One more day
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Mar 29, 2011 
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Unbelievable as it might be, we’ve reached the final day of spring training. As long as the rain holds off, the Yankees will play one more exhibition game this afternoon and then they’ll catch a flight to New York.
Most of decisions have been made. Eduardo Nunez, Eric Chavez and Bartolo Colon are in. Jesus Montero, Sergio Mitre and Ramiro Pena are out.
All that’s left is to choose a temporary replacement for Pedro Feliciano, determine whether a backup catcher can be found on the open market and figure out whether Curtis Granderson will be healthy enough to open the season.
The games begin to count on Thursday.
The Yankees have a late report time this morning, so the lineup will probably come a little later than usual. The team will fly out of town tonight, I’ll catch a flight tomorrow morning and we’ll do a live chat when I get back to New York tomorrow afternoon.
Stop by tomorrow at 1 p.m. and we’ll chat for a while. Opening Day is right around the corner.
Cashman waiting on the waiver wire.
It would be nice if finds a Molina upgrade.
edit: “if he”. sorry.
I generally like Sherman but stuff like he wrote this morning is exactly why I was saying a few days ago that the Yanks should have never given the option of Montero making the team publically unless he was going to make the team…..it just opens things up for the kid to be criticized before he’s even played a game in the big leagues.
“Jesus Montero failed. The Yankees can dress it up any way they want now, but they wanted him to be the backup catcher to Russell Martin. Period. There was never a plan –NEVER –to have Gustavo Molina beat him out, especially once Francisco Cervelli went down with a foot injury. Joe Girardi said this yest”
Won’t be too hard to find a Molina upgrade given his penchant for sifting through garbage cans and finding marginal upgrades over roster garbage.
It’s all noise Blake, the reality of the situation is really up to Montero from here on out.
Blake-
When Jesus begins to rake @ AAA again it will matter very little.
Even less when returns.
Crawdaddy,
Its noise …but unnecessary noise.
edit: “when he”. brain dead. sorry.
I like Sherman articles for the most part, but that doesn’t mean I don’t disagree with his opinion as he’s nothing more than a baseball writer, who hasn’t played the game since Little League.
“Its noise …but unnecessary noise.”
There is always unncessary noise with the Yankees because it’s the nature of the beast.
What does playing the game have to do with Shermans ability to understand what management wants or hopes to do and write about it? I don’t see the connection between the two things.
If they truley wanted Montero to be the back up from the start (which Im not sure I believe or agree with) then they shouldn’t have let 2 bad weeks of ST affect their decision.
Personally I think Sherman is wrong and that the plan was for him to start him at AAA from the start and that they briefly toyed with the idea of bringing him north when Cervelli got hurt if he played well…….they probably should have just kept that to themselves and let everyone think he was going to Scranton all along.
I wanted Montero here now so he could ease in & be bopping on all cylinders by July, and be a menace after the ASB. Also because the Yanks are slow to flip the switch on a youngster once he is back on the farm, nearly ALWAYS giving the benefit of doubt to a fault to the “veteran” ahead of him.
I don’t think Joel Sherman’s deliberately hyperbolic-hysterical NY Post-style columns are going to ruffle Montero’s feathers. If its contagious in the media, I still don’t think it’s going to ruffle feathers, Montero’s or the Yankees.
If the latter make decisions based on the transparently ill-willed media, with whom they can’t win, any way (& when they “win” for real it’s ALWAYS because they have that edge in MONEY! MONEY! MONEY!), well that would be foolish, foolish, foolish.
sherman is a total drama queen. yes he had an opening to make the team and yes they never planned to use molina. but so what?
sending him back down to scranton with a clear idea of what he needs to do to make it to the bronx is still a step forward in his development, even if it wasnt the big step we were all hoping for.
Because Sherman called Montero a failure that won’t stick at catcher. His opinion on those points mean absolutely nothing except his job gives him the advantage of having his opinion in print. He has not baseball expertise beyong any of us. His opinion is no better than any of ours so I don’t place value in it.
I agree about the 2 bad weeks being some pivotal thing being highly fickle.
That’s often the problem with them when it comes to young players. They’re all in when the sun is out, but a little rain puts them in full retreat. See Joba Chamberlain.
