Wednesday morning notes: Indifferent
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Feb 29, 2012 
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If Bobby Valentine was trying to stir the pot last night — talking about whether Derek Jeter practiced the flip play, and how Jason Varitek “beat up” Alex Rodriguez — it certainly worked. Yes, the pot was stirred, but the Yankees didn’t see to care. Both Jeter and Rodriguez laughed about it.
“I’m indifferent,” Jeter said. “I mean, think about it. We don’t practice it? We do. You guys have seen it, so what else can I say? I was out of position? No, I was where I was supposed to be. Talking about Varitek, point out the good things he’s done. Unbelievable career. I’m happy for him. I enjoyed competing against him all these years. That’s what we should be talking about.”
It’s true, the Yankees absolutely practice the flip play. “I don’t flip it,” Jeter said, but the Yankees practice their positioning for that ball hit into the right-field corner with a runner at first, and Jeter is always drifting to the middle of the first-base line. Valentine said he thought Jeremy Giambi would have been out without Jeter making the flip. I disagree, and so does Jeter.
“No,” Jeter said, “but who cares? They must be bored over there, huh?”
Jeter spoke for about five minutes, mostly laughing and shrugging his shoulders. He defused the situtation as well as humanly possible. Rodriguez seemed most interested in staying as far from the story as possible.
“I’m not going to win many battles when it comes to words, especially against Bobby,” Rodriguez said. “But I will tell you this: I’ve got my new press secretary that should be landing in the next couple of days, Reggie Jackson, so I’ll let him handle that.”
• Mariano Rivera, Manny Banuelos and Dellin Betances are throwing bullpens today. No hitters in the box, just standard sides.
• Of all people, on this of all days, Terry Francona was in the Yankees clubhouse this morning. He’s here with ESPN and said every manager has his own style when it comes to things like this. However, he did praise Jeter for the flip play. “You could practice that play until you’re blue in the fact, and he’s still probably the only guy who makes the play,” Francona said.
• Jeter smiled when he saw Francona standing in the clubhouse this morning. “Every player I’ve ever talked to about him appreciated the way he managed,” Jeter said.
• Today’s participants in bunting drills: Doug Bernier, Chris Dickerson, Ramiro Pena and Eduardo Nunez. Wonder when Mark Teixeira will take his turn…
• Tomorrow is a short day for the Yankees because they have their team-bonding event after the morning workout. They’re reporting to camp an hour earlier than usual, and eight pitchers are throwing early batting practice: Freddy Garcia, Phil Hughes, Hiroki Kuroda, Boone Logan, Michael Pineda, Clay Rapada, CC Sabathia and Cory Wade.
• Ivan Nova will throw an early side tomorrow, his final tuneup before the Grapefruit League opener. D.J. Mitchell also has a side tomorrow, which suggests he’ll be pitching after Nova on Saturday.
• Kyle Higashioka said his shoulder feels better, and he would probably play if this were the regular season. He doesn’t seem particularly concerned.
• Andy Pettitte is scheduled to throw batting practice again today. Looks like he might be on the main field this time.
• Today’s batting practice pitchers were all schedule for early BP. Adam Miller and Michael O’Conner faced Colin Curtis and Cole Garner. Cesar Cabral, Ryan Pope and Chase Whitley faced Melky Mesa and Corban Joseph.
• Today’s batting practice groups are only slightly different from the past few days. Basically, Doug Bernier switched groups.
Group 1
David Adams, Derek Jeter, Brandon Laird, Eduardo Nunez
Group 2
Eric Chavez, Ramiro Pena, Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira
Group 3
Russell Branyan, Bill Hall, Jayson Niz, Jorge Vazquez
Group 4
Francisco Cervelli, Jose Gil, Gary Sanchez
Group 5
Brett Gardner, Curtis Granderson, Raul Ibanez, Andruw Jones, Nick Swisher
Group 6
Chris Dickerson, Justin Maxwell, Cole Garner, Dewayne Wise
Group 7
Zoilo Almonte, Colin Curtis, Melky Mesa, Corban Joseph
Group 8
Doug Bernier, Russell Martin, J.R. Murphy, Gustavo Molina
• Same fielding groups, with Cano and Romine again still listed:
Group 1
C: Kyle Higashioka, Russell Martin, Gustavo Molina, J.R. Murphy
INF: Russell Branyan, Robinson Cano, Eric Chavez, Bill Hall, Derek Jeter, Brandon Laird, Eduardo Nunez
OF: Zoilo Almonte, Colin Curtis, Curtis Granderson, Raul Ibanez, Andruw Jones, Justin Maxwell
Group 2
C: Francisco Cervelli, Jose Gil, Austin Romine, Gary Sanchez
INF: David Adams, Doug Bernier, Corban Joseph, Jayson Nix, Ramiro Pena, Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira, Jorge Vazquez
OF: Chris Dickerson, Brett Gardner, Cole Garner, Melky Mesa, Nick Swisher, Dewayne Wise
Associated Press photo
Gotta love the Captain.
Chad – I know it is extremely early – but the last spot in the pen candidates? Anyone standing out at all?
Nice picture of El Capitan.
Nah, too early for anyone to standout I think. I’m sure there are some first impressions being made, but I’m not sure they’re especially meaningful at this point. I believe at this time last year, Andrew Brackman was an early camp standout and Hector Noesi was barely throwing.
By the way – I have to say that the “Three spots up for grabs in the rotation” nonsense that the Post is putting out there is just that – nonsense.
I mean, I don’t blame Girardi for saying it – but if you’re the NYPost you have to be smarter than to lick it up like milk right? And then to do a story today about how Kuroda has earned a spot is even sillier…of course Kuroda was getting a spot. What’s next, a story about how Derek Jeter has locked down the role of starting SS?
Chad Jennings February 29th, 2012 at 10:49 am
Nah, too early for anyone to standout I think. I’m sure there are some first impressions being made, but I’m not sure they’re especially meaningful at this point. I believe at this time last year, Andrew Brackman was an early camp standout and Hector Noesi was barely throwing.
————-
Thanks…
I’m in a betting pool with a friend of mine – I have Cabral as the pitcher winning the spot; he’s going with Rapada.
This was posted on Thunder Thoughts the other day….interested in knowing how some here would build their 25 man….
________________________________________________________________
If You Had To Make A 25-Man Roster Using Just Yankees Prospects…
here’s my roster;
champ809 Says:
February 24, 2012 at 11:59 am | Reply
this is the way I’d set it up, all upside….
C – Gary Sanchez
1B – Tyler Austin
2B – Dave Adams
3B – Dante Bichette Jr.
SS – Claudio Custodio
RF – Ravel Santana
CF – Mason Williams
LF – Slade Heathcott
DH – Jorge Vazquez
3B/OF –Brandon Laird
C – JR Murphy
IF – Cito Colver
OF – Abraham Almonte
UT – Melky Mesa
SP – Manny Banuelos
SP – Dellin Betances
SP – Jose Campos
SP – Graham Stoneburner
SP – Brett Marshall
CL – Mark Montgomery
SU – Tim Norton
RP – George Kontos
RP – Jose Ramirez
RP – Nik Turley
LR – Adam Warren
Francona has always played things cool in public.
One thing that always stands out for me is what he said in response to Joba buzzing Youk’s head twice in the same at-bat. Something like….
“if that young man wanted our attention then he got it”
Now I’m sure privately he was fuming but in public he kind of downplayed it.
And of course the Yanks got beaned regularly by Sox pitchers throughout his tenure.
champ, interesting exercise, but FYI, Adam Warren isn’t a lefty.
Long Reliever…
stuckey February 29th, 2012 at 11:01 am
champ, interesting exercise, but FYI, Adam Warren isn’t a lefty.
————
I think LR means “long relief”
btw – I think I replace Vasquez with Murphy and Romine for Murphy.
Might figure out how to get Corben Joseph on the bench.
Can’t say I have a bias on the shortstops.
And Stonerburner over Phelps or Warren…? Hmmm…
Ah, of course… my bad.
Dave Adams is a prospect who intrigues me. He’s missed a lot of time because of that ankle injury, but he seems to be able to hit.
