Colon to start spring opener
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Feb 22, 2011 
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Joe Girardi just announced that Bartolo Colon will start Saturday’s spring opener. Colon pitched winter ball, so the Yankees believe he’s a little more ready than the other guys.
Ivan Nova will start the second game followed by CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Phil Hughes and Freddy Garcia. First time through the rotation, Sergio Mitre will be available out of the bullpen.
We already know what CC, Phil, AJ can bring. Might as well see how Colon does in game conditions.
I’m not a fan of tall catchers I think back problems are likely. Joe Mauer is 6’5 and Montero is 6’4.
A few examples:
Pudge Rodriguez – 5’9? (20 years)
Yogi Berra – 5’7? (19 years)
Johnny Bench – 6’1? (17 years)
I cannot wait to smell the sweet fragrance of Bartolo Colon…..
Montero is much more valuable to the yanks at C.They can manage his load by letting him DH from time to time.
J alfred,
I don’t think I said he was as good as Mauer defensively ..but .I watch him play over 100 games a year and he’s better than you’re giving him credit for and certainly acceptable given his bat. He creates big positional advantages for the Braves over other teams….
Every time they give Hank an opportunity to speak he just can’t help himself. He definitely reminds me of the Boss.
blake,I see a lot of Braves games also,and I would say that McCann is a below average defensive catcher.Now,if you want to factor in his bat,well sure,I’ll take him over just about anyone else,because catcher defense is not all that important,and were I a Braves fan,I’d not be concerned at all considering the crazy pitching on tap for that organization.But McCann does not block pitches well because he never uses his body,& he does not throw well,and he doesn’t block the plate well.I am not iffy on this,I have seen a lot of him,and he has had more trouble than Posada,for instance,with runners taking a base on him.But hey,would I rather have him than a stalwart defensive catcher who hits .240 and has no pop?Not a question; sign me up.
Joe, I’d settle for Colon be a .500 pitcher in good/bad starts until the young ones like Nova, Warren, Phelps, etc are ready to contribute. same with Garcia. 20-24 wins from the 4 & 5 spots will be just fine and should keep the Yankees at or near the top. Makes no difference to me who gets the wins out of that group.
I’m rooting big time for Prior…….
Odds, Hank reminds me of a dietic version of the Boss- IMO, George really meant it when he made his comments. Hank, IMO, is a guy that is just looking for attention. Well, if Jeter’s laughing it off, ok……and I think it was AJ that built the deer blind/shack/whatever.
Mcann threw out 30% of baserunners last year…..Mauer threw out 26%. He’s not great defensively but he’s not bad either and he’s gotten better in the last couple years….he’s oh 27.
You guys should be following Hank on twitter now that he’s back.
https://twitter.com/#!/NotHankStein
McCann is not below average defensively. These days, throwing out 30% of base runners take you out of the below average defensively category.
As far as blocking the plate, that’s not really taught anymore by a lot of teams because of injury concerns.
Plus, you aren’t allowed to block the plate until you have the ball.
These days, guys are taught not to be more in front of the plate and use their shin guard as the “blocker” if you will.
The days of watching Sciosia blocking the plate like a brick wall are a thing of the past.
# Betsy February 22nd, 2011 at 1:37 pm
I’m rooting big time for Prior…….
Odds, Hank reminds me of a dietic version of the Boss- IMO, George really meant it when he made his comments. Hank, IMO, is a guy that is just looking for attention. Well, if Jeter’s laughing it off, ok……and I think it was AJ that built the deer blind/shack/whatever.
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Hank may be an attention seeker. It definitely seemed like it back in 2008.
What is this deer blind/shack that I see ppl keep referring too?
SJ is correct…..if you hit like Mccann, Montero, or Tony Sanchez they don’t want you breaking your leg blocking the plate.
You guys should be following Hank on twitter now that he’s back.
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Done.
Fake tweets are far superior to the real ones IMO.
yea but his arm is not very good.his throws sail into rightfield.like any other catcher,sometimes it’s the pitcher that gets the catcher off on the wrong foot.so in McCann’s case,he’s not a pitcher like Hanson who doesn’t give him much of a chance and he yanks his throw as a result.but that doesn’t make his arm stronger than it is.his arm is a weakness.Cody Ross is the better defensive catcher on that team.But since McCann’s offense is off the charts for his position,it doesn’t matter one iota.i just chimed in because not only do I have a completely different take on his defense,I vehemently disagree with any take that makes him some excellent defensive catcher.yea, he’s still young so he can improve,sure. Posada worked very hard to improve and he made strides,even though he was never a defensive talent back there.another thing about McCann is,even though young,he’s gotten into some big collisions,probably why he’s reluctant to get the body involved as much.
*he’s GOT a pitcher like Hanson
G Love,
I just followed. So glad he’s back.
Some of the funniest stuff on Twitter! lol
I’m going to get my nephew to follow.
Sorry, David Ross, of course.
I’m tellin’ you, Hank’s in rare form these days on twitter. Sadly, Hank has to go back to work for his real job right now. Most of the reporters haven’t gotten the joke yet except for Kepner.
That’s the best part of it.
That, and the fact that some with the Yankees actually thought it was Hank tweeting once upon a time! lol
I’ve tried to tell them, imitation is the most sincere form of flattery!
A lot of starting catchers aren’t the best defenders on their teams….it doesn’t mean they are bad defenders. For a total package Mccann is one of the best in baseball…..probably right behind Mauer at the moment.