I agree that their will always be overblown stories surrounding the Yankees….but I think the Yanks could sometimes do a better job of not feeding them. It shouldn’t affect Montero one way or another and he’s going to have to get used to the NY media at some point….I just don’t like seeing a 21 year old criticized for a bad spring.
The rollercoaster ride for most prospects can be thrilling and frustrating at various times. You can’t enjoy the former without enduring the latter.
“I just don’t like seeing a 21 year old criticized for a bad spring.”
You’re lucky you weren’t around when Mantle first came up.
CC_Sabathia: Don’t forget to catch me on Letterman (@Late_Show) this Wednesday to kick off the 2011 season!
Of course, Mantle had a bad regular season before being sent down for some further development.
“You’re lucky you weren’t around when Mantle first came up.”
Was it fair then either?
Blake-
IMO he did not have such a bad spring.
He wound up with the highest BA of the remaining guys.
He has a period where he had some lapses but overall looked pretty good. Again IMHO.
I guess the brain trust decided they didn’t want him taking his lumps
now. Played it conservative.
He’ll still wind up doing so when he passes whatever threshold they have set for him.
I expect him to be even more motivated now that he caught a whiff.
Maybe Montero’s dad needs to meet him in his hotel room and threaten to take him home…..cause Mantle was a beast after that.
MTU,
I didn’t think he loomed that bad either. He was pressing at the plate but that’s the least of worries…his swing is golden if he learns to swing at the right pitches. Im fine with him starting at AAA….don’t even think its the wrong move. I just don’t like the “Montero failed ” stuff…..
mattingly got sent back down too, didnt affect his career much.
Blake-
Let Sherman or others riddle us this.
How is “failure” for a 21 year old kid to be AAA an to be within months of making the Majors ?
What was Sherman doin’ @ 21 ? Pickin’ the cotton out of his ears and lightin’ his bong ?
Whoopee.
Blake-
Sorry. I was wrong Sherman won the Pulitzer @ 21.
“Its noise …but unnecessary noise.”
Unnecessary irrelevant noise.
Few of us were around for Mantle, but a good number of us should remember Bernie Williams, who was brutalized by the press and some of us own teammates.
Wally Matthews wrote a similiar column to Sherman and I usually disagree with him so I thought Montero will be fine but then Keith Law disagreed with Matthews and said Montero won’t be a bust and I usually disagree with him so now I either have to figure out which idiot I believe more.
I guess I could let Montero get a little experience at AAA and see how that goes before I make a decision on whether his future involves HOF induction or lots of bus rides.
I think Montero looked okay behind the plate. He had a couple of moments that were not good, but overall I wasn’t displeased with what I saw.
At bat, he needs to recognize the breaking ball and lay off the ones off the plate. That is the pitch that he repeatedly chased. That could well be from attempting to do too much. He will continue to see those pitches until he stops chasing them. Soriano never did, but Montero has a much shorter swing and can therefore wait longer.
I can’t venture to imagine what kind of a roll call Gustavo will get from the Bleacher Creatures.
Montero ‘s swing is night and day better than Soriano’s. Soriano almost had to swing at everything because his swing was so long that he had to start early…….he had really strong and fast wrists or he likely would have never done as well as he did. I think Montero was just trying to hard to make an impression….
Blake-
As far as I am concerned SJ is the ultimate authority on these matters what with Tony going thru the very same process, and possessing similar talent.
He said, in essence, that Catching is one of the most complicated and essential jobs on the team. It is not taken lightly.
I believe he said that he thought that Jesus was just not ready and could profit from some more time at AAA.
I understand your point about the negative press. I just thought I’d throw this in even though it is a side issue to your point.
I could see this exact sentence being written later on in the season with Montero as the player named:
“In a sense, it was the move the Yankees did not want to make. But injuries and a moribund offense finally forced their hand, and so begins the major-league career of….Derek Jeter.”
http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/ne.....atl=google
Very good article about the yanks teaching their young players how to deal with the media…
http://online.wsj.com/article/.....72214.html
MTU,
it is and he probably could….
Nice article CountryClub. A necessity when the media (and fans) over analyze every statement made.
I mean the best looking Yankee prospect.
