Video: Pettitte’s first simulated game of the spring
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Mar 03, 2013 
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The Yankees just wrapped up a 5-2 win on the road against the Red Sox, but the day’s main event happened back home in Tampa.
Andy Pettitte’s spring training debut happened on a back field at the Yankees spring training complex. The video above is his second at-bat of the day, which started with a ball past catcher Gary Sanchez and ended with Francisco Arcia striking out looking. You can hear pitching coach Larry Rothschild calling balls and strikes from behind the mound.
“I think Larry has kind of spaced out my bullpens and my BP work,” Pettitte said. “I think I’m going to do one more simulated game before I even get in a real game. We’re treating it a little bit differently I think. But I think it’s just because it’s so long and I really have a good idea what I need. And especially throwing today, everything’s right there, so for me it’s just getting the bullpens and repetition and keeping the feel of it and hopefully being able to carry it right into the game. It’ll be good to get in a real game. It’s always different down here, just because the adrenaline’s not flowing quite like it is in a regular season start, but this is all part of the process and it’s been going really well.”
The unusual spring schedule might not work for everyone, and almost certainly wouldn’t work for younger players, but Pettitte said he’s actually found significant comfort in getting prepared this way.
Here’s video of Pettitte explaining why he likes throwing simulated games in spring training.
@DanBarbarisi: Joe Girardi says the Gardner/Granderson CF/LF switch is basically kaput.
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Stupid.
@DanBarbarisi: Joe Girardi says the Gardner/Granderson CF/LF switch is basically kaput.
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Stupid.
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It sucks but it isnt stupid. Granderson lost ALL spring to learn a new position. Because of that, it makes sense to go with what they are comfortable with unless it shows to be a real problem during the season…
montero home run and double
Granderson lost ALL spring to learn a new position.
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He isn’t learning a new position. He has played 100 games there in his career and he is a previously very capable outfielder. To suggest he needs spring training to not suck in LF is dissing his defensive ability. The principles of the position are the same, the skillset unchanged.
Outfielders the game over move around easily. Gardner did it no problem. Mike Trout did it no problem. Damon did it no problem. Melky did it.
Look for Mesa to win that spot on the team. He will just hold down CF until Grandy gets back. Gardner will be in Left all year. That’s how I see it lining up.
plus granderson won’t sign a team friendly contract so move his butt over there
Moving an infielder to the outfield or vice versa is something that requires a ‘spring’. Sliding a CFer to LFer when he has previously played the position is not something they need to work on.
When did Granderson play 100 ML games in LF?
Randy,
Jesus three doubles in this young ST and OPSing over 1.
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Jo-Ram is the Man. Slider to get Napoli was 87 I think. Can’t wait to get him in Trenton.
For my money, Mesa is the best CF option for the Yanks, but the question hangs in the air – how much contact is he going to make at the plate? If he in fact makes the team, that is. Hope he does.
When did Granderson play 100 ML games in LF?
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122 between the majors and minors. Not counting college where he also played all 3 OF positions. OF isn’t rocket science.
No, it isn’t rocket science and I don’t really buy that story from Girardi any way.
I do think LF in Yankee Stadium is tricky, although players with the athleticism and speed of Granderson and Mesa would have no problem making that adjustment.
Someone like Almonte you just would not even risk there.
I think Joe meant Grandy reclaims CF when he returns from the DL. It doesn’t mean that Gardner plays LF to begin the season.
If Mesa makes it, he’ll play CF; Gardner in LF.
You’d think, out of deference to Gardner, they wouldn’t tease him with thinking he’s playing center and then pulling it out from under him.
Unless they really believe, as I do, that he is much better suited to playing left.
If Melky were already a regular, I would not hesitate to make him my CF. But we don’t even know if Mesa’s going to be able to cope with ML pitching. If he can make an adjustment, that would be wonderful… beyond wonderful, because he’s just loaded on every other tool. I’m in the ‘show me’ mode on this, however.
If Yogi Berra and Elston Howard could manage YS left field, I’m sure Grandy can, too. Just watch the sun in the Fall.
Generally your weakest outfielder plays left, both with the glove and arm.
Just because they’re pairing Mesa CF and Gardner LF as an ST experiment, doesn’t make it a certainty for the regular season.
