Only in Spring Training and game five of the World Series do teams tie. When two teams reach that ninth inning with no end in sight and no more pitchers ready, the managers generally call off the exhibition. Today, in Kissimmee, that is exactly what happened between the Astros and Yanks.
In March, the scores don’t matter. It’s all about getting a tune up, getting in swings, getting in pitches. For the 2009 Yankees, then, today’s tie was a big day. Chien-Ming Wang made his return to the mound after his freak Lisfranc injury last summer. While his sinker was up a bit — normal for this time of year, he said after the game — he held the Astros to two hits and no runs over two innings.
Offensively, the Yanks plated five runs but in unspectacular fashion. Angel Berroa, playing with Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez joining their respective WBC teams, homered and doubled; Melky Cabrera tripled in his bid to keep a job; and Jorge Posada went 1 for 3 as the DH, returning to play after a few days off due to shoulder soreness.
Beyond that, a bunch of guys who won’t make the team — George Kontos and Steven Jackson — blew the game in the 8th. Brett Tomko pitched two good enough innings, and two hours and 46 minutes after the first pitch, it was all tied up with nowhere to go.
Tomorrow, Phil Hughes will face Team USA in a game televised on YES, the MLB Network and I believe for free on MLB.tv. That should be a good one.
Just 6 days 'til pitchers and catchers report.
And All-Star games, damn you Selig.
Swish made a catch that should help stop the clamoring to bring Abreu back…
I’ll lol if Hughes K’s Jeter.
I’ll lol
ifwhen Hughes K’s Jeter.get him to GIDP
That’s not too hard.
With what pitch?
The hook. Looking on the outside corner.
I just thought of a corny line: Get him to fall for it HOOK, line, and sinker. *sighs*
He should dust him first.
Jeter is going to make the cutest faces tomorrow!! I cant wait.
Tomko fighting for the spot
this is a better headline than “Yanks tie Wang behind Astros”
Man, you should of totally pulled the..
“Ben shouldn’t this headline read Yanks tie Wang behind Astros”.
So is Tomko in the lead for grabbing a long man role out of the bullpen? Geise and Aceves have been shaky so far.
Still a ways to go.
Well he asked if he’s in the lead due to his strong performance so far, not if he has already won the job.
I would think Tomko would have a big hill to climb even for a bullpen spot since he’s not on the 40 man roster, right?
Yeah my guess is Aceves and Giese would both really have to suck it up since they have 40 man spots. Aceves does still have options so they’re flex there.
My thoughts exactly.
does anyone noe if the exhibition game of tean dr againts the marlins is free
Based upon a cursory glance at the Marlins schedule on its website, the answer’s probably no. Check MLB.com tomorrow though for more up to date info.
Hi Ben. speaking of Marlins , Mike Stanton is possibly pushing his way to AA to start 2009 !! He homered twice today. Damn… i bet you all those teams who picked before the Marlins in the 2nd round would love to redo their picks. A BA guy a couple chats ago was asked who’d be the better major leaguer – Lars Anderson or Mike Stanton. Callis (coulda been Manuel) said Stanton.
thankz for the info ben
So, since the A’s signed Orlando Cabrera, we are only one FA signing away from leapfrogging Boston’s pick, correct?
When do the Yanks vs Team USA and is it on tv?
kevin tommarow on yes at 1pm
das was up
Do you ever say anything else?
Well, it is up. You cannot deny that.
lmaooooooooo hahahahha
That lineup Hughes is facing is rough… getting your work in… ha!
I’d be scared of “getting worked” if I were Hughes… so thankfully I’m not Phil Hughes, because he’s probably like “bring it on.”