Via Bryan Hoch, the Yanks have reassigned Jesus Montero, Kyle Anson, Kevin Russo and Mark Melancon to minor league camp, while Ian Kennedy and Chris Garcia were optioned out. Kennedy is heading to Triple-A Scranton, and although there’s no official word on Garcia’s destination, Double-A Trenton seems likely. Mark Feinsand also notes that Austin Romine and Colin Curtis were also reassigned to minor league camp, and Mike Dunn was optioned down, presumably to Double-A Trenton. Following last week’s round of cuts, we also learned that Wilkins DeLaRosa and Eric Hacker were both optioned out. There just aren’t enough innings at at-bat to go around these days, and that means the season’s a comin’.
Can the Yanks dish Kei Igawa?
Over at the excellent NPB Tracker, Patrick asks a question we’ve been pondering since 2007: is Kei Igawa movable? We know that the answer is “probably not,” but Patrick gets into a bit more detail. Specifically, he notes the Yanks’ failed efforts to move him back to Japan, including Igawa’s visit to his old club over the off-season. Then there was the Brewers scenario, which didn’t work out. Patrick even notes a humorous tale (told by Igawa himself) of a team that was once interested in Kei: “it seemed like there was a team that saw my (AAA) numbers and tried to acquire me. Then I was told ‘we found out the name, and it was you!'” So yeah, looks like nothing doing on the Igawa front. He’ll head to AAA this off-season, with his only real hope of cracking the majors again relying on injuries and/or ineffectiveness in the bullpen. It’s safe to say that none of us want to imagine such a scenario.
Inside the new stadium
On Friday afternoon, I had the pleasure of flying out of Laguardia and venturing into that part of Queens for the first time in months. It’s shocking to approach the airport on the Grand Central and to see that Shea Stadium is just gone. In its place is some fancy-looking ballpark with obnoxiously large letters proclaiming it to be Citi Field.
Up in the Bronx, the shock come April won’t be nearly as bad for the simple fact that the building I’ve grown up calling Yankee Stadium is still there. For the better part of the last three years, we’ve seen new Yankee Stadium go up. This year, we’ll all just head into the new park with the old park on view.
While I’m quite sad to see old Yankee Stadium go, the new park looks great. For proof of that, look no further than Bob Ruffolo’s inside account of the new stadium, complete with photos of literally everything. The new digs look great. From the view to the seats to the amenities, it’s clear that the Yankees got their billion dollar’s worth out of it.
Based on the pictures, it looks like the Yanks’ construction crews have their work cut out for them. The home opener is a month away, and the first exhibition games are set for the first week in April. But no matter. It still looks like a baseball playground only the Steinbrenners could build, and the sheer excitement of seeing a new park comes through in Bob’s photos. Check ’em out.
Kaat wanted to return to YES booth
One guy I always enjoyed in the YES booth was Jim Kaat. He has a fine grasp of the game and can relate amusing anecdotes to kill some of the down time a commentating team faces over the course of a season. He retired after the 2006 season and his replacement, John Flaherty for the most part, hasn’t been up to snuff in my opinion. Good news, though: Kaat will be on the team for the first game at the new Stadium. The bad new: he’ll be joined by Bob Costas (get over yourself) and Harold Reynolds (B-Jobber).
What saddens me most, though, is that according to the above-linked Bob Raissman article, Kaat wanted to return to the booth. YES said no, however, opting to go with their current rotation. True, Kaat probably doesn’t have many more years in him, but he’s clearly better than a few of the personalities YES puts alongside Michael Kay and Ken Singleton.
h/t BBTF
Cano & Marte to get MRI’s
After coming back from the WBC with what appeared to be minor injuries, Robbie Cano and Damaso Marte will get MRI’s tomorrow after being checked out by team doctors. Cano’s injury is being described as right shoulder tendonitis, while Marte is dealing with left shoulder inflamation. Cano pinch hit in today’s game game against the Astros and played catch after the game, so hopefully that’s a sign that it’s not too serious. Marte hasn’t tested the shoulder as far as we know, and says he hurt himself working with 25 pound weights.
