Postgame notes: Joba officially gets the 7th inning plus more Nova
Posted by: Sam Borden - Posted in Misc on Apr 04, 2011 
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As good as Ivan Nova was tonight, the Yankees bullpen ran yet another perfect relay, reprising its Opening Day routine when Joba Chamberlain took a lead from the starter in the seventh inning, passed it to Rafael Soriano in the eighth before Mariano Rivera finished things in the ninth. That’s how the Yankees drew it up before the season, and after tonight’s game Joe Girardi officially named Joba Chamberlain as his seventh inning reliever.
“Right now, that’s what we’re doing,” Girardi said. “We love the way he threw the ball in spring training (and) Joba has the ability to get lefties out as well as righties.”
There had been some concern about Chamberlain’s velocity over the weekend, but Girardi downplayed it and is – obviously – very pleased with how the end-game bullpen crew has played out. “That’s what you want to have, and we have that luxury,” Girardi said.
• As Alex Rodriguez said, some of the situations Nova faced late in his outing tonight were kind of “hairy,” most notably the fifth inning when he faced Joe Mauer with the tying run on second. “You got to be careful with him,” Nova said of the three-time AL batting champion, and he was … but not so much that he wasn’t going to go after him.
Using his curveball, Nova got Mauer to roll over a ground ball to second base and escape with the Yankees lead still intact. Considering his history from last season when facing hitters for the second and third time, it was a significant accomplishment for Nova, as was his strikeout of Jim Thome an inning later.
“That was a very big at-bat,” A-Rod said of Nova getting Mauer. “He made some really, really good pitches.”
• Mark Teixeira had the same reaction that you probably did when he got hit in the foot in the first inning. “I was just like, ‘Oh no, not again,’” he said afterward, but was pleased to report that the pitch actually caught him a little closer to his toes so the pain wasn’t too bad. He said he’s fine.
• Rafael Soriano has allowed just one earned run in his last 18 innings against AL Central opponents – thanks, Yankees PR staff for that nugget – and he’s clearly comfortable with his new role as Rivera’s set-up man. Here’s something else you might not know about him: He’s a strong clubhouse presence. According to Girardi, Soriano has “a sense of humor (and) he wants to teach as well. Those are the things you don’t know about a guy.”
• Alex Rodriguez had two RBI, giving him 1,835 for his career and tying him with Rafael Palmeiro for 14th place on the all-time list. A-Rod also hit his 615th career home run. “I just got a good pitch to hit and smoked it,” he said. Well all right.
• Jorge Posada? Apparently loving life as the DH. He’s got three home runs in his past six at-bats.
• The Twins just can’t beat the Yankees. They’ve lost 18 of their last 20 overall against the Yankees and have won four of their last 30 regular-season games in the Bronx.
Some guys struggle coming down from being a reliever to a set up man, but so far, so good for Soriano……….and he’ll get his chances to close for sure.
Of course Jorge won’t always remain this hot, but he seems to have reconciled himself to his fate – I assume he’s channeling his energy in some interesting way between at bats, lol
The ongoing futility of the twins is one of my favorite things in sports.
If Posada is healthy, he’ll hit. It’s that simple.
“I just got a good pitch to hit and smoked it,”
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You could barely see that ball on TV. Sterling has hilarious trying to get his “It is High….” thing in before the ball landed.
“Itishighitisfaritisgone!!!!!”
Sori has a lot of experience as a set up guy so that helps.
Butlers shooting tonight is akin to the twins in Yankee Stadium.
Was Sori a set up man with Tampa before taking over the closer’s role?
Soriano set up in Atlanta for Mike Gonzalez for a year I believe. Definitely set up for Putz in Seattle as well.
# Against All Odds April 4th, 2011 at 11:00 pm
# rb from LI April 4th, 2011 at 10:55 pm
AAO, that’s true. I was just wondering if it hit anyone else the way it hit me. Sits well on him.
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A few ppl have noticed a change in Chamberlain. Maybe last yr was a wake up call
Anyone here about the Giants fan who was attacked at Dodgers Stadium for wearing a Giants jersey and is now in critical condition with head wounds? Ugh, so scary – people are nuts.
The Iron Horse April 4th, 2011 at 10:36 pm
i like the kids moxie… will be looking forward to each one of his starts this yr and watching him grow
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It’s illegal to take moxie without a doctor’s prescription.
hear………
Carlo, thanks – now I remember!
Betsy
Were you asking in the other thread why is Nova a prime ROY candidate?
AAO, if last year wasn’t, you’ve got to imagine that the Soriano signing was!
GB
Josh Norris is tweeting that Bradley Suttle has been cut.
Betsy – I’m all for being a crazy fan and taking your teams success or failure seriously. I’m all for heated rivalry where contempt is brewed. However, that Giants/Dodgers stuff you mention, is just so absurd and deplorable.
Nova is a rookie of the year candidate because he qualifies (is a rookie) , has the potential be in the rotation of a major playoff franchise all year, and because pitchers tend to win those awards.
# rb from LI April 4th, 2011 at 11:09 pm
AAO, if last year wasn’t, you’ve got to imagine that the Soriano signing was!
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Oh yea that’s a big wake up call. I’m sure he didn’t like hearing Balfour was on their radar at one point to join the Yankee pen. That might have woke him up as well.
tyanksfan36 April 4th, 2011 at 11:10 pm
GB
Josh Norris is tweeting that Bradley Suttle has been cut.
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REally? any reason given, because that’s a shocker?
Why would they cut Suttle?
