Mariano Rivera kind of follows his own schedule. Hey, it's worked for him pretty well. He does all the workouts and such, but when it comes to how much he throws in the spring, etc., the Yankees let him have some say. Joe Torre used to half joke that Mariano turned in his grey (road) pants the day he got them each spring.
So Joe Girardi made a comment today, saying, "We all have grey pants." Asked if that meant Mariano would be making road trips this year, he didn't say, but did smile and say he had heard about that very early on in his managerial tenure, perhaps even on a November trip to the Dominican Republic where he coincided with Rivera. I conveyed that to Mariano, and he laughed. He also said he's made road trips. Maybe not last year, but he's sure that he went to Clearwater (the closest road destination) a couple years ago.
On more serious notes, Girardi described Morgan Ensberg as "hungry."
Asked which position player prospects he's been impressed with, Girardi said: "Brett Gardner, Austin Jackson, look at those two guys, the organization's very high on those two kids."
He also named Francisco Cervelli, and yet again Jesus Montero.
Andy Pettitte threw live BP and got a big reaction from the crowd. He said: "My body feels great, my arm feels great, my elbow, everything."
Kei Igawa said, through an interpreter, that his goal is "to be on the major league team the entire season."
If that means in the bullpen? He said: "As long as I can be a benefit to the team."
Comments (23)
Thanks once again Kat.
It is nice to hear some good words on Gardner and Jackson. These guys are the future. Our outfield is gonna look very different a year or two from now.
Lets hope Igawa has a good spring training so we can possibly trade him for a couple mid level prospects. Keep building up that minor league system.
Our minor league system has made a complete 180 over the last 3 years.
AAA Scranton ended up in 1st place last year.
AA Trenton ended up in 1st place last year.
A Staten Island ended up in 2nd place last year.
Thats saying something.
McCarthy,
Don't you think the St. Louis Cardinals would love to get their hands on Igawa? I think they are looking for healthy bodies to fill out their rotation so if Igawa can put together a few promising innings, I'd ship him out quickly, I'm sure the Cardinals have something (anything!) they could give up for Igawa.
Absolutely.
They keep talking about him being able to help the bullpen out but I do not see him as that type of a pitcher. He walks way to many people and does not seem to be able to handle the pressure in NY.
I would take pretty much anything for him as well.
Kei Igawa? Puleez.
I just read that David Wells contacted the Cardinals knowing their dire pitching situation, but they turned him down. They are looking to build from within - a familiar sounding theme.
Or they just said that because they have no use in a 45 year old, over weight, loud mouthed, way past his prime pitcher.
I'am sure the Cardinals would consider taking Igawa off our hands for a mid level prospect or two.
Yaah, right. Now its the other teams responsiblity to take your trash out. You know if you didn't go out and pick up trash then you wouldn't have to worry about have you can hoodwink the smarter people who passed up the trash in the first place. Oh sure we will just get someone in the national league to take away all the bad contracts we have accummulated. The guy thats is going to clear them out??? The same genius that got them in the first place.
Thos idiots in the National League that you are expecting to unload your stinkbombs on....they are the ones that gave you those stinkbombs. You not only took them....put you paid them big money and you loonies on this blog raved about how you all just landed the big one.
Sure Pavano won you what? How about K Brown? Randy Johnson? Bobby Abreu?
I see a pattern of the National League GM's letting YOU pick up THEIR trash. Laughing all along at the great Brian Cashman. Can't wait to hear the announcement of his contract extension. Hopefully seven years....so then that garrantees seven more years of hilarious rosters and poor baseball.
Hey any BIG news from camp.....like Melky was working on running or A-Rod was working on his tan. Diane whats the latest update. I can't wait to hear what cooking at Legends In Their Own Minds Field.
Start talking about past championships.......it's the only championship talk you'll have for quite awhile.
So where am I wrong?
It appears that Congress is so lacking in matters of significance to attend to that it is now preparing to sic the Justice Department, also apparently with time on its hands, to fully investigate Clemens.
There is some indication that the Committee chair is attempting to protect McNamee from being referred for investigation together with Clemens.
Here's the link in case someone else would like to try to make sense of this -- since I am SEETHING WITH CONTEMPT I may not be seeing clearly:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/26/sports/baseball/26clemens.html?hp
Oh and by the way. For those out there who think I am posting here so I can "have a conversation" with them........not gonna happen. I am here to tell you hangers on the fast and straight and watch you all cry about it. I don't need to waste any more of my time than I already do wiping your noses trying to teach you something about baseball beyond the fact that you are clinging to a Yankee illusion ond your team is hilarious to watch from the front office on down. So the Boss who had the trots like 2219 times......dream on baby.
