Archive for August, 2010
For key Yanks, age is more than just a number
Posted by: | CommentsWhen the 2009 Yankees won the World Series, they did so by defying history. Their catcher was a 37-year-old who homered 22 times and posted an OPS+ of 133 while playing just 111 games; their third baseman, 33, hit 30 home runs with an OPS+ of 147 while missing 38 games; their short stop, 35, had a career year with a .334/.406/.465 batting line. In fact, no team since the 1950s had captured a World Championship with a short stop that old, and the Yankees played as though age meant nothing.
Seemingly as retribution for the magical October of 2009, Father Time has come roaring back with a vengeance this year. Jorge Posada, who just turned 39 yesterday, might have tied his career high with 3 stolen bases, but his other numbers aren’t looking too pretty. He’s played in just 85 of the team’s 119 games, and he’s caught only 451.1 innings, over 120 fewer than Francisco Cervelli. His triple slash line — .253/.361/.451 — is great for a sometimes-catcher, but he’s probably going to post full-season lows in home runs and batting average while his slugging and OBP are well below career norms. After last year’s stellar season, his injury-plagued 2010 has been a disappointment.
Meanwhile, on the left side of the infield, the Yanks are facing similar problems. A-Rod, battling tendinitis in his hip and now a calf strain, is hitting just .265/.334/.486 with 21 home runs and is on pace for career lows in his rate stats. His streak of 30-home run seasons, currently at 12, is in jeopardy. Derek Jeter has stayed healthy this year, but he’s batting just .279/.341/.387, well off his career .315/.385/.455 line, and his only home run since June 12 was an inside-the-parker that happened when David DeJesus broke a finger. Not surprisingly, Jeter and A-Rod are rated below average defensively as well.
The only group of people more in denial over aging baseball players than the players themselves are fans. We don’t like to hear that Derek Jeter, a Yankee since I was 12, is getting old. We don’t want to see Jorge Posada break down as the wear and tear of being a 39-year-old catcher begins to take its toll. We don’t want to admit that Alex Rodriguez might be mortal. Yet, we can’t deny it. As Andy Pettitte‘s groin lingers, as A-Rod’s legs cry out for regular rest, we see these stalwarts getting older. What though are the Yankees to do?
For the Bombers, this trio of position players presents the organization with a crossroads of sorts. Since 2004, the Yanks have been about Derek and Alex and Jorge with a cast of supporting characters. Now, it’s time for the supporting characters to take center stage. The younger guys — Robinson Cano, Mark Teixeira, Nick Swisher, Curtis Granderson — are good enough to be stars in their own rights. Cano, who has slowed lately, is having an MVP-caliber season from second base, and after a horrendously slow start, Mark Teixeira leads the Yanks in home runs. Swisher has flirted with a .300 batting average and a .900 OPS for the last few weeks, and even Curtis Granderson is showing signs of life.
But larger questions loom. A-Rod is under contract through 2017, and the Yankees have to figure out a way to restore him to health. He needs regular rest but hasn’t gotten it. Derek Jeter’s contract situation is the looming albatross around the organization’s neck. Can the Yankees give him a long-term deal for top dollar when he isn’t worth the money on the field or the commitment in terms of years? And what of Jorge Posada? Will he have the dignity to retire after 2011 when his contract up or will the Yanks again be confronted with a face-off between sentimentality and nostalgia on one side and the reality of age on another?
This month, we’ve seen a malaise envelope the Yankees as they’ve staggered through a 7-9 stretch of play. They’re still in first place; they still have a solid lead on a playoff spot; they’ve still scored more runs than any other team in baseball. Yet, Father Time is knocking, and if it isn’t the quite the last gasp for the older players, the end is nearing. No one likes to contemplate that looming baseball mortality.
Yanks end offensive drought in 6-2 win
Posted by: | CommentsThe American League’s best offense returned last night. The Yanks knocked out nine hits, including two home runs, and put 15 men on base in a 6-2 victory over the Tigers. CC Sabathia did his part, holding the Tigers to just five hits in seven innings, striking out nine along the way. It added up to the Yanks’ first victory since Saturday.
