LoHud Yankees chat tomorrow at noon
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Mar 27, 2012 
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Let’s do a chat tomorrow, shall we? The Yankees are playing the Braves, and I should be in Orlando in time to start the chat at noon. We’ll try to go for an hour or so leading up to first pitch. I’m sure we’ll hit on just about everything going on down here…
• What’s the status of the rotation competition? Has Phil Hughes locked up a spot at this point? Is Freddy Garcia pitching well enough to stay out of the bullpen?
• How much do spring training numbers matter for a guy like Raul Ibanez? Do they matter any more or less for Justin Maxwell?
• Is Andy Pettitte going to help this team? Is he really going to regain his 2010 first-half form?
• If Joba Chamberlain is out for the season, does that open an opportunity for someone else? What if he’s not out for the year? Should the Yankees have any expectations one way or the other?
• Adam Warren is still in big league camp, and his Triple-A rotation-mates have pitched well this spring? What’s it going to take for one of them to get a shot in the big leagues this season?
• Clay Rapada and Cesar Cabral are pitching well. Which one has the advantage in the race for the last bullpen spot?
How about this for a deal:
Justin Maxwell to the Mets for Bobby Parnell and Kirk Nieuwenhuis?
Maxwell’s not making the 25 – sad but true – but he would make the Mets and could even push Andres Torres for the starting CF job.
Parnell on the other hand is being pushed further out in the Mets pecking order for relief pitchers, Nieuwenhuis is a decent prospect who has had issues staying healthy, but has options and could play in AAA.
How much do spring training numbers matter for a guy like Raul Ibanez? Do they matter any more or less for Justin Maxwell?
I don’t think that Ibanez’s numbers matter to anyone other than fans. On the other hand, Maxwell’s numbers, coming off a strong (if injury shortened) season last year are very important. With Maxwell unlikely to make the Yankees 25 man roster the fact that he has hit and fielded very well since the day the Yankees traded for him make his value to other teams higher than it would be if he was struggling.
“There is a limit to which 19 year old prospects make sense in any other context than being 19 year old prospects.”
True but from what I’ve read he’d immediately be one of the Yanks best prospects and a top 50 overall guy……so how much is a top prospect worth in dollars?
Again….if its a MLB deal for 5+ million a year…..then you’d have to have a pretty good feeling he’d move fast and be in your lineup if not by 2014 then pretty soon after that.
At the Movies with Mark Teixeira…
teixeiramark25 Saw “Act of Valor” last night…one of the best movies I have seen in a long time!
If Joba Chamberlain is out for the season, does that open an opportunity for someone else? What if he’s not out for the year? Should the Yankees have any expectations one way or the other? Makes the Aardsma signing better. Really though the only person who benefits is Cory Wade who was possibly going to get cut when/if Joba returned
Adam Warren is still in big league camp, and his Triple-A rotation-mates have pitched well this spring? What’s it going to take for one of them to get a shot in the big leagues this season? Based on the current Yankee depth chart – injury or trade
How much should ST numbers matter for Ibanez?
Not much within a given range, att this low level, however, a lot.
“True but from what I’ve read he’d immediately be one of the Yanks best prospects and a top 50 overall guy……so how much is a top prospect worth in dollars?”
Plus, there are future limitations on what they can spend.
How about this for a deal:
“Justin Maxwell to the Mets for Bobby Parnell and Kirk Nieuwenhuis?
Maxwell’s not making the 25 – sad but true – but he would make the Mets and could even push Andres Torres for the starting CF job.
Parnell on the other hand is being pushed further out in the Mets pecking order for relief pitchers, Nieuwenhuis is a decent prospect who has had issues staying healthy, but has options and could play in AAA.”
_______________________________________________
Chip:
Parnell is a big part of their bullpen this year. Doubt they give him up, and certainly not for a guy like Maxwell. They value him alot more than that.
Rich in NJ March 27th, 2012 at 11:52 am
How much should ST numbers matter for Ibanez?
Not much within a given range, att this low level, however, a lot.
—————————
I disagree – I think at this point in his career Ibanez (and the coaches) are more concerned with a player like Ibanez staying healthy and showing “good habits” the results don’t mean much.
Fans on the other hand, who weren’t sold on this move to begin with, care a great deal.
Gotta run.
You all have a great day.
Ibanez has stunk in ST, but the guy also stunk in his 2011 MLB season. You add those 2 together and you got burnt toast on the verge of bursting into flames.
Chip
Sometimes fans are right.
Tackleberry -
Parnell is already behind Rauch and Ramon Ramirez and may slip behind Pedro Beato in their pecking order.
But hey, I would leave Parnell out if the Mets didn’t want to do it – Maxwell for Kirk would work too.
i think the yankees have to pay for 6 weeks or so to see about ibanez and how the team shapes up.
league talent has been so spread out that it’s hard to assess yankee strength relative to the league.
my perception is that they are very strong.
we shall see very soon though.
maybe not.
i’d be surprised though.
with a veteran team though , how many games these guys play at full strength is an issue.
blake,
I think there is reasonable limit to which anyone can feel good about a player who has never play American baseball playing in your line-up in 2 years.
