Yankees Spring Training Thread

[Optimist]

If you watched the games last year, especially towards the end, you'd see that (regardless of stats) Chacon and Small are completely different.

 

I should also point out my other reason for being such a huge Chacon supporter. I was at his Yankee debut. Ever since then, he's just one of those players that , as a fan, I feel a weird connection with. I have to root for him.

 

(Side note: That was the greatest game I've ever been to. Starting off teriffied at what this "Chac-un" guy would be like against the Angels and just a few hours later giving him a standing ovation, along with 50,000 other fans. And it didn't hurt that the Yankees rallied from a 4 run deficit in the final two innings.)

[ORS]

And I agree, I doubt Small is anywhere near as good as he was last year, however I think Chacon will be as good, if not better......

 

......Sox fans...I understand that your team runs on a stat-based philosophy. However, I have said it many times, and I hate to have to do it again, but..there is more to baseball than numbers. There is the human element. Just from what i've seen from Small at the end of last year and this spring so far, stats aside, I feel he is going to not be as good this year. However, with the same reasoning, I think the exact opposite in Chacon's case.

I know you don't like stats, but I suspect it is due to a lack of understanding more than anything. Yes, there is more to the game, like having good mechanics or being lucky. That last one is what Chacon was last year. In his entire MLB career before coming to NY (4+ years) his balls-in-play batting average (BABIP) was .279. His home average was .278 and his road average was .280. That is a pretty stong indicator that this is the norm for him. He's gone drastically higher (.030 or more points above his average) once when his BABIP was .314 in 2004 and his ERA was 7.11. He's gone drastically lower once when his BABIP was .239 after getting traded to NY, and his ERA was 2.85. This is why his FIP (fielding independent pitching statistic) ERA is 4.57 for his time in NY. Crespo is right. He's a mid-4 ERA pitcher, which is OK in the AL East (about league average), but for Chacon to improve over last year like you suggest he will, he'll have to start growing shamrocks out of his ass to get any luckier.

[ksushi]

Do I sense some sarcasm??

 

 

And yea, you should have seen the look on my face when I heard Damon was hurt . I CAN'T WAIT to hear what George has to say.

 

no, you are legit the best yankee fan I hear from regularly. As a matter of fact, you one of like 5 posters who I actually read their entire post when I see it.

 

Yeah, bad push on Damon. Thats exactly why in September I guess that he wouldn't be a Sox, that shoulder.

[26 to 6]

I was at his Yankee debut.

Me Too

 

That was also Alan Embree's debut as well, right? If not his debut, the day he was picked up. I remember walking on Rupert Place and someone had 1050 on and I heard that he was picked up by the team and would be available today ....and to think-I was HAPPY when hearing that

 

I know you don't like stats, but I suspect it is due to a lack of understanding more than anything. Yes, there is more to the game, like having good mechanics or being lucky. That last one is what Chacon was last year. In his entire MLB career before coming to NY (4+ years) his balls-in-play batting average (BABIP) was .279. His home average was .278 and his road average was .280. That is a pretty stong indicator that this is the norm for him. He's gone drastically higher (.030 or more points above his average) once when his BABIP was .314 in 2004 and his ERA was 7.11. He's gone drastically lower once when his BABIP was .239 after getting traded to NY, and his ERA was 2.85. This is why his FIP (fielding independent pitching statistic) ERA is 4.57 for his time in NY. Crespo is right. He's a mid-4 ERA pitcher, which is OK in the AL East (about league average), but for Chacon to improve over last year like you suggest he will, he'll have to start growing shamrocks out of his ass to get any luckier.

It's not necessairly that I dont understand the stats, althouth I admit I dont understand some of the stats you guys, and you in particular throw out there. It's more that I know that there is a hell of a lot more that goes into success and a lot more to the game of baseball than numbers. Yes, there is mechanics, and luck (especially). And those are huge, just as big as stats IMO. I know when I played before I hurt my knee that I HATED looking at the numbers when the AD provided them. I would rather go 0-3 with a sac-fly RBI than go 4-4 with nobody on, regardless of the effects on my average.

 

no, you are legit the best yankee fan I hear from regularly. As a matter of fact, you one of like 5 posters who I actually read their entire post when I see it.

Oh, well in that case, thank you then.

[riverside sluggers]

If anyone wants to watch, today's spring training matchup of NY vs Astros is right now on ESPN.

 

-----------------

Mussina looked sharp in his outing against the Astros

 

5 innings- 3 Hits, 1 Run, 1 Walk, 8 Ks

[Optimist]

Me Too

 

Really?

 

That was also Alan Embree's debut as well, right? If not his debut, the day he was picked up. I remember walking on Rupert Place and someone had 1050 on and I heard that he was picked up by the team and would be available today ....and to think-I was HAPPY when hearing that

 

Yeah, that was his Yankee debut. I remember thoroughly booing him as he walked to the mound...and booing him alot louder after he threw an easy ground ball into the stands and lost the lead.

