Notes from Tuesday
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc, Notes on Mar 30, 2010 
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The Yankees reassigned outfielders David Winfree and Jon Weber to minor camp after tonight’s game. Those were the last non-roster outfielders — other than Marcus Thames — who were left in camp, but Joe Girardi said the moves don’t necessarily mean Thames has made the team.
“We haven’t made any final cuts yet,” Girardi said. “But Marcus swung the bat against the lefties today, and we have to make some decisions. We’re going to meet pretty soon.”
Weber hit .483 this spring, and he’s tied for the team lead with four doubles. Problem is he’s a left-handed hitter trying to make a team that needs a right-handed hitter.
“He did everything he could do,” Girardi said. “He’s definitely opened some eyes, for sure.”
Weber had become one of the feel-good stories of the spring. He’s a 32-year-old without a single day in the big leagues, but he made a big impression this spring. Chris Coste was 33 years old without a single day in the big leagues when he made a big impression with the Phillies in the spring of 2007, and he got a call-up later that year.
“It was the best time in my life, in my career, that I’ve ever had,” Weber said. “I made it to the final week with the New York Yankees.”
Here’s the Weber audio. If you want to root for a guy, give this a listen.
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• Sergio Mitre allowed a two-run home run in the fourth inning but rebounded to finish with two runs on three hits and no walks through six innings. “That one inning that they scored, my pitches were just up a little bit,” Mitre said. His strong spring continues.
• When Joe Girardi got to this afternoon’s game, he only knew Mark Teixeira was sore after being hit by a pitch yesterday. By the time the night game started, Girardi had learned that Teixeira actually reported to camp with no swelling. The situation actually seems better than might have been expected.
• “Ace was better too,” Girardi said. There’s even a chance Alfredo Aceves will play catch tomorrow.
• CC Sabathia hasn’t had the best spring — his 7.23 ERA doesn’t include his ugly outing in minor league camp — but absolutely no one in Yankees camp seems concerned. “CC needs the adrenalin, and I’m pretty sure he’s going to get it in Boston,” Jorge Posada said.
• Joba Chamberlain “probably won’t” pitch in back-to-back games this spring.
• A decision on whether Phil Hughes will open on the big league roster or be optioned to the minor leagues until the Yankees need a fifth starter may be coming soon. “I think we’re about done with that,” Girardi said. “We should have that for you shortly.”
• Speaking of that decision, Boone Logan pitched another scoreless inning. He has made a strong case to be a second left-handed reliever, and it would be very easy to carry him if Hughes opens in the minors.
• It was an ex-Yankees massacre today in Pirates camp. Jeff Karstens, Steven Jackson and Anthony Claggett were among seven pitchers sent down.
• After today’s day-night double header, the Yankees are reporting to camp late tomorrow morning. They’ll take batting practice on a back field. “We’ve seen enough baseball the last 24 hours,” Girardi said.
• The Associated Press paired two shots of Pat Venditte throwing from each side this afternoon. That’s also an AP photo of Sergio Mitre
“It was the best time in my life, in my career, that I’ve ever had,” Weber said. “I made it to the final week with the New York Yankees.”
Thats a pretty cool quote.
After losing Hughes to injuries for much of the last two seasons — a hamstring and an ankle in 2007, a fractured rib last year — the Yankees paid for him to train at the Athletes’ Performance Institute in Los Angeles. He spent four days a week there, concentrating on upper body strength and adding eight pounds.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02.....nkees.html
We are guessing (educated guesses perhaps, but still guessing). The Yankees may think Joba is in sufficient shape to compete. Being really fat didn’t prevent Mickey Lolich or Rick Reuschel from being very effective pitchers. Granted, they may be outliers, but the story may be more complicated (or completely different) than simply being in shape.
When you are a 32 and a career mL and did everything you could to make the team, but still didn’t make it, it probably feels both really good and really bad.
blake
You are still stunned by discounts given to the Red Sox. Dont be.
All we can do is hope for the best, maybe Beckett, being the arrogant tool he is, will not allow himself to be walked on by the Sox.
Blake-
Someone said, it might have been GB, that if a player gets just one day in the majors they qualify for the MLB players medical plan.
I would love to see Weber get that for him and his family.
With that attitude it sounds like he would deserve it.
Anybody watch Lost? I have a question….
If not, is NICK in SF here?
I hope Phil will get to be at the stadium for ring day even if he does open in the minors.
I don’t think Phil went back to API this past winter, but he seems to be in fine shape..
LOL the funny thing is sone guy had mentioned that the Yankees should be worried about CC….well, they’re not, and rightly so.
I don’t know how good Logan is, but he’s done a fine job and may hopefully prove one day to be more than just a throw in in the Javy deal.
