Spring training Game 19: Yankees vs. Phillies
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Mar 13, 2013 
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YANKEES (6-11)
Derek Jeter SS
Ichiro Suzuki LF
Kevin Youkilis 3B
Juan Rivera 1B
Ben Francisco RF
Matt Diaz DH
Chris Stewart C
Melky Mesa CF
Gil Velazquez 2B
LHP Andy Pettitte (first spring start)
PHILLIES (7-9)
Ben Revere CF
Kevin Frandsen DH
Chase Utley 2B
John Mayberry Jr. 1B
Domonic Brown RF
Darin Ruf LF
Josh Fields 3B
Freddy Galvis SS
Humberto Quintero C
LHP Cliff Lee (0-0, 5.19 ERA)
TIME/TV: 7:05 p.m., YES Network
WEATHER: Temperatures in the mid to low 60s. No real chance of rain.
UMPIRES: HP Kolin Kline, 1B Marty Foster, 2B Dan Iassogna, 3B Manny Gonzalez
ON THE ROAD: My first day of video training wrapped up about an hour ago. I won’t be there tonight, and tomorrow is a full day of training so I’m not sure I’ll have a bit of content to provide. Just hang tight, and we’ll be back to normal on Friday. Like I did today, I’ll try to sneak away from training from time to time in order to post a few things here and there.
FIRST TIMERS: Derek Jeter is in the field for the first time this spring, Andy Pettitte is in a regular game for the first time this spring, and Ben Francisco is in the Yankees lineup for the first time this spring.
OUT OF THE PEN: Mariano Rivera is scheduled to pitch out of the bullpen today. According to the Yankees game notes, David Aardsma and Cody Eppley are also scheduled to pitch.
WHAT TO WATCH: Well, for starters, watch how Jeter moves at shortstop and how Pettitte looks on the mound. I don’t think there’s any real concern about Pettitte at this point — he’s been happy with most of his simulated and bullpen work — but Jeter hasn’t really tested his ankle with real reaction moves in the field. He’s taken a lot of grounders, but nothing quite like game action. … Obviously it will be interesting to watch Francisco. He’s got about two weeks to make an impression and win a job. So far, Matt Diaz hasn’t done much to claim a bench job, and Juan Rivera migth be needed at first base. … Melky Mesa seems to be still in the mix as a Curtis Granderson replacement, but his offensive numbers have dragged significantly in the past two weeks or so.
Go Andy! Go Jeet! Go Mo! Go Yanks!
K
how does pettitte look?
So far so good. Atta boy, Fake Melky.
Go Jeet!
kd says:
March 13, 2013 at 7:11 pm
how does pettitte look?
Pretty much like Andy
Youk crushes it.
Youk gets a “YOOOOUK” after a double off the top of the wall.
Youk crushed that
blake’s in mid-season form in spring training…. i love it
Ben Francisco just cemented his spot at the Yankee clean up hitter.
Wow. Ben Francisco with a nice debut.
Good work!
Ben Francisco….true yankee
Funniest line – Joel Sherman says that the Yankees are tepid on Boesch because of his defense.
Sorry, a team that employed Raul Ibanez in LF for most of the year does not get to say that they are worried about anyone’s defense…ever.
Blake -
Ben Francisco…the right handed Chris Dickerson!!!
Rivera making the Teix-like stab. Ugh
@BryanHoch
Three #Yankees cuts tonight: Adam Warren, Corban Joseph, Zoilo Almonte. All optioned to Triple-A.
Shorten up, Melkito.
Ah looked outsid
Look at Mesa checking out the bat like that might be the problem lol.. like him already.
And omg, Quantrill… awful.
*outside
Shame, uh-huh. Only Yankee I ever booed. :hide:
Go, Jeet!
Oh well….guess Zoological is out
BS calls
So at this point I think the options the Yankees are looking at are:
1. Rivera at 1b with Mesa in CF and a bench of: Stewart, Francisco, Nix, Nunez
2. Mustelier at 3b with Rivera in LF and a bench of: Stewart, Francisco, Nix, Nunez
3. Get a LH OF and have Rivera at 1b with a bench of: Francisco, Stewart, Nix, Nunez
4. Mustelier at 3b, Youk at 1b, new LH OF and a bench of: Francisco, Stewart, Rivera, Nix
If I was handicapping it today I would say that option 2 is the most likely
Very interesting that Heathcott is still around
Atta boy, Jeet!
Chip the difference is they got Ibanez for his bat and then Gardner went down an he filled in. And the problem was they did not e er think Gardners injury was going to last the entire season. He kept rehabbing and feeling fine.
Ibanez gets too much grief here.
This year, they have a reason to look for someone a little less one dimensional. But pickings ARE slim this time of year.
I am just glad that to this point, no trades are going to be made for short term help. Dumpster dive all they need to. Just don’t part with pieces that could be better used later on (whether that is to keep or to trade)
Ichi!
Injuries aee inevitable, But you have to have a contingency plan. We didn’t have one; the bench was one-dimensional and it was predictable that it would come back to bite us. Not Ibanez’s fault but lack of Yankee foresight made us vulnerable.
I cannot believe I am sitting here thinking “go Youk!”
Weird.
Doreen, QFT!
Oh yankeefeminista, they had a very good bench lady year and it was not the defense that let them down last year. It was offense. And while Ibanez was inconsistent, he was more “clutch” than most.
There is no way they win 95 games last year without their bench, as imperfect as it might have been.
blake March 13th, 2013 at 7:37 pm
Very interesting that Heathcott is still around
————
Was thinking the same.. maybe they figure if the guy kills himself out on the field it’s better he does so for the big club!
