Good Night in Tampa

The New York Yankees injured players or I guess you would say rehab players now had a great night. Jorge Posada caught 5 innings went 1-3 and also got to throw to third and his shoulder felt fine. Hideki Matsui playing in his 4th straight game was 2-2 with a 2 run hr and a 2 run double. MO came in to pitch the 5th inning and had a 1-2-3 inning on 11 pitches. If these guys are healthy this team will be tough to beat as they have the pitching and their lineup will be lengthened and very good. CC Sabathia started and threw 4 great innings, giving up 1 run on 1 hit, 1 walk and 7 strikeouts, Edwar Ramirez threw a perfect inning with a strikeout. Alfredo Aceves competing for the long relief job pitched 3 innings giving up 4 hits, 1 run, 1 walk and 1k. The rest of the offense had Damon and Teixera have a hit each. Robbie Cano was 1-3 with a rbi, Xavier Nady was 2-3, Melky was 1-3 with a rbi. Brett Gardner went 1-2. In a thrilling ending to the WBC matchup of Team USA vs Team Puerto Rico, Team USA won on a walkoff hit by David Wright and Derek Jeter won't be back yet. Did anyone see Arod in Details magazine?? I can't believe he would take pictures like that, and does anyone really believe he rides the subway to games on friday nights usually??

New York Yankees Recap

The New York Yankees were defeated by the Atlanta Braves by a score of 3-1 today in Tampa. Chien-Ming Wang got the start his second of the spring and pitched well, he pitched 3 innings giving up 1 run on a solo hr, 3 hits, 0 walks and 2 strikeouts. He threw 33 pitches 27 of them were for strikes. Brett Tomko pitched behind him going 3 innings giving up 3 hits and 1 run with 0 walks and 3 strikeouts. Phil Coke pitched an inning giving up 1 run on 2 hits. On the offensive side of things Hideki Matsui had 1 hit but was hitting the ball hard. Big Tex had a hit and Cody Ransom also had a hit. The Yankees will travel to Lakeland to face the Tigers tomorrow with AJ Burnett making his first start. Hideki Matsui will make the trip and play in back to back games for the first time this year. Jorge Posada threw today before the game and came out of it fine, he may throw to the bases Monday and could catch in a game by next weekend. Damaso Marte threw a scoreless inning today for the Dominicans in the WBC who by the way were upset by the Netherlands, yeah I can't believe it either and Sidney Ponson pitched well for the Netherlands. Robbie Cano dont ya know was 1 for 5. Derek Jeter of course was 2 for 3 for Team USA who defeated Canada 6-5 in a nailbiter.

Yanks Vs Team USA

The New York Yankees took on Team USA today in Tampa. It doesn't really matter and I am sure no one cares but this game didn't count in the grapefruit league standings and the stats don't count. Derek Jeter took on his team and had a 2 rbi single against Phil Hughes to knock him out of the game. Phil Hughes looked good pitching 2 2/3 innings giving up 3 hits, 2 of them were bloopers and even jeters hit was basically a seeing eye single. He seems to have his fastball back to where it should be and his curveball looked great today. He walked none and struck out 2. He did hit a batter again but it barely skimmed him, he is obviously throwing inside on 0-1 counts and his control will get better but like I said he has barely hit these guys. Phil Coke pitched great today throwing 2 1/3 innings of 1 hit, o run ball. He had no walks and 2 strikeouts. I don't see how there is any chance that Coke won't be in the bullpen for this team to start the year. You have to remember these guys were basically facing a all star lineup that was in the game the whole time, no scrubs on Team USA, they faced Jeter, Pedroia,Chipper Jones,Youkilis,Adam Dunn,Wright etc. Eric Hacker was the only Yankee pitcher that didn't pitch well, he had a terrible day not recording an out and giving up 4 runs on 2 hits and 2 walks. Mike Dunn pitched 1 2/3 innings giving up 0 hits, 1 walk and 3k's followed by David Robertson who pitched 1 1/3 innings of no hit ball with 1 walk and 2k's. Jose Veras finished it off pitching 1 inning with 1 walk and 2 k's. The Yankees did lose the game 6-5. The offense side of the ball little brett gardner really wants to be the CF going 3-3 with a sb, Jorge Posada continued his hot spring going 2-3 with a rbi. Cody Ransom in his bid for the utility infielder role went 2-3. Nick Swisher was 1-2 with 2rbi and Nady was 1-3 in the battle for RF. The Yankees travel to Disney tomorrow to take on the Atlanta Braves, Ian Kennedy will get the start.

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.

Yanks/Twins Again

The New York Yankees take on the Minnesota Twins again today this time from George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa. Joba Chamberlain gets the start followed by Kei Igawa,Dunn,Veras,Giese and others. The lineup for this game is: Damon Jeter Tex Arod Posada Cano Swisher Molina Cabrera Melky better get something going because Gardner is looking real strong and has passed him by in the CF battle so far. Posada is still the DH and won't catch until March 15. Today and tomorrow the big guys will play and then Cano,Jeter,Arod will leave for the WBC. The game is on YES today at 1 so I will have posts as I am watching the game. Arod also will meet with MLB investigators tomorrow about the steroids issue. The WBC will start up next week and be shown live on the MLB Network. Get used to seeing a lot of Berroa,Leone,Ransom etc for the next couple of weeks at least while the regulars are gone. Next week Team USA plays the Yankees and that will be interesting, the game will be on YES as Derek Jeter takes on the Yankees. Enjoy the game everyone and check back for updates during the game.