Biggest Hit: Swisher brings it back
(AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
Last night’s game started in a way you never want to see while at home. Austin Jackson took the first pitch of the game, a fastball that caught most of the plate, over the wall in left for a quick run. Had Vazquez or Burnett been on the mound it might have elicited a groan or two, but this was CC Sabathia. Sure enough he finished the first in relatively easy fashion.
With a lead already in hand Justin Verlander took the mound, but it was soon clear that he didn’t bring his best stuff along for the road trip. Brett Gardner started things with an opposite-field single. Derek Jeter followed him with a walk. Robinson Cano eventually loaded the bases with a walk, which set up Nick Swisher to be the hero. He came through with a sharply hit grounder through the infield, scoring both Garder and Jeter and giving the Yanks the lead.
After the last couple of games it was nice to see the Yanks get the offense going early. Yet it wasn’t all good. The Yanks also had the biggest downer of the evening just a few batters later.
Biggest Bummer: Thames kills the rally
The Yanks had the lead, but they also had Justin Verlander on the ropes. After Swisher’s two-RBI single Verlander walked Jorge Posada in seven pitches, driving his pitch count up to 33 with the bases loaded and one out in the first. Normally this would have brought up Lance Berkman, but because he’s out with an ankle injury Marcus Thames got the day at DH against the righty. The at-bat did not go so well.
Verlander had already walked three in the inning and was generally having problems finding the strike zone. His first pitch to Thames was way up high for an easy ball one. His next pitch was still high, but even at 96 it looked hittable. But Thames couldn’t center the ball. He bounced it back to Verlander, who threw home to get the lead runner. Catcher Gerald Laird then fired to first to get Thames and erase the threat.
That was the second time in their previous two innings that the Yankees had faced a wild pitcher, loaded the bases, and then ultimately let him off the hook before putting up a crooked number. Both situations ended in double plays. The difference, of course, is that the second instance came in the first, giving the Yanks time to come back and score more. To everyone’s delight they not only scored six runs, but they spread them over four innings.
CC laughs at your threat
(AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
CC Sabathia’s night was far from perfect. He threw 115 pitches through seven innings, mainly because he fell behind a number of hitters. That led to three walks, which is again uncharacteristic of CC. But he made up for it by striking out nine guys and keeping six of 16 balls in play on the ground.
The highest leverage situation he faced came in the fourth, when the Yankees led 3-1. Ryan Raburn had just drawn a walk, putting runners on the corners with two outs. That created a 1.99 LI situation for Brandon Inge. Sabathia apparently had a plan, throwing him a changeup and then two straight fastballs low and inside. All three missed the zone. Up 3-0 Inge was taking, and Sabathia slung a fastball over the outside edge for a strike. Inge took again 3-1, this one a changeup high in the zone.
With count 3-2 CC went back to his fastball, again with the target low and away. It looked like he missed inside a bit, but Inge took a weak hack and missed. The Tigers didn’t really threaten for the rest of the evening.
Miscelanny
(AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
It’s all in the swing: Curtis Granderson went 1 for 3 with a walk. He is now 8 for 22 (.364) with three walks (.440 OBP), two homers and two doubles (.727 SLG) since the supposed changes to his swing. He has struck out three times in that span (13.6%).
(AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
With his 2 for 3, one-walk night Brett Gardner is now 8 for his last 19 (.421) with four walks (.480 OBP) and three doubles (.579). There were no reported changes to his swing.
Cano’s homer was his first since July 31.
Jorge Posada, on his 39th birthday, set a career high with his third stolen base of the season. His first of the season came on August 7.
After Marcus Thames had his bloop infield single, the YES camera crew cut to the Yankees dugout and showed Mark Teixeira and Derek Jeter yukking it up. It’s almost as if winning puts them in a better mood.
Graph and box
The line goes up. The Yankees win.
More at FanGraphs. I wish we had an easy way to embed the box score.
Up Next
Jeremy Bonder man and Dustin Moseley are set for tomorrow at 7. Lineups. First pitch. Baseball.
Heathcott ignites offense in Charleston win
Posted by: | CommentsKeith Law posted his review of each American League team’s draft today (sub. req’d), and he says he was “surprised that the Yanks didn’t go for more ceiling, without a single player in this draft who was seen as a first-rounder by the industry,” and openly wonders if ownership isn’t giving scouting director Damon Oppenheimer and Co. enough cash to worth with. My rough calculation has it at approximately $7M for the 29 signed players this year, maybe a touch less, which is on par with what they spent on the 2006-2009 draft hauls ($6.85M average in those years).