“Someone said, it might have been GB, that if a player gets just one day in the majors they qualify for the MLB players medical plan.”
IIRC, I think someone posted a link that rebutted that.
“Someone said, it might have been GB, that if a player gets just one day in the majors they qualify for the MLB players medical plan.
I would love to see Weber get that for him and his family.
With that attitude it sounds like he would deserve it. ”
definitely.
Aww, I would love for Weber to get a call up……what a great attitude.
What time is the game tomorrow?
Dave, thanks for posting that.
“Anybody watch Lost? I have a question…”
I did.
Rich-
If that was incorrect then I stand corrected.
blake
Brutal first half. My money is on them being chewed out in that locker room right now.
blake
Weren’t Jin and Sun married prior to crashing on the island?
If so, then why in the alternate flashes, were they not married?
Tomorrow’s game is at 1:00
Look at this picture.
It has to be from 2007 because you can see the black armband and the “1? which is actually a “10? which they wore to commemorate Phil Rizzuto who died in August, 2007.
Is this the same guy we see today? I would say he’s at least 20 pounds heavier now.
http://www.archivehive.com/wp-.....rlain1.jpg
Thanks, Craw! I don’t blame these guys for being tired; let them get a good night’s sleep.
Bronx-
Pictures can be deceptive.
Joba does look a lot bigger today than he did in that picture.
Here are some pics:
http://www.daylife.com/topic/J.....grid?date=
CR9, the whole thing is very confusing but I’m not sure the flashes are into the same reality. Meaning things are different between the two. Like Sawyer wasn’t a cop before the crash, Jack had an older son. It seems more like an alternate reality or something to me.
Tarheel, awful..they should be blowing RI out.
dude you are right. Joba looks about 20 lbs heavier, on top of the 7 mph decrease in his FB, I’m concerned.
And Weber seems like a great guy. I hope he makes the team. He seems like the kind of guy who will put up numbers if given the chance.
blake
Exactly.
I think the flashes are an alternate reality of what would have happened if they never crashed.
And for most of them, it shows that their lives are better off on the island.
__
But, prior to crashing on the island, Jin and Sun were married. But in the alternate reality flashes of the plane landing, they are not married. I dont understand.
Weber audio broke my heart.
Not everyone in the major leagues was/is a phenom and it really comes down to luck and timing sometimes for many of these guys.
I hope he gets a shot this year with the Yankees or some other team.
I will explain to the best of my ability, but not until after I have watched tonight’s episode, which will not be until 1:00 a.m. EDT.
And with that, I am going dark until that time.
Bronx Jeers I think actually it was from 2008 when Bobby Murcer passed away he was #1 I believe?
Also hard to tel weight based on that photo but yes he looks heavier has he also put on some muscle could be but yes heavier as well.
CR9, I don’t necessarily think its an alternate reality of what it would be like if they never crashed. Sawyer wasn’t a cop before they crashed, Ben is a school teacher etc…it seems like that the two realities are going to collide at some point. The characters keep running into each other. Who knows..I just hope they explain it all in the end and don’t leave it open to interpretation or something.
Conditioning shouldn’t be an issue coming out of the BP.
Something changed between the time JC came out of college and when he came up in 2007.
If it was something mechanical in nature then for the moment it has been lost.
The Yankees apparently feel that the simplification of working out of the BP will lead to the return of proper mechanics, and also prevent Joba from over thinking on the mound.
Hope that works.
If not, perhaps the Halladay treatment is warranted.
blake
Ahhh. I see. I had the flashes misinterpreted all along. You’re right, they are an alternate reality, but it has nothing to do with whether or not the plane crashed.
If Hughes is not injured for 2 straight years does he ever go to API? Was it even really his decision to go there or did it take a strong nudge from the Yankees in that direction?
“Ahhh. I see. I had the flashes misinterpreted all along. You’re right, they are an alternate reality, but it has nothing to do with whether or not the plane crashed.”
It could be that its a look at the world with no island at all. The island was under water in the season premiere so I’m assuming nobody is on it in that world. I don’t know?
Gayle,
The Yanks did wear a band in 2008 but I don’t believe it was accompanied with a number as they were were wearing the commemorative Yankee Stadium Patch.
http://www.yoursportsmemorabil.....s-logo.jpg
“Anybody else shocked that Beckett is considering an extension for a lesser value that the contract the Sox just gave Lackey? ”
If he were to sign an extension I’d expect it to be equal in value to Lackey’s contract. Both guys actually have extremely similar career stats.
Beckett is 106-68 lifetime. Lackey is 107-71.
Beckett has a 3.79 career ERA. Lackey has a 3.81 career ERA.
Lackey has had 198 innings pitched or above 5 out of his 8 seasons. Beckett has done the same in 3 out of his 9.