I, personally, like chubby men. Can’t help it. So I’m a bit partial to a guy like Montero, who seems to be in good shape but rocks a chubby face, but some of the pitchers didn’t look half bad either.
Blake-
In the meantime we’ll just have to content ourselves with watchin’ Manuelito rack up the wins and dazzle the audiences.
upstate kate March 29th, 2011 at 9:47 am
Nice article CountryClub. A necessity when the media (and fans) over analyze every statement made.
———
You mean when a reporter like Sherman is calling you a failure because you’re 21 and playing in AAA? Unreal.
Pat M,
If you’re out there….terrible news for UCLA. Larry Drew II just enrolled there…..
Hey all. This is the chart so far. If you want in you need to make your prediction before the first Yankee game of the season.
Please be sure to put my name in the post so that I can find your prediction.
I’ll post the updates from time to time between now and then.
Talk to you all later.
http://members.cox.net/lsdorga.....0CHART.pdf
Trisha
I will say 99
thanks
Good morning all,
Upstate Kate,
I tried to email from our fantasy blog to wish you the best, but didn’t succeed for a change. I wouldn’t mind if your first week was just slightly less good than the weeks that follow. You certainly have a terrific team. Good luck!!
Doreen,
Thanks for giving me a chance to play GTLU.
Trisha – not sure if you saw my prediction yesterday. I said 96. Thanks!
thanks SAS
good luck to you too..well other than this week
I really like my team
Good morning!
Meanwhile Montero hitting back down at the minor league complex was 3/5 yesterday with 2 singles and a booming homer. He has never really had any problems with breaking pitches. Expect his hitting to get back to where it left off last year at the end of the AAA season.
Mo and Grandy are supposed to play at the minor league complex today according to Josh Norris. Also, I am thinking if ManBan pitches tomorrow, as he is supposed to, he should be the pitcher on OD at Trenton. I figure then, assuming Frankin puts them back to back that Betances pitches the Friday game at home. Just a guess on both counts and with rain outs etc, you never know.
Did you all post your fantasy teams here yet? Would love to see them!:)
YankFem,
Fran is our leader when it comes to these things. She is terrific.
YankeesPR Must be close to opening day; logos are being painted on the field! http://yfrog.com/h3f4farj
SAS, leader in what sense?
Hi Trisha …
Put me down for 99. Hopefully I’ll be at the lst win on Thursday
Go Yankees 2011 !!!
Dionysius says: A fast start for them becomes imperative, then. Last year, Tampa started out at an unreal 32-12 pace, a .727 winning percentage. The rest of the way, they were a very pedestrian 65-53, more in line with their level as a team, I believe. But the fast start carried them all the way to 1st place.
____
Guru man wrote:
The concept is right, but winning 55% or about 90 games a year is not pedestrian
?????
Dionysius says:
Actually, it translates to an 88-74 record, which would he good for FOURTH place out of the 6 teams in the AL East, which is VERY pedestrian.
_____________
Well considering you chose to correct me with an incorrect number and I figured I would set this straight…I wrote “about 90″ the actual number is 89.24 and regardless of your 4th place calculation, pedestrian is average and in line with a team that wins around 82 games maybe 80-84? if you win 89 games in the AL East you are above pedestrian.
How many times have you seen a kid like this in a store and thought the same thing?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....re=related
YanksFem,
She is CEO, so to speak, of our league.
Also, I am thinking if ManBan pitches tomorrow, as he is supposed to, he should be the pitcher on OD at Trenton. I figure then, assuming Frankin puts them back to back that Betances pitches the Friday game at home.
///
Hey Yankfem – I’m going to try to make both kids’ starts if it shapes up that way, work permitting.Even as close as I am to Trenton, there’s a challenge with attending back to back games, the trouble for the spectator with two arms that good. If I have to choose one, I’ll probably go to see Betances pitch & pick up Manny his second go round.
#
# SAS March 29th, 2011 at 10:31 am
YanksFem,
She is CEO, so to speak, of our league.
______
Ah, got it. It must be a lot of fun.
“I generally like Sherman but stuff like he wrote this morning is exactly why I was saying a few days ago that the Yanks should have never given the option of Montero making the team publically unless he was going to make the team…..it just opens things up for the kid to be criticized before he’s even played a game in the big leagues.”
