Mets lose in extras to Nats

The New York Mets lost to the Washington Nationals in 10 innings by the score of 7-5 this afternoon. Hisanora Takahashi got the start and pitched 3 innings giving up 4 hits and 4 runs with 1 walk and 3 strikeouts. Frankie Rodriguez pitched 2 scoreless innings giving up 2 hits but he had 3 strikeouts. Sean Green pitched a scoreless inning giving up 2 hits and Bobby Parnell did the same. Ryota Igarashi pitched 1 inning giving up 2 hits and 1 run, Kiko Calero pitched 1 1/3 innings giving up 1 hit and 2 runs. He also walked 2 and struck out 2. David Wright was 3-3 with 2 rbi to lead the offense. Alex Cora had 2 hits, Ruben Tejada had a hit and Luis Castillo had a hit and 3 rbi. Jeff Francouer and Omir Santos each had a hit. The Mets will host the St. Louis Cardinals tomorrow afternoon at 1:00PM on WPIX. Jose Reyes is hoping to make it back for opening day but is doubtful, I think that is ok as long as he can come back shortly after that, even a couple of weeks wouldn't be bad.

A.J. and Jorge work well together and Joba closes out game

The New York Yankees defeated the Detroit Tigers today by the score of 2-1. The game was played at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Florida. A.J. Burnett made the start and despite not having a good curveball he had a good outing. He pitched 6 2/3 innings picking up his first win of the spring. He gave up 3 hits and 1 run with 3 walks and 2 strikeouts. He worked well with catcher Jorge Posada and said this about him "I was relaxed and confident because my catcher was." This is the second start in a row where Burnett has really praised Jorge Posada. I guess the working together this spring has paid off and they put whatever went on last year behind them. Dave Robertson finised off the seventh inning for Burnett giving up a walk. Chan Ho Park pitched another scoreless inning giving up a hit and Joba Chamberlain closed the game out. Joba gave up 2 hits but had a double play and a strikeout. He was hitting 93-94 on the gun and only threw fastballs and sliders as he said he would. Joba said "You don't want to give up the lead for sure and lose the game. It was a good position to be in for my first one." The offense really didn't do much again but Jorge Posada had a couple of hits and so did Curtis Granderson who is now hitting 297 on the spring. He had a double off of a lefty today which is a good sign. Marcus Thames who is trying to make the team as a bench guy had a solo homerun adn a walk. He has now played 2 days in a row against lefties and looked good. Ramiro Pena and Brandon Laird each had a hit. Here is what Joe Girardi had to say about Burnett and Posada "It's been good, obviously the numbers show it today. They have worked hard and we have worked hard. Sometimes it is just getting comfortable with a guy, seeing them as much as you can." Here is what he said about Joba "I thought he attacked, he was ahead. For him it was positive and we will get him back out there soon." Girardi had this to say about Gardner and Granderson in the same outfield. "A lot of times when you see two center fielders in one outfield, the one that is playing left is used to taking charge and he is going to call balls, but I haven't seen any issues." Andy Pettitte will pitch tomorrow with Javier Vazquez on Monday. CC Sabathia will pitch tuesdays split squad on the road and Sergio Mitre at home. Phil Hughes will pitch on Wednesday.

Grapefruit League Game 24-Nationals at Mets

The New York Mets will host the Washington Nationals at Digital Domain Park this afternoon at 1:00PM on WPIX. Hisanori Takahashi is making the start for the Mets and Francisco Rodriguez, Bobby Parnell, Sean Green, Ryota Igarashi and Kiko Calero are also scheduled to pitch today also. I don't have the Mets lineup for today and I am not going to have it up as I have other obligations. Here are some gamenotes though. The Mets have hit 30 homeruns on the spring which is tied with the Cincinatti Reds for first in the NL. The Mets are meeting the Nationals for the 4th time of 6 meetings this spring. The Mets have won 2 of the 3 meetings so far. Fernando Martinez is 3rd in the grapefruit league with a 413 average. David Wright is tied for fifth with 4 homeruns. Remember he hit 10 all of last season so this is a good sign. Angel Pagan is tied for the lead with 4 stolen bases. The game is on WPIX, enjoy the game and I will have a recap and some notes later on this evening.

