Early thoughts from Day 1
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Feb 14, 2011 
Print This Post
| 
Email This Post
Just a few quick thoughts on the day pitchers and catchers reported to camp.
• CC Sabathia is noticeably lighter. He said he’s lost 25 pounds — “Not eating Cap’n Crunch everyday,” he said — and that seems like a reasonable number. He quite obviously smaller.
• Joba Chamberlain might be a little bigger, but I don’t think it’s as significant as it’s been portrayed. I’m also willing to buy the idea that he’s stronger, not fatter. He’s looks thicker up top, not necessarily softer or rounder.
• Austin Romine and Jesus Montero have lockers right next to one another and spent a lot of time talking this morning. Those two are in competition — if not for an immediate spot, certainly for a long-term spot — but they’ve always seemed friendly when I’ve seen them together.
• Rafael Soriano’s locker is right next to Mariano Rivera.
• Andruw Jones isn’t officially on the roster, but he has a locker with the No. 18.
• Damaso Marte is officially on the roster, but he doesn’t have a locker. Not a surprise, just something I noticed.
• Sabathia was pretty non-committal and didn’t say much when asked about his opt-out clause.
• Obviously I’ll have more from Joe Girardi a little later, but here’s one line from his introductory press conference: “I’d have a hard time with our ball club if we didn’t expect to win the division.”
Chad -
Did Posada report with the Cs?
I still think Montero can be the back up catcher this year and still learn. No need to keep him in AAA. Posada came up behind Girardi, and did just fine. This way, he gets to work with Posada, Martin, Girardi, Pena, and gets some big league experience….
Fran the original,
How do I go about getting in your fantasy league?
Didn’t see Posada, but his locker is with the catchers and he’s listed on the roster as a catcher, so I’m sure he’s here.
Thanks, Chad. I figured that was the case, but hadn’t seen anybody mention him being there.
More muscle for Joba is obviously better than more pudge but Im not sure either is really all that great ……not as critical for relievers but I would think leaner and more flexible would be preferable…..
going to be weird not having Posada as the primary catcher
would he still catch opening day?
in addition to battles of the spring , bench and rotation spots. I am interested to see if Gardner has fully recovered from his wrist injury.
would he still catch opening day?
————
my guess is he will be opening day DH.
theres no way barring injury that posada catches opening day. it would send the wrong signal to everybody, including jorge.
JackCurryYES Jack Curry
David Wells, who last pitched for the Yanks in ’03, will join the team as a guest instructor in spring training, according to Cashman.
———————————————————————————————————————-
Perhaps Wells can teach Chamberlain and Romulo Sanchez how to pitch with girth and mirth.
Ys Guy February 14th, 2011 at 11:59 am
theres no way barring injury that posada catches opening day. it would send the wrong signal to everybody, including jorge.
—————-
And it would beg the question of who DHs?
Hey Randy,
If you decide to head to the Bradenton or Tampa area, let me know and we will hookup.
I’ll be in that area a few times in March to check on Tony.
Chamberlain will always resemble a beer keg more than he will Edwar Ramirez. Doesn’t mean he’s fat.
Triple Short,
Right now I have invites out, but 2 haven’t accepted. If you send me your email, I’ll hold it in case someone doesn’t accept.
In order for Randy to meet you in Tampa area, SJ, he’s going to need a hacksaw to get away from the ball and chain in the nurses uniform.
I also have concerns about Po durability and production. At 39, it will be interesting to see how much Po has left.
Fran the original,
endlessloop000@aol.com
“I also have concerns about Po durability and production. At 39, it will be interesting to see how much Po has left.”
i hate to say it but theres another guy who’s even older who plays an even more important part on this team.
If Joba’s weight is an issue, Cashman has shown a tendency to speak his mind so we’ll hear about it.
Until then, it’s all about the arm not the belly.
Cashmoney February 14th, 2011 at 12:08 pm
I also have concerns about Po durability and production. At 39, it will be interesting to see how much Po has left.
——————
If he was catching I would agree with you but as primarily a DH I think he should be good for 130 games and some more Posada like production than what we got last year out of him.
pat February 14th, 2011 at 12:12 pm
If Joba’s weight is an issue, Cashman has shown a tendency to speak his mind so we’ll hear about it.
Until then, it’s all about the arm not the belly.
——————
This morning’s NY Post did point out that Joba’s not a lock to open with the team. That he has options left and any player with options has the potential of winding up in the minors if he’s outperformed.
