Results tagged ‘ Sergio Mitre ’

Game 94: Yankees vs. Rays

ST. PETERSBURG — It’s possible (though not likely) that two Yankees could make their Major League debut at Tropicana Field tonight.

Brandon Laird, called up yesterday after Ramiro Pena‘s appendectomy, is finally active after a flight delay forced him to arrive late yesterday. On Tuesday, it was lefty Steve Garrison who was called up from Double-A Trenton to take the place of righty Sergio Mitre, who’s battling a bacterial infection but was placed on the DL because of shoulder tendinitis.

More on all that soon, but here are the lineups prior to what most will agree is a very important start for Bartolo Colon …

YANKEES (56-37)
Derek Jeter, SS
Curtis Granderson, CF
Mark Teixeira, 1B
Robinson Cano, 2B
Nick Swisher, RF
Jorge Posada, DH
Russell Martin, C
Brett Gardner, LF
Eduardo Nunez, 3B

Pitching: RH Colon (6-5, 3.47 ERA)

RAYS (50-44)
Johnny Damon, DH
Ben Zobrist, RF
Evan Longoria, 3B
Casey Kotchman, 1B
B.J. Upton, CF
Robinson Chirinos, C
Sean Rodriguez, 2B
Sam Fuld, LF
Reid Brignac, SS

Pitching: RH Jeremy Hellickson (8-7, 3.21 ERA)

Some links from last night …

* Patience a virtue as Yanks edge Rays

* Jeter passes Kaline on career hits list

* Hurt corner: Pena to DL thins Yanks at 3B

* Yankees Notebook on Chavez and the Trade Deadline

* Yanks hope Colon has tossed aside concerns

(Sorry there was no blog yesterday — technical difficulties.)

– Alden 

Game 91: Yankees vs. Blue Jays

TORONTO — Joe Girardi didn’t expect his bullpen to log so many innings so quickly into the second half. But two games removed from the All-Star break, the Yankees’ skipper already finds himself needing a long, bullpen-saving start from ace CC Sabathia. The Yankees’ relief corps logged 7 1/3 innings on Thursday, then three more on Friday. In that span, five different relievers were used, with Sergio Mitre going twice. Because of that, Mitre won’t be available today, and there’s a good chance neither will Hector Noesi, who’s two days removed from pitching 3 1/3 frames.

“It happens during the course of the season and you just have to prepare for it,” Girardi said. “You need some distance out of your ace today, and that’s the bottom line. And I think we’re covered. But if something were to happen to CC in the first inning, then it’d be a little tough today.”

Lucky for Joe, Sabathia is one of the best second-half pitchers in baseball.

Or perhaps the best.

In terms of second-half performance from 2006-10, Sabathia leads all Major League starters who qualify in ERA (2.64), wins (41) and strikeouts (490). For his career, the burly left-hander has a 3.67 first-half ERA and a 3.31 second-half ERA. Now, he’ll be looking to get the Yankees back on track after they dropped back-to-back games, and look to snap the Blue Jays’ five-game winning streak.

A lot of the talk pregame, once again, centered on signs. Russell Martin claimed the Blue Jays were picking up his signs on Thursday. Then last night, Girardi opted to go with multiple signs even with nobody on base, which led to a lot of mound trips and some confusion that may have taken Freddy Garcia out of rhythm (though nobody really used that as an excuse). Pregame today, Girardi vaguely addressed the issue of teams taking other measures besides their own baserunners to pick up signs, saying: “Sometimes we have inclinations that things might be happening in certain ballparks. We’re aware of it, and we try to protect our signs.” Blue Jays skipper John Farrell then denied that any of that is going on at Rogers Centre.

More on that soon.

