Video blog from spring training
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Mar 25, 2009 
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Here’s another installment of the video blog, somewhat live from Tampa. I focused on the three positions on the roster up for grabs.
Gardner’s the guy.
Tomko fits the bill. And if he fails at long relief, bring up someone else. Aceves is a starter who gives you efficient innings, it’d be a waste to not use him as a starter. Albeit in Scranton.
Is Pena on the 40?
Pete, do you get a sense from the club that they’re leaning towards carrying only 2 catchers?
Thanks for the video blog. Good stuff. Good medium, but not really conducive to your lame Alex jokes.
the video isnt working..
Pete, the video cut off somewhere in the Aceves/Tomko part.
But -
Regarding Melky/Gardner. To clarify – do you think Gardner will start with Melky being an “extra” outfield?
Gardner
Tomko
Berrora
For Now…..
Doreen
March 25th, 2009 at 11:46 am
Pete, the video cut off somewhere in the Aceves/Tomko part.
But –
Regarding Melky/Gardner. To clarify – do you think Gardner will start with Melky being an “extra” outfield?
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Doreen, it’s back working. Mine cut off at 5:17 minutes. I restarted it and advanced ot to about 5 minutes and it finished.
Pete –
ask Berroa if he’s on the 40 man.
Maybe he’ll panic, and say he’s not 40, he’s only 39.
I say Gardner in CF, Tomko in Long Relief, Berroa as INF.
Let Pena play every day in the minors and get better.
m
Pena is a non roster invitee…..played in Trenton last year.
Tomko and Berrora are also non roster invitees.
So two spots would be needed on the 40 Man Roster either way.(Sanchez to 60Day Possibly???)
I have heard scouts really like Ramiro Pena … especially his range at shortstop.
If the Yankees are seriously thinking about having him as the utility infielder, I would imagine that another thing that works in his favor over Angel Berroa is that Pena is a switch hitter … so he is versatile with the glove, as well as with the bat.
NYY is going to have 40 man roster issues whether they add Berroa or Pena, and if they add Tomko, then Giese, Steven Jackson, Hacker or someone like that needs to be removed. It’s either trades, waivers or putting some players on the 60 day DL, such as Sanchez or Rodriguez.
Piazza wouldn’t shock me but there are too many unsubstantiated claims out there. Back acne and hearsay?
On the other hand it is a bummer that a handful of guys are paying for the crimes of many.
one thing that is clear is that the legacy of the “steroid era” will not be disappearing any time soon.
Melky vs Gardner ?
In case anybody did not see the game last night, Gardner earned the very important first run on a night that Wakefield was dealing. Did it with his speed.
At this point in baseball time, Gardner’s speed is not a “nice to have”, it’s a “need to have”.
Gardner’s had a better spring and his speed is a necessary weapon. He deserves the opportunity. Anybody who has an old Sheffield jersey, break it out and support our new center fielder.
Utility,
Thanks for that.
Pena seems perfect. Except, he hasn’t played above AA. But Girardi (Cash?) didn’t think it was going to be a problem when they talked about it yesterday. Berroa does have that “name” factor and a bat. It’d also be interesting to see if he could resurrect his fledgling career. Ask Matsui to pick the utility IF.
Maybe Alex and Sanchez to the DL? Then when they come back you make roster moves that are more likely to stick because other teams will have set their rosters?
It’s nice to see some farm hands making a name for themselves this spring.
Thanks, GB7, I just finished the “listen.”
I think it would be neat and for Pena to be the utility person, since it is temporary. They would really get the opportunity to see how he fits in in the majors, but knowing that it’s temporary, knowing ahead of time that he’s going back to minor league ball, it’s kind of a no-lose situation.
However I don’t think it would much matter which player they go with. I do think the Yankees will end up going with the veteran, ultimately. It’s what the Yankees usually do. They could surprise here, though.
Is it possible Jose Tabata married Angel Berroa’s high school sweetheart? I think it’s quite possible.
best yankee blog ever
good stuff, nice summary – and i can hear it while i work instead of stopping to read
A-Rod on the 30 day DL takes care of one question. Humberto Sanchez on the 60 day DL is another.
Juan Miranda and Steven Jackson (both on the 40-man roster) have no futures with the Yankees and could go in a deal for a position player.
