Saturday, March 8, 2014

New York Yankees Saturday notes


The New York Yankees are mourning the loss of Carmen Berra.  She is Yogi Berra's wife and she

passed away on Thursday night after complications from a stroke.  Here is the official

announcement from the Yankees.  "On behalf of the entire New York Yankees organization, we offer

our deepest condolences to the Berra family,"  Hal Steinbrenner said in a statement.  "Having

known Yogi and Carmen for so long, it is almost impossible to imagine two people who

complemented each other better then they did.  We will always remember Carmen's smile and

sense of humor, and her kindness and genrosisty will be dearly missed."

Vidal Nuno last started a game on Sunday, he threw a simulated game on Friday.  There aren't as many starts as there used to be and he eventually will get sent down to minor league camp.  He will make a start though when half of the team is in Panama for the legends series honoring Mariano Rivera. 

It looks like the travel squad for Panama is starting to take shape.  Dean Anna said he has been asked to go.  We know Derek Jeter is going, Dave Robertson said on Friday that he is going.  CC Sabathia, Brian McCann, Brett Gardner, Carlos Beltran and Alfonso Soriano are all going also apparently.  We should find out the full travel roster this week. 

Mark Teixeira didn't take live BP on Friday but he is scheduled to play in the game on Saturday.  Adam Warren and Matt Daley each threw bullpens on Friday.  Michael Pineda came out of the bullpen to pitch his first two real innings of the spring.  He looked really impressive last night giving up a hit and striking out four.  The scouts had him at 91-93 with a good sharp slider.  He looked confident and really healthy according to the reports.  This is a great sign for the Yankees and if he is their fifth starter that is a huge plus for them. 

Brendan Ryan is being shut down for about a week.  He has soreness in his oblique, the tests came back clean but the Yankees just want to be cautious.  The first spring cuts are probably going to come a little later this year.  Girardi said the Yankees will probably wait until after the trip to Panama.  There are a bunch of split squads in a row so they want those guys to be in camp in Tampa to get through those games while the other half of the team is playing in Panama. 

Adam Warren and CC Sabathia will start the two games in Panama.  Jeter was 2-2 with a walk in Friday nights game.  He has now reached base in five straight plate appearances.  Tanaka next game will be a simulated game on Tuesday.  Nova will pitch on Saturday, Sunday will be Phelps, off day on Monday, Tanaka sim game on Tuesday with CC pitching the real game.  Kuroda will pitch Wednesday, Pineda at home on Thursday and Nova on the road.  Phelps Friday, Nuno Saturday at home and Warren in Panama with Tanaka in Florida on Saturday and CC in Panama. 

Kuroda allowed one hit, one walk and struck out five in his second spring start.  It looked pretty good to me but he wasn't happy with it.  "I struggled with my precise control today, so that caused a high pitch count."  He said "I think I was too cautious and trying to get both corners, but it didn't really work."  He threw 52 pitches and 30 for strikes.  He only lasted 2 2/3 innings. 

David Robertson was working on his changeup on Friday night.  He threw two of them and said he would like to incorporate that pitch a little more this season.  He always had it and used it more in 2012 then last season.  Alfonso Soriano played right field for the first time in his career last night.  The first ball that was put in play was of course at him.  He caught it and also hit a deep fly ball to left in his first at-bat.  He was 0-3 but this time only had one strikeout. 

The New York Yankees defeat the Philadelphia Phillies 4-3

The New York Yankees defeated the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday afternoon.  The game took

place at Brighthouse Field in Clearwater, Florida.  The final score was 4-3 Yankees.  The game got

started after a 90 minute delay and featured the spring debuts of Mark Teixeira and Alfonso

Soriano. 

Derek Jeter also started in the game and had two hits, Masahiro Tanaka started the game and

pitched well again. 

Tanaka pitched three innings giving up two hits and a run.  He struck out a batter.  Bruce Billings pitched two innings giving up two hits and two runs with a walk and three strikeouts.  Chris Leroux pitched an inning giving up a hit with two strikeouts.  Burawa pitched an inning picking up the win.  He gave up a hit, Fred Lewis pitched a perfect inning and a third and Mark Montgomery picked up the save getting the last two outs. 

