Spring Training Game Thread: Baseball!
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(REUTERS/Steve Nesius)
It may be March, it may be meaningless, but gosh darn it, the Yankees will play a baseball game today. After whooping the University of South Florida in yesterday’s tuneup, today the team officially opens their Grapefruit League schedule against future Yankee Cole Hamels and the rest of the Phillies. Here’s your first lineup of the (exhibition) season…
LF Brett Gardner
CF Curtis Granderson
RF Nick Swisher
DH Raul Ibanez
1B Eric Chavez
C Russell Martin
SS Eduardo Nunez
2B Bill Hall
3B Jayson Nix
RHP Ivan Nova – scheduled for 35 pitches or two innings
Available Pitchers: RHP David Phelps, LHP Manny Banuelos, RHP Dellin Betances, LHP Cesar Cabral, and LHP Mike O’Connor are all scheduled to pitch today. LHP Juan Cedeno, RHP D.J. Mitchell, LHP Clay Rapada, and RHP Chase Whitley also made the trip and are available if needed.
Available Position Players: C Gary Sanchez, 1B Jorge Vazquez, 2B Corban Joseph, SS Ramiro Pena, 3B Brandon Laird, LF Chris Dickerson, CF Dewayne Wise, RF Cole Garner, and DH Justin Maxwell will replace the starters. C Jose Gil, C J.R. Murphy, IF David Adams, IF Doug Bernier, OF Zoilo Almonte, and OF Melky Mesa all made the trip and are available if needed.
First pitch is scheduled for 1:05pm ET, and the game can seen on MLB Network and MLB.tv. The blackout has been lifted in the Tri-State Area. Hooray baseball!
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The Tyler Austin Watch
Is it on the radio?
I do not believe so.
If anyone has xm radio, the phillies have the game on their radio station, and the mlb xm channels pick up any games on the radio. I’m listening that way.
I just tuned in to hear Mark Reynolds brilliant analysis of Papelbon calling him “the most underrated closer in baseball” or something like that. Fortunately, Leiter called him out on it.
Reynolds = not smart.
Sad news about Brien Taylor and his drug arrest today.
Hard to believe he’s still only 40 years old. He should just be finishing up a glorious career with a fist full of rings.
What could have been.
#cured
Couldn’t you hear? Its the short porch that makes him so good.
Yep, I mean it was quite obvious that all of his homers last years were just pop flies that barely got out
Fun fact: Granderson’s double in the first inning would have been a homerun in Yankee Stadium.
Well, I cant remember if I saw it the MLB channel or read it online but the right field fences are 6-8ft closer to home plate than the than the markings say. That doesnt help a stadium that was already considered a band box.
Yeah but there are also rumors that the big monster is less than 300 ft too
When they had the all star game there they measured it with an airplane somehow and its significantly less than the markings on the wall.
Granderson didn’t waste time picking up where he left off against lefties.
Ibanez looks like he can still hit to me. Pretty built up.
Raul with the hustle.
Dominic Brown! Everyone’s favorite ” young cost controlled outfielder” over here at RAB.
What?
Dominic Brown’s name has come up a lot by RAB writers and commentors as a possible trade target looking for a “young cost controlled outfielder” to take over for Swisher.
Have you not noticed that?
I have, but it’s just an option. It’s not a big deal. But I guess I just didn’t see it. The John Danks love here was ridiculous.
And regardless since they’re trying to get this 189 million payroll Swish is a goner. They need someone cheap so they can keep Cnao and Granderson who are much better players.
It was a joke (which you obviously did not find funny). Similar to Axisa crossing out “future Yankee” in front of Hamels name.
The first time we face Danks this year, I will probably make a joke about everyone wanting to trade for Danks here, which you can call me out on too for it sucking, ha.
Oh it was a joke. Never mind then.
Nova looks heavier.
Definitely.
Thank goodness there aren’t any radar readings in the cgi on screen.
Our future shortstop!
Mike, why isn’t there a radar gun?
How would I know? Call CSN and ask.
It’s the first spring training game, I’m sure the managers don’t want a radar gun on them yet
Good to see some things never change
good to see Nunez has improved his defense
E6
Eduardo Scissorhands.
Yeah…….that one’s on Chavez
Meatball baby
Dat slider. eeek.
Solar flares?
LOl i dont want to be the dude throwing the ball in the wheel house batting cage
I do believe the kit includes an L-screen, however flimsy it may be…
For only 500 bucks you can do the same thing that a 20 dollar screen and bucket of balls does!
Yes! First Game Thread of the year!