There is just no basis in knowledge there.
I’m not advocating passing on Soler, I just think you have to throw out hardcore pragmatism like counting on him as a 2014 starter.
Mason Williams is a Top 100 guy, older and already in your system.
How much is 40 or so rankings in the Top 100 and more power projectability worth?
repost:
Shame Spencer March 27th, 2012 at 11:49 am
“Who is your SS, if it happens?”
Who is our catcher right now if Russell Munson goes down? You think Cervelli and Romine are going to couple together to = Martin? It just doesn’t shake out like that. IMO you don’t let that hold you back from possibly getting a good return for a player that you know has no future as a starter for your team.
fem – I do understand that but considering what everyone is telling me about how hard it is to find a guy like Nunez, we should be able to get something nice in return, no? Especially since, again, his value would be higher as a starter for another club. I understand how he’s valuable to us.. I’m just willing to explore exactly how valuable he might be to other teams.
Rich in NJ March 27th, 2012 at 11:56 am
Chip
Sometimes fans are right.
—————-
I agree – but that’s neither here or there. I just don’t think that the numbers Ibanez is producing (or isn’t producing) matter as much as Justin Maxwell’s.
Now is it possible that the Yankees would cut Ibanez and keep Maxwell? I guess in the realm of all things possible it does exist – but they wouldn’t base it off of the numbers.
randy
one of my potters had it for years without knowing it and everyone thought he was losing his mind and being a slacker letting his business fall apart. then he was diagnosed with lyme disease and it all made sense. he still isn’t back to normal though.
———————————————————————-
That’s the thing about it. Until you find out you have it alot of things happen to you that don’t make sense.
Once I looked at a symptons sheet and highlited what were mine it became clear why I was having some of the issues I had.
I’m not sure when tics start showing here but I think it’s to early yet.
I also was told recently that you can also get it from wood ticks. That doesn’t really surprise me.
They are predicting more LD this year because of the mild winter. Mild winter more mice, who are the main carrier.
“How much is 40 or so rankings in the Top 100 and more power projectability worth?”
Depends on the evaluation of the player….and I don’t know enough about him to answer that.
btw blake,
IF Williams continues his climb, by the time Soler is cleared, signed and actually begins playing in U.S. MiL ball, Williams may already find his way into Top 50 prospect status.
I get that Soler’s power is a draw because right now your leftfielder has none, but it’s still all projection.
yankeefeminista March 27th, 2012 at 11:46 am
When I arrive home late at night, there are sometimes 20 deer sitting on my lawn. They just look into the headlights for a moment, blink, and go back to eating the grass. They are so used to being around humans that even seeing a car doesn’t phase them. I think there are some herbs that are Lyme preventative. Astragalus is one of them.
——————————————————————–
I’ve been told by some that they think taking garlic pills helps too.
Am being a little cynical, but want the Yankees to take the George Costanza “opposite ” approach to their decisions regarding the pitching staff moving forward.
Stuckey,
I agree….but signing Soler wouldn’t mean you wouldn’t have Mason anymore……by 2014 Gardner will be getting expensive and near free agency anyway….again it comes back to player evaluation and to warrant a big league deal for Soler my guess is they’d have to believe he’d be contributing quickly in the big leagues
If you get the urge to pay close to $30 for a hot dog, head on down to a Rangers game.
$26 hot dog unveiled by Texas Rangers: Boom(stick) goes the dynamite! And your cholesterol! http://bit.ly/HcxDa9
I always prioritize investment rather than more insurance.
Investing can pay off in multiple ways.
Insurance requires something bad to happen to capitalize.
maine yankee-
thanks, i’ll keep an eye open as the spring warms up. where i’m staying, there’s a great dane who’s outside quite a bit. if anyone would attract them , it’d be him. great dog by the way. destroys baseballs though and pops small basketballs
Soler would be investment if they believe in him
blake,
Understood. I just don’t think that’s pragmatic (believing he’s 1.5 seasons away from your starting outfield).
I have a hard time imagining the answer to THAT question is ‘yes’ under any circumstances.
When the Nats took Harper they didn’t know if he was a 1.5 seasons away. That’s a pretty BIG leap of faith for an apparently very good, but not Harper-like prospect.
FTR, Soler is now 20 years old.
Maine, I wouldn’t be surprised, Garlic is very curative. I would think good fish oils like New Chapter’s or Nordic Naturals would help with joints, as well.
According to Piliere, Campos is charting pitches, so maybe he’ll throw tomorrow and someone will have video.
Some things are more important than a baseball game…
http://tinyurl.com/d7ykea9
Today most of the Mariners worked out at the Tokyo Dome. Alex Liddi, Hisashi Iwakuma and Hector Noesi however did not. They joined Eric Wedge and a group of three Oakland A’s players to travel to Ishinomaki to put on a baseball clinic in an area that was devastated by the earthquake and tsunami last March.