For now, here are the lineups, with Jose Bautista still out for the Blue Jays and day-to-day with a sore ankle. It’s looking like he won’t play on Sunday, either. Curtis Granderson has the day off from the turf, and Martin gets a blow behind the plate with the quick turnaround …

YANKEES (53-37)
Derek Jeter, SS
Granderson, DH
Mark Teixeira, 1B
Robinson Cano, 2B
Nick Swisher, RF
Andruw Jones, LF
Brett Gardner, CF
Eduardo Nunez, 3B
Francisco Cervelli, C

Pitching: LH Sabathia (13-4, 2.72 ERA)

BLUE JAYS (47-47)
Rajai Davis, CF
Eric Thames, RF
Yunel Escobar, SS
Adam Lind, 1B
Edwin Encarnacion, DH
Aaron Hill, 2B
Travis Snider, LF
J.P. Arencibia, C
John McDonald, 3B

Pitching: LH Ricky Romero (7-8, 3.09 ERA)

Some links from last night …

* Garcia bested on night to forget for Yanks

* Yankees Notebook, with stuff on Nunez’s learning curve, Jeter’s popularity and Colon’s health

* Martin blames himself if Blue Jays knew signs

– Alden 

Nova, Garcia in rotation; Colon to bullpen

The Yankees have announced their pitching plans to start the season, naming Ivan Nova as the fourth starter and Freddy Garcia as the fifth. Bartolo Colon will work out of the bullpen in a long relief role.

Joe Girardi said that Garcia had been the favorite for a rotation spot all along over Colon, who had better numbers this spring but hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since 2009.

“We’d seen what [Garcia] had done last year,” Girardi said. “We actually thought he had a chance to get better.”

Colon has only pitched in relief three times in 328 big league games, but Girardi said he warms up quickly and should adapt well to the role previously filled by Sergio Mitre.

“We’ll make sure that we use him properly and don’t abuse him,” Girardi said. “We understand that this is something he really hasn’t done a lot of.”

The Yankees also figure to make at least one other call today. Eric Chavez can contractually demand to be released today if he’s not told he’s on the roster, but he’s had a great spring and seems to be a lock as a reserve corner infielder.

Yankees deal Mitre to Brewers, pick up Dickerson

And suddenly the Yankees’ pitching mix looks a little clearer. Sergio Mitre has been deleted, leaving Ivan Nova, Freddy Garcia and Bartolo Colon to be selected for two rotation slots and a long relief role.

Here is the official press release:
YANKEES ACQUIRE OUTFIELDER CHRIS DICKERSON
The New York Yankees today acquired outfielder Chris Dickerson from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for right-handed pitcher Sergio Mitre.
Dickerson, 28, has appeared in 173 career Major League games over three seasons with Cincinnati (2008-10) and Milwaukee (2010), compiling a .267 (121-for-454) career batting average with eight home runs and 35 RBI.  A left-handed batter and thrower, Dickerson has appeared at all three outfield positions during the course of his Major League career (73G in LF; 54G in CF; 24G in RF).
In 2010, he batted .206 (20-for-97) with no home runs and five RBI in 45 combined games at the Major League level. He played 20 games with Cincinnati before being traded to Milwaukee on August 9 for outfielder Jim Edmonds. He also appeared in 13 games with Triple-A Louisville, batting .442 (19-for-43) with five doubles, three home runs and 7 RBI.  A California native, Dickerson was selected by Cincinnati in the 16th round of the 2003 First-Year Player Draft.
Mitre, 30, was 0-3 with one save and a 3.33 ERA (54.0IP, 20ER) in 27 appearances (including three starts) with the Yankees in 2010. Signed by the Yankees as a free agent on November 16, 2008, Mitre went 3-6 with a 5.03 ERA (105.2IP, 59ER) in 39 games (including 12 starts) over two seasons with the club.
With this transaction, the Yankees’ 40-man roster remains at 39 players.

Cashman: Fifth starter will be decided soon

The Yankees have been saying, in Joe Girardi’s voice, that the battle for the two vacant slots in the rotation could go down to the final week of Spring Training. But general manager Brian Cashman said Saturday that they may hurry that decision along sooner.

