ST Game Thread: Freddy’s Gonna Get Sweaty
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Freddy does not approve of your stretching routine. (REUTERS/Steve Nesius)
If he had a chance to do it all over again, chances are Freddy Garcia would not have re-signed with the Yankees so early in the offseason. He pitched well last year and certainly earned his raise, but the Michael Pineda and Hiroki Kuroda acquisitions have pushed him out of the rotation and into a (rigged) competition for the fifth starter’s spot. Today is Sweaty Freddy’s first chance to audition for the job he probably has no chance to win. Here’s the lineup, or at least the guys that will play the first few innings…
SS Derek Jeter
2B Robinson Cano
3B Alex Rodriguez
1B Mark Teixeira
LF Andruw Jones
C Frankie Cervelli
RF Chris Dickerson
CF Dewayne Wise
DH Justin Maxwell
RHP Freddy Garcia
Available Pitchers: RHP D.J. Mitchell, LHP Boone Logan, RHP Cory Wade, LHP Clay Rapada, and RHP Kevin Whelan are all scheduled to pitch. RHP Chase Whitley, LHP Juan Cedeno, RHP Adam Miller, RHP Ryan Pope, and RHP Dan Burawa are available if needed.
Available Position Players: C J.R. Murphy, 1B Jose Gil, 2B David Adams, SS Doug Bernier, 3B Corban Joseph, LF Colin Curtis, CF Melky Mesa, and RF Zoilo Almonte will replace the starters. CoJo hasn’t played third in the regular season since 2010 and just six times since 2009.
Today’s game begins at 1:05pm ET and can be seen on YES locally and MLB Network nationally. Enjoy.
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Looks like they may be moving CoJo te hot corner as a potential short term replacement for A-Rod.
Hey Mike, how well do you think Corban would handle himself as a big league 3B? I know he probably won’t be some special player but could he at least be an average major leaguer?
I think an average big leaguer at third is the best case. Not a big CoJo believer.
I’m not either, but I think he’s viable as a sort of low cost stopgap.
That’s not a bad player, though. Have you seen the state of third base lately? Most teams would like to have one of those guys.
I thought pineda was supposed to start today?
Nope, tomorrow. Sabathia/Hughes on Tuesday, then Kuroda on Weds.
Tomorrow game will be on tv or not?
Yes, MLB network. It’ll be the phillies broadcast.
Ugh, not those guys again.
Ahh..the soothing voices of Kay and Singleton. Let’s go Freddy!
Woo, speedgun. Too bad the pitchers I’m curious about just about all pitched yesterday…
DJ Mitchell’s coming out party begins today.
Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
Freddy throwin’ the heat by Wigginton.
Pence can’t handle it either!
Well, he can handle that one.
So, am I dumb for not knowing anything about Dewayne Wise?
He’s not a prospect, he signed a minor league deal and is about 30 I think. He’s been a part-time player for other teams a couple times.
Gotcha. Thanks.
He robbed a homer to save Buehrle’s perfect game. That’s about the extent of his fame.
He made it as dramatic as possible just to make sure they replay it again and again.
Cervelli’s throws to second are in midseason form.
He’s a defensive whiz!
God, Jon and Suzyn love Cervelli.
Definition of a BP fastball right there.
Hunter Pence: Yankee spring training killer
Freddy not super but decent. like 5 good pitches
I never liked that Freddy Garcia guy! It’s settled; Hughes wins the 5th spot.
Well, that was easy.
Here comes the Doctor. Hamels and Halladay is a tough draw for your first 2 ST games.
Wooo Alex.
Holy crap A-Rod.
Sure it’s just Spring but any homer off Halladay is impressive.
Oppo no less. I’m pleased.
good to see Alex in pre-DL form
I knew A-Rod would be awesome this year! It’s settled; AL MVP.
You keep settling the hard decisions so easily. Awesome!
Well, we have clearly have sufficient data to reach them, right? So, why not?
Are they subject to change on a per-inning basis, or set in stone?
Of course — no need to be rigid in these matters.
Let’s see if he can go on a tear during the spring like last year but NOT get hurt…
A-Rod going yack off anyone is a good sign. A better sign that it was off Halladay. Even if its the first week of ST, I’ll fkn take it.
First pitch of 2009 for ARod: HR.
First pitch of 2012 for ARod: HR.
I’m not saying anything, but…
ARod opposite field hr against halladay…I dont care if it’s ST, that’s a good sign.
