Staten Island Yankees Media Day

I got to take part in Media day on Saturday afternoon for the Staten Island Yankees. It was my first experience with any kind of media day and it was fun. It was held at Richmond County Ballpark in Staten Island, New York, home of the Staten Island Yankees who are the class A short season affiliate of the New York Yankees. The ballpark is really spectacular with a nice backdrop being the Manhattan skyline.

I didn’t really know what to expect, I kind of thought we would be led to a press area and they would bring players and coaches to us for us to get to ask questions. When I arrived I was led to an elevator to wait with a couple other media members. Staten Island Yankees staff came up on the elevator and led us down to the clubhouse where we were able to chat with some of the players, after about 10 minutes or so they announced that Justin Pope the manager was available and me and a small group of reporters were led into his office where we asked him questions just like you see on TV with Joe Girardi. Pope is a guy I remember from his Trenton Thunder days. He was very gracious and a good guy. He answered all the questions; he shook all of our hands as we came into his office. I look forward to working with him this year as I cover the team.

I can’t say that I got any real news worthy statements but I do have some quotes from Pope on the upcoming season and also about him managing in his second year compared to his first which was last year. He said, “I just want the guys to play hard and to get better” He said that is their main goal at this level developing over winning. He said the potential to have three first round picks this season is very exciting and can be a good thing for the team. He said in his second year it could be more relaxing, he knows what to expect now but he is always nervous during games. He loves seeing guys succeed of course and go to the next level. He did say he felt that last year was a tough year, that they started off bad the team and he wants that to change this year. He felt that chemistry was an issue, which I found interesting. He said that you have a lot of guys out of college that have never been with a Latin player before and vice versa and they have to learn to be teammates and respect each other. He said that he has to do better with that because when they get to the next level Tony Franklin and Dave Miley aren’t going to put up with that stuff. Franklin is the manager of the AA Trenton Thunder and Miley of the AAA Scranton Wilkes-Barre Railriders.

Pope said he doesn’t really feel his approach has changed but he may be more aggressive and more ahead of the game then last year. He said the hardest thing for him is to leave his wife in Florida and who knows how many times he will see her now until Sept/October when the season is over. He said the good thing is he has been down in Tampa since March with spring training and then extended spring so he was home until now when he had to leave to start the season with Staten Island. He said it sounds weird but it is normal for him because baseball is what he knows and he has always had to leave her for a few months a year. He said that he loves baseball and it never goes away, he can never get away from the game.

I find it very interesting and cool that the Staten Island Yankees will have Michael O’Neill the nephew of Paul on the team along with Eric Jagielo at some point who was their number one first round pick out of Notre Dame. Jagielo tweaked a hammy down in Tampa and will miss a few weeks. He will be at third base though when he does join the team. Aaron Judge hasn’t signed yet but when he does he will also be on his way to Staten Island. He is a tall outfielder with a lot of power. I think it will be exciting to see these guys in action this season and the Staten Island Yankees have a chance for a good season. I may be covering these guys this year and then who knows in the next couple of year’s maybe I will see them in the majors with the New York Yankees.   

New York Yankees news and notes from Seattle

The New York Yankees have won four games in a row and after they hit a rough spot for a couple of weeks seem to have themselves back in shape and back near the top of the division. They have a long tough west coast trip but if it is a good one they will come back home in good position.

Robinson Cano is batting 301 with eight homeruns on the road this season. He is tied for the fourth most road homeruns in the AL this season. He had 11 away from home all of last season.

The Yankees are looking for their season high fifth win in a row. They also accomplished that between May 8-12. This is their fourth winning streak of at least four games this season. The Yankees have scored at least six runs in three of the four games after reaching that mark just three times over the last 18 games.

Chien-Ming Wang opted out of his minor league contract with the Yankees today. He is going to sign a major league deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. He had good numbers but the Yankees just didn’t think they would translate to the major leagues. The Yankees also have very good pitching and really didn’t have a spot for him. Michael Pineda will begin a 30-day rehab assignment tomorrow with A Tampa. They will have to decide after the 30 days if they will activate him and put him on the major league roster or have him down in the minor leagues. This could be interesting, as he has looked good so far. He could be a good option down the road for the Yankees depending on their needs.

Eric Jagielo out of Notre Dame a third base prospect was the Yankees first draft pick yesterday. He was talking confidently saying he sees an opportunity in New York. He said in the next few years he sees an opportunity, I don’t think he is wrong and the Yankees were looking at him as a lefty power hitter at a position of need. Alex Rodriguez is on the decline and has the steroids stuff hanging over him and David Adams has done a good job over there this season but isn’t really a third baseman and they don’t have much else at the hot corner.

