Game 42. Yanks shut out Toronto, 5-0.

Hiroki Kuroda has been the Yanks’ ace so far this year and he was again tonight. He gave up a leadoff double and then no other hit until the seventh inning as the Yanks shut out Toronto 5-0.

In making predictions, a lot of people had the Blue Jays (what with their winter acquisitions) winning the AL East and the Yanks near the bottom. As we have just passed the quarter pole, check the standings.

Kuroda (W, 6-2, 1.99) went 8, 0 R, 2 H, 1 walk and 5 K. Preston Claiborne pitched the 9th, gave up 2 hits, but his MLB ERA remains at 0.00.

The hitting stars are people you wouldn’t expect. A 3B (David Adams) playing in his third MLB game and a 3rd-string rookie catcher (Austin Romine) who was 4 for 35 in his MLB career entering this game.

In the first, Brett Gardner tripled and scored on a groundout by Cano.

In the fifth, Adams and Romine singled, Gardner walked and Nix got a SF.

The Yanks broke it open in the seventh with three runs.  Adams doubled and Ichiro put down a beauty of a bunt single. Romine doubled home a run, Gardner singled in another and Nix closed out the scoring with another SF.

Nix had a strange line. Two walks and 2 sac flies. 0 for 0 with 2 RBI.

Meanwhile, Ben Francisco batted fifth again tonight. WHY? Please, oh please DFA him. 5 for 44 this season. .114.

The Yanks put Pettitte on the 15-day DL and recalled Vidal Nuno.

Stewart should miss just a few days.

Game 40. Hughes, Yanks, hammered, 12-2.

We hit the quarter pole with the Yanks at a surprising 25-15 considering all the injuries.

The bad news is the loss tonight, a 12-2 pasting by Seattle, and it was led by our old buddy, Raul Ibanez.

Phil Hughes is an enigma. When good, he can be very good. When bad, he can be horrendous. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Tonight he was very, very bad.

He only lasted 2/3 of an inning, giving up 7 R (a grand slam to Raul), 6 H, 2 walks and 0 K. He falls to 2-3, 5.88.

His first two starts this year were not good. That could be written off because he missed a lot of spring training due to a bulging disc in his back. He then rattled off four good outings in which his ERA in those outings was 1.93. Now two bad outings.

You don’t know what you’ll get. That is his problem. He must be more consistent. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The last pitcher I used that on was … A.J. Burnett. Hughes is like Burnett right now. You don’t know which one—good or bad—will show up.

From the LOHUD blog:

In his first two and his last two – the starts when he’s struggled — he’s had a combined ERA of 14.17 with seven strikeouts. In his middle four starts, he’s had a combined ERA of 1.93 with 30 strikeouts.

Preston Claiborne continued his impressive beginning of his MLB career with 2 1/3 scoreless innings. His ERA is still 0.00.

Brett Marshall then made his MLB debut, and unfortunately for him, it was a forgettable one. With the Yanks down by a bunch, he kind of “took one for the team.” He went 5 2/3, 5 R, 9 H, 5 walks and 1 K. He gave up 2 dingers.

The last out was recorded by SS Alberto Gonzalez, who faced one batter and got a flyout. He recorded just one less out than Hughes.

I hope Hughes was watching Monday when Phelps and Nuno did well. For if he continues the inconsistency, then he must know there are others ready to step in. I’ve defended Hughes, but there is no defense for tonight. He was awful. It’s the kind of performance that makes you wonder if he is disguising an injury. If not, there is no need to panic yet. But eight starts into the season, an ERA of 5.88 isn’t anywhere near good enough.

Before the game, David Adams was activated from AAA, and he played 3B, his first MLB game. Recently acquired 3B Chris Nelson was DFA’d. Adams went 1 for 4.

The Yanks got their runs from HR by Vernon Wells (10) and Chris Stewart (3).

It’s funny. Wells, who the Angels couldn’t wait to dump (salary) after two subpar years for them, has more HR combined than Pujols & Hamilton.

Game 33. Yanks outlast rain, win 3-1.

Well, the Yanks may have CC to pitch in that DH on Monday at Cleveland. That is, if he can go on three days rest. It isn’t irrational to think that, since because of rain, he only went four innings today.

