Sunday notes: Key pieces coming together
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Notes on Mar 20, 2011 
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Russell Martin told Joe Girardi that he wanted to catch today. He wanted at least one more spring game with the Yankees ace, and Martin was behind the plate for another strong CC Sabathia start: 6.2 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
“Me and Russ, we’re pretty much locked in,” Sabathia said. “I didn’t have to shake at all and that’s good. At this point in the season, we’ve had a couple of starts, and for us to be on the same page, communication is pretty good.”
Sabathia said he was happy with everything today. His breaking ball was good, his changeup was good and he was able to locate his fastball. He knee felt good, his arm felt strong and Sabathia felt at ease with the new guy behind the plate.
“(Martin)’s going to be our guy and you want to have that relationship and not have any confusion and be shaking off a bunch,” he said. “I feel like we’re on the same page.”
• Sabathia will get an extra day of rest before making his final spring training start on Saturday. Joe Girardi said Sabathia will slightly dial back the number of pitches next time out.
• Mark Teixeira hit his first home run this afternoon, adding one more element to an already strong spring training. He’s batting .342 with a team-high eight doubles. “I see him in the cage all the time taking a ton of swings,” Girardi said. “I’ll walk by and it’ll be late, or it’ll be early, and you’ll hear bam, bam, bam. And it’s Tex. He’s put his mind to this.”
• Girardi said after the game that he’s still no certain when Joba Chamberlain or Pedro Feliciano will pitch again. Chamberlain seems closer to a game than Feliciano. Both expect to be ready for the regular season.
• Guess Boone Logan’s back and arm are feeling fine. He struck out the side in the ninth inning.
• Speaking of the bullpen, Dave Robertson struck out the only batter he faced and Rafael Soriano pitched a hitless eighth. Robertson, Soriano and Logan combined for this pitching line: 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K.
• Girardi said he’ll continue to experiment with the top of the order, getting looks at both Brett Gardner and Derek Jeter in the leadoff spot. “We won 8-1,” he said. “It worked pretty good.”
• Gardner wore a shin guard over his right shin but said he felt fine. “Feeling a lot better than I thought it would,” he said. He went 2-for-4 has his batting average back up .286.
• Another hit for Jeter. He’s batting .341. Also, another hit for Eric Chavez, who’s hitting .371 and got his third spring double today, this one off a left-hander.
• It’s been a little overlooked lately, lost in all of the A-Rod home runs and leadoff debate, but Curtis Granderson is still having a terrific spring. He had two more hits today and is batting .385 with three triples and a team-high 11 runs. His 15 hits are one less than Rodriguez.
• Jesus Montero had his second spring double today. In his past six games Montero is 4-for-11 (.364) with two doubles, three runs, one walk and three strikeouts. He was hitless in his 11 previous at-bats.
• Justin Maxwell and Ronnie Belliard also doubled today. It was Belliard’s second spring hit. He’s batting .143. He also made an error today.
• Nick Swisher had a base hit and two RBI today, but he’s bigger moment came when he threw out Ryan Howard at the plate in the sixth inning. Martin was blocking the plate, and when Howard knew he was out, he slowed down to avoid a collision. Teixeira went out of his way to high five Martin after the play.
• You could easily make the case that this was the Yankees best game of the spring: Their starter went deep, their everyday guys hit really well and they won 8-1. “You want to see that,” Girardi said. “You want to see it all start to come together. Today, that’s how you draw it up.”
Associated Press photos of Sabathia, Teixeira and Martin (with Howard)
Granderson is going to have a great year……………
Martin seems to be getting along with all the starters, which is great news.
Get used to it.
It’s gonna be a familiar theme.
Can u imagine having a guy like Chavez as a
bench player ?
Awesome.
Things are looking good
The Yankee Jigsaw puzzle coming together to form the # 28.
I read all about that snake Joe Maddon and his comments about when Elliot Johnson broke Cervelli’s wrist in 2008. The Yogi catch reprieve is up and I am back to hating him like usual.