Freddy finding his groove. Man I can’t wait for these things to mean something.
Is there a specific reason that Cerveli puts his right leg out like that?
He’s doing his best Carlos Ruiz impression, since we’re playing the Phillies.
That has Tony Pena’s fingerprints all over it.
Is there a specific reason any catcher does it was mainly what i was asking. Not specifically why Cervelli does it.
why any*
Some think it let’s them give a lower target to the pitcher.
Yep. And theoretically gives the leg/knee a break as well.
A-Rod can’t play 3rd any longer! It’s settled; A-Rod should DH.
freddy’s 2nd inning much better than 1st
Did I just see Freddy throwing 92?
No fkn way
It’s Spring training for the radar guns too. Wait until they get into mid-season form to trust their accuracy.
I declare Andruw now just as lethal against righties as he is against lefties.
Fist pump time!
I wonder if A.Jones can work himself into the conversation for RF next year.
i think he’s best as a platoon or bench player. Doubt he can give you 140 games in RF
If Jones has another solid year, they could explore letting Swisher walk, and then find a solid platoon bat to match with Andruw.
And still need a DH
Sure he can work his way into 250-300 ABs in RF. Just need a platoon RF and a Fulltime DH.
Maxwell seems overwhelmed…gets to be the DH and stares at 2 & 3 for the Backwards-K. Sad, seems like he is the typical tweener OF’er…always just outside the 5th spot.
Not a major leaguer. Same for Dickerson. Not a single team in baseball is interested in giving either a roster spot and 200 ABs. Japan may be in their future
Agree completely.
really good inning by DJ Mitchell. Hope he can get the last spot in the bullpen, either he or Cabral
I think it would be a lefty over a righty, but Mitchell certainly has a shot.
I don’t understand why Dj us not competing for a backend spot in Pittsburgh or Houston or mets.
Because he’s on the Yankees.
Nice. I now understand what made you the founder and editor-in-chief of RAB. Baseball INSIGHT.
He asked a question and I answered. I aim to please.
I hope you’re getting the big bucks.
…and, I’ll add, his answer was corret.
It was the question that was whacked.
I’m saying he seems good enough for a team to beg for him willing to give him 160 inning major league trial rather than pitch at age 25 in Scranton. Same goes for phelps and Warren.
no other MLB team can touch any of them because they are on the yankees 40 man roster
What player could you reasonably expect to get in a trade from either of those teams?
Say AJ and DJ for Garrett Jones when Cashman wanted him.
…but the Yankees would rather HAVE mitchell than Garrett Jones. Because, if they want to get below 189MM in 2014, they’re going to need as much cost-controlled talent as possible. Two of Phelps, Mitchell and Warren will probably not be a successful backend MLB starter, so you keep all of them unless there’s an appealing piece coming back. A lefty DH that’s already in arbitration is just not that piece.
You hope that Nova establishes himself as a mid-rotation guy, and then one of those three backfills behind him, so you don’t have to go around signing guys like Freddie or Kuroda.
27 year old rookies won’t be a factor on 2014 roster.
The reason they are still going to be in AAA at 24/25 this year has little to do with their talent. It has to do with the organization they play for.
Of course, they won’t be rookies in in 2014, because they will all be in the Majors before 2014, some on the Yankees, some on other teams.
This. At least one of those pitchers, probably more, will make their debuts this year. If they do well, they’ll either have a crack at the back end of the rotation in 2013, and or they will be able to flipped as an “established” big leaguer instead of a AAA arm that maybe could succeed in the bigs. Much higher value commodity.
That’s my point they have talent but don’t fit the organization. Too old to be blocked. Trade them for younger prospects or different position of similar talent. A 25 year old phelps or Mitchell quality OF Or CI could help this team now
They’re not blocked. They’ve really only just now become ready to possibly contribute in the bigs. And they will contribute in the bigs this year.
Furthermore, given the rate of attrition of young pitching, no one’s going to give you a AAA OFer that projects to be league-average with 6 years of control for Phelps or Mitchell or Warren. Out of all three, you’ll probably get one league-average starting pitcher, one total bust, and one middle reliever.
The Yanks don’t need a corner OF, they need one from like…2013 to 2016. Trading those guys now doesn’t help address that problem and, given that the Yankees will need at least one or two of them in 2012, all it does it make the team worse.