I don’t know who is calling the shots on this whether it’s Girardi or Cashman but someone is screwing up big time. God forbid they maximize the team’s skillset. Why would you constantly keep sticking one of the better defensive outfielders in the game in LF and replacing him with something obviously worse?
tom, I don’t believe that’s the reason. I also think Gardner has to adjust to CF. He has had trouble with balls hit over his head to straight-away center. His adjustment period might be longer in center than Granderson’s would in left. Not saying he couldn’t eventually get a better handle on that, but he does not get the greatest instinctive jumps in those situations. Maybe that has something to do with their thinking?
check out the catch this center fielder makes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VX-LfOeOxE8
JAP,
Good point, but don’t most centerfielders have problems with hard line drives hit straight at them?
Nilsson March 3rd, 2013 at 5:26 pm
Just because they’re pairing Mesa CF and Gardner LF as an ST experiment, doesn’t make it a certainty for the regular season.
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Well, that’s true, too. Maybe they haven’t really decided yet.
“Stupid.”
What is their freakin’ problem?
tom, Gardner’s very good at coming in and good coast to coast, where he can really use that range. I have seen less than sublime defense from him when it comes to tracking balls hit over his head. Does not always get off the ball that well, and I’m not talking about balls that get rocketed that no one has any business getting to. He would need an adjustment period, himself.
But I have no idea what their thinking is – that’s just mine.
J.AP,
Just wanted to pop in to say you and Yanksfem have been ringing the bell on Jose Ramirez for a long time here & it was awesome seeing him on the mound today. Holy Cow can that guy be a horse. If the secondary stuff plays up, he’s a top of the rotation guy. That ball just looks so heavy and determined when it leaves his hand.
Very excited about him and talk about presence.
And I like what I saw today from Melky Mesa and Corban Joseph who showed a nice opposite field stroke which is sorely lacking.
Great stuff.
In 2012, Ichiro got 107 PA in LF, 19 in CF, and 518 RF. That’s a far bigger adjustment than moving a CF to LF so you could put the far better CF in CF.
Hey GLove,
Yeah, he is looking so good.
We both only saw him pitch the one game but he was like a veteran with his fastball in and out and that awesome changeup!
They apparently adjusted his arm slot since Fem and I saw him in that Lakewood start, but he looks like the same guy to me, with some added velo and a pretty nice looking slider.
You ought to visit us down here in Trenton to see Ramirez with the Thunder. He’s got to be Trenton bound.
If Mesa could just be more disciplined…been waitin a long time for that to happen! Joseph really can hit, eh? They must agree, because it looks like they’re prepping him for a 3B backup role so they can get his bat in there. He’s pretty subpar at 2B.
Gardner looks so determined and focused. I wonder if we’re about to see him put it all together finally?
I really think they should give him CF and defer to Grandy who is not in the long term plans here.
J.AP,
My eyes almost teared up seeing a LH take a ball to LF like Joseph did today. It was odd seeing guys in the Yankees uniform not spinning around in the batters box trying to muscle everything to RF.
You & Yanksfem keep me up to date on when Ramirez is pitching in Trenton. If I can make it, I’d love to see him pitch w/you guys before he gets to the big club for good.
Jose Ramierez faces basically the Red Sox real lineup…..gives up 2 bad luck hits….1st and 2nd no outs….then proceeds to K Napoli on a nasty CU and get the next 2 big league hitters to get out of it…..impressive…..please stay healthy cause this kid can pitch
I really liked when Gardner was down 0-2 in his first AB today and put the bat on the ball and the ball on the ground and beat the throw. No more helicopter swings that produce pop ups!
I don’t know who is calling the shots on this whether it’s Girardi or Cashman
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Most likely Cashman he admitted he has a big say in deciding who goes where
I really think they should give him CF and defer to Grandy who is not in the long term plans here.”
Yea I don’t really get this idea that Grandy can’t play LF of they don’t know if he can play LF…..why wouldn’t he be able to play LF…..it’s easier than CF
blake,
I may be ready to start hugging Ramirez. If they deal him for Garza and DeJesus I may never recover.
No praise for Warren? Outside that 450′ by Napoli, he was shap, too.
This is what the Fielding Bible has gardner at in plus/minus breakdown for when he was in Cf:
* Deep fly balls: plus-6
* Medium fly balls: plus-1
* Shallow fly balls: plus-4
So I don’t think its a given that Gardner is worse than Granderson or somehow deficient in going back on balls.
You & Yanksfem keep me up to date on when Ramirez is pitching in Trenton. If I can make it, I’d love to see him pitch w/you guys before he gets to the big club for good.