Not only was it good for Posada to let him know he was the DH this season, but also, it was good for the pitchers – as far as working with Martin – it was clear.
TY-
Take a look at his face when Manuelito is making his stars look sick with that CU.
He’ll probably develop a “tick” to go wit that ugly of his.
sp: with
Pat M, I am loving the Arizona pick, even though they’ve been too sloppy the past few minutes.
Wish me well. Time to go to the draft. I am nervous too.
SAS-
Why didn’t you just go with “autopick” ?
No muss no fuss.
Doreen, you draft #3.
Trisha, #8.
Tyanks is #1 and I am 2.
Cc looks pretty much ready to go…throwing all his pitches well.
Arod continues to crush
Je-zeus starting to heat up
Not a lot of danger in that Phillies lineup without Utley and Werth.
Fran – DAMN!
That so totally sucks it isn’t funny.
Doreen, pretty nice spot. Better than being smack dab in the middle.
Boo!
I quit. I feel like George Mason right now. Well almost as bad.
Blake-
With this offense,defense and BP we are gonna win a lot of games.
All the Starter needs to do is keep it close and the rest will take of itself.
See ?
Russell Martin seems to another one of those situations where geography will do him some good.
Hopefully the Stadium fans make him feel at home and build his confidence. It appears he has the confidence from the pitching staff.
Watch out if AJ hits the norms, and Nova and Garcia meet or exceed expectations.
Is this draft being more comprehensively live-blogged anyplace?
MTU,
I think this offense has a chance to be really special.
Blake-
The whole team does.
I don’t know about that order of draft, ladies. Looks pretty suspicious to me. You’ll know it was rigged when TY trades Sabathia and Rodriguez to Fran for Mitre and Pena.
Looking forward to an outstanding season, with no less than 98 wins, Go Yankees!
Catch ya’ll later.
Martin has looked great behind the plate to me….at 27 he’s certainly young enough for a 2nd act to his career.
That said, if Montero hits like he can then the lineup could be incredible on the nights he catches once he gets up to speed.m
Saw an interesting shirt on-line today:
“With a lineup of Rollins-Polonco-Ibanez-Howard-Francisco-Victorino-Ruiz-Valdez-Pitcher, and Lidge in the pen, they need 4 aces.”
Don’t know who would buy it, but interesting nonetheless.
The Yankees have the depth to deal with the long haul.
How many teams can say that ?
We have muscle on top of muscle.
What are the Sux gonna do if they lose a starter ?
The T shirt speaks the truth.
Sounds like an all-gals league!
At my sportsbook, the Yanks over/under win total is 91.5 wins.
At vegasinsider.com it’s 92.5 wins.
Either way, I think the oddsmakers and bettors are putting too much weight into the failure to sign Cliff Lee and Andy’s retirement. I’m agreeing with the 95+ predictions here.
Then again, maybe I’m too deep in the bubble… naw, I’m pounding the over 91.5.
I was too
gutlesstimid to pound the Ohio St. -1.5 2H bet.“What are the Sux gonna do if they lose a starter ?’
Maybe they are the ones who will eventually sign Millwood LOL
Can’t get over how good Chavez’s swing has looked so far this spring.
Very short, quick and direct to the ball. He looks great. It’s seems like it’s been years since his swing has looked this way.
Over the past many seasons it struck me that his back was just so problematic that he’s lost the fluidity in his swing. He lost his smooth stroke.
But it’s back now. He looks great both at the plate and in the field.
He could be a terrific pick up.
Assuming it is true, does anyone have a link to the article or blogspot in which a writer compared the 2011 Boston Red Sox & 1927 Yankees? Thanks.
Bring up the immortal Felix Doubront, or Bowden ?
Convince Wakefield his back is really OK and that he isn’t really as old as the hills ?
Good luck with that.
Trade using their stacked farm system.
What a hoot.
SAS
I am actually 6th. as soon as the draft starts though I am autopicking, it puts up a dialogue box and wont let me get on the chat so I havent selected it yet.
I’m I the only one that thinks NOVA is gonna have a great year?
