Closing up shop in Winter Haven…
…quite literally. The clock is ticking on old Chain of Lakes Park, and let’s suffice it to say, it’s not among the Grapefruit League’s best work environments. This is, after all, the place where a giant snake appeared in the press box.
No snakes today, but also not much great pitching. Ian Kennedy has had better days, saying that he couldn’t really place his pitches and was forced to battle.
Hey, what do you call the Big Three of Kennedy, Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain? Got something better than "Generation Trey?" Check this contest out.
Johnny Damon, coming back from the flu, took an 0-for-4 collar, but Robinson Cano and Jason Giambi both continue to swing the bat well. They’re ready for March 31, there’s no doubt.
The Yankees lost 7-5 after Darrell Rasner served up a three-run homer to Andy Marte in the eighth inning. With Rasner and Jeff Karstens both having trouble late in camp, is the door opening for Kei Igawa to make the team? Stay tuned.
Bryan Hoch
Of course, Igawa is the big money man.
ESPN.com: Jose Canseco says in his new book that he introduced Alex Rodriguez to a steroids distributor and that A-Rod pursued Canseco’s wife, according to the Web site of freelance writer Joe Lavin.
I wouldn’t believe a **** thing out of Canseco’s mouth. He’s chasing a big payday for his books so he’ll throw anyone under the bus.
A-Rod “pursued” his wife? Or did A-Rod rail his wife? That’s the million dollar question. I choose rail over pursue.
ESPN will put out any story that casts a bad light on the Yankee organization. I am about 1 or 2 more stories from boycotting that network all together. With so many biased, pro-Red Sox commentators, reporters, and other staff, it’s a wonder that they don’t just follow Yankees around looking for dirt.
I have never agreed with a **** thing out of Hank/Hal Steinbrenner’s mouth. But that take about ESPN being pro Red Sox was dead on. Screw ESPN.
Posting to myself again.
I’m confused. What’s left to figure out in spring training? With the new web design I can’t find my way around this place!! All the hitters are basically set, what about the pitchers… or does no one know and it’s not just me?
Just filed a new story about the bullpen decisions to be made. Keep an eye on yankees.com, should be up soon.
By the whole steroid thing alone the guy gets more people to buy his book. Now with the whole ‘Arod wants to screw my wife’ add on a million more copies. He’s smart. He knows what the public wants. Heck, I wanna read that part!
Oh and thanks Bryan!!..Um where is it on the site?
I think Yankees.com beat writer Bryan Hoch should log the pro redsox comments from Peter Gammons, Steve Phillips and Busta Olney. These comments can be presented at a later date. Journalism is supposed to be unbiased. You hear comments from these guys all the time saying we screw up by not making this trade or that trade. They were all blatently wrong about Eric Gagne.
Is anyone else concerned about the number of runs Ian Kennedy is giving up?
Espn does it because they know that they’ll get more people to watch. Would you watch espn if all they did was put good news on tv about the Yankees? or at their website? People like gossip. Look at those tmz and perez hilton sites.
Not concerned about Kennedy at all. His ERA is only 2.00. It’s only ST but as we saw last season he is capable of pitching much better. The pitchers I’m more concerned with are Mussina, and Igawa. I would be concerned about Rasner, and Karstens, but they are pretty much done.
So the whats the reason for all the unearned runs? Is it walks?
Can Hawkins be a long reliever? We have been scouting Fuentes alot, so one would think we’ll make that move eventually.
obsportsgirl,
Don’t feel bad, I’m still completely lost with the new web design. Just a matter of getting used to it I guess.
yes all the unearned runs was because of walks. are you kidding me.
now i know why you all say what you say. you know nothing abouy baseball.
ok, Well someone in the field must be committing alot of errors. He five runs unearned today. After quite a few bunches more this spring.
now i know why you all say what you say. you know nothing abouy baseball.
Posted by: ldcjasper@zoomtown.com | March 25, 2008 07:26 PM
Where does this come from? Not everyone watches every game, especially in the spring.
bpark,
I doubt Hawkins can be the long reliever on this team, he has gone over 87 IP once since ’99, and that was in ’00 and thrown more than 80 IP once since then and that was back in ’04.
As to Kennedy, I think it’s just bad luck and bad defense like we saw today.
hey chaz canseco was right on with everything in his first book, but i guess he would start lying now because its a yank. i didnt hear you crying about espn a few years ago when all they did was praise the yanks. im sure espn is worried that chaz is going to boycott them.
So far the Yanks have committed 20 errors leading to 22 unearned runs. Like, I said this team has got to do something about the “D”.
Any numbers on Giambi’s D Matt?
He has a perfect fielding percentage, no errors bpark.
Extremely interesting. He’s on a role. I give him a week. I give Arod until opening day for his next one.
I am sure one of the errors was trashcan in left field against Toronto or maybe that game didn’t count.
Everyone knows Giambi’s a risk at 1B defensively, the only reason he is there is because of his offensive potential. This team is definitely going to need an upgrade . MAybe Nick Johnson or Teixeira?
Duncan has 1 error so far.
Nick Johnson is not available, unfortunately the health of Demitri Young took a turn for the worse and he may not be able to play anymore.
