairo just hit a monster shot off of Giese. Cairo.”
I never thought I’d see the words “monster shot” and “Cairo” in the same sentence.
Giese is another one who has stuck in spring, he can’t even make it as the last man in the pen, sheesh, good luck in Scranton dude.
There’s not going to be a specific 8th inning guy any time soon. If there are right handed batters, mostly likely, Bruney will pitch and if there are left handers, Marte and or Coke will get the call. Rivera has the most defined role in the pen, along with whoever is designated as the long man.
Dan Giese – 4 hits, 3 runs and a HR to Miguel Cairo
Welcome Aboard, Tomko!
“Last season is last season, every year presents new challenges unless you are a proven, established star in the game, ala Rivera.”
This is a good point. Nothing more inconsistent on a year to year basis than middle relief. Naturally, guys like Mo are money, but the bridge to Mo part is never easy. I think of Marte as very solid, simply because he has been for an extended period of time. On the other hand, we have guys like Bruney, Coke, Veras, Edwar, etc., who have not proven that they can get it done consistently on the big stage. Doesn’t mean they won’t this time around, but it’s very presumptuous to assume the “we have a great bullpen” stance. What we have is a great closer and several guys with talent, but for whom the jury remains out.
“What exactly do people see in this journeyman Dan Giese, I have never liked this guy, he is a glorified minor leaguer with that goofy delivery of his, looks like an Ian Kennedy redux, just older. Yankees would do well to not carry him”
he was pretty good last year. Let’s just throw everyone to the wolves.
LOL Just about the time you want your team to gel, the pitching is getting killed. At least Wang pitched well – Geise isn’t helping his cause. I have been a big proponent of Bruney, esp. given his dedication to helping the team last year, BUT – those who have mentioned his confident attitude this spring are correct. He’s talking a big game, but he’s not getting it done. If he’s already thinking about when he’s a FA so he can get closer $$$, he’d better drop that attitude right now.
Well there’s a way to pitch yourself out of a roster spot, Tomko looks like Koufax right now compared to Giese and I’m not a fan of either. Eek.
Luckily the only time Tomko would be in a game is if things have gotten out of hand with a starter.
“What brand of teeth whitner does Gammons use ?”
Skoal
Pete – you are going to face Joba in the 8th questions again -
I think Edwar has the best swing and miss ability on the team and he was lights out last year in games against everyone except the Angels.
I could see Edwar taking the 8th inning.
“There’s not going to be a specific 8th inning guy any time soon. If there are right handed batters, mostly likely, Bruney will pitch and if there are left handers, Marte and or Coke will get the call. Rivera has the most defined role in the pen, along with whoever is designated as the long man.”
True GreenBeret, I see something like that being the employed method. The only issue is these two guys can walk the ballpark when they go wild, but Joe will probably employ that dual 8th inning strategy.
Hey Pete, how about doing one of your question and answer sessions with Girardi. I’d like to at least ask a question concerning what appears to be certain pitchers’ lack of success with Posada behind the dish as opposed to what appears to be Molina’s greater success with most of the pitchers on the staff.
Of course this is nothing new. Over the years there have been pitchers who just did not work well with Posada and asked to have a different catcher. My concern is that if the same thing starts to happen with a pitching staff as vaunted as the one we now have, it could certainly impact their records and in turn the Yankees’ record. If there is something to it, maybe it would behoove management to figure it out and address it.
By the way, I love Jorge as a Yankee warrior and he is tied for first in terms of the player I want most at the plate with a game on the line. I do worry however about the way he sometimes calls games. I don’t think it rises to the extent of Pudge, where he has been roundly criticized for calling for all outside pitches so that he can show off his gun (or that’s the allegation anyway). But I think it is something that may need addressing on some level. If it’s something that can be cured, let’s cure it.
I remember last season when Darrel Rasner pitched his first 4 or 5 games and was wildly successful. Chad Moeller, I believe, was his catcher. He started losing games whem Posada started catching him.
“I could see Edwar taking the 8th inning”
And i could see NYY losing a lot of games.
Edwar is a novelty item. The weak link, in an otherwise solid bullpen.
“If he’s already thinking about when he’s a FA so he can get closer $$$, he’d better drop that attitude right now.”
He has been indirectly saying this for a long time. Last year when he has his foot surgery, there was an article saying he didn’t want to get season ending surgery because it was time for him to start taking care of his family better and the only way he could do that was staying on the field (which meant his arbitration salary would be higher this year).
“he was pretty good last year. Let’s just throw everyone to the wolves.”
Giese has given up 5 homeruns, 11 ER and 19 hits in 13 innings of Spring ball. That is not how you make a ballclub.
Bruney was talking such a big game all Spring and talking about he wants to be a closer and speaking as if he was already the 8th inning guy (when Joe has said no such thing).
He is 10 steps ahead of where he should be. He should concentrate on having a good Spring and let the chips fall where they may. I don’t see Marte or Veras boasting about their abilities and talking about their future. They’re just quietly going about their business, like Bruney should. If he talked to talk, he has to be able to walk the walk.
Looks like two losses in a row for the “Ok – we’ll say die” Spring Training Yankees
Edwar is a novelty item. The weak link, in an otherwise solid bullpen.
———
Agreed. I’d prefer Robertson over Edwar but Girardi prefers Edwar because of his experience and that change up.
‘curious
March 23rd, 2009 at 3:56 pm
“What brand of teeth whitner does Gammons use ?”
Skoal’
LOL classic
Giese is a journeyman for a reason
We squeezed some useful innings out of him. Now its time for him to go on his merry way.
Tomko can hold down the fort until Aceves is ready to be the long man.
“I have been a big proponent of Bruney, esp. given his dedication to helping the team last year, BUT – those who have mentioned his confident attitude this spring are correct. He’s talking a big game, but he’s not getting it done. If he’s already thinking about when he’s a FA so he can get closer $$$, he’d better drop that attitude right now.”
I’ve been a proponent of him as well, but hey if it walks like a duck, talks like a duck, it’s a duck. Like you said I love his mindset but he still has to get the job done and in Spring he hasn’t so that raises some flags for the start of the season about him. This has been a continuous Spring issue, not just a game here and there. His outings have been mediocre for a guy who is supposed to be battling for that 8th inning role. I don’t mind him talking but be prepared to back it up and I’ll support him. Heck I expected better from him in Spring and still do going into the season, anything less would be disappointing.
Jose Molina caught Bruney and Giese’s innings where they imploded today
Kevin Cash caught Bruney’s outing last time where he walked 3 guys and gave up 4 runs
Bruney is the one who has looked dreadful, it has nothing to do with the catchers.
“why did Tampa Bay sign Pat Burrell, when they could have had Bobby Abreu?”
One of Tampa’s significant weaknesses last year was right handed hitting, especially right handed power hitting. They really needed to address that issue this off season and the did so very effectively by signing Burrell to DH and trading for Matt Joyce to play RF, possibly as a platoon.
The first guy they approached to try to sign this off season as a DH was Milton Bradley and again they targeted him because he could give them another right handed bat.
Abreu’s contract demands were probably a factor but Tampa really wanted a right handed bat. The Phillies odd decision to sign Ibanez helped out Tampa a ton.
They are a very methodical, well run team.
“Pete- you are going to face Joba in the 8th questions again”
Hope it doesn’t reach that point because I’ve been one of the biggest Joba as a starter supporters, but we know the media can’t wait to talk about this subject and with Bruney pitching the way he has it will only increase as Spring winds down.
The Joba in the pen debate will never end. The Yankees didn’t help matters today when they announced that if Mo has problems, Joba will be the closer. The guy has 4 pitches. He should be a starter. Why can’t we move on from this?
Bruney is dedicated to taking care of his family, financially. Even in that article written about him wanting to be a closer, he referenced the financial advantage of being that compared to a regular reliever.
Same reason he didn’t get surgery last year– so his arb, number would be higher, not because he wanted to ‘help the team’.
I don’t doubt that he did/does want to help the team, but money was clearly his first motive, but who can blame him? That’s every player’s mindset. Bruney is no different. His dedication is $$$ driven.
“I could see Edwar taking the 8th inning”
And i could see NYY losing a lot of games.
Edwar is a novelty item. The weak link, in an otherwise solid bullpen.”
