Saturday notes: Granderson picks up where he left off
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Notes on Mar 03, 2012 
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A year ago, Curtis Granderson’s first spring training home run came on the road, against the Phillies, in his second at-bat, during his second game. Sound familiar? If he’s looking to repeat last year’s results, today was certainly a good way to start.
“Gotta take advantage of the elements out there, that’s pretty much it right there,” Granderson said.
He was laughing because the wind helped him get that ball out, but even so, he’s 3-for-3 this spring with a single, a double, a home run and two RBI. Way too early to mean anything, obviously, but for a guy who says he’s still fighting his mechanics in the batting cage, it’s a good start.
“I felt like it was a good pitch to hit,” Granderson said of the home run. “I missed it, but the approach and everything was good, which is all we’re trying to work on right now… (In the cage) I’ll get one good swing and then a bad swing, or two good swings and two bad swings. I want to get it where nine times out of 10 the swing always feels good and I have a chance. That’s where the mechanical stuff comes in. Kevin Long and myself are trying to work at it. Every time I have a chance to attack the ball, we give ourselves a chance.”
• Really nice reception for Raul Ibanez coming back to play his old team. The crowd cheered when he was introduced and every time he came to the plate. There were also plenty of people yelling his first name, which sounded like “boos” if you didn’t know better. “I’d like to think that they were Rauuul’s,” Ibanez said, laughing. “I think that those were good ones.”
• David Phelps looked pretty sharp today, but Manny Banuelos and Dellin Betances struggled a little bit with their mechanics and their control. Betances and especially erratic in his two-walk inning. “I just felt that I didn’t have my legs under me as good as I wanted to,” Betances said. “I was yanking, opening up, and I’ve got to have better concentration. I’ve got to be able to focus pitch by pitch instead of worrying about the pitch before.”
• Girardi has said Banuelos looks better this spring than last spring. “I feel the same,” Banuelos said. “I don’t feel different. Last year was better command of the fastball. That’s easy when I have my fastball command. If I get that again, I know I will do good again.”
• Yesterday was Zoilo Almonte’s day, today it was Cole Garner’s. The new guy who came up in the Rockies organization went 2-for-2 with a double, home run and two RBI. Almonte also had RBI, Chris Dickerson also had a double and Dewayne Wise also had two hits. Good day for backup outfielders, I guess.
• Girardi gave a quick evaluation of every pitcher who got into today’s game: “Nova, I thought he had three pretty good pitches today,” Girardi said. “The error kind of led to the couple of runs he gave up, but his changeup was good today, and that’s a big pitch for him to somewhat improve. Phelps, much different guy than what we saw last year. Much more relaxed. Much better command. I thought he did a nice job. Banuelos, a little around the zone. He got behind on some hitters. Same thing with Betances. Made pitches when they had to, basically. Cabral looked pretty good, and O’Connor struggled a little bit.”
• Granderson and Ibanez were the only sure-thing big leaguers who had a hit today. Bill Hall had a bloop single and Jorge Vazquez — who made a big impression last spring — had an RBI single.
• Terrific gesture by Girardi before the game. It was Michael Kay who pointed Girardi toward Matthew Smith, a fan holding a sign behind the Yankees dugout. Smith’s son Steven — who some of you might have known through Twitter — died tragically in December of 2010, and the sign was covered with pictures of Steven wearing Yankees gear. Girardi brought Smith onto the field for batting practice, then took the sign to have all of the Yankees sign it. It was Smith’s first game since his son died. “I’m not really looking for anything today,” Smith said. “I just didn’t want Steven to be forgotten.”
Associated Press photo
Girardi is a good man.
Nice work by both Kay and Girardi.
There’s a lot to like about both Warren and Phelps. Not trying to say they are going to be him, but, they pitch very much the same way that Mike Mussina did. They’ll both help some team very soon. Whether it’s in NY or not, I don’t know, but, one of them or DJ Mitchell could be gone before June/July.
GB-
Do you think other teams appreciate the talent that Phelps, Warren, or Mitchell have sufficiently ?