A two-hour rain delay kept CC to only four innings, but it enabled rookie Adam Warren to pick up his first MLB win as the Yanks won 3-1 over the Rockies this afternoon to go to 20-13 on the season.

The Yanks scored a run in the first on a Vernon Wells single. Nix had walked with one out and had moved up on a groundout.

CC gave the run right back in the bottom of the first on a walk, single and SF.

In the third, Robbie Cano singled for his 1500th hit. 1500 to go, Robbie!

The Yanks went ahead in the fourth on a double by Chris Nelson, a groundout and a SF by Chris Stewart. After the bottom of the fourth, the game was delayed.

CC 4 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 walk and 2 K. ERA to 3.23.

Adam Warren 1 2/3, 0 R, 0 H, 2 walks and 0 K. ERA to 1.84. First major league win.

Robbie hit a HR in the fifth, his 9th of the season, and that was all the scoring.

Girardi used five relievers after that rain delay knocked CC out of the game. After Warren,

Logan faced one batter. 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks and 0 K. 3.00.

Preston Claiborne’s third MLB game. 2/3 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 0 walks and 0 K. ERA still 0.00.

David Robertson 1 1/3, 0 R, 0 H, 1 walk and 3 K. 3.21.

… and you-know-who for the 9th. Save #13 of the season (13 for 13) and #621 of his career for the great Rivera.

The Yanks had six hits. Wells and Cano 2 H, 1 RBI each.

Game 29. Hughes gets his first win of the season, 4-2.

Phil Hughes pitched eight shutout innings and notched his first win of the year as the Yanks beat Oakland 4-2.

After two tough starts to open the season, one of which was supposed to be a minor league rehab start, Hughes has pitched four good games, with his ERA being 1.93 in those four games.

And to think, some people wanted to ditch Hughes after his second start of this year. Hughes won 16 (tying for the team lead) last year and 18 in 2010. There aren’t too many pitchers out there that could say that they won 16 or more in two of the last three seasons. Yes, he gives up homers and his ERA isn’t the greatest, but he did win 16 last year, 18 in 2010 and still hasn’t turned 27.

For the season, Hughes is now 1-2, 3.60. We hope this roll continues.

The Yanks went up 1-0 in the third when Chris Stewart homered off of Bartolo Colon. Stewart’s HR (2) was only the sixth of his career.

Lyle Overbay made it 2-0 in the fifth with his fifth HR of the season. A double by Cano and single by Hafner, who prior to the single was 0 for 17 off of Colon, made it 3-0 in the sixth.

A triple by Nunez and single by Gardner made it 4-0 in the seventh.

Shawn Kelley started the ninth, gave up a hit and was pulled for Mo. Mo wasn’t his best, but got the outs to end the game. It wasn’t a save situation.

Kelley 0 IP, 1 batter, 1 R, 1 H, no walks or K. ERA to 8.71. Ugh.

Mariano 1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 walk, 0 K.    ERA to 2.19.

 

Gm 17. Yanks lose 8-4, drop to 10-7.

Phil Hughes and Ivan Nova should look over their shoulders. Chien Ming Wang had a good outing yesterday for SWB, and Vidal Nuno did today (see the minors report, to come).

Hughes is 0-2, 6.43 after three starts, and Nova is 1-1, 6.14. It’s still too early to make a move (after all, it’s just April 21) but not too early to suggest that they have to step it up or they could be replaced come mid-May.

Nova struggled today, going 5+, 4 R, 7 H, 4 walks, 5 K in getting a ND. Since his good rookie year of 2011 (16-4, 3.70), he’s gone 13-9, 5.11. Very Burnett-like. A.J. like also in that he has stuff, but the results have you scratching your head. You think it’s not the arm (like A.J.) but what’s between the ears.

Still, Nova had a 4-2 lead going into the bottom of the sixth. I thought he threw enough pitches and would not have brought him out for the sixth. A walk and a double later, my fears were justified, that Nova should have been pulled. He threw 101 pitches in those 5+ innings.

But the bullpen didn’t help. Boone Logan faced one batter. RBI single.

0 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 walks or K, ERA to 3.38.