I was trying to think of mostly awful Yankees I witnessed.. Dale Berra just stuck out on the historical side of things lol. Weird coincidence: a list of the top 10 Yankees probably consists of mostly position players with maybe one or two pitcher exceptions, a list of the top 10 worst Yankees could be comprised entirely of pitchers and might still pass a Yankee expert litmus test as not totally ridiculous.
Last year not lady year. I hate autocorrect.
At least we got Zoological (Zoilo’s nickname) out of autocorrect. Sometimes it can be pretty whimsical.
Is that where it came from?? I wondered. Cute.
@RangerBlake
INF Jurickson Profar has been added to Team Netherlands roster for Final Round of 2013 World Baseball Classic.
!!!!!!!!!!!
Yuck
I agree that it’s interesting that Slade is still in major league camp, but I just can’t see the Yankees bringing a kid from A ball straight to the Majors.
Kingdom of Prospects adds Jurickson Profar to its honkbal roster in the WBC
Heathcott is actually a more complete player than both Zoilo and Melky M. Plus Heathcott is deeper into ST form having played in Arizona Fall league.
Dom still shortening up, missed the AB.
Nice play by Youuuk.
Shame, How can they do that? Did someone get hurt?
YOUK! Oh. Too bad he cant play first and thrd simultaneously.
I guess Profar is not gonna make the rangers ML team?
Rivera keeps hitting.
Rivera flashed some leather. Yanks will keep him for 4th of and first base…
“Injuries aee inevitable, But you have to have a contingency plan. We didn’t have one; the bench was one-dimensional and it was predictable that it would come back to bite us. Not Ibanez’s fault but lack of Yankee foresight made us vulnerable.”
Yeah I agree. Not to mention that Joe was talking about platooning Gardner ( mostly with Jones I think) even before he got hurt.
“Was thinking the same.. maybe they figure if the guy kills himself out on the field it’s better he does so for the big club!”
Yea I mean I think he could probably hold his own now….he’d probably have ABs and nights where he was overmatched but I think he could play defense and make some things happen offensively…..
Of course they’d be rushing him and using service time…..
Doreen – Honestly, I have no clue how/why they can add him now. Not sure if they can change up the roster after ever round, but it’s likely sort of like the playoffs. Once the ALDS is over, you get to pick new guys, right? Probably the same premise.
Another weird thing is sitting here hoping Diaz does not hit …
Haha, oh well
There ya go!!
Melky 2.0 ripped that
Jorge sighting. Hip Hip!
This really is some of the worst D I’ve seen in a while in ST. I’m only flipping back and forth but every time I turn on a game I feel like someone is flubbing a routine play.
The Fake M. can clobber FB’s.
You playing Flyers, Shame?
Oh, my lee is not in mid-season form at all
Cliffie getting ruffled.
Buh-bye, Cliff.
That was our best game ever against Cliff Lee!
Too bad it was spring training.
You can see what Fake Melky can do for us if he can get on base.
//
Youk looks really good at the plate.
///
Go DJ!
@MLB_PR
The #Netherlands added IF Jurickson Profar to its #WBC roster for Championship Round, replacing injured Yurendell De Caster.
So its an injury replacement.
Musty and Melky to the majors plz!
yankeefeminista March 13th, 2013 at 8:04 pm
The Fake M. can clobber FB’s.
///
Yep, the swing makes my skin crawl, tho
Musty and Melky to the majors plz!
///
Not like we have anyone better
• 86w183 March 13th, 2013 at 3:24 pm
True story — my confirmation name is Michael — I asked for Mickey, but was told by a nun there was no Saint Mickey.
She was not amused when I told her there should be.
This occurred at St. Nicholas of Tolentine on Fordham Road and University Avenue in 1968, St. Mickey’s last season.
///
Great story
As much as I don’t want Juan Rivera to make this team; the fact is the guy keeps hitting so I don’t see any way they don’t take him north.
Shame,
When my daughters were little, at Tee ball and slow pitch levels, I told them to keep running until the other team stopped throwing the ball around. That’s what this game looks like, strategy works.
Fem – Yep, we’ve got an early lead but the Flyers are playing some sloppy hockey. Could see this being a 5-4 or 6-5 game if things don’t tighten up.
• ac1 March 13th, 2013 at 1:11 pm
I would hate for any of our homegrowns to go to Texas. Ugh.
__
Me too but Joba is all but gone after 2013 anyways. Yankees failed us and him…. He had the tools to be a #1 or #2 starter, even on this team. They screwed with him, he got hurt, they screwed him some more, then dropped him to 4th on the bullpen depth chart. What a waste!
///
Odds, Yankfem:
ac1 is as militant as any of us. I say he’s an automatic for admission.
tomingeorgia March 13th, 2013 at 8:09 pm
Shame,
When my daughters were little, at Tee ball and slow pitch levels, I told them to keep running until the other team stopped throwing the ball around. That’s what this game looks like, strategy works.
That’s exactly what’s going on!
yankeefeminista March 13th, 2013 at 8:03 pm
Jorge sighting. Hip Hip!
///
Such a comfort to see him.
Shame, Flyers blew a 4-1 lead against us last week in Philly. Great fun. Their D has been porous, and their goaltending suspect.
Chip says:
March 13, 2013 at 8:09 pm
As much as I don’t want Juan Rivera to make this team; the fact is the guy keeps hitting so I don’t see any way they don’t take him north.
