Mets release Luis Castillo

The New York Mets released veteran infielder Luis Castillo today. It was something that had to happen and Oliver Perez should be next on the list although he is still hanging in there trying to win a spot as a lefty specialist out of the bullpen. Castillo will evaluate several options but he told ESPNdeportes.com that he probably won't make a decision before noon on Sunday. He stated "I feel calm, confident that I will be on a major league roster on opening day of the season. Despite all the negative atmosphere of recent days, I'm positive and in the best shape for a long time. He was batting 283 in 28 spring at bats. He was in the last year of a 4 year 25 million dollar deal. The Mets owe him six milliion. He will be able to sign with another team for the major league minimum salary of $414,000. That amount would be deducted from what the Mets owe him. A source said although Castillo hasn't confirmed this that the Chicago Cubs, Florida Marlins and Philadelphia Phillies are all interested in him. Castillo said "Until Sunday I can not talk of contract, but I'm sure I have options. I am not finished as it has been painted. He said he did not hold a grudge against the Mets. "I enjoyed every moment in New York and will always be grateful to the Mets. I have nothing negative to say about the organization. Baseball is a business." He has made three All Star teams and won three gold gloves but he will most be remembered for a dropped pop up in Yankee Stadium that cost the Mets the game. It appears that the Mets will carry two lefties and the last spot in the bullpen may come down to Perez and Michael O'Connor, I don't see how the Mets put Perez on the team, I thought it was more likely for them to keep Castillo. The Mets are going to have to eat some more salary with Perez unless it is so bad they can't afford to do that and they bring him North as a lefty specialist. I just think the fan backlash will be so bad it wouldn't be worth it for them.

Yankees News and Notes on a Thursday Morning

The Yankees will play their second straight night game tonight at home against the Tampa Bay Rays. Here are some news and notes to get you through the day until game time. Remember I have a twitter account and can be read @gmarchesej and also on facebook. I will have the lineups up later on today through Twitter. Ivan Nova did not have a good feel for his curveball last night in the bullpen so he scrapped it. He went with what is supposed to be a cutter but it acts as a slider. Joe Girardi said "That is as good as it gets, the best pitching performance so far." He got 11 outs on the ground and only one of his last 12 outs were in the air, he wanted to keep the ball down last night and he sure did that. He said his slider is like a new toy, that he has to play with it sometimes but not too much because he has other pitches also. He said he feels good about all of his pitches right now. Nick Swisher had a typical Swisher type play during the game while running full speed after a foul ball, he jumped right over the fence into the bullpen to try and catch the ball. Joe Girardi said great effort and all but don't do that again. Russell Martin says his knee feels so good he has stopped using the protective brace, he said I don't need it, I don't even worry about the knee anymore. Martin hasn't been talked about much this spring and that is a probably a good thing, he is good behind the plate and no one ever complains about defense like they do with Posada or Cervelli. The thing to remember is this guy is still only 28 so after a rough couple of years he should bounce back. Rafael Soriano will pitch at the minor league complex today. He said he didn't want to pitch against any AL East team so the Yankees won't have him do that. Teixeira of course was hit in the hand, he is always getting hit, but he is fine, made the Yankees hold their breath for a couple of minutes. Boone Logan is scheduled to pitch today. He was shut down briefly early in the spring due to elbow fatigue but he feels fine. He said he just hasn't pitched in a game in a long time. Teixeira had two doubles last night giving him seven on the spring, he has worked hard this spring on trying to get off to a good start which he never does. He looks great though and ready to go for the season. Joba Chamberlain said he doesn't know the severity of his oblique injury but knows that he feels fine and can do everything. He said they just want to be cautious with him and even during the season he would miss a couple of days because he wouldn't want it to get worse and turn into a big problem. Yankees vs. Rays tonight at 7:00PM. As far as I know the game isn't televised.