All this “more muscle” crap with Joba is a joke.
Take it from somebody whose been 20-30 lbs overweight most of his adult life & experienced the diet yo-yo’s… If Joba was working out hard enough to “add (significant) muscle,” he would have lost weight.
Everybody knows the same mass, when muscle, weighs more than fat… But muscle also burns fat like crazy.
This whole “bought a gym and added muscle” thing has P.R., B.S spin written all over it.
Ys if it’s Mo u r referring to … the concern would be strictly health for me.
i have learned to free my mind of the bound that hold that joba has to be a certain weight to be effective. he is a middle reliever and has to throw 15 pitches ever other day. his weight no longer concerns me either way.
just chuck it chamberlain!
I think it is might big (sorry couldn’t resist) of CC to have the initial stories be all about him…how much weight did he lose? will he opt out? it really takes the pressure off everyone else. What a guy…what a teammate
Randy
I hope you will share your ST stories w/ us.
Play Ball!
Finally this day has arrived. Spring Training is here. Reg season baseball is near.
Happy to read the blurb about Joba. Hopefully the haters/critics will leave Joba alone now.
Met offers Dic key for Joba, Yes or No?
Anyone know when Randy Levine’s first press conference is?
upstate kate February 14th, 2011 at 12:20 pm
I think it is might big (sorry couldn’t resist) of CC to have the initial stories be all about him…how much weight did he lose? will he opt out? it really takes the pressure off everyone else. What a guy…what a teammate
Randy
I hope you will share your ST stories w/ us.
———————————————————————————————————————-
His days on the links would be more entertaining. He could tell us about the time that he broke out of “The Home” just to play golf with Judge Smails.
Cashmoney February 14th, 2011 at 12:23 pm
Met offers Dic key for Joba, Yes or No?
———-
No shot.
I don’t like Joba but I’m not giving him up for a career minor leaguer with one good season under his belt.
Chip February 14th, 2011 at 12:14 pm
pat February 14th, 2011 at 12:12 pm
If Joba’s weight is an issue, Cashman has shown a tendency to speak his mind so we’ll hear about it.
Until then, it’s all about the arm not the belly.
——————
This morning’s NY Post did point out that Joba’s not a lock to open with the team. That he has options left and any player with options has the potential of winding up in the minors if he’s outperformed.
_________
Another strange and disrespectful comment. Why does it even need to be said? If he is in the bullpen to stay, there is no reason to send him down. Motivation in the form of mind games…? Just a unnecessary comment IMO.
regarding mo, he is going to lose it sometime and experience would suggest that is going to happen sometime in the near future. how near is hard to guage.
eck saved 30 games at age 41 and 36 more the next year, but by the end of that year, he was pretty much done. he went to boston after that and had pretty much nothing left.
john smoltz had gone back to starting by that age, he had a very good year at age 40 but couldnt get on the field at age 41 and was finished.
the end is near the only question is how near.
Y’s Guy:
“he is a middle reliever and has to throw 15 pitches ever other day.”
Fair enough. But if that’s all he has to do, there plenty of other dudes who can do the same thing and Joba is one guy who really would benefit from a change of uniform, IMO.
Hello all! Happy Valentine’s Day to all the ladies on the blog!
CC will remain a Yankee, whether he opts out or not. I was always concerned about a Yankee offer of greater AAV than CC’s contract. Time will tell. Regardless, he’s here this year, and with the state of the rotation, Cashman needs him even more than he needed Lee.
Looking forward to seeing excellent competition for the bullpen, for IMO, only Mariano, Soriano, and Feliciano are absolute locks. Logan, Robertson, and Joba should make it, but even they can be outperformed.
Good to see that Montero & Austin are friendly despite the obvious competition.
Triple Short,
Got it. I will let you know.
Chip
There will be no need to read between the lines if it’s a problem.
The guy who was comfortable saying Jeter should explore his options will come right out and say “Joba needs to lose weight” if they think he does.
The Yankees would trade Joba in a heartbeat IMO, but his value has dropped precipitously and I imagine they don’t want to give him away.
I think given the Yankees decision that Joba is not going to start, and that he is not going to be the eighth inning guy is pretty conclusive that his value here is as low as it’s ever been.
i think joba will bring you next to nothing (aka r.a. di key) in a trade.
i think joba spends too much time worrying about what people think or say about him.
free your mind, have a cheesburger and chuck that thing, boy!
i have a good feeling about him this year!