Lackey has a career k/9 of 7.2 and a career bb/9 of 2.6. Beckett has a career k/9 of 8.5 and a career bb/9 of 2.7.
So basically, they have very similar numbers except Lackey throws more innings and Beckett gets more K’s. I’d say they are worth similar amounts of money.
the game tomorrow is on ESPN, maybe another round of Rick Sutcliffe super analysis is in order.
The flashes in this season of Lost are showing what the world would be like if the island was destroyed in the 70′s. Notice that last week’s episode with Alpert’s flashes occurred prior to the nuke going off therefore nothing would have changed in his past.
Patrick, the reports are Beckett is considering 4/65, thats why I asked the question.
Blake-
Who’s the scheduled pitcher for Weds. ?
“The flashes in this season of Lost are showing what the world would be like if the island was destroyed in the 70’s. Notice that last week’s episode with Alpert’s flashes occurred prior to the nuke going off therefore nothing would have changed in his past.”
thats as good a theory as any. That would also explain why the island is under water in that timeline.
Yeah I just read that report on ESPN. It’s kind of odd that he would even consider that number, perhaps he’s really comfortable in Boston. You gotta think he’d get a Lackey contract if he hits free agency.
Phil is pitching.
MTU, I’m not sure on that one.
The game is on YES….
Betsy, thanks.
You’re welcome! I really hope Phil opens the season on the roster…….
Betsy-
Thanks.
And since I’m Lost in Joba is. I’m going to have to find the answer to Joba’s missing velocity in tonite’s dreamtime episode of the
Joba Chronicles.
Hasta Manana.
“thats as good a theory as any. That would also explain why the island is under water in that timeline.”
I dunno, I thought it was fairly obvious. I think a lot of fans are looking too much into it. They showed the island under water which tells me “This timeline is what happens when the island has been destroyed”
Maybe I’m wrong though. I’m honestly getting pretty frustrated with the show, if it wasn’t ending this season I’d stop watching altogether.
I was searching on google for some old info on Hughes and Joba because I think this whole Joba has questionable work ethic and Hughes has the ideal work ethic has been blown way out of proportion based on Hughes attending API last year. The following is a quote from SJ in 2007. I just want to preface this why saying that I am not “calling” SJ out for anything but simply using what he said as a source for examining this issue deeper.
“Phil Hughes is a 21 year old kid. Is he lazy? No. He’s a kid learning about how to be a pro. Just as Cano and Cabrera have learned the past 2 years. Its a process.
Not everybody shows up in a big league clubhouse, as Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriquez and Joba Chamberlain did at 21, being fully formed from a preparation standpoint. They are exceptions, not the rule.
Two things that will help Hughes this season is having Dave Eiland (someone he is very close to) as his pitching coach and being around Joba everyday.
Joba is a workout freak. A Clemens/Pettitte type of workout fanatic. I think that will rub off on Hughes. It already has.
Hughes was babied too much in the system and he was also overhyped a bit because of the Yankees desperation to develop their own players. In a way, that has hurt him.”
If phil gets sent down to the minors, I think it will allow him to stay sharp by facing hitters every 5th day. Even if its AAA hitters.
That might give him a few more starts to keep working on hia CU
Not a bad idea but doubtful.
LGY…That’s rather interesting considering that Hughes was coming to Tampa in January 2007 for early workouts with Roger Clemens……Joba wasn’t even on the radar back then, to any great extent other than he and Kennedy pitched in Hawaii that Fall……..
When is the switchover?
Pat,
Sorry, should have said when in 2007. It was from December, after the 2007 season.
Also from December 2007:
GreenBeret7
“Hughes is not real big on weight lifting. He’s not out of shape, but, he’s also not exactly a fitness freak like Clemens abd Pettitte. He’s not David Wells, though, either. More Mike Mussina.”
Pat M, yes he was. In fact, Phil spent some of his bonus $$ and bought a house in Tampa so he could be near the complex. I’m not going to argue with the 2007 version of SJ, but Phil is and has always been a hard worker.
Someone linked to a great article in here that was about Sal Fasano that basically disputed the whole “one day in the majors gives your family free health care for life” myth.
Fasano, who has a sick child, pointed out that if you are up in the majors for a day, you only get that health insurance for that year. Not for life.
Once that year ends, if you’re not in the majors and you want to continue your coverage you have to COBRA it which Fasano said would have cost his family 30k they didn’t have.
Fasano is trying to get another day back up in the majors this season so he can get the coverage again because his child is so sick. It’s one of the only reasons, he stated, he’s still playing.
I just think we should all stop spreading that myth about free health care for life for one day in the big leagues. It’s not true.
So what? You can keep yourself in shape without being a weight lifter……..
I respect SJ a lot, but I don’t agree with everything he says….