Hamels throws a curveball and we get “look at the changeup”. I guess it’s spring training for the announcers too
Maybe bringing the high school infield along for Nova’s start was a bad idea
Nova doing a better job of keeping the ball on the ground.
Yea his command was rough in the first inning. Much better in the second.
Now that everybody knows he has a great slider to compliment his fastball, that curve is going to be much more effective
That off speed pitch looks nasty, thats 3 or 4 swing and miss hes gotten off that pitch.
Tom McCarthy: “Yankees have a handful of pitching prospects. Nova’s one of them.”
Who here called Nova a prospect? Anyone?
http://riveraveblues.com/2010/.....cts-33792/
#10
http://riveraveblues.com/2011/.....cts-39597/
#8
Did Granderson hit an oppo homerun all of last season? I know he hit one last spring training
i know he hit at least one cause he hit one against the mariners when CC had the perfect game going
FanGraphs said he hit one last year.
so for those of us who cannot watch the game how did Nova look?
Like it was the first game of ST. Everything was either way up in the zone or down below it. Threw one nice changeup for a swing and miss.
Grandy going the other way. Hooray.
To oppo-field, Good bye. /cured
SEE YA granderson HR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Not the same without Sterling…
Gardner taking a called 3rd strike. Granderson hits a double and an HR.
Both already in mid-season form.
“Granderson had him played perfectly”
and then made the over the shoulder catch…
nice stuff from Phelps
Papelbon… #hate
Jorge Vasquez looking a bit “heavier” than last spring…
Oh good, I get to hate on Papelbon in the first ST game.
I wonder if we will get a Gary Sanchez at bat today.
Seeing as he’s scheduled in to replace Russel this game, I think we will.
Way late to the first game of the season =/
questions: Errors on Nunez? How’d Nova look? Anything great or terrible happen?
Granderson hit a double and an oppo homerun.
“Manny Banyouelos”
Manny Bon-you-ale-ose
Well, now I know how to pronounce it.
For real though it’s pronounced “Banwellos” right?
Don’t worry. Michael Kay will let us all know how to pronnounce it…or not.
Thats how I say it.
He told Kim Jones “Ban-way-los” last year.
thought it was Ban-Whail-Los
In Spanish
ban (as in bon-bon)- ew – ale – os (as in toast)
Must have talked to M Kay.
Holy crap, D-Train sighting! If he didn’t play for the Phillies, I’d be happy to see him bounce back.
D-Train looks like he also has a love of Captain Crunch.
Who is Cole Garner?
Phillies trying to confuse the Yankees into offering a contract to Cole Garner instead of Cole Hamels.
that must be it
http://riveraveblues.com/2012/.....als-61847/
minor league free agent from the Rox
He was picked up after the Rockies cut him last year. OFer perhaps taking Greg Golson’s 5th-OFer spot on the Yankees, meaning he’s ticketed for AAA.
Nice to see Jova going the other way.
First #NPoH of the year.
Pena…the ultimate rally killer.
Completely off topic but I hope JP Arencibia has a huge year after that Tim Kurkjian imitation.
0-2 to walk. He’ll fit right in.
vazquez got an RBI, promote him immediately
Seriously though, is he even in the running to make the majors if he does okay this month (just as a hypothetical)?
Nope.
dude would have a K% of nearly 40. That’s not even hyperbole
I can’t imagine he would be. Nothing he does this spring will change what he is: a 1B in name only that has great power but swings so freely that he’s unlikely to provide value at the plate in the bigs. Furthermore, whose spot would he take?
Think not;
1) he K’s close to 30%…
2) not the corner glove needed…
3) when he fell off the ugly tree, he hit every branch on the way down.
Power dingers can onlt trump so much.
ManBan, not too impressive th first time out. Overthrowing dellin-style.
Was glad to see them leave him in and get out of it though.
True. Never wouldve been given the chance in regular season. So least hue got the shot
Isn’t he in-line for the “W” with a 0.00 ERA?
/thenarrativeusuallywins’d
Of course mlb network has phillies feed so we have to hear about paintings, murals and nonsensical ramblings by tarry templeton
Two BBs in 2 IP already for Manny.
Already worried (SSS’d)
Prince Fielder today: 2 for 2 plus a walk. Worth every penny!
The Braves are six outs away from getting no-hit in the same game.
DeWayne “don’t call me Dwayne” Wise
LOL, Garner is a beast.
Wise and Garner trying to stay on the roster
COLE GARNER?! MONSTER BOMB
Garner crushes one, that was hit hard.
This Garner is better than Gardner!
(today)
enter Dellin!!!!!
Does anybody else feel that Hunter Pence is too big for everything lol? I cant explain it but he’s always looked oversized. Maybe he needs a bigger jersey or something.