Open Thread: Recapping an early weekend marathon
The Yankees have played three games in the last twenty hours or so, meaning we haven’t had much time to recap all the action. Last night’s game against the Red Sox was a forgettable one, as the only regulars in the lineup were Brett Gardner and Xavier Nady, and even those two are fighting for starting jobs. Chien-Ming Wang made his third start of the preseason and didn’t fare to well, giving up seven runs (only one earned) and six hits in 1.2 innings, victimized by Juan Miranda throwing the ball into center field as he tried to turn a 3-6-3 double play. Both Mike Lowell and David Ortiz took the Wanger deep, Ortiz’s being a uber-clutch two run job in the second inning with his team leading by five.
Other than that, not all that much happened in that game. Brett Tomko threw 3.1 strong innings while Kei Igawa chipped in another scoreless frame. Xavier Nady doubled while Cody Ransom tripled, and Angel Berroa picked up two hits to raise his spring batting avg to .444. Boston won 8-4.
AJ Burnett flashed his greatness in today’s game, twirling four perfect innings on just 40 pitches. He was so efficient that he had throw an extra ten pitches in the bullpen. The fastball was an effortless 94-96, and the curve was dropping in for strikes at the knees. I know it’s just March, but Burnett had no-hit stuff today, and even a lineup of All-Stars wouldn’t have touched him. Johnny Damon hit a first inning solo homer before the Yanks tacked on two unearned runs in the fourth. Cody Ransom picked up another two hits, he’s been really impressive since A-Rod went down. Edwar Ramirez made his spring debut, and although he struggled to locate his fastball he still pitched an effective frame. Jason Johnson picked up the save in his debut, nailing down the 3-1 win.
As Burnett was carving up the Astros, Phil Hughes had his first rough out of the spring an hour south against the Pirates. He gave up first inning solo homers to Nate McLouth and Adam LaRoche, and finished the day with two hits and three walks allowed in 3 IP. He said afterward that he was working on his changeup, but overall he just didn’t have it today. Mark Melancon also had his first bad outing, allowing seven baserunners (six hits, one walk) and five runs in just two-thirds of an inning. It was bound to happen sometime, but as Ben noted in an email, this probably guarantees he’ll be in Triple-A Scranton to start the year.
The offense was highlighted by the Yanks’ two best prospects, as both Austin Jackson (pictured) and Jesus Montero knocked a ball out of the park. Montero’s shot was a salami, and he now has two career Spring Training homers to his credit, both grand slams. Mark Teixeira struck out in all three of his at-bats, so he clearly can’t handle the pressure of New York and is a bust. Doug Bernier drew three walks, Nick Swisher just one (today). The Yanks swept today’s split-squad action with a 13-10 win.
Andy Pettitte will take to the mound for the second time this spring tomorrow, when the Twinkies come to Tampa. Otherwise here’s your open thread for the night. The only local team in action tonight is the Devils, who are up in Montreal. Marty Brodeur has a chance to tie Patrick Roy’s NHL record 551 wins tonight, and me thinks it has to happen just because of all the stars lining up (Roy will be in the house, he played for Montreal, etc.). Talk about whatever your heart desires, just be nice.
Photo Credit: Keith Srakocic, AP
All but blocked from Yanks, Duncan still dreams of bigs
He wasn’t invited to Spring Training, but Eric Duncan was summoned for today’s split-squad game as a bench player. Mike profiled Duncan earlier this month, just ahead of the A-Rod injury. No one thought, nor does anyone currently think, that Duncan can step into even a substitute role at this point. That doesn’t mean he’s not trying anymore.
He’s failing for sure — a .233/.295/.366 line as a 23-year-old in AAA is about as far from inspiring as you can get — but it’s not for lack of effort. Yet now with both corner infield spots locked down for the next eight years, Duncan realizes that if he’s going to become a major leaguer — and that’s his stated goal — it might have to be with another team. He’ll be a minor league free agent after this season, and if he performs well he might catch on with a team that has an opening.
He doesn’t blame the Yanks, though. From Mark Feinsand:
“Seeing those guys get locked up at the corners isn’t the frustrating part, because you know the Yankees are going to do whatever they have to do to win at this level,” Duncan said. “The frustrating part for me is knowing I can do better than what I’ve done. I know there’s more. If I do what I know I can do on the field, the other stuff will take care of itself.”
Here’s to hoping that something clicks this year and he shows why he was so highly touted coming out of Seton Hall Prep in 2003. It’s possible, but certainly far from probable. Yet if he can find his swing this year and can handle a corner outfield role, maybe he could help the Yanks in 2010.