When I saw both Pena and Nunez play is saw them make plays that a lot of major league shortstops can’t make.

Joba, needs the velocity and arm action for both his fastball and slider and change ups to be effective. When I saws Joba pitch he had a hard time hitting 91 and 92 mph on the guns. He sat at around 88 mph. I along with others thought that the way he was throwing there might be something still wrong with that shoulder.

Hey, you know what…in a flash of genius I’ll suggest Jeter play CF.

Is this even real?

…aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand their opinions instantly become invalid.

I go back and forth on Pena going north with the team. It is so exciting to have a young player make such an impact during ST and on that level – you want him on the team. But, he’s not going to get the playing time as a utility guy that he should get to continue his development. I would hope that 6 weeks wouldn’t stunt that development, still it’s better to play every game than parts of some or even parts of most. But the most interesting thing is that even if the scouts are way down on Derek Jeter, and even if Pena is the better shortstop at this point, Pena is not replacing Derek Jeter. Jeter is going to play. So Pena making the team has nothing to do with how good or not good a SS Derek Jeter may or may not be.

I won’t worry about Joba’s velocity. In fact, I don’t care if he never hits 100 mph on the radar gun again, or 98 or 99 or 97. He needs to be more efficient when he pitches, which he will learn. And he needs to use the extra speed judiciously.

I’m a fan of Melky. Gardner worked his tail of this spring and definitely earned the nod, at least for the time being. But I am more comfortable with Melky’s spring, because I think it’s a more authentic performance. I am waiting for Gardner to fall back to earth, hitting wise, though I don’t wish him to – hey, if he’s going to be the starter, I’d much rather he stay on the course he’s set for himself this spring (okay, not .400, but, .290?). I’d always heard that Melky took poor routes to balls – not seeing a lot of games in person, it’s difficult for me to see that. I assumed Gardner was better in that department. Now I’m finding out he takes just as poor routes, but does so a little faster, and with not as good a throwing arm. Okay. But he is a little demon on the basepaths, so he’s surely worth a shot just for the change of pace (no pun intended) if nothing else.

I doubt Bowa comes back to manage the Yankees, but I know nothing! Seriously, I had read/heard that he much prefers being a coach to managing right now. Although, who knows? Do you turn down a chance to manage the NY Yankees? And if Girardi gets canned, that means the team is in really sorry shape, so I doubt Bowa would want to jump into that kind of a situation.

My husband read this morning that the Yankees are favorites (I guess in Vegas) to win the whole shebang. Oy. I’d rather fly under the radar.