It was posted earlier by one of the “regular posters” that nova doesnt get enough hype considering he’s a prospect as well.
Does anyone think NOVA could win 12-15 games this year, or am I being a little too ambitious?
J Alfred,
It is written by someone named “Eric Ortiz”
http://www.nesn.com/2011/01/20.....story.html
I googled in Red Sox 1927 Yankees and found it myself so no need. From NESN. Ok.
CB-
He will be if he can stay healthy.
Thanks Jerzz. Words desert me…
Benny-
I do.
Might be the funnest blurb from the article:
Yet one run is all it might take to win a game on some days with the starting staff the Red Sox have assembled.
Jon Lester, LHP
Josh Beckett, RHP
John Lackey, RHP
Clay Buchholz, RHP
Daisuke Matsuzaka, RHP
Lester is a Cy Young winner waiting to happen. Beckett will notch more than six victories. Lackey should be better equipped to avoid the one-bad-inning syndrome. Buchholz has become a force. And Dice-K might be the best No. 5 starter ever. The Japanese right-hander is the only pitcher in the rotation who’s never been an All-Star, but this could be the year he ends that streak.
Every Red Sox starting pitcher has something to prove. While the Phillies might be the popular choice as the best rotation in baseball, don’t be surprised if people are singing a different tune come October.
When Red Sox starters have to hand the ball to the bullpen this season, Boston fans won’t have to have to cover their eyes and pray. The weak link in 2010 could be one of the best relief corps in the business.
Tim Wakefield, RHP
Scott Atchison/Matt Albers, RHP
Hideki Okajima, LHP
Dan Wheeler, RHP
Bobby Jenks, RHP
Daniel Bard, RHP
Jonathan Papelbon, RHP
Okajima is the only known left-handed quantity. But youngster Felix Doubront has talent and should see some action. Rich Hill, Lenny DiNardo and Andrew Miller also could contribute.
The right-handers in the mix all bring experience and different styles to the fire. Need long relief? Call on Wakefield to disrupt hitters’ timing. Need a middle-inning specialist to get key outs? Wheeler knows how to do the job, and Atchison proved serviceable last season. Albers could be a diamond in the rough. Want heat? Jenks and Bard throw seeds. Want to turn out the lights? Papelbon is pitching for a contract, so trust he will be ready to show he’s far from washed up. Reliability and consistency — foreign concepts to Boston’s bullpen last season — will be common words associated with this group.
Every day should feel like Christmas for Curt Young, the new Red Sox pitching coach. The former A’s pitching coach didn’t have anything close to the horses he has now, and Oakland’s staff posted a 3.56 ERA last season, the best in the American League and fourth-best in the majors. Imagine what he can do with a Grade A collection of arms.
GB –
Well you sure know it wasn’t rigged by me!!!
GB7
I am highly competitive though that is probably something I would do. I am not 1st though, I probably wouldnt autopick if I was. As it is, I am 6th. I would trade players though for someone I liked regardless of whether they were doing well just because I like them.
CC was in full on beast mode today as well. Slider-change up combo was fantastic. Had his delivery in coordination.
I was expecting Alex to have a huge season last year given how he finished the season prior with the adjustments he made to his swing. His health just didn’t hold up though.
Right now – Alex looks very similar to the way he did at the end of 2009. And the end of 2009 was the best Alex has looked at the plate since he joined the yanks. He was better than he even was in 2007.
He is primed for a massive season. The ball is once again exploding off his bat with back spin. He’s once again hitting those characteristic arcing drives that are drive by that back spin with the ball carrying forever because of it.
Still wait in see – but I do like the way Tex has adjusted his back leg mechanics some to stiffen up that base. His swing plane from the left side looks less extreme than it was.
“And Dice-K might be the best No. 5 starter ever. The Japanese right-hander is the only pitcher in the rotation who’s never been an All-Star, but this could be the year he ends that streak.”
LOL.
Fran, are you around? I’ve been gone all day, I just got home. Did you announce the draft order yet?
