Spring Training Game Thread: Let’s Play Two
By
We’ve got our first split-squad action of the spring today [insert "you usually have to pay double for that kind of action, Cotton" joke here], and each game will feature a former Yankee great. AJ Burnett will take on the Astros at home, who will have Aaron bleeping Boone playing first and batting fifth. Phil Hughes and Co. are making the hour long drive down to Bradenton to face on the Pirates, who are sending old pal Ross Ohlendorf to the hill. This will be Burnett’s second start and Hughes’ four appearance (third start) of the spring.
Short on bodies because of the double-dip, the Yanks brought Eric Duncan, Walt Ibarra and Edwar Gonzalez over from minor league camp and will have them suit up for Team Burnett. Here’s the starting … err … eighteen:
Home vs. Astros
Gardner, CF
Damon, LF
Nady, RF
Matsui, DH
Ransom, 3B
Molina, C
Miranda, 1B
Berroa, SS
Leone, 2B
Scheduled Pitchers: AJ Burnett, Dan Giese, Brian Bruney, Edwar Ramirez, Chris Garcia
Away at Pirates
Melky, CF
Swisher, RF
Teixeira, 1B
Posada, DH
Austin Jackson, LF
Cash, C
Bernier, 2B
Russo, 3B
Pena, SS
Scheduled Pitchers: Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy, Jason Johnson, Jon Albaladejo, Mark Melancon
Both Edwar and Jason Johnson will be making their spring debuts after battling a sore shoulder and retinal cancer, respectively. The game against Houston will be on YES at 1:15, but I think I’d rather be watch the squad out in Bradenton. Hey, it’s better than nothing.
Photo Credit: Gene J. Puskar, AP
83 Comments»
RAB Info
The Founders
Mike Axisa, Ben Kabak, Joe Pawlikowski
Editor-In-Chief
Mike Axisa Archives | Email
Managing Editors
Ben Kabak Archives | E-mail
Joe Pawlikowski Archives | E-mail
Contributing Editors
Larry Koestler (Archives)
Moshe Mandel (Archives)
Eric Schultz (Archives)
Weekend Writers
Hannah Ehrlich (Archives)
Matthew Warden (Archives)
Special Contributor
J.R. O'Grady (Archives)
Technical Consultant
Jay Gordon
Subscribe to RAB by RSS
Follow @RiverAveBlues
Search RAB
Yankees News from YESNetwork.com
- Kuroda proving he's one of baseball's best
- Joe Girardi's confidence helping Yankees rookies seize their opportunity
- Postgame Notebook: Yanks holding out for a Hiro
- Kuroda pitches eight scoreless innings to carry Yankees past Blue Jays in series opener
- Managing a steady stream of injuries, Girardi's creative lineups powering Yankees
- MRI shows no structural damage to Stewart's groin
- Joba takes all precautions as return to mound nears
- Veteran fill-ins playing huge role as Yankees hit quarter pole
- Postgame Notebook: Yankees add more injuries to insult in 3-2 loss to the Mariners
- Pettitte leaves to injury as Yankees drop rubber match with the Mariners
Banner Design By
The Tyler Austin Watch
chances of Eric Duncan outperforming Ransom and become the starting 3B? I would say 5%.
I <3 AJ
Seriously, watching each of those 96-MPH readings appear makes me hate those five years even less and less.
It doesn’t look like he’s trying enough. He’s just another Lazy
DominicanAmerican.He looks like he’s just going through the motions and he’s still hitting 95 and having great break on the curveball.
Hey hey hey, I’m half Dominican man lol
And you don’t use periods. Therefore, it proves it. You are lazy.
Seriously. Watching his motion makes me wonder how he got hurt so often. He looks like he’s just marking it out there, and yet it’s 93 easy.
I <3 AJ.
who has been better this spring thus far? nady or swisher?
Last time I checked, Swisher’s IsoD was in the .300 range, and Nady’s SLG% was higher; but we all know, getting on base > getting extra-base hits.
Swisher: .111/.346/.111
Nady: .227/.261/.545
Hughes gave up solo homers to Nyjer Morgan and Ryan Doumit in the first. Struck out McLouth and Adam LaRoche.
Bust.
So, he gave up a homer to the young, Pirates star everyone should be talking about (Doumit), and struck-out the young, Pirates star everyone is vastly overrating (McLouth).
Will 2009 be the year that Andy LaRoche officially falls off the face of the baseball earth?
Nah, not only has he only had just 316 AB’s in the Major Leagues, but in every year he’s been at the Triple-A level, he’s posted a wOBP of over .400. Oh, and this season will be just his age-25 season, he’s still got time.
“Struck out McLouth and Adam LaRoche.”
Francesa is crying somewhere.
Does anyone know where I can find Gameday boxscore. I looked everywhere on the MLB site and I cant find it.
Nevermind, I found it.
AJ is looking real good with Molina behind the plate.
I wish the away game was on TV–I’d much rather watch Swisher, Tex, Hughes, and A-Jax.
For fuck’s sake, A.J., if you’re going to throw the Curveball for strikes then there’s no point in watching you pitch.
Charlie Gibson’s love for New York sports? Isn’t he a big time Orioles fan?
I’m listening to the Yankees/Pirates game on the radio. I hate work.
Boy, that Hunter Pence still hasn’t learned the meaning of “patience”, has he?
Listening to the Pirate announcers trying to pronounce Albaladjo’s name….Priceless.
me trying to spell his name…..Fail.
Ayl-buh-luh-dee-joe?