LGY, I was going to ask you something else actually – but now I’ve forgotten it…………..but Jerkface, that’s as good a reason as any, lol
I LOVE the way Girardi has always had the team ready to play from day 1 in each season. These early season wins could be the diffference in the division standings at the end of the year. And all cylinders are firing…players know their roles and are ready to play.
Carlo, yep. I wouldn’t wear a Yankees shirt to Fenway because I wouldn’t want to temp some drunk. Most fans are fine, but you never know. I don’t blame this poor guy at all, of course- I hope he’s going to recover.
Hey Chad, Brian, Or Sam,
Any notes on Martin’s take of Nova re: troubles 2nd or 3rd time through the lineup? Does he have a gameplan when catching Nova with that in mind? Any adjustments he makes?
Thanks!
Against All Odds April 4th, 2011 at 11:11 pm
# rb from LI April 4th, 2011 at 11:09 pm
AAO, if last year wasn’t, you’ve got to imagine that the Soriano signing was!
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Oh yea that’s a big wake up call. I’m sure he didn’t like hearing Balfour was on their radar at one point to join the Yankee pen. That might have woke him up as well.
———
I like it. Joba’s gonna kick a** this year.
I think Martin might become one of my favorite Yankees……..a catcher that can run a bit; how great is that? Plus, most importantly………….he can actually catch!
GB
Nope, earlier he tweeted that he wasn’t on the Trenton roster and it wasn’t an accident.
Now he just tweeted that it sounds like he has indeed been cut.
Tampa hasn’t released their roster so I’m hoping he is on it, I couldn’t imagine why they would cut him, of all people.
Mike Axisa just questioned him about it so hopefully we figure something out soon. I’m guessing/hoping he is staying in tampa to work on 1st base.
Ron Gardenhire, master of the understatement:
“Their back end of the bullpen is pretty good.”
Suttle had some good hacks this spring :\
In my experience the fans at Fenway are not as bad as the fans in The Bronx.
It could be that Sox fans are just conditioned to act submissive whenever they see the interlocking NY.
# rb from LI April 4th, 2011 at 11:17 pm
Against All Odds April 4th, 2011 at 11:11 pm
# rb from LI April 4th, 2011 at 11:09 pm
AAO, if last year wasn’t, you’ve got to imagine that the Soriano signing was!
————————–
Oh yea that’s a big wake up call. I’m sure he didn’t like hearing Balfour was on their radar at one point to join the Yankee pen. That might have woke him up as well.
———
I like it. Joba’s gonna kick a** this year.
——————-
Yep he’s definitely going to do that and has started off on the right foot
In some way, Martin reminds me a little of Thurman Munson…when he was young, Thurman could still steal a base every now and then, and he always played like he was thinking at a higher level
The RS have five aces (not really); the Yankees have three closers (really).
Rich in NJ April 4th, 2011 at 11:20 pm
The RS have five aces (not really); the Yankees have three closers (really).
_______________
3 of their Aces look more like Jokers.
“3 of their Aces look more like Jokers.”
I like irony.
That is strange about Suttle. Yankees either keeping him back for more work OR there is always the chancce that he broke some club rule and was cut for disciplinary reasons. I remember a story that they cut a young Sammy Sosa once because he did something they did not like. It will be interesting to see what the story is.
Sox hopefully have 5 jokers, lol
Let’s not get carried away, winning against Minny. They were facing the #5 pitcher and their offense was HBP, HR, Walk, HR. Not a dominating effort.
It was a win and all’s good.
Looks like nobody is sure that Suttke has been released. Just that he isn’t on the official Trenton roster. Maybe he’s being sent to Scranton or back to Tampa. Curious.
Who’s getting carried away — and when do you get style points for winning a game?
Here is what he says:
jnorris427 Josh Norris @
@Jasonde22 I disagree that he is one of their better positional prospects. He WAS one of them, now I think he’s basically upper tier org guy
“Let’s not get carried away, winning against Minny. ”
I wouldn’t get carried away about anything I have seen in four games. There have been both positive and negative signs, although clearly more of the former.
GB
I don’t know why they would release him, if its not resolved by tomorrow I am going up for a player meet and greet and if I don’t see him then ill start wondering/worrying.
Anyone listen to Mike and Mike in the morning? Liam’s mom missed by only 2 points.
Bets–
I’d still take Lester on my team anyday. He started slow last year and was a sweet pickup in fantasy league.
I did hear some talk on a Boston show about how he had a poor last 3 starts and there was worry that it may be something.
I give that kid kudos though…beating cancer and coming back…really hard to root against that.
utler…now I have to listen to my wife gloat. She went undergrad to UConn.
part of that…UConn beat Butler.
And what do you know… after all that…. a Big East team wins the championship
A solid year at DH for Posada might mean another contract. Another contract makes the HOF more likely. It’s hard to find a catcher who played at the same time as Posada who was as productive and consistent. Piazza is one. I-Rod another.
I wouldn’t assume that Suttle has been cut just because he isn’t on the Trenton roster.
Players are frequently shuffled around right now between levels just as paper moves and for temporary reasons.
We’ll just have to wait and see when everything is finalized. Given that they game him a $1M bonus to pass up his junior season and his past potential it would be very odd for him to be cut.
If only the Knicks could get Kemba Walker. Alas.
Bojo, Lester is a great pitcher – I’d kill to have him on my team, lol – but I didn’t say I wouldn’t, lol.
That’s why I don’t like Twitter, people report on rumors or feelings and make people like me all crazy.
“If only the Knicks could get Kemba Walker. Alas.”