Fran the original,
Thanks
Could you also let me know how many teams are in the league and is is a head to head points league,head to head roto or roto league?
i was channeling david wells there….
pcaldera Cash on CC’s potential opt out after ’11: It’s a choice that he’s got..Hopefully he has a great yr and he’ll have some things to think about
I’m tired of the “Joba is bigger because he put on muscle” crap.
Joba needs a personal trainer. If he had one, he wouldn’t be bigger right now. He’d have toned up AND have lost weight.
I was one of the biggest Joba supporters but he’s become a lost cause as far as I’m concerned.
West Coast Yankee Fan February 14th, 2011 at 12:38 pm
The Yankees would trade Joba in a heartbeat IMO, but his value has dropped precipitously and I imagine they don’t want to give him away.
I think given the Yankees decision that Joba is not going to start, and that he is not going to be the eighth inning guy is pretty conclusive that his value here is as low as it’s ever been.
_____
Yanks have contributing to his value dropping likely by their constant beratement. However, I would argue his numbers as a RP are decent and more consistent than most; RP’s really fluctuate from year to year without a couple of exception in Mo, Soria, Gregerson, a minute few others…
Anyway, I am kinda sick of the whole Joba discussion, but ironic that they would send him down as a RP, but never thought to do so to develop him as a SP…
*contributed*
This morning’s NY Post did point out that Joba’s not a lock to open with the team. That he has options left and any player with options has the potential of winding up in the minors if he’s outperformed.
///
Joba’s bullpen numbers last season were good.why would he be sent down?Rothschild is supposed to work with the guys we have assembled,what would Joba do in the minors??It’s not like they view him as a talented young pitcher with a starter’s arsenal (roll eyes).when he was still considered that,the pop-gunned any return to the minors to straighten him out.now they’re going to send him down?that would just be more curly and moe from Cashman.
p.s. there is no way I’d trade Joba however.
let him either smarten up or go down in flames.
No point in selling ultra-low on a guy who actually has tremendous talent. Those are the guys that you’d rather “buy” in the hopes that you can turn around.
pcaldera More Cashman, re: CC: ‘I think personally he absolutely loves it here.. Professionally…I don’t think he wants to put himself in a corner.’
maybe Joba just has to breathe through his eyelids.
Anyway, I am kinda sick of the whole Joba discussion, but ironic that they would send him down as a RP, but never thought to do so to develop him as a SP…
///
exactly!Cashman does make strange comments on Chamberlain.You don’t like this guy,trade him for something you like.I’m getting awful tired of the flagellating going on across this kid’s back.You screwed his development up,yet you keep whacking him.Get rid of him.the more you tweak him,the more you remind everyone on how royally you don’t get pitcher development.enough already.
I love Joba and Robert Fish, hoping that both stick when the team heads north.
Enjoy all of the promise that your one true love has to offer.
http://www.myyesnetwork.com/12.....all__fling
Your Worst Nightmare February 14th, 2011 at 12:46 pm
I love Joba and Robert Fish, hoping that both stick when the team heads north.
———————————————————————————————————————-
bleckkk!!! nothing worse than Fish sticks.
# Chip February 14th, 2011 at 12:14 pm
pat February 14th, 2011 at 12:12 pm
If Joba’s weight is an issue, Cashman has shown a tendency to speak his mind so we’ll hear about it.
Until then, it’s all about the arm not the belly.
——————
This morning’s NY Post did point out that Joba’s not a lock to open with the team. That he has options left and any player with options has the potential of winding up in the minors if he’s outperformed.
——————————————
Why didn’t they send him down last yr when he struggled in both ST and the season? It’s the kid that raises hell for a couple of yrs and then the parents finally say ok now you’re in trouble
Must. Have. Pictures.
Please.
Show me what baseball players throwing and catching and hitting in the Florida sun look like. … It’s been a while.
Thanks. Great job as usual!
No one screwed Joba’s development up. He’s just not good enough; at least to this point. That’s the problem with stats, they might look respectable but don’t clearly show all the saves, holds and leads he blew. I haven’t forgotten how I felt when he came into a game last year, what’s he going to do now.
Game 4 of the 2009 World Series is just one example, Johnny Damon bailed him out.
“maybe Joba just has to breathe through his eyelids.”
hahahahaha! best line of the day so far!
i believe it is something like that, but i dont want to see him in garters…
Why didn’t they send him down last yr when he struggled in both ST and the season? It’s the kid that raises hell for a couple of yrs and then the parents finally say ok now you’re in trouble
///
AAO, because that would have been far too logical.does it ever occur to these people that punishing Chamberlain should not be the priority,but helping him achieve something should?only the latter can help the team.I’m out.
funny thing is that i was a joba skeptic from the beginning and now i’m buying in on him just as alot of others are giving up.