Blake, now that I have a moment to respond in a little more detail.
Montero is a consensus Top 5 MiL player. He spent a full year in AAA where he was great for about 60% of the season, and more importantly, the last 60%.
Yankees catching situation was what is was, as was/is their DH situation.
There was nothing the Yankees could say or do that would’ve stopped the media from putting 2+2 together and concluding Montero should/would have been in the mix for making the ML roster this spring. That’s a product of him playing a whole year at AAA and flourishing, not anything the Yankees said or didn’t say.
I think sometimes fans overthink a manager’s and/or GM’s interaction withe the media, either thinking or wanting it to be 3 steps ahead, part of a coordinated plan to cover any and all contingencies, and that’s just not practical.
YF – my other aim is to see as much as I can of Stoneburner this yr, along with the big TWO.
YanksFem,
For me it is hard work. I didn’t get one Yankee…boo hoo.
# J. Alfred Prufrock March 29th, 2011 at 10:32 am
Also, I am thinking if ManBan pitches tomorrow, as he is supposed to, he should be the pitcher on OD at Trenton. I figure then, assuming Frankin puts them back to back that Betances pitches the Friday game at home.
///
My thought is it is a plenty long season to see everyone.
Hey Yankfem – I’m going to try to make both kids’ starts if it shapes up that way, work permitting.Even as close as I am to Trenton, there’s a challenge with attending back to back games, the trouble for the spectator with two arms that good. If I have to choose one, I’ll probably go to see Betances pitch & pick up Manny his second go round.
______
At least last season, Warren was the in-betweener. For me back to back is very tough. I will probably attend the Friday or Saturday game instead of the opener b/c I have to be in Princeton on the Wed, so driving back down on Thursday is too much driving even for a devotee like myself.
Still waiting on who pitches for SWB opener in LHV… At least AAA is on milb-tv…
Looks like weather is looking up slightly for Yanks OD. Grandy is playing at minor league complex today. I am guessing he should be OK for Thursday. But I do worry about hamstring pulls, etc. in cold, damp weather. The month of April (weather) could be an obstacle course when it comes to avoiding injuries.
GB7 -
I had no idea where that commercial was going. Excellent!
#
# J. Alfred Prufrock March 29th, 2011 at 10:35 am
YF – my other aim is to see as much as I can of Stoneburner this yr, along with the big TWO.
______
Ditto. I hope the sched is set up well for doing so.
Thankfully this almost interminable spring training is coming to an end. It’s a week too long IMO.
“It’s a week too long IMO”
Two weeks
# SAS March 29th, 2011 at 10:37 am
YanksFem,
For me it is hard work. I didn’t get one Yankee…boo hoo.
_______
It is hard work but rewarding and can be obsessive.
I have to admit I have only drafted a Red Sox player once. I have Alex and Hanley for this year, so I am pretty happy with that. & Hellboy, but I am one of those people who actually kind of likes the Rays when they aren’t playing us. :hide:
lol, GB7.
Thanks, Doreen. Was just looking some great commercials and found that one.
This one is one of the best, though.
“Life just ain’t fair.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....07A75068F7
“It’s a week too long IMO”
Two weeks
—
I think the hitters were ready 2 weeks ago but the pitchers could use the extra week IMO.
Blake:
Regarding Sherman’s piece, I agree that statements such as “Jesus Montero failed” are far to harsh. I’ll give him half credit for not taking it far as Wallace Matthews, who actually suggested Montero showed up to camp a little doughy and out of shape. Matthews needs a dope slapping.
To me, it was probably not especially realistic to think he was ready to do it at this level at his age. Things took on a life of their own when Cervelli went down, and I do believe the Yankees would have kept him up had he demonstrated he was up to it. He wasn’t, and there’s nothing wrong with that. If time in the minors at age 21 allows him to hone his craft to the point where he’s the Yankees starting catcher at age 23, then it’s all going to be worth it.
Proof that parents are smarter than kids think they are.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....07A75068F7
Just a random note-
Its amazing there isn’t a higher insanity rate amongst accountants.
I offered to help with entering 1099s for a giant family. I did half on Friday night and lost my energy and put the rest off until Saturday morning. Some point between Friday night and Saturday all of the 1099s got revised and updated by the Bank.
