From Pete Abraham:
YANKEES
Gardner CF (let’s see how he does)
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Giambi 1B
Posada C
Matsui LF
Betemit DH
Ransom 2B
Pitching
Hughes (hopefully bounces back)
Igawa (needs to show something good)
Hawkins
Phillips
Ohlendorf (fighting for a spot)
and an extract from Pete:
Joba Chamberlain will open the season in the bullpen.
Girardi left open the possibility that Chamberlain will move into the rotation later this season. “His future will be as a starter,” Girardi said.
Chamberlain will pitch in relief against Toronto tomorrow and again on Saturday. Ian Kennedy will start against the Blue Jays, a sign that he has nailed down the No. 5 starter job.
Girardi did not define Chamberlain’s role in the bullpen other than to say that he will be used in the “back end of games.”
There will be no Joba Rules. Chamberlain can be used for multiple innings and on consecutive days. “It will be common sense,” Girardi said.
The Yankees are not laying out their entire plan. But it seems fairly obvious that Chamberlain will be used as a reliever for half the season then make the transition to become a starter. If all five starters are healthy and productive, than the decision could be difficult.
But if all five starters are healthy and productive, that’s a problem the Yankees would be happy to have.
Seems like “Jim” was wrong. He had written that the long man role “will definitely go to Kennedy or Mussina, depending on who wins that 5th starter position.” Apparently he(?) predicted Joba in the rotation and Kennedy or Mussina as the long man/spot starter, which I knew was bunk…. Sorry, “Jim,” I had written that Joba is bullpen-bound (for the beginning of the year, anyway) and that the rotation will be what you see now (barring any injuries between now and opening day). Wang, Pettitte, Mussina, Hughes and Kennedy.
20 responses so far ↓
1 Jason // Mar 19, 2008 at 3:07 pm
We’re on the same page re: Joba. I’ll try not to pile on “Jim.”
Hawkins has had a pretty impressive Spring–no earned runs in six innings. It would be really nice to see Hughes rebound from his last, rough outing. Hopefully he locates his fastball better and hits the start of the season with everything sound.
I feel for Igawa, but I have very a hard time seeing a future for him with the Yankees. He’s had a few nice moments, including last year’s great fill-in job against Boston, but a lot more rocky ones. His control comes and goes with the wind.
2 Mike Sommer // Mar 19, 2008 at 3:19 pm
Yeah, and it’s all about control and command with him. When he misses, he gets hit hard; the number of HRs / IP last year reflects that.
…and yeah, I think I know who “Jim” or “Woodley” or whoever is. Goes by a different fake name over there……where someone didn’t know what WHIP was. Honestly, some comments…but then, I’m probably twice as old and been watching the game twice as long, so…
3 Jason // Mar 19, 2008 at 3:59 pm
I get the impression I’m not far behind you on the age spectrum, Mike. BTW, I went through and read some of your earlier posts. Your first was really something, and I loved the personal stories about going to the Stadium and following the Yanks as a kid. Good, touching stuff. I enjoy my own memories of the game, and sports generally, from my childhood, and those are worth holding onto. I’m glad to see you have in such detail.
4 Mike Sommer // Mar 19, 2008 at 4:45 pm
Thanks, Jason. Also thanks for the nice words on your blog, which you do well. A very good blog, indeeed. I’m looking forward to the day when you are on the Radio Show. Being that next Sunday is Easter (family time) and the Sunday after that I have a dinner to attend, I may have to be hitting the podcast myself rather than be on live or listening live. Depends if Ty pre-records or not. He’s done something the past few years that he calls “sizzlers” and “fizzlers”…trying to predict who’ll do very well over the course of the year and who will disappoint. I’m interesting in knowing what the listeners think and their rationales. I’ll check in on Phil’s performance late tonight, as I have some thngs to do. Feel free to comment on his outing.
5 Jason // Mar 19, 2008 at 6:07 pm
Jason Bay’s shoestring catch deprived Gardner of a bloop hit, Jeter hit a grounder on the first pitch to third, two down fast to soft-throwing Matt Morris. I can’t believe he’s still pitching.
Bay made a good running catch near the wall in left on an Abreu rocket. Three outs.
6 Jason // Mar 19, 2008 at 6:08 pm
BTW, many thanks for the kind words, Mike.
7 Jason // Mar 19, 2008 at 6:12 pm
Hughes allowed a lead-off homer to McLouth. His first fastball was away, the second was up, the third was good for a strike, the fourth was high, the fifth was up and gone. It might have been a slider, but I believe it was a fastball.
8 Jason // Mar 19, 2008 at 6:15 pm
Hughes got Sanchez on a can of corn to shallow center, and embarrassed Bay on three pitches. he pumped in the fastball for 0-1, had him looking at the deuce for strike two and got him again with the curve swinging. That’s better. It seems Posada and Hughes want to establish the fastball early. When he locates it, his heater crackles.
9 Jason // Mar 19, 2008 at 6:24 pm
A-Rod K’d looking (it looked inside, but the ump is giving the inside corner), Giambi singled. Jorge just misread two fastballs on the inside part of the plate, 0-2, and on a 1-2 pitch, Hip-Hip-Jorge! Homer to right, 2-1 Yanks. Morris left that chest high and, with the wind blowing out, forget it. 2-0, Matsui chased ball 3, then scalded a double inside first. Soft infield grounder from Betemit moves Matsui to third with two outs. Betemit looks like he’s pressing. Mclouth’s diving catch off Ransom robs a single and a run, but still 2-1.