Derek Jeter had two hits, Adonis Garcia had a hit and an RBI and Yangervis Solarte had a hit and drew a walk.  Corban Joseph drew a walk, Gary Sanchez had a hit and Kelly Johnson had two hits.  Brian Roberts drew a walk, Jose Pirela had a hit and an RBI and Scott Sizemore had a hit and drew a walk.  Ramon Flores had a hit and two RBI. 

Jeter, Sizemore and Pirela each hit a double and Flores hit a homerun.  The Yankees were 1-9 with runners in scoring position and left ten men on base.  Johnson had a stolen base and Garcia had an outfield assist.  The Yankees will play at home on Friday night against the Detroit Tigers. 

Thursday, March 6, 2014

New York Yankees news and notes

The Yankees have some roster openings this spring.  It isn't always the case, some of the young guys

have a chance to break camp and head north.  The Yankees have bullpen positions open and the

fifth starter in the rotation.  They also have utility type and technically second and third although

they expect Kelly Johnson and Brian Roberts to play a lot.  Dellin Betances is one of the young guys

trying to make the team. 

Betances had been a starter all through the minors until last year where he was converted.  He did well as a reliever and has impressed this spring.  I would be on him being in the Yankees bullpen this year.  Betances is a big guy and sometimes it is harder for those guys to get their mechanics in order.  He has done that as a reliever and his biggest problem has been solved.  Control was his main issue but doesn't seem to be much of an issue at this point. 

Betances is only 25 years old and appears to be much more comfortable.  He has pitched 5 1/3 innings this spring which are the most on the team.  He has allowed one hit and two walks with four strikeouts.  Betances said this "I think it's just more time on the mound.  Instead of having to wait every five days, I get to pitch every two, three days: maybe every day when its back-to-back.  I feel like the more time I have on the mound, I feel like the more consistent I'm able to be with my delivery and that's, I think, the key for me." 

Eduardo Nunez had a big day on Wednesday.  He was 3-3 with a double and single but more importantly he played a good second base.  Nunez said he is just trying to prove he can play.  He is hitting 364 through 11 at bats.  There really isn't much question about his offense though, it is his defense that has been the question mark.  Nunez worked out with Robinson Cano again this winter.  He said he did spend time working out at second as well as short and third.  This winter included more second then usual though.  He figured after Cano signed with Seattle that he would need to be able to play second to be on the team. 

Yangervis Solarte is a utility guy who is having a great spring.  He had another hit on Wednesday and made his second start.  He has eight total hits and an average of 667 this spring.  Mark Teixeira will make his spring debut on Thursday. 

There are no injuries to report which is good because last year it started early in the spring.  Teixeira and Jeter were both hurt as well as Curtis Granderson.  They have only had Tex recovering from his wrist surgery and Soriano being sick this year. 

CC Sabathia was supposed to throw a simulated game on Thursday but he didn't on the field due to rain.  I am not sure if he ended up doing it inside.  Manny Banuelos is scheduled for an inning on Saturday.  It will be his first time facing opposing hitters since having Tommy John surgery in 2012. 

Tyler Austin hit off a tee on Thursday morning.  He said it felt great.  He has been easing back into baseball activities since experiencing right wrist soreness earlier in the spring.  Scott Sizemore is scheduled to play again on Thursday off the bench.  David Phelps had a side on Thursday.  He and CC were the only pitchers scheduled to do non-game work on Thursday. 

The New York Mets are swept in split squad games

The New York Mets played two games on Wednesday.  They lost 11-5 to the Washington Nationals

and 5-2 to the Miami Marlins in ten innings.  In the Nationals game Jenrry Mejia started and pitched

ok.  Kirk Nieuwenhuis had two hits, Zach Lutz had two hits and two RBI and Taylor Teagarden had a

hit and an RBI. 