With Ivan Nova seemingly in line for at least one of the spots after firing six hitless innings against the Orioles his last time out and Sergio Mitre heading for a long reliever role, it appears to be down to Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia for the last slot. 
Both have outs in their contracts that could make them free agents, and it is unclear if both pitchers would accept assignments to the bullpen. 
“I think we’re going to have to make that [decision] sooner than later,” Cashman said. “Ultimately, we have guys who have outs in their contracts with Garcia and Colon. We have to stretch guys out and start defining roles sooner than later.”
Speaking before Garcia took the mound against the Blue Jays on Saturday, Cashman said that he has been pleased with the competition thus far. 
“Everybody’s working hard, they’re doing a good job,” Cashman said. “It’s probably the best scenario that we could have hoped for as we entered camp with everybody, having a good strong competition. Anybody can make their case and we’re going to have to make a call here shortly.”

Cashman: There’s not much out there

A quick blog update for you:
I caught up with Brian Cashman for a few minutes on the phone this afternoon, hoping for some sort of update on the Yankees’ search for helpful additions. As you might have guessed from the headline, it sounds like the scene is pretty quiet. 
“Obviously, I’m looking at what’s out there,” Cashman said. “There’s not much. I’m monitoring what the necessary requests are, financially or player wise. If some drop, then maybe we’ll get a little more serious.”
Cashman wouldn’t speak to any of the specific names that have bounced around, but he did say that his preference would be to add a starter over a reliever, and that pitching is their greatest area of need. 
If the season started today, Ivan Nova and Sergio Mitre would probably be at the back end of the rotation, but Cashman wouldn’t say if that scenario seems any more likely now. 
“We’ve got a lot of time left on the clock. Who knows?” Cashman said. “The bottom line is, there’s a reason we haven’t done anything up to this point.”
There’s no need to re-hash the Cliff Lee situation again, but this is the price they’re paying for waiting so long for his decision.
“I’m working at it, but in terms of getting results, that’s why Plan B is patience,” Cashman said. “You’re seeing it.”
Obviously, the Internet and talk radio haven’t had the same sort of cool attitude lately when it comes to Yankees fans. I asked Cashman if he hears that impatience from the fan base and if it could influence anything. 
“I could care less if the sabers are rattling out there,” Cashman said. “It’s about doing what’s right. I’ve dealt with saber-rattling before. I’ll stick with what I believe in. I’m not going to jump into something stupid.”
The obligatory Andy Pettitte update is a no-update – nothing really new to report. 
“I could just tell you that he has been very good about it,” Cashman said. “He informed us about, ‘Don’t wait on me, I’m leaning toward retirement. As of right now I’m not playing, and if I change my mind I’ll let you know.’”
Cashman said that there is nothing Pettitte’s situation will do to influence how they chase other pitchers, because the Yankees are continuing to proceed as though Pettitte will retire. 
“It’s at his request,” Cashman said. “At the same time, I don’t see much in the marketplace that would have me take that type of money and throw it at somebody else.”

For the moment, Yanks going with Mitre

Some notes and quotes from around the New York media this morning as we gear up for the July 31 non-waivers Trade Deadline…

  • Yankees GM Brian Cashman told the New York Daily News’ Peter Botte that “Cliff Lee was a special case” and that situations like this are why Sergio Mitre is on the team. It sounds like Mitre will get every chance to keep the rotation moving through until Pettitte returns in an estimated four to five weeks. The New York Post’s Larry Brooks doesn’t believe it.

  • The Yankees – as well as the Red Sox – have significant interest in Blue Jays reliever Scott Downs, according to AOL FanHouse’s Ed Price. Yankees scout (and former outfielder) Kevin Reese was watching the Blue Jays last night, writes the New York Post’s Brian Costello.

  • The Daily News also notes that the Yankees are not expected to pursue the Astros’ Roy Oswalt. Makes sense – Oswalt is owed $16 million for 2011 and has an option for 2012, and with Pettitte and Javier Vazquez no locks to return next year, the Yankees might be gearing to spend that money on Cliff Lee.