Phelps came in and didn’t have it. He had a bad outing against Arizona on the 18th and another one today. 3 IP, 3 R, 3 H, 2 walks and 3 K. I was surprised Girardi left him out there for more than one inning (it was obvious he didn’t have it) but I guess Girardi wanted to save his bullpen.

So Phelps will be unavailable for a while. Meanwhile, Adam Warren has pitched in just two games this year, and none since April 9th.

But Nova has to step it up. 13-9, 5.11 in his last 31 starts isn’t cutting it. If, say, Nuno (now 2-0, 1.54) or Wang (1 start, 5 1/3 scoreless) is doing well in four weeks and Nova continues to struggle, … then there are replacements.

That goes for the bullpen, too. Mark Montgomery (0-1, 1.12) at AAA entered today with 15 K in 8 IP at SWB. (He didn’t pitch today).

Chris Stewart had a solo HR for the Yanks in the 3rd. Bases loaded walks to Overbay and Nunez brought in two runs in the 5th and Gardner had a SF in the 6th.

Hopefully Nova does better next time. If not, …

S.T Game 34. Yanks beat Nats 4-2

Andy Pettitte tossed six solid innings in his final spring tuneup before the season starts and Kevin Youkilis homered as the Yanks beat the Nats in D.C. 4-2.

Pettitte went 6, 2 R, 1 ER, on 5 H, 0 walks and 6 K. Joba pitched a 1-2-3 7th, Robertson a 1-2-3 8th. Both had 1 K.

Joe managed like it was the regular season, bringing in Mo for the 9th. Typical Mo. 1-2-3. 1 K.

The Yanks got all four of their runs in the fourth. Youkilis led off with a HR,  Hafner singled and Wells doubled him to third. Nunez drove in two with a single and moved up on the throw. Stewart singled in Nunez. Cano, Wells and Nunez each had two hits.

The Yanks will play Army in West Point tomorrow, then have off Sunday before opening the season at the Stadium Monday vs. Boston. They have gone 14-19-1 this spring.

S.T. Game 31. Yanks tie Houston, finalize Wells deal, give Overbay a shot.

The Yanks went against Houston tonight and finished in a 4-4 tie. Their record (after 31 games, and I include [most don't] the game against the D.R. WBC team) is 12-18-1. Maybe this is why Buster Olney and Jayson Stark are predicting the Yanks to finish last in the A.L. East. Of course on Monday they start the season at 0-0.

CC struggled, giving up 3 in the first. He lasted 5, 4 R, 6 H, 3 walks and 4 K. He’s next scheduled to start the opener against Boston at the Stadium next Monday.

Mo went 1, his usual. Scoreless. It’s rare when some team touches up Mo in spring training, 43 or not 43 years old.

Robertson, Joba, Logan and Nuno each pitched a scoreless inning.

Down 4-0, the Yanks got a run in the fifth on a Nunez walk, SB and a triple by Gardner.

The Yanks tied it in the sixth. Cano led off with a single and Youk doubled him home. Hafner singled and Hafner advanced on an error. Vernon Wells groundout plated a run. A few batters later, Stewart singled in a run to tie it while Juan Rivera was gunned down at the plate.

Gardner was 2 for 3 with an RBI. Travis Hafner, who was having a bad spring, went 3 for 4.

The Vernon Wells deal was finalized. The Yanks will pick up about $13MM of the $42MM Wells has left on his deal. In return the Angels get two low level minor leaguers who really didn’t do much or seem to have too much of a future with the Yanks: OF Exicardo Cayones, 21, who was in A- (short season) ball with Staten Island last year (.228-1-15 in 47 games) and LHP Kramer Sneed, 24, who was 0-7, 5.37 at High-A Tampa last year.

The Yanks also “dumpster dived” for 1B Lyle Overbay and will see what he has left. The lefty hitting 1B is 36 and was just released by Boston. The lefty hitter averaged 145 g., .270-16-68, OPS+ 110 from 2004-2011 for MIL/Tor/Pit/Az. For his career, a .270 hitter, OPS+ 108. Pop, but not a lot of it. .259-2-10 in 116 AB last year.

