Yankees Spring Training Notes

[jacksonianmarch]

He wasnt released, but he might as well be. One of those "toolsy" guys who never materialized.

[Meh]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703597804576194672941403928.html?mod=WSJ_NY_Sports_LEFT_LEADNewsCollection

 

$189, well more like $192 million when the season starts, sounds nice to me. Plenty of room to work with.

[Palodios]

Wow, for some reason I thought the luxury cap was lower than that. Its sort of funny that the cap really only affects one-ish team.

[Cocos Disciples]

Any Yankee fans have projections for the last few spots of the roster? Does Eric Chavez have a shot? I've always liked him, actually.

[jacksonianmarch]

You figure the Yanks will be carrying 12 pitchers if everyone stays healthy....

 

1. Sabathia

2. Burnett

3. Hughes

4. Nova

5. Colon

6. Rivera

7. Soriano

8. Robertson

9. Chamberlain

10. Feliciano

11. Logan

12. Garcia/Mitre

 

That leaves 13 offensive players

 

1. Posada

2. Montero

3. Martin

4. Teixeira

5. Cano

6. Jeter

7. Rodriguez

8. Gardner

9. Granderson

10. Swisher

11. Jones

12. Nunez/Pena/Chavez

13. Nunez/Pena/Chavez

 

I think Chavez actually has a pretty good shot. I think the Yanks want to groom Nunez for one more season and could use a good bat off the bench

[Cocos Disciples]

Posada is the full-time DH, yes? With what you've said, I'd go with a bench of:

 

Montero: C/1B (right?)

Jones: All 3 outfield spots

Pena: 2B/SS/3B

Chavez: 3B/1B

 

Seems to make sense.

[jacksonianmarch]

I agree with that

[SoxFanForsyth]

Tweet from Jon Heyman - "Scouts have been stunned by Phil Hughes' lack of velocity this spring. 87-89 mph, w/ more 87s than 89s"

 

Uhhh ohhh. Not what you want to hear from your up and comer. Joba 2.0? Maybe...

[jacksonianmarch]

He started out with low velocity 2 yrs ago as well, which eventually improved. And his first start last yr, he was sitting around 88-89. If he's sitting high 80s come May or so, then I'll worry

[VA Sox Fan]

I saw Hughes pitch the other night against the Jays and thought he looked great early.

[jacksonianmarch]

It is definitely something to keep an eye on. He did have a big innings jump, but he's also working on his change and a newly added slider this spring. That shouldnt drop velo, but who knows. If he's operating under 90mph this yr, then we're in trouble. But like I said, I'd even give him a month of the season before judging. If he's sitting 88 in May, then we need to find another pitcher, and fast

[SoxFanForsyth]

All I'm saying is what I've seen reported. I haven't gotten to see Hughes throw at all, and this may be something that happens. The tweets also said that scouts were "stunned" at the velocity drop off, but again, it's March, and like Jackso, there's no reason to worry unless he's like that in May.

[snydersminipretzels]

Posada is the full-time DH, yes? With what you've said, I'd go with a bench of:

 

Montero: C/1B (right?)

Jones: All 3 outfield spots

Pena: 2B/SS/3B

Chavez: 3B/1B

 

Seems to make sense.

 

Are they going to let Montero sit on the bench? I'd think they'd want him playing everyday in AAA.

[jacksonianmarch]

I think Montero ends up in AAA. I think he's regressed a little bit and started pressing. He needs a hot start in AAA to end up back in the bigs

[Meh]

Here's my guess at the opening day 25 man roster

 

CC

AJ

Hughes

Nova

Garcia

 

Mo

Soriano

Joba

K-Rob

Pedro

Logan

Colon

 

C Martin

1B Tex

2B Cano

3B A-Rod

SS Jeter

OF: Jones, Gardner and Swisher

DH: Posada

 

Bench

Molina

Pena

Chavez

Dickerson

[jacksonianmarch]

I can agree with that.