“I’m not going to win many battles when it comes to words, especially against Bobby,” Rodriguez said. “But I will tell you this: I’ve got my new press secretary that should be landing in the next couple of days, Reggie Jackson, so I’ll let him handle that.”
Ah yes, Mr. Politically Correct himself.
The Germans have a word that aptly describes Bobby Valentine: Backpfeifengesicht
Time marches on, and we all begrudingly accept that. But when a matinee idol like Jeet takes a better picture with his hat on, than off, it makes you Stop and wonder where the time went. He aint gonna be wearing those pinstripes much longer, making Every ST and Every game once the season starts, something you better appreciate.
The Germans have a word that aptly describes Bobby Valentine: Backpfeifengesicht
–
According to him, Bobby V was the one who coined the phrase
Jerkface February 29th, 2012 at 11:16 am
The Germans have a word that aptly describes Bobby Valentine: Backpfeifengesicht
–
According to him, Bobby V was the one who coined the phrase
—
And invented the wrap for it.
This is just Bobby being Bobby, he is nothing if not entertaining.
- Squatter -
I don’t believe Reggie would appreciate being referred to as a “press secretary”. Pretty demeaning to a HOF’er. A-Rod was anything but politically correct there.
Rangers signed a ’17 year old’ dominican OF prospect for 4 million. Controversy abounds as his listed birthday with MLB makes him not 17, which means he had to wait for the july 2 deadline to sign and would have had to sign under the new rules.
Rangers just pulled a fast one, other execs apparently mad.
lol, i thought bobby v’s comments were hilarious. i can’t believe anyone got all tweeked about it, i see jeter and arod both laughed, too. if you don’t take him seriously, valentine is a pretty funny guy.
and he got people off the ‘beer in the clubhouse’ discussion didn’t he. nice job bobby!
Jerkface February 29th, 2012 at 11:16 am
The Germans have a word that aptly describes Bobby Valentine: Backpfeifengesicht
?
According to him, Bobby V was the one who coined the phrase
****************
Hmmm, looked closer at Custodio.
Interesting, has only played in the Dominican Summer League in 2010 and the Gulf Coast league last year, but a SS whose OBP is better than .100 above his average 2 years in a row (despite a huge BA swing from year to year) is intriquing.
(Limited) numbers suggest a ton of speed and some gap power already.
http://www.milb.com/milb/stats.....pid=593468
Looking for scouting reports on his glove.
Via RAB:
Custodio has a “solid hitting approach and a line-drive swing.” Because he doesn’t have much pop, he “doesn’t chase many pitches outside of the strike zone and focuses at getting on base to use his excellent speed.” He might end up at second base long-term.
http://riveraveblues.com/2011/.....cts-56476/
DONNYBROOK February 29th, 2012 at 11:18 am
- Squatter -
I don’t believe Reggie would appreciate being referred to as a “press secretary”. Pretty demeaning to a HOF’er. A-Rod was anything but politically correct there.
—
I was referring to Reggie not being politically correct (“straw that stirs the drink”).
MarcCarig Classic: Jeter comes over on flip play drill and calls out to a group of us: “see? we work on it!” Boom, Roasted!
- Squatter -
My mistake. I’m always kinda amazed at how small Reggie looks when hanging around A-Rod and some of the other Yankee players. He was a Beast back-in-the-day.
“Boom, Roasted!”
Carig cracks me up, and yes, I fell guilty about it.
“Gotta love the Captain.”
If the Steins ever sell the team, it should be to a group that includes Jeter.
Bobby V. better get his beard ready for duty. Or maybe he’ll just stay in the clubhouse and drink beer.
Chad,
Have you heard anything about Santana’s ankle….there have been mixed reports?
Burnett bunted a ball off his face today.
“Burnett bunted a ball off his face today.”
He’s pretty inventive when it comes to explaining facial bruises.
Seriously, that sucks. The NL needs to realize that the DH isn’t going away.
LGY February 29th, 2012 at 11:52 am
Burnett bunted a ball off his face today.
