Results tagged ‘ Spring Training ’

More Unflappable Optimism: The Fifth Starter

If you read my previous post on how spring training baseball, even when your pitchers suck and you lose all the time, is really butterflies and rainbows on a sunny day in disguise, you probably are aware of the fact that, before games start actually counting (and even through April, when games technically do count), I’m irritatingly and unflappably optimistic about my Yankees.  This, of course, can be dampered by injuries, but as long as Nick Johnson can swing a baseball bat without assistance and as long as Frankie Cervelli is avoiding the headaches, this spring training hasn’t given me any reason to stop smiling.

“But what about Joba?”  you say.  ”What about our fifth starter?  You can’t tell me that you smile at a guy with a 27.00 ERA.”
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Well, maybe I don’t smile at him, per se.  It’s been ugly so far.  There’s no denying that.  Not only is Joba getting outpitched by Phil Hughes, he’s getting outpitched by … well, basically everyone.
I’m not ready to count Joba out of the rotation yet (and, according to LoHud, Joe Girardi has some pretty concrete reasons to keep watching), but, even if we are going to take Joba at face value … that face being the one displayed in the above picture … there’s a heck of a lot of silver lining to this competition for the fifth starter spot.

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SILVER.  LINING.
Sergio Mitre and Alfredo Aceves were afterthoughts.  I didn’t even think they were in the picture even nominally until Brian Cashman announced that the fifth starter competition was a five-horse race … Mitre, Aceves, and Chad Gaudin were being considered as well as the incumbent Joba and Hughes.
While Joba has struggled mightily and Phil has been solid but unspectacular, Mitre and Aceves have lit up spring training.  Aceves, if I’m not mistaken, has not allowed a baserunner.  While neither of them have the ceiling of a Chamberlain or Hughes, their success simply means more depth for the Yankees.  More pitching depth.  More major league options in case the 23-year-old Hughes or the 24-year-old Chamberlain are not ready to contribute as major league starting pitchers. 
I still expect one of Joba or Hughes to take the fifth starter spot, if only because the organization feels the need to develop their significant upside, but success — even out of longshot candidates — is never, ever a bad thing.
And that’s all for today’s dose of unflappable spring training optimism.
Till next time,
Ana
Now Playing:  I Got The Feelin’ – James Brown

Spring Training 2010: The First Few Days

The care and keeping of this blog has been greatly hindered by the onset of midterms; fortunately, I am at this moment at home, on spring break, on my laptop, sitting in front of my television watching the Yankees and Phillies play a preseason game.

Yes, the Yankees have sucked so far in Spring Training.  But I only have one thing to say … baseball is beautiful.  Just being able to watch games again, especially when they’re meaningless and you don’t really care about the final score, is an amazing part of the transition from winter to spring.
Despite our dismal record and run differential, we’ve even had some bright spots within the games.  Sergio Mitre has been uncharacteristically awesome — Robinson Cano has been hitting well and flashing a ton of leather — Jesus Montero has had some good at-bats — and Javier Vazquez, after a first pitch home run, dominated over his two innings.  Kei Igawa and Jonathan Albaladejo will presumably not be pitching middle innings for us come Opening Day.  
And, most importantly, we must remember Spring Training stats have little to no bearing on how the season will shake out — players are in different stages of their training, working out kinks in their mechanics, overusing certain pitches and not using others at all — so many factors can lead to a dismal spring which in no way foreshadows a dismal season.
So relax and enjoy.  It’s spring.  It’s baseball.  No stats, no standings, no stress.
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George M. Steinbrenner Field, Tampa, Florida
Till next time,
Ana
Now Playing: Baby Be Mine – Michael Jackson

Teh Jesus (and more pictures)

Even as we have not yet started playing the 2010 season, as fans of a dynasty-minded franchise, the minds of Yankees fans are always on the future.  According to common belief, the future looks something like this:

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Jesus Montero, our Venezuelan-born AAA catcher, is currently ranked fourth on Baseball America’s Top 100 prospect list.  By far the most highly touted prospect in the Yankees’ system, the 20-year-old (born November 28, 1989) has played three seasons of minor league ball, hitting .325 and slugging .509 over 257 games (1,071 plate appearances).  His bat has drawn comparisons to Miguel Cabrera and Mike Piazza, and, while he may not have the defensive tools to remain behind the plate, his hitting abilities are said to be so special that he could be incredibly valuable as a heart-of-the-order DH or outfielder.  He’s certainly mashed a few in Spring Training this year.  Prospects sometimes have a tendency to fizzle out and fall of the face of the earth, so here’s to hoping for a bright, bright future for Jesus and  the Yankees.
In other news, yesterday was Picture Day in Tampa.  The word on the street is that most of these photoshoots result in a lot of the guys looking like zombies — I think they came out pretty well this year.  Since the main objective of spring training is “lots and lots of pictures,” (am I right?), here are some of my favorites from Picture Day 2010.
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Mark Teixeira … posing as though he were watching a majestic walkoff home run?
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Brett Gardner, displaying his blazing bat of doom, which will hopefully make productive contact with the ball at some point this season
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Phil Hughes, seeming fully aware of the extent of his philthiness
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Derek Jeter, staring directly into the soul of the camera
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Curtis Granderson, presumably in the midst of deep thoughts
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Javier Vazquez’s (triumphant?) return
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Alex Rodriguez, who requires no explanation
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Nick Swisher: answers to the name “Swishalicious”
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Andy Pettitte, dignified elder statesman of the starting rotation
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Jorge Posada, whom I believe resembles a llama more than a little bit.  Am I crazy?
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Mariano Rivera, symbolically framed by the onset of dusk.
I dunno, I thought they were pretty classy.
Four days till the Spring Training opener.  We’re almost there, guys.
Till next time,
Ana
Now Playing: Love’s In Need Of Love Today – Stevie Wonder

Goodbye to an Old Friend, and New Pictures

So, Aaron Boone retired today.

His career was unspectacular, but we’ll always remember him for this:
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I was 12 years old when Boone was awarded the middle name “Bleepin’.”  Living in the heart of Red Sox Nation, I can’t remember a sweeter victory, even if it didn’t ultimately result in a championship.  I laughed – I cried – I walked on a cloud for days.  Thanks for the memories, Aaron Bleepin’ Boone.
Words are short tonight (piles of homework beckon), however: spring training has started up in Tampa.  The boys of summer are not quite back in town, but at least they’re on the field somewhere.  Here are a few of my favorite pictures out of camp (I own none of them):
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Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes begin their battle for the fifth spot in the rotation
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Aces AJ Burnett and CC Sabathia

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Andy Pettitte sees a little golf cart action
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That’s what I’m talkin’ about.
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Nick Swisher and Curtis Granderson.  Damn, guys, save some “badd” for the rest of the team.
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Swisher and Brett Gardner.   Via my little brother: “LOL, they look like thugs!”  Thugtastic.
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Captain Derek Jeter going against gravity on day one.
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Yogi Berra, 84 years young.
capt.e90420c06d5e49b4aa4d62bfb1e10ed3.yankees_spring_baseball_flkw112.jpgYeah, Mariano, I pretty much agree.
There’s not much news out of Tampa thus far (that I know of), except for Chan Ho Park signing as an option out of the bullpen and 20-year-old AAA catcher Jesus Montero (Baseball America’s #4 prospect in all of baseball) going deep 446 feet in batting practice.
It’s a good feeling.
Till next time,
Ana
Now Playing: One Step At A Time – Jordin Sparks
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