Friday notes: “For me, he looks really good”
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Mar 15, 2013 
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Don’t over think it. That’s essentially what Derek Jeter said after CC Sabathia’s first appearance of the spring. Don’t focus on the lingering concerns of offseason elbow surgery, or the importance of reliable starting pitching.
“I don’t care who we have in our lineup,” Jeter said. “We could have everyone back, it’s still comforting when you know he’s healthy and he’s able to go out there and pitch. That’s how you win. You win with pitching. Everyone knows how important CC is to our team.”
With just over two weeks until Opening Day, the Yankees finally saw their ace this afternoon. Sabathia’s looked healthy for at least a month now, and he passed every test leading up to today’s start. When he finally got on the mound, Sabathia had a rocky first inning — two runs on three hits and a walk — but he settled in. Still quite a few hits, but he pitched out of trouble, didn’t allow another run and didn’t walk another batter while pitching through the fifth.
“He was battling today the first two innings with his fastball, cutting and maybe sinking, just trying to get the rhythm of the game,” catcher Francisco Cervelli said. “But the last two innings, fastball command was really good. His slider, amazing the whole game. But the key for him is to have the location with the fastball all the time, be able to locate the fastball, throw in on the hands, because his ball is so heavy. For me, he looks really good.”
For now, the Yankees rotation looks like a strength. Heath and age are obviously concerns, but in theory, it’s a strong group for this season of presumably diminished offense. And obviously it starts with Sabathia. According to YES Network, his fastball topped out at 90 mph today — “Usually I’m 88-90 (in spring training), so if I’m at 90 today, that’s pretty good,” he said — and there will be two more spring starts to improve his stuff before the season opener.
“You’re always nervous going into a game,” Sabathia said. “A little bit, anyway. If somebody tells they’re not, they’re lying. Just getting out there and facing a different team, facing big-league hitters, there’s that nervousness. As far as getting on the mound and my arm feeling good, I had no problem with that. … I started letting it go early and didn’t have any problems. I felt good. I’ll just keep building in the bullpen, make sure my fastball command gets better and just go from there.”
• Ronnier Mustelier seemed to be in bad shape after he crashed into the railing in front of a third-base camera pit in the fourth inning. When I saw it happen live, I thought his chest took the brunt of the impact, but Mustelier said that wasn’t the worst of it. “It wasn’t serious,” he said. “Most serious was the leg, the right knee and the left hamstring.”
• Mustelier said he was focused on blocking the sun with his glove, which is why he didn’t realize the rail was coming up. “His back was to me,” Jeter said. “I didn’t know if he saw it or not, but he didn’t see it. That was rough.”
• Speaking of Jeter: “There’s nothing to report,” he said. “Honestly, it’s just like any other spring training. When you go out there and you start, you hope you get more ground balls and more action as you move along.”
• Francisco Cervelli went deep today. “Wait another 300 at-bats maybe to hit another one,” he joked.
• Even with Brennan Boesch, the Yankees still need help in the infield. Mustelier at third is clearly an option, but Juan Rivera is hitting .343 while playing a lot of first base lately. “He’s done a good job for us too,” Girardi said. “He’s made all the plays. When you play a position, that’s what you ask players to do. Make all the plays. And he’s done that.”
• Looking for some specifics of Sabathia’s start? “I got some swings and misses on the changeup,” he said. “Started back-dooring the cutter. They were laying off the back foot, so I started back-dooring it and got some swings. That’s just another pitch that we can use during the season.”
• The Yankees won 7-3 despite having just six hits. Jeter had a single, Thomas Neal had another double and Travis Hafner homered; but the offensive star might have been Mustelier’s replacement at third base. Jose Pirela went 2-for-3 with a pair of triples, two runs and one RBI.
• By the way, Mustelier stole a base today. “He’s more athletic than I thought,” Girardi said. “He runs pretty well.”
• Joba Chamberlain was charged with one run, which scored on Dave Robertson’s watch. Mark Montgomery and Vidal Nuno each threw a scoreless inning to close out the win.
• Jorge Posada is back in camp as a guest instructor. Tino Martinez was also here today as the Marlins hitting coach.
• Almost forgot the upcoming Yankees starters:
Saturday: Hiroki Kuroda (home), David Phelps (road)
Sunday: Ivan Nova
Monday: off day
Tuesday: Adam Warren
Wednesday: Vidal Nuno (CC Sabathia in the minor leagues)
Thursday: David Phelps
Friday: Ivan Nova (Hiroki Kuroda in the minor leagues)
Saturday: Andy Pettitte
Sunday: Adam Warren
Associated Press photos
“ST numbers are meaningless….he hasn’t hit in 2 years in games that matter”
They are often illusory, especially for veterans. But whatever. It is what it is.
“They are often illusory, especially for veterans. But whatever. It is what it is.”
Eh they don’t make decisions on ST performance…..if they did then Ibanez wouldn’t have made the team last year and Thames wouldn’t have a couple years ago…..
I think we should get used to a Boesch/Francisco platoon and Rivera at 1B…..
blake March 15th, 2013 at 6:41 pm
“Rivera has done everything the Yankees have asked him to do. They knew he was a poor defender so asking him to play good defense wasn’t going to happen. But he has hit all spring and, much to my chagrin, has earned a spot.”
ST numbers are meaningless….he hasn’t hit in 2 years in games that matter
————
It’s a good reality check, but none of the outfield candidates have much positive recent experience in the majors.
Blake-
That could be it. Boesch/Francisco w. Rivera at 1b.
I think it also makes sense to put Youkilis at 1st w. Mustelier at 3rd.
Rivera Platoons w. Boesch and Francisco hits the Minors in reserve.
