It's a gorgeous day here at Yankee Stadium, compared to yesterday in particular. No rain problems today.
Here are various updates:
*Alex Rodriguez was 1-for-4 with a home run and a walk in an extended spring training game today in Tampa. He faced former No. 1 draft pick David Price. He struck out swinging his first at-bat, homered to right-centerfield on the first pitch his next at-bat, flied out to rightfield his third at-bat, walked on five pitches his fourth time up and struck out looking his last at-bat.
Rodriguez fielded three ground balls, two to his left. If things keep going well, he could play as soon as Tuesday for the Yankees.
*Jorge Posada threw from 75 and 90 feet. It's possible he could begin a rehab assignment sometime towards the end of this homestand or soon after.
*Joe Girardi was asked about Joba Chamberlain and answered some questions. He said this in spring training, too, but many people seemed surprised so I'll post it here. It's possible that Joba won't ever move into the rotation this season, though the plan remains that he will start at some point in his career.
Said Girardi: "It's not a pre-set decision. It is a decision that is based on a lot of things. Some point could be next year, two years. There is no set point in time. ... Need is a big part for anything on our club."
Need refers to how the Yankees are doing in both the rotation and the bullpen and where their needs might be. Brian Cashman did not want to answer any more questions about Joba, and said when they make a change, we will know. Until then he is really tired of talking about it.
*Ian Kennedy will make his next start, and Cashman said they believe he is going in the right direction.
*This minor league start caught my eye on the scoreboard. Dellin Betances pitched for Class A Charleston last night. He threw six no-hit innings with eight strikeouts.
*No decisions on makeup dates either for last night's game or for last Sunday's game in Detroit. It seems there is a good chance of a two-park doubleheader against the Mets on Friday, June 27th. As for the Detroit makeup, Cashman said it seems to be leaning towards a day game on Labor Day, Sept. 1st.
Lineup
Mets
Reyes SS
Church RF
Wright 3B
Beltran CF
Alou LF
Delgado 1B
Easley DH
Schneider C
Castillo 2B
Santana LHP
Yankees
Damon LF
Abreu RF
Jeter SS
Matsui DH
Giambi 1B
Cano 2B
Cabrera CF
Gonzalez 3B
Moeller C
Pettitte P
Comments (13)
I was one who wanted to see Joba in the rotation as soon as he's developmentally ready to take on the innings load, but I can really understand the reluctance to mess with the one thing thats really working for the Yankees, the bullpen.
Besides, he seems happy in his present role. It's not like he's sulking, whining, or regressing.
The only downside I can see is that he was already a four-pitch guy and he's not likely to keep that going as a reliever, so the switchover, if it ever happens, becomes harder the longer that goes on.
But it's hard to argue with success -- and he and the pen are both succeeding.
Does anyone else suspect that, with Andy able to pitch so few innings lately, the plan may actually be for him and Rasner to 'share' this start?
No, not at all. Pettitte will be fine.
Nobody should be worried about him unless his elbow is bothering him.
The new, improved Farnsworth getting about the same results as the old, unreconstructed Farnsworth today.
Okay, that should keep Willie off the unemployment line for now.
Come on Gerardi -- why the hell are you using Duncan in this critical situation of trying to win the game when he sits all day and all week? He wasn't able to perform this stressful job the last two times you put him in the same position, so what makes you think he can do it today? He has looked awkward at the plate, he looks like he lacks confidence, he hasn't done the job. Try playing him for the whole game once in a while and maybe he will start hitting to his ability in the 9th. But don't use the kid to pinch hit in the 9th to win the game. He obviously can't handle it.
Dunan is batting .194--so he's the perfect pinch hitter to win the game, isn't he?
Well Shelley was a career minor leaguer for a reason.
It looks like the golden thong may have some life in it.
Tough game today....but our boys scored 4 runs! 4! That's a week's worth these days. Let's do some smashing tomorrow boys!
Who do you send up in that situation? Your choices are
Duncan
Ensberg
Molina
Ensberg batted for Moeller striking out to end the game
none of these guys are hitting a lick Duncan stood the best chance of driving the ball possibly for a jimmyjack.
So obviously Girardi's hands were tied.
I personally would have let Gonzalez bat for himself maybe atoning for the windblown popup he missed.
All around crappy game on the Yanks part.
You let Gonzalez bat for himself exactly.
Duncan can't hit unless he's an everyday player, and he's not good enough to be an everyday player.
So why is he occupying a slot here?
Yes, yes, I know there are others 'occupying a slot' who are just as much a waste of space at this point and getting paid a lot more.
But just because something is cheap doesn't make it a bargain.
Got to reckon 'opportunity cost' in there somewhere. And Duncan, cheap as he is, costs us the opportunity to fill that slot with somebody who can help out.
Some observations --
You have to admit after looking at this lineup, it is pretty mediocre. It seems all the runs come in on homeruns recently.
I am not sure how much better it will be with A-Rod and Posada back in it.
This is the 3rd or 4th year in a row that the team has started poorly. Can we blame this one on Torre yet? Oh, that's right, the Dodgers have been playing well for the month of May.
Amazing how many times Duncan has come up in critical situations this season. The ball finds you whether you are in the lineup or the field.
Speaking of which, 6 homeruns in 20 innings by "Harmsworth"? You have got to be kidding me. And Mets fans boo Schoenweiss. We'd make a straight up trade right now.
Considering that the Red Sox are not off to a great start, the Yankees will rue the fact that they could not get it going early on and put some pressure on other teams.
It's going to be a long summer. I hope Cashman keeps his resume polished.
Mets fans are seriously out for blood this year. They would have torn Farnsworth to small, unidentifiable fragments by now.