**************
Ouch. Poor AJ
When Hank and Hal see what that moron McCourt is gonna get for the Dodgers, selling has certainly gotta cross their minds. Rumor has it he is gonna sell for $1 Billion and is also trying to hang onto the parking lots. Dodger fans oughtta be burning that guy in effigy from the top deck. The Dodgers place in the standings, along with the Many empty seats, are the legacy McCourt will leave behind.
Rich in NJ February 29th, 2012 at 11:55 am
“Burnett bunted a ball off his face today.”
He’s pretty inventive when it comes to explaining facial bruises.
Seriously, that sucks. The NL needs to realize that the DH isn’t going away.
——————-
DH also will never be universal.
Union won’t let a well paid position vanish in favor of a bench spot
NL Owners won’t approve any rule making it universal because then they have to pay for a DH instead of a bench spot.
Sadly,
Thankfully MLB wouldn’t approve the sale of the Yankees to an owner who already owns two other teams in the same media market – or else I would be very worried about James Dolan trying to swoop in there.
When I said “Sadly,” I was thinking about posting how I could see Trump trying to buy the team. Then I decided to focus on the positive that James Dolan can’t buy it.
Chip
It is universal accept for the NL, isn’t it?
If they are going to have more interleague games, they need need to realize how stupid (and risky for AL pitchers in NL games) the current situation is.
Marc Cuban would fit right in owning the Yankees.
It’s questionable whether or not Trump has that kind of money.
On a different topic..
Washington has a presale tomorrow. Does anyone have the presale code?
Rich in NJ February 29th, 2012 at 12:05 pm
Chip
It is universal accept for the NL, isn’t it?
If they are going to have more interleague games, they need need to realize how stupid (and risky for AL pitchers in NL games) the current situation is.
——————-
That’s correct – it’s universal except for in the NL. But until there are more AL owners than NL owners you’ll never get a rule change on it passed.
just a quick thought: the yankees should hire tito as a special scouting assistant. pay him double what espn is paying him. just to annoy bobby v
man, that guy really loves the spotlight, doesn’t he. can’t wait to see him pull beckett out of a game when josh doesn’t want to come out
team’s looking strong. this could be a special year
Reggie and ARod are tight and it was a joke anyway.
I think Selig’s has it out for Cuban. He would never let Cuban buy the Yanks.
BloggingBombers Something you never thought you’d see: Andy Pettitte throwing to Russell Martin http://www.tout.com/m/o95qxm
Francona is a classy guy – why even talk about Trump owning the Yanks – that would be a step down in class
Rich in NJ February 29th, 2012 at 12:05 pm
It’s questionable whether or not Trump has that kind of money.
———————————————————————
Don’t teams tend to be bought by a group now instead of an individual?
There is no telling what the Yankees would sell for…..it would be a ton and you’d have some very high profiles bidders id guess
Erin February 29th, 2012 at 12:11 pm
BloggingBombers Something you never thought you’d see: Andy Pettitte throwing to Russell Martin http://www.tout.com/m/o95qxm
————————
Andy preparing for a mid season return jk
Sunday night baseball was basically unwatchable last year because of Valentine’s droning lectures……made me long for Joe Morgan which says a lot
Heard Larry Bowa endorsing the DH on MLB Network the other night. These other hard liners over in the NL will come around. One of the concerns Bowa expressed was Pitchers getting hurt while batting and running the bases. If Pro DH’ers reduce the DH issue to Pithers going MIA = lost $$$, they will win the day. A team can put a cheap player into the DH Slot if they so desire, but they can’t get around pitchers getting hurt outside of their primary job function and $$$ being lost as a result.
In the spring 0f 2011, Forbes valued the Yankees at $1.7 Billion.
Separately, YES was somewhere around $3bn IIRC
“In the spring 0f 2011, Forbes valued the Yankees at $1.7 Billion.”
I think it’d be over 2 billion if what we are hearing about the Dodgers sale is accurate
- JEERS -
Just my guess, but I think Bud cut some kinda deal with Cuban in order to get him to walk away from that Ranger Bankruptcy trial. The way Cuban silently slipped out the back door of that courtroom was Not like Mark Cuban.
If you throw in their share of YES, and Legends, Forbes says $5.1 Billion.
