ByVia Peter Abraham comes this gem from my favorite Yankee starter:
“With my National League inexperience I didn’t think about who was on deck. I probably would have pitched a little differently had I thought about it.â€
Not that the extra run mattered in the end, but everyone makes such a big deal about Moose being a smart baseball player and a cerebral pitcher. I think we can put that notion to rest right here. Situational pitching; it’s more than a good idea. · (3) ·
Down on the Farm
By · CommentsAs is DotF tradition, full Opening Day lineups for Staten Island and the GCL Yanks (man, I forgot how much those kids down in Rookie ball strikeout) after the jump…
Triple-A Scranton (8-4 loss to Durham)
Kevin Reese: 2 for 4, 1 3B, 1 RBI
Eric Duncan: 0 for 5, 3 K, 1 E (fielding)Â - 1 for his last 17 with 8 K…
Shelley Duncan: 0 for 4, 1 K
Bronson Sardinha & Angel Chavez: both 2 for 4, 1 R, 1 RBI – Sardinha swiped a base, Chavez K’ed
Alberto Gonzalez: 0 for 3, 1 K, 1 E (missed catch)Â - 0 for his last 17
Juan Francia: 2 for 4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 KÂ
Colter Bean: 4 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 6 K
Steven Jackson: 2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 WP – he’s taking to the bullpen…i guess…
Charlie Manning: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 0 K
Ben Kozlowski: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K – breaks a streak of 5 consectuve outings in which he gave up an ER
ByPete Abraham has the scoop: Andy Phillips is returning. He speculates that Josh Phelps will be the odd man out. Methinks it’s Basak. I’ll update this post when we hear more. Update: Tyler Kepner says it’s Phelps. While there is no official confirmation (i.e., from Brian Cashman), it would appear this is accurate. And dumb. · (5) ·
ByThought you guys might enjoy this ‘lil video: Tip o the hat to Babes Love Baseball · (4) ·
Sorry, Ken, no deal for Hughes
By · CommentsWe understand that FoxSports’s Ken Rosenthal has a job to do. He’s the senior baseball writer, and has to come up with interesting and/or controversial reports almost daily. At this time of year, things pick up, and he’s got a lot more to talk about.
Unfortunately, he’s talking jibberish. At least to me.
In his latest column, he pleads with the Yankees and Rangers to get a deal for Teixeira done. He does note a problem: Texas wants Hughes, and the Yanks won’t deal him. He even goes so far as to suggest that the Yanks get a reliever and possibly a low prospect in a deal for Hughes.
Answering Brian Hoch’s mail
By · CommentsBack in my Off the Facade days, I would routinely answer Mark Feinsand’s mail. Well, Feinsand has moved on to the Daily News, and I’ve moved on to River Ave. Blues, but I still love answering the Yankees.com beat writer’s mail.
So let me present to you on the eve of a series the Yanks should win, my answers to Brian Hoch’s mail. For his answers to the same question, check out this piece at Yankees.com.
The series against the Mets showed the Yankees’ vulnerability to speed and aggression. It seemed like guys like Jose Reyes and Carlos Gomez had no chance of being thrown out against Jorge Posada. Do you think the Mets have exposed the Yankees’ weaknesses in the series?
– Mitch G., Middletown, N.Y.
There’s really no excuse if the Yanks lose this series
By · CommentsThere’s much ado made about the environment at Coors Field. It enhances scoring and batting stats, they say, because the air is thin; therefore, the balls travels further. By that logic, it would also make for some terrible pitchers, since the environment works both ways. Even with the climate-controlled baseballs, the Park Factor is still 107 (where 100 is neutral and anything above favors hitters; Yankee Stadium is a 96).
So let’s look at some home/road splits for the Rockies. My hypothesis: we’ll see a depression of slugging percentage on the road, mainly due to the home run factor. However, we won’t see any correlating trend in batting average and on base percentage. The thin air should only have an effect on balls that leave the park. The results should all even out for those balls that stay in play. That is, if the ball does in fact carry in the thin air, a bloop may become an out, and a fly to center field may carry over the outfielder’s head.
Down on the Farm
By · CommentsShort Season Staten Island and the Rookie level GCL Yanks kick off their seasons tomorrow. I’ll be very surprised if 13th round pick Nick Chigges (22-3, 2.42 ERA in his final 2 years at College of Charleston) doesn’t start Opening Day for Staten Island; he’s clearly the most accomplished pitcher on the staff (but what the hell do I know?). No clue who starts for the GCL squad.
Triple-A Scranton (7-5 win over Durham)
Kevin Reese: 0 for 2, 2 R, 3 BB
Andy Phillips: 0 for 3, 1 R, 2 BB, 1 K – batting average dwindling down to .300…
Eric Duncan: 1 for 5, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 K
Shelley Duncan: 1 for 5, 1 R, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 1 K – 8 RBI in his last 3 games
Bronson Sardinha: 1 for 4, 1 K
Alberto Gonzalez: 0 for , 1 BB – 0 for his last 14
Juan Francia: 3 for 3, 2 R, 1 BB
Run-Elvis: 4 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 2 K, 2 WP, 1 E (throwing), 7-3 GB/FBÂ - 94 pitches in 4 innings? at least he’s more economical than Julio Lugo’s contract (za-zing!)
Chris Britton: 2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 0 K – 10 H & 6 ER in his last 6.2 IP…
Edwar: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 1 Balk - when you’re this dominant, you’ve earned first-name-only status
Jim Brower: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K – didn’t allowed a baserunner in 6 of his last 10 outings
ByYankee Guy, the male half of Yankee Girl Vs. Guy blog, penned an amusing piece comparing the last 12 seasons of Yankee baseball to various hot and not-so-hot women. My favorite is Anne Hathaway as the 1996 season because of this. · (7) ·
Dellin Betances spotted alive and well in Staten Island
By · Comments
We get a lot questions about Dellin Betances around here. “How do you pronounce his name?” is a popular one. As is “Where is Dellin Betances these days?” “What is he doing in Extended Spring Training?” is a popular one too.
Well, Mike’s replacements at our former MVN home have the answers in an excellent piece they wrote after attending media day at the Staten Island Yankees’ facility on New York’s neglected fifth borough. Eric Schultz writes:
