Yankees clubhouse thinning out after first cuts
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Notes on Mar 13, 2011 
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Mark Prior is all alone in one corner of the Yankees clubhouse. All around him are empty lockers, most of them cleared out this morning through the Yankees first round of cuts.
Prior’s neighbor, Neal Cotts, didn’t make it through the first week of camp. The next three lockers in his row belonged to Buddy Carlyle, Brian Anderson and Andy Sisco but they’re all gone now. In the middle of the clubhouse, empty lockers belonging to Adam Warren, David Phelps and D.J. Mitchell are clustered together.
There seems to have been a bit of a system to the first round of cuts. Of the pitcher in camp on a minor league deals, only Warner Madrigal — who’s dealt with an injury — has fewer innings than Carlyle, Anderson and Sisco. Those three weren’t pitching much anyway. The other four cuts were minor league starters — Phelps, Mitchell, Warren and Hector Noesi — who just pitched either Friday or Saturday. They won’t pitch again for a few days, and with the big league starters stretched out to four-plus innings, it was becoming difficult to get those four stretched out as well.
Still waiting for word on whether any of the seven cuts were released. The assumption is that all seven were simply reassigned (or optioned) to minor league camp.
• The only minor league starters still in big league camp are Andrew Brackman, Dellin Betances and Manny Banuelos (and maybe Steve Garrison, depending on how the Yankees plan to use him this season). Might not be long before the Yankees have to send some of the Killer Bs down as well to give them innings.
• Banuelos turns 20 years old today. He’s the youngest guy in camp.
• Combined spring numbers for Mitchell and Warren: 8 G, 10.2 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 10 K, 2.53 ERA. Mitchell walked no one. Warren allowed just one earned run.
• Sisco didn’t allow a hit in big league camp, but he did walk four through 3.1 innings.
• Greg Golson said he’s still not able to do much with that oblique injury. He said it feels better day after day, but he’s not able to swing or doing any real baseball activity until it’s back to 100 percent. “Whenever this thing lets me,” he said.
• Today’s sides: Phil Hughes, Ivan Nova, Bartolo Colon, Pedro Feliciano, Mitchell and Phelps.
• Mariano Rivera will make his spring training debut this afternoon against the Twins. We’ll see a lot of the regular Yankees bullpen, with Rafael Soriano, Joba Chamberlain and Dave Robertson also scheduled to pitch. None of the big league relievers is scheduled to make tomorrow’s trip to Fort Myers (except starter Sergio Mitre).
• Minor league utility man Justin Snyder is on the list of players making tomorrow’s trip to play the Red Sox. The Yankees are taking their regular outfielders, but none of the other everyday guys.
• Available in the bullpen today: Rivera, Soriano, Chamberlain, Robertson, Brackman, Romulo Sanchez, Steve Garrison, Ryan Pope, Eric Wordekemper and Dellin Betances. Everyone after Brackman seems to be a backup.
• Off the bench: C Gustavo Molina, 1B Eric Chavez, 2B Ronnie Belliard, SS Eduardo Nunez, 3B Kevin Russo, LF Melky Mesa, CF Austin Krum, RF Daniel Brewer and DH Kyle Higashioka.
• Tomorrow’s travelers today: Tomorrow the Yankees have their second long road trip in three days. They’ll travel to Fort Myers to play the Red Sox before an off day Tuesday. There will be a workout at the stadium in Tampa on Monday afternoon before the bus leaves.
Pitchers who will be making the trip: Sergio Mitre, Luis Ayala, Dellin Betances, Manny Banuelos, Steve Garrison, Ryan Pope, Mark Prior, Romulo Sanchez and Eric Wordekemper.
Players who will not be making the trip: Francisco Cervelli, Russell Martin, Jorge Posada, Robinson Cano, Eric Chavez, Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira, Colin Curtis, Greg Golson and Andruw Jones.
G o
Y a n K e e s !
Too bad about Golson as he might have made the club
# Ys Guy March 13th, 2011 at 10:43 am
wfan says both santana and dan warthen deny the record report this morning.
