2010 Yankees Spring Training Game Thread

[jacksonianmarch]

I have only watched a few games due to a busy schedule, but one fringe guy who has impressed me is Boone Logan. Yeah, he's got a pretty straight FB, but he throws it hard and seems to have an idea of where it's going. Maybe its just the spring kinks being worked out by the hitters and he'll revert to Batting practice Logan, but I think he has a real shot of making it with the Yanks

[yankees228]

Aceves pitches tomorrow, which will go a long way into determining if he can start the season with the big league club.

[jacksonianmarch]

I hope he can. He's pretty important to the pen as a swing guy. He really reminds me of Mendoza. Completely unspectacular, but playing a vital role. Not coincidently, the last time we won a WS, we had a guy in that exact role, and since Mendoza left for Boston, nobody filled it until last yr.

[yankees228]

I have only watched a few games due to a busy schedule' date=' but one fringe guy who has impressed me is Boone Logan. Yeah, he's got a pretty straight FB, but he throws it hard and seems to have an idea of where it's going. Maybe its just the spring kinks being worked out by the hitters and he'll revert to Batting practice Logan, but I think he has a real shot of making it with the Yanks[/quote']

 

Yeah, you'll probably remember this discussion, but I initially thought he had a chance to make the team, because of the talk of carrying a second lefty. But if Aceves comes through tomorrow's game healthy, I see the bullpen as...

 

Rivera

Chamberlain

Robertson

Marte

Park

Aceves

Mitre

 

Logan has an option left, so he'll be sent to AAA, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him at some point this year. He has been really good against LHHs this spring (as has Royce Ring).

[yankees228]

I hope he can. He's pretty important to the pen as a swing guy. He really reminds me of Mendoza. Completely unspectacular' date=' but playing a vital role. Not coincidently, the last time we won a WS, we had a guy in that exact role, and since Mendoza left for Boston, nobody filled it until last yr.[/quote']

 

This is true, although I'm not trying to link him in any way with postseason success, because he did more harm than good last October.

[jacksonianmarch]

Royce Ring is a bonus guy to have around. If you get him righted, then you have one hell of an arm out there to blow away lefties. But, facing reality here, he's a 29 yr old journeyman with a powerful left arm and no clue where to throw the ball

[jacksonianmarch]

This is true' date=' although I'm not trying to link him in any way with postseason success, because he did more harm than good last October.[/quote']

 

Mendoza, as I recall, didnt have a lot of postseason success. His worth was in the regular season, coming in and saving losses from the clutches of defeat and temporizing the other offense enough to give us a chance to come back. Aceves' 10 wins are a testament to that idea. In his role, that means he locked it down enough in 10 games where the decision was in doubt when he came in. Without those 10 games, we win the WC and probably dont win a WS

[yankees228]

Mendoza' date=' as I recall, didnt have a lot of postseason success. His worth was in the regular season, coming in and saving losses from the clutches of defeat and temporizing the other offense enough to give us a chance to come back. Aceves' 10 wins are a testament to that idea. In his role, that means he locked it down enough in 10 games where the decision was in doubt when he came in. Without those 10 games, we win the WC and probably dont win a WS[/quote']

 

Oh, I don't disagree at all. Aceves, especially in the first half of the season before Hughes assumed the set-up role, was an integral part of the Yankees' success.

 

I was only responding to the part about winning a championship with Mendoza on the roster, and then winning a championship with Aceves on the roster. It helped in the regular season, and this was the Yankees' best regular season team in awhile, but there problem really hasn't been the regular season. All I'm saying is that, like you, I see a correlation with regular season success, but not postseason success.

 

Also, I don't think Mendoza was fantastic in the postseason, but I do remember him really coming through a few times in the 1999 ALCS (possibly games two and five, although I'd have to look it up to be sure).

[jacksonianmarch]

In terms of potential Yankee bullpen guys, I have my eye on Brackman at some point this yr. He'll start off as a starter, but when he moved to the pen and his arm recovered, he looked ridiculous. From the sounds of it, he looks ridiculous again.

[yankees228]

In terms of potential Yankee bullpen guys' date=' I have my eye on Brackman at some point this yr. He'll start off as a starter, but when he moved to the pen and his arm recovered, he looked ridiculous. From the sounds of it, he looks ridiculous again.[/quote']

 

So you think the Yankees' organization views him as a reliever going forward, or someone who is likely to have to become a reliever?

[jacksonianmarch]

I think they have to out of necessity. He's a big, tall guy with marginal mechanics and 2 plus pitches. Plus, having signed him to a major league deal means the clock is ticking. He's gonna have a miniscule margin for error out of the rotation this yr and he's gonna need to show that his changeup can be added back without his repertoire getting totally F'ed. He was downright unhittable when they told him to just throw his FB (and 2 seamer) and his spike curveball. Plus, they had him in the stretch to iron out the mechanical issues. I view him a lot like Daniel Bard. Big guys, marginal mechanics, but great stuff. I think he'll be a big league option for the bullpen come September.

[yankees228]

I think they have to out of necessity. He's a big' date=' tall guy with marginal mechanics and 2 plus pitches. Plus, having signed him to a major league deal means the clock is ticking. He's gonna have a miniscule margin for error out of the rotation this yr and he's gonna need to show that his changeup can be added back without his repertoire getting totally F'ed. He was downright unhittable when they told him to just throw his FB (and 2 seamer) and his spike curveball. Plus, they had him in the stretch to iron out the mechanical issues. I view him a lot like Daniel Bard. Big guys, marginal mechanics, but great stuff. I think he'll be a big league option for the bullpen come September.[/quote']

 

I don't know that much about him, but based on what you just said, and some of things I read, it certainly sounds like he fits of the mold of a potentially dominant reliever. Assuming they keep Joba in the pen, him, Robertson, and Brackman could make a nice trio for a long time to come.