Ian Clarkin was their third pick out of high school. He made it pretty clear he wants a big signing bonus not to go to college. It will be interesting to see if they have problems signing him like Gerrit Cole a couple of years ago who could be making his debut with the Pirates this upcoming week. Clarkin also drew some criticism for a pre draft video of him saying he hated the Yankees and was so happy when they lost the 2001 World Series. He is just a kid and I think they are making too big of a deal out of it. He apologized today and said it was taken out of context.

The Yankees also signed outfielder Michael O’Neill today. He is the nephew of Yankees announcer and former fan favorite and right fielder for them Paul O’Neill. Paul tweeted today congrats to my nephew who was drafted by the New York Yankees. This will be fun to follow.

New York Yankees notes from a turn back the clock day at Steinbrenner Field

There was a reunion of sorts from 1998 today at Steinbrenner Field. Tino Martinez was back as hitting coach of the Marlins, David Wells and Jorge Posada were there as guest instructors, Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera of course are still playing for the Yankees and Joe Girardi is their manager. Paul O’Neill was also there working for the YES network. 
The Yankees signed Brennan Boesch today who was released by the Detroit Tigers. He is a 27 year old outfielder who had a bad year last year. He hit 240 with 12 homeruns and 54 RBI in 132 games last year for the Tigers. He was in right field for 115 starts and committed just two errors and had five outfield assists. He is a 367 career hitter at Yankee Stadium and has hit 36 of his 42 career homeruns off of right handers. He will play good defense and provide some pop to the lineup. He had a couple of good years to start his career before last season. He will most likely be a platoon left fielder until Cutis Granderson comes back. He could be on the bench or DH when Granderson does come back especially if Hafner isn’t healthy. This move also allows the Yankees to move Juan Rivera to first base, he has hit well this spring and played good defense at first. They can keep Kevin Youkilis at third like they planned and just wait to get there guys back.

Sabathia made his first start today and will make two more before starting on Opening day against the Red Sox. He battled a little today especially early but he felt good and was happy with the outing and his catcher Francisco Cervelli liked what he saw.

Jeter said he had nothing to report and it is now just like any other spring training. He seems to be coming through the games fine and now it is just getting more and more reps on the field. He should be fine for Opening day like we expected with him.

The Yankees pitching really looks like a stength and it will need to be with the perceived lack of offense. Here are the starters coming up. Hiroki Kuroda on Saturday at home and David Phelps on the road, Ivan Nova on Sunday, Monday is an off day, Tuesday it will be Adam Warren, Wednesday is Vidal Nuno and Sabathia in the minor leagues, Phelps on Thursday, Nova on Friday with Kuroda in the minor leagues, Pettitte on Saturday and Warren on Sunday. There are more guys being cut and the guys will be coming back from the WBC soon. The regular players and pitchers will be playing more and the last couple of weeks is really when they should be peaking and getting ready to go for the season. The Yankees have won five of their last six games.

Yanks take series and secure winning roadtrip

The Yankees defeated the Toronto Blue Jays tonight by the score of 3-2. I am not happy with the offense doing nothing against Brian Tallett but a win is a win. CC Sabathia pitched great again tonight throwing 8 innings of 2 run ball. He gave up 5 hits and 4 walks but also struck out 5. He was in control all night. Mo finished it off looking like the old MO 1-2-3 on 11 pitches with a strikeout to end the game. Hideki Matsui was the star of the game with the game winning homerun. A-rod had no hits but was robbed of a double and just missed 2 homeruns driving the ball to the warning track and the wall. Derek Jeter had a rbi single. Francisco Cervelli continued to be impressive with a couple of hits and a nice tag out at home plate off a Gardner throw. Johnny Damon had a double in the first inning to tie the Yankees team record for 10 consecutive games with a extra base hit. He tied Don Mattingly and Paul O-Neill who also did the same thing. Johnny will try to break the record tomorrow at home. The Yankees will now head home for a long 10 game homestand and the chance to play well and keep moving forward and get healthy.

New York Yankees News

CC Sabathia threw 28 pitches in a simulated game this morning to Hideki Matsui and Kevin Cash. Only 2 were put into play a single and groundout. CC said he feels fine and he is getting enough work, he will make his first start on friday. He threw 19 strikes and his fastball seemed to be where it needs to be. He was working on his cutter which is usually the last pitch to come around for him. The Yankees also announced their rotation for the next 8 days: Today:Wang Tuesday:Hughes Wednesday:Kennedy Thursday:Chamberlain Friday:Sabathia Saturday:Wang Sunday:Burnett Monday:Pettitte It was also announced today that Latroy Hawkins will take Joe Nathans place on Team USA's roster for the WBC. Latroy was let go from the Yankees after a miserable start and also trying to take Paul O'neill number 21, the fans didn't like him wearing that number too much.