Great job Joe!
“Do you think other teams appreciate the talent that Phelps, Warren, or Mitchell have sufficiently ?”
Sorry to butt in, but the first question you have to ask is, do you think the Yanks do?
WYH-
I believe they do. But the Yankees are loaded with Pitching and they can’t keep everyone.
They need to stack and rack all of these guys, and I am quite sure they have.
Some of these guys are trades chips to get us what we want.
Is the evaluation accurate and true ?
Can’t say. They almost lost Nova to the rule 5.
Hopefully they have improved.
Thanks to every with their impressions on Phelps and Warren. I’ve heard the names, but don’t know anything about them. Nice to know they are ready to contribute if needed.
MTU-
It’s just that the Yanks didn’t bring up any of them last year and there were opportunities to do so.
But I agree with you, they are trade chips. Probably in a 2 or 3 for 1 deal. It’s just that a lot of teams have decent AAA pitchers. I don’t know how much you can get for them.
They almost have to be forced by circumstance to let a kid like Phelps or Warren get a shot in the Bronx.
Pat M. March 3rd, 2012 at 6:03 pm
GB…..There’s going to a large segment of LoHuders with custard all over their collective faces regarding Hughes and even Martin……What is confusing is that it’s for the most part the same individuals who got Soupy Sales a few years ago when they tried to run Hughes out of town……Just loaded up on The NC Tarheels ( + 1 ) vs. Duke……..By the way, saw In Harms Way ( 1965 ) the other night for the first time in decades….What a cast lead by The Duke and Kirk Douglas
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Pat,
“In Harm’s Way” is a great war flick. Barbara Bouchet (Douglas’ wife in the movie) was gorgeous. Lock of big names in that movie…Tom Selleck, Tom Tryon, Henry Fonda, Robert Wagner. One of the really good war flicks of the last few years is “Escape from Cabanatuan”, about a team of Rangers that raided a POw camp in the Phillipines to free prisoners before they would be slaughtered by the Japanese guards.
Other than “To Hell and Back” and “When Hell Was In Session”, most good war flicks are naval battles. Not sure why that is.
Martin will end up getting blamed for Montero being traded and Hughes has been trashed on here for just about everything and almost as much as Alex Rodriguez is or was. Neither deserved that. Martin will never be accepted on here by so-called fans.
In appreciation of Phelps I post the following link from Fangraphs.
I’ve put it up before.
It was actually an article about Pineda but pay attention to the chart in about the middle of the article.
Take a look at who was the 3rd best guy.
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs.....rt-1-of-2/
MTU March 3rd, 2012 at 6:10 pm
GB-
Do you think other teams appreciate the talent that Phelps, Warren, or Mitchell have sufficiently ?
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I think they would be by most teams, especially by teams like the Dodgers, Cubs, Brewers and ‘Zona. They’ll win because they can pitch. I think Mitchell would be ideal on the Yanks in a Ramiro Mendoza role. One other thing to think about is that behind Banuelos and Betances, Stoneburner and Brett Marshall are hot on their trail.
WYH-
I agree.
My question was to GB was to that very point.
How much trade value do Phelps, Warren, or Mitchell have from another team’s POV ?
I do not know. I just wonder if someone else might have an opinion on it.
Thanks for your take GB.
I was just wondering.
I hope you are right.
The thing I like about warren is that his main repertoire is 3 fastballs which he commands well. Cut, 4seam, 2seam. It gives him the scissor action over the plate that is key in disrupting batters. Having 2 fastballs equally suited to attack rhb or lhb is big and command of each. His breaking stuff isn’t flashy but its good compliment to his other stuff.
Prospects seem to have a hard time shaking the initial impressions that scouts label on them. Phelps was considered to be a back end starting pitching prospect from the day he was drafted. Warren too. So they have always been considered as such.
OK JF-
I’ll ask you.
What does a guy like Phelps, Warren, or Mitchell bring you back in a trade IYO ?
I’ve always like Warren and Phelps. Mitchell hasn’t quite developed into what I thought he might, but that’s my problem and not his.