David Well= One of the best big game pitcher in Yankee history.
AndrewMarchand
Cashman just spoke and said most likely Yanks will wait to address CC’s opt-out, but left a small crack open to do something sooner
“Austin Romine and Jesus Montero have lockers right next to one another and spent a lot of time talking this morning”
you can tell a lot about a player’s make up by how he interacts with his competition.
players can’t fake it if they pull for each other. the yankees at their best have players who are all about team.
if montero and romine get along well that’s a plus for the team.
they can learn a lot by talking with each other. giradi helped posada. posada helped montero from what i’ve read. it’s the way it should be. pass it on.
Cc ..say u love new york and its fans and want to win championship after championship here..show a little enthusiasm about being a yankee! Horrible answer from him about th opt out situation.
Actually WCYF, In 34 situations when Joba entered a close game, he succeeded in 82% of them, which is pretty good compared to other RP’s and even elite closers.
New Post: Sabathia and the opt out
West Coast Yankee Fan February 14th, 2011 at 12:52 pm
No one screwed Joba’s development up. He’s just not good enough; at least to this point. That’s the problem with stats,
///
stats??I’m a season holder who has watched virtually every live pitch he has thrown at Yankee Stadium.I have lived through all the adjustments on his delivery:hesitation break,stiff front leg,trying to get him less armsy & more under,etc.I’ve seen him shine & I’ve seen him fail.Never has his talent whispered “not good enough.”With all due respect,your eyes may not be “good enough”to know what “good enough” is.his raw talent has always been “good enough”.
# murphydog February 14th, 2011 at 12:30 pm
Y’s Guy:
“he is a middle reliever and has to throw 15 pitches ever other day.”
Fair enough. But if that’s all he has to do, there plenty of other dudes who can do the same thing and Joba is one guy who really would benefit from a change of uniform, IMO.
——————————————
That might be the best thing for him. Get away from the bright lights and start his career over.
# yankeefeminista February 14th, 2011 at 12:41 pm
West Coast Yankee Fan February 14th, 2011 at 12:38 pm
The Yankees would trade Joba in a heartbeat IMO, but his value has dropped precipitously and I imagine they don’t want to give him away.
I think given the Yankees decision that Joba is not going to start, and that he is not going to be the eighth inning guy is pretty conclusive that his value here is as low as it’s ever been.
_____
Yanks have contributing to his value dropping likely by their constant beratement. However, I would argue his numbers as a RP are decent and more consistent than most; RP’s really fluctuate from year to year without a couple of exception in Mo, Soria, Gregerson, a minute few others…
Anyway, I am kinda sick of the whole Joba discussion, but ironic that they would send him down as a RP, but never thought to do so to develop him as a SP…
—————————————————————
That would make too much sense.
# J. Alfred Prufrock February 14th, 2011 at 12:42 pm
This morning’s NY Post did point out that Joba’s not a lock to open with the team. That he has options left and any player with options has the potential of winding up in the minors if he’s outperformed.
///
Joba’s bullpen numbers last season were good.why would he be sent down?Rothschild is supposed to work with the guys we have assembled,what would Joba do in the minors??It’s not like they view him as a talented young pitcher with a starter’s arsenal (roll eyes).when he was still considered that,the pop-gunned any return to the minors to straighten him out.now they’re going to send him down?that would just be more curly and moe from Cashman.
——————————
Another thing that makes no sense. There was a stretch last yr when he should have been sent down because he was struggling but yet they didn’t send him down. Lol, shouldn’t be surprised though it’s the Yankees and we all know they aren’t at the head of the class when it comes to evaluating pitchers.
# J. Alfred Prufrock February 14th, 2011 at 12:44 pm
Anyway, I am kinda sick of the whole Joba discussion, but ironic that they would send him down as a RP, but never thought to do so to develop him as a SP…
///
exactly!Cashman does make strange comments on Chamberlain.You don’t like this guy,trade him for something you like.I’m getting awful tired of the flagellating going on across this kid’s back.You screwed his development up,yet you keep whacking him.Get rid of him.the more you tweak him,the more you remind everyone on how royally you don’t get pitcher development.enough already.
———————————————————–
Cashman can’t trade him until he gets “fair value” What ever that means lol