Don’t know if Francisco would accept a MiLB assignment ?
Perhaps if there is a drop-dead date w. an opt-out.
Go USA
MTU,
Id prefer that….I just don’t think it’s what they’ll do
Blake-
I tend to agree with you.
I like the Boesch pickup.
Maybe they’ll take Mustelier to BU 3rd and corners, and send Nix down.
Nunez can cover 2b/SS. Cano won’t be out very much anyway.
for me Boesch is a good sign…
@TJQuinnESPN: Breaking: First MLB casualty of Tony Bosch’s Biogenesis clinic in Miami: Tigers minor leaguer Cesar Carrillo suspended 100 games.
@TJQuinnESPN: Sources tell @OTLonESPN Carrillo hit w two offenses: 50 games for being on Biogenesis documents, 50 for lying to MLB about knowing Bosch.
Boesch’s 2011 season was a nice one
This will be the opening day roster. The lineup order may change, but these are the 13 players going north.
Gardner-CF
Jeter-SS
Cano-2B
Youk-3B
Ichiro-RF
Rivera-1B
Hafner-DH
Francisco-LF
Cervelli-C
Bench:
Nix
Nunez
Stewart
Boesch
Tom Seaver has lyme disease. Read this article and you get a sense of how bad it is. People need to be aware of this terrible disease.
http://www.nydailynews.com/spo.....-1.1289293
The problems with Boesch is that he is terrible defensively and is a very big swing and miss guy who swings at anything. One of the highest rates at swinging at balls in the majors.
K Long has his work cut out for him.
I was like woah about that Cesar Carrillo news, until I saw he was a minor leaguer not on the 40 man. Which means he is protected by nothing.
“Eh they don’t make decisions on ST performance…..if they did then Ibanez wouldn’t have made the team last year and Thames wouldn’t have a couple years ago…..”
As much as I was against him being on the team, in part because I didn’t want him to play the field, I think Ibanez was more likely to hit RHP, especially in YS, than Rivera is to hit any pitching.
btw, You left out Randy Winn.
Boesch
.259 .315 .414 .729 Career
.363 .369 .538 .907 VS. Yankees
Is it me or does it seem like Cashman signs guys who have had a lot of success against the Yankees? Is there a number or has anybody ever quantified that for all GM’s? Is that a sound strategy or does it even matter?
Terps off to a good start, but a long mountain to climb!
“btw, You left out Randy Winn.”
How’d I forget
Tucker,
I think those are likely the names yes
They should destroy this guy…..but they should have last night too
@LoHudYankees: Boesch signing official. Pineda to the 60-day. #yankees
Baseball comin’ up, winter pain almost gone.
If USA can’t hit a guy the Yankees cut last year then they deserve to lose
Does Boesch have minor league options? If so, he’ll go down when Grandy returns, and Rivera will be a goner when Tex returns.
tucker says:
March 15, 2013 at 7:26 pm
Does Boesch have minor league options? If so, he’ll go down when Grandy returns, and Rivera will be a goner when Tex returns.
Yes….one option….also controlled through 2016 if he proves useful
Bad flashbacks of Francisco and Rivera. I have to pull out my Cromartie, Dawson, Valentine cards.
Blake, if I were you guys I’d be frustrated at the WBC. Close the season down in July and let Verlander hold sway for nine.
“Bad flashbacks of Francisco and Rivera.”
Hmm I’m having bad flashfowards about them two myself.
jmills says:
March 15, 2013 at 7:31 pm
Blake, if I were you guys I’d be frustrated at the WBC. Close the season down in July and let Verlander hold sway for nine.
I think they should do it then too….streamline the think so it takes about a week and just play it when everyone is in shape
Blake exactly, I’m not the biggest proponent everything hockey, but at least its understood the best of the best go, contracts and injuries be damned.
Well, I guess we can hope for a real WBC, but ’til that time, hopefully, nice and easy does it every time.
MaineYankee March 15th, 2013 at 7:13 pm
Tom Seaver has lyme disease. Read this article and you get a sense of how bad it is. People need to be aware of this terrible disease
——————————–
problem is that once you get it..you have it forever
Gallery Gods
blake March 15th, 2013 at 6:51 pm
“They are often illusory, especially for veterans. But whatever. It is what it is.”
Eh they don’t make decisions on ST performance…..if they did then Ibanez wouldn’t have made the team last year and Thames wouldn’t have a couple years ago…..
I think we should get used to a Boesch/Francisco platoon and Rivera at 1B…..
—————————————
Ibanez was on a ML deal so that’s not really applicable.
I’m on record as saying I don’t want Juan Rivera on the Yankees to open this season, however, the Yankees brought Rivera and Diaz in and told them to hit enough to win a job. Rivera has done that.
What this boils down to is two things:
1. Do the Yankees prefer Youk at 3b or 1b?
2. If you take Rivera north you can leave Mustellier at Scranton in case Rivera doesn’t perform. If you take Mustellier north, Rivera has done enough this spring that some team will offer him a spot on their bench, so he’s not going to take an assignment to AAA; meaning if Mustellier struggles, you have no insurance for him.
As for Francisco, like I said on the last thread – given the roster crunch the Yankees have to decide between Francisco or Mesa and Nix or Joseph.
Based on performance, the veterans should go…I just don’t know how the Yankees get them on the 40.
Joe, say it ain’t so! I love Tom!
joeman March 15th, 2013 at 7:51 pm
MaineYankee March 15th, 2013 at 7:13 pm
Tom Seaver has lyme disease. Read this article and you get a sense of how bad it is. People need to be aware of this terrible disease
——————————–
problem is that once you get it..you have it forever
——————————————
I have it.
I found out in 05.
I think I’ve had it since sometime in the 90′s