[jacksonianmarch]

Melancon will be in that equation as well and one of the guys we drafted last yr looks like he's got a big league future out of the pen, Gavin Brooks. Lefty with low 90s cheese and a devastating slurve that makes lefties look silly. He's already a reliever and should move quickly

[Dipre]

I think they have to out of necessity. He's a big' date=' tall guy with marginal mechanics and 2 plus pitches. Plus, having signed him to a major league deal means the clock is ticking. He's gonna have a miniscule margin for error out of the rotation this yr and he's gonna need to show that his changeup can be added back without his repertoire getting totally F'ed. He was downright unhittable when they told him to just throw his FB (and 2 seamer) and his spike curveball. Plus, they had him in the stretch to iron out the mechanical issues. I view him a lot like Daniel Bard. Big guys, marginal mechanics, but great stuff. I think he'll be a big league option for the bullpen come September.[/quote']

 

Daniel Bard's inability to throw strikes in the past was never the result of him having "marginal mechanics". Bard has an easy, repeatable delivery and clean mechanics, his past problems were more due to a lack of stamina of focus than ability to finish his pitches or repeat his delivery.

[jacksonianmarch]

Dipre, he was walking a batter an inning. His mechanics were way out of whack. Think about it this way. Pitchers are mental creatures. Hitters react. For a pitcher, having him think about setting up the entire game, plus his entire arsenal, plus his motion can be too much for some guys. Some pitchers need to keep it simple. Once Bard's arsenal was simplified and his rotation smoothed out, he turned into the beast that he has become. I think the same can and will happen with Brackman. Just depends on when the Yankees decide to realize that this kid is gonna be a pen arm

[Dipre]

I'm not saying Brackman doesn't have the potential to be an elite bullpen arm. I'm saying most of Bard's issues didn't stem from mechanical problems, but a lack of focus and stamina. That's it. Remember, the most important thing for a pitcher is confidence. Bard didn't have confidence in his secondary pitches, and on came the over-reliance and wildness of the fastball. It's a domino effect.

[yankees228]

http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2010/04/02/marte-feels-cranky-shoulder/

 

Apparently they don't expect it to be anything serious, but after a very quiet spring, it seems like there is at least one injury note per day as of late.

[jacksonianmarch]

Nick Johnson fouled a ball off his knee and had to leave the game. He was walking under his own power and they probably just wanted to ice it ASAP so it doesnt swell. But with Johnson's injury history, you have to be concerned

[Spudboy]

I'm not concerned.

[WhiskeyBreath]

I'm enjoying that play between Arod and Cano just now

[jacksonianmarch]

That was Vechionacci and Cano

[WhiskeyBreath]

Was it? Guess I missed the defensive replacement.

[jacksonianmarch]

The latest gaffe at 2b was by Justin Snyder.

[Spudboy]

Hey Dr. , I have a question for you. I noticed that several people chose Cano over Pedroia on the better

"line-up" thread. I was wondering if you would give me an honest assessment of the two?

 

I like Pedroia. And not because he's on the Sox. Who do you think is the better 2nd baseman?

[Gom]

I noticed that several people chose Cano over Pedroia on the better

"line-up" thread. I was wondering if you would give me an honest assessment of the two?

 

I like Pedroia. And not because he's on the Sox. Who do you think is the better 2nd baseman?

Defensively, they are both solid, Pedroia gets the overall nod, having better range, but with Cano having a better arm.

 

Last year, Cano had a .871 OPS, Pedroia had a .819. So the edge goes to Cano.

 

I doubt many people would disagree that Cano has a much higher upside, but to be honest, I like Pedroia more as a gamer.

 

I'd take Cano..but by the slimmest of margins.

[jacksonianmarch]

Gom, Cano has better range and arm, Pedroia has better hands and makes the more routine plays. Cano's big issue, IMO, is that he'll make the spectacular play, then mess up on a routine one.

 

Also, Cano in the #5 hole right now looks like a good move, we'll see how it turns out. He is swinging the bat with conviction thus far

[redsoxrules]

Gom, Cano has better range and arm, Pedroia has better hands and makes the more routine plays. Cano's big issue, IMO, is that he'll make the spectacular play, then mess up on a routine one.

 

 

 

 

I expected this from you BUT

 

Pedroia UZR 9.8 WAR 5.2

 

Cano UZR - 5.2 WAR 4.4

[jacksonianmarch]

UZR is not the be all and end all, especially when you have a player like Cano. I think Pedroia is the more reliable fielder, but he does not have the tools Cano has.

[redsoxrules]

UZR is not the be all and end all' date=' especially when you have a player like Cano. I think Pedroia is the more reliable fielder, but he does not have the tools Cano has.[/quote']

 

HOLY f***ING s***

 

UZR is the best tool to measure a defensive player

[yankees228]

HOLY f***ING s***

 

UZR is the best tool to measure a defensive player

 

Jacko is hardly the only person not to trust defensive statistics. I like UZR/150, but as Jacko said, not as an end all be all. Using what I see, compared to what the numbers say, I feel like the numbers misrepresent how Cano played defensively last season. I'm not saying it was fantastic, as there were areas where he struggled, but I would probably put him around average. It's just an opinion, no doubt, but there are reasons why people don't throw themselves one hundred percent behind defensive statistics.

 

As for a previous topic, Nick Johnson has a bone bruise, and said he's playing on Sunday.

 

http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2010/04/02/injury-updates-take-two/