Grapefruit League Game 23-Yankees at Tigers

Here are some pregame notes for this afternoons game and the lineup. The game is at 1:05PM on the YES network. A.J. Burnett will take on Nate Robertson. There are 8 spring games left after today as we are down to 8 days until Opening Night in Boston. Joba Chamberlain, Boone Logan, Dave Robertson and Chan Ho Park are scheduled to pitch out of the bullpen. This will be Chamberlains first appearance out of the bullpen again as he goes back to being the setup man. A.J. Burnett is making his 4th start of the spring, he is looking to do better, he was wild his last time out when he allowed 5 runs in 4 innings. He allowed them all in the first inning though and then settled down. Yankees Lineup: Gardner(CF) Johnson(1B) Posada(C) Thames(DH) Granderson(CF) Winn(RF) Pena(SS) Russo(2B) Laird(3B) I will have some more pregame info in a little while. Here are some notes from this mornings session with Joe Girardi via Chad Jennings.

Girardi has said time and again that his relievers have to earn their spot but he basically said that Joba will have a spot. "The assumption is that he will pitch at a high level and earn his spot." As for a role he isn't saying he will be in the 8th inning but did say this "You'd like to see someone lock it down, there are a lot of quality arms down there that could do it."

Joba will pitch one inning today and may get in back to back games before the end of spring but Girardi said it isn't a necessity.

Here is what Girardi said about his teams losing record this spring "If you're getting the pitching, then to me, that hitting is going to come." I would agree with him I don't pay too much attention to the record. If the pitchers are doing well and getting stronger that is all that really matters. The hitters are behind the pitchers and the full lineup isn't really together, this week they should all be playing regular and almost full games, that is when you look at it more, especially the last few games.

Joe Girardi said the decision to start Granderson in Center or left hasn't been made. He said he has just observed and hasn't put a lot of thought into it yet.

Enjoy the game everyone, remember it is televised on the yes network.

Hughes starts but Joba gets the attention

The New York Yankees played the Philadelphia Phillies last night at George M. Steinbrenner Field. The final score was 3-0, Phil Hughes made the start on short rest to get lined up as the 5th starter but most of the attention was on Joba Chamberlain. Hughes pitched 3+ innings giving up 2 hits and 1 run with 4 walks and 5 strikeouts. He was a little wild but remember was on short rest. Joe Girardi said he was pleased with his outing. He said he was missing just a little bit but he was pleased with his outing. Zach Segovia pitched 2 scoreless innings giving up 3 hits and a walk. Mariano Rivera pitched a perfect inning with a strikeout and so did Damaso Marte. Royce Ring pitched a inning giving up 2 runs and 2 hits with 2 strikeouts. Amaury Sanit pitched a perfect inning with a strikeout. Now lets get to Joba, he is the big topic as always because he is back to being in the bullpen. Here is what he had to say "I can say I am happy with myself because I gave it everything I've got. Hughes just beat me, that's it, the long and short of it." He said he expects to go back to his fastball slider combo and the Yankees expect his velocity to climb back into the upper 90's. I also expect this to happen and don't think it will take him too long to get back to that bulldog mindset and just start blowing people away. "I can't think about being a starter at this point. For me to help this team right now, it's being in the bullpen and trying to get guys out there. It's unfair to my team to think about something else." Here is what Brian Cashman had to say "I think we finished off his development plan, and we have choices with him now. He can start if we need him to start, he can relieve if we need him to relieve. I don't feel it's a waste at all. I think we completed the mission on him and what will be, will be." The Yankees offense only produced 4 hits in the game and one was by Marcus Thames off of lefty Jaime Moyer which is good, he is going to be used against lefties and needs to show he can hit them like he has in his career. The other hits were by Robinson Cano, Jon Weber and Nick Swisher. The Yankees will take on the Detroit Tigers in Lakeland today at 1:00PM. Francisco Cervelli will be away from the team for a couple of days to attend to a personal matter.