It’s inevitable
Josh Norris@jnorris427
A little bit of news for y’all: Rob Lyerly, last year’s opening day @TrentonThunder first baseman, has retired. #Yankees
_____
Good luck to Lyerly. Norris said he was going to go back to school.
I dunno if there’s a team that can consistently be relied upon to have suspect goal tending year in and year out like you can with the Flyers.
Is this Grandy I’m listening to..?
The crazy thing is while we’re all poking at our Juan Rivera voodoo dolls, you just know someone actually important will be the one to end up injured.
I agree on Rivera. I wish others had made a case.
Grandy is such a great guy.. incredibly thoughtful, well spoken and an awesome advocate for the game. If we weren’t on a budget I’d love to keep him.. batting 8th and playing LF.
Shame,
Granderson exemplifies the kind of player the Yankees SHOULD be filling their roster with, assuming they are also talented. He has a long career in baseball PR after he stops playing. Guarantee he goes into broadcasting in some fashion.
Shame, it was Grandy indeed.
I don’t want to lose that guy…
Grandy does wonderful work with kids in his Grand Kids. Got to love him.
“He has a long career in baseball PR after he stops playing. Guarantee he goes into broadcasting in some fashion.”
I think he certainly could if he chooses….he seems like the sort that may opt to do something more difference making for the world than calling baseball games though
Pruf, yes, ac1 gets an admission ticket.
He’s the type of guy we wouldn’t have had to think twice about keeping in the past. He’s not a middle of the order bat but he has power and would play good D in our larger LF.
blake, agree. Grandy will “be the change.”
Sure we have room for.one more
Also, get used to me saying this: I love Al Leiter.
I’d play beer pong with that guy any day of the week.
yankeefeminista March 13th, 2013 at 8:15 pm
Shame, Flyers blew a 4-1 lead against us last week in Philly. Great fun. Their D has been porous, and their goaltending suspect.
///
They spent like the entire first period on the power play, a couple of them cheap calls, and once the game came down to 5-on-5, we kicked their butt.
And then Hartnell cried about his above the crossbar knock being disqualified; he admitted it was probably the correct call, but added: “you’d think at home, you might get that call.” !!! It wasn’t enough you got an offside goal – by like 10 feet offside – that was the gamewinner in that elimination game in the playoffs against us.
The Flyers’ sense of entitlement has been the same every since the 1970s. And they haven’t won since, and they won’t ever win. Eat it, Flyers
Hartnell is the King of Whine.
Shame, Cone is welcome to hang out as well.
Rivera got a ball right over the plate…
Against All Odds March 13th, 2013 at 8:30 pm
Sure we have room for.one more
yankeefeminista March 13th, 2013 at 8:28 pm
Pruf, yes, ac1 gets an admission ticket.
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yankeefeminista March 13th, 2013 at 8:31 pm
Hartnell is the King of Whine.
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We need someone who is not a defenseman to hand his head to him one day. Make Engelland a forward – god knows he’s a wanting D.
The Presence is entering the game.
Mo’s pitching next.
What is the difference between DEEaz and DIEaz…?
Pruf, unfortunately, Rupp got too expensive.
Shame Spencer March 13th, 2013 at 8:30 pm
Also, get used to me saying this: I love Al Leiter.
I’d play beer pong with that guy any day of the week.
///
Leiter’s sense of wonder, and the rise and fall of his voice, are just great listening. I also loved the way he would agitatedly walk around the mound and exhort himself, like some of the folks you see on the Upper Westside on the platform. People give those folks a lot of room
Pirela at SS. Help!
Ok, Kay was wrong. I was wondering why we would ever put Pirela at SS. Phew.
Rupp was an awesome player.. not the most skilled guy but a great player in his role.
There are pictures somewhere of Leiter playing beer pong at a college party. Apparently, and this was after he retired mind you, he ran into a bunch of bros at a bar and they were like ‘OMG you’re Al Leiter! Come to our house party!’ And.. he totally did and played beer pong with them. If only he had been with David Wells at the time..
Pirela’s nickname is petey. Damn it, Girardi.
Fem – Rupp was a huge loss, in that regard. Huge. The problem is, with the cap and all, these guys that are like support guys and role players want to get paid well. He could also score the odd goal for you, his hands are pretty good. But we are so top-heavy (a good thing) that we just have to recycle that guy, and that’s as it should be. It’s just that Sid and Malkin need someone to knock heads in when people breathe too heavily on them. I really do not ever want to see Neal again wasting his golden wrists by pounding someone’s face in. That’s got to stop. If I were Bylsma-Shero, I’d tell Neal he’s fined if he does that again.
Shame, Rupp has pretty good hands for an enforcer type. Actually.
Pruf, Neal needs to calm down and stop mixing it up. Skill needs to stay on the ice.
Mo!
Too bad about Lyerly. Although his loss is the infield’s gain, he is a good hitter. Never saw anyone have so much trouble trying to field the ball, though. High center of gravity, but it didn’t seem to affect his hitting. I wish him well.
Fem – Oh without a doubt, but there are very few guys in the league, even as enforcers, that aren’t good puck handlers in this new incarnation of hockey. I was always impressed with how he could block guys off with his body and just control the puck one handed while fighting a guy off.
DEEaz, spanish pronunciation. DIEaz, Portland, Oregon pronunciation?
Shame, yep, and has a pretty good wrist shot to boot.
The cap effs with the NHL just like it does with the NFL (which a lot of people are talking about right now given the recent moves). Caps blow. They have no place in sports!!
Shame Spencer March 13th, 2013 at 8:39 pm
Rupp was an awesome player.. not the most skilled guy but a great player in his role.