Phil-
Your take please.
Same question I posed to JF above.
JF and Blake, thx for the info on Warren.
I’m sorry.
Got to got out for a while.
I’ll check back in later to see the responses.
Thanks.
What does a guy like Phelps, Warren, or Mitchell bring you back in a trade IYO ?
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I would think the follow up question would be; what areas would u look to address with these trades?
MTU,
The Yanks think Mitchell might be a Ramiro Mendoza type. I think he’s definitely a middle or long reliever but don’t know if he’s as good as El Brujo.
The other two I like a lot and wouldn’t trade them cheap.
Tom, I agree. I think warren and phelps could be part of a package for a solid major leaguer about to get expensive or maybe for a 50 to 100 ranked guy in a 1 for 2 or 3. I would try to get both innings at the major league level because their trade value increases greatly if they show success and shake the 5th starter label. They continue to be undervalued I think until they make the majors.
for fun, I wonder what kc would want for alex gordon and if the one or two of the trio above would get it done.
It’ll take more than one of those three for Gordon, even though Gordon needs to prove he’s more than a 1 year flash.
Good evening everyone,
I must say that it was very fun to watch live baseball again!!…..I was most impressed by Phelps, that kid surely knows how to pitch, i would say that he has a very good repertoire, too good to be a 5th SP in my view.
Curtis Granderson , keeps hitting lefties at will……This Garner kid suprisingin deed, probably he will get cold in time.
About the B’s….Manny good curveball, better CU, but needs to be more economical…..Betances, is tough for a big guy like him to get on a groove quickly, i wish they would have let him pitch the Ninth, but he was wild and couldn’t repeat the mechanics.
Nunez. I love the kid, great batting approach he had a solid opposite linedrive…Needs to work on his footwork.
GB7,
Of the three ( Phelps, Warren and Mitchell), which one do you think the yankees should keep?
Looks like Ike Davis will be missing a lot of time this year again. They believe he has Valley Fever.
Phelps looked great with so much movement on all his pitches. They took several strikes, maybe undecided where it was going. e looks like a keeper.
Luis, tough to say. Warren has better stuff, but, Phelps isn’t that far behind him in stuff. He just seems to have a bit vetter idea of what to do with what he has, Mitchell really is more of a contact pitcher and gets a ton of ground balls. I might keep Phelps.
Bill Hall[2ndB] made a nice play on a slow roller hit to his right, throwing a sidearm strike to 1st.
AAA OF will be a little crowded and suspect they’ll have to release/trade some of Wise, Cole Garner, Dickerson, Maxwell, Curtis. Did I miss anyone?
Phelps might make the team if the Yankees don’t bring/find another lefty for the bullpen, to their liking.
Bret Gardner took too many pitches for strikes. Gerardo Parra, a lefty hitter, 24, from the Diamondbacks,is now their 4th OF’er. Hit lefties and righties well, has speed and apparently a good arm 12 assists. Time for Towers to pay Cashman back. Replacement for Swisher next year? Gardner now? Don’t know enough about him.
YT-
What were your impressions from today’s game ?
Anything stand out to you ?
TIA
Cash/Phil-
Thanks for your opinions.
Thanks GB7, i haven’t seen any of the others two pitch, but Phelps really made an impression!! I really liked what i saw.
YT,
You made a very good observation about Gardner….He took to many pitches for strikes, at the time i thought about it, but completely forgot it in my high lights, props.
One of the OFers has already been sent down to open the roster spot for Ibanez ( either Maxwell or Dickerson)…..I think is Swisher the guy that will be replaced, if the stories about
Atlanta being interested in him and are willing to pay him the amounts that have been discussed, i think he is gone next year.
MTU-
Don’t know why the Rockies non tendered Cole Garner, but he smashed a double and a blast for a homer to left, plus made a nice play throwing behind a runner leading off from first, from RF. Didn’t get him.
Granderson and him were my two batting stars. Almonte looked good.
Bill Hall made the best defensive play at 2nd.