Ooohhh…that SUCKS. Man, that poor kid. Oh, that could be a couple months for him.
What happened?
The Houston pitcher took a hot shot off his pitching hand.
Kid looking to leave a good impression on a team with a LOT of potential for big-league openings, he’s holding the Yanks to one run over four innings…and now he could easily miss several months if something’s broken in there. You just feel bad for him.
Ajax single and stolen base.
uninspiring
For those who listened to Hughes, I see he walked three, was he all over the place, or just missing? His control still seems off this spring, no? (I KNOW its still spring)
Well, he’s working on the cutter, which was a new pitch for him last year, and the changeup. Also, he’s working on being aggressive inside. So, I figure it’s kind of expected. Knowing that he’s not going to be in the bigs to start kind of frees him up to work on the stuff that’s going to make him a more complete pitcher. I mean, he spots his fastball, and now he’s got that power curve, the big looping curve to use as a change of speeds…the cutter’s looking promising, and if he’s got a decent change too…that’s a damn good pitcher.
Right, but my question was more if he is in fact spotting his fastball. I know that his HBPs have all been on inside pitches that just brushed him.
But in order for Phil to be successful and what made him so successful, was spotting his FB well…
He seemed to be just missing his spots. It’s pretty windy in Bradenton also.
Cool thanks.
The home plate umpire kind of sucks, but at least its for both teams. Ian Kennedy just struck out Freddy Sanchez and Sanchez turned around and said something and he threw him out of the game. Kind of ridiculous.
Power trip much?
He’s a rookie umpire.
Way to work around that 2-base error, Danny!
Gardner appears to be definitively winning the CF position.
Question. If/When Gardner wins the CF job does that mean Melky is getting the big ugly ax? Or do they keep him on as another outfielder? Seems as though either Nady or Swisher will be the reserve outfielder when one of them is starting. And Damon would be the backup center fielder.
The fact that Melky’s out of options really muddles this, but with the OF depth already at the ML level, I think it’ll be alright. Nady or Swisher will start in right, and who ever doesn’t will be the back up, Gardner will start in center, and Damon in left. After that, there really isn’t a need to have 2 back up OFs, especially since Matsui could play in an incredible emergency. I think I’d rather have an extra pitcher in the ‘pen than carry an extra OF.
And, wow, Towles rocked that shit.
Just to be a devil’s advocate, but Melky is the only outfielder who can play capably play all 3 outfield positions.
I think they hold onto Melk, and try include him in some type of trade
Yeah, but Damon, Gardner and Swisher would ALL have to get hurt in order for NO ONE to be able to cover CF for a little bit.
LF – Damon, Swish, Nady, Gardner, Matsui
CF – Gardner, Damon, Swisher
RF – Swisher, Nady
The only thing, to me, is the probability of losing Melky on waivers. I’d feel better about having him in AAA as insurance, but…maybe not enough to keep him over a good reliever. They’ll trade him, probably, but not get much for him.
Melky’s only played 18 games in right. Granted, he’s done it well, but he’s primarily a CF. His career UZR/150 mark there, though, is -9.8. Compare that to Swisher who’s a -10.4 in center, so it’s just a small difference. Swisher can definitely play all three OF positions, and has a better bat than Melky.
Melky played most of winter ball in right field and did well.
Nate MCcoulth doubles over Nick Swisher’s head to score a run.
Oh, Coney…that’s just not true. Angel Berroa has NEVER shown that he’s got a good glove.
Home run for Ajax. Deeeep center.
good…about time he hits one!
Former Boston great Craig Hansen in the game.
Has given up a 2 walks, 2 base hits, 2 wild pitches and a stolen base. Still one out.
One of the best trade chips in the game.
/McCarver.
Yankees defense = FAIL.
Angel Berrora defense = fail
Angel Berrora defense = fail
ICWUDT.
Ha! That is the greatest freudian typo I’ve ever made.
I laud you for seeing the joke my fingers made without my brain even knowing.
Bob Lorenz needs to do some broadcasts.
Lol. He has made a couple mess ups in the past 5 minutes or so. Pretty funny.
I know that someone put together a petition last year to try and get YES to put Lorenz in in place of Kay, but that’ll never happen.
Still, I’d like to send SOMEONE email to let them know I think he does a great job. Even if it doesn’t get them to dump Kay, I’d like to let them know that Lorenz has fans. I figure fan mail can’t hurt the guy next time he’s negotiating for a new contract.
I can’t wait to watch CC and A.J. pitch this year, ugh. 22 Days!!
the wait is painful
Does anyone know when they’re mailing season tickets this year? I thought they were usually here by now.
Brian Bruney does not like the pitcher he was two years ago.
Jesus Montero. Grand Slam. The radio went to a commercial and I didn’t hear it. Crazy.
Awesome. Both him and A-Jax homer in same game.
Steroids?
Obviously.
For some reason they just stopped playing the game. Oh well. Grand slam was off Chris Bootcheck.
This kid is a beast.
yea, thats my boy.
salivating
i see russo finally got a hit.
what would happen in Yankeeland if it was found that Montero is lying about his age?
Just call him up sooner.
How about them Noles?
[...] wasn’t invited to Spring Training, but Eric Duncan was summoned for today’s split-squad game as a bench player. Mike profiled Duncan earlier this month, just ahead of the A-Rod injury. No one [...]
Trading Tabata when his value was an absolute low point is looking worse and worse.
1st RAB comment, pumped to be on here! Go Grit Gardner!