+++ LOL, sorry I like Edwar but I wouldn’t trust him anywhere near the 8th inning, he is nice for that 1 batter in the 6th, 2 batters in the 7th kind of scenario but I wouldn’t trust him later on in the game.
Igawa to AAA. I guess that tells you what the NYY think of him. 12+ innings and only one run yet he’s still in AAA. Only way he ever pitches in NY is if it for the Mets. Looks like LRP is Tomko’s to lose.
If Bruney can’t handle the 8th inning, we have plenty of other options. Joba is NOT one of those options.
Being concerned about Bruney doesn’t mean we want Joba in the pen. We just want to look at out other possibilities if Bruney can’t hack it (and clearly, he hasn’t this Spring).
ok – so Nunez, Bernier and J. Rodriguez walk, hit, hit and Molina GIDPs? what is wrong with this picture?
Of course I’m not worried about Bruney after 1 outing.
But when it comes to relievers jockeying for spots and position in the bullpen you can’t ignore spring results. That’s where the competition is held with all the guys together even though much consideration is given to the incumbents.
By all appearances, Tomko has outpitched Giese. And out of Bruney, Marte, Coke I would feel most comfortable sending Coke out in the 8th as of right now. Bruney has the capablities and I’m not dumping on him. He just hasn’t looked very good this spring (not just this outing) and I’ve seen enough roller coaster out of him over his career to know that he goes as his mind goes. Marte has more experience than Coke, but until Coke falls flat on his face he’s the one I trust.
For those that try to cherry pick which spring numbers mean more than others, take a look at ST numbers from 2008. You can’t disregard some and state which ones are bums and which ones are up and coming superstars.
Billy Trabor and Giese are good examples just from last year.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....;year=2008
spring numbers are guides….not definates.
Mel,
Agree. I would trust Coke too over the other guys.
Spring Training numbers only mean something if you are competing for a spot on the roster, or positioning (like Bruney is competing to be the 8th inning guy).
Spring Training for seasoned veterans with guaranteed starting jobs like Jeter, CC, Rivera, Damon etc. are meaningless.
You can’t judge Bruney the same way you judge CC.
Did anyone see this? $6 beers and $3 hot dogs among other things at the new stadium…
http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com.....8;c_id=nyy
All I know is that in his next few appearance Bruney better step it up, I’ve been rooting for him for that 8th inning role and its beginning to make me look like a fool trying to argue with Red Skunk fans about out BP.
Brian Bruney is thinking too much. Last year was different because he was flying under the radar when joba was in the pen. He’s putting to much pressure on himself now that 62 is in the rotation. bruney! stop thinking and pitch!
I was Joe G. I would have a talk just to remind Bruney that he hasn’t achieved anything and still has to prove himself, it seems like he may think he has it made on the team and so he can just go throw his pitches and call it a day, I hope that is the case actually because that may explain his awful numbers so far in camp.
At any other point he wouldn’t make the team with those numbers, but last season is obviously factoring into it.
“Did anyone see this? $6 beers and $3 hot dogs among other things at the new stadium…”
I thought we were all very aware of how absurd prices are going to be at this new ballpark. Hence why I’m only going to 1 game this year.
bryanhochChien-Ming Wang on Tony Pena: “He drives real fast.”
on positive is he struck out utley and Howard
‘ok – so Nunez, Bernier and J. Rodriguez walk, hit, hit and Molina GIDPs? what is wrong with this picture?’
Nunez drew a walk..that surprised the hell out of me, who’s pitching ?
Benny (junior mint) Blanco
March 23rd, 2009 at 4:23 pm
Brian Bruney is thinking too much. Last year was different because he was flying under the radar when joba was in the pen. He’s putting to much pressure on himself now that 62 is in the rotation. bruney! stop thinking and pitch!
————————————————————
I guess Melancon, Aceves and Sabathia have been thinking too much this spring, too.
Bruney shouldn’t be putting pressure on himself. He should have just stayed quiet and went about his business like the other relievers are doing.
He was doing all these interviews and making all these declarations about him being the setup man and talking about how he wants to be a closer etc. and boasting about how good he is. He called out Harold Reynolds and anyone else who said the Yankees don’t have a good pen etc.
He brought this upon himself. If you’re cocky, you need to back it up. He isin’t Mariano– he doesn’t have anything guaranteed.
brandon – Koplove?