///
He does have skills, though, especially the last 10 feet. He is a decent tip-in type. He can get his stick on the puck down low; that’s definitely a skill.
I’ve been calling him Diaz and only just realized he calls himself DIEaz. From now on I’ll only call him DIEaz on here.
Ugh, the Cap in football especially blows.
Pruf, true, very good at deflections. Good hand-eye for a big man/4th liner.
Shame, I hadn’t noticed your faux pas.
Have a good AB, Fake M.
Yea the cap is a joke. Can’t believe the Jets are going to move Revis. Idiots.
Fem, yes. It’s no coincidence that guys who can pummel you before you can respond also have decent hands.
I really just meant ‘skill’ in comparison to your more prototypical goal scoring forwards. I loved Rupp. He scored the most important goals for the Devils in ’03. The fans there still love him for what he brought to the table. I’d trade a couple of our guys for him right now, tbh.
God the Flyers are a mess.. can’t believe the seasons almost over.
J. Alfred Prufrock March 13th, 2013 at 8:47 pm
Yea the cap is a joke. Can’t believe the Jets are going to move Revis. Idiots.
————–
For a league making 10s of billions of dollars a SEASON, it’s an embarrassment. At least the NHL has a better excuse (as a 1 billion dollar a year institution).
Shame, I hated to lose him. But he just got too expensive.
Pruf, the Jets cap space is a joke. Mike T. screwed them good.
More awful D on the baseball side of things lol!! Man the Phillies and Flyers are sort of in the same boat, huh?
Thank god the Phillies have all the offense to get them through he season
Was that a rumor or fact that Lohud is going to facebook?
Pruf, Lyerly upheld the bad IF D we have been played with in Trenton. But he DID have a nice bat.
Speaking of which, Aardsma looking like the Trenton Aardsma.
For a league making 10s of billions of dollars a SEASON, it’s an embarrassment. At least the NHL has a better excuse (as a 1 billion dollar a year institution).
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The Jets are idiots, though. They don’t have to trade Revis, and they’re never never never never going to get equal value for him.
The problem with the Jets is, they buy into the media & TALK RADIO view of them. They now think they’re a “rebuilding” team when that isn’t necessarily the case. The Jets had injuries last year, including nearly their entire receiver corps that’s experienced being out. That’s huge. They get rid of Revis, they destroy any chance they have of competing. They forget this team came within a game of the SB two years ago. It’s essentially the same group. Their biggest problem is they’ve never had an answer for losing Jenkins. Of course, he was old and injury prone when we got him, but he had that one healthy stretch and the defense was just insane. When he went down, people still talked about the defense as if he was still in the middle. Devito and Pouha are hardly going to make anyone forget a guy that quick and that big and dominant. They never adjusted to not having him there.
Speaking of which, Aardsma looking like the Trenton Aardsma.
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I don’t really buy Aardsma either.
Watching a baseball game, and a hockey game breaks out.
Was that a rumor or fact that Lohud is going to facebook?
–
Speculation, but the new theme keeps the same posting system.
Thank god the Phillies have all the offense to get them through he season
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The dude I’ve wanted since last year’s Eastern League playoffs is Tommy Joseph. Like his bat, like his glove. But Girardi doesn’t like catchers who can actually hit, so we’d probably never approach them on that. And I’m sure it would take too much going back to get him any way. I’m sure they’d like to keep him for themselves.
JF told LoHud he doesn’t adjust well to change and they decided to update all of the other blogs and leave this one alone
Holy Crap. Melky Mesa is the best CF in the system.
That’s our CF, nice catch Melky. Looks like he got hurt.
Unbelievable catch by Mesa…..Aardsma looks pretty crappy
Melky 2, nice. Now if you could only hit.
This is what I mean about Mesa: he is the best OF defender the Yankees have: sorry Brett.
If he can get just get on base more, he’ll be a major difference maker on defense. Looked like he was limping there.
Melky with the good catch and throw, pirela with the bad one. Two sides of the same coin.
Good, I don’t want Lohud to have any connection to my sparingly used facebook.
Mesa is a really good defender no joke….that was a gold glove type play
The Jets aren’t very well run.. Woody seems like an insecure owner to me. They had a great combo of young guys and vets going on over there. If it were me, I woulda fired Rex after last year’s nightmare. He hasn’t brought the stellar D he’s promised and I really think he’s completely lost that team.
Should have been a DP if executed properly.
That was a pretty catch.
Bad drafts, too much money spent on too few players; misuse of material, no understanding of how to run an offense, and an overrated D. Yep. Too bad I am a lifer.
blake March 13th, 2013 at 9:02 pm
Mesa is a really good defender no joke….that was a gold glove type play
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Right, and there’s no reason in the world that this guy, should he make the team, should play left field.
You saw all he brings on the play: good jump, great legs, leaping ability to make that play, arm. He does that routinely in Trenton. He’s a stud. Wish to hell he could cope with the breaking ball.
Mesa seems to have been the guy targeted early on to make the club once Grandy went down. Hide him in the 8 or 9 hole and hope he gets a couple of hits at the onset so he can feel comfortable in box. Dude is clearly ready to roam the field, which never has seemed to be in question.
Typical day at the office for F. Melky. He was dominant out there in Trenton.
I’m trying to remember Granderson’s incredible catch… was that against the Tigers in the playoffs? Am I making this up?
tomingeorgia March 13th, 2013 at 9:01 pm
Melky 2, nice. Now if you could only hit.
—————-
With the D first mentality we’ve got going on, I assume they’re hoping he prevents more runs to make up for it
Doreen March 13th, 2013 at 9:03 pm
That was a pretty catch.
