Pregame notes: Ibanez’s spot in lineup not set
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Mar 14, 2012 
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Joe Girardi said not to read too much into the fact Raul Ibanez is batting ahead of Nick Swisher today. In fact, he said there was no real rhyme or reason to the way those two were stacked in the lineup.
“Nothing really,” Girardi said, when asked what went into the decision. “Will it be like that in the year? I’m not saying that.”
It does seem to be an indication that Girardi’s leaning toward Ibanez sixth and Swisher seventh, but he could easy flip them and still avoid having back-to-back lefties or back-to-back righties. Whatever the order against right-handed starters, Girardi said he still expects Ibanez to get regular at-bats on days the Yankees face a lefty. He envisions using Ibanez frequently as a pinch hitter once a right-handed reliever is in the game.
“Even if he doesn’t start ina game, there’s a good chance he’s going to get in,” Girardi said.
• Michael Pineda has adjusted his between-starts schedule so that he throws a bullpen two days — not three days — before his starts. That’s why he threw a bullpen yesterday on the same day as CC Sabathia and Phil Hughes. Pineda said that’s the schedule he used with Seattle and he’s more comfortable with it.
• Joba Chamberlain didn’t throw any breaking balls today, but he’ll throw 10 sliders off the mound in his next bullpen on Friday.
• Today’s sides: Chamberlain, Matt Daley, Dellin Betances, Hiroki Kuroda and Rafael Soriano.
• George Kontos said yesterday that he was expecting to get in a game on Friday. Instead, he’s now scheduled to throw another round of batting practice tomorrow, suggesting his first game appearance might not come until Saturday or Sunday.
• David Phelps, Ivan Nova and Boone Logan have sides tomorrow.
• Today’s available pitchers: Freddy Garcia, Manny Banuelos, Cory Wade, D.J. Mitchell, Adam Miller, Ryan Pope, Chase Whitley, Juan Cedeno, Cesar Cabral and Mike O’Connor
• Todays second string: C Gary Sanchez, 1B Brandon Laird, 2B Corban Joseph, SS Doug Bernier, 3B Jayson Nix, LF Colin Curtis, CF Dewayne Wise, RF Cole Garner, DH Kyle Higashioka
• I believe teams are supposed to bring at least four regulars to every road game in spring training. The Yankees are kind of pushing that for tomorrows trip to Viera.
Pitchers: Cesar Cabral, Juan Cedeno, Brett Marshall, Mike OConnor, Michael Pineda, Clay Rapada, Graham Stoneburner, Adam Warren, Kevin Whelan
Catchers: Jose Gil, Kyle Higashioka, Russell Martin, J.R. Murphy, Gary Sanchez
Infielders: David Adams, Doug Bernier, Bill Hall, Corban Joseph, Brandon Laird, Jayson Nix, Ramiro Pena, Jorge Vazquez
Outfielders: Zoilo Almonte, Colin Curtis, Chris Dickerson, Brett Gardner, Cole Garner, Andruw Jones, Justin Maxwell, Melky Mesa, Dewayne Wise
ID ~
Unfortunately, Guti won’t be contributing for awhile. He is out with a torn pec until at least May.
It was really a shame because he came to camp having gained 15 pounds of muscle and was finally feeling 100% after about 18 months of dealing with diagnosis, treatment and management of IBS. Frankly, there’s no one I’d rather see in CF given my proclivity for defense. But, a great CF competition has emerged, with Saunders and his revamped approach leading, so, far over Robinson and Wells.
Ibanez’s actual having a spot in the lineup at all shouldn’t be set…..
Its Banuelos day!
blake-
Continued Banster progress would be nice.
“Ibanez’s actual having a spot in the lineup at all shouldn’t be set…..”
I can’t imagine that anyone would have thought it was.
Sis, your facebook Chihuly is beautiful.
Gardner L LF
Jeter R SS (Bats leadoff, Swisher bats second in games Gardner doesn’t start)
Cano L 2B
Rodriguez R 3B
Granderson L CF
Teixiera S 1B (Switches places with Granderson if/when he shows he can hit at least .270 again.)