“Lester is a Cy Young winner waiting to happen. Beckett will notch more than six victories. Lackey should be better equipped to avoid the one-bad-inning syndrome. Buchholz has become a force. And Dice-K might be the best No. 5 starter ever.”
Warning: Kool-Aid poisoning can be fatal.
It’s not a hard comparison to make.
For example: the 1927 Yankees were a powerhouse team that steamrolled through the league and won the World Series. The 2011 Red Sox, in comparison, won’t be.
CB,
Question:
Based on what you’ve seen from alex this spring training, what’s the chances that he cools off and goes in an immediate slump to begin the season?
Who wrote that article, lol? I don’t think Dice-K is a bad 4th/5th starter at all, but the greatest ever? Still, it’s not like there are no grains of truth in that – short of the Dice K comment, lol.
Some Red Sox fans have some sense:
“sdfs@asd.com said…
I have to say this article is just embarrassing to real redsox fans. Thats like comparing Bob Ross to Picasso.
Is this guy a regular wither for NESN?”
////
I guess it was worth it to the writer shooting all credibility for the momentary high he got from typing those words.
I’ll give them Lester as Pennock (or Hoyt if we’re not talking handedness) but who else. I also doubt that Ellsbury is hitting .356 or that Boston will boast the 3 best hitters in the league. Moore is better than Papelbon & they sure as hell aren’t going 110-44 or leading the game in every offensive category save doubles & SBs. Wow. No shame.
It helps that Chavez wanted to be a bench player; he’s not a guy that will be disgruntled that he’s not getting sufficient playing time
Benny-
Alex may very well cool off headed into the season. Those kinds of things are difficult to predict.
But the bigger story is how the ball is carrying off his bat and how well he’s squaring it up.
That’s what was missing last season.
In general with Alex the key issue is the length of his swing. As long as he keeps his swing short – he’s going to hit the ball very hard and very far consistently. His swing right now is very compact – it reminds me a lot of the end of 2009.
The adjustments Alex made back in the summer of 2009 made his swing shorter on a more consistent basis.
He kept those mechanics last season but the life off the ball just wasn’t there. It was very strange. First time that’s ever happened with him. There were so many times that he’d hit the ball and you’d expect it to go over the wall because it always had in the past. But it didn’t last season.
And that was because he wasn’t generating as much back spin on the ball. And I think that was because of the tendinitis he had and the lack of his off season training.
He may start off cooler than he is now if his swing gets long. But that’s not a real concern. The ball is carrying. That backspin is back. If he starts cold he’ll work very hard as he always does to get his swing short again and he’ll be fine.
But right now – he reminds me of the end of 2009. And that was one of the most consistent his swing has been since he came to the yanks.
I expect him to have a very big season as long as he’s healthy.
As locked in as Granderson is , Tex looks the same, as does Arod. And Jeter.
Look out favorites!
Apparently not many people out there know that I am a girl. I am. Just putting that out there. Great game today even though I didnt see it. Happy Montero got another double
One of the really good signs with Chavez is that his last 2 hits have been against left handers, and early in the game in one at bat he hit a rocket over the foul pole in right that they called foul and then hit an absolute pea to the third baseman. He hasn’t had too many cheap hits, and doesn’t appear to be strictly a pull hitter, now. He could be the Yankee answer to Jim Thome with a glove.
Oh, did I forget Cano?
And Jorge and Jesus is coming around.
Yeah they have a better lineup than us.
Throw Gardner and Swisher in for good measure.
Umm finally, the Red Sox don’t look like they’re going to be as good as the 2011 Yankees. They would be very fortunate in any case to win the East, much less dominate the sport and set a new standard. & Lazzeri’s 18 HRs would be more like 35 today. Ruth & Gehrig’s power numbers was just unsightly for the times. The ball didn’t really get lively until ’29, ’30. Can’t see Boston with a team avg. of .307. Just nope. Normalization is tricky any way, but hardly worth the effort when the obvious is that Boston in 2011 will not remotely resemble the 27 yanks. But it was good for a laugh.
“Apparently not many people out there know that I am a girl.”