Also trotsky....if you did intend to have a conversation with someone a small bit of advice is start out and GET THEIR NAME RIGHT FIRST. But I don't expect much from guys so ignorant that they think this Yankee team has an enviable pitching staff. I laugh every time I think of that jokers comments....enviable pitching staff. No kidding. Some Bozo on here really wrote that. And I'm supposed to have a "conversation" with the likes of that. Laughter is the best medicine and this is blog has cured me of all my ills.
Girardi described Morgan Ensberg as "hungry"...lets see if he can fit into the 1B situation, when...not if...Giambi goes down. Can we just sit Jason? A platoon of Ensberg ( murders LHP ) and Shelly ( murders RHP ) could yield...30+ HR's and a .280 BA. Both are better fielders than Giambi. Then we can put Matsui at DH and make a run.
Damon
Jeter
Abreu
Arod
Matsui
Cano
Posada
Ensberg/Shelly
Melk
Thats great balance up and down the lineup...a lineup that could be the 1st since the Indians of the 90's to score 1000 runs ( we were well over that pace in the 2nd half of last season ).
Gardner, Jackson, Cervelli and Montero impressing the boss? LOVE IT!!!! In a couple more years after Molina is gone, Cervelli will be with the club. In two more years after that Austin and Cervelli will be a great 1-2 behind the dish. Then Jesus can factor into the 1B/DH mix. Its great how this is all working out. We get the SP seasoned 1st, then when they are hitting their primes ( all at the same time ), we bring up these stud position players. THE MASTER PLAN!!!!!
Igawa....no comment...lol
sayhey,
you must be one of the saddest individuals I have ever encountered. I occasionally wander on to this blog and all i see is your garbage being posted day after day. how often are you sitting on your as pretending like your a someone by posting big words on a blog about a team you dont even like. its not even about you trashing the yankees its the fact you have nothing better to do. let me guess 40 something single male unemployed and severely sexually frustrated, trust me on this one guys I have a talent for this crap. do us all a favor quit posting on this blog and get a life, maybe just start with a friend. remember baby steps.
-Batman
Say Hey...I know more about your team than you do. You continue to make an ass out of yourself on this blog. I owned you last week and yesterday. You have no response, yet you continue to act like you are teaching us something. Very laughable.
Don't feed the trolls. Please ignore Sayhay.
Batman,
I was thinking more like 20 something, single, male, unemployed and severely sexually frustrated, simply because for the life of me, I can not imagine anyone in their 40s being so childish, immature, and moronic (yes, Sully, I had to say that). Is it humanly possible to be in your 40s and act like that? I don't know. I do know, however, by any of us even responding to him/her, we're giving the say hey pud everything he's trying to accomplish. And I for one, have fallen into that trap several times.
I do have to say I wish I was in Tampa - or even Virginia Beach right now. The wx in St Louis is horrible!
boss....been to any Card games? Whats the buzz about Big Al's elbow?
Jim A...sorry man, sometimes I just cant help myself.
DRU
I live in Virginia Beach, and am only out here on business. Just a terrible week to come out here because the weather has been atrocious. But yes, I come out here a lot, and go to games every chance I get. In fact, I went to the Blues/Black Hawks game last Tuesday.
I did see something on the news about the Cards holding Big Al back a little, or at least the med staff keeping an eye on his elbow, but nothing of significance if I recall. Sorry I can't give you any further info on that.
Not a problem, just curious ( no not for fantasy Diane...lol ).
I love Virgina Beach, been down there a bunch of times. I actually pass through there every year now. My family ( my side and my wife's side ) make a trip down to the Outter Banks every Summer. When I was younger my father was in the Navy, so Ive been in that area my whole life...very beautiful.
Dru,
It wasn't me who told you to stop feeding the trolls. Frankly I like your comebacks to Say Hey....you own his ass.
Boss: I own a house in VA Beach....might have to meet up with you some day as it's rare to find any Yankee fans in that area but even rarer to find Islanders fans.
I spend about a month or two out of every summer at the beach and I take some guys from work fishing out on a boat out of the Rudee Inlet every year in later June.
oh...sorry, my fault wrong Jim,,,glad you enjoy reading them...I sure as hell enjoy writing them.
; )
Dru,
I didn't make the comment, but I'm one of the most adamant 'don't feed the trolls' people around -- becase I do think they feed on attention of any kind and it makes their tiny day to get a rise out of usually sensible people.
I don't even read their posts. As I always suggest that others do, once I identify the moniker of a troll I forever just scroll on by when that name shows up in the left margin. Saves time and agita.
BUT -- I have to admit I enjoy reading your responses even without having read the preceding blather! They're so comprehensive, authoritative and fact-based!
D, you're not missing much from their point of view, just a bunch of BS. Thanks for the complement, Im printing that last part out and putting it on the fridge!
; )
Ill try to restrain myself more...like my wife tells me all the time....I just love to argue. If I wasnt such a slacker in HS and college, I may have become a Lawyer...lol
Talk to you tomorrow.
YOU SUCK DRU
THANKS GLU!!!
kisses,
XOXOXOXOXOXO