Keep Dan Giese at AAA in the event of an injury.
Brad
March 25th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
A-Rod on the 30 day DL takes care of one question. Humberto Sanchez on the 60 day DL is another.
Juan Miranda and Steven Jackson (both on the 40-man roster) have no futures with the Yankees and could go in a deal for a position player.
Keep Dan Giese at AAA in the event of an injury.
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There is no 30 day DL, and unless they put him on the 60 day DL, there is no room to add anyone to the 40 man rosyer without releasing a player.
Pena should be the UIF and I think he will be. As pointed out, it may only be for a month-6 weeks, which would be a nice, no-pressure ease into the big leagues for Pena, who is better disposed to upgrade the infield defense whenever his turn comes.
I think Girardi may be inclined to give Jeter more off days than in the past, and Pena is a hands-down better defensive option than Berroa.
My thinking is contrary to the blogger’s/blog’s on Gardner/Cabrera. I see the former being named the starter and being given a reasonable leash, but then I see high K rates and less contact against better hitting coming back into the picture.
If Gardner can get on base enough to pull a Mickey Rivers, circa 1976, that would be an unexpected, happy surprise. I don’t believe in him, however, long-range. as more than a very useful pinch runner/base stealer/late-innings defender.
I also think the manager, though clearly enthusiastic about what Gardner could do if he could somehow get on base enough, has a degree of skepticism, too, and has noticed Cabrera’s re-emergence as a solid contact hitter who can hit the breaking ball.
For all his adjustments at the plate, and the ST numbers of Gardner, Cabrera’s under-the-radar, disciplined ABs keep whispering in Girardi’s ear that he is, and will be, the more reliable and better hitter.
^^^that’s against better pitching.
Why waste an option on Pena unnecessarily for a month when he’s going sit on the bench? If he’s supposed to be in future plans, he needs to be playing and learning how to hit above a .240-.250 average.
Agreed, Bronx Jeers. Gardners’s speed isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity. Then again, it’s been a necessity for years now. And when we’ve had that kind of speed, or anything resembling it (with Kenny Lofton) we let it sit on the bench unused — even when Schilling was on one good leg. So I hope we’re smart enough to use it this time.
I think that they keep Berroa for one month so that they can get look at him in real game situations. If they find that he responds to a new location (particularly with Tony Pena around), then they find something to do with him when Alex comes back. Otherwise they trade him or let him go.
Ramiro Pena needs to be playing every day — not sitting on the bench to play an inning or two every third day.
GreenBeret7
March 25th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
Why waste an option on Pena unnecessarily for a month when he’s going sit on the bench? If he’s supposed to be in future plans, he needs to be playing and learning how to hit above a .240-.250 average.
==================================================
I’ve thought about this, and it’s a valid point. But the short window gives him some experience up here and it also puts him in the Yankees consciousness, knowing he’s going back to work on hitting without the attendant deflation.
Also, I’m concerned about Berroa’s defense.
I’m also concerned if Ransom becomes the UIF when Alex returns; I do not like him at short at all.
If the Yankees would go out and get themselves a REAL, defense-only utility infielder, I’d feel better. Berroa now and Ransom later doesn’t inspire confidence.
BTW: Thank you for your conscientious updates during ST games. I trust your play-by-play and rely on it!
Jay
March 25th, 2009 at 1:34 pm
Agreed, Bronx Jeers. Gardners’s speed isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity. Then again, it’s been a necessity for years now. And when we’ve had that kind of speed, or anything resembling it (with Kenny Lofton) we let it sit on the bench unused—even when Schilling was on one good leg. So I hope we’re smart enough to use it this time.
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Jay, obviously we’re smart enough; Girardi wants this kid to win the job. The trouble is, you can’t steal first base; he has to be GOOD enough at the plate to allow the so-called SMART idea to pay off; he needs to GET ON to use his speed on the bases.
If only baseball were a track meet or sheer athleticism- it isn’t. Otherwise, AJax wouldn’t need to spend the next year in the minors working on hitting. Gardner’s ability to hit enough to make his speed on the bases pay off is the million dollar question; Spring Training isn’t really equipped to answer that question adequately. We will see.
Gardner is the #1 CF, but Melky is out of options and they cant burn a roster spot to leave Melky sitting on the bench, so look for a trade before camp breaks.