On the trip to Ishinomaki Stadium we could still see signs of the destruction. Debris fields, damaged factories no longer being used and houses upon houses that were left as nothing more than shells after the waters raged through them. Hours later I would realize that those houses which appeared to be randomly spaced on the landscape were anything but. The empty spaces between those houses and others represented the houses that were no longer there. Miles of homes and businesses almost completely wiped out.
Ishinomaki was just 45 miles from the epicenter of the 9.0 earthquake that struck on the afternoon of March 11, 2011. Thirty four minutes later a sixteen foot tsunami wave hit the port and continued inland where it destroyed tens of thousands of homes and left 5,000 people dead or missing.
hame Spencer March 27th, 2012 at 11:59 am
repost:
Shame Spencer March 27th, 2012 at 11:49 am
“Who is your SS, if it happens?”
Who is our catcher right now if Russell Munson goes down? You think Cervelli and Romine are going to couple together to = Martin? It just doesn’t shake out like that. IMO you don’t let that hold you back from possibly getting a good return for a player that you know has no future as a starter for your team.
///
You answered the question with a question, but Martin doesn’t give you much offense to begin with, so I’m not sure how he equals Derek Jeter, especially 2nd half 2011 Derek Jeter. It’s not as if Martin’s offense is hard to replace. Posada’s offense at catcher was hard to replace, which was why Montero was such a logical successor.
But Martin isn’t someone who’s going to turn into Thurman Munson and hit 300 and drive in 100 runs. Cervelli may not have great upside, but he can play the position acceptably, and can put the bat on the ball (Romine isn’t ready).
My point was and is that short stops that can hit are nigh impossible to get on the market, and as I said, also rather difficult to grow. Nunez’s don’t grow on trees.
But regarding Martin, any way, if Jeter were to miss significant time, do you think the offense would be fine with Martin behind the plate, Pena at SS, and Gardner in left?
Although Martin has not been durable in his career, he is still relatively young, so you would expect that he would stay healthy, and heal fairly quickly from minor dings. Jeter and A-Rod are much more susceptible to injury due to their advanced baseball ages, and even minor injuries could take longer to heal.
Rosy-good job by the players.
But Martin isn’t someone who’s going to turn into Thurman Munson…..
———————–
Louise Meanwell’s former lover thinks he already has.
“Louise Meanwell’s former lover thinks he already has.”
Allegedly!
Rosy -
Thanks for that.
Rich in NJ March 27th, 2012 at 12:22 pm
Although Martin has not been durable in his career, he is still relatively young, so you would expect that he would stay healthy, and heal fairly quickly from minor dings. Jeter and A-Rod are much more susceptible to injury due to their advanced baseball ages, and even minor injuries could take longer to heal.
///
If he goes down, I’m not mourning his bat. He’s not a bad hitter, as catchers go, but not good enough to worry about replacing his “offense.” The hit we’d take at SS offensively with Pena, factoring in even a healthy Martin, plus Gardner, would be significant.
Good job, Rosy.
The Japan tragedy is very close to my heart. Ichiro’s moreso, I’m sure.
Rich, spoken like a lawyer.
Yep, can’t underrate a SS with hitting ability. Look at Iglesias with his .235 milb BA, can’t make the big club in spite of his D. That bat definitely adds mucho value to Nunez, whereas Russell hasn’t given you much currently at the plate. Cervelli would likely outhit Martin were he to have to catch.
Bronx Jeers March 27th, 2012 at 12:27 pm
But Martin isn’t someone who’s going to turn into Thurman Munson…..
———————–
Louise Meanwell’s former lover thinks he already has.
////
That’s scary, on several levels….LOL.
J. Alfred Prufrock March 27th, 2012 at 12:33 pm
Good job, Rosy.
The Japan tragedy is very close to my heart. Ichiro’s moreso, I’m sure.
_______
+1 People have forgotten about Japan, and many are still struggling. Japan Society is still taking donations.
Rosy, is tomorrow AM the big day?
Josh Norris ? @jnorris427
Just spoke to David Adams for about 10 minutes. He’s been told he’ll start in Trenton. @trentonthunder #yankees
Good news! He’ll be fun to watch.
JAP
Don’t get me defending Martin…
My point is merely about why the inherent differences in let’s call it the injury calculus between the C and SS/3B positions, due to age differences, makes quality depth at the latter more important.
But yes, offensively, Cervelli is likely to provide more than Pena, and would need to produce less to break even.
Pruf, Norris will have vid later of among others Anderson Feliz (just for you).
Rich, why not? Are you rooting for Russell Martin? Yes or no?!
Rich in NJ March 27th, 2012 at 12:39 pm
JAP
Don’t get me defending Martin…
My point is merely about why the inherent differences in let’s call it the injury calculus between the C and SS/3B positions, due to age differences, makes quality depth at the latter more important.
///
Yes, and I agree. Age on the left side of the infield, plus who those players are offensively when they’re healthy, plus the particular difficulty in finding a player who can play acceptable defense at SS and also hit…..make Nunez very important to the Yankees.