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Wouldn’t be the first time they denied a report
Don’t think the Yanks are taking a 5th OF.
bullpen day in Tampa!
I would imagine there would be a difference in per diem so sticking around in major league camp might be beneficial if only for that reason.
A decision needs to be made with Romulo Sanchez. He’s on the 40-man roster and is out of options.
It is too bad about Golson. IMO the best pure defensive OF, all things considered, that is Yankees property. Really was hopin he would also be able to make some strides with the hidden power he has & from K-ing too much. Excited to see our old friend Mariano get into the game today.
LoHudYankees Today’s cuts were reassigned/optioned to minor league camp. No one released.
Good morning!
Darn. We’re facing Scott Baker instead of Liriano (who is pitching in Twins split squad home game vs. the Phillies). I would like to have seen Liriano.
I am hoping Brackman pitches today. And finally we see Mo.
Happy 20th birthday, ManBan!
y’s guy-
i don’t get the pessimism with montero.
he is what he is whether he starts out hot or cold.
he’s going to be a really good player. if the yankees know that, you let him take his lumps.
i was on record this past winter i’d like to have seen him come up in may , but if he’s next in line he’s next in line.
i think the kid is going to be a great player.
Golson has no “hidden power”. He’s an 9-12 homer hitter at best. He’ll hit his share of doubles and triples…..in the minors. His value in the majors in defense and base stealing speed.
Golson would not have made the team, there is no room for him on the twenty-five man roster.
pat March 13th, 2011 at 11:55 am
LoHudYankees Today’s cuts were reassigned/optioned to minor league camp. No one released.
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I think that sometime this season, Andrew Sisco is pitching in pinstripes in NY. He’s not likely to ever have pinpoint control, but, he can strikeout batters out and over the last year, counting minors, winter league and ST, he’s cut down on hits and walks. After 2 and a half years of not pitching, he’s reovered pretty well.
randy, i think montero will be great in the long run.
i would have liked to see him ‘bust his way’ on to the team instead of winning a spot by defalut.
if he struggles early it could be difficult for him
i saw mattingly come up opening day then tank and get sent back
in the long run everything will be fine.
santana told wfan that he will be pitching off flat ground by tuesday, well ahead of schedule.
Jerkface, I saw you posted a quote of Cashman re: the B kids. Maybe he’s trying to motivate Phil, lol. I get that he’s complimenting the kids, but if I’m Phil, it comes off like I’ve not been good enough. It almost seems like he’s laying the groundwork for people to not be surprised if he’s traded…….
West Coast Yankee Fan says:
March 13, 2011 at 12:00 pm
Golson would not have made the team, there is no room for him on the twenty-five man roster.
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Make sure you keep Cashman in the loop!
Betsy,
It’s just GM talk to the media during a long spring training. I wouldn’t take much value from it.
The Yankees who have a shortage of quality starters will not trade their second best pitcher who won 18 games and was an all-star last year. Which pitcher who is better are they going to trade him for?
Ys Guy March 13th, 2011 at 12:06 pm
randy, i think montero will be great in the long run.
i would have liked to see him ‘bust his way’ on to the team instead of winning a spot by defalut.
if he struggles early it could be difficult for him
i saw mattingly come up opening day then tank and get sent back
in the long run everything will be fine.
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Montero just needs more AB’s and he will make the adjustments. Martin is not exactly busting it up either batting-wise. So, one could say that he too is winning a spot by default or vet reputation in spite of his previously less than stellar seasons.
randy l. March 13th, 2011 at 11:59 am
y’s guy-
i don’t get the pessimism with montero.
he is what he is whether he starts out hot or cold.
he’s going to be a really good player. if the yankees know that, you let him take his lumps.
i was on record this past winter i’d like to have seen him come up in may , but if he’s next in line he’s next in line.
i think the kid is going to be a great player.
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Randy, don’t you know anything? Montero should have had 10 homers a 5 doubles by now. He has perhaps made one/two defensive mistakes this spring. One was not keeping a wild pitch a little closer to him on a strikeout, but, it was a fairly fast runner, and, although the ball went about 10 feet up the 3rd base line, the throw was an on target bullit that just missed getting the runner. Can’t throw out runners that get running leads, as you know. Still not worried about the bat. Long/Pena have been having him working hard on defense and not so muh batting practice. That’s about to change.