Benny, the Yankees could still start Phil up here and let the vets pitch on extra rest. If they want to cut his innings, they could let him pitch no more than 5/6 innings…….or they could do what the Tigers did with Porcello. I’m not sure I love that one, though.
From the NY Times article linked above:
“Hughes now weighs 240, the same weight he was in high school and during his last healthy season, 2006. He said he hoped to reduce his injury risk.”
LGY, When I saw him in October after a playoff game in Anaheim, he looked very fit and simply looked like a professional ballplayer…..I fanything he appeared to be more defined than any time I’ve ever seen him…..He’s always been a big kid, but the baby fat has long disappeared
Minka Kelly will be on Parenthood next week.
!!!
I’m not sure what this trip down memory lane was supposed to reveal. Phil also said in that Times article that he’d tried the trim look (or something to that effect) – that doesn’t mean he wasn’t in shape. Obviously he thought that bulking up a little was a good idea…….and it turned out to be. He’s 6’5 – he’s no shrimp.
I really feel bad for Weber. The guy did everything humanly possible to make the team.
You just wonder if this was his chance and it will never pop up again.
Would have been a great story, though. Instead, we get Marcus Thames, ugh.
http://waswatching.com/2008/01.....been-lazy/
Eiland’s comments could be interpreted any way you want to, but I’m absolutely positive he meant that it’s different preparing for a big league camp than anything else he’s done in his life.
Yeah, Marcus Thames, with his mother unable to move at all, who raised her family by herself – now that is not a good story at all.
Thames will be a short leash, as will Winn and probably Gardner. They have to hit, or they are all vulnerable to being replaced.
Betsy,
You are taking this Phil thing way too personal. Do you honestly and certainly know what Phil’s work ethic is now and has been in the past? I am not questioning what Phil has accomplished. I am simply trying to find out more information about these kids coming up. Memories are very deceiving and are often colored by recent occurrences/perceptions so I find it helpful to go back to the time and source.
I think it is completely unfair to question any athlete’s work ethic without concrete evidence. It has disgusted me when people have incessantly called Cano and Melky lazy. Now that Cano is turning into a superstar and Melky has been shipped off it seems Joba is the new scapegoat.
That sounds like SJ44, but I’d like a link to his comment.
Either way, it really doesn’t bother me. Nobody is right all the time.
SJ44 is a smart guy with a lot of baseball knowledge, I have a ton of respect for him. But he’s just another guy who can be influenced by the current status of the team. How could you not be down on Phil after an injury filled 2006?
Patrick Teale rebutted Sherman’s allegations at the time they were first “reported.”
blake
Wow. How did they win that game? If that was an ACC game they would have been blown out. Awful, yet they made the final.
LOL I disagree with you, so I’m taking it personally? You’re the one who went back (for some reason) 3 years to dig up “proof” that Phil’s work ethic was as suspect as Sherman said. Since Phil spent much of his bonus $$ in 2007 to buy a house in Tampa…….well, you figure it out.
blake
Wow. How did they win that game? If that was an ACC game they would have been blown out. Awful, yet they made the final.
Patrick, how was Phil injury prone in 2006? Also, who would be down on him?
LGY, you just got through saying it ticks you off when Cano is called lazy, but you spent a lot of time trying to prove that Phil doesn’t work (or didn’t work) that hard? Odd. Sherman’s fairly influential so naturally people are going to wonder when he makes comments like that, but that is the same clown who trashed Phil on My 9 afer the kid made a perfectly representative debut against the Jays.
Phil’s supposed work ethic and him going to API has been used against Joba countless times this offseason. That Phil went to API has been characterized on this blog as some amazing testament to his work ethic and how much better it is than Joba. I am not convinced that is true, since I find it to be a dangerous path to speculate on a player’s work ethic.
I think it is helpful to see what led Phil to go to API and find out some past info on Joba. At this point after reading some stuff over from the past few years I think Phil’s decision/reasons to go to API may have been mis-characterized.
I could be wrong but the Yankees concerns about his injuries seemed to be a significant motivating factor for Phil going there and it seems it was more of a Yankee decision than a Phil decision (although I recognize they cannot force him to go).
2007 was the year of the hamstring & ankle sprain…It was also the year when he won the only playoff game vs. Cleveland….2008 was the cracked rib year, 2009 was the year of the bullpen…..2007 mid season is when Joba exploded onto the scene….
I’m sorry I posted that link as I forgot that Was Watching is practically a Yankee hating site.
http://riveraveblues.com/2008/.....ghes-1973/
Patrick Teale said he was stunned by Sherman’s stupid (my word) comments. Every person he has every talked to in the Yankees’ organization told him that Hughes has a great work ethic, and that is his personal observation as well.