10 Jason // Mar 19, 2008 at 6:33 pm
Hughes started LaRoche with a rope at the knees, 0-1, popped him up to third, one down. 0-1 to Doumit, Hughes starting to throw first-pitch strikes, down 2-1, Hughes missed Jorge’s inside target, leaving it over the plate and belt-high, Doumit deposited it to right-center to tie the game. Hughes blew a fastball by Nady, 1-2 now, curve missed in 2-2, fastball in 3-2, shattered bat, 5-3 nice scoop Giambi, two down. Hughes surrendered ANOTHER homer, to former Oriole Chris Gomez, missing Jorge’s spot away again. It was over the plate belt-high, 3-2 Pirates, four homers, three solo homers by the Pirates. Eeeesh. Nice charging play by Ransom at second mercifully ends the frame, 3-2 Bucs.
11 Jason // Mar 19, 2008 at 6:40 pm
Gardner just laid down a beautiful bunt for a single down the third-base line, then Doumit threw it away, giving Gardner second. The announcer said Gardner has no chance to make the Yankees. That’s not quite accurate, and something you and Mike wouldn’t agree with. His speed is something. Sanchez just robbed Jeter of a single, and maybe the Yankees of a run. Gardner misread the passed ball; he could have taken third easily. With one out, that could hurt. Abreu’s single to right makes it academic, 3-3 tie.
12 Jason // Mar 19, 2008 at 6:43 pm
Abreu just stole second off a curve with ease. I love that the Yankees are running a lot this Spring. A-Rod’s two-hop single up the middle, 4-3 Yanks. A-Rod’s only batting .500 with 8 RBIs this Spring–what a slacker. Giambi singles sharply–another bum, batting .423. They’re pounding Morris like they did last June, when they let him and the Giants off the hook in Frisco.
13 Jason // Mar 19, 2008 at 6:47 pm
Matsui’s single scores another, and Betemit–who just can’t produce–hit a sac fly to deep center, 6-3 Yankees. Ransom’s 6-4-3 DP ends the top of the third, but the Yankees pounded Morris.
14 Jason // Mar 19, 2008 at 7:00 pm
McLouth belts a change-up belly-high to the gap in right center, double. Hughes is struggling. 2-2 to Wilson, 4-3 advances McLouth to third. Fastball low, fastball high to Sanchez, single through the hole, 6-4 Yanks. A-Rod broke on the pitch for a pick-off play, and Sanchez hit it 2-3 feet from where he was stationed. Hughes got Bay again on a curve, this time looking and over the inside corner. 2-0 to LaRoche, breaking ball away 3-0, BB on four pitches. Jeez, Hughes has had two bad outings in a row. Ball 1 to Doumit, more first-pitch balls and he’s taking a long time between pitches. Ground out to Big G ends the 4th, 6-4.
15 Jason // Mar 19, 2008 at 7:10 pm
Sorry, ends the third, it just feels like I watched four innings.
Morris K’d Gardner looking on a curve, outside corner. Jeter smoked a double down third. Abreu singles up the middle, 7-4 Yankees. He’s another slacker–.483 this Spring, 8 RBIs. Trade him. A-Rod ripped a double off the left-field wall, second and third. They’ve just arrested several Yankees for second-degree assault of Morris, who just fanned Giambi on a breaking pitch up–looked like a mistake. Jorge’s bloop single over third makes it 8-4, A-Rod back to third safely. The Pirates announcers keep saying “another soft hit ball.” There have been a few, but there have been far more blasts off Morris. We’re not watching the same game, apparently.
16 Jason // Mar 19, 2008 at 7:20 pm
1-1 breaking pitch (slider?) to Nady looked very good, but 3-2 curve missed low to walk him. Hughes let him go, but Nady worked the count well. Nice bender fans Gomez. Rivas doubles to right center, Hughes missed the target away again, with the pitch tailing back toward the inner half of the plate belt high.
17 Jason // Mar 19, 2008 at 7:25 pm
Actually he singled, but then just stole second easily. Hughes loads the bases with an HBP. A-Rod gets the force at second, but Ransom threw it away to allow a second run to score, 8-6, Ugly game.Wild pitch, runner on third. 5-3 ends the fourth, 8-6 Yankees. I’d imagine Hughes is done, certainly near whatever pitch count they’ve set for him. He’s not been sharp.
18 Jason // Mar 19, 2008 at 7:31 pm
Lefty Phil Dumatrait is in for Morris, who’s been sent to Triag, Betemit fly ball, one out. Ransom 6-3, two outs. Gardner 3-1, F7, three outs. Easy inning for Dumatrait.
19 Jason // Mar 19, 2008 at 7:48 pm
Hughes in for the 5th, hard hit ball from Bay to A-Rod. Tough play, but I didn’t see a good replay to see if it was an error. Hughes is out. Jeter is clowning with A-Rod near the mound, both smiling and laughing. I love hearing how Jeter can’t stand A-Rod. Billy Traber is in against lefty LaRoche. Yakker has LaRoche bending back, 0-1, curve misses 1-1, fastball outside corner 1-2, single to left. Not a bad pitch from Traber, the ball was down but caught a little of the plate, still nice hitting more than a bad pitch. DP ball is an E5, A-Rod threw it into right, 8-7 Yankees, 1st and 3rd no outs. Traber just walked Nady to load the bases, no outs. 5-4-3 DP ties the game 2 outs, runner at third. Wild pitch scores Doumit, 9-8 Pirates. Ugly. The Pirates have nine runs, five RBIs. Three down.
I have to split. Sorry for dancing with myself here, but I love to assess games. Talk with you later.
20 fiermanm // Mar 19, 2008 at 9:12 pm
Mike, i’m getting more and more concerned with meacham at 3rd base. in case you missed tonight he made two bad decisions about bringing guys in. and he has been doing this a lot. any thoughts?
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