I hope you don’t mean in real life.
j/k
trisha – true pinstriped blue March 20th, 2011 at 7:14 pm
GB –
Well you sure know it wasn’t rigged by me!!!
———————————————————————————————————————-
I don’t know about that Trisha. You women can be pretty ruthless and tricky. I see how you girls track and trap men to use them as toys.
And the D, and the BP.
And the depth.
And the bench.
Convinced ?
…& Ruth & Gehrig each slugged over .750 that year. LOFL.
haha Rich. Thats pretty noticable in real life though I did work at the grocery store and get called sir a few times.
2011 Red Sox UNDER 96.5 wins.
Montero is just awesome. That swing is gold. It’s almost perfect.
He keeps the bat in the zone for so long but and then has such great bat speed.
His swing is a bit like Hanley Ramirez’s. Only Montero is much stronger.
He is going to be a star.
What I mean is that Beckett will win more than 6 games and Lackey should be better – not that they are all going to be Cy Young candidates as this seems to imply
Nick in SF March 20th, 2011 at 7:44 pm
2011 Red Sox UNDER 96.5 wins.
////
Safe to say. It might be a yr where nobody wins 95, although we might slug our way to it.
CB-
What do you think of our young prodigy Manuelito.
Star ?
I think so. Just has to stay healthy.
Trade using their stacked farm system.
What a hoot.
///
There’s that too. They blew out their “close-to-the-majors” talent for AGon. They don’t have chips to deal for a really good trade deadline starter, which you can bet they’re goin to need.
To be fair , the R*d S*x already won the 2011 World Series trophy .
JAP-
The Sux fans need not worry though Theocratus Sophisticus will work his magic.
Right ?
Catch u all manana.
Boy, that abbreviation of JAlfred Prufrock just does not look right
man, i got the whole boston lineup so far. This sucks
MTU – the young genius GM/scholar? LOL.
There’s that too. They blew out their “close-to-the-majors” talent for AGon. They don’t have chips to deal for a really good trade deadline starter, which you can bet they’re going to need.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
John Henry won’t be interested in shelling out any more $$$ to increase his luxury tax.
An injury to a key position player or a starting pitcher severely exposes Boston’s lack of depth in the farm system. They’ll need to click on all cylinders for the entire year.
Funny…..I thought that was the same rotation the Red Sox had last year that was only going to need one run to win every game.
CB, agree with everything you’ve said.
Boston has improved itself but I don’t feel they’ve even caught up to the Yanks. The Bomber lineup is superior,even with the additions of AGon & CC,especially if the Yanks do the correct thing & let Montero start his hitting curve sooner than later. & as good as ARod Tex & Grandy look, consider that the Yanks also happen to have the best position player in Major League Baseball, Robinson Cano. Now if Montero gets enough ABs and Posada does as well at DH as I expect he will,the lineup is just better than Boston’s. I’ll take our SP and BP over theirs, too.
The Yankees and Red Sox are both going to make the postseason.
How much time people spend trying to figure out which will win 98 games and which will win 96 games is somewhat beyond me, but to each his own.
It’s going to he a lonnggg season. As usual, the Sox will give us fits.
The key is to not get too behind too early. If we can get off to a good start, even better as the Sox usually fade down the stretch.
The Yankees have tried more in recent years, so I’d like to see them continue to play hard even against the lesser teams. I’d also like to start our bench guys and bring up AAA players to face rookie pitchers.
The ball Alex hit out today was a scud missile…..I’ve said that I’d like to see Robbie hit 3rd but having him hit behind Arod is kinda nice as well…….pick your poison
AZ Wildcats coach just called some kid Mariano Rivera.
If Arod is right the the Sox dont have anyone comparable to him…..even the immortal Adrian Gonzalez……the only team that does is the Cardinals.
blake March 20th, 2011 at 8:28 pm
The ball Alex hit out today was a scud missile…..I’ve said that I’d like to see Robbie hit 3rd but having him hit behind Arod is kinda nice as well…….pick your poison
///
there’s really nowhere to turn with this whole lineup. You even forget about Swish, but he can walk & hit for power. It’s amazing to me that the predictors take the Yankee lineup for granted & froth up over Boston’s. It just doesn’t make any sense but how sweet is that that with such a juggernaut as we have,we get cast as David to their Goliath. The Yanks can snicker all the way around the bases.