He said he wants to be a Knick… grew up a Knicks fan. Pretty tight with Carmelo from what I read. Jimmer wants to be a Knick too.
Sadly, neither will last. Though TBH, they need the best big man possible but I’d take Kemba in a heartbeat
I’m a liitle surprised that players don’t wear some sort of protection in their shoes to prevent injury….Tex was lucky today.
tyanksfan36 April 4th, 2011 at 11:27 pm
GB
I don’t know why they would release him, if its not resolved by tomorrow I am going up for a player meet and greet and if I don’t see him then ill start wondering/worrying.
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Makes one wonder if there isn’t a multi-player trade in the wind, perhaps to bring in another catcher or lefty reliever.
# pat April 4th, 2011 at 11:27 pm
Anyone listen to Mike and Mike in the morning? Liam’s mom missed by only 2 points.
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Good Golic does not have to dress up as Lady Gaga
Rich, it makes me feel worse to hear some guys want to be Yankees (Harper) or Knicks (Walker) knowing it will never happen, lol
A .270ish BA with 10 homers and 80 RBI for a switch hitting 1B/3Bman is pretty tough to just cut.
Bets–Don’t give up your hope for Harper…we’ll start a fan group along with the Joba for starter group.
“They were facing the #5 pitcher ”
With the exception of Liriano… all of the Twins pitchers are interchangeable. Slider-speed, pitch to contact types. That’s why we feast on the Twins and will continue to.
Wallker would have to pull an Elway.
Bojo, don’t put me in the latter group, lol. Maybe as a FA………I kind of think it stinks that kids are forced to play for a team for a long time that they may have absolutely no interest in playing for.
GreenBeret7 April 4th, 2011 at 11:37 pm
A .270ish BA with 10 homers and 80 RBI for a switch hitting 1B/3Bman is pretty tough to just cut.
______________
Interesting that Norris is tagging him as basically an upper tier org guy–meaning he will be shuttled around to fill rosters rather than managed as a prospect.
GB
Well I’m not taking him not being on the Trenton roster as a sign he was cut, Josh Norris sometimes gets info wrong. He said that Marshall allowed 3 hits in a game and it was a hit and 2 walks so what does he know. I won’t believe it until someone else higher up says something.
# Betsy April 4th, 2011 at 11:36 pm
Rich, it makes me feel worse to hear some guys want to be Yankees (Harper) or Knicks (Walker) knowing it will never happen, lol
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Harper will be a Yankee we just has to wait a long time for it to happen
Bets–ok LOL
Remember about Harper…his agent is Scott Boras…if anyone can get him to the Yankees, it is him.
I’m no fan of Suttle’s defense at either position, but, he can hit.
Rich, what did Elway do?
Past my bedtime…good night night people!
We’ll see, lol – I’m not holding my breath. It’s no big deal to me really except that I prefer that kids be able to choose where they sign
” I assume he’s channeling his energy in some interesting way between at bats, lol”
posada will be watching the game closely from the bench.
it’ll come in handy when he’ll be the yankee manager in 2021.
“Rich, what did Elway do?”
Refused to play for the Baltimore Colts when he was drafted by them. Wanted to play on the WC. He was playing in the Yankees minor league system, believe it or not. Threatened to play with the Yanks full-time if he didn’t get traded.
The top players in the draft can’t choose the team they want to play for in ANY major sport.
It’s not like MLB is alone. It’s the same way in the NFL and NBA.
It’s just a huge anomaly how few games Minny has won against the Yankees. It’s rediculous.
Yank, thanks! While I don’t love the system, I’m not sure I love what Elway did. GF, I know that – and I don’t like it.
Sam, thanks for everything except the last bullet point. Series just started!
# Betsy April 4th, 2011 at 11:46 pm
Yank, thanks! While I don’t love the system, I’m not sure I love what Elway did. GF, I know that – and I don’t like it.
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Don’t understand why. It would hardly be fair to let the best young players choose their destination.
None of them would choose the bad teams from the season before so you’re not creating any parity. You’d have the same 10-12 teams battling it out every year. The other 20 might as well cease to exist.
Actually baseball amateurs have more freedom than prospective draftees in any other sport because of the differing ways various franchises treat the slotting rules. You don’t really see that in any other sport.
A funny note – Cole is still a huge Yankee fan. The Yankee # 1 draft pick that went to UCLA. It still hurts.
Well, it’ll be either the Pirates or Seattle in the meantime. I guess he’ll be cheering from there.
“Don’t understand why. It would hardly be fair to let the best young players choose their destination.”
Fair to whom? I don’t think it’s fair that young players have no choice.
GF, I know that’s the reason why – and I don’t disagree with it really. I wish it could be the other way, but I do understand why it can’t.
# Betsy April 4th, 2011 at 11:42 pm
We’ll see, lol – I’m not holding my breath. It’s no big deal to me really except that I prefer that kids be able to choose where they sign
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Kobe is one player that dictated where he went. I’m surprised top talents don’t do it more often.
If college/HS players could choose what team they played for… that would put an end to small market teams as we know it.
Who would willingly play in Pittsburgh, KC, Cleveland, etc.? They would all demand to go to NY, Boston, Philly, Chicago, LA, SF, etc.
The only way bad teams could improve is through the draft, when they get the best young players possible.
In the latter rounds, baseball prospects can flex their muscles (a la Betances did for us) because they can use the leverage of college if they don’t go to the team they like. But the top, top prospects won’t attempt it for PR reasons.
“The top players in the draft can’t choose the team they want to play for in ANY major sport.”
Eli Manning disagrees.
“Kobe is one player that dictated where he went.”