I just spent my whole morning re-doing Friday night’s work. Sigh
The extra week is a bit much; however, because we are opening in less than optimum weather, at least the extra week gives us more time to stretch out and be in tip-top shape. Looking for the silver lining…
Wally Matthews is a hack and it’s the Yankee fans poor fortune to have him covering the Yankees for ESPN New York.
Yankeefem
I just couldn’t bring myself to pick any red sox players, altho I would have taken Lester if he was available. I do have a few Rays players, including Hellboy. I have a soft spot for the Rays. My parents retired in FL and became Rays fans thru all the dark Devil Ray times.
At least last season, Warren was the in-betweener. For me back to back is very tough. I will probably attend the Friday or Saturday game instead of the opener b/c I have to be in Princeton on the Wed, so driving back down on Thursday is too much driving even for a devotee like myself. My thought is it is a plenty long season to see everyone.
Still waiting on who pitches for SWB opener in LHV… At least AAA is on milb-tv…
Looks like weather is looking up slightly for Yanks OD. Grandy is playing at minor league complex today. I am guessing he should be OK for Thursday. But I do worry about hamstring pulls, etc. in cold, damp weather. The month of April (weather) could be an obstacle course when it comes to avoiding injuries.
///
YF – For you it’s even worse in terms of travel. A cinch for me in drive-time but sometimes not so easy regarding professional obligations. We may have a short window on the Bs down in Trenton.
I’ll make OD but probably miss the weekend games (live). Whereabouts do you sit?
there is a very simple way to avoid feeling like spring training is too long…
don’t pay attention to it until the last couple of weeks instead of spending many hours a day questioning every hangnail, walk, strikeout, and lineup change, it works for me
# upstate kate March 29th, 2011 at 10:55 am
Yankeefem
I just couldn’t bring myself to pick any red sox players, altho I would have taken Lester if he was available. I do have a few Rays players, including Hellboy. I have a soft spot for the Rays. My parents retired in FL and became Rays fans thru all the dark Devil Ray times.
______
I do too. I really didn’t like Crawford going to the Red Sox, and I have really enjoyed seeing them at the Stadium, including watching that outfield cover ground, over the course of the years. It also doesn’t hurt that they beat up on the Red Sox, especially in 2008 playoffs. However, when we play them, it is a totally different story.
ST is not too long. Baseball for the first month is poor enough you want the pitching to be worse?
I got some love for the Rays,but that probably comes from rooting like hell for them in 2008 in that ALCS against Boston. They also have some fine young pitching, always fun to keep up with. Hate ‘em when we play ‘em,though
. Well, hate may be too strong. Dislike, have no regard for, all affection flown.
blake, this is for you.
“Despite losing to Kentucky, North Carolina had a very impressive tournament and were led by Tyler Zeller and Harrison Barnes. I knew Barnes had the takeover ability and moxy of veteran player, but it was Zeller who impressed me the most in terms of improvement. His frame is very slight and he was pushed around at times by bigger more physical players (namely Josh Harrelson), but his all-around skill set proved NBA worthy in my opinion. He came a long way in a short period of time. He may need another year of seasoning, but he’s a pro, no question.” From Hoopsworld
___
1099s take 10 minutes on an accounting software program. Doing them by hand must be harsh…
Erica
I was a bit ahead in my work and decided to get an early start on the quarterly taxes. I spent a few hours trying to figure out why the deposits weren’t matching with the withholding only to realize I was using the 2010 form and the tax rates have changed…so much for my early start.
There is a reason these people work in the media. If they knew anything about baseball or talent evaluation they would be working as coaches/scouts. Not writing articles for deadlines.
Yankeefem
No Red Sox or Mets on my fantasy team. I have Alex, Tex and Mo from the Ysnkees.
I need a ballgame to happen.
This season cant start soon enough. Trust me.
No more rain in the forecast for Thursday
I need a ballgame too, but sitting in the stands through rain and cold in April is tough enough. I can’t imagine what the players go through. Especially considering the new policy seems to be to play, regardless of the conditions. It was ridiculous how we played in actual downpours last season.
Fran Need any help with the fantasy team?
LOL!
Joe from Long Island March 29th, 2011 at 11:03 am
I need a ballgame to happen.