Duncan’s error against Toronto was wiped out by the rain I think.
I think the Braves will reup Texiera. We may bring back Giambi next year on a 2 or 3 year deal if Miranda is not ready. Our obvious focus will be on Sabathia but you never know with Manny Ramirez being a free agent, nothing would suprise me as far as him being our DH.
TRADE MATSUI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!DODGERS OR METS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That’s too bad about Young, so it’s down to Teixeira as the only option for the Yanks if they can get him.
I checked the stats on Duncan, he still has 1 error charged to him.
I have my doubts in terms of the Yanks getting Teixeira as well. I’m not sure but I think the list of FA 1B for next season is really ugly.
If Giambi has a great year or even a good year, I think they will re-sign him.
Especially if Giambi when healthy shows he isn’t a liability defensively.
I think the long reliever has to be Igawa. The reason being, he would be best suited for a spot start and they paid him a stack of money. Rasner and Karstens need to go away with Henn and Bruney. The organization has way too much faith in Farnsworth and Hawkins. The only reason farnsworth got Sheff is because he swings at everything. We needed to do a better job with the bullpen in free agency.
My preference would be for Igawa to be the lefty specialist, so we see him for only an out or 2. Traber has had a great spring but his career been soso. Again, I don’t see anyone on the current roster or auditioning who makes me say I comfortable with them coming into a game that’s out of hand.
Igawa is a starter so I’d like to see him come in as a long reliever as well. We need lefties in the bull pen anyway. I don’t understand why the Yankees don’t invest in more lefty relievers when they have that short porch.
Agree re two lefties in BP to start the Season, Traber and Igawa. (Henn out of options to DL).
Last BP spot to Ohlendorf, Bruney or Patterson.
Get real re 1B. (a) Giambi is in last year of contract with $20+M option;$5M buyout for 2009. (b) Teixeria already turned down huge Texas offer before being traded to Atlanta; has Bpras as Agent and will go FA and to highest bidder (which will not be the post Turner/TBS/TW Braves; (c) QED, batting fifth and playing 1B for Yankees in 2009, switch hitthng with power Golden Glove 1B Teixeria.
Interesting re Teixeria, with Delgado apparently “burnt out,” the cross town Mutts are likely to be the primary competition.
Re Sabbathia, (a) he is more likely to reup with current team, Cleve and (b) also likely to go from Cy Young to vastly overweight finished like Bartolo Colon.
Let’s see how Generation Trey and all of the young Yankee pitching prospects behind then do, before considering Santana/Zambrano $ for Sabbathia.
Sabbathia makes Britton and Bruney look trim….
Here’s the deal as far as I’m concerned. BPark, you talk about keeping Lane (an OF’er by trade and a 1b-man “just because”) who is a career .241 hitter over Duncan who has proven he can both PLAY OF AND 1B in Yankee Stadium and play in Yankee Stadium, is younger by 3 years than Lane and has been hitting the snot out of the ball in ST? And then you suggest that depending on Giambi for D is a bad idea? How about depending on him being HEALTHY. All that means that Duncan gets more playing time at 1b, can fill in at the corners and has pop in his bat. Yes, we take him over Lane. No brainer.
As for the Igawa/Rasner/Karstens debate. It’s over AFAIC. The Yankees have too much $$$ invested in Igawa to put in down at AAA again. He appears to finally, maybe be pitching to his potential but there is only one way to find out. Everyone was high on Karstens coming out of winter ball because of what he did for Team USA but that has simply not translated. Rasner simply hasn’t proven out. I’m not using names, or bad words, just the reality. The bull pen is set in my mind – Rivera, Joba, Farnsworth, Hawkins, Traber, Igawa with the only question being Ohlendorf or Bruney.
As for Kennedy, I’m more worried about his walks than the runs.
Canseco’s first book was NOT “all” true, and his comments from the time of its release and freaking 5 minutes ago are a cocktail of truth, half truth, and utter BS. If you haven’t heard him in an interview or read exerpts from his “book” that are obvious BS, you are living in a dream world. So, Jasper, don’t come in here with your nonsense. In fact don’t come in here at all. Frankly, I’m not sure why I am wasting my time replying to your ridiculous and incoherent ramblings. I guess it’s because you amuse me. Did your parents have any kids that lived?
On another note, since you find yourself on a Yankees blog from time to time, here’s some food for thought:
David “Fat Papi” Ortiz is a JUICER. Numbers do not lie:
Ortiz’s Minnesota HR Totals:
58 homers in 1467 at bats for an average of 1 homerun every 25 at bats.
Ortiz’s Boston HR Totals:
208 Homeruns in 2738 at bats for an average of a dinger every 13 at bats.
Let me get this straight; he goes from the AL Central, the weakest division in the AL and arguably the weakest division in the MLB in the late 90′s, to the Red Sox, in the most competitive division in the MLB, and DOUBLES his production? That fat *** is laden with roids.
Sabathia is solid, he isn’t chubby like Bruney and Britton.
Seems unanimous, Igawa is the guy by default.
I agree with you guys Teixeira will most likely re-sign with the Braves since he is their only offensive catalyst in the lineup with the exception of Jones who is injury-prone and getting older.