Meanwhile, The Windsor Star had a little piece on new Yankee prospect Evan Rutckyj. In addition to his $500,000 signing bonus, he got an education package worth another $150,000. Paying for college is pretty standard in these deals, but I didn’t think they gave them that much. Damn.
And finally, Jason Hirsh has been placed on the disabled list with a sore shoulder. That’s always good. Kevin Whelan takes his place.
Triple-A Scranton (5-1 loss to Columbus)
Kevin Russo, LF & Jorge Vazquez, DH: both 0 for 4 – Russo K’ed once, JoVa twice … Russo also committed a fielding error
Eduardo Nunez, SS & Jesus Montero, C: both 1 for 4 – Montero K’ed twice
Juan Miranda, 1B: 2 for 4, 1 R
Colin Curtis, RF: 0 for 2, 1 RBI
Brandon Laird, 3B & Eric Bruntlett, 2B: both 0 for 3, 2 K
Greg Golson, CF: 1 for 3, 1 2B, 1 K – 11 for his last 37 (.297) with five doubled and a pair of homers
Zach McAllister: 5 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 1 WP, 5-6 GB/FB, 1 E (throwing) – 59 of 96 pitches were strikes (61.5%) … well, at least he didn’t give up any homers
The Ghost of Kei Igawa: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 3-3 GB/FB – a whopping 17 of his 21 pitches were strikes (81%)
Amaury Sanit: 1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 3-0 GB/FB – 11 of his 17 pitches were strikes (64.7%)
MRI reveals A-Rod has low grade strain of left calf
Posted by: | CommentsAfter leaving last night’s game with a tight left calf, Alex Rodriguez underwent an MRI today that revealed a “low grade strain” of the muscle. He’s still day-to-day, but it’s good that they got it checked out to make sure it was nothing more serious. I wouldn’t be surprised if he got another day off tomorrow, and I can’t say I’d be opposed to it either. He’s one guy they absolutely need to be healthy down the stretch.
Pettitte MRI reveals small strain in groin
Posted by: | CommentsUpdate (8:43pm): The MRI revealed a “small persistent strain” of the left groin, and Andy will not throw off a mound for another week. He will continue to throw off flat ground, however.
6:17pm: Via Marc Carig, Andy Pettitte is going for an MRI on his injured groin, saying he still feels a “pull” when he tries to pitch at game intensity. Even if the MRI comes back clean, I can’t say I’m optimistic that he’ll be back before mid-September. Perhaps his rehab was too aggressive, too early, but we can’t say for sure.
Game 119: Ace vs. Ace
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No CC, you're the man. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
With a struggling offense, it would stand to reason that the last thing the Yankees want to see tonight is a pitcher as great as Justin Verlander. Guys like that, guys who throw absurdly hard all game long with a breaking ball that starts at your head and ends up at the knees in the zone are never fun to face, but if nothing else, at least take solace in the fact that the Yanks have faced him before. They’ve run into a few pitchers they had never seen before in the last few games, so it’ll be nice to break up that monotony.
It’s a good thing the Yanks are countering with CC Sabathia, because they really need someone to go out and put an end to this losing streak. There’s few better at that than Sabathia. Here’s tonight’s starting nine, which is missing a few key players due to nagging injuries …
Brett Gardner, LF
Derek Jeter, SS
Mark Teixeira, 1B
Robbie Cano, 2B
Nick Swisher, RF
Jorge Posada, C – happy 39th birthday to Georgie
Marcus Thames, DH
Curtis Granderson, CF
Ramiro Pena, 3B
And on the bump, CC Sabathia.
First pitch is scheduled for a little after 7pm ET tonight and the game can be seen on My9. Try and enjoy it.
The greatness of Rivera, the greatness of Jeter
Posted by: | CommentsIt is no secret that Mariano Rivera is the best at what he does. We’ve watched him ply his craft with precision for the past 15 years, and it has been nothing short of a revelation. Closers come and closers go, but Mo has outlasted almost all of them. This morning at Baseball Prospectus, Tommy Bennett wrote about Mo’s greatness. He not only has the rare ability to consistently prevent hits on balls in play, but he also keeps baseballs in the park at a better rate than his peers. The takeaway line: “A pitcher like Rivera, who is extreme in almost every way possible, simply doesn’t rate properly if you use the same metrics used to measure other guys.”