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Doreen, as a Trenton veteran, you know that play is no sweat for Mesa.
I’m trying to remember Granderson’s incredible catch… was that against the Tigers in the playoffs? Am I making this up?
–
2011
That catch by Melky was Ajax-esque
Zoological is PR.
Right, and there’s no reason in the world that this guy, should he make the team, should play left field.
————————-
The only reason, and I mean this sincerely, that I would argue they should still go with Gardner at CF is to avoid any issue/hublub when Grandy comes back and they want to slot him in LF. That being said, if Mesa makes the team they’ll probably rotate him in and out with Gardner in CF when he’s out… and Girardi will start Grandy in CF when he comes back anyway.
Girardi takes the word moot to new levels sometimes.
RadioKev March 13th, 2013 at 9:05 pm
I’m trying to remember Granderson’s incredible catch… was that against the Tigers in the playoffs? Am I making this up?
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Two years ago, yeah. He made two of ‘em. Granderson has made some great plays in CF. I think he was overworked last year, and judging by how he slowed down, and by him missing some pitches by a mile, there may be some vision issue. But I think those things can be fixed: rest, and new contact lenses??
Undeniably, F. Melky and Ajax are best two that I’ve seen in Trenton.
Nah, Melky should play CF.
The only reason, and I mean this sincerely, that I would argue they should still go with Gardner at CF is to avoid any issue/hublub when Grandy comes back and they want to slot him in LF. That being said, if Mesa makes the team they’ll probably rotate him in and out with Gardner in CF when he’s out… and Girardi will start Grandy in CF when he comes back anyway.
//
I think if Melky’s playing, he’s the CF, over both of them. He’s just better. But if you had those 3 guys, or even Gardner, Fake Melk and Ichiro, sh!t you have a blanket over the OF. Amazing coverage.
yankeefeminista March 13th, 2013 at 9:09 pm
Undeniably, F. Melky and Ajax are best two that I’ve seen in Trenton.
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Crap. Coulda had both of ‘em.
blake March 13th, 2013 at 9:06 pm
That catch by Melky was Ajax-esque
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It really was. IMO, AJax is the better pure route guy, Mesa does everything well and has the crazy arm. Both are insanely good. Wish we still had AJax.
Pruf, remember that homerun-robbing catch AJax made on Wes Hodges, bringing the ball back into the ballpark vs. Akron in the 2008 playoffs?
I can’t argue with that, my reasoning is based on something I don’t generally promote (aka: placement based on something other than straight up skill).
Jerkface March 13th, 2013 at 9:02 pm
Melky with the good catch and throw, pirela with the bad one. Two sides of the same coin.
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Trenton pitchers probably have had nightmares about Pirela. When he was at short..there are no words.
Then AJax robbed Matt Whitney of a homer in that same Trenton playoff game in the top of the 5th. LOL.
Yankeefem – yes I remember! :drool:
blake, I agree that AJax runs better routes, but they are both pretty phenomenal.
Anyone of note in this game now beyond Zoological?
Hello Shame my darling, Hey there Fem and Tom.
Hi comet, hope you and yours are well!
Terrible D in the WBC as well.. consistently.
What up, comet? How’ve you been?
Shame, I get what you’re saying, but I really think that Gardner in left and Mesa in center is just optimal, if Mesa is making this team. I think Gardner has been a revelation in left, that it suits him perfectly, and that Mesa just can’t be denied in center. But seniority may play a role – we’ll see. And you’re probably right, that they’ll move guys around. We have four OF who can all play all 3 positions; that’s crazy.
Hey, comet! Good to see you around.
Will the Yankees still be playing GBA when only the drones are left?
Is Zoilo still in? I thought I read today Almonte, Joseph and Warren were optioned today?
Mustelier in the game! Hope he can get another PA. They’ll need to get 3 base runners.
exiledintampa March 13th, 2013 at 9:26 pm
Is Zoilo still in? I thought I read today Almonte, Joseph and Warren were optioned today?
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They were. They can still use them, though. They’re just “across the street”.
“Right, and there’s no reason in the world that this guy, should he make the team, should play left field.”
Hey J Alfred
I disagree. Unless you think Mesa is here to stay at CF, Gardner should start and stay in CF for the whole year.
Even if Mesa makes the team he will not be a full time player. He will pinch hit for and probably platooned. So you will have an outfield that is a constant state of flux. Just not worth any defensive increase he can give you over Gardner.
If this was a situation of him winning the job and sticking around all year I would think differently. But nor for a part time/short time player. Park Gardner in CF and leave him there.
JAP,
Seems to me that the Yanks have a history, beyond hitting catchers, of hitting outfielders. While I admired that catch, the man can’t hit a lick.
We have four OF who can all play all 3 positions; that’s crazy.
————
It’s really awesome. I’m just trying to figure out who they’ll platoon with Melky. I feel like it’d be better to just play the kid every day so he can relax.. but you just know they won’t.
Can someone throw off speed pitches at Mesa for two hours a day please?!
yankeefeminista says:
March 13, 2013 at 9:18 pm
blake, I agree that AJax runs better routes, but they are both pretty phenomenal.
Yea I just meant the closing speed and how he just kinda glided to the ball….Ajax never really looks taxed going after balls
I know it’s early and he’s coming back from injury…,, but I haven’t seen much from Aardsma to tell me he can be a useful reliever yet….maybe it’s in there and will come out….but he doesn’t look real good to me at all
Italy SS just fielded that one like a high schooler
blake March 13th, 2013 at 9:33 pm
Italy SS just fielded that one like a high schooler
————–
That’s 3 plays in a row that came his way and he flubbed. One was understandable, the other was hit hard but should have been an out, and the third that you’re referencing was a mess.