Kobe had the leverage of Italy, considering he spent a lot of his childhood there. Most other prospects do not have any leverage at all – once they declare, thats it, the team that drafts them owns their rights and the prospect isin’t going to forfeit the money.
Ricky Rubio did a similar thing with Minnesota – he wanted to go the Knicks or Celtics and made it clear he didn’t want to go to Minny. Minny still took him and 3 years later, he still has not come state-side and is happily playing in Spain. International players have a ton of leverage too.
Rich, that’s it……..and they have to wait for years to become a FA (and in the NFL, if they are franchised, forget about it).
GB
I think Josh Norris is a little c ocky about his covering the AA team, like the lower level don’t mean a thing. Here is what he says:
@Jasonde22 Believe who you want, that’s fine. And the “carrying a High-A team makes you a top prospect” theory is laughable at best.
What an entitled douche.
Now he is saying he is confused and he is thinking not cut, just not going to Trenton.
High School and college players are going with the money if they can, but, they’re also going where they can play and reach the Majors the fastest. That was a major reason that the Yankees couldn’t sign Rick Reichardt in 1963. He couldn’t break into a Mantle/Tresh/Maris outfield. He could break into the angels outfield.
# Rich in NJ April 4th, 2011 at 11:51 pm
“Don’t understand why. It would hardly be fair to let the best young players choose their destination.”
Fair to whom? I don’t think it’s fair that young players have no choice.
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They do have a choice – when they become free agents.
Like anything other business, you’ve got to earn your stripes and establish yourself before you have the freedom to choose whatever destination suits you best long term.
The only real difference is that youngsters often become free agents sooner in the NFL than MLB.
I am just dreaming…May be not
We take 3 out of 4 from Twins and then go to Bosotn and swep them.
The way both teams are playing it is possible.
Imagine the uproar in Red Sox nation if that happens…..
The Chargers were under no obligation to trade Eli to the Giants though. They could have remained firm and tested his will to see if he was willing to forfeit money. The Giants wanted him badly and were willing to give up a lot, so they took advantage of that.
They knew of Eli’s reluctance to go to SD before they even selected him, they did anyway.
TY, that’s why I think Suttle is going to Scranton, Tampa or in a trade. NYY isn’t going to just release him. I don’t think so, anyway.
15-5
GB
I think he would definitely have value to someone. Maybe they’re holding him back in Tampa to work on his first base defense since Trentons infield is so crowded. I’m pretty sure only Charleston and Trenton have released official rosters, I haven’t seen one from Tampa or Scranton.
Teixeira, Cano and Jeter will be presented their 2010 Gold Gloves before tomorrow’s game.
good night everyone
“They do have a choice – when they become free agents.”
They don’t all play long enough to reach free agency.
“Like anything other business, you’ve got to earn your stripes and establish yourself before you have the freedom to choose whatever destination suits you best long term.”
Like what business? Lawyers and doctors can work anywhere, as can those in virtually any other profession.
So that’s just false.
As for sports, that’s a value judgment that merely reflects the status quo. It wasn’t always the case. MLB had no draft; the NBA had a territorial draft.
“The only real difference is that youngsters often become free agents sooner in the NFL than MLB.”
If the existing draft rules are so necessary, why aren’t they applied to colleges when the recruit hs players?
The same schools are at the top of college sports year after year.
That’s not fair either.
I was at the game tonight, and I had a few immediate impressions.
1. I am loving Russell Martin. He hits, he runs, he calls a good game. And I get the impression that he’s a really really really really smart ballplayer.
2. It was fun seeing Chamberlain-Soriano-Rivera again!
3. I was really impressed and proud of Ivan Nova. After his shaky 4th inning, there was a lot of murmuring in the stands…”This was the problem last year. He gets through the lineup once and then he falls apart”….and then he came back out and took care of business. If he was rattled, he didn’t let it show. He showed a lot of poise out there.
How can Martin be calling a good game? Look at his cERA. 4 people on here last year swore that was how to tell if a catcher was calling a good game.
Sample size caveat
So how about this for a thought. Cashman and Girardi want to establish Joba in a more prominent role like the 7th inning. Get his trade value up and then Trade him for a top of the line starter.
They actually like Robertson better and have more confidence in him but know that they have to show other teams that Joba is still a good pitcher. Because as I am sure Cash found out his trade value is quite low.
Just throwing that idea out there. Anyone got any thoughts on it??
Do not trade Joba.
I thought I saw a Calapari didn’t draft Kobe connection?
Anyway, Jerry West was the man.
I don’t think it’s unfair that baseball players can’t choose their destination. In fact, they seem to have more leverage than players in the other sports. They can threaten to go to school, IL, play another sport.
What is unfair is that they stay under a team’s control for so long. Don’t know how to rectify it, though.
I think Girardi is just going with the hot hand. Robertson one day, Joba the next.
LOL, GB7. Just to indicate to you what a non-stat person I am, I had to google cERA
I appreciate interesting statistics, but I really kind of go by what I see, what I feel, and what my gut tells me. If I were a MLB manager, I’d probably be raked over the coals by fans for disregarding the binder on a regular basis and leaving a guy on the mound because his body language indicates to me that he’s good for another inning
If Joba is pitching this well, why trade him? What if the worst thing happened? Like an issue to So and/or Mo?
I love the top of the line starter idea, but no one has yet to tell us which one is coming. Liriano might be the only one available, and there’s probably a not too good reason why.
Unknown,
The Yankees track record when it comes to Joba and Robertson show they think Joba is the better pitcher.
Also, the Yankees are not the type of team to trade from their major league roster during the season.