Yesterday Joe Posnanski wrote about Mo, but pitted him against Jeter as the most important Yankee since 1996. You might get frustrated while reading — the post really does ramble a bit — but the conclusion comes down to heart vs. head. Well, for some at least. It’s Jeter for me without question. Mo is Mo and is the greatest ever at what he did. But I think what Jeter has done is more important overall.
Yankees sign Dominican shortstop Christopher Tamarez
Posted by: | CommentsVia Ben Badler, the Yankees have signed 16-year-old Dominican shortstop Christopher Tamarez for $650,000. Ranked the 29th best prospect on the market by Baseball America, Tamarez stands 6-foot-1, 175 lbs., and is said to be one of the better athletes available this season with a chance to remain at shortstop long-term. A righthanded hitter, he projects to have average pop down the road. Click the link for video.
This is the Yanks first significant international signing of the year, though the entire market is developing slowly. MLB’s age and identify verification process, as well as PED testing, is slowing things down.
Consider Craig Counsell
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(AP Photo/Jim Prisching)
While the Yankees boasted baseball’s best record in late July, we all knew they had a few flaws. The bench looked a bit out of order, with players like Ramiro Pena and Colin Curtis taking up roster spots. The bullpen was also in need of a reinforcement or two. Brian Cashman acted at the deadline, acquiring Lance Berkman to be the DH, Kerry Wood to shore up the pen, and Austin Kearns to fortify the bench. Still, that left a few positions as a weakness, most notably utility infielder.
Ramiro Pena is a good story. Throughout his pro career he made a name with his glove, but wasn’t able to hit a lick. Then, one spring, he demonstrated some bat skills and ended up breaking camp with the team, because the regular utility infielder was pressed into regular duty. Pena provided some highlight moments early in the season, including a game-changing double that led a comeback against Anaheim. Later in the season he returned as the utility infielder, and heading into spring training it was assumed that he’d again fill that role in 2010.
This year hasn’t gone nearly as well as his rookie campaign, in which he produced a .312 wOBA in 121 PA. This year he has 112 PA already and has a puny .219 wOBA. The problem isn’t the production, in that this is probably more in line with what the Yankees can expect from Pena. He still has the glove, but his bat just isn’t going to play at the major league level. If the Yankees had an infield composed of young, healthy players this might not be a problem. But with the left side aging and, in A-Rod‘s case, not completely healthy, the Yanks could use a better utility infielder.
A few such players are likely to pass through waivers this month, whether because of contract size or general disinterest. There probably won’t be a stellar multi-position player available, but there will be options that will produce better than Pena. Two have reportedly cleared waivers already. While neither Geoff Blum nor Craig Counsell will change the Yankees’ season, either could step right in and fill Pena’s shoes while providing at least some semblance of offensive value. The best part is that neither will likely cost much in a trade.
Counsell, who will turn 40 later this month, has seen his numbers drop off a bit this year. That could be a combination of his age and his reduced playing time, neither of which will get better with a move to New York. But even in a down year he has produced a .284 wOBA. He can play anywhere in the infield, and has even played 185 innings at shortstop this year. As far as the currently available options go he’s among the best.
Astros utility man Geoff Blum, 37, has also cleared waivers. While he has played all infield positions this year he has spent the most time at SS and 3B, which fits the Yankees’ needs well. Looking at the past few years of his defensive data he’s been about average at third and below average at shortstop, which doesn’t bode well for a utility player. His bat this year is also about equal to Counsell’s, though he has a far worse career track record. In other words, if you’re going to gamble on a currently available veteran, Counsell is your guy. Taking defense into account, Blum might not even be that big an upgrade.
Two more weeks remain in the waiver trade period, so acquiring a player like Counsell is probably not high on the team’s priority list at the moment. But if the opportunity arises to add him on the cheap, I don’t see why the Yankees would pass. It would be one thing of A-Rod and Jeter were healthy and productive. With A-Rod’s health a lingering question, the Yanks could use an upgrade on the bench. If he’s the best available, so be it. He’ll at least be more productive than Pena.
