Reports from camp
By
It’s a beautiful thing, ain’t it? Yankees’ players on the field, taking batting practice, playing catch, getting work in … it’s exactly what we need to see right now. Pitchers and catchers aren’t due to report for another four days, position players not for another seven days, yet there’s still a nice group of players in camp early and working out.
Mike Rose of Newsday noted that two of the players out playing catch in the outfield were Mark Melancon and Phil Hughes. Man, how much are you looking forward to seeing Melancon nail down wins for Hughes for the next decade? Rose also noted that Brett Gardner (who you can see in the pic above), Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada and Nick Swisher were taking BP. Joe mentioned earlier that Posada’s rehab from shoulder surgery is going well, though he won’t be ready to catch when exhibition games begin. Good to see he’s healthy enough to at least take some hacks.
Getting back to Swisher, PeteAbe has a shot of him taking BP, although it’s not the best picture in the world and we’ll have to take Pete’s word for it. Last I heard Swisher lives out in Arizona (where the A’s and ChiSox hold ST), so it’s awesome to see him at camp early. As you may remember, Swisher lost some weight this winter. Pete also noted that Chien-Ming Wang is in healthy and in the house. That’s UUUGE.
Over on the minor league side, Chad Jennings touched based with Mark Newman and got a bunch of info about the Triple-A rotation, veterans on minor league deals, Eric Fryer, JB Cox, Colin Curtis, Alan Horne, and lots more. Make sure you check it out.
Other than Gardner pledging his undying support, no one really bothered to comment on A-Rod. Can you blame them?
Oh boy, baseball’s almost back.
Photo Credit: Pete Abraham, Journal News
Ummm … why is Lil Wayne on Around the Horn? Why am I still watching?
wow. wtf
i hope him and woody paige faceoff at the end….
woody paige is the MAN
Those are two great questions.
Wayne actually has something to say, lol. That’s the weird part about it. Though the more he speaks, the more annoying he gets. Too monotone.
Just like his music.
One or two good songs. Mrs. Officer is on of them.
Mrs. Officer is one of the worst pieces of trash in the history of mankind.
Rakim isn’t dead, but he contemplated killing himself just so he could roll over in his grave when that pile of shit song hit the radio.
That is why I put good in quotations. The song is for the club.
(psst… you didn’t put it in quotations…)
Heh. Long day, you know what I meant.
Sip the Juice!
I don’t want to hear your excuses, Mike Pop. If you do that crap again I will beat you like a cop. Rodney King, baby, beat you like a cop. Eh-HAH! Beat you like a cop, Rodney King, baby, beat you like a cop.
Suck it tommie, suck it long and suck it hard.
If by having something to say you mean reading off a teleprompter, then yeah he sure does.
It wouldn’t be the first time.
RE: Swisher – the same article that said he had dropped some lbs, said that while he has homes in California and Arizona, he spent the off-season living in West Virginia with his parents – in their basement. He must have been blogging.
So his commute was a little shorter, but it’s still good to see him in Tampa this early. I’m hoping for big things out of him this year and hope his PAs aren’t too drastically reduced by Nady, Melky, or Gardner.
I don’t see the Gelky Gardbrera thing interfering w/Swisher too much, as he won’t be playing CF, barring a disaster. And, like I say every time his name comes up, he should be starting over Nady in right, for a variety of reasons.
Any word yet on what number Swisher is wearing?
My recommendation: Swisher should wear #414.621, the mass of a molecule of Primobolan. A little shout-out of support for his boy ARod.
99, Turk Wendell style
99,
Turk WendellManny Ramirez styleFixed.
I believe he bought 33 from Bruney.
Swisher is definately #33. He stopped in Charleston, SC on Friday of last week to sign autographs at a training facility. I know this because I waited an hour to meet him and have a jersey and ball signed of which he did both graciously. I was the oldest one there by at least 16 years (i’m 28) and he seemed happy to see someone his age. He signed “33″ on my stuff.
I am jealous.
Okay, cool… so what’s Bruney wearing, then?