Golson has gap power. He’s not a slap hitting “speed” guy. If GG could make better contact he’d hit line drives and steal bases & work his way onto this team.
Happy birthday to Manny.
Looking forward to Mariano’s debut.
West Coast Yankee Fan says:
March 13, 2011 at 12:13 pm
The Yankees who have a shortage of quality starters will not trade their second best pitcher who won 18 games and was an all-star last year. Which pitcher who is better are they going to trade him for?
————
See my 12:12 post. I hate repeating myself.
y’s guy-
i would have liked to see montero stay down longer simply to play another 30-40 games almost every day to get tuned up for the bigs, but he’s next on the depth list so that get’s sacrificed. there’s what’s best for montero and what’s best for the yankees or rather what’s best in the short run and what’s best in the long run. sometimes the short run rules.
if he does struggle a bit, it’s not going to change my evaluation of him. i think you know though that the casual fan and the media will jump on him if he starts slow. that was part of my reasoning to let him start in may when he wouldn’t have so much of a spotlight on him.
but he’s going to be a big time player, so who knows , maybe he will thrive under the pressure this spring when the bell rings. results are so arbitrary in spring training. what is the correlation between playing well in spring training and starting off well in the regular season?
if there is a correlation, they should count the stats. the fact they don’t tells you what spring training stats are worth.
Golson wouldn’t have made the team outright, but I think that’s implicit through acknowledging he needs mentoring. Optimally, IF Golson’s bat responded to coaching, he would be in consideration because he’s such a plus defensively. Obviously, he is a bit of a project, but there is something there for the Yankees to work with.
Craw, probably true – Cashman sure is raving about them, though. I just can’t remember him ever talking about any prospects like these kids.
Did I say (a) they were definitely trading him and (b) if they did it would be this year – or even next? No.
Nobody was “dissing” or “trying to motivate” Hughes. You have Hughes, Betances and Banuelos…three young, highly talented pitchers and Cashman said that the 2 youngest “may be better” than the oldest. They’re #1, 1A and 1B…in no particular order as far as talent goes. How awful to have 3 pitcher and they’re too close in talent to judge. Give me two more as bad as Hughes.
JAP, well put.
J. Alfred Prufrock March 13th, 2011 at 12:18 pm
Golson wouldn’t have made the team outright, but I think that’s implicit through acknowledging he needs mentoring. Optimally, IF Golson’s bat responded to coaching, he would be in consideration because he’s such a plus defensively. Obviously, he is a bit of a project, but there is something there for the Yankees to work with.
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I really like Golson, he’s just caught in a numbers game which is basically caused by the Yankee sdecision to keep both Logan and Feliciano.
That leaves a bench of Montero, a corner infielder, likely to be Chavez – a middle infielder, Nunez or Peña and a fourth outfielder who is Andruw Jones.
Depending on injuries we could see Golson sometime this season, cetainly when the rosters expand. He’s an ideal defensive replacement, fast and his arm is just ridiculous.
Good for Cashman to rave about his prospects. The Red Sox have the espn.com noise machine to do it for their overvalued prospects and even their veterans.
Speaking of which … How’s Casey Kelly doing the days?
GB, I was being sarcastic – obviously I do not think Cashman was trying to motivate Hughes. Given the fact that he seemed pretty astonished that Phil had the attitude coming into camp that he was pitching for a job, I’m certain he doesn’t feel that the kid needs motivating.
You’re completely overreacting to things I didn’t say. You find me a quote ANYWHERE where I said Phil was a bad pitcher.
Also, you forgot Brackman.
I guess you didn’t notice the “LOL” I put after the motivating comment.
“Craw, probably true – Cashman sure is raving about them, though. I just can’t remember him ever talking about any prospects like these kids.”
Betsy,
He said similar things about Hughes back in 2006-2007 timeframe. He loved Hughes back then and didn’t want to trade him for Santana.
Craw, that’s definitely true about not wanting to trade for Santana, but I just recall Cash as being more buttoned up……..in general, about everything. It seems like he’s talking a lot more lately.
“.in general, about everything. It seems like he’s talking a lot more lately.”
that sometimes happens when early senility sets in too.
Aldo, another Golson fan in the house?
WCYF, Jones’ presence keeps Golson in the minors. yea the arm is nasty but also rare is he seldom takes a false step so not just one of those ‘athletic’ guys.
Yankfem – I see you in circulation. Would it make you envious to know I am heading out to Small World (a walk of just a few blocks from my cozy study) for a peerless cup of Java and a stop-over nextdoor for, oh I dunno, maybe some snapper cakes or some other ocean goody?
Johan Santana will be a Yankee post all-star break.
Betsy March 13th, 2011 at 12:26 pm
GB, I was being sarcastic – obviously I do not think Cashman was trying to motivate Hughes. Given the fact that he seemed pretty astonished that Phil had the attitude coming into camp that he was pitching for a job, I’m certain he doesn’t feel that the kid needs motivating.
You’re completely overreacting to things I didn’t say. You find me a quote ANYWHERE where I said Phil was a bad pitcher.
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I never said you called Hughes “a bad pitcher”. You have this persecution complex that you need to get a handle on. Not every comment is directed at you.
“Craw, that’s definitely true about not wanting to trade for Santana, but I just recall Cash as being more buttoned up……..in general, about everything. It seems like he’s talking a lot more lately.”
IMO, I think he’s talking more because he’s more comfortable with his Yankee legacy which is having the Yankees as a WS contender with one of the best farm systems in baseball. Back in the 2007 timeframe the Yankees were behind the Red Sox with the latter, but not anymore.
J. Alfred Prufrock March 13th, 2011 at 12:33 pm
WCYF, Jones’ presence keeps Golson in the minors. yea the arm is nasty but also rare is he seldom takes a false step so not just one of those ‘athletic’ guys.
****************
Defensively, no doubt. I wish he would show some advancement as a hitter, if he has it in him, that’s going to hold him back. His minor league slash line isn’t what you would hope for from an outfielder:
.263/.309/.398/.706
JAP, a big fan of player development, Golson included.
Mariano only need 8 appearances and he’s ready to start the season.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uY3LAFJbKyY
Randy, why do I think you’re not kidding, lol?
Craw, maybe……….it’s as good an explanation as I can find. Maybe there was no one for him to compare Phil (or Joba) to so he couldn’t go hog wild on them (not saying, by the way, that he wasn’t high on them, just that I do not recall reading out and out gush fests on them). Now he can compare these kids to Phil…..
GB, give it a rest. I was the one who mentioned that Cash was potentially trying to motivate Phil (again, being sarcastic) – so what other post would you be responding to? Jerkface posted that blurb in a previous thread and until I brought it up, there was nothing in this thread about it. You’re telling me, just out of the blue, you decided to comment about that ? Not only that, but your response, just coincidentally, referenced similar subject that I had referenced? That’s one hell of a coincidence.
Silvermine Slugger March 13th, 2011 at 12:36 pm
Johan Santana will be a Yankee post all-star break.
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In what year…what world?
Silvermine Slugger March 13th, 2011 at 12:36 pm
Johan Santana will be a Yankee post all-star break.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Don’t bet the house on it. The Yankees wouldn’t take on his full salary and the Mets won’t be eating any of it.
Where on gods green earth does this talk about Santana being a Yankee come from? The Mets are going to deal Santana to the Yankees? Seriously? And how much does one think Cashman would have to give for another team’s number one? Not to mention the injuries. I wish there was a bookmaking component of LoHud.
I just started posting a few minutes ago, Betsy. I was commenting on all of the silly ass remarks. Hughes is one of the top 5 24-25 year old pitchers in the majors, but, apparently for some, that’s not good enough. He’s the best young arm the Yankees have developed since Leiter and Pettitte. Really sad that some can’t give him at least 2 seasons as a starter to win the Cy Young Award.
J. Alfred Prufrock March 13th, 2011 at 12:33 pm
Aldo, another Golson fan in the house?
WCYF, Jones’ presence keeps Golson in the minors. yea the arm is nasty but also rare is he seldom takes a false step so not just one of those ‘athletic’ guys.
Yankfem – I see you in circulation. Would it make you envious to know I am heading out to Small World (a walk of just a few blocks from my cozy study) for a peerless cup of Java and a stop-over nextdoor for, oh I dunno, maybe some snapper cakes or some other ocean goody?
________
Golson’s D is otherworldly. If only he could make contact.
Prufrock, Yes, I am envious. Small World and Nassau Street rock! I myself am off on a food-run before first pitch.
(Prayers and a safe evacuation for Kevin and all those fleeing Fukushima.)
“108 stitches March 13th, 2011 at 12:45 pm
Silvermine Slugger March 13th, 2011 at 12:36 pm
Johan Santana will be a Yankee post all-star break.
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Don’t bet the house on it. The Yankees wouldn’t take on his full salary and the Mets won’t be eating any of it.”
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considering the injury situation its unlikely, but i noted weeks ago that if burnett struggles and santana comes back you could have the makings of a trade that helps both teams, mets get salary relief and the yankees upgrade thier #2.
but there’s a mile of ‘has to happen’ between here and there.
GB, I’m not advocating that they trade Phil at this point, but they do have a surplus of pitching……….and Cashman is obviously high on these 3 kids. Unless they go with a 6 man rotation, someone is going to be squeezed out eventually – maybe it will be Nova, but it will be someone. I know you’ve mentioned Brackman to the pen, but it’s clear from Cashman’s comments that they think he can be a dominant starter.
betsy, just when DID phill piss in your wheaties?
Game thread is up
There’s no reason to “advocate” trading Hughes at any point. That’s just plain stupid. Hughes will not be squeezed out.
West Coast Yankee Fan March 13th, 2011 at 12:47 pm
Where on gods green earth does this talk about Santana being a Yankee come from?
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It probably has more to do with who he is than anything else. Ppl still thinking he’s the guy that won 2 Cy Young Awards.
What surplus of pitching? You can’t have too much pitching, there is no such thing as a surplus IMO. And just a reminder that no matter what their perceived upside is, Banuelos, Brackman and Betances have done nothing in the major leagues so far. Hughes has and then some.
I wouldn’t trade any.
Ys, you’re clearly not reading my posts as you’ve indicated as recently as two days ago, so there’s no point in me responding. Have a nice day.
Ok, well someone will be squeezed out – as I said, it could be Nova as well.
Re: Golson’s power…
I disagree with GB who states he has no power. The kid was basically drafted in first round because of his athletic abilities, and has been playing based on that alone. He didn’t have the baseball training from childhood that, for example, many latin players do.
As such, his power performance to date is pretty much what I would expect…until he learns to elevate the ball and drive it through the help of a great batting coach. I envision Golson to have the same level of power that Battista has…from a purely athletic standpoint. Will he ever learn to drive it like Battista finally did? Who knows?
But to dismiss him as a weak hitter is wrong IMO.
“It probably has more to do with who he is than anything else. Ppl still thinking he’s the guy that won 2 Cy Young Awards”
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cant speak for anyone else, but i was referring to the johan santana that posted a 2.98 era in 299 IP/ 279H. (last season)
gb typing school grad, sorry
199 IP/ 179H
YS–
I read a few comments here about how ridiculous it is to trade for a guy with a sore arm.
NO ONE EVER SAID TO TRADE FOR HIM UNTIL HE PROVES HE IS HEALTHY!