Nunex has a great arm
Al from BK
“I thought we were all very aware of how absurd prices are going to be at this new ballpark. Hence why I’m only going to 1 game this year.”
————————————-
Absurd? That is a 33% reduction in the price of beer and almost 46% reduction in price of hot dogs. That is why I pointed it out
Ryan,
Apparently rain and the whew!-letdown factor is a toxic mix.
3.82 ERA, 175 K’s in 2008
So Nunez drew a walk against a good relief pitcher… what’s next Fatcessa saids no to a sandwhich ?
“Did anyone see this? $6 beers and $3 hot dogs among other things at the new stadium…”
Weren’t they more last year?
“Igawa to AAA. I guess that tells you what the NYY think of him. 12+ innings and only one run yet he’s still in AAA. Only way he ever pitches in NY is if it for the Mets. Looks like LRP is Tomko’s to lose.”
Ah. So you’re also thinking the if Igawa pitched 12+ innings of one hit ball, and that one hit was a homer, the Yankees would option him to AAA because they just don’t like him? What does 12+ innings and only one run have to do with anything?
Neither you nor I know what the Yankees are feeling about Igawa and what their plans are for him, so let’s not pretend we do.
Now. As much as I want to see Igawa succeed, despite the fact that he has an ERA of .73 the fact that he loaded the bases twice in a game isn’t what you necessarily want to see in your relief pitcher. Houdinism isn’t a guarantee, and but for a good catch in the outfield, that one run could have ended up being 5 runs. Maybe that kind of action had more to do with his going down than anything else. Just a thought.
What happens with Igawa remains to be seen.
MO.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Igawa in the Bronx at some point. Don’t forget he isn’t on the 40 man roster.
Pat
Weren’t they more last year?
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Yes that is the point… Since the Yankees are starting their own concessions company the prices are going down… check the link I provided earlier
Good to see there’s no shortage of amateur psychologists here even during Spring Training. Everyone’s an expert.
Green: I know its spring training, but if Bruney had a 0.87 era, people would be saying he’s mariano’s successor.
Let’s hope that the next time we see Igawa in the Bronx is when he donates some of his fortune to building a ballpark for kids.
No panic yet on Bruney. He still has a few weeks to work it out or he won’t find himself working it at all.
$3 hot dogs and $6 beers?
What’s the catch?
The new concessions look pretty good: cuban sadwiches, garlic fries….
ZMAN,
What’s up? Shouldn’t all ballplayers donate some of their fortune to build a ballpark for kids?
““Did anyone see this? $6 beers and $3 hot dogs among other things at the new stadium…””
I guess we’re getting the Depression Specials this year at the Stadium. I guess they wanted to throw fans a bone after raising the prices for tickets, or there’s some anxiety that the gloomy $$ situation in the city will cause people to spend nothing at games.
“Let’s hope that the next time we see Igawa in the Bronx is when he donates some of his fortune to building a ballpark for kids.”
Good to see there’s no shortage of short-sighted posters here even during Spring Training. Everyone’s an expert…
What about a .73 ERA didn’t you particularly like?
m – Yes, they should. I was mostly emphasizing that I don’t want to ever again see Igawa on the mound in a major league game.
I’m liking the mixed drink stands. I am not a fan of beer.
Yeah, a 0.73 ERA in Spring Training means a lot. Igawa has shown what he can(‘t) do plenty of times over the past couple of years. It was a mistake; now they move on.
“Green: I know its spring training, but if Bruney had a 0.87 era, people would be saying he’s mariano’s successor.”
Exactly
Al from BK
March 23rd, 2009 at 4:29 pm
“Did anyone see this? $6 beers and $3 hot dogs among other things at the new stadium…”
I thought we were all very aware of how absurd prices are going to be at this new ballpark. Hence why I’m only going to 1 game this year.
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The 6/3$ pricing is actually about 30% cheaper than last year depending on which beer you bought. I always paid 10.50$ for my 20 oz Heineken but I think Buds were 8$. Hot dogs were 4.50$ I believe.