** I wonder if this is OUR Rich…
Steve doesn’t hate the Yankees. He just holds players that he doesn’t like to a different standard than the players he likes.
That’s me, Betsy. I used to post there.
The injuries were undoubtedly a motivating factor, but Phil didn’t have to take the Yankees suggestion and go there – he did. There are other aspects to having a work ethic besides going to that institue. Phil has always made it a habit to show up early to ST.
I have no idea what Joba’s work habits are, I grant you, but he wasn’t in good condition last year…..
“LGY, you just got through saying it ticks you off when Cano is called lazy, but you spent a lot of time trying to prove that Phil doesn’t work (or didn’t work) that hard? Odd.”
————————-
That is not what I am trying to prove. This was my point about you taking things about Phil too personal, because if anything negative is even implied about him you often assume the worst.
I am not digging for bad info on Phil. I am simply looking for more info on BOTH these guys rather than falling into a trap of assumptions that find a way to perpetuate themselves on this blog and eventually become fact.
Right now an assumption is that Joba is lazy and needs to be more like Phil.
I like Phil very much. I have said before that if he is able to bring the success of his CU into the season I think he will have a better career than Joba.
Rich, I thought so, lol.
If Sherman had never made his stupid comments, we wouldn’t have heard a peep about Phil and his suspected lack of a work ethic. The guy never liked Phil starting with his debut; he called him overrated and nothing special based on a few innings of work which weren’t as bad as he made it sound.
It has been said multiple times this offseason that Joba should have gone to API like Phil.
I do not think we should automatically assume Phil just went there and Joba did not because he has a better work ethic. Maybe the Yankees had a reason to want Phil to go there and did not recommend it for Joba. That is one of the things I am trying to figure out.
Maybe the Yankees feel just fine with Joba getting in shape/staying in shape at home in Nebraska. Maybe they like API for guys if they get injured a few times. I do not know, but more info from these guys past cannot hurt.
Betsy, all that matters is that is all in the past….Young Master Hughes is in the starting rotation, and will be the talk of baseball come June…..He will finally emerge as the outstanding pitcher that he was projected to be prior to all the false starts…..One thing is for certain, this was the first off season since 2006 that he wasn’t raked over the coals and just one step from being run out of town
That sounds like SJ44, but I’d like a link to his comment.
————————
http://yankees.lhblogs.com/200.....-business/
When young players don’t meet their projected potential, it’s natural for people look for an explanation. Even more so with Joba because he was showing sign of being one of the best pitchers in the game. But we have imperfect knowledge, so we’re just speculating.
I tell you one guy who’s definitely not lazy.
Sergio Mitre!
In fact, he’s kind of diesel.
Is the sub 6.00 Yankee ERA within reach?
API was supposedly Phil’s doing due to the rib injury in 08….Who really knows, other than the club can only suggest off season programs and set weight limits or goals…..
I can’t wait for the season to start so this blog stops turning into a Phil vs. Joba pissing contest everyday.
The truth of the matter is that NONE of us know anything about either Hughes’ or Joba’s work ethic.
LGY, fyi – I posted a couple of days ago that Joba may never look “pretty” because he’s got that sort of chubby body shape. I also didn’t want to judge him. That said, I put a lot of stock in what CB, SJ and Pat M. have suggested about Joba’s conditioning – which last year was not good.
Whoever compared Phil’s work ethic to Clemens’ is asinine because Clemens was a psycho when it came to working out (and he had a little help). Phil was also a baby compared to a 40 something year old Roger. It’s extremely possible to have a good work ethic without being over the top about it.
Pat M, I agree in all respects; I’m ready to drop this issue, lol, and play ball. I can’t express how excited I am about Phil having this opportunity after those damn injuries short-circuited him.
GF, I don’t think that will ever happen, lol. I think Joba and Phil are bound to each other for as long as they both wear pinstripes.
Betsy
Clemens was dissed for his conditioning in his last years in Boston, iirc, including by the GM.
Yup:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.c.....7/insider/
Perhaps what damns Duquette’s “twilight” evaluation the most — and seems wholly at odds with Clemens’ work ethic throughout his career — is Duquette’s insinuation that Clemens was not in proper shape.
“For a number of reasons — such as his health and conditioning, poor run support and minimal support from the bullpen — his record and performance had slipped in his last few years with the Red Sox,” Duquette wrote.
LOL that’s right, Rich. Well, although I am (was?) a Rocket fan, I think I prefer Phil to follow a different path.
Betsy – Hughes rules (pleading the Fifth) March 31st, 2010 at 12:30 am
GF, I don’t think that will ever happen, lol. I think Joba and Phil are bound to each other for as long as they both wear pinstripes.
————–
You’re right that these kids will forever be linked together in Yankee Universe.