I guess some people have to twist the facts to make a point.
bojo, ill be the first one to admit i like johan santana, whats not to like if he’s healthy?
in the yankees position, they need to keep thier heads up for whatever impact pitchers might become available. santana is one of them.
if it gets to that point and he comes back healthy, santana probably moves to the top of the list.
until they the yankees arent really looking to make a move yet anyway.
i head the game was on cbs radio. i’m out of range but have cbs on the computer but they dont have the game, whats up with that?
the mets game is on wfan.com…
# Ys Guy March 13th, 2011 at 12:59 pm
“It probably has more to do with who he is than anything else. Ppl still thinking he’s the guy that won 2 Cy Young Awards”
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cant speak for anyone else, but i was referring to the johan santana that posted a 2.98 era in 299 IP/ 279H. (last season)
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Who’s stuff has been declining over the past few seasons. Johan would get lit up in the AL East
Ys–
Even if Santana doesn’t come back this season, he is still someone ot target for 2012 and 2013. It may take all year for him to recover (conflicting reports now on the accuracy of this morning’s report), but I think he comes back eventually and will be a great pitcher again. The guy relies on brains, not power…and I love crafty lefties with change-ups. Pettitte showed they can win big in Yankee Stadium.
santana apparently told wfan this morning that he will begin pitching from flat ground tuesday ahead of his (mid june return) schedule
aao…..2.98 thats great pitching in any division and he’s better on an offday than aj .
santana’s 2010 2.98 nl east era is better than lee posted in his time in the division.
just sayin…
Ys–
Anyone who doubts Santana has not watched him pitch. The guy has guts and smarts, and can ptich in any division or park.
# Ys Guy March 13th, 2011 at 1:16 pm
aao…..2.98 thats great pitching in any division and he’s better on an offday than aj .
santana’s 2010 2.98 nl east era is better than lee posted in his time in the division.
just sayin…
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What you posted can’t be ignored but I just don’t want any part of him even if he’s healthy. Since his last season with the twins it’s been one injury after another.
louie castillo looks like the starting 2b for the mets….
“Since his last season with the twins it’s been one injury after another.”
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johan would likely want to point out to you that he’s averaged 199IP per year since he left minny.
AAO–
There is a great site where an analyst evaluates looks at pitchers and their deliveries and predicts their injuries. He predicted Strasburg, and Liriano, etc. The problem with pitchers like those and Santana was they used what he calls an inverted W pitching motion, which typically leads to TJ problems and rotator cuff issues.
What will be interesting is how Santana comes back. He elbow is fine, his knee is fine, and if his shoulder is fine, will he still have a delivery that leads to injury, or will he have a modified delivery that is safer?
Based on that analysis and his medical reports, I would be interested in him if it looks like he is healthy and throwing with a safer delivery.
# BoJo March 13th, 2011 at 1:26 pm
AAO–
There is a great site where an analyst evaluates looks at pitchers and their deliveries and predicts their injuries. He predicted Strasburg, and Liriano, etc. The problem with pitchers like those and Santana was they used what he calls an inverted W pitching motion, which typically leads to TJ problems and rotator cuff issues.
What will be interesting is how Santana comes back. He elbow is fine, his knee is fine, and if his shoulder is fine, will he still have a delivery that leads to injury, or will he have a modified delivery that is safer?
Based on that analysis and his medical reports, I would be interested in him if it looks like he is healthy and throwing with a safer delivery.
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Yea it will be interesting to see how he adjusts to the shoulder injury. I’m sure the Mets will do everything in their power to make sure he’s sound enough to compete.
I wonder if Dan Warthen has what it takes to help him change his deliever?
Here is what he said about Santana
http://www.chrisoleary.com/pro.....dPans.html
7/4/2007: I like a lot of things about Johan Santana’s mechanics, but I have to admit that I am somewhat concerned about his shoulder. He has some Inverted W in his motion. It’s hard to say whether he’ll be able to succeed in spite of it as John Smoltz and Pedro Martinez have. I also haven’t seen his ball move, so I’m not sure what the prospects are for his elbow. He’s certainly better than Francisco Liriano, but I’m not sure how much better.
________________
This was before his shoulder surgery!
I wonder if Dan Warthen has what it takes to help him change his deliever?
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Somehow I doubt it. Never been impressed with their coaches.
Thanks for the link Bojo. The inverted W is the same thing Prior had. That sends shivers up your spine whenever someone mentions that name.
That is a great site.