Maybe Mesa needs to seek advice from Pedro Serrano…..seriously he’s sorta the ability to hit breaking pitches away from being a really good player
“That’s 3 plays in a row that came his way and he flubbed. One was understandable, the other was hit hard but should have been an out, and the third that you’re referencing was a mess.”
He’s tentative now…..on his heels….can’t play SS like that cause the ball will find you
Hi Gals & Guys:
I’m well thanks. Hope all are well out there.
I’d agree with you Shame but if Melky doesn’t hit righties then they need to do some platooning. He’ll do better if he has success.
Blake, I know what you mean. Also AJax and F.Melky have different body types. Melky has the body of more of a 100 meter sprinter. AJax is a rabbit, lithe/longer limbed.
At least F.Melky has reverse splits as a righty. So, not as bad as if he hit lefties better. Melky should play CF because he is the better fielder and also they intend to put Grandy back in CF when he returns.
comet, Melky hits righties better than lefties.
“Italy SS just fielded that one like a high schooler”
Yeah he needs to field it “cleanly”.
Maybe Mesa needs to seek advice from Pedro Serrano…..seriously he’s sorta the ability to hit breaking pitches away from being a really good player
___
Yep, this unfortunately has been his history and continues to be…
Aardsma has been awful whenever I have seen him (mostly in Trenton). Doesn’t look like his velo is coming back any time soon.
comet – I think guys tense up when they know they’re coming out against certain pitchers or under specific circumstances.. I think guys can play more loose if they know they’ll get the playing time. For me, thinking of this as the typical Yankees and maybe not the depleted Yankees that we are right now, I think an injury like Grandy’s that should only take you to May is the perfect chance to give a young guy that test of putting him in there daily.
That being said…. I think, unfortunately, we’re going to have a lot of trouble producing runs consistently and Girardi will have no choice but to shuffle them around. I don’t see many back to back games with the same batting order happening this year. Maybe GTLU is due for a return…?
yankeefeminista says:
March 13, 2013 at 9:39 pm
Aardsma has been awful whenever I have seen him (mostly in Trenton). Doesn’t look like his velo is coming back any time soon.
I don’t know if he can be effective at 90/91….
Melky…..
blake, he can’t be.
Hey J Alfred
I disagree. Unless you think Mesa is here to stay at CF, Gardner should start and stay in CF for the whole year.
Even if Mesa makes the team he will not be a full time player. He will pinch hit for and probably platooned. So you will have an outfield that is a constant state of flux. Just not worth any defensive increase he can give you over Gardner.
///
I see your point, Tar, but even if Mesa were on the bench, I’d have him come in to play CF and move Gardner to left if we had a late lead.
It’s not unusual to put a better defender in as a late game replacement; they could just move Gardner over. I don’t think there’s any dis involved here to Gardner, at least, I don’t see it that way. No, I don’t think Mesa right now can be an everyday player, but this team is so starved for batspeed and youth, you never know. He seriously needs help. If he could deal with offspeed pitches, he’d already be a star, and having lost Montero would not be the big deal it was. If he could just learn to walk some, but it’s not something a player just is able to do. There’s a reason guys like Mesa and Kelvin DeLeon, with all their toolsiness, have trouble advancing.
I can’t emphasize enough though what a real difference maker I think Mesa is in center.
It seems like its really soon for Aardsma to be airing it out. Anybody know how many innings he’s thrown since surgery?
Typical Melky AB… too bad he doesn’t have the Real Melky’s ability to hit breaking stuff.
So are they considering other options than Aardsma? If he’s not gonna be any better then it’d make it awfully hard to deal Joba if they were considering that….
If you just throw a guy breaking balls and off speed stuff for hours on end every day and force him to try to adjust to hit the ball….. is that the same thing as dropping yourself in a foreign country to force yourself to learn a language? Is this a mental thing or a physical ability..? Because I’ve always figured if you can hit, you can hit anything.. you just need to know how to adjust.
…I guess if you have a specific swing, it’s hard to adjust without screwing with your mechanics. Is that it? So it’s like a combo of muscle memory and baseball smarts?
seriously he’s sorta the ability to hit breaking pitches away from being a really good player
///
Been saying this forever. Keep waiting for him to get it. It’s extremely frustrating.
Tar, he threw a 6.2 in our minors in 2012. About 4IP in 2011.
Real and Fake Melky merged, you’ve got a superstar
Kelly looks better than Aardsma
Italy pulled their SS….given magnitude of the game kinda had to….it was clearly in his head
“Real and Fake Melky merged, you’ve got a superstar”
QFT.
Where’s Rondon? Can he come back?!
..I liked him.
J alfred
The way I look at it is Gardner is way more important to the Yankees success this year than Mesa. I want GGBG to be as confident and comfortable as possible. It’s not about a diss on Gardner. IMO Gardner’s D is a given, I don’t want him to be thinking about it. Moving around from game to game and even in game is going to take its toll. I want him to not even think about his D and just become the on base machine I think he’s capable of. I like the stability of parking Gardner in CF all year.
yankeefeminista says:
March 13, 2013 at 9:49 pm
“Real and Fake Melky merged, you’ve got a superstar”
Probably a 4th outfielder to Cash
Tar, they won’t do it; they’ve said so. They aren’t going to have Grandy come back to learn LF without getting the ST reps.
Look how many open seats there are in Miami.. maybe it’s just the lower bowl? That overhead shot looked awful.
*without having gotten the ST reps.