Mejia pitched two innings giving up a hit and an unearned run.  He walked two and struck out three.  Kolarek pitched two innings giving up three hits and a run with two strikeouts, deGrom pitched two innings giving up a hit and striking out two and Church pitched an inning giving up two hits and two runs with a walk and three strikeouts.  Mazzoni pitched an inning taking the loss and giving up five hits and seven runs with two walks and a strikeout. 

Juan Lagares had a hit, Brandon Nimmo had a hit and Nieuwenhuis had two hits.  Wilmer Flores drew two walks, Campbell had two hits and Lutz had two hits and two RBI.  Teagarden had a hit and an RBI, Seratelli had a hit and two RBI, Nieuwenhuis and Campbell each hit a double.  Lutz hit a homerun and the Mets were 2-10 with runners in scoring position.  The Mets left six men in scoring position.  Mejia committed an error and Centeno had a passed ball. 

In the Miami game Dillon Gee started and pitched pretty good.  Jose Valverde made his second appearance.  Eric Young Jr. had two hits in the game. 

Gee pitched 2 1/3 innings giving up four hits and a run with a strikeout.  Carlos Torres pitched three innings giving up three hits and an unearned run.  He walked one and struck out one.  Ryan Reid pitched 1 2/3 innings giving up two hits, Joel Carreno pitched a perfect inning striking out the side and Valverde pitched a perfect inning with a strikeout.  Gonzalez Germen pitched an inning giving up two hits and three runs with two walks and a strikeout.  He took the loss. 

Young had two hits, Chris Young had a hit and Cesar Puello had  a hit.  Josh Satin had a hit, Anthony Recker had a hit and an RBI and Matt den Dekker had an RBI and drew a walk.   
The Mets will play in Kissimee against the Houston Astros on

The New York Yankees were defeated by the Tampa Bay Rays 5-4

The New York Yankees were defeated by the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday afternoon.  The final score was 5-4 and the game took place in Port Charlotte, Florida.  Adam Warren started for the Yankees and he pitched well.  Dellin Betances continued to impress out of the bullpen.  Brett Gardner had a hit and two RBI and Eduardo Nunez had three hits. 
Warren pitched 2 1/3 innings giving up four hits and a run.  He struck out two.  Betances pitched 1 2/3 innings giving up a walk and striking out two batters, Robert Coello pitched 1/3 of an inning giving up three hits and four runs.  Matt Daley pitched 2/3 of an inning giving up two hits and he struck out one, Yoshinori Tateyama pitched two innings giving up a walk and striking out two and Jim Miller pitched a perfect inning with two strikeouts. 

Gardner  had a hit and two RBI, Antoan Richardson had a hit and Nunez had three hits.  Zealous Wheeler had a hit, Ichiro Suzuki had a hit and Russ Canzler had a hit, an RBI and drew a walk.  Kelly Johnson had an RBI, Yangervis Solarte had a hit and Zoilo Almonte had a hit.  Jose Pirela had a hit, Nunez and Wheeler each hit a double.  The Yankees were 2-12 with runners in scoring position and left eight men on base. 
The Yankees will play in Clearwater against the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday afternoon.  Masahiro Tanaka will make his first spring start and  it will be his second appearance.  Mark Teieira and Alfonso Soriano will both make their spring debuts in the game.  

The New York Yankees are defeated by the Baltimore Orioles under the lights in Tampa

The New York Yankees were defeated by the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday night.  The game took

place at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida.  The final score was 3-2 and David Phelps started for

the Yankees.  Phelps was hit pretty hard but he battled and didn't give up much.  Francisco Cervelli

hit a homerun for the Yankees. 

Phelps pitched 2 2/3 innings giving up five hits and a run.  He walked one and struck out two.  Matt Thornton faced one batter and retired him, Brian Gordon pitched a perfect inning with a strikeout and Chris Leroux pitched two perfect innings with two strikeouts.  Chase Whitley took the loss pitching an inning and giving up two hits and two runs with a walk and a strikeout.  Cesar Cabral pitched an inning walking one and Preston Claiborne pitched an inning giving up a hit and striking out one. 

