On the Yankees beat

Keep it coming Kat, that is great info.
From what you know about Teixeira, would you give an edge to any team in particular if he becomes a FA? We've heard that he idolized Mattingly as a child and is intrigued by playing for the Yanks, but we also know that he is from Maryland and grew up an O's fan. Any thought?

Katwoman

I am Impressed!! Thank you for the scoop and keep up the good work!!!

Thanks on the Tex info! ...Pavano 3 innings 5 hits 2 runs

Maybe Carl will have the last laugh after he tunes up by mid season.....

Jim,

Everyone is putting the Orioles at the front of the pack for Texiera. He's from Baltimore, and the O's have had a love affair with him for a while.

I really think at this point if Phelps doesn't make the roster someone needs their head examined. All he has done since getting to spring training is making a case that not only does he deserve to make the team but he deserves consideration to start against right and left handers.

Ruse,

I'm going to stay positive on Pavano, just like I used to do with Kenny Rogers.

Here's the question, if Doug isn't hitting, which would you do as manager: Move Phelps into a starting role and using Doug as a defensive replacement or move Giambi to first full time with Doug as a defensive replacement, and start rotating his outfielders through the DH spot and playing Melky every day?

I can't really share anything that Teixeira may have told me off the record. All I can say is that he really wants to win. Obviously the Yankees win a lot, but so do some other teams. The Rangers would like to resign him. I'm not sure that will happen, but they did resign Michael Young which would be a positive with Teixeira. He'll obviously be more expensive than Young was, though.

KAT-
Thanks for straightening out these guys that have been "salivating" all over "Tex". We have "discussed" at length whether Cashman would be willing to part with a #1 pick and the money for Tex, or whether he would trade for a "productive" 1st baseman of which there are many. Thanks for "settling" this argument for the next year.

Thanks Kat,

On the plus side for the Rangers is that Boras and Hicks have a good working relationship (See: A-Rod, Chan Ho Park, Gagne, Rogers) the downside is that Boras is not known for offering home town discounts. So whoever gets him is going to have to pay top dollar.

So Kat, what is your feeling, not what others are saying, but your gut reaction, will Torre go with Nieves, Henn and Phelps who seem to have earned spots on the roster or will sentimentality and a preference for veterans get Pratt, Villone, Phillips on the team?

Roy,
I'm sure "Kat" appreciates your "approval" because it is extremely "valuable".

Is it "RAD" already?

Melky can play, he made a nice grab in left in the first inning. On the pitching, I guess we are a year away with these kids: Hughes, Sanchez, Ohlendorf, Clippard...??

phelps is the man

Chip : I would use Mientky as a late inning defensive replacement and leave Giambi at DH...make no mistake Phelps has definite holes in his swing.He's having a great spring,but things tend to change when the bell rings...also I was posting Pavanos numbers ,it wasn't a commentary...I am pulling for him to do well...Whether Tex stays in Texas remains to be seen ,last I remember Kat was a beat reporter not a GM.

Update for those who can't watch the game: Abreu is not only hitting well he is movibg, as far as I can tell when the camera is on him, as if he had never had the oblique problem...

Ruse,

That's what I would do to.

Make no mistake, I'm not touting Phelps as an All-Star, but he's relatively solid at first with the glove (not Doug level but not a Giambi-esque butcher) and even with the holes he's probably a better hitter on a daily basis than Doug is too.

I can see it now, Phelps named opening day 1st baseman and the next day Heyman will have an article ripping the team for not giving Bernie the spot that they signed Doug for.

Pavano so far -6 innings 2 runs 4 double plays

Chip : What's the latest on Colter Bean ?

Pavano so far - hot!!!!

holes in swing blah blah blah. I mean damm, People are just trying to find an excuse to keep andy in stripes. If phelps has a hole in his swing, then andy has the grand canyon

Ruse,

I haven't heard anything about him, but based on his track record I would say he's going to Triple A. He's a 30-year old minor leaguer who always puts up good stats in the minor leagues. He does not have overpowering stuff and it just never seems to translate when he comes up to the majors. Plus, and no I have no idea what this means, but Torre has yanked him out of games because he's a bad body language guy. Bottom line with that as far as I can tell means that Torre doesn't think he can do very much and he's not a prospect that they are going to cultivate, nor is he viewed as an asset by other GM's in the league.