I just get really tired of the bludgeoning of one guy to prop up the other. It makes no sense.
I would hope all Yankee fans want BOTH of these guys to succeed and tear up the American League, but sometimes, I’m not so sure. Yankee fans are far from the smartest fans in the world.
Mr. Franco, the polarization started here during the Santana rumors, and just continued from there….One thing is for certain, Phillip Hughes was not so very popular here as recent as a year ago….
Betsy,
I would also like to say that I was not insulting you (at least not trying to) when I said you often take things about Phil too personal. If I did insult you I apologize.
There is no problem with your Phil Phandom. I have my favorites on the team as well. I was just trying to say that when he comes up, especially in possibly a negative way, your views on him made jade your opinion a bit as I am sure mine do when I talk about Cano for example.
I think NY fans in general are vastly overrated.
But I agree, if both Joba and Hughes reach their potential it would be the best thing that can happen to the Yankees over next five to ten years, especially with the Core Four and A-Rod getting on in baseball years.
Reading SJ’s comments on Joba circa 2007 maybe something really has changed with his workout routine/ethic since then. Clemens and Pettitte are some serious high praise.
I would be really interested if SJ has or remembers more info on Joba’s workouts when he came into camp in 08.
If Joba did have that kind of work ethic today I would think we would probably hear about it. Kay does not shut up about Pettitte’s work ethic anytime Andy;s name comes up.
They should send Hughes down while he’s not pitching, and instead of keeping a second lefty reliever, let Weber be a Yankee for a week or two and get a few AB’s.
There have been two things I’ve been hoping the Yankees did since, say, the Rule 5 draft:
1) Take a shot with Raynor in the Rule V draft, because starting/platooning in LF seemed possible (and I love Gardner btw – estimated slash line of .275/.355/.390 and 45 SBs – aka 80+runs from the 9-spot with that line)
2) Took a shot with Hoffman going into the season. Ok so I just don’t trust Thames and would prefer the less proven, higher upside long shot. Yanks have the glaring need of a bat that can hit LHP, but I’d still go D with the bench with a +upside bat.
Pat M. March 31st, 2010 at 12:45 am
Mr. Franco, the polarization started here during the Santana rumors, and just continued from there….One thing is for certain, Phillip Hughes was not so very popular here as recent as a year ago….
———–
You’re absolutely right. Hughes got trashed relentlessly as recently as May of last season – the day after A-Rod returned in Baltimore.
I stuck up for Hughes then and I’m sticking up for Joba now. I want to see both of these guys tear up the AL and I don’t get the daily pissing contests long after the organization made their decision on the fifth starter.
I guess part of the blame goes to talk radio and the media in general for keeping this non-story alive.
Yankee fans, in general, are spoiled rotten and don’t realize how good we have it when you consider that this organization does whatever it takes to put a championship caliber team on the field every year.
Keep in mind these are the same fans who booed Mariano Rivera off the field last season in addition to Teixeira. Nevermind Jeter a few years back and A-Rod got treated unfairly more than anyone (it happened for years).
Anyways, sorry. I’ll stop ranting now. That kind of crap just irritates me as a fan of this team since I was a kid.
Patrick? CR9? blake? Any of you still on here right now?
I am.
The whole Phil work ethic thing came up because Jorge Posada said in that camp that he didn’t think Hughes worked hard enough in that offseason. Po was giving him a lot of grief back then.
Thanks, m. Good to know!
Wanna talk about college basketball?
Not really, no.
Did you consider the likely probability of my reply before you asked that question?
Mr. Franco. I was at the Stadium during the Jeter booing back when he was in that terrible slump…It was a rainy night, Clemens was booed off the mound after a 3 inning stint….The Yanks got hammered that April evening and Derek was the target of the 57,000 fans frustration……As a kid I remember the press and the fans just ripping into Roger Maris as well, and he ended up hitting 61 dingers that season…..NY’ers are a different breed, the good and the bad comes with the territory…..Phil & Joba are key for the Yanks as you look into the future
Pat M-
Any idea which games you are going to in LA when the Yanks are in town? Nick & myself are considering a road trip down there. I’m going to Disney & maybe Nick will meet up with us.
I decided that a 100-win season isn’t entirely random, so the principles of probability don’t apply. So, I’ll stick with the original “it’ll be difficult”.
Nick
I learned my POV was totally wrong. Blake and then Patrick have the better ideas as to the flashes.
I’m here. Its me. This guy.
m, I’m sorry, but you missed the point. A baseball season is not a coin flip, but the fact that the event in question occured last season does not, in itelf, affect the odds of it happening this season.
It will be difficult because it’s difficult to win 100 games 1) at all and 2) in the tough AL East in this current era. It will not be more difficult to win 100 games because they already achieved it last season.