Roberston is a very good pitcher, but Joba has more talent and is why the Yankees want him higher in the pecking order.
Soriano is probably gone after this year if he has another dominant year. Thus, Joba is still very valuable to us for the future as well.
MLB_Prospects Matthew Stucko
The man selected behind #Nationals Bryce Harper, #Orioles SS Manny Machado to begin season with LoA Delmarva ShoreBirds
#MLB #Yankees prospect C Gary Sanchez likely 2 begin at LoA Charleston..highly touted 17yr old caught 53% of basestealers in 16 NYP G in ’10
Joba wouldn’t get you a top of the line starter and at this point he’s a capable reliever…………with our rotation the way it is, we need all the help we can get in the pen. He’s not being traded.
The Yankees have one of the better rotations in MLB.
UnKnown April 5th, 2011 at 12:28 am
So how about this for a thought. Cashman and Girardi want to establish Joba in a more prominent role like the 7th inning. Get his trade value up and then Trade him for a top of the line starter.
They actually like Robertson better and have more confidence in him but know that they have to show other teams that Joba is still a good pitcher. Because as I am sure Cash found out his trade value is quite low.
Just throwing that idea out there. Anyone got any thoughts on it??
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What team is trading a “top of the line starter” for a 7th inning relief pitcher?
Rich, no they don’t
Tarheel In NYC April 5th, 2011 at 12:32 am
LOL, GB7. Just to indicate to you what a non-stat person I am, I had to google cERA
I appreciate interesting statistics, but I really kind of go by what I see, what I feel, and what my gut tells me. If I were a MLB manager, I’d probably be raked over the coals by fans for disregarding the binder on a regular basis and leaving a guy on the mound because his body language indicates to me that he’s good for another inning
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“Go by what you see”? Haven’t you heard? Only magic formulas know the real facts? They’ll tell you what you’re allowed to see.
Martin wasn’t a favorite pick of mine, butm so far, I’ve certainly been wrong about him….mostly his health.
Betsy
CC – as good as there as
Hughes – probably on the rise
AJ – how many teams have a better #3
Nova – very talented and probably ready to rise.
Gacia – how many teams have a better #5
Rich, there are a ton of ? that you can’t just assume are going to be answered positively.
CC is great and I like Garcia as the number 5. Hughes? We’ve discussed him ad naseum. I like Nova but not to the extent you do, to the point where I think he’s going to be a #2 type pitcher this year. Even if I felt that way, it’s still a question until he does it. AJ has had one start – that’s it. I feel pretty positive about him, but he still has to go out and be consistent (he’s the #2 pitcher on the team, by the way). This is a rotation that, outside of CC, has lots of potential, but also plenty of question marks.
I’m certainly not spending my time worrying about the rotation – I’m paying more attention to the positive things that we’ve seen – but for now, the quality of the rotation is in question. It could be very good and it could be mediocre. We’ll see……
Rich in NJ April 5th, 2011 at 12:43 am
Betsy
CC – as good as there as
Hughes – probably on the rise
AJ – how many teams have a better #3
Nova – very talented and probably ready to rise.
Gacia – how many teams have a better #5
—
AJ is officially the #2 according to Girardi, Hughes #3, and that’s how the rotation is set.
Night!
I haven’t read the tweets, but no way Suttle is cut. He should be on the Trenton roster, probably just a roster error is my guess.
The #2/#3 distinction is meaningless, jack
Soriano going is not a foregone conclusion. He might like it here (plenty guys do
), and decide that riding out another year with Mo is worth waiting to close in the 3rd year.
Of course, Boston might need a closer next year.
jnorris427 Josh Norris
Well, people who are still awake, it sounds like I jumped the gun on Suttle. All I can say is I apologize, and it was an honest mistake
If you look around the AL, basically every rotation has significant question marks.
No real clear cut way to rank them IMO.
How can someone tweet something like that without confirming it?
“Soriano going is not a foregone conclusion. He might like it here (plenty guys do
), and decide that riding out another year with Mo is worth waiting to close in the 3rd year.”
Not with his agent. If nothing else, it makes sense for him to try and get more years tacked on to his deal. He’s still only 31.
Would love to see it, but the odds are stacked heavily against it.
Norris could have said it was true over and over again, but no way would we cut Suttle.
m
i know, and then he started negating him as a player just cause he wasnt on an AA roster.
GB
he said he talked to the trenton people all said he wasnt expected in Trenton, That may mean he is either in Scranton or Tampa. we will probably find out tomorrow since the first games are thursday
If Sori has another dominant year, it makes all the sense in the world for him to opt out. With his injury history, doesn’t make sense for him to risk going year-to-year. Boras will probably advise him that he can get 4-5 years or something.
Well if there’s a debate about the questions in the Bombers staff, well what can be said for the staff up north who has already won the AL Pennant ???….The one thing that you can count on with Russel Martin is that he’s a throw scrappy type catcher who does everything above average for his position……As you know, before he had medical in==setbacks, this guy was a Gold Glove catcher who also sported a Silver Slugger bat…….He’s a plus ballplayer that will leave it all on the diamond……In time he’ll win over the doubters……He’s going to play a big role this season in the Yanks success……
yankeefem
i know! i kept tweeting him saying maybe he was just going somewhere else, i said i wouldnt believe it until someone higher up said something. i dont really like norris cause something about his attitude. this is an awful comment, i just painted my nails green and am typing on my new white keyboard trying not to get it on the keys.
tyanksfan36 April 5th, 2011 at 1:05 am
yankeefem
i know! i kept tweeting him saying maybe he was just going somewhere else, i said i wouldnt believe it until someone higher up said something. i dont really like norris cause something about his attitude. this is an awful comment, i just painted my nails green and am typing on my new white keyboard trying not to get it on the keys.