YF ~
Yes, indeedy!!!
although, some in the national press seem to have forgotten…
A FoxSports article linked earlier noted that Opening Day was “just 10 days away”. Excuuuuuse me … Opening Day is less than 20 HOURS away
yankeefeminista March 27th, 2012 at 12:41 pm
Rich, why not? Are you rooting for Russell Martin? Yes or no?!
////
Too funny
.
Are the Mariners qualified to put on a baseball clinic?
“Rich, why not? Are you rooting for Russell Martin? Yes or no?! ”
As Seinfeld once said, I root for cloth (except the piece with #28 on it)…
“Louise Meanwell’s former lover thinks he already has.”
i had forgotten all about that.
the latest:
http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news.....02736.html
so it’s pushed off even further to next month before she’s arraigned.
the message there is don’t mess with a yankee gm in new york
it’s an interesting strategy. use your power to incarcerate an opponent and wear them down to accept a settlement that will never be made public and so that there will be no trial.
lousie meanwell clearly didn’t know that for someone who got rid of the tampa faction that getting rid of her would be no problem.
well, if you don’t count losing a wife and half his income and property no problem that is.
the wife might want to pay attention to what happened to meanwell. has brian noticing her acting a little crazy?
just saying.
yankeefeminista March 27th, 2012 at 12:39 pm
Pruf, Norris will have vid later of among others Anderson Feliz (just for you).
///
Woot! Like to see him get some OF reps. Glad they’re diversifying him by having him play some 3B.
As Seinfeld once said, I root for cloth (except the piece with #28 on it)…
////
Hmmm. Against the mandate, or err..the man?
In 2011, Yankees scored 142 runs in June in 26 games, their 3rd best run scoring per-game month of the season in a pretty consistent year.
Jeter missed half the game in June and OPS’ed .618 in the other half of the games he did play.
Nunez OPS’ed .645 as a SS last season.
Just throwing that out there.
“Are the Mariners qualified to put on a baseball clinic?”
they put on a clinic on how to steal the best young hitting catcher in baseball.
CompassRosy March 27th, 2012 at 12:44 pm
YF ~
Yes, indeedy!!!
although, some in the national press seem to have forgotten…
A FoxSports article linked earlier noted that Opening Day was “just 10 days away”. Excuuuuuse me … Opening Day is less than 20 HOURS away
////
I’ll be up with the lark to get in on the Jesus lovefest.
blake March 27th, 2012 at 12:46 pm
Are the Mariners qualified to put on a baseball clinic?
///
Well, maybe, one is, to put on a hittin’ clinic
Nunez isn’t a particularly good hitter right now…he’s got some upside in his bat and has some pop and quick wrists but a lot of his offense is potential ……would he get better with more playing time or would his approach be exposed? We don’t know yet….but I think to some degree when watching him the occasional laser beam he hits makes us forget a little what he actually is at this moment in time.
randy l. March 27th, 2012 at 12:51 pm
“Are the Mariners qualified to put on a baseball clinic?”
they put on a clinic on how to steal the best young hitting catcher in baseball.
///
You need someone who agrees to be stupid, to steal from.
This does not feel any better than it did on Jan. 13.
You need somethin
Chip March 27th, 2012 at 11:57 am
Tackleberry -
Parnell is already behind Rauch and Ramon Ramirez and may slip behind Pedro Beato in their pecking order.
But hey, I would leave Parnell out if the Mets didn’t want to do it – Maxwell for Kirk would work too.
__________________________________________
I read that Beatto is having shoulder problems and will start the season on the DL.
blake
I just think it’s about the alternative(s) to Nunez.
I know the games don’t matter….but I don’t really like sending an MLB team over to Japan and then them get smoked in two exhibition games…..
“I just think it’s about the alternative(s) to Nunez”
True…but he’s a back up…..that doesn’t mean he’s not important…hes just not as important as a starter and their alternative.
Rooting for the man in cloth or the man of the cloth? I root for both.
Rosy, I am ready. I just have to set the clock and not sleep through. Also set up the very strong Japanese high grade sencha in my kyusu pot, so that I am awake by 6AM. I am hoping Our Boy is over his jetlag.
Stuckey, and we were in second place most of June.
JAP – I get that Martin isn’t Jeter… but Nunez isn’t 2nd half 2011 Jeter, either.
I’m not in charge of pushing the button so no one here needs to worry. I’ve already said I think he’s very talented and that I think he’s valuable to our team.
I just think he’s more valuable to a team he’d be playing for every day. And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with exploring what one of those teams might be willing to part with for him. *shrugs*
That’s true, blake, except that it’s reasonable to expect that he will start a significant amount of games given Jeter and especially A-Rod’s increased chances of injury/missing games due to age (and in A-Rod’s case, prior injuries).
Is there a bona starter at another position that Nunez can be exchanged for?
“Is there a bona starter at another position that Nunez can be exchanged for?”
