Pregame notes: Posada plays two, sits one
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Notes on May 14, 2010 
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After catching the past two days, Jorge Posada has a precautionary day off tonight. Posada said he feels fine and Joe Girardi indicated no physical problem with his regular catcher, but the Yankees are moving with caution after Posada missed a few games last week because of a calf injury.
“Last time we played him three days he had the calf issue,” Girardi said. “I just thought, until we get completely by this and I know we’re completely by this, with the travel day, I thought I’d go with Cervi.”
Cervelli has played well in Posada’s place, but Girardi gave no indication that Cervelli’s hot bat factored into the decision. Instead, he’s simply making sure his catcher doesn’t fall back onto the growing list of injured Yankees.
Some good injury news comes from Nick Swisher, who’s back in the lineup after missing yesterday’s game because of some tightness in his left biceps. Swisher saw the doctor this morning and everything checked out fine. He’ll be in the lineup against the right-handed Twins starter Scott Baker.
“Obviously we’ve had our share of injuries the last couple of weeks,” Girardi said. But we think we’re getting through them.”
Here’s the Girardi audio, which starts with media relations director Jason Zillo announcing the Shane Lindsay waiver claim.
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• Chan Ho Park will start tonight’s rehab game with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Romulo Sanchez will come into the game in the second inning. Girardi has indicated Park could be back with the big league club on Sunday.
• Sergio Mitre is officially the Yankees scheduled starter for Sunday, but Girardi said he’s still not ready to announce his rotation beyond that game. The Yankees still have to decide how to use Phil Hughes and Javier Vazquez after Wednesday’s doubleheader.
• Curtis Granderson is scheduled to do some stretching and exercises tonight, and then he’ll hit off a tee for the first time since his groin injury. “Possibly some light jogging tomorrow,” Girardi said.
• Because I’m sure the question has been asked already, here’s Girardi on why he’s putting Thames back in left field: “We look at matchups. We look at the type of pitcher that is pitching that day. Thames has had some success against Baker. Those are the type of things that we’re going to look at. He’s not the defensive player that Winn is, but offensively he offers a lot. You can look at certain guys all the time and say defensively let’s throw him out there, but you have to look at the whole package.”
• As mentioned earlier, the Yankees have claimed hard-throwing right-handed reliever Shane Lindsay off waivers from the Rockies. Lindsay will go to the minor league complex before being assigned to a minor league affiliate. Lindsay has 14 walks in 9.1 innings this season, but Baseball America’s scouting report says he can get his fastball up to 98 mph with a quality curveball. “That’s a big tool there, that arm,” Brian Cashman said.
• To make room for Lindsay on the 40-man roster, the Yankees have given Christian Garcia his unconditional release. Loaded with talent, Garcia is out with his second Tommy John surgery. He’s a great, great guy with a lot of talent, but his body has let him down time and time again.
• For what it’s worth, this is the first line about Lindsay in the Baseball American Prospect Handbook: “The biggest question about Lindsay is if he will ever stay healthy enough to capitalize on his raw ability.” Since 2006, Lindsay has had a broken hand and a torn labrum.
Glad to see Swisher back in the lineup.
I can’t wait for Park to get back…..
If Phil goes on Tuesday (extra days rest), it means that he’ll face Santana on Sunday; I kind of hope that’s how it goes, but whatever Joe thinks is best……..
Wave Your Hat May 14th, 2010 at 4:54 pm
Lindsay spent over 2 yrs of that 7 hurt. Rotator cuff surgery missed 2006 (injured in 2005), & missed 2007 with a hand injury. That put him basically out of baseball for almost 2.5 years. Then he came back in 2008 and excelled in Az Fall league. The Rockies thought enough of him to protect him as a Rule 5 guy & also to have him in the MLB this year. He is a flame thrower and is only 25 yrs old now. High upside IMO.
Francisco Cervelli? Did someone mention Francisco Cervelli?
OH YEAH!
The Hughes/Santana duel is what we’ve been waiting for all this time!
This is “you know who” big!
By the way, I wondered if he had rushed back too quickly from the calf injury. As I said before, I’d rather Posada take all the time he needs to heal rather than to rush back and have this kind of thing happen.
REAL sad about Christian Garcia.
Hi Ray!
Whoever pitches Monday pitches against Dice-K
Whoever pitches Tuesday pitches against Beckett or Wakefield if Beckett’s not healthy.
