Apr
04

Exhibition Game Thread: One Final Tune-Up

By Mike Axisa

New Stadium at nightAh finally, the last day of meaningless baseball. The only thing on the line today is the utility infielder job, but I think that’s already been decided and just hasn’t been announced. After the game the team will get ready for their season opener on Monday afternoon, when they’ll be in Camden to take on the improving Orioles.

The New Stadium looked amazing last night, now we get to see how she looks during the day. As Ben mentioned this morning, the two of us will be there to soak it all in. Well, hopefully the weather cooperates and we won’t have to soak anything in, literally. I’ll be wandering around beforehand, but I’ll settle in to my seat (Section 420B, Row 5, Seat 9) about a half-hour before first pitch. Stop by and say hi.

AJ Burnett is starting and will be relieved by Andy Pettitte. I’m guessing we’ll see Phil Coke and Damaso Marte if any extra arms are needed since they didn’t throw yesterday. Head on over to LoHud for the lineup. Enjoy the game folks.

Photo Credit: Eric Thayer, Reuters

Posted on Saturday, April 4th, 2009 at 12:30 pm in Game Threads, Spring Training.

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127 Comments »

Woah…why is Pettite relieving?

Steve H says:

If you hadn’t learned from the B-Jobbers, relievers are more important than starters.

 
 
Steve H says:

For those out of market, MLB.TV is a lot better than last year. I got to watch last nights game and was blown away by the improvement. A little choppy here and there, but overall very good, and the picture is phenomenal with the nexdef plugin.

Also wanted to share this nugget of common sense I just read on Rotoworld. It’s a perfect summation.

There was nothing especially strange about Chamberlain’s velocity issues this spring. If he wasn’t so incredibly hyped (for good reason) and a Yankee, they wouldn’t have gotten any play at all.

Kevin G. says:

I tried MLB.tv last night and the quality was horrible. It didn’t show the game, so I had to listen to it like a radio. (Although it was probably just the computer.)

Steve H says:

I couldn’t get it in Firefox (probably due to some add-ons) and was able to get it right away in IE. Like MattG says below, you have to download the high def plugin and adjust the video quality.

Kevin G. says:

Nevermind, it was just because I had it on full screen. I guess it doesn’t work full screen for my computer. But, I don’t need it today.

 
 
 
radnom says:

Are you able to find the link for todays free game?
I was able to watch last night but I can’t find where to watch today.

MattG says:

I am watching on MLB.tv. And the quality is excellent. You need to download the hi-def plug-in, and bump the video quality to the maximum.

Arman Tamzarian says:

How do I do that?

andrew says:

On the bottom of the mlb.tv screen theres a link to download

Arman Tamzarian says:
 
 
MattG says:

I just clicked “Yes” (or equivalent) on the pop-up in the lower right corner, and it took care of the rest. You’ve probably been closing it without reading it.

If you refresh the window, you’ll probably get the pop-up back.

 
 
 
 
 
Expired Milk says:

I was looking forward to Burnett starting :(

 
whozat says:

Wait…Pettitte is starting now?

 
Matt says:

OMG ANDY ONLY THREW 57 MPH ON THAT STRIKEOUT PITCH AGAINST RAMIREZ!

Expired Milk says:

Still faster than Jamie Moyer

 
 
Thomas says:

What’s the deal with the huge delay time on MLB TV?

MattG says:

That’s how streaming works. You need a reserve of data before you start displaying anything.

Thomas says:

Yeah, but I can get a Chinese version of the game that is a half an inning further ahead in the game. Or for CBS March Madness, it is only like a minute gametime delay. The MLB has a huge delay IMO.

MattG says:

Oh, well–it’s only one pitch behind the game cast for me. Which is all I have to judge it against. And last night, it was actually ahead of the game cast.

There are probably other factors.

Thomas says:

I think it might have been just my connection. I reloaded it and it is better now. Weird.

 
 
 
 
andrew says:

I’ve never used anything online that didn’t have a delay… gamecast, the ncaa tournament on demand, mlb.tv

if you’re saying the delay is more than usual, i’ve got no answer for you

 
 
Arman Tamzarian says:

Was anybody at the game yesterday, and sat in or near the obstructed seats? I’m curious as to how bad they are?

Thomas says:

http://tinyurl.com/dxkb5w

I haven’t sat there, but here a link to a set of photos from TSJC at those seats. The rest of the album is good as well.

Arman Tamzarian says:
 
 
 
Matt says:

Why do people act like HRs are a bad thing sometimes? If Cano hit 30-35 homers and it sacrificed his BA by a few points that would be more than fine with me.

whozat says:

Obviously, if that was the case. But the thought process is that, if he’s looking inside for pitches to jack, he’ll lose more than a few points of AVG. As he matures as a hitter, he can start to maybe anticipate an inside pitch in certain counts or something, or from certain pitchers, but if he starts changing his approach too much, that’d be bad.

