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2011 Spring Training Update: The New York Yankee Wounded

Posted by on 22 March 2011, 5:37 pm

Leaving Spring Training a team can look very different from when they got there.

The leading cause is injuries, as players are warming-up their bodies to get ready for the 162-game grind of the regular season. To see the most up-to-date injury report, team-by-team go to ESPN Injury Updates.

Daily reports seem endless, but also remember that if a player feels anything is off, he will rest as a precautionary measure.

Other then catcher Francisco Cervelli broken foot, the New York Yankees have been pretty healthy considering the clubhouse has been dubbed a part-time nursing home.

The pitchers have had their usual stiffness, as at one point the majority of the Yankee bullpen was in the training room instead of on the mound.

Marc Carig of the Newark Star-Ledger gave the latest updates:

  • Both Joba Chamberlain (groin) and Pedro Feliciano (triceps tightness/dead arm) are both throwing off the mound without any problems.
  • Eric Chavez, who should easily make the 25-man roaster, is having calf spasms but is sidelined till Friday as a precautionary measure and he says it is not anything of concern.
  • Brett Gardner’s bruised shin is fine and he is back in the line-up as the Yankees lead-off hitter.

The New York Times reported on the latest blow:

  • Curtis Granderson did not play against the Orioles today after straining his right oblique muscle in batting practice. Still waiting on the severity of the injury, but his Opening Day status is possibly in doubt.

That is not good news, but guess skipper Joe Girardi will keep us updated on Granderson’s condition. He was having a really productive Spring and hope he will be in Center Field on Opening Day.

Opening Day is just 10 days away and everyone is ready to get the regular season going….

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New York Yankees Spring Training: First Week News And Notes

Posted by on 22 February 2011, 7:50 am

2011 New York Yankee camp is in full swing down in Tampa, Florida.

As usual, Yankees are never short of drama and this week was no different, but both good and bad; with some heavier and some lighter notes.

The Yankees first Spring Training game is against the Phillies, this Saturday at Steinbrenner Field with first pitch at 1:30pm, which will force mouths to shut and baseball to finally be played.

Positive things to note:

  • Derek Jeter doesn’t seem to be done quite yet. The Captain went to work way before Spring Training and it was the first time in his career he met with hitting coach Kevin Long about three weeks prior to Spring Training to work on his swing. It is time for everyone to layoff Jeter, as a few bad months can be put to rest on the field and trust me Jeter will prevail.
  • All of A-rod’s jet setting paid off, as the slugger showed up seven pounds lighter and is in complete health. Rodriguez said he is ready to get back to work and is ready for a big season. Controversy free, minus Page Six on occasion, this A-rod seems ready for business, as the only number he is focused on is #28.
  • Robinson Cano worked out six days a week this off-season. Minus some plane ticket confusion, as Cano showed up a day late to camp, this season has MVP written all over it. Cano is ambitious and with his natural talent, he could put up numbers that will be mind-boggling.
  • Joining Cano in the Dominican Republic was Yankee catcher Francisco Cervelli, who credits Cano for his guidance in his off-season workouts. Coach Cano pushed Cervelli to help prepare the catcher to win the competition to be the back-up catcher on Opening Day.
  • The team seems hungry and motivated to win following what in Yankee Universe is considered a failed 2010 season. This is all great news for Yankee fans that still have a bad taste from Cliff Lee’s rejection.

  • Pitching prospect Andrew Brackman put on a talent show for Joe Girardi and the coaching staff in a bullpen session.

Not-so-positive things to note:

  • Brian Cashman said Yankees prized pitching prospects lefty Manny Banuelos and righty Dellin Betances will be headed for Double-A Trenton at the end of Spring Training. It would seem the rotation competition is not as open as originally thought, which is disappointing to think that Bartolo Colon is still a possibility.
  • Speaking of Bartolo Colon, it would seem that his chance to pitch at the major league level again wasn’t motivation enough for him not to show up 25+ pounds overweight. Colon has never been fit but now the Yankees have to put him on a special cardio workout, which is just another distraction and extra work. Attitude hasn’t changed much, as Colon stated: Continue reading ‘New York Yankees Spring Training: First Week News And Notes’ »

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New York Yankees: Cashman Signs Another ‘Maybe’ Pitcher Freddy Garcia

Posted by on 2 February 2011, 12:55 pm

In 14 days, pitchers and catchers will report to their respective camps as 2011 spring training means baseball is finally back again.

For the New York Yankees, it means pitching tryouts will begin, as there are two big holes that need to be filled in the starting rotation.