Carl ! shutting up his critics like myself I guess

Anonymous: My vote ,if it matters at all,would be for Phelps,I'm not a Phillips booster ...I was just pointing out the obvious,Phelps strikes out alot as does Phillips .Just because a player fighting for a job in ST performs well it doesn't translate into an off the charts season.I've seen it time and time again...I would think Phelps would perform around his career averages if he plays regularly,if not I'm not sure what he can do with limited playing time.

Pavano 3IP, 5H, 2R translates to 9IP, 15H, 6R. And that's a good outing????

Chip: the reason I asked about Colter Bean is he's pitched well this spring and Torre keeps running him out there.Trade ?

Pavano last I looked pitched 6 innings on 7 hits? inducing 4 double play ground balls

Carl did a better job than the numbers reflect. Those Minnesota runs were the result of three or four singles that probably would have been outs if Jeter and Arod were in the game. Not to say that Cairo isn't doing a great job at third, but they were definitely cheap hits that resulted in runs.

4 DP's = lots of runners on base!

Phelps 2 out rbi single Yanks up 3-2 in the 8th

Ruse - Can't imagine anyone would trade for him, if there was a deal it would be so minor that it wouldn't matter.

Rick - You always look at it as glass half empty with him, Pettitte and Wang generate lots of DP's too. He produced a quality start, by anyone's standards, if he does that 15 times out of his 25 starts I'll be thrilled and it will likely lead to more than 15 wins.

Rick: Wang induces 4 double play ground balls you'd say he pitched well .Can't win from losing !

Chip : Timely !

PAVANO RULES !

Ruse,

I'm not a fan of Pavano, but Rick is just being unfair with his criticisms of him at this point. If Karstens threw up the same stat line as Pavano today he would be on here screaming that Karstens should be in the rotation. Pavano produced a quality start, that's all that any fan can expect of any pitcher. I get the feeling though that even if Pavano started the season with 3 shutouts and a no hitter Rick still won't be happy.

Carl the Killer !

Andy Pettite has always been the supporter of high runs and had high hits allowed in his starts

I thought CP pitched well enough for what he is, a back of the rotation kind of guy, and if he continues in this vein we will get out of him about what we'd expect from that position. Not so long ago we would have seen that as a pleasant surprise.

Its true, for his career Andy has always given up more hits than innings pitched, but he also erases runners by generating ground balls. It is all about perception. Pavano is not liked and so 4 double plays is looked at as having too many runners on base.

Diane,

You're exactly right. There are people here though who hold grudges a lot deeper than others, and one of those people is Rick. He does not like Carl Pavano, he will never like Carl Pavano and has even gone so far as to say that if Carl Pavano is on the team come April 2 then the Yankee season is doomed.

Keep in mind Rick is not a well man; he is obsessed with Ted Lilly.

HAH Nice one CHip!!

Chip : The Yanks are leaning ,for the time being ,on Pavano ...we can only hope he performs well ....A typical Pettitte line would be 7 innings 8 hits 3 runs

All mocking aside, Rick did make a good fantasy trade, getting Abreu for Matsuzaka and Blanton was nice.

yeah he tried to blind side me like i have an apple on my head

Yeah I'm pissed I wanted to give him Giambi but somebody Trumped me with the Abreu deal

Ruse,

While I'm glad he put up a quality start today, I'm tempering it with the fact that it is spring training and thus doesn't count. It's good to see, it is a step in the right direction (insert generic cliche) but I'm looking at it this way. He's on the team, he's going to be on the team, and for the Yankees to win the AL East all he has to be is as good as Jaret Wright was last year.

That's a very low bar, but I'm sure he'll clear it easily. I'm not looking for him and Igawa to combine for 40 wins and an combined ERA under 3.5 - if they give the team 25 wins and an ERA around 4, 4.5, 4.7 - the team will be well off.

I'm sure Joe & Ron were very pleased with Pavano's outing. They don't look at the numbers as much as the quality of the pitching, especially in Spring Training. Basak's fielding error certainly didn't help Pavano.

Hopefully Pavano can stay healthy this time, because he's a very good pitcher who'll win at least 15 games for us!!!

Phelps better make this team, Torre!

Go Yankees Go!! 27 in '07 baby! Woot, woot!!!

Francessa and Russo summed up Pavano being the opening day starter like this:

With all the pomp and circumstance that surrounds opening day at the stadium he'll get a neutral reaction when he takes the mound.

If he puts up a line like the one he did today, he'll get a standing ovation when Joe takes the ball

If he gives up 5 runs in the first two innings he'll get booed off the hill.

Chip

It's not about half empty. I simply have NO faith or trust in Pavano. I don't like the guy's makeup. And, he isn't very good when he does pitch. He's no better than a Karstens or a Rasner.