2010 Post-Draft Top 30 Prospects
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2010 1st round pick Cito Culver. (Photo Credit: Andy in Sunny Daytona)
With the August 16th signing deadline now a thing of the past, we can begin to assess how the most recent amateur draft has impacted the Yankees’ farm system. Although they didn’t land a consensus elite talent, they more than made up for it in volume, signing basically all of their mid-to-late round gambles while filling out with polished college players to strike a nice balance. The Yanks were in a position to gamble some on long-term projects, which is exactly with they did. They could end up with nothing, or they could end up with something really special.
In addition to the new influx of talent, the Yanks have also benefited from a staggering number of breakout performances and strong returns from injury this year, transforming the system from one short on the “wow factor” before the season to one with waves with talent right now. The talent on the mound is both plentiful and diverse, with a mix of high-upside arms and safer, higher probability pitchers starting in Triple-A Scranton and going all the way down to High-A Tampa. And yet the Yanks’ top three prospects (four of the top five) are position players, showing the depth of the system.
Here are my preseason and pre-draft lists, for comparison’s sake. The only player on the pre-draft list that is ineligible for this one is Mark Melancon, who was shipped to the Astros in the Lance Berkman deal. Everyone else is fair game, and several players have dropped out as you can see. Some didn’t perform, others just got leapfrogged by other players. It’s not a bad thing when a live arm like Dan Burawa, a MLB-ready reserve outfielder like Colin Curtis, and a tooled up teenager with supreme plate discipline like Ramon Flores don’t make your top 30. It’s definitely an upgrade over where they were just twelve months ago.
Anyway, on to the list. The level listed is where the player is currently playing, but the new draftees get a “none” because I’m not sure exactly where they’ve been assigned, although I do have a pretty good idea. Let’s start with a completely unsurprising name at the top…
- Jesus Montero, C, AAA: took some time to adjust to AAA (.293 wOBA on the day on my pre-draft list), but he’s been on an absolute tear for about two months now (.368 wOBA at the moment) that has reaffirmed his position as one of the very best hitters in all of minor league baseball
- Austin Romine, C, AA: he’s certainly slowed down after a hot start (wOBA by month: .395, .365, .318, .276, .199), but that’s not unsurprising for a guy in his first season as a full-time catcher
- Slade Heathcott, CF, A-: the power component of his power-speed combination isn’t there yet (.071 ISO), but he’s shown a tremendous eye at the plate (12.4 BB%) and the strikeouts should come down as he continues to refine his swing and make more contact
- Andrew Brackman, RHSP, AA: he’s cut his walk rate from 6.28 BB/9 last year to 2.61 this year while maintaining a strong strikeout rate (8.47 K/9) and better than a 50% ground ball rate, plus the scouting reports have been very good
- Gary Sanchez, C, Rk: the 17-year-old is annihilating rookie ball (.459 wOBA), but he’s got a long way to go defensively behind the plate, more than Montero did
- Manny Banuelos, LHSP, A+: an appendectomy delayed the start of his season, but he’s been simply fantastic since returning (1.79 FIP) and reports indicate a welcome uptick in velocity
- Hector Noesi, RHSP, AA: aggressive in the zone with four pitches that are good enough to get swings and misses … he won’t be a star, but he’ll be a very nice fill-in option by this time next year
- Dellin Betances, RHSP, A+: I don’t think anyone expected him to be this good (1.84 FIP), this fast after elbow surgery, and the even better news is that reports indicate his stuff is all the way back as well … now it’s just a matter of staying healthy (believe it or not, but his 67 IP this season are the second most he’s ever thrown in a single year)
- J.R. Murphy, C, A-: he’s gotten better as the season has gone on (wOBA by month: .253, .293, .323, .389) while showing power and he ability to make hard, consistent contact … seems somewhat underappreciated to me
- Ivan Nova, RHSP, AAA: it’s not the highest ceiling in the world, but there’s something to be said for MLB-ready back-end arms that can miss some bats and keep the ball in the park
- Graham Stoneburner, RHSP, A+: his .212 AVG against is one of the very best in the minors, and he’s demonstrated the ability to miss a ton of bats and limit walks … won’t be challenged until he gets to AA