GM Brain Cashman is trying to fill the fourth and fifth spots, while Yankees fans are holding their breath hoping southpaw Andy Pettitte will appear.

For now the auditions are among Sergio Mitre, Ivan Nova, Bartolo Colon and newly signed right-handed pitcher Freddy Garcia. This is presuming Mark Prior is only trying out for the bullpen.

Who is Freddy Garcia?

Garcia is a 35-year-old, right-handed pitcher who used to have a lot of promise. Debuting in 1999 with the Seattle Mariners, Garcia was considered one top youngster in the league. In his five seasons in Seattle, Garcia was voted to two All-Star teams, came in second for Rookie of the Year and almost won the Cy Young in 2001.

That is not the Garcia the Yankees just signed for $.1.5 million, with another $3.6M in incentives pending on number of starts he makes.

This Garcia was traded in 2004 to the White Sox and played in Chicago for the next two seasons. Then it was the Phillies in 2007, where he had season-ending surgery after going making 11 starts, winning just one and posting an ERA just shy of 6.00. In 2008, Garcia made three starts as a Detroit Tiger, before heading back to the White Sox where he pitched the last two seasons.

The only promise Garcia has shown was last season, making 28 starts, posting a 12-6 record with a 4.64 ERA over 157 innings pitched.

It’s not great but the Yankees need to weigh all their options.

Still, Garcia is not going to be the permanent solution because he doesn’t strikeout enough batters and gives up too many home-runs. The AL East, especially the Boston Red Sox, could devourer Garcia for dinner. In 2010, Garcia only had 89 strikeouts, while giving up 23 home runs.

Earlier in his career, Garcia’s home run numbers were awful but his strikeout numbers were tremendous and that provided enough of a bolster.

Garcia wants to pitch for the Yankees and says it will motivate him, which are just words for now.

Garcia is a signing that could work out, but at the very least he could hold down the fort until the trade deadline.

So, What Are the Yankees’ Other Options?

With Cashman trying to make up for a mess of an offseason, Garcia doesn’t provide much comfort for Yankees fans. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Cashman Signs Another ‘Maybe’ Pitcher Freddy Garcia’ »

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New York Yankees: A Few Offseason Notes and 2011 Hopes

Posted by on 24 January 2011, 3:30 pm

A lot has gone on in New York Yankee Universe since losing to the Texas Rangers in the 2010 ALCS and handing the title of “reigning champions” over to the San Francisco Giants.

So, how are the 2011 New York Yankees looking heading into the season? Let’s take a look.

The Offseason Summary:

The New York Yankees headed into the offseason with high expectations, but everything seemed to take a turn for the worst.

Yankee Captain and New York icon, Derek Jeter’s new contract negotiations became a soap opera and the press had their claws all over it.

Fans were pissed, some at Jeter but mostly at the organization for the belittling and penny pitching games being played on the Captain. It all worked out in the end, but it did leave bruises behind that hopefully won’t linger too long, but you never know.

That followed the news that Cliff Lee was not going to play in the Bronx, but instead went back to his old team in Philadelphia.

It came as a shock because the Yankees usually get whatever they go after.

Now that time passed since Lee’s decision, it was a humbling experience and a needed one, particularly in Yankee Universe.

For Yankee fans, it makes them realize that not every player’s dream is to be in pinstripes; for the team, they will have to work that much harder for anything they earn this season.

Hey, at least Yankee-haters can’t use “the buying championships” excuse any longer, as that torch has now been lit in Boston and Philadelphia too, and that is a fact.

One resigning that GM Brian Cashman sealed up without much drama, was that of closer Mariano Rivera for two more seasons.

Owner Hal Steinbrenner, who finally took some charge and made his daddy proud too, made a vital move by adding Rafael Soriano to the roster. Soriano was the AL’s best closer in 2010 and is elated to be Mo’s set-up man.

This move gives the Yankees the best eighth and ninth arms in the game, but it also provides a back up in case Mo’s age catches up to his talents.

So, how do the Yankees look heading into 2011? Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: A Few Offseason Notes and 2011 Hopes’ »

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Sergio Mitre Or Joba Chamberlain: A New York Yankees Starting No Brain-er

Posted by on 18 January 2011, 9:17 am

With the recent additions to the New York Yankees of Rafael Soriano and Pedro Feliciano, no doubt the bullpen is deep, but a tad overcrowded with Boone Logan, David Robertson and Joba Chamberlain.

Not such a bad state of affairs, unless you are Joba Chamberlain, right?