So Lucy, why Villone over Henn?

Chip: I have always been cautiously optimistic about the Yanks... it's not unreasonable to suggest Igawa and Pavano might post 24-28 wins ,if not Karstens/Rasner will pick up the slack...I like this teams pitching ,Igawa and Pavano/Rasner/Karstens is a definite upgrade over Wright/Chacon.

If Pavano throws 3 shutouts and a no hitter out of the gate, I will accept him as a Yankee and a member of the rotation. Until then, I want him gone, ASAP.

Twins win in the bottom of the 9th 4-3 .Britton just bought his ticket to Triple A

Rick,

And I'm not entirely disagreeing with you. The only place you and I differ on Pavano is with what the team should do with him. You think they should give him away the first chance they get, I think that to do so is foolish.

I'm not going to debate with you whether he is better or worse than Karstens or Rasner - because we could go back and forth on that all day - but I'm just saying that you have to be fair with him, the start he had today was fine - calling it something else robs you of credibility for later arguments.

Rick, serious question, what would Carl Pavano have to do for you to be satisfied with his season - assuming he is on the team all year.

Well, Basak's fielding not only hurt Pavano; it hurt the Yankees who just lost due to his second fielding error. The game is recorded as a loss, in any event, and the stats won't show that the Yankees "gave" this one to Minnesota. I'm glad this is still only Spring Training.

Britton Sucks..... Good Job Cashman

Ruse,

You're exactly right. Pavano and Igawa should be an upgrade over Wright and Chacon - and keep in mind that even with Wright and Chacon the Yankees still walked away with the division.

Yeah, I tried to blindside bronx bomber. He offered me two guys (Johnny Gomes & some lesser stiff I never heard of) that would be on my bench for Matsuzaka. Good luck to all who try to make a trade with him...a very distorted view of player's values.

so says the man who thinks Ted Lilly is worth $16 million a year - just kidding with you Rick

Chip, I'm not familiar with Henn so I thought I'd go with Villone who did a fairly decent job last year. I can only hope he improves this year.

Can anybody who's been following the ST games closely tell me how the regulars (e.g., Jeter, Posada, Damon) have been looking? I've seen some reports about A-Rod & Giambi, and about the first basemen, but that's about it. Also, what about the backup catchers -- how have they looked?

hahahaha

Blacklisting me huh???

gimme a secound...

You and Unabomber tried me

did you offer me some scrub 10 day contract type player for last years MVP.

and Una bomber tried to offer me a batboy and hotdog vendor for damon and jermaine dye

Yes, Britton didn't look so good giving up that little chopper to Gardenhire's son -- who looks like he's around 18 years old -- ultimately allowing the kid to win the game (albeit on Basak's fielding error). Very sloppy.

Chip

Fair question. For the money he is getting and his track record, I would expect 14 wins, an ERA of 4.20 and at least 180 IP. That's what I would expect from Lilly, so the same goes for Pavano.

But more than that, I would expect him to come up big in the post season against a playoff caliber team....6 solid IP, 3 or less Runs. And, no I don't think those are unreasonable, especially since he DOMINATED the NY Yankees in the WS.

CHIP

ARE YOU NUTS WHO IS BRANDON MCARTHY????

AND GIL MECHE IS GARBAGE

BB

I believe I offered you Matsuzaka and another player for Morneau. Didn't realize Dice-K was a "10 day contract player". Sorry I insulted you. Please forgive me?

Rick,

That's fair - my expectations from him are about 12-15 wins ERA somewhere around 4.50.

As for the post season performance, I have no issue with that. It would have been nice if Mussina, Johnson, Wright et al, had been able to deliver that same kind of performance in the post season over the last two years.

How about a link to a picture of Kat? Just curious.

Phucker...thought I would take a shot in the dark man.

Unless I am mistaken Basak also is about 18, a baby with time to learn. If that is indeed the case, hopefully spending some time up with the big boys will have been a boost to his education and motivation, which is about all we can expect from one ST at that age.

Meche is OK but will be going against other teams aces so not many wins for him. McCarthy is a good gamble to take up. What did he want, a hot dog vendor or a "10 day contract player"?

Chip

Yeah all the offers I've made have been met with hostility and deemed as insulting as well so I understand.

I guess it's cause we're all totally scared to part with the few good and recognizeable players.

Seriously I don't even know like 4 players on my team never even heard of em hah.

Diane

Basek is 26.

I made the Dice-K and Blanton for Abreu trade. I needed the pitching more than one bat.

