yankees228

I think it's very unlikely that the Spring Training results are a huge influence here. They just likely feel that, going forward, Joba is more suited for the bullpen, and they might as well make the switch now.

Also very disappointed about this. EDIT: I shouldn't say "very". Obviously the last man in the bullpen isn't the end of the world, but I believe (and the numbers support this belief) that Gaudin is the better pitcher. I would imagine this has something to do with Girardi's faith in Mitre stemming back to 2006.

This is probably the right move in the long term, but while I'm not surprised in the least, I'm quite disappointed. As Jacko mentioned, Joba has shown flashes as a starter, and all the talk in September of last year was that he was going to finally get the opportunity to pitch without any rules in 2010. I think he deserved that chance, and it's too bad that he probably will never get it, at least not with the Yankees.

Jacko, what can you tell me about Ryan Pope? Only reason I ask is that, when I was in Florida last week, I was at a restaurant where the waiter told me he was very good friends with Pope.

I can't speak for 26, but I would have loved Joe Mauer on the Yankees haha.

No disrespect to Cornell, as they have been very impressive, but I'd be very surprised if Cornell even keeps it within single digits. Cornell could always shoot the lights out, but I expect run out after run out from Kentucky.

TK, as always, nicely done. Hopefully your posts can spark some solid debate, as, I'm sure most would agree, this is a great time of year to be a sports' fan. I'm with you on three of your four regional winners (the three one seeds). Syracuse, as you mentioned, finished slow, but they really remind me of the 2003 team. They can play inside, the point guard is young, but solid, and they have a go to player (Wesley Johnson isn't Carmelo, but he is a special player). They're well coached, and the zone, for most of the year, has looked fantastic. Kansas is experienced with Collins and Aldrich, and with Morris and Taylor contributing on both ends, I feel like they'll take advantage of their easy road (which you also mentioned). Kentucky really scares me, when you consider all the close games they play, the fact that they struggle at times in the half court, and the off nights that Cousins has from time to time. But, as you alluded to, it's hard to pick against all that talent, and I'm just not high enough on WVU to pick the upset. Now, I'm sure I'm in the same boat as most people, in that I'm having trouble with the South. Clearly this comes from the fact that most people probably view Duke as the weakest number one, and, at this point, no one trusts Duke in the tournament (including myself). Baylor-Villanova probably represents the most intriguing game in the region, and when you consider how Villanova finished the year, and the way Baylor has played against the toughest competition in the Big 12, conventional wisdom would probably say to pick Baylor. But in the end, when you're talking about two teams who play at similar levels (in my opinion), I have a hard time picking against the best player on the floor. I feel the same way about a potential Ohio State-Georgetown matchup.

Really enjoyed City of Palms Park today. One of my favorite Grapefruit League complexes.

Yeah, Albaladejo never really had a shot to make the roster from the outset, but he my have pitched himself out of an opportunity to be called up due to injury.

Season can't start soon enough lol. Only three weeks.

Apparently for many of the same reasons that the Yankees are going to finish third.

J_E, I'm curious about something. Are you in favor of baseball returning to it's pre-1969 format, just with more teams?

Hughes was decent, aside from a wind aided home run. On the other hand, Joba has downright awful.

Based on what he said, it doesn't sound like something serious. You always have to worry with him, but I think Imperial is spot on.

Colin Curtis wins it on a three run walk off homer. *Cue the "where was the pie in spring training" jokes...

Yeah, not really sure why he's trying to steal haha. Considering his position, he's not really slow, but he's not fast either. Anyway, Ramiro Pena just homered leading off the sixth to give the Yankees a lead. Nick Johnson, having replaced Teixeira at first, is now coming up in a RBI situation. EDIT: And Johnson delivers with a long double over the head of the right fielder, who is former Yankees' minor leaguer Jose Tabata (and these runs have come off former Yankees Steven Jackson).

Gaudin, Mitre, and Aceves have all pitched well, but so have the Pirates' pitchers. A-Rod just recorded the Yankees' first hit leading off the fifth.

With Chad Gaudin about to throw the first pitch of the first spring training game, I figured I'd create the Yankees' catch-all spring training game thread. 3/3/10 - Pirates @ Yankees

There has been some talk of this in other threads, and because it's one of the main topics of conversation in Spring Training, I figured it deserved it's own thread. Barring injuries (obviously) here's who I see as locks to make the roster out of camp, and who I see as candidates for the final spots. *The Yankees, from what I've heard, seem set on 13 position players and 12 pitches, so those are the numbers we'll work with. Position Players: 1. C Jorge Posada 2. C Francisco Cervelli 3. 1B Mark Teixeira 4. 1B/DH Nick Johnson 5. 2B Robinson Cano 6. SS Derek Jeter 7. 3B Alex Rodriguez 8. RF Nick Swisher 9. CF Curtis Granderson 10. LF Brett Gardner 11. OF Randy Winn The two remaining spots are likely to be used on a utility infielder and a right handed bat. Utility Infield Candidates: 1. Ramiro Pena 2. Kevin Russo Right Handed Bat Candidates: 1. Marcus Thames 2. Jamie Hoffman Pitchers: 1. CC Sabathia 2. A.J. Burnett 3. Andy Pettitte 4. Javier Vazquez 5. Joba Chamberlain 6. Phil Hughes (going on the assumption, per Girardi, that the loser of the fifth spot competition makes the roster) 7. Mariano Rivera 8. David Robertson 9. Demaso Marte 10. Chan Ho Park (it's a guaranteed contract, so assuming he gets to camp sometime soon, I think he makes it) The final two spots are up in the air. The two most important factors, in my opinion, are how serious the Yankees are about a second lefty out of the pen and who they can and cannot send to AAA. 1. Alfredo Aceves (has options remaining) 2. Boone Logan (has options remaining) 3. Chad Gaudin (no options remaining, and a non-guaranteed contract) 4. Sergio Mitre (no options remaining, and a non-guaranteed contract) This should spark some good discussion on what you think the Yankees should do, and what you expect them to do.

And to expect an improvement from both of those guys is reasonable, in my opinion. EDIT: A-Rod, simply because he's healthy, and Robertson hopefully continues to progress.