News from Seattle ST in Peoria. After his beating behind the plate the other day, Montero switched to the hockey goalie-style catchers mask. Unfortunately he was pulled from the game in the 2nd inning once Wedge realized Jesus was actually napping under the tinted visor during the first 2 batters. Montero later defended his actions by saying, “It’s only spring training — and I was tired.”
BUT COACH, I am le tired…
Well have a nap THEN FIRE ZE MISSILES
Traditional catchers masks are too boring for Jesus.
Damn ARod in beastmode, I’m gonna bring my lunch to restaurants too from now on
A-Rod is putting on a hitting clinic, skying the ball to the opposite field and then lining it through the hole. When healthy he’s still as good as it gets. The problem is staying healthy. He looked this good last spring and the first part of the season too.
Yep, Galvis looking like a suitable Rollins replacement.
Fist pumps!!!
Singleton said “that was not the best throw Cervelli gonna make”…I might call BS on that.
He has a JC arm.
Haha Phillies are stinkin’ it up. Getting ugly in the field.
Ummm, has anyone’s picture frozen?
yea this happened yesterday in clearwater too, wtf Spring training feeds
Mine has been fine both days. Maybe it’s your cable company, especially since it was two different channels.
I’m on Optimum/CableVision. I’ve had a couple of events where the screen just breaks up, or completely freezes. Not the entire game, just an event or two during the game.
DirecTV has been perfect for me.
Cablevision? Did not happen on fios, don’t think it was the YES feed.
Yes, Cablevision.
yea cablevision screwewd up for like 5 mins for me too. not sure if its related but they sent me an email saying they expect disruptions from 2/29-3/8 due to sun interference with satelitte
It could be. When it happened yesterday, I thought of solar flares. They can disrupt satellite systems for short periods, and there are heavy flares right now.
Good to see Jeter is in mid-season form with three easy groundouts…
/preppingforregularseason
Though so is A-Rod, which is awesome.
A-Rod…
They need to just take A-rod out of the game now and not play him again till opening day.
Nah, just wait ’til the post season.
Yeah ARod is ready, no more ST for him. Rest, BP and deep tissue massage till opening day.
A-Rod is a triple short of the cycle!
We have a new Messiah, and his name is Alex!
Frozen picture, now no sound
A-Rod’s ready to roll!!
LOL, wtf..Girardi with a little humor during the in game interview. Nice, some praise for Almonte.
Zoilo continues to become more intriguing.
Every team would be happy to have a Zolio too.
Zoilo starting season in Trenton or Scranton?
He only had 46 bad games at Trenton last year. I can’t imagine they would just skip him past it for Scranton.
Good point. Hope he’s in Scranton on June 1.
If only he was one year further along in his development. He could then have been a potential replacement for swisher.
Trenton. He needs the time and the SWB outfield is pretty crowded as it is with Garner, Dickerson, Curtis, and Wise.
Mike, did zoilo play winter ball? If so how did he do?
Only eleven games: http://mlb.mlb.com/milb/stats/org.jsp?id=nyy
Thanks
Long interview during the 5th with Girardi. A good interview too. Joe is way more into it during the meaningless games than during the season.
I’m a huge Girardi fan, nothing is meaningless when it comes to managing baseball. He’s all business all the time.
Oh I love the guy. That’s why I was happy for the good interview.
If Kuroda turns out to be the ace of the Yankees staff in 2012, then something has either gone very right, or very wrong.
I had not seen video of AJ bunting injury…horrible.
It looks worse every time you watch it. Would not wish that upon any player.
If that happened to Lincecum and Kershaw tore a hamstring running out a grounder, would they add a DH in NL. Pitchers are expensive
Investments to PITCH and it’s hard enough to keep them healthy on the mound.
Yes, but that risk is far outweighed by the fun of watching a manager use the double switch.
Think of the depth and strategy it adds to the game!
It really annoys me when I hear commentators, and especially NL fans, insisting that the AL should lose the DH. Sorry, but fans of the other league whould not be determining what goes on in the AL. If they think they are at such a disadvantage by not having the DH, then adopt the f’ing DH, don’t try and change the AL.
The one argument that we rarely hear about the DH is it actually makes sense for teams. With the high expense of players today, both position and pitchers, the DH helps protect that investment. It allows high-priced position players to be rotated in and out of the DH, providing rest, and the ability to play more games, and of course it prevents pitchers from getting injured while running the bases, bunting, hitting, etc. And, oh yeah, pitchers “hitting” sucks. It’s no longer an experiment. There are grey-haired men bringing their adult children togames who have only known the DH if they’re fans of AL teams.