That game would be a referendum on the non-trade. If Phil pitches badly, then clearly it means Cash made the wrong move
If you’re interested, I just uploaded the Girardi pregame audio. It’s in the post.
Phil’s awesome Yankee success — both so far and in the future + CC is the real referendum on the non-trade, or as close to one as we’ll get, since we will never know what would have happened if the trade — the details of which do not exist — went down.
Um, go Phil!
Cervelli is getting serious playing time this year. He’s done everything right to justify even more time at catcher.
It’s time to stop messing around and start hitting.
“Cervelli is getting serious playing time this year. He?s done everything right to justify even more time at catcher.”
Absolutely agree. And if him getting serious playing time helps extend Posada’s catching career, all the better.
Light jogging tomorrow for Granderson. Good news.
Timsy? Ugh, Girardi. Enough! And Cervi is the worst, worst, worst nickname.
Lindsay…what a terrible last name to have
The PFOFs definitely do not endorse “Cervi” as a nickname for ‘Cisco.
I just bought a new laptop w/Windows 7.
I have to say, this is sweet.
Roger, are you shying away from Hong Kong these days?
And word from the REFOFs on how the feel about Cervi as a nickname?
That Santana versus Sabathia/Hughes debate has been long since settled. Yankees win.
That Santana versus Sabathia/Hughes debate has been long since settled. Yankees win.
What’s wrong with the name Lindsay?
Cervo because Tom Cervo
Say it twice, just as nice.
LGY: good question.
Yes I am.Taking every opportunity to get back home!
Lindsay is not a good sports name. Its girly, doesn’t lend itself to game calls, and lacks nicknameability.
Roger-
I just started reading a very good book called Brilliant Orange. It’s about the history of Dutch Football in the context of Dutch culture. Just at the start but it’s an interesting read.
Roger, I hope you get back home soon, but the island isn’t done with you yet.
Where is m?
Here is a good example of lombardi being a moron
http://waswatching.com/2010/05.....yes-cantu/
Comparing A-rod to Jorge Cantu
Google Image Search on ‘Lindsay’?
Yep, just about what you’d expect. Not to do in the office w/Safe Search on ‘Off’.
Jerkface,
HAHA. Talk about SSS.
I was being completely sarcastic about the Phil/Santana non-deal.
Oh dear. Thamesy?
I can see how Lombardi would think to compare A-Rod to Cantu.
One is an all-time great player who at times has transcended the game
the other is Jorge Cantu
Jorge Freakin’ Cantu
I can see his logic there:
Step A: Draw ridiculous comparison
Step B: ???????
Step C: Profit
Jerkface-gotta love Tom Cervo and the rest of the MST3000 guys.
This is a guy who just recently posted a blog thread asking if this was the end of his Yankee fandom. He recently decided to lay off criticizing Phil for being soft, etc.. How nice for him, lol
JackCurryYES CC wasn’t making NY sales pitch to LeBron, but if he did…”It’s a great place to play. It’s a great place to win. He knows all that stuff.”
CB
How come you started reading this book?Did I have anything to do with that?!haha
Is it about Ajax or just the National Team?
Erica
Sorry about the bad timing of your illness.
And when you do get married, make sure it’s to Johnny Damon please!
Helpless to stop the Cervelli tide.
I like that!
Congratulations, pat. You were the closest because you were the only one who took a guess.
The San Diego Padres have the best NL record and the best team ERA (Buster also claims they have the best record since last July, too).
Erica,
Don’t do it. You’ll just be babysitting all his kids from his previous marriages when he’s out with the boys.
http://www.newsday.com/lifesty.....-1.1910450
I have to buy this ; I love Henry Aaron and I still wish he were the HR King.
Nobody asked you Nicole Kidman!
Non Sequitur, I think the pink hat makes it a hard deal to do… could I toughen that cap up a bit?
And are you tanking the daily wear contacts out every night?
—————————————
Nick, the answer to both is no.
today’s ???:
Which would be worse:
living with the constant ping of a submarine’s SONAR
or
having someone yell at the top of their lungs, “Medic!” at you throughout the course of the day.
(Are you the medic? Probably.)
Yeah, that’s another thing. That scumbag will just divorce you a month before your 10 year anniversary. :p
THANK YOU for posting this! I love your blog!!