Nova dazzles as Yankees defeat O's 10-0

The New York Yankees ran over the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday night 10-0. It was the first time their regular lineup was in the game and they looked good. Alex Rodriguez hit his third homerun of the spring, Mark Teixeira had two doubles. Nick Swisher had a could of hits and RBI, Derek Jeter had a hit and a walk. Jorge Posada who is growing more and more comfortable in his DH role had a hit, RBI and a couple of walks. The story of this game though was Ivan Nova who gave up his first couple of runs of the spring in his last outing. He pitched six no hit innings in this game hitting one batter and another batter reached on an error by A-rod. He didn't walk a batter and struck out four. The thing that you have to love about this young kid is his moxy and how nothing seems to faze him. I would think this outing solidified a spot in the rotation for him. He was a favorite coming into the spring and hasn't done anything for that to change. The problem is everyone else is pitching well also but this was the best performance of any of the pitchers so far. The Yankees broke a six game losing streak and will play their second straight night game tomoorrow night at home against the Tampa Bay Rays. The game will be on at 7:05PM. The starter in this game will be Phil Hughes and the Yankees should have their regular lineup in once again.

Yankees News and Notes on a Saturday

The New York Yankees lost to the Washington Nationals by the score of 6-5 on Saturday afternoon. They lost on a walk-off single. A.J. Burnett pitched well once again though and that is more of a story. Burnett did give up two runs on two hits but after giving up the runs he retired the last nine batters he faced. One of the biggest problems he had last season was letting things get out of hand, not being able to stop the bleeding so that is a good sign. Here are some news and notes from Saturday. Kei Igawa was able to get in touch with his family and left for Japan, he will get as much time as he needs before returning to the Yankees. I am not going to make any jokes with this one as he is going through a very tough time and he should be given the right to do what he needs to do. Derek Jeter has been adjusting to swinging without a stride and after starting out slowly is hitting 333. He has only struck out once and only has one extra base hit. He has never been a power guy but wants to show more of that, it will come though. Brett Gardner and Curtis Granderson also have new mechanics, Granderson started his change at the end of last season and he has continued to do well with it this spring leading the team in runs scored and batting 348. Gardner is hitting 273. Jorge Vazquez won't win a spot on the team unless there is an injury but he isn't being ignored. He is hitting 480 on the spring and hit his third home run of the spring on Saturday. Burnett talked well about Russel Martin saying he knows what he wants to do back there and he knows Burnett pretty well. He said confidence is a big thing with him. Burnett has yet to walk anyone in the spring which is amazing for him, he realized when talking about it and saying I guess I jinxed it now. Robert Fish and Daniel Turpin are two Rule Five picks the Yankees got this year, they have both been pretty bad and it looks like they will be gone soon. Mariano Rivera is scheduled to get in his first game tomorrow afternoon. Rafael Soriano is expected to be in the game as well. Eric Chavez was in the orginal lineup for today but the Yankees decided against it since it is a long bus ride and maybe not the best idea for a guy with a history of back problems. He is not hurt they were just being cautious. Ramiro Pena is only hitting 154 this spring, Eduardo Nunez is thriving, I don't know what they will do but by the numbers Nunez is clearly leading for the backup infielder job. Pena has been doing it the last couple of years though and has never been much of a hitter. He is known for his defense and the Yankees may value that more.

Yankees News and Notes on a Wed night

The New York Yankees have started to play better ball in the last couple of days. The offense is starting to get it together and the pitching has been impressive. Here are some notes from Wednesday. Mariano Rivera had high praise for prize prospect Manny Banuelos calling him the best prospect he has ever seen. He is about to turn 20, he will begin the year in AA but I wouldn't be suprised to see him in AAA and the majors probably by next season. Brian Cashman said most likely they will go with what they have, it is possible that something happens by the end of March but not likely. He is talking about the pitching situation. Cashman has to feel good about what he has seen so far though with Garcia, Colon, Nova and even Mitre all pitching very well. The young kids have been impressive also so the Yankees know they are coming. Girardi said this could be the best bullpen he has had. I would agree with that with a dominant eighth and ninth inning and very good relievers in front of the two closers at the end. Joba, Dave Robertson, Boone Logan and Pedro Feliciano are all good relievers. Girardi said he was impressed with Sorianos debut, he didn't expect much else then what he saw. Eduardo Nunez played left field and caught the only ball that was hit to him out there. The Yankees want him and Ramiro Pena to play there this spring just in case they are needed in a pinch this year. Nunez raised his spring average to 375 with five stolen bases, he has been impressive and he may supplant Pena as the utility guy on the team. Russel Martin and Andruw Jones hit their first homeruns as Yankees. The Yankees had seven starters in the lineup tonight and they all had at least one hit.