I turn away every time they show it now. First time I saw it I was convinced he broke the bones in his eye socket, which he did. One version of the video shows blood dripping down, although you can’t see AJ’s face. Maybe that’s the one they were showing, but I won’t know, since I won’t watch. That could have left vision problems, ending his career. Glad it appears he’s only going to miss time.
Oh man, a second ACL surgery for V.Mart. I had an ACL replaced, one surgery was shitty, I couldnt imagine having to have 2 of them.
Yikes, only in spring training do we see a lineup like this.
Probably still better than the Mets.
Probably?
I laughed.
After seeing the AJ video you think he wished he went to the Angels and not batting?
But we would be stuck with Bobby, his west coast aversion paid off big time for the Yankees
No Raul Ibanez, though.
But…I like having Voldemort in a Yankee uniform.
Well Ibanez with power but no patience or speed or Abreru with less power but good on base and still some speed
And less money. Don’t forget the money.
First disclaimer of the year! Now it really feels like baseball season.
Kay’s the kind of person I’d expect to be up at 4 practicing a television disclaimer.
those were some giant boobs behind the Miami fan.
Pretty sure that was the reason for the TV footage – cameraman lingered for a good while on the ‘Marlins fan’ – Most Excellent Sweater Meat.
…to his immediate left.
I don’t see how a lefty can even touch Rapada, and looking at the splits, they don’t seem to.
Oh that’s why Dom Brown is not a starter. If he did that once in NY in regular season game he’d be finished media’d
Aumont…. one of the key pieces Philly got back in the first Cliff Lee deal.
Braves spring training off to a rousing start. Get one-hit in a shutout loss yesterday and today are down 11-1 (was 11-0 a second ago). Yikes.
Teheran gave up six homers in two innings.
Ouch
wow, thats a really rough day.
Mesa doesn’t look like Alfonso Soriano as much this year.
racist! jk lol
Zoidberg Rules!
Could we please end the nickname sweaty Freddy?
No sweat.
Only if he earns it. Judging by his current condition, he won’t.
Why are there so many dumb fans out there? Granderson had a career year at the age of 30 and now all of a sudden he’s expected to hit 40 home runs every season? He’s alot more likely to simply hit his usual 25 or so at this point, which would mean it would have been prudent for the yankees to have traded him this offseason and moved Gardner into center.
If you think he’s good for around 25 homers or so, there’s a good chance the GMs around the league think the same and won’t value him as a 40 homer guy either.
LOL you have to be kidding me. First off who do you replace him with? Dickerson? A.Jones? That would be a massive hit to the major league team, possibly knocking them out of the playoff hunt. Even if he does just hit 25 home runs, its much more production then they would get out of any replacement they have.
While he may not hit 40hrs again, its a safe bet he will hit 30+. I dont know why there are so many stupid fans who want to trade stars in thier prime for minor league lottery tickets. Are you rooting really hard for the AAA club?
Have you seen the contracts players get every offseason based on one good year? My opinion of Granderson actually represents a much smaller minority, not the majority.
@fin
You do realize the yankees can simply move Gardner to center and simply sign a 25 home run guy right? I don’t know why fans have to turn everything into rocket science.
Yes, because there are plenty of outfielders who consistently hit 25+ HRs/yr (and play good defense) that will be free agents after 2012 and who would be willing to sign a cheap, short-term contract with the Yankees.
Sorry, didn’t mean to go all rocket science on you.
Can I have your crystal ball? How on earth do you know that Granderson is going to loose %40 of his production in middle of his prime, with the Yankees right field porch? Guys who hit far less than Grandreson sign for more than Granderson is making. Bey,Crawford,Werth ect. But ya, lets just get rid of him, because you know hes going to seriously decline, and 25 home run guys have a great history of working out. Swisher is a 25 homerun guy and Swisher isnt in the ball park of Granderson, and he will make more after FA then Granderson is making now.
Oh, the delicious irony of starting a post questioning dumb fans and following that up by suggesting a very dumb move.
Man, why are there so many dumb fans that don’t realize that 25 homers in big ass Comerca Park, is 30-35 homeruns easy in Yankee Stadium with the potential for more, which is what we expect from Grandy.