- Jose Ramirez, RHSP, A-: almost a forgotten man with all the pitching talent ahead of him, but Ramirez has put up a very strong year (3.04 FIP) as a 20-year-old in his first taste of a full season league
- David Adams, 2B, injured: crushed AA with a .403 wOBA before a broken ankle ended his season in May … you’re looking at a rock solid everyday second baseman in the bigs
- Cito Culver, SS, Rk: holding his own after stepping out of his graduation ceremony and into the batter’s box against the best pitching he’s ever faced in his life … the power has started to come as the season has progressed (ISO by month: .050, .094, .106)
- Brandon Laird, 3B/1B, AAA: breakout performer of the year (.384 wOBA in AA) has enough power and just enough defense to fake it as an every day third baseman in the show, but it’s unlikely to be his long-term position
- David Phelps, RHSP, AAA: arguably the best pure performance among Yankee pitching farmhands this year, but his lack of a bonafide put-away pitch is what limits his ceiling … doesn’t mean he can’t be an effective big leaguer
- Corban Joseph, 2B, AA: hitting machine wOBA’d .352 as a 21-year-old in pitcher friendly Florida State League, now he’s just got to improve on the defensive side of the ball
- Zach McAllister, RHSP, AAA: advanced hitters have not been kind of Z-Mac, who has seemingly lost the ability to miss bats, generate ground balls, and avoid the long-ball … very disappointing year
- Rob Segedin, 3B/OF, Rk: big time on-base ability with a great swing and moderate power potential, just need to figure out his long-term position
- Angelo Gumbs, CF, none: true five tool potential here, but he’s extremely raw … going to be a project
- Adam Warren, RHSP, AA: cruised right through A-ball with 7.44 K/9, 1.89 BB/9, and 57% ground balls before moving up, and he’s got enough stuff and command to be a back-end starter or valuable middle reliever
- Bryan Mitchell, RHSP, Rk: arguably the best pure arm in the system with a knockout curveball, Mitchell has only been so-so in 33.1 IP this year, but the upside is exciting
- Mason Williams, CF, none: received more money than another other Yankee draftee this year despite being the fourth best prospect they drafted … exciting tools, but raw and with questionable long-term power potential
- Brett Marshall, RHSP, A-: electric arm just back from Tommy John surgery, his ranking is based on pure stuff and potential because the performance (understandably) hasn’t been there yet
- Gabe Encinas, RHSP, none: very diverse arsenal and a whole lot of pitching know-how, he should carve up the low minors thanks to his ability to setup hitters and mix pitches alone
- Taylor Morton, RHSP, none: inconsistent spring hurt his draft stock, but he’s been up to 96 in the past with both a changeup and a curve
- Melky Mesa, OF, A+: old for his level but he finally seems to be putting it together … the other Melky is a tool shed, with the only knock being his ability to make consistent contact, something he’s done this year
- Eduardo Sosa, CF, SS: big time defensive outfielder with great speed and surprisingly good plate discipline, he’s a pretty exciting player to watch live
- Kelvin DeLeon, RF, SS: the 2007 bonus baby has two standout tools in his power and throwing arm, but his utter lack of plate discipline will keep from being elite
- Evan Rutckyj, LHSP, none: a surprise signing, the big (6-foot-5, 210 lb.) lefty has flashed promising stuff with a surprising good feel for his craft … he’s a long-term project, but there’s a lot to work with here.
Kevin Russo and Burawa were squeezed out last night when Williams and Rutckyj signed. One thing to keep in mind is that I (and we) don’t know nearly as much about this year’s draftees as we do about the guys who have been in the system for years, so it’s tough to pinpoint exactly where they belong. Don’t like having Culver below Adams? Fine, I could easily be convinced otherwise.
Also, remember the fudge factor. There’s so little difference between say, the fourth best prospect and the ninth best prospect, or the 22nd best prospect and the 30th best prospect that it’s a waste of time to get worked up over individual rankings. Think Betances should rank higher than Noesi? Fine, who cares. They’re basically on par with each other. Think of it as tiers. Jesus Montero is all by himself. Romine and Heathcott are behind him. Brackman through Betances is the next tier, and so on. The important thing is the cache of talent, which is the deepest it’s been in at least two years.
Just 21 days 'til pitchers and catchers report.