The Yankees lineup is much deeper than Boston’s….1-5 it’s comparable…..6-9 big advantage Yanks IMO
That’s just baiting, stuckey.
I admit, I almost fell for it, but your recent tears have moved me.
And when Montero plays it’ll be even deeper
Nick in SF…….Wildcats pull it out…..I think I may call it a day unless you have a game to play ???
The Sox must sob when they compare their farm system to ours.
When the Sox lose a pitcher, they turn to…? When something happens to their catchers, they turn to…?
Another reason we’re better is we can dip down & bring up arms that can service us if we run into some rough patches. We’ve got several guys we can plug in without having to make a move, plus we have the chips if we feel we need to go outside. We’re just built better, any way you slice it. 108 Stitches is right, Boston will have to hope to get out in front & have no false steps.
MTU-
Can’t say how impressed I’ve been by Banuelos. He’s been simply amazing to watch.
You see a kid like Betances – also just very impressive and hugely talented. You at least have yardsticks to consider someone like Banuelos. Every year there are kids who fit a profile like that (minus the 3-4 inches!) – big arm, athletic, gets through his delivery, etc.
But you just don’t see kids like Banuelos very often – not doing what he’s doing at that age.
The way he throws the ball is very unusual. It’s solid and sound – but just different. I don’t understand how a player that small can use tall and fall type mechanics and still generate that much velocity on the ball.
The thing that’s getting lost a little bit with him is what makes him so good and the foundation for his success. As good as his change and curveball is what makes him really special is his fastball, especially his command of it, the plane he gets on it, and his understanding of how to use it.
To watch a 20 year old kid threading fastballs to both sides of the plate against all star right handed hitters was just remarkable. Major leagues lefties – even all star caliber ones – won’t do that. Cole Hamels doesn’t do that consistently.
With Banuelos it just seems like second nature. He just understands in a very deep way how to pitch. You just rarely, rarely see that in someone so young.
The main thing I worry about with him is how he’ll hold up over time. Given how he throws the ball I could see him having troubles with his arm in his early 30′s a bit like Santana and Pedro had. He uses a lot of his arm to throw the ball that hard. It’s a nice smooth, easy delivery. But it’s not a delivery where his legs are driving the ball to the plate.
But that’s just speculation on my part. Just a worry. It’s almost impossible to project how a pitcher will hold up long term (or one can just keep saying every pitcher will get hurt due to bad mechanics like so internet scouts do these days and know the statistics will make you look “correct” just by frequency and random chance).
On the whole – he has absolute top of the rotation stuff.
He’s the kind of arm you look to build a franchise around.
m March 20th, 2011 at 8:41 pm
The Sox must sob when they compare their farm system to ours.
When the Sox lose a pitcher, they turn to…? When something happens to their catchers, they turn to…?
///
exactly. So how are they running away from us?
Pat M, I enjoyed the Cats win too, not liking Purdue getting blown out. I thought I’d learned long ago not to trust any Purdue team for anything, but I guess I forgot.
I have a small interest in Kansas and Notre Dame (gag) to just win their games, but that’s about it.
Pat M, I haven’t checked yet, is SDSU getting the points?
CB…..The Mets had a guy by the name of Jerry Koossman whose arm action was alot like that of Manny B.’s….Koos was significantly bigger guy…….Nick in SF, I stay away from Purdue and Kansas ….I did make a small play on the Irish ( -4.5 ) to the overs 130…..I had a nice day so what’s a little greed
Jackson. San Diego opened – 1 and is now a pickem
CB,
Yea one thing you always worry about with little guys is how they’ll hold up over time and Banuelos does use his arm more than his legs ….but his motion doesn’t seem to put as much stress on the shoulder as Santana or particularly Pedro….at least to me. Of course that doesn’t mean he wont eventually break down but I love the smoothness of his delivery.