Swisher S RF (TBD in games Gardner rests and Swisher bats second)
Ibanez L DH / Chavez L 1B & 3B on days A-Rod & Teixiera rest from the field / Jones LF & RF on days Gardner rests (as he won’t DH) and Swisher rests from the field
Martin / Cervelli R C / Nunez 2B or SS (Martin / Cervelli bats eighth)
I hope they bring at least the outfielders to the game in Viera tomorrow. I live 20 minutes from Viera and bought tickets the day they went on sale and will be disappointed if they don’t bring some guys!
Last year Robbie Cano, Montero, AJ Burnett, Granderson, and Swisher made the trip.
Not sure why Chad says that “The Yankees are kind of pushing that for tomorrows trip to Viera.”. They clearly have four regulars, so I don’t see the issue (Pineda, Martin, Gardner and Jones). I agree that it is not the most exciting spring roster they have thrown together, but it does follow the rules!
Anyone know what audio feed there is for today’s game? It is only listed as an MLB feed.
Sis ~
Thanks! I was going thru some old photos and it seemed like the perfect cover. Actually, now you’ve got me wondering if he has any bases all related installations (maybe even at the Rainiers newly remodeled stadium, since he hails from Tacoma).
Girardi says so much that is just BS. Ibanez probably should not be on the team let alone batting against lefties. The guy is awful fielder so he is a DH and PH only regardless of what they say and last year he had an OPS of .707! That should not see any DH spot. His splits were not dramatic either with a still weak .747 against righties and an anemic .585 against lefties. So why would he ever see an AB against a lefty unless you were not smart enough to see that he shouldn’t be wasting a roster spot and the game was out of hand?
Of course you may expect a resurgence at the ripe age of 39?
BTW, I do know that in 2010 he was at least respectable with a .793 OPS and a better OPS against righties, but isn’t this the normal way people start to show eroding skills?
I would rather the Yanks get some specialists; a great defender or a great hitter against one side; those are what is much more valuable to the Yanks
“bases all related”
Uh… *baseball* related
I think the Yanks might get more production out of a revolving DH situation and just letting Jones hit vs righties to be honest……I normally dislike rotating DHs but Ibanez’s bat looks really slow and long so far…..and did last year as well…..hope he proves me wrong the way Andrew did last year……however Andrew was 33 last season ….not 39.
“Girardi says so much that is just BS. ”
Criticizing what Girardi or Cashman says to the media is like shouting at the rain.
Trying to separate what they really think and what they say to reporters is just futile. Yes, Joe Girardi and Brian Cashman are GOING to say positive things about players some of us don’t feel deserve positive things to be said about, AND they’re going to give explanations that sometimes defy statistical explanation.
This is the default position.
“I would rather the Yanks get some specialists; a great defender or a great hitter against one side”
Whom?
Would the Yanks be better off just playing Nunez somewhere every day than using the DH spot for Ibanez? I don’t know …..but Nunez brings speed to the equation and him playing every day would be good for his development also.
“I would rather the Yanks get some specialists; a great defender or a great hitter against one side”
I would rather them get Shin Shoo Choo
Its annoying when they have radio only games…..
Blake, we both know if the Yankees signed Ibanez to be the primary DH against righties, he’s going to start the year as the primary DH against righties and be given a chance to perform in the regular season.
Baseball teams just don’t evaluate veterans based on spring training like fans do and personally I can understand why.
I’ve seen too many players that look locked in all March only to struggle in April, and players who looked lost in March, be the surprised bat that carries the team in April.
ST is for young players to show what they have, fringe players to try to make an impression and for vets to get reps.
As much as many fans here don’t like it, Ibanez falls into the 3rd latter category.
“Baseball teams just don’t evaluate veterans based on spring training like fans do and personally I can understand why”
Nah…but they do evaluate them on 2011 in which Raul looked pretty old…..they gave him essentially the same money as they gave a injury riddled back up corner infielder (Chavez) so my guess is they will give Ibanez a chance…..but his leash don’t be particularly long if he doesn’t perform.
Watching the game last night with Paulie and Sweet Lou in the booth was entertaining.
I lost track of how often I laughed before the 1st inning was over.