This season cant start soon enough. Trust me.
****************************
I completely agree. This has been the longest off season I can remember. It seemed like the season would never get here!
I wish I could plan my visits to Trenton/Lakewood around the pitchers.
I have to figure out the early start games so I can get home before my daughter gets home from school. And then the other times are pretty much spontaneous.
I’m hoping to push my husband into going to a few more this year than usual. Wish me luck!
****
Irreverent Discourse -
I don’t know about that. Imagine you’re a young kid and you love baseball, and you watch every game and you study everything about it; you’ve memorized the backs of your baseball cards; you play pick up games on your block and little league, maybe even high school ball, but you know you’re not ever going to be a professional but you LOVE LOVE LOVE baseball (and sports in general).
But you do have a talent for writing.
It’s a logical progression to want to be a sports writer.
And while there are some sports writers who certainly grate and take the easy way out, I would think that what brought them to sports journalism in the first place was their love of or obsession with sports.
# Fran the original March 29th, 2011 at 11:05 am
No more rain in the forecast for Thursday
_____
Yes, saw that and I hope they are right. The wind in April is bad enough without the rain. But I won’t complain as long as we get out of April reasonably healthy.
Looking good on your team, Fran. Who are your other pitchers?
I actually prefer not having any Yankees on my fantasy teams. It makes watching the games more enjoyable
New Post: Gardner leading off in spring finale
I find ST fun because aside from baseball being back after a torturous hiatus, we get to see so many talented prospects play. So, that is one of the delightful perks of ST. However, I am very happy we have a game that actually counts on Thursday.
I totally rooted for Red Sox and the Phillies in 2008. For nothing except to irritate all the brand new Rays fans that insisted on reminding me that my Yankees finished in 3rd place and didn’t make the playoffs.
http://members.cox.net/lsdorga.....0CHART.pdf
Mell,
I agree.
Stuckey,
So you think that had the Yankees came in to camp saying that Montero was going to AAA and maintained that throughout that Sherman would still have written that he had failed in the Post this morning? I don’t. When Girardi is on TV talking up the merits of being a backup in the big leagues …..and you have Cashman saying its a “cage fight ” between Montero and Romine for the job….then it opens the door for these “failure ” articles when they end up taking neither. That’s all Im saying…..it’s not a huge deal but I do think the Yankees have a habit of feeding the media machine more than they should.
Looking good on your team, Fran. Who are your other pitchers?
*************
YankeeFem,
I also have Hanson, Oswalt, Hudson, Kuroda, Chacin, Nunez, Garland and Zambrano.
“There is a reason these people work in the media. If they knew anything about baseball or talent evaluation they would be working as coaches/scouts. Not writing articles for deadlines.”
This is of course a ridiculous overstatement that essentially disqualifies anyone who doesn’t work in professional sports from being able to observe and comment intelligently on professional sports, which includes everyone here.
Just like there are bad players, bad coaches, bad trainers, bad GMs, and bad owners, there are of course bad writers and in the Internet world a lot of fans for some reason seem overly preoccupied with them.
But there is just nothing credible about impugning ALL of them.
Ironically, you’re actually committing exactly the same offense you’re accusing others of, commenting out of ignorance of the subject matter.
Behold,
Yea I agree….Z is a pro no question.
Crawdaddy March 29th, 2011 at 9:13 am
Of course, Mantle had a bad regular season before being sent down for some further development
****************************************************
Mantle was not sent down after 1 regular bad season, he was called up to the Yankees on April 7, 1951, and after going into a slump, he was sent to the KC Blues farm team. After 40 games in KC he was called back up to the Yankees, and stayed with them his entire career. Mickey started as a RF in 1951, and replaced Joe D in CF in 1952.
Doreen – Nothing wrong with that scenario, but IMO “love of the game” doesn’t qualify you to evaluate or criticize it, it takes a deeper understanding for that.
I’m probably way off base in accusing the writers at all, really the issue is the fan who takes that writers word as gospel. Assuming someone is knowledgeable on a subject because they are given a public platform to dispense their own opinions is only cheating yourself.
JAP/YF-
I would very appreciate it if you two would share your impressions on Manny/Dellin when you get to see them since I won’t be able to see them live for a while.
Thanks in advance.