Spring Training Game Thread: A Look At A.J.
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(AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Just about every Yankees starting pitcher has pitched in a game already, except for one guy: A.J. Burnett. He pops his 2011 cherry against the Astros today, and will hopefully show off some of the things he worked on with new pitching coach Larry Rothschild over the winter. I remember reading somewhere that they focused on driving his front leg towards the plate, rather than swinging it around, so I guess we can keep an eye out for that. I’m hardly an expert on pitching mechanics, so I doubt I’ll pick anything up.
On the offensive side of the ball, Robbie Cano is hitting second between Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira, which probably has more to do with it being Spring Training and wanting to get him as many at-bats as possible before being lifted. It’ll still be interesting to watch though; I made the case that Robbie should hit second full-time in 2011 earlier this winter. Here’s the full starting nine…
Derek Jeter, SS
Robbie Cano, 2B
Mark Teixeira, 1B
Alex Rodriguez, 3B
Jorge Posada, DH
Andruw Jones, LF
Frankie Cervelli, C
Colin Curtis, RF
Justin Maxwell, CF
Available to Pitch: A.J. Burnett, Sergio Mitre, Joba Chamberlain, Boone Logan, David Phelps, Hector Noesi, Luis Ayala, D.J. Mitchell, Robert Fish, Daniel Turpen, and Adam Warren. Obviously all of them won’t get into the game, but they’re available if needed.
Also Scheduled to Play: Austin Romine (C), Bradley Suttle (1B), Kevin Russo (2B), Eduardo Nunez (SS), Brandon Laird (3B), Dan Brewer (LF), Melky Mesa (CF), Jordan Parraz (RF), and Russell Martin (DH).
At some point today, Jordan Lyles will pitch for Houston. He’s their top prospect and one of the better pitching prospects in the game overall. The kid (deservedly) reached Triple-A as a 19-year-old last year (3.86 FIP in 31.2 IP). Today’s game will be aired live on both YES and MLB Network, and begins at 1:05pm ET. Talk about the game here, enjoy.
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Houston has a good player?
Yeah, A.J.’s delivery is different.
I’m not watching, but I hope it’s a more repeatable delivery. That may portend good things if it means he can physically repeat the mechanics easier than he used to.
It looks like he’s not swaying side-to-side as much and instead driving more directly towards home plate. I’m not sure if that hurts the movement on his fastball, but it looks like his fastball is a bit straighter.
Amature analysis warning.
Good 1st inning for AJ
AJ looking sharp so far.
….good AJ…..? Okay, I’ll stop. He did grab at his elbow after that breaking pitch, I gulped.
every AB I have seen from Jeter in ST has been a GB to the left side, lol
That one was even weaker than usual.
Paging Mr. Gardner. Your lead-off spot is waiting…
With any luck it’s an early season thing. Hopefully he can pick it up by May.
It’s, what, 7 ABs now? Yeah, let’s write him off. He’ll never amount to anything …
Okay, but after 8 ABs he’s gone…
Cano doesn’t have a single hit in ST and somehow no one is worried about him. (Myself included. Because worrying in ST is silly.)
Cano isn’t 37 and coming off a career worst season. He’s also not signed to a 4 year contract at what is right now (before further decline) almost %200 market value. So yeah, no one is worried about cano. Can’t say jeter is finnished after 7 AB but you can’t fault anyone for being worried
Yankees go down 1-2-3 against the lowly Astros, one day after being shut out by the Pirates, and are in danger of starting spring training 1-4.
/WallaceMatthews
ZOMG…call up all the killer B’s and Montero ASAP!!
/SomeYankFans
AJ looking very solid.
Time to see how he does from the stretch. Yikes.
Same exact spot as the first bloop.
I’ll never get tired of seeing Robby flip it to Jeet for 2.
I first noticed this on “Getting to Know Cano” on YES, but Cano is pretty jacked. He’s in great shape.
Yeah, he’s deceptively big.
*looks around…*
TWSS!
Good to see AJ work out of trouble there.
You wouldn’t expect Burnett’s curve to be at its best on March 2nd (though he had one very nice one for his strikeout), but I thought he looked pretty solid command wise and it was nice to see him touch 94. A solid first appearance
Arod crushed that, wow
Hip Hip!
Can we start the season tomorrow?
If only, eh? Our boy looks good this spring. Let’s hope it stays through October.
Posada career as a DH: .223/.336/.358! in 351 PA. Does this concern anyone else? Because it concerns me. I’ve always heard him say he’s more comfortable as a hitter when he’s catching.
Nah. He’ll adjust. That’s a misleading sample because it’s from scattered days as DH, not a whole season. Jorge is a pro.
Usually he’d be DH’ing when he’s not healthy enough to catch. I don’t think it’s anything to worry about. As long as he’s healthy he’ll hit.
Not really. He always DHs when he looks tired or needs a half day. He should be much better with healthy legs.
Yes, but he’s never been a fulltime DH. He’ll find a rhythm.
I don’t see how being worn down from catching will make you a better hitter.
It’s 351 PA spread over 16 years. Only twice in his career has he played more than 10 games at DH in a single season.
All good points. The fact that the numbers are so spread out puts it in better context. We’ll see how he does in a full season.
I’m going to say that Posada will be more comfortable hitting this year when he’s not hurt or suffering from concussion symptoms!
not worried about jorge!