Maybe not on his own.. but I hear we’ve got this pitcher situation where we have a couple extra lying around
Shame
We have had them for over a year…
But anyway, what position player can Nunez + stuff be exchanged for, that we know will replace an existing starter?
Looking forward to the season finally starting so that this blog gets juiced up again with some laughs, some jungle juice and some venom
Rosy and yankeefem,
I’ll be there with you.
Rich – No idea. But not in a million years did I think I’d have the name Michael Pineda penciled in the rotation.
Just because I’m not all that smart doesn’t mean Cash isn’t as well.
What if we got some high ceiling AAA outfield prospect back? Not saying this is going to happen but there are more than one ways to skin a cat….
Rich,
No clue….he’s valuable because of the Yanks roster makeup and lack of in house alternatives as you say…..im just talking in generalities….not about any specific trade or whatever.
“Just because I’m not all that smart doesn’t mean Cash isn’t as well.”
or vise versa
“Just because I’m not all that smart doesn’t mean Cash isn’t as well.”
Shame
You seem to know what you don’t know. I’m not sure Cashman does.
As for the OF prospect, it would have to be someone very special given the gaping hole it would create for a self-declared win-now team.
Shame Spencer March 27th, 2012 at 1:00 pm
JAP – I get that Martin isn’t Jeter… but Nunez isn’t 2nd half 2011 Jeter, either.
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No, but he has a better chance of approximating that kind of production than anyone else we could possibly get our hands on. I can’t tell you how many young short stops have become former SS in our system. Just hard to stay at the position at an acceptable level.
When is depaula supposed to take gis physical?
Blake, I don’t think we know what Nunez can do because he doesn’t get enough playing time. He can be overly aggressive but he improved in AA, AAA. Not much of a chance to work on live hitting, so hard to say how he’d do given the ability to evolve. Still had some pretty good AB’s for us. Also very nice triple slash with RISP (albeit 74 AB’s) Still he can fill in and give you more than most SS. He especially raked in July.
As for the OF prospect, it would have to be someone very special given the gaping hole it would create for a self-declared win-now team.
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Does it strike anyone else as a supreme irony that the big crisis around here right now is, how to fit in all the rotation pitching depth we have?
“As for the OF prospect, it would have to be someone very special given the gaping hole it would create for a self-declared win-now team.”
right, we have Swisher who will put up good numbers (hopefully improved ones from the left side), whereas who would take Nunez’s place. If not some stud, why do we need a RFer again?
“Still he can fill in and give you more than most SS.”
Oh as a back up I totally agree….I like having him….I think my only point is that he wouldn’t be untouchable for me if something made sense……lots of teams need middle infield help….and it would have to be the right situation…..but if some team wanted to pay a lot for him Id listen.
Tom, yokoso! Play ball!
I’ve known since they announced the games in Japan that that the M’s plan to resume their Cactus League schedule after the Japan series (they fly back to Arizona on Friday and play ST games Sat-Wed before resuming the regular season with Oakland next Saturday). What I didn’t know, until just now, is that the A’s are done will ST. They’ll fly straight to Oakland and be off for the week prior to their “other” home opener with the M’s
Not sure which is better….
just sure that everyone’s body clocks are going to be wacked.
At long last, Rafael DePaula gets his visa
By Mike Axisa.
Update (6:16pm): Here’s is Ben Badler’s report. He says recent reports still have DePaula running his fastball up into the high-90s. The physical should be a non-issue — he’s been working out at the team’s Dominican complex for the last 14 months or so — and I assume the Yankees will hold him back in Extended Spring Training for a bit before bumping him to Low-A Charleston. DePaula figures to be on a faster track than most international free agent pitchers.
Speaking of SS’s, Cito is starting to hit and from the left side as well…
“If not some stud, why do we need a RFer again?”
They don’t this year…..but I don’t think they’ll be able to afford Swisher next year…..so they will need one next year most likely IMO
http://riveraveblues.com/2012/.....deo-64546/
Video of depaula
“Speaking of SS’s, Cito is starting to hit and from the left side as well…”
Pat M seems to talk to folks that believe he will hit…..it would be a pretty big deal if his bat progressed.
Blake, should be sometime this week re: DePaula’s physical.
blake, same that I have heard about Cito. Except for Keith Law’s take (of course).
I like Depaula’s arm action from the video I’ve seen….throws they ball very smoothly.
right, we have Swisher who will put up good numbers (hopefully improved ones from the left side), whereas who would take Nunez’s place. If not some stud, why do we need a RFer again?
///
Swisher had a few nice LH swings to left during ST. Let’s hope that carries over. He has extra motivation, being his walk year. Someone should force him to watch video of him swinging out of his sneakers with the bases loaded in the ALDS. Or maybe, like me, the memory is burned into his consciousness, thus precluding the need to watch a video of it.
Rosy, I would be a little concerned about my team adjusting after the trip to and from Japan. Wishing all your boys good health and recuperative powers.
“blake, same that I have heard about Cito. Except for Keith Law’s take (of course).”