7 and 11. When did that happen. I can remember 3 wins.
Thanks YF
It is real early in his comeback. I do wonder what the normal time frame is for a pitcher to re-gain their velocity after surgery?
blake, sad but true.
tomingeorgia March 13th, 2013 at 9:29 pm
JAP,
Seems to me that the Yanks have a history, beyond hitting catchers, of hitting outfielders. While I admired that catch, the man can’t hit a lick.
///
tom, you have put your finger on the issue
Shame,
Plate discipline: ie the ability to tell pitch types and balls from strikes, is an innate skill. You can hone it to some degree, but for the most part hackers will be hackers. Melky has played so much baseball that there isn’t really going to be much he can do.
You can throw a guy thousands of curveballs, but its not just curveballs that are the problem, its being able to tell a curveball from a fastball out of a pitchers hand and have the fortitude not to swing. In a game you have the game situation, the count, the pitcher’s pitch quality itself.
You’re pretty much born with it. The minor leagues are littered with the bones of guys who couldn’t hit a curve, and if it were trainable that would not be the case. They said Barry Bonds could see the pitch type before the pitcher even released the ball.
“Tar, they won’t do it; they’ve said so. They aren’t going to have Grandy come back to learn LF without getting the ST reps.”
Well… Houston we have problem.
That is just the wrong move. And starting Mesa in CF wouldn’t make it anymore right.
Tar,
I understand what you’re saying, and he’s said he’s most comfortable in center. But I think where we part ways is, I don’t like him as much in center as I like him in left. I’m sure he’ll get a lot of time in center, though.
Melky has played so much baseball that there isn’t really going to be much he can do.
///
Yep. If they could have fixed this, this guy would be a star. You never know though, he’s still entering his prime years, and maybe some switch goes on. Unlikely, as I’ve been waiting a few years for this to occur. But never say never.
Tar, they don’t want to put Mesa in LF (assuming he make the team). First of all, he is better and more comfortable in CF. Secondly, Gardner can already play LF. Thirdly, Mesa should give you plus or better D in CF. So, there is some logic in their thinking.
Aardsma had the TJS at end of July, 2011. So, at this point, his velo should have improved more than it has. Where was he sitting tonight? I saw one 91, but I wasn’t paying attention.
JF – Thanks for the explanation. I know it’s easier said than done.. and most guys have very different approaches to begin with, so there’s no one way to hone a particular skill that would work across the board even if you could find a way to do that.
I’d imagine it’s like teaching a pitcher a new or specific type of pitch.. sort of…?
blake March 13th, 2013 at 9:50 pm
yankeefeminista says:
March 13, 2013 at 9:49 pm
“Real and Fake Melky merged, you’ve got a superstar”
Probably a 4th outfielder to Cash
///
Fake Melky cannot recognize a breaking ball
Cash can not recognize players who can recognize a breaking ball …..
I’d imagine it’s like teaching a pitcher a new or specific type of pitch.. sort of…?
–
No you can teach a pitcher a grip or something, or even a new motion. It’d be more like teaching someone who can’t track flyballs to track flyballs. Most of the time they’re just not going to be able to track fly balls, even after all the work.
Hand eye coordination is a talent. Vision, spatial recognition. Talents you’re born with.
Bottom line: Mesa would not even be considered to make this team had Cashman done his job right.
Jerkface March 13th, 2013 at 10:05 pm
I’d imagine it’s like teaching a pitcher a new or specific type of pitch.. sort of…?
–
No you can teach a pitcher a grip or something, or even a new motion. It’d be more like teaching someone who can’t track flyballs to track flyballs. Most of the time they’re just not going to be able to track fly balls, even after all the work.
Hand eye coordination is a talent. Vision, spatial recognition. Talents you’re born with.
——-
Gotcha.. I just thought about how sometimes when pitchers try to add a pitch it can mess with other pitches in their repertoire. But I hear what you’re saying about the inherent talents like the hand eye, etc.
“Tar, they don’t want to put Mesa in LF (assuming he make the team). First of all, he is better and more comfortable in CF. Secondly, Gardner can already play LF. Thirdly, Mesa should give you plus or better D in CF. So, there is some logic in their thinking.”
Like I said Gardner is way more important to the Yankees. Mesa would be perfectly ok in LF. You don’t accommodate a platoon player/ short time player for your starting Center fielder. Any defensive upgrade would be negligible and not worth it, IMO. Too many moving pieces.
The right move IMO is to park Gardner in CF and leave him there. And as you pointed out the Yankees have no intention of doing that.
Beltran chugging..
Put Grilli in!
Tar,
I don’t agree that the upgrade would be negligible. I think it would be significant. The thing that’s legit though is that Mesa’s bat likely can’t keep him in the lineup.
Italy can’t catch a break.
Venditte is coming in to pitch in case anyone is interested
If Italy loses it’s cause they refused to use their best pitcher
Who is this Rivera guy pitching middle relief for the Yankees? Is he on the 40 man roster?
On a more serious note, if Nova always had a shorter arm motion for his breaking ball could that have been picked up by the league last year and been a reason why they seemed to always be sitting on his fastball?
It seems pretty simple, I just wonder why no writer has mentioned it.
On a more serious note, if Nova always had a shorter arm motion for his breaking ball could that have been picked up by the league last year and been a reason why they seemed to always be sitting on his fastball?”
Possible sure
Now it’s just poor decisions. Too bad.
@ElvisandrusSS1: Duck dynasty is so funnie???????????????????? uncle SI is the best ????????????????