Common Cents
http://www.commoncts.blogspot.com
ps. Link Exchange??
Betsy, it doesn’t change anything, but I know a lot of people who still consider Hank Aaron the home run king based on the information that came out about the two players who claimed the record after him.
Roger-
You have of course inspired me and many others on this blog in countless ways, but the book was more out of my interest in Johan Cruyff and total football. It’s mostly about the national team but focuses on the club level as well. Written by a Brit I believe. If you ever see it and have the interest I’d be interested in seeing what you think.
Cruyff really is a brilliant guy and seminal athlete.
Question on Cash Cab right now:
What four baseball icons were the first to have their numbers retired by the New York Yankees.
CB (Brian Cashman)
Dont you think you should be occupying your time floating trade rumors to other general managers to help our team. Like maybe Ty Wigginton!
Reports today are Cesc is ready to quit Arsenal to move to Camp Nou!
Trisha, I think so too. From the brief blurb, it sounds like Willie Mays was a real jerk (to put it kindly) to Aaron…….then again, Mays doesn’t exactly have the best reputation off the field. I just love Aaron because he’s such a dignified gentleman
Betsy, I think so too. I don’t consider either of the other two to hold the record. If that’s true about Mays, Barry Bonds’s parents picked the perfect role model for their son! And it worked.
Trish, so true!
Definitely want to get that book. There are a lot of widely-admired players in the game of baseball but I think that those players who had to put up with the real ugliness of racism in the game and still managed to rise to the top are probably the biggest baseball heroes of all.
I feel bad for Griffey… he seems like a really nice guy and a class act.
When he gets released by Seattle, I would love to sign him for the bench, just so that he can win a ring with us.
# Betsy – Hughes rules (pleading the Fifth) May 14th, 2010 at 6:08 pm
Trisha, I think so too. From the brief blurb, it sounds like Willie Mays was a real jerk (to put it kindly) to Aaron…….then again, Mays doesn’t exactly have the best reputation off the field. I just love Aaron because he’s such a dignified gentleman
Willie and Hank both said that they were good friends on mlbnetwork when the sat down with Bob Costas. They never had any problems with each other.
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play......id=7645069
Heres the video
I don’t know about Ty Wiggington. He’s off to a hot start and the O’s are going to try to get back pieces of value for him.
The Tigers sent down Ryan Rayburn to AAA. If he were available he would be a good pick up for the yanks. He can play in the OF, 2b, and 3b. He was off to a bad start but he’s a pretty good ball player with a fairly established track record for being OK.
I don’t know if I buy the Cesc stuff – though it’s tempting. Where he would play would be an issue. It’s really too bad he left because they do need more depth in midfield. And I wouldn’t want to send Yaya to Arsenal as part of any deal. The elections at Camp Nou throw everything into flux though.
They need a player on the left wing and depth in midfield. Cesc would be great if he’d be happy coming off the bench but I don’t know if he’d do that and I don’t know if the money makes sense.
Benny, unless he’s mellowed to that point, don’t count on Griffey Jr. He always said he would never play for the Yankees due to what he perceived to be unequal treatment of players’ families when his dad played for the Yanks.
Carl, it will be one of those interesting things, then, if the book ends up representing one thing and the players another. I couldn’t read the blurb because I’m not registered with Newsday.
Total Football..That a term they always use to name our way of playing.And we’re very proud of that.But why you’re interest in Cruijff?You’re American right?Most would go for Maradonna or Pele..
PLAY BALL!!
Getting restless over here.
# trisha – OPPC member who sees, hears, and knows all. 28 is on its way!!!!! May 14th, 2010 at 6:22 pm
Carl, it will be one of those interesting things, then, if the book ends up representing one thing and the players another. I couldn’t read the blurb because I’m not registered with Newsday.
I’ll have to check the book out and see what it says.
Carl, thanks! I’m going to listent to that now; maybe there was just a misunderstanding or maybe whatever happened happened a long time ago………
Ken Griffey Jr. is not even a replacement level player at this point and he hasn’t been average since 2005.
He can’t play the field anymore.
No reason to feel bad for Ken Griffey Jr. He’s going to the Hall of Fame and Seattle has signed him to two 1-year deals even though he proved in the previous deal he can longer hit.