Klaw is still trying to figure out how Ravel played yesterday.
yankeefeminista March 27th, 2012 at 1:21 pm
Speaking of SS’s, Cito is starting to hit and from the left side as well…
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Switch hitters need more development time. That was always overlooked with Melky, who has now become a good contact and LD guy from both sides.
blake, yep DePaula has pretty clean mechanics and is supposed to have advanced secondary pitches, but we’ll see.
The first time around they were predicting he would fly through the system. I am hoping he is in Trenton by 2013.
There are some times I root for the man (Mattingly, O’Neill, Bernie, Andy) and then there are some times I root for the cloth and force myself to accept the man (Clemens, Damon, Boggs, Sheffield)
Marlins Homerun Sculpture.
http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/l.....30765.html
Rosy,
The M’s also opened camp a week earlier than Oakland. It is kind of a surprise that they are heading back to Peoria for a week.
Thanks, YF.
I’m sure they’ll need all the recuperative powers they can muster (at least, being the 3rd youngest MLB team, they have youth on their side
)
Blake, maybe he should stick to his other passion, cooking???
Chad,
Is Joba expected to make an appearance at the field today? I’m reading he’s going to talk to reporters about the accident and set straight some of the life-threatening stuff.
blake March 27th, 2012 at 1:20 pm
“Still he can fill in and give you more than most SS.”
Oh as a back up I totally agree….I like having him….I think my only point is that he wouldn’t be untouchable for me if something made sense.
————————-
Yeah this is all I’m saying, too.
Nunez will never be the Yankees starting SS, so IMO, its worth seeing what the return might be. Unless they decide they want him to be the 2013 RFer. I’m not against that idea either, mind you … and I know Hal wouldn’t be
Sammie ~
Actually, I thought it strange that the A’s didn’t come to camp early, especially now that I hear they are finished. They’ll essentially have two full weeks less ST than the M’s and a week less than everyone else.
Anyhoo – let’s just get this party started!!!
“What I didn’t know, until just now, is that the A’s are done will ST. They’ll fly straight to Oakland and be off for the week prior to their “other” home opener with the M’s’
Not completely off, Rosy. They play three games vs. the SF Giants April 2-4 before the regular season starts.
Thanks again for all the cold-busting tips, everyone. I got a little mixed up and put the whisky in the yukejang, however…
I read the following excerpt on an M’s blog from a poster who lives in Japan
(I’ve actually met him – we attended an M’s game together last year) …
anyway, this is not at all offered as an excuse for Iwakuma (a better one might be that he injured or, not fully recovered) but, a serious wonderment of how relevant this observation of ‘catcher’s location’ is….
Thoughts??
::::: Hasegawa was on TV as a commentator and explained the difference in MLB and NPB catching. Many NPB catchers locate their mitt where he wants the pitch but MLB catchers just locate it in the middle of the strikezone.
As for Montero he located it always up in the zone.
Typical was the pitch bottom of 3rd inning 2outs pitchers count 1-2 to Murata.
Iwakuma should have pitched a splitfinger coming from strikezone in the dirt but pitched a splitfinger coming from upper strikezone to lower strikezone which Murata hit for a single to center.
Here if Motero had his mitt in the dirt for a aim it would be much easier for Iwakuma to execute that pitch.
So either Iwakuma must get used (but it will be very difficult for him) or Montero or other MLB catcher must learn. :::::
Chad, yes, as per m, any update on Joba’s presser (is it?)
Nunez will never be the Yankees starting SS, so IMO, its worth seeing what the return might be. Unless they decide they want him to be the 2013 RFer. I’m not against that idea either, mind you … and I know Hal wouldn’t be
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Shame, I’m not sure that this is true. He could be a bridge player to Culver, assuming Culver becomes the SS of the future.
Thanks for that clarification, Nick.
That’s what I get for listening to Geoff Baker (he was probably just looking at the AZ sched)
Watch out for those “mixers”
Blake, no I don’t consider Nunez untouchable either. I just wouldn’t be so quick to trade him for a piece we don’t currently need and with nothing comparable to replace him with. And I do value him as a SS and think he could start if given the chance.
CompassRosy March 27th, 2012 at 1:34 pm
Sammie ~
Actually, I thought it strange that the A’s didn’t come to camp early, especially now that I hear they are finished. They’ll essentially have two full weeks less ST than the M’s and a week less than everyone else.
Anyhoo – let’s just get this party started!!!
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I hear ya! I am a Yankees fan, but since I live up north of Spokane I am also an M’s fan by default. Let’s get this thing going.
Unless of course we got a stud in a package… Nunez alone wouldn’t get us said stud.
Nunez is rounding out to be a nice, versatile player. Need to keep him around until and when we find a better option to replace Jeter.
Supposedly, DePaula took his physical yesterday and is scheduled to throw some time later this week
JAP – You think Nunez is going to hang around till 2015?
I’m sort of surprised at you and fem… why don’t you guys want to see Nunez get a starting role????! Why won’t you guys just let Nunez be great?!?!!
I kid I kid..