CR9, I read what they said. I think they’re a bit off. Especially Patrick.
Yes, each season is independent of one another.
Just because it was done last season, does not make it any less or more likely to be achieved this season.
What’s your take?
Well, that’s all good.
Now, let’s talk Final Four.
Each season of L
is NOT independent of the others… they’re all connected!
Was that a joke? I was talking about the 100 win season thing!!
I’d like to see the UCONN women take on a Men’s team.
They could hang with or beat some of them, at least.
Yes… it was a joke.
****** LOST SPOILERS — DO NOT READ *****
First, what Patrick said about Alpert is wrong. Last week’s episode was a break from the flash-sideways narrative device. It was his backstory in the ‘regular’ timeline.
Next, they were correct that the sideways timeline is more than just a divergence from when the plane either did or didn’t crash. The divergence comes much earlier — maybe when the Incident did or didn’t happen (or the bomb did or didn’t go off) in 1977 but probably even earlier than that.
We don’t know yet. But it’s more than a ‘what would their lives be like if the plane hadn’t crashed’ — we knew that right in the season premiere when Desmond appeared on the flight and more difference have popped up, like Jack’s son and Jin and Sun not being married.
Also, if you recall from the premiere, the island was under water but there were still the Dharma barracks and the foot, so it had been habitated in a similar fashion up until a certain point. The Losties never having been there would affect earlier times since they never would have traveled back in time to the 50′s and told the Others how to safeguard Jughead.
Beyond that, the significance of the sideways flashes is yet to be determined. But does all that make sense?
m, do you understand and agree or are you just moving on out of frustration?
Buddy, I have 2 tickets for the Saturday game & I’m still hoping to secure 2 more from Clear Channel…Yanks / Dodgers is a hot ticket…..
Nick,
I do understand. I do agree. Do you want that signed in blood? You’re so serious at times.
At heart, I’m an educator.
Spoiler alert, the flash sideways significance won’t be explained until the finale, possibly beyond
Yes, perfect sense. Thanks Nick!
Goodnite All!
4 Days until the Repeat Season Begins.
Will this season be PieSquared?!
I’ve already explained what it means on Alt-LoHud.
Steve Phillips thinks the Yankees will win 100 games, so I’m a little concerned.
Rich,
When I read that about Steve Phillips earlier, I said, “Uh-oh.” Isn’t he going to be on Francessa’s once a week or something? Perhaps Phillips is going to be his foil.
Neyer was on baseball tonight (radio edition). He was a font of information. And he was in a good mood.
Said the Rays will have a tough time hanging with the Yankees & Sox.
Said the Phillies will win 83-86 games rather than 93. And he picked the Braves to win the division. The only problem I had with this was he said Heyward was a (paraphrasing here) once in a generation kind of player. I doubt a rookie’s going to the be the impetus.
lol. Liriano announced to the writers that he locked up the last spot in the rotation. Gardenhire: “I didn’t tell him he will be the fifth starter. But I told him he is the leading candidate to be the fifth starter,” Gardenhire said. “We haven’t named it per se. Maybe he named it, because he probably could. He probably took a big lead right there.”
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....=300330109
Can you just imagine the firestorm that would take place if Joba or Hughes did that?
The Twins have some serious back of the bullpen issues, but Liriano made his intentions quite clear. If I was a Twins fan, my respect for him would’ve gone up a notch if he had volunteered to step up and fill Nathan’s void.
Tired of the original Empire State of Mind? Yeah me too. That’s why I now listen to: http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1931187
Tarheel,
Yea usually the team that plays better wins, I think maybe the Heels merely played less bad by 1 point.
Buster picked the Rockies over the Yankees in the WS.
Patrick
that was great! I will have to pass it along to my son, we are big SW fans at my house.
Nick,
So who do you think Jacob and Locke (man in black) really are? Jacob and Éssau, angel and demon, lucifer and micheal, tom and Jerry?
Chad
Wouldn’t it be easier to just put a caption under the photos that says “source: AP”?
Betsy,
You’re right, Phil was not injury prone in 2006 that was a stupid comment on my part. I just read SJ44′s comment back in December of 2007 and it really makes no sense whatsoever. Not sure why he’d be down on Hughes at that point, perhaps he was trying to temper expectations. But Joba as a workout fanatic? Please. He’s always had weight problems.
Nick,
My point about the Alpert flashbacks was that they take place before 1977 and therefore his timeline hasn’t been changed as of the 1800′s (forget the exact year he first arrived on the island). I think it’s fairly obvious that the event that caused the “flash sideways” is the nuclear bomb going off in 1977. Remember Ben’s flash sideways. He’s taking care of his father who laments that they never should have left the island and Dharma. That proves that the island was in existence prior to 1977 and the bomb going off.