Wrong.

Even with all the rumors and speculation that Chamberlain should be traded with a bag of minor leaguers, it won’t get the Yankees more than a mid-level player or starting pitcher.

Chamberlain’s worth has without question decreased since 2007. The pressure put on the youngster and the Yankees’ disregard for tossing Joba between the bullpen and the rotation like chopped meat indisputably didn’t help his mental game.

The stuff is there, as we witnessed the fight in Joba in the infamous bug game in Cleveland in 2007.

Whether the Yankees pushed Joba into a starter when he should have been getting ready to be Mariano’s successor is another story.

What the Yankees need now is an everyday starter, and Joba can fill that role.

In the midst of Andy Pettitte being in Favre limbo, the four and five holes are still wide open. Rookie Ivan Nova did a nice job replacing Pettitte in 2010 when he was on the DL for two months. Continue reading ‘Sergio Mitre Or Joba Chamberlain: A New York Yankees Starting No Brain-er’ »

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MLB Hot Stove: New York Yankees Cheapest Cliff Lee Back-Up Plan

Posted by on 14 November 2010, 7:21 pm

The New York Yankees are not shying away about who they want to be in pinstripes in 2011.

Ace Cliff Lee has already been paid a visit by GM Brian Cashman. Lately questions have been raised about Lee, a country bumpkin coming to the Big Apple and if more money means as much in his decision.One thing is for sure, Mrs. Lee better not step foot into Yankee Stadium if her husband is not in pinstripes.

Regardless, Lee’s Yankee future is not guaranteed. The remaining free agent options for starting pitchers are bleak in comparison, as none hold a candle to Lee’s kind-of talent.

So, a back-up plan is inevitable. Last week, I talked about three possible alternatives in New York Yankees: Three Possible Cliff Lee Back-Up Plans. Now, I am going to add another viable option, while its likelihood is a long shot.

The Yankees do have the alternative to look internally.

It’s a risk they took with Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain and Ian Kennedy, which turned into a circus. Hughes is luckily legit now, but the Yankees lost Joba in order to figure out what they were doing and Kennedy is gone but he never was there to begin with as a Yankee.

This talent lies in the arm of Manny Banuelos. Banuelos is a 19 year-old lefty, who is only 5’10 and hails from Mexico.

Banuelos has displayed the maturity of a Major League pitcher, which is clear by the way he controls his emotions on the mound. Banuelos attitude follows, as it is right-on both on and off the field.

Banuelos throws a mid-nineties+ fastball with remarkable movement; a fantastic change-up and a curve-ball that he is improving on.

Banuelos can keep developing his pitching techniques because he already displays a consistent delivery off the mound. Translation is the youngster is comfortable out there already, at least in the minor leagues.

This kid is turning into the real deal, but the Yankees have to have a game plan and stick to it this time.

Rules are supposed to be followed, not broke to be used as excuses for reckless decisions by the managerial staff.

Regardless, this can’t even happen without a confirmation that Andy Pettitte is coming back and even if he does this is an option that should be a last resort. It provides zero depth in the rotation, which could end the season real fast.

Still, Pettitte better hurry it up, instead of becoming the baseball version of Brett Favre.

Acting bigger than the game is not a trait Pettitte shares with Favre that we know of, so let’s presume Pettitte lets the Yankees know by Thanksgiving at the latest.

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New York Yankees: Four Days, Three Wins, One Surreal Goodbye and They’re Hot

Posted by on 22 September 2010, 7:24 pm

Who’s the hottest team in MLB right now?

The answer is the New York Yankees.

Anyone who tells you otherwise is a Yankee-hater, because you either bleed pinstripes or you burn them. It is that simple.

Looking back to just 7 days ago, things were not going so well for New York who finished 2-8 on a road trip from hell. The nickname “Bombers” was starting to refer to bombing games, instead of balls out of the park.

Lots of factors come into play regarding the Yankees resurgence of winning four of their last five games.

The first two wins were in Baltimore, but it was followed by a loss last Sunday allowing the O’s to avoid another sweep

Heading into the toughest, most critical series of the season, a four game set against the Tampa Bay Rays, Yankee fans would finally get some answers.

Nick Swisher put it in plain and simple, “I think we all pretty much know what’s at stake,” Swisher said. “Take the Rays and us and line us up, and let’s see what happens.”

What has happened is the Yankees have played all around great baseball. Not just winning, but beating the Tampa Bay Rays. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Four Days, Three Wins, One Surreal Goodbye and They’re Hot’ »

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