Shame,
I don’t know how fast Culver’s going to move, and teams generally don’t trade their young short stops who can hit.
Nunez is certainly good enough to start. Thinking about Jeter’s permanent replacement, though, makes me sort of sick in the stomach.
select A’s and M’s over/under player props for 2012 season:
Cespedes BA .271
Cespedes HR’s 18
Cespedes RBI’s 63.5
Colon total wins 10
Ichiro BA .300
Ichiro hits 200.5
Ichiro stolen bases 35.5
Ichiro RBI’s 60.5
Smoak HR’s 16
Ackley HR’s 11.5
Montero HR’s 19.5
Felix wins 15.5
Felix ERA 2.85
to replace Jeter
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To replace Jeter..to replace Jeter….
Seeing that made my blood run cold.
But that day is coming.
“But that day is coming.”
A high quality backup may help maximize his and A-Rod’s remaining production. Whether or not that’s Nunez, IDK, but he’s the best current option.
I actually heard the 911 call about Joba. An employee of the place made the call.
A couple things semi-interesting.
He complained about how long the call was taking saying something like “it never takes this long” which may imply that he calls 911 fairly regularly.
The dispatcher was giving instructions on how to stop the bleeding but the guy said he didn’t want to mess with it and that it wasn’t bleeding that bad.
He also said the victim was calm and alert.
“He also said the victim was calm and alert.”
While probably in excruciating pain.
It my mind Nunez, while certainly not untouchable, is a very good prospect for a starting SS job after Jeter. Not many shortstops can run like him. He is right there with Gardner. Not many shortstops have the pop he has. His fielding was shaky last year, but he moved around a lot probably for the first time in his career.
The Yankees have no one else remotely ready to start in a year or two at short besides him.
He is more valuable than Brown, who can’t stick in the majors. I wouldn’t mind having Brown, but it would have to be for excess pitching.
Nick in SF March 27th, 2012 at 1:52 pm
select A’s and M’s over/under player props for 2012 season:
Cespedes BA .271- under
Cespedes HR’s 18- over
Cespedes RBI’s 63.5- over
Colon total wins 10- under
Ichiro BA .300- over
Ichiro hits 200.5- over
Ichiro stolen bases 35.5- under
Ichiro RBI’s 60.5- under
Smoak HR’s 16- over
Ackley HR’s 11.5- under
Montero HR’s 19.5- over
Felix wins 15.5- under
Felix ERA 2.85- under
Now, if you have a conviction that Brown can contribute this season, and are then willing to trade Swisher for a young infielder who can play the left side of the diamond… But that’s risky.
Shame, maybe because we have both seen Nunez play a lot. He can do a lot of things well. austinmac, agree.
Pruf, don’t forget Custodio and Rosario. Also wonder if Tamarez will be stateside…
“He is more valuable than Brown, who can’t stick in the majors. I wouldn’t mind having Brown, but it would have to be for excess pitching.”
I think its too early to know this….for 2012 Nunez is more valuable for the Yankees…..but long term with him a lot depends on if he can develop a consistent approach at the plate and become more reliable defensively …..he has some tools but so do a lot of guys….you can have a lot of tools and still not make it as an every day player in the big leagues.
Rich in NJ March 27th, 2012 at 1:54 pm
“But that day is coming.”
A high quality backup may help maximize his and A-Rod’s remaining production. Whether or not that’s Nunez, IDK, but he’s the best current option.
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It was my belief that Montero’s presence not only would have lengthened the lineup, but extended the productivity of both Jeter and Alex – much more than taking turns at DH.
Alas.
Rich, not another player who can’t play this season and is a work in progress. We have plenty of those position players in the minors. Whereas, if we wanted a bat that could play this season… but I can’t see trading for someone who according to the Phillies cannot field. Not with run prevention being our new be all end; just not seeing it unless it is an offer we just can’t refuse. Which may or may not have gotten us in trouble in the first place.
Tackel, yeah think I read that or remembered that DePaula is supposed to throw re: Badler, Norris or someone else… but it can’t come soon enough.
And its going to be more difficult for Nunez to develop those things with the Yankees where he will play a lot of positions and not get in the lineup every day……
Andrew Marshand and Heyman have already packed their radar guns in anticipation of Depaula’s first outing……of course that is assuming they even know who Depaula is.
austinmac March 27th, 2012 at 2:00 pm
It my mind Nunez, while certainly not untouchable, is a very good prospect for a starting SS job after Jeter. Not many shortstops can run like him. He is right there with Gardner. Not many shortstops have the pop he has. His fielding was shaky last year, but he moved around a lot probably for the first time in his career.
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I agree. Getting sold somewhat short in here (no pun intended). Footwork has cost him some wayward throws, but he has good range, there. Playing regularly would go a long way toward ironing out the kinks.
JAP
I agree, but I think it’s apparent now that they did not want Montero, even to the point that they were willing to alter their stated requirements in order to trade him (an established ace).
So I have come to believe that under the present um, brain trust, Montero was never going to get a shot here mid- to long-term, but imo, he should have been used as a chip in waiting to trade for a player who could supplement A-Rod and Jeter at a very high level*, and perhaps play the OF some at other times.