That Weber audio is dramatic. Anyone with a brain and a heart can feel for this guy. How many other guys are out there, playing their heart out in minor league ball? Whether it’s with the Yankees or another team, I hope he gets the call.
I had not listened to that audio on purpose based on the quote that Chad printed. And then I just listened to it. I do hope that Weber gets his opportunity one day soon. It’s got to stink, knowing you did all you could do, and the fact that your handedness makes the difference – which is something you don’t control – well, what can you do?
It reminds me of a friend of mine, a dancer, who auditioned for a Broadway show years ago, the one with Doug Henning. She was in the final three for a featured dance role. She did not get the job because they decided to go with the other two dancers because they looked alike. Nothing she could do about that.
At some point in these types of careers it is just out of your hands. But as long as you do your best, keep a good attitude and keep prepared, something good will come of it. It may not be the something you had originally hoped for, but something good will come.
I hope Weber gets called up at some point, even if just for a day.
ESPN had an amusing segment on switch pitcher Venditte this am.
GF, I agree with you that we should be rooting for both guys, even if we have favorites (which is ok). I do think it’s gotten ugly at times, though not necessarily here. I wholeheartedly agree with Pat M. that the Phil/Joba divide started with Santana, maybe even before. Fans had forgotten Phil when he went down and Joba took over the town. He had this bubbly personality, he was dominant, he was all the rage in MLB. By the time Phil came back and struggled due to injury, it was like he was an afterthought. For some reason, even “experts” gave up on him and called him overhyped, forgetting just how bad his injuries were. Then, fans definitely wanted Santana and it was clear who they were willing to give up. It’s been an uphill struggle for Phil to regain his fanbase ever since; he’s still looked at as a major disappointment. Most fans really wanted to see Joba get another crack at the #5.
Betsy
love your new handle
I am rooting for all of our pitchers to succeed!
Phil, I don’t remember that – what year was that? Now I’m bugged, lol. How the heck would Jorge know what Phil did? Was he basing his comments on the fact that maybe Phil had a bad ST? I Have no idea as I’m not sure what year he’s talking about. Heaven forbid a youngster have a bad ST. How would Jorge like it if someone accused him of not working hard because he was struggling?
LGY, I try to be objective when it comes to Phil. I did criticize him last year for ditching the media that one time and yelling at umps for a “bad call” he thought they made. I make no bones that I prefer him in all ways (as a pitcher and personality-wise) over Joba. That said, Joba is basically a good kid and he’s very talented; the thing I would love most is for both these kids to shut their critis up and win a lot of games for alot of years.
Player A: 620 AB vs. LHP, .256 BA, .329 OBP, .516 SLG
Player B: 420 AB vs. LHP, .313 BA, .392 OBP, .500 SLG
Which would you rather have on the roster as the “right handed bat off the bench”
If you guessed that Player A is Marcus Thames you would be correct – Player B? Well that’s the recently waived Ryan Garko
As for Jon Weber – Rob Neyer has a column on him saying that he’s a nice spring story but the fact is that in Tampa the Rays opted to keep Gabe Gross and his .227 BA on the roster rather than call him up.
Kate, thanks!
Patrick, no big deal and it wasn’t stupid; I just figured you made a typo.
New Post: Today in The Journal News
Patrick,
over a 2+ year period, Joba lost close to 80 pounds. He transformed his body by being a workout freak.
After Minor league starts, his workout was grueling. He was completely dedicated to maintaining his fitness levels.
Last off-season, he fell off that wagon sort of speak and came into camp out of shape. This year, he came into camp in better shape, although not to the strength and fitness levels he was at 3 years ago.
Perhaps that’s why the team has gone the tough love route with him.
A lot of the veteran players, including Posada, were not impressed by Hughes’ workout/fitness levels a few years ago. They felt he should be working harder on his off field conditioning.
Phil took it upon himself to go to API last off-season and it’s done wonders for him.
Some felt the source of his leg injuries were from them not being strong enough due to his lack of off field work.
I was hoping Joba would go that route this past off-season but, he did not.
Patrick, of you’re out there:
******LOST SPOILERS *******
“My point about the Alpert flashbacks was that they take place before 1977 and therefore his timeline hasn’t been changed as of the 1800’s ”
I don’t think the flash sideways stuff is relevant to the Alpert episode from last week. The backstory they showed for him was his original timeline backstory — not sideways reality. Last week was a break from the sideways narrative device.
And I agree that 1977 is where the divergence starts, but events BEFORE 1977 would also be affected because the Losties influenced events on the island before 1977.
**** END LOST GEEK TALK *****
@Doreen, I imagine Jeff or one of the blog authors would be happy to delete that post of yours if you ask nicely.
I -love- like this new format!
I
lovelike this new format!