  • Mark Teixeira’s new batting stance is paying dividends, writes the Newark (N.J.) Star-Ledger’s Mike Mazzeo. Derek Jeter is getting frustrated with his slump, writes The New York Times’ Joe LaPointe, who quotes Joe Girardi as saying Jeter has “a few more wrinkles in his forehead.”

  • Remember Jon Weber? The career Minor Leaguer nearly made the Yankees this spring and retired on Thursday after playing his final game with the Toledo Mud Hens in the Tigers chain. Major League Baseball hit him yesterday with a 100-game suspension for “a third positive test for a drug of abuse in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.”

    • CC hit hard by Phils farmhands

    While most of the news was coming out of Sarasota, there was this ugly tidbit of a pitching line filtering in from the Himes Avenue complex back in Tampa, where CC Sabathia pitched in a Triple-A game against the Phillies’ top farm club:

    Sabathia: 3.2IP, 7 H, 7 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 1 HBP, 2 HR – 88 pitches, 58 strikes

    Joe Girardi didn’t have any details, but upon hearing the results, he said: “That’s not what we’re necessarily looking for.” Maybe it’s a good thing that Sabathia’s facing the Red Sox on Opening Night and not the Triple-A Lehigh Valley club.

    Following the outing, Sabathia threw an additional 12 pitches in the bullpen. He was caught in the game and bullpen by Jorge Posada, who went 2-for-3 (two singles) off the Phillies’ Roy Halladay.

    • Once again, Alex Rodriguez found a side door at Ed Smith Stadium, walking past the autograph seekers and into a waiting luxury car to leave the Yankees. He was apparently headed for his reported meeting with federal investigators regarding his possible connection to a Canadian physician under investigation. A-Rod did not comment to reporters, and Yankees manager Joe Girardi said that he did not know if Rodriguez would be available to play on either Friday or Saturday.
    • Back in Sarasota, Girardi thought that Sergio Mitre (2 IP, 1 ER) looked pretty good, but Alfredo Aceves (2 IP, 6 ER) was up in the zone and paid for it. Girardi said that he thought both pitchers were dealing with some emotions after learning they wouldn’t be the Yankees’ fifth starter. 
    • Earlier we mentioned that the Yankees might find it difficult to carry two situational lefties, and they consider Damaso Marte as one. Boone Logan’s changeup is an intriguing pitch for Girardi, and one they want to keep looking at. It’s a pitch that might elevate him past just the left-on-left battles.
    • One explanation for Marcus Thames’ struggles this spring, from Girardi – he’s going to primarily be on the roster to bat against left-handed pitching, and the Yankees haven’t seen much this spring. They’ll draw Jamie Moyer tomorrow, and you can bet Thames will be in there. Girardi wants to see him get going. 
    • Chan Ho Park (2 IP, 0 ER) was “exceptional,” the skipper said.

    Hanging Chad

    Thumbnail image for Posada Gaudin.jpgIn case you just haven’t gotten enough of the fifth starter drama in camp, it appears that whoever the Yankees’ “healthy discussions” yield as the top choice, it won’t be Chad Gaudin.

    Gaudin has placed on waivers by the Yankees, according to an AOL Fanhouse report. If no one claims him, the Yankees could release him and pay a quarter of his $2.95 million salary ($737,500), or ship him to Triple-A and pay his full salary.

    So, it appears that it’s down to four – Alfredo Aceves, Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes and Sergio Mitre. If I had to put on my Carnac hat today and make a decision, I’d say that the Yankees are going to go with Hughes, which would not have been my prediction heading into camp.

    I had thought Chamberlain was a near-lock, since they spent three years building him up for this opportunity to pitch without innings restrictions.

    But that’s just a guess, anyway. Who’s your pick?

    Handicapping the fifth starter race

    Joe Girardi is planning on meeting for “healthy discussions” tomorrow about the fifth starter competition, and a decision appears to be coming up for Thursday or Friday at the latest.