Matt says:

I agree with you; he shouldn’t start to change his approach because he doesn’t need that “burden” right now. But if he could do that, I’d prefer it.

 
 
 
Wolf Williams says:

Andy Pettitte, meet retirement….. Retirement, meet Andy Pettitte.

DP says:

Jeez, one wind-aided spring training HR and you are sending the guy to retirement? Harsh.

Wolf Williams says:

Hey, I’m just having some late spring training fun…. It’ll be at least APril 23 before I call for Pettitte to hang it up.

 
 
 
MattG says:

wind assisted right there.

 
MattG says:

See, that’s how you start a rally. That Soriano is just a selfish homer-hitting rally-killer

 
Matt says:

What surgery, baby?!

 
Wolf Williams says:

Jorge ….. throwing like he has something to prove. That was encouraging.

 
McCaff says:

Went to the game last night, stadium is siiiiiick.

 
Reggie C. says:

This Wolverine movie is getting a ridiculous amount of air-time. It better be good.

Matt says:

I saw about half of it–it’s pretty good.

 
Thomas says:

Apparently, you can already see it online. The first major money film to be stolen online.

Reggie C. says:

so i’ve heard … can’t do it.

 
Matt says:

The CGI isn’t finished, though.

You pumped for tonight?!

Thomas says:

Yeah, I think we’ll beat Michigan State, but it should be a good game either way.

Matt says:

Word. My sister is at a wedding down in FLA right now and the bride is a UConn grad and the groom is also a UConn fan and back when they were planning the wedding, they agreed if UConn was in the Final Four, they’d get flatscreens for the reception.

 
 
 
 
 
Drew says:

Kay is such an idiot.

 
McCaff says:

Don’t ever blame Derek Jeter ever again Michael Kay

 
Wolf Williams says:

As perfect a bunt as there canever be…. wow. Girardi has this team ready to play.

 
Drew says:

But he’s soooo old!

 
Wolf Williams says:

Hey….. is it October yet? Holy cow……

 
 
whozat says:

So, when do we start to get concerned that this is going to play as an EXTREME hitters park?

Reggie C. says:

its a pretty windy day in the Bronx.

handtius says:

it’s going to be windy a lot. with the open stadium. wind will travel through it easier and cause more homeruns, a lot more carry.

 
 
 
Drew says:
 
Matt says:

Didn’t need the wind on that one, baby!

 
Matt says:

I choose option 5: Melvin.

 
handtius says:

I really hope Cano keeps up this hitting this year. I love watching him play. He can really be something else.

 
andrew says:

Love David Cone right now, advocating kids go out there and smash their fingers to add movement to their pitches… hahaha

Thomas says:

“How bad do you want?” So great!

 
 
Wolf Williams says:

Is Matsui trying to put himself back on the DL? This is, after all, an exhibition game with a 4-runlead.. sheesh.

andrew says:

Matsui doesn’t decide whether or not the 3rd base coach sends him or not

 
 
Wolf Williams says:

Andy Pettitte, meet Cy Young….. Cy Young, meet Andy Pettitte.

 
handtius says:

Gun just showed Pettitte’s fastball at 55..haha..FIFTY FUCKING FIVE!!!! that’s hysterical. Will that gun ever tell the truth.

 
Wolf Williams says:

How the hell would Abreu have played right/right center if balls are going to carry like this? Good thing he’s not out there anymore.

handtius says:

swisher will be out there by the second home series.

Wolf Williams says:

With Jeter’s inside-out swings and the way the balls carry out there, the Cap’n might hit 50 doubles this season.

handtius says:
andrew says:
handtius says:

.400 ave. declining where?

donttradecano says:

in the field

(Comments wont nest below this level)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Wolf Williams says:

I think the Red Sox are folding their tents and getting ready for 2010…. What will happen to this lineup with A-Rod back in it?

VO says:

You know, this truely is great 8 to nothing without A-Rod.

 
 
 
handtius says:

arrr. tex crush ball. tex strong!

 
manimal says:

Really texiera? like one wasn’t enough?

 
Drew says:

We need to save this for the season

handtius says:

No, we need to carry this into the season. power of positive thinking.

MurrayPresent says:

Girardi says he wants to win every game, spring training, exhibition whatever…. he said he just wants the team to get used to winning and hate losing.

handtius says:

That’s a good plan. to win.

MurrayPresent says:

The idea was not to say “Well it’s only spring training.” or “It’s only an exhibition.” He wants the team to NOT have that attitude about any game.

 
 
 
 
 
VO says:

The house that Tex built!

 
Wolf Williams says:

Is Burnett a fly-ball pitcher? I hope not……

VO says:

He’s a strikeout pitcher.

