River Avenue Blues

Black strikes out 11 in Tampa loss

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Reader Mike Addonizio was at tonight’s Triple-A Scranton game, so he sent along some photos to check out. Brian McCann was rehabbing with Triple-A Gwinnett, so that’s him behind the plate in most of the pics. Otherwise, got some quick notes…

  • UTIL Ronnie Mustelier was added to the Triple-A Scranton roster as expected. IF Kevin Mahoney was send back down to Double-A Trenton is a corresponding move.
  • In today’s chat, Keith Law said RHP Jose Campos and RHP Rafael both have questions about their mechanics and could wind up dynamite relievers instead of starters. He said he’s spoken to a few scouts who said DePaula has “premium stuff.” The strikeout rate (15.72 K/9 and 41.9 K%) with Low-A Charleston backs that up.
  • In case you missed it earlier, the Yankees are calling up RHP Preston Claiborne from Triple-A to replace the injured Joba Chamberlain.

Triple-A Scranton (4-1 win over Gwinnett)

  • 2B David Adams: 0-4, 1 R, 1 K — first game at second base this year
  • CF Melky Mesa: 2-4, 1 R, 1 3B, 1 RBI, 2 K — 37 strikeouts and four walks in 25 games … yuck
  • LF Zoilo Almonte: 1-4
  • 3B Ronnie Mustelier: 0-3, 1 R, 1 BB — first game of the year
  • RF Addison Maruszak: 1-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 2 K
  • RHP Brett Marshall: 7 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 9/5 GB/FB — 58 of 99 pitches were strikes (56%) … easily his best start of the year
  • RHP Cody Eppley: 1.1 IP, zeroes, 3 K, 0/1 GB/FB — 13 of 18 pitches were strikes (72%)

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Yankees will call-up Preston Claiborne on Friday

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According to Mark Montgomery and Rob Segedin, the Yankees will call-up right-hander Preston Claiborne to replace the injured Joba Chamberlain on Friday. They’ll need to make a 40-man roster move to accommodate him. I’m guessing Cody Eppley and Melky Mesa are most at risk of being designated for assignment.

Claiborne, 25, was the club’s 17th round pick in the 2010 draft. He pitched to a 3.48 ERA (1.55 FIP) in 10.1 Triple-A innings this year, striking out ten and walking one. He managed a 4.05 ERA (3.32 FIP) in 33.1 innings at the level last year. Claiborne is mostly a low-to-mid-90s fastball/mid-80s slider guy, and he’s done a good job of missing bats throughout his career (23.3 K%). He pitched very well in big league camp (one run in 10.2 innings), which probably moved him near the front of the call-up line.

A-Rod cleared to begin baseball activities

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Alex Rodriguez and his surgically repaired left hip have been cleared to begin baseball activities, Brian Cashman confirmed. He has been able to run at full speed and will head to Tampa to continue rehabbing on Monday.

A-Rod, 37, has surgery in early-January and started light running last month. Cashman stuck to the original timetable when asked about a return date, meaning they’re still not expecting him back until after the All-Star break. I’m of the “whatever they get out of him this year is gravy” mindset, they can’t count on him for anything in 2013, but it is good to hear he’s progressing.

Thursday Night Open Thread

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The Yankees are off today and will welcome the Athletics to the Bronx for a three-game weekend series starting tomorrow — mid-homestand off-days are always weird, no? — so this is a good chance to get away from baseball for a night. I know that’s what I’ll be doing. The more I write about the game, the Yankees or just in general, the more I appreciate the time away.

Anyway, here is your open thread for the evening. The Mets are off, but MLB Network will air the Nationals and Braves (Haren vs. Medlen). The Nets and Rangers are both playing playoff games tonight, and if the Nets lose, they go home. Talk about those games or anything else here. Enjoy.

I wrote this today, and the video is too good not to share even if it has nothing to do with the Yankees.

Cashman confirms Pineda hit mid-90s in Extended Spring Training outing

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During a conference call this afternoon, Brian Cashman confirmed rehabbing right-hander Michael Pineda showed mid-90s velocity during an Extended Spring Training game today. “He pitched at 93 and was up to 95,” said the GM. “A good physical day.”

Two important pieces of news here: One, Pineda is pitching in actual games. ExST doesn’t start his official 30-day rehab window, but it shows he’s graduated from live batting practice and simulated games to real live games. Two, holy crap velocity. Pineda is one year and one day out from shoulder surgery, and he’s showing similar heat to the 94.2 mph he averaged with the Mariners in 2011. Overwhelmingly good news even if his return is nowhere close to imminent.

David Robertson day-to-day with hamstring issue

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David Robertson is day-to-day with “crankiness” in his left hamstring, Brian Cashman confirmed. He had an MRI today and it is not a DL situation.

Robertson, 28, limped off the field last night after apparently catching a spike during the follow through of his final pitch. He said afterwards he was fine, but the team send him for tests anyway. Robertson has pitched well this year (3.86 ERA, 3.54 FIP), and with Joba Chamberlain hitting the DL, the Yankees really can’t afford to lose their primary setup man.

Yankees place Joba Chamberlain on DL with oblique strain

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3:38pm: Brian Cashman confirmed Joba suffered the injury warming up on Tuesday. He called it a “mild” strain, for what it’s worth. A decision has not been made about who will be called up, but it definitely will not be Clay Rapada or Chien-Ming Wang according to the GM. Rapada can be called back up to the big leagues starting tomorrow.

2:44pm: The Yankees have placed right-hander Joba Chamberlain on the 15-day DL with a right oblique strain, the team announced. The DL stint is retroactive to April 28th, so he is eligible to return in a week and four days. Obliques are tricky though, he could easily be out longer. David Robertson missed a month with an oblique issue last year, for example.

Joba, 27, warmed up on Tuesday but did not appear in the game, as our Bullpen Workload page shows. I guess that’s when it happened. He pitched in three straight games last weekend and there was no indication he was hurt. No word on who will take his place on the roster just yet, but Cody Eppley seems like a safe bet. Joba has pitched pretty well this year (3.86 ERA and 3.45 FIP), especially of late. Shawn Kelley seems likely to assume seventh inning duties along with Boone Logan.