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You got it. We’ll sit in Cash’s section
“blake,
I may be ready to start hugging Ramirez. If they deal him for Garza and DeJesus I may never recover.”
I worry….until Garza is traded or signed I worry…..Jose looks like the real deal man…..as you say he throws just a heavy ball and with that CU that’s a recipe for success. Tighten up the slider and stay healthy a year and he could be ready by 2014
G. Love March 3rd, 2013 at 5:56 pm
blake,
I may be ready to start hugging Ramirez. If they deal him for Garza and DeJesus I may never recover.
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Pitching wins…oh, wait
I actually missed Warren ….I’ll watch later and wax poetic about him tonight if appropriate. I know in his first outing it really looked like his fastball was sneaking up on guys…..they said he lengthened his stride this winter
Warren looked sharp. Napoli hit a 500Ft HR to CF off of him but otherwise he was good. I’m not blown away by his stuff though. He did pitch Pedey inside high and tight and made him swing wildly at a pitch which was nice to see.
I would start Gardner in CF and just leave him there. What happens if Mesa makes the team and you want to pinch hit for him. Gardner has to move over anyway, I agree stupid thinking here.
Hey Tom
I just got a coupon in the mail for pods, if you are still thinking about using them. It’s valpak13
G Love, the kid’s got an uber-arm; I fell in love with it in 2010 the first time I saw him. I wish I had filmed that game; he was that good. He had something like 11K’s and his changeup was LOL good. He should be pitching on the Trenton opening week April 11+ homestand.
Nice BB game on CBS. 1:40 left 56-54 Mich and State
Jerkface,
If you’re addressing me, I guess it’s their eyes against mine
I don’t really care where they put him. He did a great job in left, seems comfortable there. If they want to move him to CF, that’s all one to me. They thought Russ Martin was a better go-to catcher than Jesus Montero, so I’ve given up trying to figure them out. If they were a championship caliber team then these things would make a difference to me.
If it were my call, however, I’d put Mesa there, if they think Mesa is going to be some kind of regular. That’s the dubious part – that he can make enough contact and walk the bare minimum to stay in the lineup. He can hit HRs all day if they feed him fastballs, but he’s got to have another way to get on. As a defender, I don’t think it would get much better than Mesa. He doesn’t appear as seamless as Mason Williams, but he gets good jumps and has a killer arm, and can make the acrobatic catch when he has to.
Somebody describe hit machine Tyler Austin’s hit….I missed it too
yankeefeminista March 3rd, 2013 at 6:04 pm
G Love, the kid’s got an uber-arm; I fell in love with it in 2010 the first time I saw him. I wish I had filmed that game; he was that good. He had something like 11K’s and his changeup was LOL good. He should be pitching on the Trenton opening week April 11+ homestand.
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MLB has the replay listed but they didn’t show it at 4 p.m, as listed. I had wanted to watch Jo-Ram’s first inning without that stupid split screen. I even said to my wife, they better not have one of those up-close-and-personal interviews while Ramirez is pitching. Sure enough…
Mesa was sensational in CF for Trenton; it’ll be interesting to see him man the NYS CF. Ugh, just recalling players manning the Trenton CF, makes me remember all those great games I saw AJax field in Trenton. Mesa definitely has the best arm of all our current and former prospect CF’s.
Pruf, I know (split-screen). I am watching the YES archive, but I should have watched NESN’s.
I also missed the last few innings. I didn’t see Jo-Ram’s third inning, because I assumed he was done and had to go out. Somebody’s going to replay the game…YES late tonight? MLB sometime tonight? YES tomorrow morning?
I haven’t seen Austin’s AB. Watching the archive now; what inning was it?
YES is supposedly replaying it at 7PM.
There was a nice Joba profile on Yankee Access today, btw.
Pruf, I know (split-screen). I am watching the YES archive, but I should have watched NESN’s.
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Listen to the Red Sox guys drool over Ramirez.
If you’re addressing me, I guess it’s their eyes against mine
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Not really their eyes vs yours, its their complete categorization of every play Gardner makes or doesn’t vs your limited vision and memory of whatever plays you happened to have watched
Which is why defensive metrics and stats are useful.
J-Ram’s CU this way
JF,
Defense resists quantification, but relies on human senses to settle on numbers.
And if I gave them any gravity, I don’t imagine there are numbers that compare Gardner and Mesa as defenders.
Since I’ve seen them both, I’ve arrived at an opinion on who I’d rather have play center. I have no idea what the Yankees’ view is, or what they’ll do.