Jacoby Ellsbury drew a walk, Carlos Beltran drew a walk and Brian Roberts had a hit and drew a walk.  Scott Sizemore seeing his first action of the spring had a hit, Cervelli had a hit, an RBI and drew a walk and Brendan Ryan had a hit.  Russ Canzler had a hit, Francisco Arcia had a hit and Yangervis Solarte had a hit and an RBI. 

Cervelli hit a homerun, the Yankees were 1-4 with runners in scoring position and left seven men on base.  The Yankees took a 2-0 lead in the second on a Cervelli solo homerun and Solarte RBI single.  Jemile Weeks grounded out scoring a run in the top of the third for the Orioles.  The Yankees lead was cut in half to 2-1.  In the seventh the Orioles scored the final two runs of the game.  Quintin Berry hit and RBI single and Julio Borbon grounded out to score another run. 

The Yankees travel to Port Charlotte on Wednesday afternoon to face the Tampa Bay Rays.  Adam Warren will start the game.   

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

The New York Mets defeat the Washington Nationals

The New York Mets defeated the Houston Astros on Tuesday afternoon.  The final score was 6-2. 

The game took place at Tradition Field in Port St. Lucie, Florida.  Zack Wheeler made his spring

debut and Curtis Granderson had a big day. 

Wheeler started for the Mets and pitched three scoreless innings.  He gave up two hits and struck out three batters without walking any.  Kyle Farnsworth pitched an inning giving up a hit, Goeddel pitched 1 2/3 innings giving up three hits and two runs with two strikeouts and Vic Black pitched an inning giving up three walks and striking out one.  Walters pitched 1 1/3 perfect innings and Rice pitched an inning giving up a hit and striking out two. 

Eric Young Jr. drew a walk, Matt den Dekker had a hit and Chris Young had a hit and an RBI.  Brandon Nimmo had a hit and an RBI, Granderson had two hits and three RBI and Puello had a hit.  Allen had a hit, Josh Satin drew a walk and Travis d'Arnaud had two hits.  Centeno had a hit, Taylor Teagarden drew a walk and Seratelli had a hit and drew a walk. 

Young, Seratelli and Puello each hit a double.  Granderson hit two homeruns and the Mets were 3-8 with runners in scoring position.  They left 11 men on base.  Muno had a stolen base and den Dekker was caught stealing.  Allen committed an error and Young had an outfield assist. 

The Mets will play  a split squad on Wednesday against the Miami Marlins and Washington Nationals. 

New York Yankees news and notes from the past couple of days

Andy Pettitte showed up in camp on Monday.  he is only sta ing a couple of days this time and no will not be coming out of retirement. He will be back with his family on Wednesday and stated that he is enjoying it and had no itch to go back to training and getting ready for the season this winter.  He stated as a competitor you will always miss it but he is happy with being home and spending more time with his family.  As far as Derek Jeter goes he said he was surprised but not surprised.  He said that they talked a lot about it last year and he knew Derek was different then in years past.  He said that he and Mo knew but just didn't know when it would be. 

Brian McCann is the new catcher so he hasn't seen Ivan Nova be great and also have his down times in the last couple of years.  He didn't see hit  have to go to AAA and then come back and dominate with a 2.78 ERA in the second half of last season.  What he has seen is what is happening so far in spring training.  Nova threw 36 pitches on Monday and 31 of them were strikes.  It was his second spring start. "When you've got good stuff, you can pund the zone all day long and you can go right at hitters."  McCann said.  "It doesn't matter.  He changes eye levels.  He does so many good things.  Today's outing was beyond impressive."  Those are very nice words from an all-star catcher who has seen his share of good pitching in Atlanta. 

Nova said that he has set some goals for this year but wouldn't exactly reveal them.  He did say this though "I don't want to be going back and forth every time.  I just want to be a pitcher that the team can trust every five days.  I just want to do my job every five days.  That's one of the goals that I really want, that I want to be consistent.  I think I can do that and be really good.  My body feels good, so I'll just wait until the season and prove what I can do." 
He also discussed winning a championship.  If he continues doing what he is doing it will help towards that. 