Nick
I haven’t seen ND play this year, but FSU is much better than a 10 seed. And that’s without Singleton.
Tar….yea they are.
Thanks, Tar. I really just need ND to cover +4.5, but I can hedge or reverse at HT if need be.
http://sports.espn.go.com/chic.....BHeadlines
Ozzie saying he’s going to make the call as Peavy’s been able to convince the staff twice already. Saying he’s doing it for Peavy’s sake, but you can tell he’s upset.
Does anyone else think this team could win 100 games? Because I would take the over.
I’ll go with 102 wins this year…I really like this team.
ESPNNewYork Source: Ex-New York Met Luis Castillo close to deal with Philadelphia Phillies http://dlvr.it/KxRSQ
As predicted.
If Hollywood was making the movie, critics would say the script was too far fetched but there will come a big moment in a Mets/ Phillies game this year and Castillo will be the hero or heel depending on whether he “drops the pop-up” this time.
blake-
Agree that Manny’s delivery is smoother than Pedro and Santana’s (Pedro’s especially). But that velocity has to come from somewhere with Many and it’s really not his legs.
He is very smooth though and that does make you feel good. Left handers so often throw the ball so badly. Manny throws it very well.
Pat M.,
Koosman – very interesting comparison.
Is CB an agent for minor leaguers? A Yankee marketing exec? Or merely just another poster who repeats things he/she has heard said about prospects elsewhere? Thanks for the help.
CB–
IIRC, Chavez re-worked his swing the last few months with a batting coach consultant so that he could swing with his back. Not sure where I read that though.
pat March 20th, 2011 at 9:11 pm
ESPNNewYork Source: Ex-New York Met Luis Castillo close to deal with Philadelphia Phillies http://dlvr.it/KxRSQ
_____________
Hahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!
Carlo….CB is one of the more astute student of the game not only here but outside of the blog world that is littered with bs…..Trust what he has to say
blake March 20th, 2011 at 8:59 pm
_______________
SUPPOSEDLY….one of the knocks against shorter pitchers is that they break down after several seasons (around age 31) because they have to throw harder and put more movement (spin) on the ball to compensate for not having the downward slope advantage of taller pitchers.
We all know 90% of pitchers will eventually break down, so I have always felt draft and sign as much top power pitching talent as possible, get them to the majors with care until 25, and then ride them like rented mules until they break, and don’t sign them to long-term deals. Have a lot of arms in pipeline to fill in when they do crash.
Cashman’s strategy of development seems to follow that. We’ll see what he follows once they reach peak development.
Thanks Pat. Trying to figure out who knows what as I read this board and it isn’t easy. It sounded like CB knew his stuff but I wasn’t sure.
By the way, I like FSU with the points tonight. Big East performance has been uninspiring.
CB–Does Betances remind you a little of Doc Gooden? I saw a retro game recently of Gooden pitching, and it struck me that the fastball/curve combo, as well as a bit of his mechanics seemed similar.
Anyone for some over/under?
Jeter – .310:
Arod – 35 HRs:
Teixeira – .250 on May 1st:
Burnett – 13 wins:
Swisher .280:
Cano – .320:
Posada – 300 PA:
Granderson .240 vs lefties:
Gardner – .375 OBP:
Hughes – 4.00 ERA:
Nova – 10 wins:
Garcia – 15 starts:
Soriano – 3.00 ERA:
Bojo-
That’s very interesting. I could see that. He’s looked so bad at the plate the past several seasons. Very stiff. Kind of like one of those really thick springs that requires tons of force to pull apart.
Who knows how long it will last or whether he can stay healthy. But right now he looks like a player who could start at 3b for the majority most teams in the majors.
And I’m not just talking about his batting average in spring training, etc. It’s just the mechanics of how he’s playing.
I’d have to think his back is just feeling better right now. Hopefully the bench will be the right role for him.
Anyone for some over/under?