“Thankfully MLB wouldn’t approve the sale of the Yankees to an owner who already owns two other teams in the same media market – or else I would be very worried about James Dolan trying to swoop in there.”
Nah… if the Yankees are ever sold, it’ll be attached to a life-time deal with the YES Network, which won’t be sold.
Dolan wouls only TRY to get the Yankees for their media right, which won’t be for sale.
And no, Donald Trump does NOT have nearly enough money to buy any professional sports franchise.
Donald Trump does 2 season of Apprentice every year for a season.
He needs the money.
Are Hal and Hank the only owners that inherited their team?
tweet from David Aardsma this morning…
TheDA53
The #Yankees make sure you know what it means to BE A YANKEE. Just walking down the hall you feel pride #keepworking
“He needs the money”
I don’t think he “needs the money” like most people do…..maybe he needs the money the way really really rich people do….which is to say he just wants more than he has. He could buy a team as part of a group Id say……
That Aardsma deal was classic Cashman….one think you notice about both the Rangers and Yankees the last couple seasons is that thy are just always trying to add bullpen help….its so unpredictable that you don’t want that torpedoing your season…..so you get as much depth there as you can.
This AArdy character sounds geeked. I love it.
Hey Chad. Minor Typo … but very prevalent to the blog …. “until you’re blue in the fact”
HEAR YE! HEAR YE!
2012 PREDICTIONS are now open.
I will take predictions up until opening day.
I am starting it off. My prediction is 105 wins.
Winner(s) get 12 Ritter Sports Bars – flavors of your choice.
Please put my name in the post if you are going to predict. That way I won’t miss it.
Lot’s of people here are “blue in the fact”… :/
trisha – 103, no doubt
I’ll go with 97 wins.
Trisha,
101
trisha, I’m in for 99 wins.
97
Trisha … 162 … to watch the yanks take the field, is a win (regardless of the results)!
“Trisha … 162 … to watch the yanks take the field, is a win (regardless of the results)!”
Hear hear!
***********
I will post the chart from time to time. Always check me.
trump is a moron. other people in the real estate buisness laugh at the guy. he’s just a brand name they stick on things they want to sell or rent to rubes. he’s worth less after inflation than he inherited.
I wanta actually SEE the product before placing my appraisal. I know that’s unusual around here, but that process has served me well. PASS at this time.
The Yanks won 95 last year and I would guess Kuroda and Pineda will be worth 3 or 4 wins each….plus Im hoping for a couple more wins from a healthy Arod this year.
Speaking of health, I’m anxious to see what the Cards get outta Wainwright this season. He comes back close to what he was previously, and the Cards are legitimate repeaters.
donny, wainwright going at about #80 is a gift from the fbb gods!
There are three things that can derail the Yankees from winning between 93-100 games:
1) injuries
2) age-related declines
3) too many players having off years in the same season
All are true of most teams, although some are more susceptible to 2) than others.
But beyond that, it’s merely guess work within a very small range.
- Ys -
I’ve got some Fantasy $$$ riding on Wainwright. He’s been a late bargain\$$$ in every Real and Mock Auction Draft I have done to this point.
donny – He’s been a late bargain\$$$
Don’t you have to wait and SEE if the results make it a bargain?
- RICH -
(4) GIRARDI
Donny
I don’t particularly like Girardi, but I don’t think a manager has much of an effect in the regular season.
Hi Trisha …
I’m going big …105 wins. Then another 11 in the playoffs …
Go Yankees 2012 !!!
Trisha, 98 wins!
Rich in NJ February 29th, 2012 at 1:09 pm
Donny
I don’t particularly like Girardi, but I don’t think a manager has much of an effect in the regular season.
————-
I’ve always said, managers get too much credit when things go well and too much blame when they go poorly.
Pitching changes or pinch hits generally tend to balance themselves out over the course of a 162 games.
Smart money is always on 96.
And Trumps nest worth is much, much less you imagine.
He’s leveraged to the hilt.
trisha,
Take a guess on my guess.
- ID -
Bargains inna Draft are relative to what the other players went for\$$$. They have Nothing to do with performance at that point. The performance is hopefully the marachino cherry on top. Risk vs. reward also issa factor in the equation.
mel – how does 100 sound?
donnybrook – If everyone thinks Wainwright will be bad, and you get him for cheap… and then he’s bad… it wasn’t a bargain…. you were just wrong.