*For the gadflies, I don’t have a player in mind
yankeefeminista March 27th, 2012 at 2:04 pm
Shame, maybe because we have both seen Nunez play a lot. He can do a lot of things well. austinmac, agree.
Pruf, don’t forget Custodio and Rosario. Also wonder if Tamarez will be stateside…
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Not forgetting about them, but I’ve never seen either of them, whereas I’ve seen Culver once, and I’ve seen a lot of Nunez at Trenton. It’s also too early in the game to know if they’ll be keepers at SS. Few have managed it. Culver does seem to be long for the position, though.
yf
Brown? Well, they may be willing to do that in the rotation, but it’s not going happen, so…
Rich in NJ March 27th, 2012 at 2:14 pm
JAP
I agree, but I think it’s apparent now that they did not want Montero, even to the point that they were willing to alter their stated requirements in order to trade him (an established ace).
So I have come to believe that under the present um, brain trust, Montero was never going to get a shot here mid- to long-term, but imo, he should have been used as a chip in waiting to trade for a player who could supplement A-Rod and Jeter at a very high level*, and perhaps play the OF some at other times.
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Agree.
Still wonderstruck. How. Why.
http://www.nytimes.com/1997/04.....tml?src=pm
Our pal Jack Curry missed the boat on this article about MO from 1997. Turns out there was nothing to worry about.
Blake, Nunez was developing a more consistent approach at the plate in the minors. He had improved as he moved up. His OBP vs. righties in SWB his last milb season was .353 which was a big jump. Also remember Nunez used to be a switchy, so he has only been batting as a righty for a few years. Probably has taken a hit in terms of plate discipline because of the dearth of AB’s.
Pruf, they devalue the DH. Overvalue run prevention at the cost of offense.
Bronx Jeers March 27th, 2012 at 1:54 pm
He also said the victim was calm and alert.
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I think I would have passed out instantly, so I give him a lot of credit.
He was probably trying to stay calm for Karter.
Lupica thinks Melo is A-Rod. I like Melo, but A-Rod is a historic talent, a level Melo hasn’t reached.
Culver could turn into a starting MLB shortstop, but right now his is starting this season in low A ball. No one, including the Yankees, knows what kind of player he will ultimately become.
The left side of the infield will need help soon. Nunez is about it for several years other than Bernier type of players.
yankeefeminista March 27th, 2012 at 2:23 pm
Pruf, they devalue the DH. Overvalue run prevention at the cost of offense.
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TG for Gary Sanchez. May he satisfy their Theo copycat philosophy that cost us Montero, and hit the crap out of the baseball, too!
austinmac, yep.
“Pruf, they devalue the DH. Overvalue run prevention at the cost of offense.”
Yankees have had the Majors highest run differential each of the last 3 seasons.
Combine the last 3 season and they win in a landslide against all other ML teams.
This suggests the Yankees understand the the concept of “balance”.
As always, throwing out 3 seasons of actual results in favor of one transaction that has yet to produce any results seems like a vast, vast overreaction.
How does one critique a team on an area they are BEST at, for 3 years running?
What’s the objective criteria?
The left side of the infield will need help soon. Nunez is about it for several years other than Bernier type of players.
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Right. It’s likely not “if” he’ll be a regular here, but when. Unless, of course, they’re even more cavalier about talented hitters than they have already demonstrated. They do seem to like Nunez, so there’s that.
Time to walk the imaginary dog.
Later, all.
New Post w/lineup
UnKnown March 27th, 2012 at 2:22 pm
http://www.nytimes.com/1997/04…..tml?src=pm
Our pal Jack Curry missed the boat on this article about MO from 1997. Turns out there was nothing to worry about.
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In a bit of defense of Curry, Mo didn’t “find” his cutter until June of that season. He discovered it by long tossing with Mendoza. I think it was mentioned in Verducci’s SI cover story a few years back. It’s funny how one pitch changes everything for a pitcher and probably the franchise.
Anyway, a nice trip back memory lane, Unknown.
yankeefeminista March 27th, 2012 at 2:04 pm
Shame, maybe because we have both seen Nunez play a lot. He can do a lot of things well.
I’m the one that wants to let Nunez be great!
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Lol – I’m not being argumentative I’m asking why you guys are content seeing him stuck in a backup role when he could be a starter somewhere else. You and JAP are trying to hold him back
I don’t think the Yankees have had an everyday DH (as much everyday a player can be) since at least 1995, with the exception of Chili Davis who DH’d 141 games and Hideki Matsui who DH’d 128. There were players listed in the baseball almanac who’d DH’d half the games or around that, but there were years when no DH was even listed on the Yankees roster.
It hasn’t been often that the Yankees used DH as a dedicated position. My only point is that I don’t think they devalue the DH, as much as try to use it to their best advantage depending on the players they have in a particular year.
I checked years ’95 through 2010, 2011 was not listed in the baseball almanac.