Some Yankee fans are becoming extremely antsy because their beloved Yankees have lost a few games and the offense has gone cold. Imagine being a fan of the Seattle Mariners.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports.....=obnetwork
# Betsy – Hughes rules (pleading the Fifth) May 14th, 2010 at 6:28 pm
Carl, thanks! I’m going to listent to that now; maybe there was just a misunderstanding or maybe whatever happened happened a long time ago………
If you have mlbnetwork, you should check out the Willie Mays interview. It’s 2 hours but its worth it.
Justin Verlander’s phony shocked reaction and even more phony ‘concern’ was just a joke yesterday.
That pitch ended up exactly where he intended.
“You’re American right?Most would go for Maradonna or Pele..”
Oh Roger, we too are can have our moments, rare as they are, of cosmopolitanism!
Cruyff – I’ve always appreciated that style of play. The entire linked tradition of play of the brazilians, russians, dutch and now the spanish. Just wonderful stuff.
Cruyff was obviously a pivotal figure in that lineage. I’m a Barca supporter as well so that’s part of the overall interest.
World cup is coming up. Going to be very exciting. The Orange look to have a very formidable squad. Is this the year for the Dutch?
Carl, Hank Aaron looked great – and he was certainly honest as to his abilities compared to Willie (which is terrific – no reason he shouldn’t be high on himself). I do get the MLB network and will watch out for the Mays interview.
Trish, if you want to I will post the blurb from the Newsday/Aaron piece…
Thanks Mr. Cashman for your insights!
I dont think Cesc would come there to play off the bench, especially at the $$ required of him. I dont buy the reports either, especially since they’re from The Sun! But it’s a fun time in the football offseason when rumors fly like birds!
__
Roger
How is the Van Persie injury looking? Is he on the World Cup roster?
Bets, I would love to see it! Thanks!!
Seattle is getting exactly what they deserve in terms of offense. It’s one thing to sacrifice pitching and defense for hitting, but to completely disregard hitting altogether – which is what Seattle has done – is absurd.
When you have Casey Kotchman as your No.3 hitter, your biggest offseason acquisition is a 31-year old singles hitter who had a career year in 2009, and you’re counting on two washed up DHs – Sweeney and Griffey – to provide the pop in the lineup, this is what you get.
Just a puzzling offseason plan by the Mariners.
Here’s the blurb from Newsday:
Henry Louis Aaron had to wait longer for recognition than any superstar in baseball history. Born in Mobile, Ala., in 1934, he was the last great star of the Negro Leagues, where he had to perform Harlem Globetrotters-style antics as a member of the Indianapolis Clowns in the early 1950s.
Aaron closed out the decade by winning two major league batting crowns, a Most Valuable Player Award and appearing in two World Series. Yet, at the start of the ’60s, he was frequently left off preseason all-star lists compiled by the nation’s top sportswriters. Unlike his superstar contemporaries – Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays and Roberto Clemente – Aaron was never the subject of a definitive biography. Now, Howard Bryant, author of “Shut Out” and “Juicing the Game,” checks in with “The Last Hero.”
Aaron’s story is the epic baseball tale of the second half of the 20th century, in many ways the equal of Jackie Robinson’s. He not only helped integrate the Southern minor leagues, he became the first black major league hero of the South.
Aaron, who never craved national publicity, moved with the Milwaukee Braves to Atlanta in 1966. For many Americans in all parts of the country, black and white, the New South began on April 8, 1974, when Aaron, at the now-vanished Fulton County Stadium, lashed into a fastball delivered by the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Al Downing, drove it over the left centerfield wall and surpassed Babe Ruth’s career record of 714 home runs. In doing so, he obliterated a year’s worth of hate mail from crackpots – not all of them in the South – who were outraged that a black man was closing in on the most hallowed record in American sports.
Dodgers announcer Vin Scully, who broadcast the game to much of the nation, said it best: “It is over. And for the first time in a long time, that poker face of Aaron shows the tremendous relief. . . . What a marvelous moment for baseball.”
That “poker face” and quiet dignity were Aaron’s trademarks for decades, but they often served to keep fans and sportswriters at arm’s length. Aaron was never known and thus never embraced by fans nationwide.
It wasn’t until Barry Bonds approached Aaron’s record in 2006 that No. 44′s stature grew in the eyes of most Americans. Aaron had this to say about the challenger: “Barry Bonds? I don’t even know how to spell his name.”