The big news in that announcement is the involvement of Lobel’s butcher. Lobel’s is a NY institution. A major player in the NY steak scene. It’s on Madison and steaks generally run 30$ per pound for prime/dry aged. If they are going to be supplying the steakhouse, it could easily become the best steak restaurant in The Bronx.
The Latin Corner with the Cuban sandwiches sounds great. Dunkin Donuts is nice as well for cold nights but we’ll just have to ignore the fact that it’s a Boston born business.
“Yeah, a 0.73 ERA in Spring Training means a lot. Igawa has shown what he can(‘t) do plenty of times over the past couple of years. It was a mistake; now they move on.”
Ah! You’re a fatalist who believes that once things happen a certain way they can’t change. Gotcha.
“The 6/3$ pricing is actually about 30% cheaper than last year depending on which beer you bought. I always paid 10.50$ for my 20 oz Heineken but I think Buds were 8$. Hot dogs were 4.50$ I believe.”
My bad I thought they had raised prices. A drop off is good for business I will now be purchasing a dog when I visit the Stadium
Houdini Igawa had a shot at the long relief role – but control problems and nibbling at the strike zone did him in in his last few appearances.
Look deeper than the ERA – he walked 8 guys in 12 innings.
Tomko walked 1 in 11 innings.
Ironically – Houdini did WORSE after Girardi gave him some props and said he was in the mix for the job.
Some guys do better when there is no advanced pressure – his best MLB outing was when he came in to face the Red Sox unexpectantly after the starter got injured.
LOL A fatalist? In believing that Igawa is not major league caliber? The correct word would be realist.
I’m quite sure the Yankee brass thinks less than favorably of their investment in the Japanese golden child. And with good reason.
“Houdini Igawa had a shot at the long relief role – but control problems and nibbling at the strike zone did him in in his last few appearances.
Look deeper than the ERA – he walked 8 guys in 12 innings.
Tomko walked 1 in 11 innings.
Ironically – Houdini did WORSE after Girardi gave him some props and said he was in the mix for the job.
Some guys do better when there is no advanced pressure – his best MLB outing was when he came in to face the Red Sox unexpectantly after the starter got injured.”
DT – right on the money, all of it.
DT – there are people who decide to watch what goes on in Spring Training, and then there are people whose minds are made up and feel they don’t need to watch anything. It isn’t always easy to separate the wheat from the chaff, especially when it comes to the way people perceive Igawa. Anyway, I was one who decided to watch what went on in ST. If you read my earlier post, I too alluded to the fact that the Houdini act in the last few games wasn’t something that would necessarily impress.
I agree Trisha.
Igawa was behind the eight ball from the start. He had to be lights out to change the fans’ mind and the Yankees mind as well. (since they took him off the 40 man)
I think people should get second chances. It’s a good story when they do well.
Even if the Yanks had given up on him – by having him pitch well increases chances he’ll be moved. I don’t see why people don’t root for him either way.
Pitch well – he could help the current roster.
Pitch well – he could be moved and the haters would be happy.
anyone read Rob Neyer today?
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn.....=Neyer_Rob
Not sure if I really agree with him on all of the points he makes, but it is a solid argument. I don’t see why people are worrying about this so much…it’s not like Swisher won’t be right there on the bench if Nady starts, or vice versa, so if either of them struggle you can always pull the swap. It’s really not the worst dilemma to have, I’m sure plenty of teams would like to be worrying about that than plenty of other issues.
“I don’t see why people don’t root for him either way.
Pitch well – he could help the current roster.
Pitch well – he could be moved and the haters would be happy.”
Absolutely DT.
I think Brett Tomko gets the long relirf role now. Geise has pitched really bad.
Benny (junior mint) Blanco
March 23rd, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Green: I know its spring training, but if Bruney had a 0.87 era, people would be saying he’s mariano’s successor.
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Yrah, and, they’re the same ones that don’t know what the Hell they’re talking about, anyway. Go take a peek at that link over the years and look at the past few ST numbers. The ST monsters that bombed during the season and the ones that played like rookie ballers and put up their usual season numbers. The ones that are bubble players are the ones that numbers mean anything. Tomko vs Giese vs Aceves, or Albaladejo vs Ramirez. Girardi will use the numbers along with other info. Players like Pena and Nunez or Jackson and Duncan have little to zero chance of being on the 25 man roster.