Spring Training Game Thread: Yankees @ Twins

March 22, 2014 by Mike Axisa 25 Comments

Two days after traveling to Fort Myers to play the Red Sox, the Yankees are back in town this afternoon to play the Twins. Masahiro Tanaka is making his third “real” start of the spring and his fifth overall appearance. He’s scheduled to throw 90 pitches, so this will basically be a full start. As you might expect, the Bombers did not send many of their regulars on the 2+ hour bus trip after playing last night. Here are the Yankees and Twins lineups. First pitch is scheduled for a little after 1pm ET and the game can be seen on MLB.tv. There is no live YES or MLB Network broadcast. Enjoy the game if you’re watching.

Update: Whoops, apparently the game is live on MLB Network. My bad.

Russ

Actually it is on MLB Network today…
- BronxBomber98
  
  I was about to say that so instead I’ll just confirm it. Watching it right now on MLB Network.
dkidd

need tanaka to join the dominant rotation party
El Johnny D

Pretty sure the game is live on MLB Network right now…
whozat

Why’d it take so long for them to head over to the headsets after Girardi decided to challenge? That was 30s right there.
proday

Tanaka really struggling to throw strikes. He’s been behind all day. I don’t know why he doesn’t attack with his fastball more, I guess I’ll chalk it up to “working on stuff”. I’d rather see working on stuff ahead on the count.
- The Doctor
  
  It’s called having an off day. If you’re having an off day, you don’t want to attack with your fastball; it’s going to end up down the middle eventually. I’d rather see him use off speed stuff to try and find a rhythm.
whozat

You’d think they could afford a helmet that fits for nunez
- Need Pitching & Hitting
  
  He just needs to get on the Barry Bonds Head Enlargement Program™.
Wheels

phew, looks like Cervelli is ok
Wheels

Nice 4-run inning.
lightSABR

Looks like Ma-kun has settled down a bit. He looked a lot sharper in the 4th.
- Wheels
  
  he’s cruising now, seven straight retired.
lightSABR

Ha – Gameday’s going to be right for once. Three straight swinging strikes against Florimon.
Wheels

Twins announcers keep calling Nunez, “Nunoz”
- forensic
  
  I’m only up to the 3rd inning of the game and already it’s been Edward Nunoz, Cerevelli, and Beltre (for Beltran).
  
  Bert and whoever are pretty terrible.
  - Yankee$ (Formerly Pseudoyanks)
    
    I think Bert was out drinking last night and is still feeling the effects. Unlikely he was home Blyleven.
    - Ron
      
      Apparently they were really impressed with the twins starter giving only 4 runs to the Yankees utility team. Tanaka was “ok” but he was no correria though
    - Wheels
      
      probably drinking right now.
  - lightSABR
    
    They also kept talking about YangArvis Solarte, instead of YangErvis. But that’s not one you can really blame them for.
gageagainstthemachine

I want to thank the good lord for not making me have to listen to Twins announcers 162 times a season.
- Wheels
  
  amen.
nycsportzfan

Shane Greene has some heavy stuff, man.
Robert

If there is any Justice in the world than Solarte and Almonte. Make the team!!! Sorry D. Anna you will be up shortly and farewell Ichiro.
- Preston
  
  The INF position is going to depend on defense. With Ryan out, the guy who they think can play SS and 2b the best should be up. I haven’t seen enough games this spring to judge whether Solarte or Anna is better with the glove. I know that I don’t want Nunez as our best option at SS if Jeter needs a day though.
  As for the OF spot. I’m no Ichiro fan. But I think with the teams current needs in mind, defensive replacement and pinch runner, he’s fine. If something were to happen to one of the other four OFers I’d rather have Almonte getthe ABs. But I think it’s probably better for the young guy to play everyday at AAA rather than ride the pine in MLB.