PS Philly broadcasters: Betances grew up in Teaneck. Just saying.
Dellin all over the place, reminds me of Rick Vaughn of major league
Is that Sanchez behind the plate now?
yup
Just saw on the crawl on MLBN that Grady Sizemore is hurt again. I feel so bad for the dude…he was such a special player.
Memo to the surviving B’s:
HIT THE GLOVE,
Sincerely,
a fan
Dellin a bit wild.
The combination of Betances’ lack of control and Sanchez’s lack of defensive ability is not a pretty sight.
The killer b’s having thier issues this afternoon.
Dellin looks so wild – I know tall pitchers sometimes have a hard time witrh their delivery but he looks all over the place.
BBs will be the death of us all.
Is anyone else concerned by the fact that Banuelos and especially Betances really struggle throwing strikes? I mean Dellin isnt close
If you can’t start worrying during the first ST game, when can you?
Yep. But it works both ways. If they struck out the side with no walks, some might go overboard with praise. I hope you point that out too — when it inevitably appears with assessments of some player(s). You might even be guilty of it yourself at some point.
well, not really concerned. It’s the 1st game of the year and Dellin has never thrown a lot of strikes anyway.
its that f’n back leg of his, you can literally see pitch by pitch whether he is going to throw a strike or not. He needs training in maintaining his balance (or better yet shortening his stride)….someone needs to get him a yoga instructor.
*see pitch by pitch whether he is going to throw a strike or not before he releases the ball by looking at that leg
Dellin already in mid-season form. Walking batters like it’s no one’s business XD
how’s Sanchez looking at C?
I didnt think he looked very smooth recieving the ball. Then again Bentances was about as wild as you can be.
Love a good DP (ha)
Betances looks like he’s MORE than one year away. First game or not, his control is really ugly.
First. Game.
Nothing that happens today is relevant, except that guys play and avoid getting hurt.
Granted it was ugly, but its only the first ST game. I think its a little early to make that statement. But yea, it seems more than lack of control that is his issue, its complete wildness.
I wonder if we’ll see a ST game with “Grit-Grandy-Garner” all starting in the OF?
They usually keep either the IF or the OF all together in a game. Though, if they want to get swisher a start at 1B, it’s possible. I figure they’d put Jones out there instead, though.
Betances is a thrower-not a pitcher (yet).
Long way to go.
Seems to be stuck somewhere between a pitcher and a belly-itcher.
Keen analysis.
Yea, I think he gets too amped up and looses complete control. I expect to see much better from him as the spring goes on.
So I think we take away from todays game that the B’s are ready to go (3IP no runs) and Garner is the replacement for Swisher.
Or…
Nova/Phelps/ManBan/Dellin >>>>>Hamels/Bush/Papelbon/Willis
or…
Garner is just as good as Granderson (2-2, double & dinger)
I would argue that clearly Garner is better than Granderson. Grandy’s homer was wind aided. Garner just crushed his. Can Garner play CF?
How are the Redsox gona fit all those starters into the ST? I saw they signed a couple more yesterday.
Zoilo Almonte is a badass name.
What ever happened to Eric Almonte?
Kuroda is not part of the battle.
Kuroda is in the mix for the fifth spot in the rotation? Thanks Philly broadcasting, I’d never know.
I know it’s a recurring theme (is it even a “theme” if it doesn’t recur?) with me, but…
For a 19 year-old Gary Sanchez looks way (weigh?) too heavy. I continue to question the emphasis (or lack of same) this organization puts on conditioning.
they can’t really control what players do in the off-season
its been reported that Sanchez reported to camp overweight
It’s not just the conditioning itself that’s bothersome. It’s that it suggests something about the player’s attitude. You can’t control everything — but if you’re serious and work hard, staying in shape should be the least of your challenges. If a trainer/front office/mgr tells Sanchez to come in at 210lb, but he comes in it at 222lb, the fact that he didn’t bother/listen is worse than those 12 extra pounds.
The announcer just said that there is a battle for the 5th spot between Hughes, Garcia and….Kuroda. They signed Kuroda for 10m to have him battle it out for a spot.
Plus Girardi specifically mentioned that CC and Kuroda were the only two with guaranteed spots in the rotation.
These announcers are ass.
I dont know how bad they are, but clearly they are taking the announcing of a ST game not too seriously. Today they are terrible.
And, you know, people that comment on a Yankee fan blog during the very first Spring Training game, are going to be a tough crowd to please, ha.
Eesh, just keeps getting worse for Crawford.
…and, by extension, the Red Sox.
Time to get Mo up.
Hooray!!! well on our way to an undefeated season.