62, the b-jobbers would probably be dumb enough to think it is Joba pitching
If either Melky or Gardner or some combination thereof is the everyday CFer then someone loses at-bats. That would leave Matsui, Damon, Nady, and Swish to platoon through DH/LF/RF. Someone is out of the line-up everyday, barring injury or giving Tex a day off.
I know it would be costly defensively, but I advocate for playing Damon in CF, Nady in LF, and Swish in RF with Matsui DHing. Yes, the defense would suffer, but that would be the best offensive line-up. And given what Melky or Garner might put up offensively this year, they may not be worth their collective glove in CF. The offensive gain may outweigh the defensive loss.
Going with the all offense line-up would still allow Girardi to use Gardner as a pinch runner or late inning defensive replacement, as well as spot start him 2-3 times a week to give Damon and Matsui days off.
What worries me about starting either Garner or Melky in CF is that the loser of that competition becomes a 5th OFer. How often do you think that guy is going to play? And with Melky being out of options, he either wins the job, gets traded/DFAed, or rots away on what’s already going to be a short bench.
Yes, the defense would suffer, but that would be the best offensive line-up. And given what Melky or Garner might put up offensively this year, they may not be worth their collective glove in CF. The offensive gain may outweigh the defensive loss.
… but, given how wretchedly bad Damon has looked in center the past few years, the defensive loss probably outweighs the offensive gain.
Could be. That’s why is said “may outweigh”. What’s worse though – Damon in CF the past few years or Melky/Garndner at the plate last year. Guess we need some one to look at the 2009 projections for these guys and see what arrangement works best.
FWIW – I’m sure Gardner is better than what he put up in a relatively small sample last year, and I hope he puts up good numbers. But best case scenario, I don’t see him going beter than .270/.360/.360
But best case scenario, I don’t see him going beter than .270/.360/.360
If he can get on base at a .360 clip, I would think everyone in the Yankee organization would be elated. I know I would be.
What a glorious, glorious site. If I may gush:
I see great things in baseball. It’s our game – the American game. It will take our people out-of-doors, fill them with oxygen, give them a larger physical stoicism. Tend to relieve us from being a nervous, dyspeptic set. Repair these losses, and be a blessing to us. –Walt Whitman
Play ball, boys. Play ball.
right on. such a good sight to see guys getting out there and playing catch or taking a few swings after a hectic winter.
if i may say,
i fucking love baseball.
Nitpick:
What a glorious, glorious
sitesight.Unless, of course, you are referring to RAB!
Great quote by Whitman, btw.
Awesome news that Wang’s foot is 100%
Other than Gardner pledging his undying support, no one really bothered to comment on A-Rod. Can you blame them?
I’m pretty sure Posada yesterday came out in support of ARod.
What exactly did Gardner say?
Nevermind, got it.
According to MLB.com’s Thomas Harding, the Rockies signed catcher Sal Fasano to a minor league deal. Harding also lists the team’s other 18 non-roster invitees.
Time to buy a Rockies jersey.
Sal Fasano = Johnnycakes from The Sopranos
It’s gonna be a big year for the farm that Madden says doesn’t exist.
Nah. Relievers don’t matter. Also, Joba needs to pitch teh 8th!!!
You forgot some ones in your exclamations!!1!!!!1!!11!
And get Joba in teh 8ht!1!!
That picture is a sight for sore eyes..and a beautiful thing!
umm… why is brett gardner wearing pantyhose?
It makes you run faster.
Could just be high baseball socks, practice like you play.
He didn’t have time to shave his legs.
Thank you Miguel Tejada!
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....id=3896877
Also, in the P.E.D. zone, apparently ARod may not be testifying in front of Congress after all…
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/articl.....p;c_id=mlb
At least Arod didn’t Palmeiro anybody.
Did someone just make Palmeiro a verb? I like it!
I hope Horne regains his stuff. Then the Yanks can get some value out of him in a trade if the pen looks good enough.
there was a point last season that i was SURE horne would get a crack at the starting rotation. my how he has fallen.