Final notes from a Yankee blowout
The Yanks put this one away in a sloppy blowout, 12-0, here in hot and muggy Tampa. While we look ahead to Tuesday night and CC Sabathia under the lights at Steinbrenner Field, here’s a few assorted notes from the clubhouse:
– Since the Yankees won’t have a designated hitter on Wednesday against the Astros in Kissimmee, Chien-Ming Wang is going to have very strict orders to stand in the back of the box and look at whatever’s thrown his way. We’re talking Eddie Gaedel strict.
The Yankees already had one situation this spring where Dan Giese missed the take sign against the Braves at Lake Buena Vista and wound up not only singling, but having to run the bases as Johnny Damon chased him home on a triple. That absolutely will not happen on Wednesday.
– Mariano Rivera will make his spring debut on Tuesday vs. the Pirates, throwing approximately 20 to 25 pitches. He’ll likely follow Sabathia so he can face some semblance of big league pitching and still has plenty of time to make his normal eight spring appearances.
– Jorge Posada will probably be behind the plate for Rivera, since the idea is that Posada will catch five innings. He caught four on Sunday.
– Keeping their starters off the long bus rides, the Yankees won’t pitch Andy Pettitte on Friday against the Twins in Fort Myers. Phil Hughes will get the pleasure of making that 2 1/2 hour trip instead. And if you had tickets hoping to see Sabathia on Sunday at Port Charlotte, you’re also out of luck. He’ll be pitching at the Yankees’ Minor League complex on Himes Avenue.
Bryan Hoch
If any of these yankee pitchers have to run the bases then this team is in trouble.
I’d rather see a duck-billed platypus farting the national anthem to open the season than have to endure a situation where Brett Tomko and Ian Kennedy are in the starting rotation.
Hey Bryan, have you seen this:
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/03/boras-offseason.html#comments
I’d love to hear your take on it-and anyone else feel free to chime in too.
Is scott boras a “genius” or a diabolical, evil madman who’s only desire is for world domination? (kinda likie Professor Chaos, eh?)
Gee – no Mercy rule in Tampa? lol!
Julia
http://werbiefitz.mlblogs.com/
Julia, you should rant about that.
(PS the red sox suck
)
Hey Bryan,
Just trying to get a handle on Rivera – I read something about him throwing more pitches than planned in his last session. How did his body respond to that and is he looking like being 110 per cent for Opening Day?Ashhttp://ashleymarshall.mlblogs.com
I’s settle for 109%.
dammmit…I mean “I’d settle for 109%”…I missed the “d”.
Igawa should be on the roster the way he is pitching this spring.
Is anyone talking about the seller spring Kei Igawa is having? He could really cement our bullpen if he can take that north!
Interesting to see those numbers lined up like that. But no one should really be surprised that Scott Boras gets big money for his clients. That’s why they go to him – other players sign elsewhere for the service and the perks, as we’ve heard. But hey, if all I want is to cash in big and I’m a top-notch free agent, Scott’s going to get that money.
Rivera says everything is “bueno.” Stay tuned tomorrow, but so far he appears free and easy. The control will come next. I have no reason to think he won’t be ready for Opening Day.
What role would Kei Igawa have in the bullpen? I guess he could potentially be a long reliever but I don’t see him in that mix right now. Girardi said today this is the best he’s seen him and the main reason is he’s throwing strikes and not trying to strike everybody out anymore. But he’s not a lefty reliever like Marte or Coke – if I had to put money on it right now, he’ll be a Triple-A starter to open the year. Don’t forget that Igawa isn’t on the 40-man roster.
Joe Torre recommending Don Mattingly for Dodgers job:
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090316&content_id=4001160&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb&partnerId=rss_mlb
No Kei.
NO KEI! He is a powder keg waiting to explode. Do not believe the hype. This decent showing this spring should be ONLY to show case him for a trade. Let him be someone else’s problem.
It was good to see Joba and Igawa pitch well in yesterday’s game !!! … I don’t know what the future holds for Kei Igawa, as he will start the season in (AAA) SWB … But, if he pitches well in SWB, I would want to see him next in line, after Phil Hughes, as a call-up, instead of Ian Kennedy, if the Yankees need pitchig help at some point his season !!! … Most likely, though, he may not get another opportunity to pitch for the Yankees on the big-league level [unless there are many pitching injuries] … No matter what happens, I wish Igawa well !!!
Also, I look forward to seeing how well Mariano and Posada perform tonight !!!
“Go Yankees” !!!
– Jimmy [27NYY], “BY&L”
http://baseballtheyankeesandlife.mlblogs.com/