 
 
MurrayPresent says:

This is so great. Too bad it’s not the regular season. But we’ve suffered through enough sucky springs. Hope the RAB guys are loving this! How are the seats boys?

 
handtius says:

we need to sign 5 wangs and grow that infield grass.

VO says:

We also need to sign 9 Teixeira’s.

handtius says:

man, they would never get any outs in the outfield.

 
 
 
manimal says:

7 runs in the first 4 innings yesturday, 8 in 4 innings today.Holy shit.

VO says:

They said were gonna win with pitching, that may be true. But hitting can’t hurt.

 
 
Wolf Williams says:

So far, it appears that the infield is hard and fast, and right-right center fields are paradise for long fly ball hitters….. With less foul pop-up space behind home plate, are the Yankees now a threat to break the single-season runs-scored mark? Of course, the grounds crew can let the grass grow in the infield to negate the slick surface, but the home runs are already piling up.

 
Drew says:

Love fest in the boothe

MurrayPresent says:

All Girardi’s former teammates. He sounds like he’s loving life right now.

manimal says:

Duh, look at the scoreboard.

handtius says:

they’re in the booth dummy.

andrew says:

I think he was saying that Girardi’s loving life because of the scoreboard, not because of Wells making jokes in the booth

handtius says:

sorry, for got to add a *sarcasm tag*. thought that was kind of obvious.

 
 
 
 
 
 
andrew says:

what? a soprano’s star at the stadium?! you mean rich people actually are passionate about the yankees!?!?! ZOMG!

Yeah I sat near George Will a few times at the old stadium. Let me tell you, that guy was freaking intense. Frank Thomas was peeing his pants that day.

 
 
Wolf Williams says:

Perfect illustration of why Melky got sent down last season…..

 
Wolf Williams says:

Not sure Jeter gets that last grounder…..

andrew says:
 
 
andrew says:

Kay has gotten the count/outs/situation wrong atleast 2 or 3 times today…

Drew says:

Yes, he is an idiot. The worst was mistaking a solid single out to right field for a stike em out throw em out dp

andrew says:

Well yea, that was the worst one, but you make it sound worse than it was.
Derrek Lee was up with a man on first, it was a called strike and Posada threw the runner out at 2nd. Kay thought Lee was out also at the plate, so when Lee singled to right field on the next pitch, he credited it to Milton Bradley and thought there were 2 outs.

 
 
handtius says:

so has yes..more then that. i’ve watch the count is constantly off.

andrew says:

One of them Lee swung out a pitch on a 2-1 count and said something about having the green light with 3-0

handtius says:

it’s still spring training for him too.

andrew says:
 
 
 
 
Joop says:

The scoreboard is off from what I understand.

Drew says:

Yea but do you need a scoreboard to tell you the guy was on first base and ran to second?

 
 
 
handtius says:

I’m looking forward to AJ pitching this year. I was against the signing, but he’s growing on me. He could really be dominant. Like that. Damn! 9 up and down

 
Wolf Williams says:

Is it too early to start wondering if this is 1998 all over again………….?

handtius says:

it is, but it’s a nice thought.

 
 
andrew says:

I’m very excited for AJ Burnett this year.

 
handtius says:

man, i can not wait to go to a game.

 
handtius says:

the gun looks like it’s got to be like 8-10 mph off.

Drew says:

Yea dude I can’t trust the damn thing.

handtius says:

not at all. if it was on, pettitte was throwing fastballs between 55 and 88 mph.

 
 
andrew says:

Burnett’s fastballs have been in the 88-91 range from what i’ve seen, so I’m guessing its 5 MPH at most. He’s not the 95-98 guy he used to be.

handtius says:

he was hitting 93 in his first start this spring. and last year he would hit 96-97 frequently against the yankees. i think this suckas still got some juice.

 
handtius says:

burnett was hitting 93 in his first start this spring. and last year he was hit 96-97 frequently against the yankees. i think this suckas still got some juice.

handtius says:

fucker…didn’t show the first one, so i rewrote it, sorry.

 
 
 
 
Drew says:

Sick back door slider there

 
handtius says:

Man, I wish I could see how hard he’s throwing. I don’t really care, but it looks so free and easy…and hard.

 
 
Andy In Sunny Daytona says:

Did they forget to install garbage cans at the new stadium?

 

I was there too with my son. Seven years old. He was stoked.

Challenger the Bald Eagle made a grand entrance to start things off. Nothing like when we first saw Challenger on Sept 18th, 2001 the first home game after 9/11.

It seemed that in the new stadium, Challenger was a bit confused at first, circling the mound several times, but finally landing when he got comfortable. I could relate.

It was crazy windy, the ball was flying out, really carrying to right center. On days like today at least, fugedabowdit.

 
brendan says:

wait.. i was in 420B. did you hear someone harrassing some cubs fans in row 3 or so? that was me.

 
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