Yes
J ALfred
I say”negligible” because people rate Gardner’s defense as elite in CF. So my thinking is how much better than elite can Mesa be?
Every time that kid is pinch hit for Gardner is going to move over to CF and somebody is going to play LF. I can see that happening every game that they are losing. Not to mention platooning, or even if he sticks with the team for more than a couple of weeks. I would even say less stress on Mesa to play LF.
I have no clue why I’m even debating this , the Yankees are going to do the opposite of what I suggest anyway. But in any case it’s good to have a conversation ( even if its in disagreement) with you.
“I have no clue why I’m even debating this , the Yankees are going to do the opposite of what I suggest anyway.”
They used to agree with me more (and perhaps you too) a few years ago.
I’m not sure what happened.
“I’m not sure what happened.”
I was a regular Cashman cheerleader!! I really liked him when he had to answer to the boss. Ever since he won that power struggle, not so much. Power corrupts, absolute….
From eariler, my thinking about why Heathcott is still around might have to do with the Yankees gauging when to promote him to AAA from Trenton. You’d think that since Almonte got cut before him and Almonte is in AAA then Heathcott could be close to AAA. The Yankees are getting a longer look at Heathcott too because they want to maybe have more time to frame the goals of his coaching program and practice regimen.
Tar March 13th, 2013 at 10:41 pm
J ALfred
I say”negligible” because people rate Gardner’s defense as elite in CF. So my thinking is how much better than elite can Mesa be?
///
Tar,
I know that people rate him this way, I just don’t necessarily agree with it. I do love Gardner in left, though, and I think left field in the Stadium has particular challenges that he’s perfectly and peculiarly suited to meeting; I don’t think “everyone” can play left as well as he can. I’ve been watching Mesa in CF forever it seems and he is a monster. I just wish he could lay some wood on the ball more often.
I suspect Heathcott is on the fast track to 2014. The audition for CF in 2014 fits the pattern of Cervelli vs. Romine at catcher this spring. Nobody thought Cervelli could be the Yankees starting catcher. Well…watch Heathcott and Mesa go at it for CF in 2014.
And since Ichiro and Heathcott/Mesa will be out there, I figure maybe the Yankees will make a move to upgrade Gardner. Otherwise, it’s a light hitting outfield.
Every time that kid is pinch hit for Gardner is going to move over to CF and somebody is going to play LF. I can see that happening every game that they are losing. Not to mention platooning, or even if he sticks with the team for more than a couple of weeks. I would even say less stress on Mesa to play LF.
///
THey probably will be a little less mobile, but I see what you’re saying. I still don’t think it’s a big deal for players to be shifted around in the OF. Like I said, they all can cover, so it’ll work out.
And this Cervelli/Romine thing isn’t over. It would be awesome to see JR Murphy join the party in 2014 spring training.
I have no clue why I’m even debating this , the Yankees are going to do the opposite of what I suggest anyway. But in any case it’s good to have a conversation ( even if its in disagreement) with you.
///
Haha, you can bet if I believe in it, they’ll do the opposite. That means Gardner will be the CF and they’ll be doing what you suggest
. I also always enjoy brawling witcha 
JR looked like crap behind the plate in Lakewood a couple years ago but really looked like he belonged last year in Trenton. I wasn’t worried about his bat because he was focused on catching. He’s a better hitter than Romine.
Heathcott hanging around is interesting.
If he doesn’t make the team (which I don’t think he will), he’s coming back up if he plays well. Hope he stays healthy.
So it appears that after giving up pitching Greg Maddux has taken up eating.
Watched the game but haven’t been posting
Mesa with the play of the game with that spectacular catch.
Figures that when Youkilis plays 3rd tonight he gets 4-5 chances to shine and when Mustelier comes in tonight he get’s none. Looking more like Rivera will open at 1st with Johnson cut any day now.
Aardsma outl -Shawn Kelley in?
Francisco in-Neal and Dean out?
Neal and Diaz I mean!
Aardsma’s success was based on a big fastball. I doubt he can succeed at 91. Kelley has looked good, but I’m not sure who he has faced. Today they were minor leaguers. I do think they have some young guys with real potential.
BB Ref’s new spring training stats are great. Kelley’s average is 7.2 without counting today (I think) which is around AA level.
Might Nuno make the team if Logan and/or Rapada are not ready?
YT,
I would support Nuno on the team. He looks pretty capable even with modest stuff.
Mesa can sure play defense. he has a very good arm, especially for a center fielder. I sure pull for him to hit.
Goodnight all
Can’t wait…………….Rivera in the middle of the order in the regular season…..sad.
Is today a holiday?
Maybe everybody’s over at the Met blog hangin with the Hitman.
J. Alfred Prufrock March 13th, 2013 at 11:04 pm
Heathcott hanging around is interesting.
If he doesn’t make the team (which I don’t think he will), he’s coming back up if he plays well. Hope he stays healthy.
———————-
I think Heathcott doing well in the AFL has gone a long way to open their eyes. If he does come back up I see them hoping he has a Bryce Harper like season.
Hitman and his comment over at the Mets blog was hilarious.
Have a nice day everyone.
Well the talk a few months ago was that Heathcott could get a call up in 2013. I imagine this is still the case.
Morning.
IMO the combo of Mustelier at 3b and Youk at 1st is better than Rivera at 1b w Youk at 3rd but I guess the Yankees don’t think so ?
Too bad Mesa can’t hit.
I don’t see Heathcott remaining w the Prent club at this time.
sp: Parent
New one ——>
I guess this “video training” means there’s no hope that you’re going to give up on this silly idea. Moving pictures. Huh. There’s no future in it.