[jacksonianmarch]

Dont rule out Romine yet, though. He might get the nod. I think Montero is definitely out since his defensive consistency needs work. He's definitely improved defensively, but he needs refining before he can be in the bigs full time. Romine, OTOH, has all the defensive tools you could want in a backup, plus a good amount of offensive projection.

[26 to 6]

I think Meh's projection for opening day roster is spot on assuming Grandy ends up on the DL. It seems like Molina's going to get the nod, although with Cervelli down I was hoping to see one f the kids make it. They're better off playing everyday though.

[Meh]

I think Meh's projection for opening day roster is spot on assuming Grandy ends up on the DL. It seems like Molina's going to get the nod' date=' although with Cervelli down I was hoping to see one f the kids make it. They're better off playing everyday though.[/quote']

 

I used to like Granderson until I learned he DMs girls on twitter asking for sex and sends nude pics of himself for nude pics of them. It's like damn you're a f***ing new york Yankee, you can go into a bar and get women on that alone.

[26 to 6]

Wow, I'd hate to know how you learned that lol. ..jk man. That's pretty crazy though. I'm not a very big Granderson fan either, especially considering the price we payed for him, but hopefully he has a nice season.

 

It looks like Feliciano's opening day status is in doubt due to upper arm tightness, which he also experienced at the start of the spring. The Yanks should know by Tuesday whether or not he'll be able to break camp with the team. If not, Girardi specifically mentioned Romulo Sanchez and Luis Ayala.

[jacksonianmarch]

So Garcia to the rotation and Colon to the pen. Cannot say I blame Girardi, but Colon never really was in a fight for the rotation if thats how it played out. I do agree that a guy who threw 150IP last yr is a lot more reliable than a guy who quit on his club in 2009 and didnt pitch at all last yr, but Colon has apparently shown good stuff this spring. I do think Colon gives us some options should the duct tape rip off in Freddy's arm. I was also intrigued by Mark Prior this spring. He's been topping out at 94 and still flashes the great curve and change that made him a Cy Young candidate before Dusty Baker ripped his arm off. If he can show durability in Scranton, he'd be a very interesting mid season callup

[a700hitter]

So Garcia to the rotation and Colon to the pen. Cannot say I blame Girardi' date=' but Colon never really was in a fight for the rotation if thats how it played out. I do agree that a guy who threw 150IP last yr is a lot more reliable than a guy who quit on his club in 2009 and didnt pitch at all last yr, but Colon has apparently shown good stuff this spring. I do think Colon gives us some options should the duct tape rip off in Freddy's arm. I was also intrigued by Mark Prior this spring. He's been topping out at 94 and still flashes the great curve and change that made him a Cy Young candidate before Dusty Baker ripped his arm off. If he can show durability in Scranton, he'd be a very interesting mid season callup[/quote']Prior has a better chance of having surgery before being an interesting mid-season callup.

 

Colon is a pig and Garcia is going to get lit up like 2009 John Smoltz.

[jacksonianmarch]

2009 John Smoltz was coming off shoulder surgery and a transition to a new league. Garcia was serviceable in the AL last season, so he at least has that going for him. Listen man, I dont expect duct-tape Freddy to be lights out, and he very well may not make it through the season, but he's a much better bet than the 09 Smoltz. I figure Freddy's probably good for a circa 5ERA season, hopefully lower. But if he can just give us 5 innings per night out of the 5th starter spot, then he'll do his job

[Keeper]

Ian Kennedy would be looking pretty good right now in pinstripes, wouldn't he?

[jacksonianmarch]

Yes he would. Which is exactly why we shouldn't have given him away

[Meh]

Ian Kennedy would be looking pretty good right now in pinstripes' date=' wouldn't he?[/quote']

 

I hated that guy with a passion, nothing was ever his fault. I don't want Garcia, but I don't want Kennedy either. I'd rather have Lee.

[jacksonianmarch]

Chavez and Nunez make the team. Romulo Sanchez goes to Japan. Ronnie Belliard gets cut. Pena goes to the minors. Montero and Romine also move to the minors. Not too keen on the Pena move, as I think Nunez could benefit from a little more seasoning, but it looks like we're going with a pretty offensively oriented bench sans Molina