He wanted Giambi. I think I'll counter offer him that bag of balls we keep talking about.

Chip, thanks for the correction, Ihad that all wrong!

Diane,
No problem - he's basically another Andy Phillips - they just want to see if he can play short in a pinch (and give them a little bit of a better bat option to Cairo)

Phucker,
I've got my own bag of balls thank you very much.

Hah

Diane: Basak is 28

Ruse: I'm a Colter Bean man myself. Don't think he makes the 25, but he's the first reliever called up.

Chip: I love the Giambino (especially when he happily absorbs inside pitches) but he is an absolute butcher at 1B. Dr. StrangeGlove revisited.

I think Roy is gonna hate me after he gets my offer.

This league is going to create enemys in the blog.

RICK ALL YOU HAD TO DO WAS HIT THE "MIXED LEAGUE" BUTTON I'm gonna pummel you in the other league for this.

Does anyone know to what extent Cashman will defer to Torre on the 25 man roster? Maybe privately overrule him if he selects Phillips, for example. Or Villone.

During his big 2004 year, Pavano struck out about 6 per 9 innings. This spring he's at 2.5 per 9. Meaningful?

Zander, I think Cashman will let Torre pick his roster.

Zander,

Not really - spring is a much smaller sample size. It can take three outings to get to 9 innings.

Besides, as long as he generates ground balls he should be alright. No one has ever hit a ground ball home run.

Zander : I'm not a Colter Bean fan,just commenting on his decent ST,he might be traded by opening day...Britton and T.J Beam will be the first callups if the Yanks need a reliever,maybe Sanchez with that hummer...

Ruse,

I think depending on how things fall, you can also add Chase Wright to that mix. He looked very good this spring, and while he lacks experience, if the team were in need of a lefty relief pitcher I could see him getting a call down in Trenton.

When is this Sanchez guy gonna pitch?

Everything I've read has him hurt with no definitive time table. What was the intent in acquiring him? Is he a bullpen guy? Is he a starter? Is he trade bait whats the deal with this dude? All Kat said is that he's hurt we already knew that.

Chip ; Yes Yes ! Chase Wright might be up to Scranton after a month or so if he pitches well at Trenton.

Phucker my Man: Go back a 1/2 dozen postings ,Kat gave the run down on Humberto

Sweeny Murti on WFAN:
They want to give Andy Phillips every chance to make the team but the fact is that today Phelps went 2-4 with his third homerun and an RBI single raising his average to .430
Phillips played first went 0-4 with 4k's and is hitting under .200

As for catcher - he said it sounds like the scouts want Nieves, the manager wants Pratt.

Chris Basak is a 29-yr old infielder who has been in the Mets Organization for 7 years until drafted this year by the Yankees as a MiLB free agent. He's a "Phillips-type" utility player at best.

I watched Pavano's effort today and it was "decent" for a number 5 starter. His fastball reached 90 pmh, he kept his pitches consistently down, threw strikes, but they were not what you could call "quality pitches". in a month from now, those same pitches would either be hit much harder or others would be taken for balls. There is hope, however, because his comman should improve - if he stays healthy.

Colter Bean is out of options so I believe he's exposed to every MLB team if his reassigned. I can see a few teams signing him as a righty specialist.
He'll likely turn out like another former Yankee specialist (lefty) Randy Choate!

It woulds be ideal if the Yanks added a power pitcher in that rotation to balance the "salad tossers" that they're throwing this year.

Hopefully Sanchez or Olendorf can develop by All Star break. (I think Hughes is a year away).

Thoughts?

Ruse,

Actually it sounds like Wright might start at Scranton. With Wang on the DL and the Yankees likely to leave Karstens at extended spring (according to Murti's latest) Rasner will head north with the team and that will open a spot at AAA for a pitcher, likely Wright. Then when Rasner or Karstens heads there, he'll go back to Trenton.

ummh ,

Torre - Well andy had sun in his eyes all day . bad bat. did you see how he fielded that alomost caught foul ball.

Here the forcast joe.

It will be dark until dawn

Joe,

Sounds about right, but I think Bean can be sent back to Triple A.

I'm not sure how I feel about the fact that all the Yankee pitchers are contact pitchers, but on the plus side they are all ground ball pitchers, so if they are doing their job the balls will be knocked into the ground (might be worth it to tell the grounds' crew not to cut the infield grass too diligently)

The team actually has quite a disparity, they go from contact pitch starters to flame throwing relievers in Bruney, Farnsworth, Proctor and Rivera - also Henn and Vizciano can dial their pitches up.