    “We’re going to discuss it in the next couple of days,” Girardi said. “We’ve got to start to iron some things out because we’re running out of innings and we’ve talked about wanting a decision to get the guys in the bullpen.”

    It’s always possible that the Yankees could want to see a more starts from their contenders, especially Joba Chamberlain or Phil Hughes, but it also stands to reason that – at this point – the Yankees know exactly what they have and don’t need any more data to sway their choices.

    If that’s the case, then here are the resume bullet points for each of the five pitchers:

    Alfredo Aceves, 28, RHP

    • Grapefruit League: 1-1, 3.77 ERA in four games (two starts); 14.1 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, 1 HR, 1 BB, 7 SO
    • 2009: Was 10-1 with one save and a 3.54 ERA in 43 appearances (one start).
    • Last outing: Charged with 5 ER in 4 1/3 IP vs. the Astros in Kissimmee.
    • Quote to note: “It’s part of the game. It’s baseball. You always keep
      the bad and the good things. You just fix it to the next game, those
      details. … I don’t want to use that word, ‘happy.’ But so far, it’s been a good Spring Training — for everybody.” – Aceves.

    Joba Chamberlain, 24, RHP

    • Grapefruit League: 0-0, 16.20 ERA in three games (one start); 6.2 IP, 10 H, 12 ER, 1 HR, 7 BB, 5 SO.
    • 2009: Was 9-6 with a 4.75 ERA in 32 appearances (31 starts).
    • Last outing: Allowed 2 ER in 5 IP vs. Yankees intrasquad in Tampa
    • Quote to note: “I’ve just been in a routine. It’s just one of
      those questions you’re faced with every day. It’s human nature when you
      get asked every day to think about it, so it’s just something where
      I’ve gone back to having fun. I’m just enjoying being out here, putting
      this uniform on and competing with these guys.”- Chamberlain.

    Chad Gaudin, 27, RHP

    • Grapefruit League: 0-3, 8.38 ERA in four games (two starts); 9.1 IP, 16 H, 9 ER, 2 HR, 5 BB, 5 SO. Has been placed on waivers by Yankees, according to a report.
    • 2009: Was 5-10 with a 4.76 ERA as a starter in 2009 with the Padres and Yankees
    • Last outing: Allowed 4 R (3 ER) in 2.1 IP vs. the Rays in Port Charlotte
    • Quote to note: “It’s not that I’m not competing, I’m trying to feel a rhythm. Sometimes it’s there, sometimes it’s not. It’s
      inconsistent. But [Friday], I didn’t get the job done. No excuses.”- Gaudin.

    Phil Hughes, 23, RHP

    • Grapefruit League: 0-2, 4.15 ERA in four games (one start); 13.0 IP, 12 H, 6 ER, 5 HR, 2 BB, 10 SO.
    • 2009: Was 8-3 with three saves and a 3.03 ERA in 51 appearances (seven starts).
    • Last outing: Allowed 4 ER in 4.1 IP vs. the Phillies in Clearwater
    • Quote to note: “I’ve done all I can do. We’ll just have to see where
      they want to go from here. … I’ve kind of learned around here just to
      roll with the punches. What you say isn’t going to affect anything. You
      just have to go out and do the best you can, and see what decisions
      come from it.” – Hughes.

    Sergio Mitre, 29, RHP

    • Grapefruit League: 0-0, 3.21 ERA in four games (two starts); 14.0 IP, 9 H, 5 ER, 1 HR, 3 BB, 14 SO.
    • 2009: Was 3-3 with a 6.79 ERA in 12 appearances (nine starts)
    • Last outing: Allowed 2 R in 5 IP vs. the Rays in Port Charlotte
    • Quote to note: “I would think he’s probably pretty healed. He had the
      offseason to rest, and I think part of it is just the constant grind.
      Having the offseason, I think he’s probably where he’s going to be.
      It’s probably nice for him to feel much better after every start.” – Girardi.
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