He is a number four starter and maybe number three if they break up the two Japanese pitchers.  He has the

potential to be a top of the rotation type guy though.

The Yankees play a night game Tuesday night in Tampa.  Derek Jeter will DH in that game instead of making

the long trip to Port Charlotte to face the Rays on Wednesday.  Mark Teixeira took live BP on Monday, he will

take more on Tuesday.  He will rest on Wednesday and then get in a game on Thursday.  Alfonso Soriano is

also expected to make his debut on Thursday. 

David Robertson made his spring debut on Monday.  There is no way to predict a save in spring and even if

you saved him for the ninth inning he would be facing all minor leaguers anyway.  He hit the first batter that

he faced and then got a double play and a fly ball out.  He stated it was ok.  "I got three outs, I can't complain

about that.  I didn't walk anybody.  I accidentally hit the first batter on my second pitch.  it was a decent

outing.  I felt like my velocity was good.  I was behind everything.  I pulled maybe five or six pitches that I

shouldn't have out of the zone.  That was really it."  He will get a lot of scrutiny because he is becoming the

closer following the iconic MO.  It wouldn't be a job that I would want but he has been on the team for a

while and has been a great set-up man.  He deserves the chance.  I don't think we will really know about him

until a couple of months into the season, I would bet on him being fine though. 

Nova only needed 36 pitches in three innings so eh went to the bullpen after the game to get up to 45

pitches.  In his first start 35 pitches wasn't enough to get through two innings.  He showed great

improvement and that is what you look for. 

Joe Namath was in camp today and the players seemed to enjoy it.  Namath seemed to really relish it

as well. He threw out the first pitch dressed in all Yankees gear.  He talked a lot about Jeter.  He said

he played baseball in high school but back then he wasn't allowed to play two sports at Alabama in

college. 

Steve Donahue knows him from being an interim trainedr with the Jets when Namath played.  When

Robertson was a freshman at Alabama he had a class with Namath's daughter Jessica who was also at

the game.  They did some catching up.  Brett Gardner is hitting 429 in the early going.  Francisco

Cervelli is hitting 571 in the early going. 

Monday, March 3, 2014

New York Yankees win third straight grapefruit league game


The New York Yankees won their third straight spring game on Sunday afternoon.  They defeated the Toronto Blue Jays by the score of 8-2 in Dunedin, Florida.  Vidal Nuno got the start and pitched ok in his couple innings of work.  Eduardo Nunez and Carlos Beltran hit back-to-back homeruns and John Ryan Murphy added a three run shot later in the game. 

Nuno pitched two innings giving up two hits and a run with no walks and three strikeouts.  Bryan Mitchell picked up the victory pitching two innings and giving up three hits with no runs.  He walked none and struck out three, Shane Greene pitched two innings giving up three hits and a run with a strikeout and Bruce Billings pitched an inning giving up a hit.  Fred Lewis pitched an inning giving up a hit and a walk with a strikeout and Matt Daley pitched a perfect inning with two strikeouts. 

Jacoby Ellsbury drew a walk, Nunez had a hit and two RBI and Solarte had two more hits.  He is hitting close to 900 as the early standout in camp.  Beltran had a hit and an RBI, Murphy had a hit and three RBI and Adonis Garcia had three hits.  Garcia has been a standout in camp also but he is an outfielder with no place to go.  Solarte could play third base and could be an intriguing case if he keeps it up.  Austin Romine had a hit and drew a walk, Gary Sanchez had a hit and Brendan Ryan had a hit.  Corban Joseph had an RBI, Dean Anna had a hit, an RBI and drew a walk and Ramon Flores had a hit. 

