River Avenue Blues

ST Game 2: The first one on TV

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Welcome to the 2008 version of the Game Threads. Those of you who were here last year know the deal. For everyone else, use the comments here as a way to discuss the game. Today’s is the first New York-televised Spring Training game, so enjoy.

The lineups and pitching schedule:

Johnny Damon DH
Derek Jeter SS
Bobby Abreu RF
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Jason Giambi 1B
Jorge Posada C
Robinson Cano 2B
Jason Lane LF
Melky Cabrera CF

Andy Pettitte (2 innings)
Steven White (1-2 innings)
LaTroy Hawkins
Kyle Farnsworth
Brian Bruney
Sean Henn
Jose Veras

Austin Krum does his best George Kontos impression

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Krum, the Yanks’ 9th round pick in 2007 (and recipient of an above-slot $110,000) was arrested early Saturday morning for trespassing because he returned to a Tampa restaurant after police escorted him off the premises for trying to start a fight. He acted up enough that the cops had to wrestle him to ground to get handcuffs on him. Kontos was arrested for a very similar incident last April. Grow up and act like professionals guys. You play for the Yankees, not the Bengals.

Combining the Top 100 lists

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The guys over at Project Prospect did something that was long overdue: they took all of this year’s major top 100 prospects lists (BA, Keith Law, BP, Moundtalk and of course, their own) and mashed them all together to come up with a composite list. The general consensus has Joba ranking as the fourth best prospect in the game, with IPK, Jose Tabata, and Austin Jackson coming at numbers 30, 37 and 38, respectively. Having four of the top 38 prospects in the game is pretty damn impressive.

If that wasn’t enough, they also threw together a mock fantasy draft, where each publication selected the top available player on its list. As expected, Joba was a first rounder, and the first pitcher taken. IPK was a fourth rounder, Tabata and Jackson both ninth rounders, Jesus Montero a 21st rounder, Alan Horne a 23rd, and Dellin Betances made a bit of a surprise appearance as a 28th rounder. Based on a quick glance, I’d say the Project Prospect crew came away with the best haul in the mock draft; they got some seriously premium arms in the later rounds. Very interesting stuff; check it out.

Finally, a non-Hank quote

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Brian Cashman, in reference to young centerfield prospects Brett Gardner and Austin Jackson:

“We need athleticism like that, especially when you have a bunch of these old farts filling the roster out. Those young burst-of-energy, athletic guys really stand out on a team like ours.”

That’s awesome.

Amen brother

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“Red Sox Nation?” What a bunch of [expletive] that is,” he [Hank Steinbrenner] said in an interview with The New York Times’ Play magazine. “That was a creation of the Red Sox and ESPN, which is filled with Red Sox fans.

“Go anywhere in America and you won’t see Red Sox hats and jackets, you’ll see Yankee hats and jackets. This is a Yankee country. We’re going to put the Yankees back on top and restore the universe to order.”

That’s the best thing to come out of Hank’s mouth so far.

(hat tip to Mike R.)