_____
He is also wrong about where Suttle will be. I am betting regardless of what he has said that his Trenton people said that Trenton is where Suttle will be. Anywhere else doesn’t make sense to me, unless there is some injury factor, which I don’t believe there is.
Too bad I can’t go to fanfest tomorrow. I had hoped to see the practice, but I have no choice but to work. And no Brackman when SWB is in Lehigh… What is your next move?
Pat M.
my grandfather was critical of him after seeing a few spring games, i kept telling him that he was good and to just wait. the other day i went to visit for the day and the first thing he said was ” that martin, he is something else isnt he? i could just laugh and said ” i told you!”
i liked him from the day we signed him, just something about his attitude struck me, maybe he will be like Swisher and love it so much that he gets his second wind…if that makes sense.
That delayed steal by Martin that nobody mentioned was pure gold. Nobody was covering, it was a whoop play. That was so outstanding I had a touch of MacAllan in his honor.
Martin has to prove he can stay healthy. That’s an open question.
Pat M,
He’s won me over. If Martin stays healthy, that will be the move Gammons is lamenting all season long that Boston didn’t make. I’m stunned they didn’t go harder on him. Great swing, great energy. He’s the contact hitter we’ve all been wishing we had in the lineup when the team gets too homer heavy and goes all or nothing. Once Jeter and Gardner get going, the 3 of them are going to set up the big hitters beautifully.
Yeah I love Joba. Keep him for sure. I could get used to what happened tonight from the 7th inning on. Of course the offense needs to do a better job of scratching across a late run or two. Which they will.
yankeefem
i couldnt see him being anywhere else either, the only thing i can think of is him not starting the season up there because they want him to work on his defense at 1st since he hasnt played there as much, but he definitely doesnt need to show that he can hit because i think he showed that last season.
his tweet that annoyed me was when someone tweeted him saying that Suttle is more than an organizational player because he carried Tampa with RBI, he said that was laughable, like high A means nothing, if that was the case then you would have to get rid of Mesa’s POY award, and Banuelos and Betances ERA and strikeouts since obviously high A means nothing and AA is the be all end all.
tomorrow night is the team meet and greet pizza party. I am going of course, the boosters make the desserts so i made blondies, it was hard not to eat one. Ill post to my blog about it if anything exciting goes down.
Martin has to prove he can stay healthy or else…?
Yankeefem
also, bummer about not being able to make the fanfest. I had planned on going to the first game of the season in Lakeland and just skipping my class but since it was cancelled last thursday because the school was closed because of all the tornadoes, now i have to go to class so i dont miss anything.
darn real life getting in the way of baseball.
tyanksfan36 April 5th, 2011 at 1:16 am
yankeefem
i couldnt see him being anywhere else either, the only thing i can think of is him not starting the season up there because they want him to work on his defense at 1st since he hasnt played there as much, but he definitely doesnt need to show that he can hit because i think he showed that last season.
his tweet that annoyed me was when someone tweeted him saying that Suttle is more than an organizational player because he carried Tampa with RBI, he said that was laughable, like high A means nothing, if that was the case then you would have to get rid of Mesa’s POY award, and Banuelos and Betances ERA and strikeouts since obviously high A means nothing and AA is the be all end all.
tomorrow night is the team meet and greet pizza party. I am going of course, the boosters make the desserts so i made blondies, it was hard not to eat one. Ill post to my blog about it if anything exciting goes down.
________
Well, most people are not very good at evaluating talent. Sorry to say. Anyone who sees Suttle’s swing just once should be able to realize his value. He has a special bat. Obviously his D might be somewhat suspect although it has improved. LOL to his being cut, just too funny for words.
I still say Suttle will be at Trenton, and will play 3B not 1B on Thursday for Trenton at NH.
Have a good time at your meet and greet. My first two live milb games won’t likely be until Banuelos and Betances return to Trenton for the opening homestand.
tyf,
I meant to write “to the *rumor* of his being cut”
Thanks, but it isn’t a big deal missing fanfest. I was more interested in seeing the practice than seeing the other aspects of the fest, and the practice is only an hour or less. I just wish they had a home game sooner than two weekends from now.
yankeefem
my whole weekend is going to be filled with baseball. im going to the home opener on friday, on saturday they play in lakeland and im taking a car full of cousins with me(gotta get them into baseball) to that game since its closer to where they live. then sunday is an afternoon game and im going to that one. they play at home mon-wed but i wont make it to all the games. maybe just tuesday.
i am going to get the milb.tv thing so i can watch the upper level prospects now that i got a computer that can handle streaming.
Suttle is definitely better than just an organizational player, he was excellent last year especially considering he missed all of 2009. yeah he may not be a top prospect anymore but the people that make those lists dont count Nova in the top 10 and i definitely think he(nova) is better than they give him credit for.
youll have to guest post about those games on my blog
yankeefem
yeah that does stink that they dont play at home until then, luckily if the TY play away, none of the other fields they might be at are that far away(lakeland, dunedin, clearwater) they play those three teams all the time since they are all so close to each other.
Rich in NJ……I have to think Giradi rests him before heading to Beantown….I do think he’ll maqke the spin through this round of starts
I think some people are way too high on Martin based on a very small sample size.
Just as I don’t think that Gardner’s or Jeter’s or Hughes’ slow starts mean anything, I don’t think Martin’s fast start means a lot either.