Frankie looks hurt…..put in Jesus
And our fifth starter takes the mound…
Bum Bum Bummmm
if Mitre takes the 5th starter spot, who do you guys think the long man out of the pen will be?
Good question. Can we get Chad Gaudin back?
Garcia probably, assuming Nova wins the 4th spot
Meat-tray in mid-season form.
nice piece of hitting by Maxwell
Jeter hits one out of the infield!!!!!
Look at that, Jeter can still sting a ball on occasion.
Think he will make the 40 man now?
Yea. After we trade Pena for Liriano, the bench will have an open slot.
you mean Pena for Liriano plus cash.
Romine behind the plate, nice
Romine. w00t.
Mike:
What is your impression of Justin Maxwell? Looks like he can swing the bat. Is he a better option than Golson?
Yes.
Oh wait, did u mean the other mike? ha.
He looked pretty good there to me too. If he is ever going to figure it out, it would happen right around now, age 27, so maybe he can contribute.
Yes, definitely better than Golson. Golson’s just speed and defense, Maxwell is speed plus defense plus power plus some walks. Glad to have both, though.
maxwell is a phsyical specimen…he’s our Mike Cameron!
I’m always excited to see Joba pitch. Even in Spring Training. Something exciting about the guy
I still think he will be an all star level pitcher one day, either as a starter, or reliever. Or maybe even both.
Both? Could he relieve his own games? ZING!
J/K, I really want him to start, Just to shut Mike Fransesca up.
ha, yes, he is that good. Nah, I meant an all star reliever for the Yanks, and then maybe an all star starter for another team, but hopefully the Yanks too, in another year.
He has a better chance at being a run way model than starting for the Yankees again.
That’d be Casey Kelly.
me too. i got to meet him last spring at Mom’s restaurant. it was pretty exciting. we’re sitting there eating and i look up at the mirror on the wall and Joba walks in. A pretty neat experience and my kids thought it was so cool. I hope he turns the corner this year.
Damn, that hook almost looks like the kind of third pitch a starter would use.
And that swing-and-miss change looks like a usable fourth pitch. Whodathunkit.
This is real interesting and all, but I don;t think Teixeira’s slow starts have to do with a lack of hitting. I think it’s weather, getting used to travel again, and so forth. FWIW, I seem to recall Teixeira doing fine in March, down in balmy FL.
I’m pretty sure he’s admitted to having trouble with getting both of his swings down, being a switch hitter. Not all switch hitters get off to slow starts, but he does for some reason. It’s just one of those things.
They should put him on a plane every day in spring training. Just circle the town then send him out to hit.
“I thought it was rubbish myself”
You know, he’s a pain sometimes, but I love having Burnett on this team.
MLB Gameday still tuning up during spring training. Keeps saying every AB is one pitch. Fastest game ever.
PLEASE DON’T BE HURT
Who?
Robbie. Took a knee to the shoulder. Looks Ok tho.
Logan….not so good
Romine is putting on a show behind the plate
That side by side of A-Rod and Maxwell was creepy.
Jeter first hit, no longer should anyone be worried.
If Maxwell can get half the results I’d be thrilled.
I can’t give up my worry. It’s like a warm blanket on a cold wintry night.
Warren. w00t.
OOps, Phelps.
Great IP
that last slider looked great. Also looked like he was throwing both a 2 seam fb and a 4 seam fb.
How did his velo look? I’d honestly rather have either him, Noesi or Brackman with a roster spot than Garcia/Colon.
88-89 with the 2 seam and 92-93 with the 4 seam
Good inning from Phelps.
So I’m assuming Romine is looking good behind the plate? (Can’t watch the game). A small scouting report on how he’s doing? Like his fluidity, arm, how he frames pitches, etc…
He’s certainly blocked a lot of innings in the dirt. I can’t really judge fluidity, and haven’t seen any tests of his arm.
Errr…pitches. Not innings.
Wow, Martin saying Banuelos > Kershaw. Hype around him this ST is unreal, hope he lives up to it
wow really? That’s high praise.
Well, he said Banuelos is more “polished” at 19-20 than Kershaw was at that age.
That makes more sense though is it an apt comparison?
Speaking of which, I’ve always thought this was an interesting article about Banuelos since it came out. I can only hope Banuelos keeps up with him:
http://www.pinstripealley.com/.....-a-starter
Am I gonna get destroyed if I say that’s a little ridiculous? If something like that happened with Casey Kelly we’d all laugh uproariously.
(Then again, it is just a player, not the media)
brutal inning for Phelps
4 runs…none earned…2 errors.
I didn’t mean he was necessarily bad, just that it’s been dragging on
Scott Proctor sighting in the braves/red sox game…thought his arm fell off.
time for an epic come back
the Melk man delivers
I guess I’m the only one still watching, lol
Dang, beat me to it.
Anyone else have Soriano flashbacks watching Mesa’s stance at the plate?
Gritty gutty AB from the melkman.
And the Melkman delivers.
I smell walkoff!! come on Russo
bases loaded Russel Martin up!!!
Lance Pendleton pitching.
One ball away from the W!!!!!
everyone isn’t gonna run out to celebrate on the field? that’s disappointing, lol
That was nutty.
ball game over! Yankees win DDDDAAAAAAAAAAAA Yankees win!!!!! Walk off Russel Martin walked in bottom of 9th with bases loaded, come from behind victory!!!