Garcia hit a double,Nunez, Beltran and Murphy each hit a homerun.  Nunez and Beltran went back-to-back.  The Yankees were 3-10 with runners in scoring position and left nine men on base.  Garcia had a stolen base and Romine was caught stealing.  Nunez and Joseph each committed an error.  Garcia had an outfield assist.  The Yankees will be home in Tampa to take on the Washington Nationals on Monday afternoon.  Ivan Nova will get the start, Jeter will play in the game. 

Sunday, March 2, 2014

New York Yankees Saturday notes

CC Sabathia started for the Yankees today and his velocity quickly became an issue again.  I wouldn't

really worry about it as it is the beginning of spring training.  The reason it comes up though is

because last year it was a big problem and he had the worst year of his career.  Sabathia can be

effective even without a great fastball, he just has to adjust to it.  He was sitting at 88 today but he

said he feels good and he was still effective. 

Sabathia said that last year he threw a lot of fastballs in the dirt and today the ball stayed true and he was behind everything.  He said his arm feels great.  The manager said he isn't going to make much of the velocity  and thinks if he is downhill and locating he will be able to get people out. 

Alfonso Soriano was originally scheduled to make his spring debut on Sunday.  He was scratched to still not feeling well enough to play.  He saw the doctor again as he has been hit hard with the flu bug.  Joe Girardi said it will be a few more days.  They don't feel he is quite at full strength and don't want to run him out there like that. 

Girardi has his pitching rotation mapped out but won't reveal it past Wednesday yet.  He said he will announce it soon maybe even on Sunday.  The people want to know when Masahiro Tanaka will make his first start and also when Michael Pineda will.  I would say probably by the end of next week for both of them.  Pineda is throwing a sim game on Sunday. 

Why was Brian McCann catching on Saturday and DH on Sunday??  Joe Girardi said it is just moving him around so he sees other pitchers.  Girardi also said maybe he won't make every road trip.  He also lines up to catch Ivan Nova on Monday. 

Derek Jeter had some chances in the field today and looked good.  His mobility is there and he isn't favoring anything.  It is night and day from last year and he appears ready to go for the season.  He will continue to get in shape like everyone else and should be fine for the regular season. 

Dellin Betances has a chance to make the team out of the bullpen and so far he has been impressive.  If he keeps it up he will be on the team.  Cervelli talked about Tanaka and said it is like he has pitched in the majors before.  That he has that calm demeanor and it's cool.  He said he has been doing really well in the clubhouse as well. 

The New York Yankees defeat the Philadelphia Phillies 4-0

The New York Yankees defeated the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday afternoon.  It was an

exhibition game that took place at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida.  The Yankees had their top

three starters all pitching in the game.  CC Sabathia started followed by Hiroki Kuroda and then

finally by Masahiro Tanaka.  They all pitched well and Derek Jeter played in his second game. 

The final score was 4-0 and the Yankees won the game.  CC Sabathia started and pitched two scoreless innings.  He gave up two hits and struck out one.  Kuroda pitched two innings and only threw 17 pitches.  He gave up a hit and struck out two batters.  He was so effective that he had to throw more in the bullpen after his outing.  Tanaka pitched two scoreless innings giving up two hits.  He struck out three and was impressive for his first outing.  Dellin Betances pitched 1 2/3 innings giving up a walk and Cesar Cabral pitched 1 1/3 innings striking out two. 

Brett Gardner had a hit, Jeter drew a walk and reached on an error and Dean Anna had a hit.  Brian McCann had a hit and drew two walks, Francisco Cervelli had a hit, an RBI and drew a walk and John Ryan Murphy drew a walk.  Kelly Johnson drew a walk, Yangervis Solarte drew a walk and Ichiro Suzuki had a hit and an RBI.  Adonis Garcia had a hit and two RBI, Corban Joseph had a hit and Antoan Richardson had a hit. 

McCann hit a double, the Yankees were 3-13 with runners in scoring position and left ten men on base.  Anna had a stolen base and Joseph was caught stealing.  Anna committed an error.  The Yankees will travel to Dunedin on Sunday to face the Toronto Blue Jays.  The Yankees starter will be Vidal Nuno.   
 

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