 

Another thing I remember from that game: Chacon falling over himself. He was warming up between innings and I looked away for a second. All of a sudden I heard the crowd gasping and looked back to see Chacon on the ground. I remember someone shouting, "Was he shot?!"

 

Another great thing from that game was some guy in the front row, he had on a bright yellow shirt, and he was trying to get a foul ball that had been hit near him. He leans over the wall thing and pushed it away by accident. Then he did it again, and again. Eventually the Angels 1st base coach handed it to him...and he dropped it...again. That went on for like 5 minutes. I almost died laughing that moment.

[riverside sluggers]

Aaron Small will join Carl Pavano on the opening day DL.

 

Rotoworld: Aaron Small suffered a strained right hamstring while running Tuesday and is likely to open the season on the disabled list. "He probably won't be ready," manager Joe Torre said. "It's probably going to be 10 days or two weeks." Scott Proctor becomes the top candidate to replace Small in the pen. Scott Erickson could be a long shot possibility.

[26 to 6]

Really?

 

 

 

Yeah, that was his Yankee debut. I remember thoroughly booing him as he walked to the mound...and booing him alot louder after he threw an easy ground ball into the stands and lost the lead.

 

Another thing I remember from that game: Chacon falling over himself. He was warming up between innings and I looked away for a second. All of a sudden I heard the crowd gasping and looked back to see Chacon on the ground. I remember someone shouting, "Was he shot?!"

 

Another great thing from that game was some guy in the front row, he had on a bright yellow shirt, and he was trying to get a foul ball that had been hit near him. He leans over the wall thing and pushed it away by accident. Then he did it again, and again. Eventually the Angels 1st base coach handed it to him...and he dropped it...again. That went on for like 5 minutes. I almost died laughing that moment.

You booed Embree? I was on my feet cheering him. I always like to give new guys a chance. And yea, I vividly remember the Chacon thing, and then the entire Stadium giving him a huge hand afterwards.

 

That was the first game I ever brought my 12 year old sister too and she didnt understand why I was up cheering so much (Embree, Chacon, etc)

 

If anyone wants to watch, today's spring training matchup of NY vs Astros is right now on ESPN.

Good win today. Especially after yesterdays loss to the Cardinals. I wanted to smack whoever hit into the double play (I surprisingly dont remember who it was), and then smack Ben Davis after he ended the game

 

I wish I was able to see Pettitte pitch, but with school and all it was kinda hard

 

Hopefully i'm not busy tomorrow and can catch the end of the game on YES. Yankees/Astros again, this time in Tampa.

 

(I love how YES is showing all 15 ST home games, plus the road game against the Phillies )

[Optimist]

I was just reading about today's game. Out of Moose's 78 pitches today, 60 were strikes. Wow. That's great to see.

[26 to 6]

Yanks lost BOTH games today. I was fliiping between YES and FSN Detroit, and found the one against Detroit to be more entertaining, just due to theplayers that were there.

 

Also, anybody know who #89 is that was coaching first base for the Yanks in Tampa while Tony Pena, and most of the other coaches were in Lakeland?

[a700hitter]

Nice pitching line for Tanyon Sturtze today-- 1 inning, 4 runs, 3 hits, 1 walk. His ST ERA is 15. Is he still suffering from the tired shoulder syndrome, which has apparently had for his entire career. He is 36 + years old with a 5+ ERA. When is the Yankee brass going to wake up and realize that he truly is a Tampa Bay reject.

[Optimist]

Chacon's scoreless inning streak ended yesterday; after posting zeroes for a few innings, he gave up a HR to a Cardinal. His ERA through 4 ST starts is now 0.77.

 

Today Jaret Wright takes the mound. Oh no, we're going to lose to the Marlins.

 

I wonder if the WBC guys will be back in the lineup today; I've read articles which have hinted at it but they're not saying anything definitive.

[riverside sluggers]

Chacon's scoreless inning streak ended yesterday; after posting zeroes for a few innings, he gave up a HR to a Cardinal. His ERA through 4 ST starts is now 0.77.

 

Today Jaret Wright takes the mound. Oh no, we're going to lose to the Marlins.

 

I wonder if the WBC guys will be back in the lineup today; I've read articles which have hinted at it but they're not saying anything definitive.

 

If Chacon could just keep his control down, then there'd be no stopping him. It was something around 80 pitches in 4 innings. He allowed 7 baserunners in that time (5 Hits, 2 Walks). True it was just 1 run. But offensive teams like the Rangers & Red Sox for example will make him work.

 

I just heard that Tanyon Sturtze is nearing the possibility of entering the season with Pavano and Small on the DL.

[Optimist]

Cano leaves the game after being hit (I think?) with a bad throw.

[26 to 6]

Cano leaves the game after being hit (I think?) with a bad throw.

That was scary.

