3/30 – Yankees at Blue Jays
Hello from sunny Dunedin, Fla., where the press box basically smells like your old musty basement. But I digress. There are 27 innings left in the Grapefruit League and we’re all starting to get a little punchy. The players are ready for the real games to begin and so are we.
Brett Gardner sped out of the clubhouse yesterday after being named the Yankees’ Opening Day centerfielder, so we caught up with him for a little bit this morning. I’ll have more up later in the form of a real story, but here is a quote from No. 11:
“I’m really excited, but at the same time, I know the hard work has just begun,” Gardner said.
Gardner said he wasn’t anticipating anything coming into camp and hasn’t even started looking for a place in New York yet. He will have to now, as he has no intention of living in the same New Jersey extended stay hotel he used during his stints with the Yankees last year. Good luck to him on the search – we hear it’s a buyer’s market out there.
Joe Girardi said there have been no other decisions made as of yet on the bullpen or the utility role. But he admitted there isn’t a whole lot else anyone can do to state their cases — they’re just trying to figure out what they want to do.
“A lot of this might go down to the end,” Girardi said. “I think it’s just deciding what we feel is best overall.”
The Yankees have a bunch of reinforcements on the trip with them. Say hello to Kevin Whelan, Kyle Anson, Mitch Abeita, Eric Duncan, Justin Snyder, Luis Nunez, James Cooper and Jack Rye. Mariano Rivera will pitch in a Minor League game tomorrow, thus skipping the trip to Sarasota and once again making it through the spring without wearing gray pants.
Fueled by Starbucks, here’s the lineup:
NEW YORK YANKEES
Derek Jeter SS
Johnny Damon LF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Hideki Matsui DH
Nick Swisher
Robinson Cano 2B
Cody Ransom 3B
Jose Molina C
Brett Gardner CF
Andy Pettitte LHP
TORONTO BLUE JAYS
Marco Scutaro SS
Aaron Hill 2B
Alex Rios CF
Kevin Millar DH
Lyle Overbay 1B
Scott Rolen 3B
Adam Lind LF
Travis Snider RF
Michael Barrett C
David Purcey RHP
Bryan Hoch
Some media members are clammoring for us to keep Cabrera and move Swisher. The reason: defense if Gardner struggles, they say Swisher is not the answer and we are hell bend against Damon.
Any news on Bernie? ESPN said yesterday he is trying to comeback officially.
Nick isnt good enough for a position? Whats he doing, sweeping the dugout then?
Guess it’s today’s trivia question…: Name a position in baseball other than pitcher, catcher, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, shortstop, leftfielder and centerfielder!…mmmmh…that’s tricky….anyone have a guess? ^^
Hey, you haven’t responded to my emails so, would you mind throwing my blog in your blogroll?
http://www.bronxbaseballdaily.com
I’ll guess batboy or manager! lol!
Julia
http://werbiefitz.mlblogs.com/
I think it is great that #11 is getting the start. This is his time to shine and if he doesnt step up to the situation then we have two great backups behind him. This kid is really good.
REPEAT FROM PRIOR THREAD
BP,
I’m surprised with Albaladejo over Robertson, but I hear he translates as more capable of three or four innings and his fastball has a few more MPH than last year! We’re handicapped this year by the lack of televised games!!! I still envision Giese being waived to add another UI until A-Rod is back!!!
Fan Confidence Poll: March 30th, 2009-Mike Axisa
http://riveraveblues.com/2009/03/fan-confidence-poll-march-30th-2009-9573/
Is Andy pitching a Dandy here or what? ^^…thru 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K, 40 pitches….33 of them for strikes
Ok…as soon as I’ve written it, a double from Scutaro scores Barrett
…1-1 the score by the way…
Oh, by the way…the game IS apparently on Gameday…followed the Gameday-link to the Twins-Game on MLB.com, and that site then had all the games listed…
Here is the direct link to the Yankees-game:
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2009_03_30_nyamlb_tormlb_1
Thanks for that tip 784!
Check out Andy’s final line. That’s some pretty impressive pitching especially at a time when most teams are fielding something fairly approximating their ML lineups, at least early on in games.
My pick is Aceves but Tomko would work, Albajahobo will not.
I also think the long man will be Tomko, but not until A-Rod is back!
Girardi hinted at Albajahobo. Tomko in Geise out.
ALBALADEJO
Jessica ALBA
is not a LAD
or A HO!!!
I would like to see a change of heart by Girardi, I think Andy should be the starter in our home opener at the “NEW YANKEE STADIUM”. What do you all think??? GO Yankees!!
Andy for me!
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Tomko on the opening day roster myself. Considering what he had in terms of competition for the long reliever role, I’m not surprised he and Aceves are the ones left standing, I’m still rooting for Brett. See you on Opening Day Brett.
Well Andy is a really good pitcher. But as Bryan already pointed out somewhere: Pettitte already got to close out the old Yankee Stadium…Now of course then there are two ways to go about it:
- Let the same guy get the first start who got the last start in the old park
or
- Let your high prized, new acquisition, superstar-ace, leader of the pitching staff, who you plan to win some championships with in the next seven years, open the Greatest Stadium in the history of baseball.
I still think it’s fitting to give Sabathia the nod, but maybe A.J. should be starting the season opener in Baltimore…since he’s also a much anticipated new addition to the ballclub.
Albaladejo and Aceves are on the 40Man roster, Tomko is not.
This team can always knock someone off the 40-man roster. Albaladejo isn’t a long reliever, and Aceves had a bad spring and is still unproven.
Also Albaladejo doesn’t have many career innings under his belt so it would be a mistake to use him as one.
Right now the only candidate I see to come off is Giese.
He is the most likely one, you never know, they may knock someone else off as well maybe an Erik Hacker who isn’t much.
Robert don’t discount a Tony Wolmack style trade clearing up a roster spot either now or later. Tomko decision not due till July.
Goodell: Plaxico Burress is suspended indefinetely and cannot play while status is pending even if trial is after next season.
Aceves or Hughes would be the most logical but Hughes needs to get his innings in.
They just added Hacker in December to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. Maybe his numbers this spring were bad enough to drop him now, but I doubt it. We did get Keoenke and Nova back as well as someone for Jones.
Kroenke
Charles Nolte came from Minnesota for Jones.
Point is anyone other than Giese will likely be claimed.
See the Abraham article, he lists who might get off’d from the 40
Abe: Melky, Sanchez, Geise and Miranda could come off. Pena likely to be added.
Keyshawnawahilli email and said we should drop Hughes from the 40 man roster and add Bonds and then sent Bonds to single A Tampa.
It was a joke.
I would not rule out us trading Melky for a prospect. I have seen it with Wolmack, Lofton, Wright and others.