The story about Lou making ARod cry at 18 years of age was hilarious, but Paulie sharing a story about being 28 yrs of age and Lou making him cry was even better.
I laughed a lot when Girardi talked to the guys and immediately warned Lou about how much “food” Paulie can eat in a game. Then Paulie said he thought the game was about to end because Mo was on the mound, but it was only the 5th inning.
GOOD TIMES!
“As much as many fans here don’t like it, Ibanez falls into the 3rd latter category.”
True….but this isnt the same situation as one of the regulars….he needs to show them something early in the season or at 1 million bucks he will go the way of Randy Winn…..
“Watching the game last night with Paulie and Sweet Lou in the booth was entertaining. I lost track of how often I laughed before the 1st inning was over”
Yea I thought it was great…..
Joe Girardi said not to read too much into the fact Raul Ibanez is batting ahead of Nick Swisher today. In fact, he said there was no real rhyme or reason to the way those two were stacked in the lineup.
“Nothing really,” Girardi said, when asked what went into the decision. “Will it be like that in the year? I’m not saying that.”
It does seem to be an indication that Girardi’s leaning toward Ibanez sixth and Swisher seventh, but he could easy flip them and still avoid having back-to-back lefties or back-to-back righties.
Girardi doesn’t like having back to back switch hitters either.
It’s a pattern, he is very anal about his lineup order. Having Granderson and Cano back to back, if he actually does it, would be a sea change for him. And that’s with both of them hitting lhp very well. Girardi worries more about late inning matchups than the first 6-8 innings of the game.
“Even if he doesn’t start ina game, there’s a good chance he’s going to get in,”
Donnybrook, is that you?
Anyway, I’m so looking forward to Ibanez being Girardi’s favorite new toy. I can see it already. But don’t worry, if he is hitting .200 in late August, Girardi may consider a change.
btw, when do these spoiled millionaires actually start having to get on a bus and play every day? It’s the middle of March now.
CompassRosy March 14th, 2012 at 11:02 am
“bases all related”
Uh… *baseball* related
********
I do feel for Mariners’ fans that they have had to endure the Jack Zombie years. To think – if he had traded King Felix at his height – post 2010 Cy Young – and traded him to stay the Blue Jays – Zombie could have received probably Lawrie, Romero, and D’Naud. Then if Zombie trades Pineda for Montero again – with Noesi. Zombie could have taken a longterm approach and seen that Washington’s prodigal son will hit the market after the 2013 season with Lincencum. Going into 2014 – you could have had a nice corp of players:
D’Naud at catcher
Montero at DH
Ackley at 2b
Lawrie at 3b
possibly Smoak at 1b
Rotation led by Lincencum, followed by Romero, Paxton, Danny H, and Noesi
Oh well – things will get better – everyone has a Jack Zombie as a GM running their favorite team at some point. . . .
Blake, I agree. His leash may be when April turns to May, but it won’t be before then.
“I think they are probably 3-4 years away from being good enough to win that division and that’s assuming their prospects pan out and also assumes some decline by the Angels and Rangers which may not happen…….”
Blake ~
I don’t disagree.
I’m optimistic about the first assumption and think the second is quite possible.
And, there is a third assumption…..
That the M’s significantly increase their payroll come 2015 when they can opt out of their current TV deal to create their own RSN. Timing-wise, this coincides nicely with assumption number one, an established young core.
They don’t call me Rosy for nuttin’
“Blake, I agree. His leash may be when April turns to May, but it won’t be before then.”
Yea….but I think for players at the end like Ibanez ST means more than you do. I don’t think a poor spring will cost him a roster spot….but if he looks done allthe spring and that carries over into the season then I think they may pull the plug faster than they would if he had a good spring…..his bat looks slow….it did last year as well…
rosy – Do they need their own RSN being the only team withing like 1000 miles?
Rosy,
True….getting FA bats to come there is a problem though…..otherwise perhaps they sign Fielder and keep Pineda?
SB ~
I’ll have to respond later…
WTP
Lou is a nice addition to the broadcast team. I love the way he refers to the players (even Mo) as young guys.
I don’t see Ibanez being Girardi’s favorite toy. I see him as a Randy Winn type, who produces or is gone.