Spring Training Game Thread: Penultimate

March 27, 2013 by Mike Axisa 32 Comments

Missin' you Curtis. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) — Missin’ you Curtis. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

The Yankees only have two more officially Grapefruit League games left to play, and they’ll play both in the next 24 hours. Tonight they get the Orioles on the road in Sarasota, with David Phelps closing the book on a solid spring: ten runs, seven walks, and 18 strikeouts in 22.2 innings. He stunk the last two times out, so a good effort tonight to finish March on a high note would be cool. Here’s the starting nine that will back him up…

CF Brett Gardner
SS Eduardo Nunez
1B Lyle Overbay
RF Brennan Boesch
LF Ben Francisco
2B Jayson Nix
DH Thomas Neal
3B Ronnie Mustelier
C Bobby Wilson

And on the mound is Phelps, Phil Hughes‘ temporary rotation replacement. No word on the second stringers, but rumor has it Mason Williams is in the house. Tonight’s game is scheduled to start a little after 7pm ET and can be seen on MLB Network and MLB.tv (no local blackouts). The game will not air on YES. Enjoy.

Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)

So Francisco Rondon is being made a starter now?
Interesting.
Per Josh Norris, AA rotation to start the year is: Rondon, Turley, Tracy, Cotham, and Nuding.
- pat
  
  More innings = better.
Who hates bunts more? Axisa or Earl Weaver?

Phelpsy.
Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)

Where’s Musty?
- MannyGeee
  
  Probably talking to his realtor in Scranton. Seeing if he can get a. Good deal on Igawa’s old loft.
  - Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
    
    Heh.
    Iirc, Igawa commuted from NYC.
    - Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
      
      Or maybe that was just to Trenton?
- Who hates bunts more? Axisa or Earl Weaver?
  
  Late scratch for Maruszak. Hopefully not an injury.
Vern Sneaker

Just turned on game. Mustelier injured? What happened?
M1kew

Musty did not start. He was held out of the game with a sore knee.
- Vern Sneaker
  
  Thanks. Hope it’s no big deal.
Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)

Ouch. That had to hurt.
Yanks99

Can someone help me out. I have time Warner and don’t get MLB network. Everyone I know gets it, am I supposed to get it with basic cable or am I supposed to get some other package?
Vern Sneaker

I get it with Time Warner and I guess it depends on what u mean by “basic.” I’m not sure what they call what I have. Why not call them (good luck getting through).
- Yanks99
  
  I’ve tried, they always claim I need a better package, although my friends say they pay the same thing as me.
Steve Balboni

Sorry I use MLB.TV since I don’t live in Yankee territory anymore!
Professor Longnose

How well do you think the Yankees have to play without Granderson and Teixeira to be in decent shape when they come back?
- Who hates bunts more? Axisa or Earl Weaver?
  
  I’d say .500 ball, and I expect them to do that.
  - Professor Longnose
    
    That’s reasonable. And the division is pretty tough, making it unlikely any one team will jump out to a huge lead.
- Robinson Tilapia
  
  It’s a tough balance.
  
  We’ve seen recent Yankee teams fall as much as nine games under .500 in May before coming back. The question is whether this team, in various degrees of help, would have that sort of comeback in them.
  
  They can afford to tread water, but they can’t dig too deep a hole.
- Improbable Island’s Dirty Midget Whores (Formerly RRR)
  
  Yeah, .500 ball seems about right. Basically, we need to hope that April is our pitchers’ “hot” month. Then hopefully when they cool down a bit we’ll get some of our sluggers back.
  - Improbable Island’s Dirty Midget Whores (Formerly RRR)
    
    Also, I think this may end up being a year like 2000, with no team being particularly great and around 88 or 89 wins being enough to win the division.
Rigoleto

How to get Grandy Tex and Jeter back on the field:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPzmdnWdIuc
Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)

Rough inning, but nice comeback.
http://www.penuel-law.com/ Cuso

Mason! Nice hit, little man
Bob Buttons

Didn’t expect to see Mason to get an AB, so that was a treat.
Pasta

Ive got
Cc
Kuroda
Pettitte
Nova
Phelps

Mo
Drob
Joba
Aardsma
Logan
Nuno

Gardner
Nunez
Ichiro
Wells
Youlk
Cano
Cervelli
Hafner
Overbay

Stewart
Nix
Francisco
Boesh
Rivera
As my opening day 25
- Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
  
  I’d expect at least one more reliever. I also don’t see them carrying both Boesch and Francisco (and I think it’s possibe neither makes the cut).
  - Robinson Tilapia
    
    I don’t see them carrying both Rivera and Overbay either.
    - Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
      
      Possibly not, but I don’t see them starting Overbay vs. lefties. I suppose they could play Nix at 3B and Youk at first.
      I would hope Rivera isn’t going to end up as the everyday 1B.
      It’s a shame Musty is banged up. A 3B/OF who can hit would give them some nice flexibility (if they actually think he can play 3B or OF).
    - Pasta
      
      Rivera has had a great spring and can play of too.
      Overbay is a real 1st baseman who can make the tough catches
      Francisco went deep again tonight and ofers speed on bases
      Boesh is a cashman pet
      Nuno longman and second lefty in pen
      How many relievers do we need?
      - Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
        
        They pretty much always carry at least 7. 7 is generally standard.