Sounds about right.
donnybrook – It’s a good “bet” that he’ll beat expectations of a low/cheap pick but that doesn’t make it a “bargain” until it actually works out. A bargain is associated to cost and you can’t really determine that until you know what you get back.
- RICH -
I’m of the opinion that a Mgr will Not win a team many games, but a Mgr Can lose a team a lot of games. Girardi and his reliance on that 3-Ring Binder falls into the Losing Mgr category.
R.I.P. Davy Jones
Girardi and his reliance on that 3-Ring Binder falls into the Losing Mgr category.
False.
100% false, in fact.
DONNYBROOK February 29th, 2012 at 1:27 pm
- RICH -
I’m of the opinion that a Mgr will Not win a team many games, but a Mgr Can lose a team a lot of games. Girardi and his reliance on that 3-Ring Binder falls into the Losing Mgr category.
————
Didn’t the Yankees under Girardi win the World Series two years ago?
Tex interview coming up on WFAN in a few minutes. Alex on with Kay later this afternoon.
Donny
I actually like the way he handles a pen (the main part of binderism), except for the handedness obsession that is endemic in MLB, so, in context, that’s the pen is a strength for him. I just think he’s stubborn to a fault, which hurt the team in the playoffs.
- ID -
In every single League without exception, I have had owners make me trade proposals for Wainwright. The guy issa name, and Big Dogs in Fantasy are always valuable beyond whatever their performance is or is not. Fantasy School is OUT.
MaineYankee February 29th, 2012 at 1:28 pm
R.I.P. Davy Jones
——————
R.I.P.
donnybrook – I dare you to sign up for a fantasy league with me, if you have the gumption to put your knowledge to the test we will display it here for all to see.
let me know. Until then, assume your “school” is unattended and you’re just a crazy person talking to a wall.
- RICH -
I have always been kinda iffy regarding Giradi as a Mgr. He lost me when he did NOT know the ground rules at KC, and then refused to believe his own Coach as to what they were. Bottom Line, you gotta know the rules for whatever game your playing. When others are impacted with the outcome, Doubly so.
Rich in NJ February 29th, 2012 at 1:34 pm
Donny
I actually like the way he handles a pen (the main part of binderism), except for the handedness obsession that is endemic in MLB, so, in context, that’s the pen is a strength for him. I just think he’s stubborn to a fault, which hurt the team in the playoffs.
————
Rich – I don’t think it’s stubborn-ness in the playoffs. I think it’s just hard to make changes based on such a small sample size. For example, if Granderson is hitting well all year and then the first two games in the playoffs is 0-6 do you move him out of the spot where he’s hit well all year? Based on two games? Tough call.
donnybrook – Lots of people bought Ichiro last year because he was a “name” at a cheap price… and that wasn’t a “bargain” because he was awful.
Did I just hear Fransayso say Happy Together was written by Bob Dylan?
Chip
Isn’t that what “feel” or “gut” is about? Torre sat Tino for Fielder in ’96. Would it really have been so hard to bat an en fuego Posada a little higher in the lineup?
I don’t think it’s stubborn-ness in the playoffs. I think it’s just hard to make changes based on such a small sample size. For example, if Granderson is hitting well all year and then the first two games in the playoffs is 0-6 do you move him out of the spot where he’s hit well all year? Based on two games? Tough call.
–
You guys would hate the NPB, players get removed for going 0 for 2 in a game, or if they make 1 error in the field
Part of why some Americans cannot hack it over there, they go crazy when managers micromanage everything.
Isn’t that what “feel” or “gut” is about?
–
Girardi makes a lot of moves that are suspect by the numbers, so I suspect he just uses the numbers to hide from answering about his ‘gut calls’
The Umpire’s didn’t know the ground rules in K.C.
The Umpire’s didn’t know the ground rules in K.C.
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Don’t let facts get in the way of a good yarn spinning.
Um, it didn’t work (“stir the pot”) if Jeter is indifferent. Why contradict yourself within a sentence?