Jeter – .310: over
Arod – 35 HRs: push
Teixeira – .250 on May 1st: under
Burnett – 13 wins: over
Swisher .280: under
Cano – .320: over
Posada – 300 PA: under
Granderson .240 vs lefties: over
Gardner – .375 OBP: push
Hughes – 4.00 ERA: under
Nova – 10 wins: over
Garcia – 15 starts: over
Soriano – 3.00 ERA: over
I had always secret hopes before we got ARod to obtain Chavez as our 3B. GREAT DEFENSE!!! Also, I thought he could hit 40 homers in YS with his swing. I only hope the Yankees have a second year option on him, and of course, that he stays healthy.
Eric Chavez 3b
1 year (2011)
* 1 year (2011)
o signed by NY Yankees as a free agent 2/4/11 (minor-league contract)
o $1.5M salary on Major League Opening Day roster
o $4M in bonuses based on playing time, days on roster
o may opt out if not on Major League roster 3/26/11
stuckey99 March 20th, 2011 at 9:25 pm
Anyone for some over/under?
Jeter – .310: over
Arod – 35 HRs: OVER
Teixeira – .250 on May 1st: under
Burnett – 13 wins: over
Swisher .280: under
Cano – .320: UNDER
Posada – 300 PA: under
Granderson .240 vs lefties: over
Gardner – .375 OBP: OVER
Hughes – 4.00 ERA: OVER
Nova – 10 wins: over
Garcia – 15 starts: UNDER
Soriano – 3.00 ERA: UNDER
YANKEE WINS–92.5: OVER
stuckey99 March 20th, 2011 at 9:27 pm
Eric Chavez 3b
1 year (2011)
__________
DRAT!
Carlo-
If you’re asking whether I have any connections to the game – I don’t. People have asked that in the past and I’ve always been clear on that issue.
Like most people, I’m just writing based on what I’ve seen and what I know.
Hmmm, this is interesting…
Chavez: “may opt out if not on Major League roster 3/26/11″
Garcia: “may request release if not on active roster March 29, 2011″
Colon: Nada. Just signed to a Minor League contract.
I may have heard otherwise and just forgotten, but can the Yankees hold Colon to his one year minor league contract and assign him to Scranton?
CB knows his stuff….as much as anyone I’ve read anywhere.
Since 1965–has any Yankee team ever started the season with a better bench? Has any Yankee team ever had a better bench for the play-offs?
I think of bench players such as Strawberry, Raines, Hayes, Curtis, Posada/Girardi, Fielder as a place where I would start to look for a team…any one have a fovorite to nominate?
Stuckey–I don’t think that is correct about Colon. I have read several places where he has an opt out agreement…Perhaps just a handshake deal?
I may have heard otherwise and just forgotten, but can the Yankees hold Colon to his one year minor league contract and assign him to Scranton?
–
he has 5 years of service so he could just refuse assignment probably. But I think he does have an opt out it just wasn’t reported and so ots didnt pick it up.
Bojo,
That’s interesting. Their leg kicks I could see as being a bit similar.
That said, overall they don’t remind me of each other too much.
To be honest – I don’t think I’ve seen any pitcher remind me of Doc when he was young. He was just so good.
He fell apart very quickly – but when he was Betances’ age he was so special.
“he has 5 years of service so he could just refuse assignment probably. But I think he does have an opt out it just wasn’t reported and so ots didnt pick it up.”
Got it.
Thanks.
“By the way, I like FSU with the points tonight. Big East performance has been uninspiring”
as for CB, what Pat M and blake said.
CB March 20th, 2011 at 9:34 pm
Bojo,
That’s interesting. Their leg kicks I could see as being a bit similar.
That said, overall they don’t remind me of each other too much.
To be honest – I don’t think I’ve seen any pitcher remind me of Doc when he was young. He was just so good.
__________________
Agreed. I’m not a big Mets fan, but caught a couple of retro specials they had in the past week or so, and Seaver reminds me of Hughes, Gooden reminds me of Betances a little, and Harrelson reminds me of Pena. Hopefully, our kids will reach those plateaus of performance.