Phelps really impressed. Nova was a little wild, Betances mechanics were off, Banuelos was better, O’Conner-whoever he is-was awful, Cabral not impressive. But then it’s too early.
Vazquez needs a big league job.
Luis-
It was Dickerson, who somehow snuck thru waivers, and will start at AAA. I think he and Maxwell are out of options.
Cabral gave up a couple of singles, one was pretty cheap. Want to see him in about 5-6 more games.
Send Vazquez to the Dodgers a pitcher for something.
The yankees AAA staff this year is going to be really good.
Ike Davis has valley fever??
What the hell is in the water over there?
Swisher, if he returns to his 2010 stats will be hard to replace if the Yankees are looking at a cheaper option, or a corner OF’er that will be a FA at end of the 2013 season.
BTW MLB TV is now now showing the Philly/Yankee game right now.
Everyone in baseball is being extended ( Maybin the latest ), i wonder what is keeping the Yankees from extending Cano and to a lesser extent Granderson.
Yankee Trader March 3rd, 2012 at 8:04 pm
Swisher, if he returns to his 2010 stats will be hard to replace if the Yankees are looking at a cheaper option, or a corner OF’er that will be a FA at end of the 2013 season.
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Yes, but will the Yankees be able to afford him with the self imposed cap of 189 mil?…..If they extend Cano and Granderson, which i hope they will, that leaves them with little wiggle room to accomodate Swisher as well..
GB-
Did I miss any OF’ers vying for a job at AAA? Curtis, Garner, Dickerson, Maxwell and Wise?
Any updates on Tim Norton, who was one pitch from being brought up late last year. He never had surgery did he after the injury?
Ike Davis needs a good ID specialist. This is nothing to screw around with.
Granderson will be 33 at the start of the 2014 season. Quickest wrists on the Yankee team. If he produces again this year, as I suspect he will, I hope the Yankees can work something out, and maybe sign him to an extension as well as Cano, after this season, rather than picking up their 2013 options and dealing with them as free agents. it would be a different course than the Yankees usually take.
Sounds like Mason Williams even with the added muscle and possible promotion to highA at Tampa, might not be ready until 2015-but GB would know better.
BTW Luis currently,there are only 3 FA outfielders under the age of 30 available as free agents at the end of this year. Melky Cabrera, Delmon Young and BJ Upton.
Triple Short of a Cycle March 3rd, 2012 at 8:02 pm
Ike Davis has valley fever??
What the hell is in the water over there?
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It’s not in the water. It’s a fungus that grows in the desert. The spores get airborne and into the lungs.
Yankee Trader March 3rd, 2012 at 8:08 pm
GB-
Did I miss any OF’ers vying for a job at AAA? Curtis, Garner, Dickerson, Maxwell and Wise?
Any updates on Tim Norton, who was one pitch from being brought up late last year. He never had surgery did he after the injury?
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Ray Kruml and later, maybe austin Krum and almonte.
Yankee Trader March 3rd, 2012 at 8:23 pm
BTW Luis currently,there are only 3 FA outfielders under the age of 30 available as free agents at the end of this year. Melky Cabrera, Delmon Young and BJ Upton.
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So, what you are saying is that we should try to keep Swisher as well?….The thing is that i don’t see how they can keep the current outfield if they want to be below the 189 mil mark by 2014….IMO eventually they’ll have to trade for an outfielder that is both cheap and able to hold the position….Maybe something along the lines that you suggested in your previous post ( trade some pitching for an about to get expensive outfielder).
In the end, i think they’ll have to choose between Grandy and Swisher, of the two i rather keep the former.
What about Slade Heathcott? I know he is been hurt and health is a concern, but i would say that he is closer than Mason Williams or JR Murphy, i understand that he has played a litlle outfield?
Trader, if Williams continues to move and progress, I could see Williams in NY by late 2014 for just a look. I sort of see the same thing for Austin Tyler or even Murphy….after a position switch. I’m anxious to see if Rob Segedin, Rob Lyerly and Cody Johnson can pick up on their hitting.
Correction. That’s Tyler austin.
Baseball.. ahhh, how I missed you. Welcome back !