And btw, Girardi comparing Hughes to Moyer or a late in his career Moose was bizarre.
http://espn.go.com/mlb/powerra.....011/week/1
LOL. Read the blurb for the Rays. Scroll way down.
Rich in NJ April 5th, 2011 at 12:49 am
The #2/#3 distinction is meaningless, jack
—
You are the one that put the numbers there…
“Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said the back end of their bullpen is pretty good.”
Ya’ think?
Maybe some people are way too high, but what has he done to displease so far?
He’s fit in seamlessly. He’s hit. He’s meshing with the pitchers. Seems to be a good guy in the clubhouse (via LoHud). And his knee seems to be good.
Okay, so he’s not Posada. But the Yankees decided he won’t catch. And Posada is thriving in the DH position so far.
All I really care about is a good backstop. Any semblance of offense is gravy for me. Right now there’s plenty of gravy.
Pat M. April 5th, 2011 at 1:43 am
Rich in NJ……I have to think Giradi rests him before heading to Beantown….I do think he’ll maqke the spin through this round of starts
—
I’d guess either the Wednesday night or Thursday afternoon game. It might be better if Molina catches Garcia and keep Burnett throwing to Martin.
tyf,
Yes, I love continuous days filled with live baseball. I have been doing that will the big club in the Bronx of late, but not yet with the prospects. Have a great time and remember to keep an eye on my boy, Jose Ramirez. Also see what you can find out about Chris Cabrera’s rehab…
If the sched works out I should be seeing all three Killer B’s in the same week. Then luckily Charleston will be in Lakewood, NJ the week after for five games. My first chance to see Sanchez. I am hoping to see Shane Green and Turley start and Kahnle, I am assuming out of the pen. Also will finally get to see DeLeon and Sosa live. I have already seen JR, another special batter, and Heathcott. I do wish Cito was with Charleston, but he should be up there eventually.
I’m sorry, Rich. I didn’t mean to scold you.
I’m just the kind of person that tries to appreciate each player for the positives they bring instead of forcing them to fit the mold of the perfect player. I find I’m never disappointed that way!
Nova was hardly ‘super.” In fact, after he got through the Twins line-up once, he started looking pretty wobbly.
From the fourth to sixth inning, he allowed six hits, including four doubles. In that stretch, the Twins scored three times, hit .400 and slugged .667 against him. He had a wild pitch. Girardi yanked him after only 83 pitches: if he were in such command he would have gone out for the seventh frame, but, it was obviously he was barely holding on. He was lucky to get out of there reasonably intact.
Yankees starters so far, combined, have an ERA of 5.57. Averaging 5.5 innings per start. At those rates, the team’s going to have to score quite a few runs to remain competitive over the long haul, and that vaunted relief corps is going to be pretty tired down the stretch.
I really don’t see Burnett improving as the season goes on. Quite the opposite, as is typical of him. I don’t see much upside potential in Hughes. Nova still has quite a way to go in his development, and, tomorrow we’ll get an idea of how much aging Garcia has left.
So, the strengths of the team at this juncture are pretty obvious, and so are the question marks.
It could work out that the Yankees have the weakest starting rotation in the AL East. If so, they’re going to have to suck it up significantly somewhere else if they expect to be standing in October.
There’s no steroid for common sense.
Yet.
Ask yourself, when Russell Martin was an All-Star, why was he so?
3-1
where is everybody?
no good morning from Pat M or Doreen
no Joeman safety tip
good morning to anyone lurking out there.
I was very happy w/ Nova last night. Not perfect, but able to work out of trouble. And what a joy to watch Jo/So/Mo in action.
Good morning, morning people.
Again it is nice to wake up to happy Yankees news.
Good morning kate
Is winter ever going to leave?
We had a light snow yesterday that was enough to make the roads slippery.
I was happy with Nova’s performance because of the way he battled when he got in trouble.
Last year he seemed to melt down when he struggled.
Upstate Kate
I slept later than usual.
Nova was good.
I’m glad they let him work out of the jam in the 6th, this is exactly what he needs to grow and to build his confidence.
What is up with Pujols?
I have him on my team. I must be a jinx. Lol
I am glad Nova worked out of his troubles. That is growth from last season. It is incredible though how he can handle the lineup the first time
through
6 innings with a lead is all the Yanks need from their starters right now…..this is why despite the money and despite the draft pick I thought Soriano was the best remaining option to improve the club.
If you’re gonna get the Yanks then you better get them early….it.takes pressure off the starters and puts pressure on the opposition to score and get a lead in those early innings.
Doreen
I think Erica cursed me w/ Johnny D, he hasn’t done anything for me. I have been very happy w/ some of my guys that I picked just b/c I like them…Melky, Garza, Gomes…some others I can’t think of right now.
MY
We have cold rain at present, w/ the possibility of flurries, but hopefully not.
Doreen,
I think albert will be just fine
Blake
Something tells me he should be ok too. Lol
Kate. Gotta be careful with erica’s pbf
Good morning.
Sorry I’m late
Loved the Yankees pitching last night.
yeah, I know Doreen, I don’t think she will forgive me…oh and my big gun has been Bronson Arroyo
morning all! its about as good a 4 game start as you could ask for. only one issue and phil will be phine.
biggest surprises so far in the lohud league: patrick running away and hiding with 360 pts. and susan’s team which looks very good with only 87 pts. (lookout whoever’s got her next week)
Good Morning.
Photo tribute for Ivan Nova’s first win of the season.
https://picasaweb.google.com/cybermrb03/KanabPoint?authkey=Gv1sRgCKLC5M2H99aQgAE#
You earned it Ivan.
Rich, it was bizarre to say the least, lol
I think Sam coined a great phrase to describe this year’s Pen.
He calls it, ” The BP from Hell”.
Exactly.
MTU,
Its tough….better get the Yanks early, especially if Joba is going to pitch well.
” ” The BP from Hell”.
/////
not to be confused with the one that drills for oil…
i told everybody the day he showed up overweight that jahbuddha was going to be great this year but everybody wanted the lazy fat slob drawn and quartered that day…
Yes guys. Our BP spells trouble for the opposition.
Watching Soriano and Mo in action was pure poetry.
The precision is just otherworldly.
Can’t imagine any team with a better combo.
Tonight we get to see if Freddy can gut n guile his way through 6 innings or so with the lead….I think he’ll be ok, just has to pitch carefully to those big LH bats and keep the ball out of that RF jet stream that has apparently returned for 2011.
Blake-
I though CC goes tonite ?
sp: thought. sorry.
i thought it was cc tonight
Nevermind….CC is throwing tonight right? Freddy can gut n guile tomorrow night.
Bet Martin may get tonight off…..
blake,
Isn’t CC pitching tonight?
Guess my post is a little late!
MTU,
nice pictures, as usual. Thanks.
Ys Guy,
Patrick’s team is on fire. Couldn’t believe how many points he has.
Blake-
Better not make any mistakes around here or everyone will be all over it.
Yes he is….I got mixed up there.
MTU,
I was just seeing if you all we’re paying attention
i dont know how they feel about using martin but my guess would be that they would use him 4 days in a row before giving him a day off, which means he’s go tonight with molina tomorrow. if they dont go past 3 in a row with martin, then they will need molina alot more games than i think they want to.
on the other hand, it is easier to cover molina’s bat with cc on the mound. we’ll see.
Fran-
My pleasure.
I like ushering the new starters the right way.
1 tribute for each win. Hope SuperNova tires me out just like Phil did last year.
Hopefully they’ll play…………..it’s not going to be nice. The rest of the week is going to be iffy as well.
Interesting, lol
http://www.nypost.com/p/sports.....IBLXNZ6sUI
Phil Hughes spent the afternoon looking at photos of himself from last October, when he shut the Twins down in Game 3 of the AL Division Series, pitching seven scoreless innings. Hughes was comparing those photos with ones from his Sunday start against the Tigers, when he gave up five runs in four innings and his velocity dipped below 90 miles per hour for most of the day.
The 24-year-old said he thinks he and pitching coach Larry Rothschild found some things to correct in his mechanics: namely, his head positioning and his arm swing being too long. Hughes also said he plans to do more long tossing before his start Friday afternoon in Boston.
He is as baffled as anyone at his lost velocity.
“It’s impossible to know why,” Hughes said. “I really have no idea. I know it didn’t just disappear. I feel healthy.”
edit: ushering in. It’s early. My apologies.
# UnKnown April 5th, 2011 at 12:28 am
So how about this for a thought. Cashman and Girardi want to establish Joba in a more prominent role like the 7th inning. Get his trade value up and then Trade him for a top of the line starter.
They actually like Robertson better and have more confidence in him but know that they have to show other teams that Joba is still a good pitcher. Because as I am sure Cash found out his trade value is quite low.
Just throwing that idea out there. Anyone got any thoughts on it??
—————————————–
It could happen down the line. He would be apart of a package for a starter it wouldn’t be a one for one. It also depends on what happens around him such as how is Robertson.
Joba is not going to bring back a top flight starter……….I thought maybe after last year that they would try and trade him, but I don’t think so now. I think they like him where he is in the pen.
When does the MiLB season start ? Or did it already ?
girardi is trying to establish a shut down bp. they are not setting up the pitching according to how it helps thier trade value.
that being said, joba pitched the last 2 games to dont be surprised to see drob in the 7th tonight if they have the lead.
trenton starts this w/e i believe.
# Betsy April 5th, 2011 at 8:38 am
Joba is not going to bring back a top flight starter……….I thought maybe after last year that they would try and trade him, but I don’t think so now. I think they like him where he is in the pen.
————————
we’ll see if they feel the same way when the need for a starter arises.
Y’s-
Thanks.
I’m monitoring Jesus and Manny this year.
trenton thunder fan fest tonight in trenton, get to see a workout and get autographs:
http://randombaseballstuff.com.....t-april-5/
im going to see trennton on sunday 4/17 its a day game and the yanks are playing the winless unbeatables from beantown that night. if they dont have any rainouts, it should be either dellin or manny pitching.
if anybody else is going to that game give me a shout and we can have a (root) beer together!
That lucky SOB Prufrock. He lives right near the Trenton stadium.
mtu, in this case i will consider living in trenton a plus….
Y’s-
I would definitely enjoy living near an upper level Minor league stadium.
We have our own eyes and ears.
GB frequents Charleston.
TY is all over Tampa.
You guys are on Trenton.
Now all we need is someone for SWB and we’ve got the major action covered by LoHud.
I really enjoy the fan reports and impressions.
im hoping this year they can change that humongous sign on the delaware river bridge from “trenton makes and the world takes” (which always sounded kind of whiney to me) to “trenton makes and the bronx takes!”
mtu, dont even go there, the aa yankees used to be right here in albany back when bernie and the boys were coming through.
but i do spend half my time in maplewood, which is only about 45 min from trenton so i’m good, but i loved heritage park.
Y’s-
It’s better than Utah.
All we’ve got out here is beautiful scenery.