Aaron had more to battle on the way to the home run record than bigotry: He had to overcome the animosity of the other great black ballplayer of his own time. Willie Mays, writes Bryant, “committed one of the great offenses against a person as proud as Henry: he insulted him, embarrassed him in front of other people, and did not treat him with respect.”
Sportscaster Bob Costas best defined the difference between Mays’ image and Aaron’s: “Fans associate Willie Mays with fun. With Henry Aaron, it is all about respect.”
Can’t wait for the Red Sox Tigers game.
It’s like Adolf H itler and Osama bin La den dueling it out.
It’s gonna be a lot of fun.
WWWWWWWoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
Imagine being a fan of the Seattle Mariners.
*************
Hi Trisha,
I wonder how long before the Mariners entertain trade offers for Cliff Lee.
What American city has murderers, thiefs, cheats, snakes, rats, strangles?
First one to answer gets a 10% off coupon to Denny’s.
http://www.nydailynews.com/blo.....-avoi.html
Joe Girardi still appears to be mulling whether to have Javy Vazquez avoid the Red Sox again next week. Girardi said Sergio Mitre will pitch Sunday against the Twins, but he still hasn’t named his starters against Boston the following two nights.
Vazquez and Phil Hughes started the games in Wednesday’s doubleheader in Detroit, but Hughes would be pitching on normal rest Monday with CC Sabathia, who started Thursday afternoon against the Tigers, also ready to go on his regular turn Tuesday night.
**I’d like to see Phil go Tuesday so he can pitch against Santana, but really – I don’t know that the Yankees should skip Javy against the Sox. That just doesn’t look good; Javy is going to have to pitch against good teams (well, the Tigers are good) sooner or later.
Thanks Betsy!
Tricia…..Willie was a bitter man , and it’s largely due to his time in NYC……Yankees winning Championships, Mantle being a bigger than life entity and Willie’s Giants were a 3rd tier club in NY……..Even after the Dodgers & Giants moved out West, The Dodgers were still The team and the Giants always played in that shadow…….I remember in 1972 when Willie was traded to the Mets, the City opened it’s arms to embrace him even though he was washed up……..Willie to this day says about coming home to NY was the best feeling he ever had about playing baseball…..By the way he went yard that day, his first in a Met uni……
“Seattle is getting exactly what they deserve in terms of offense. It’s one thing to sacrifice pitching and defense for hitting, but to completely disregard hitting altogether – which is what Seattle has done – is absurd.”
The Seattle plan was really nonsensical. And it was remarkable how many people bought into their winning by better management plan.
Signing Kotchman was where things really got absurd. They could have signed a power bat to play 1b and their roster would have made much more sense. But they just went for more defense.
Another team that also completely overlooked the catcher position as well. Their catching situation there – both offense and defense – is horrible.
They are going to start auctioning off parts very soon. And if they aren’t ready to compete this year and next the Figgins signing looks very bad as it makes no sense for a team with the talent they have.
Hey!!! Wait a minute! I thought I was the only Benny on here??
What American city has murderers, thiefs, cheats, snakes, rats, strangles?
———————————
Sheboygan?
New post
CB
Didn’t mean anything by that!
But This world cup could be very exciting.Our defense isn’t that good but our offense is very talented.
I hear we’re probably gonne play with Robben,Sneijder,vanderVaart en van Persie in a 4-2-3-1 system.That’s not a bad thing huh?But I don’t like our coach and the reason why he left van Nistelrooij and Seedorf home.They should have been on this team
Betsy, that sure sounds like there was something to it. But maybe as you said they got past it and now all is fine between them. I definitely want to read that book.
You’re welcome, Carl!
I remember once meeting Ralph Branca at some function my father took me too. I don’t think I said anything as I was too nervous, but my father spoke to him for awhile – very nice man. I think it’s neat that he and Thomson are such good friends; I can’t imagine that it’s been easy for him, but he’s handled it with a great deal of c l a s s.
Oh Fran. I don’t want Cliff Lee. He’s already 31. But when Andy decides to go we will need a 5th starter. I wonder if anyone in the minors will be ready to step up.
Hi Trisha!
Hi Ray! New thread up.
Let’s see… while Cervelli sat, Posada caught and the Yankees lost all the games he called. Let Posada move on to DH and occasional catcher to spell Cervelli, not the other way around.