 

Also, Matsui had a very nice shot. And of coarse, the Yanks beat the Florida Marlins 8-3

[riverside sluggers]

Rotoworld: Gary Sheffield fell to 1-for-21 this spring after going 0-for-3 Saturday against the Marlins.

Is Sheffield intentionally struggling because he's unhappy with his contract situation? "I'm still not comfortable. The thing is, I'm not allowed to be comfortable," said Sheffield, who will make $13 million this year and has already earned about $120 million over the course of his career. "And that's the reality of my situation. I always have to play with my back against the wall. Just one more year of that, and then I don't have to do it no more." Sheffield wants the Yankees to pick up their $13 million option for 2007 now, even though they don't have to make a decision until after the season.

 

If true- Thats pretty sad, though not unexpected, that Sheffield would throw away AB's as sort of a protest. Now if he starts doing this during the regular season...

[26 to 6]

If true- Thats pretty sad, though not unexpected, that Sheffield would throw away AB's as sort of a protest. Now if he starts doing this during the regular season...

I honestly dont think it's intentional. However, if it is, and if he pulls this s*** during the regular season...f*** HIM!

I've always been one of his biggest supporters, despite whatever controversary he was caught up in. But if he pulls that during the season, trade his ass for some good prospects and let Bubba Crosby platoon with Kevin Thompson, Melky Cabrera, or Kevin Reese.

[26 to 6]

I was just thinking about this last night, and ironically I wake up to see it in the Boston Globe as well.

 

One major leaguer said yesterday that the rumor circulating among some of the Latin players was that the Yankees had already made a run at Yulieski Gourriel, the 21-year-old Cuban superstar infielder, but that sounds like wishful thinking.

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/articles/2006/03/19/in_praise_of_an_instant_classic/

 

This kid is amazing, and I really hope he, along with some others defect. I have been saying that since before the tourney, and so far no defections

 

..but maybe soon

 

However, it is unlikely the Yanks would get him just because they have no room for him, unless he, or Cano wants to make a switch to the outfield or something. Gourriel would likely play this coming season in the Minors anyway. But how great would it be to get him out of Cuba

[Optimist]

All 4 WBC guys in the lineup today...

[Optimist]

Ken Singleton,

 

The Cleveland Guardians and the Chicago White Sox are in the AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL, not the NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL.

 

Sorry, it was just bugging me.

[Optimist]

Johnson gets out of an early jame (men on both corners and no outs) with 2 Ks and a fly out.

 

His slider is looking pretty sharp.

[Optimist]

Johnny leads off the game with a hit and Jeter knocks him in.

 

This is a sight that should become very familiar...

[Optimist]

Al Leiter just threw the last pitch of his career (he made it official, he's retiring after today's game.)

 

Final stats: 162 - 132, 3.80 ERA, 2391.0 IP, 2152 H, 1974 K

 

We'll never forget that start in Boston, Al.

 

http://img74.imageshack.us/img74/9099/3600718bigback9xa.jpg

 

 

(The other starts, we'll try to forget. )

[riverside sluggers]

Rotoworld: Jaret Wright hurt his back fielding bunts during a pregame drill and will be reevaluated Monday. The day after his best outing of the spring. If Wright didn't have bad luck... well, he is making $7 million this year, so he could be worse off.

 

Seriously this guy cant get a break. Bad luck keeps finding him.

 

I also heard that RJ struck out 9 over 6 innings. Im thinking that he could have a better season than 2005, this spring he holds a 18/3 K/BB ratio

[Optimist]

I was watching Yankee Magazine today on YES and they dedicated a small part of the show to uniform numers. Wright was talking about how he picked 33 last year then 'got hit with a few bats and balls to the neck' and decided to go with 34 this season. Guess it wasn't the number. :dunno:

 

And, on the Unit, he did look very good today. That slider was very impressive during most of the game. And he threw around/over 90 pitches, which surprised me. The YES commentators were saying he looked like he was ready for opening day; I don't know if I'd go that far, but I'm definitely optimistic (which shouldn't come as a shock to anyone) about what he'll be able to do during his sophomore year in the Bronx. At this point, he really just needs to focus on getting that velocity up there to Unit levels; which he should be able to do over the next week or two.

[riverside sluggers]

though not related to spring training

 

classic moment, Randy Johnson had a brief appearance in tonight's new Simpsons episode. He was at a Left-torium convention and was getting in Flanders face to buy what he was selling.

[Optimist]

I just saw that.

 

"Bears can't be mailmen. Now how many doctors are you going to buy? They come in boxes of a thousand."

[riverside sluggers]

Flanders: Ok I'll take one box

RJ: Are you looking for trouble?

[Optimist]

Good god, what happened to Moose?

 

In the 7th inning...

 

Detroit: 13

New York: 1

[riverside sluggers]

I just took a quick glance at the box score, 3 HRs he gave up. How long did he last until being pulled?