As Olney and Stark mentioned, some of these moves smack of desperation and patchwork. It doesn’t seem like the Yankees doing this. Which is why each predicted the Yanks to finish last in the A.L. East. It smacks of 1965 or 1966. Aging and/or injured greats (think of Mantle, Howard, Ford, Maris and compare them to Jeter/A-Rod/Teix/Granderson) with no farm system coming up. Ugh.

Once promising, the Yanks released IF Dave Adams. They signed RHP reliever Dan Otero (0-0, 5.84 in 12 g. w/SF last year).

Jeter finally admits that he won’t make Opening Day.

 

 

S.T. Gm 26. Nuno great again as Yanks blank Bosox, but will Derek be ready for Opening Day?

Vidal Nuno continued his sensational S.T. with the Yanks, pitching five scoreless innings in a 4-0 win over Boston today, but the wonder is if Derek Jeter will be ready for Opening Day in less than two weeks.

Jeter, 38 and coming off the broken ankle, had inflammation in the ankle the past few days and had a cortisone shot in the ankle today. He may or may not start the year on the D.L. If he does, Eduardo Nunez becomes the SS.

It may behoove the Yanks, even if Jeter IS ready for Opening Day, to break him in slowly by DH-ing him A LOT.

As for today’s game, Nuno went 5, 0 R, 2 H, 1 walk and 1 K. He has really opened eyes this spring. 0.68 ERA and that doesn’t include four scoreless IP AGAINST the Yanks when they loaned Nuno out to the D.R. WBC team for a game.

Both Joba and David Robertson tossed a scoreless IP, as did Mark Montgomery. Josh Spence (1/3) and Cody Eppley (2/3) split a scoreless inning.

The Yanks scored all their runs in the second inning. Juan Rivera singled and Ben Francisco doubled him to third. Jayson Nix hit a SF. Chris Stewart singled in the second run. Thomas Neal and Melky Mesa singled to load the bases. A WP brought in a run, then Brett Gardner walked to reload the bases. Eduardo Nunez’ SF capped the scoring.

The win improved the Yanks’ S.T. record to 10-16.

But you wonder if Jeter will join A-Rod, Granderson and Teix on the D.L. to start the year.

Ouch.

S.T. Game 9: Nova, Stewart, Gardner lead Yanks to 10-3 win.

Brett Gardner continued his hot spring with 2 hits and 2 SB, Ivan Nova had a sharp debut and Chris Stewart homered as the Yanks beat the Tigers 10-3 today in their spring training game. It snapped a 7-game spring training losing streak for the Yanks.

If Gardner takes what he’s done so far into the regular season, he’ll be a sparkplug. He’s hit in every game he’s played in so far. Ichiro was 0 for 3 today but he’s had a good spring so far too.

Prospects Tyler Austin was 1 for 1 with 2 rbi, Corban Joseph was 1 for 2 with 2 RBI, and Luke Murton had a hit and an RBI.

Robbie Cano also added a hit and an RBI.

Nova threw two scoreless innings, David Aardsma gave up a run in his inning as did Clay Rapada. After Shawn Kelley’s scoreless inning, Mark Montgomery gave up a run in his inning of work. Matt Daley, Francisco Rondon and Jim Miller finished up, all with a scoreless inning of work.

Nova pounded the strike zone, throwing 22 of his 27 pitches for strikes.

The Lower Hudson Journal reports that the first cuts have been made:

· RHP Corey Black · RHP Matt Daley · RHP Nick Goody · RHP Shane Greene · RHP Bryan Mitchell · RHP Zach Nuding · RHP Mike O’Brien · RHP Ryan Pope · 1B Kyle Roller

 

Players are now leaving teams for the WBC, so the next few weeks could get funky.

S.T. Game 5. Yanks lose, 10-7, embarrassingly

I don’t care if you ARE running out minor league players. Five errors in a game is completely unacceptable (Nik Turley, Corban Joseph, Jose Pirela, Walt Ibarra and MAJOR LEAGUER Jayson Nix).

Nik Turley started and was pathetic. Now Turley had a good year last year between High A (most of the year) and AA (one start, a win), going 10-5, 3.00 in 22 starts and 2 relief appearances. He K’d 117 in 117 IP.

But good God almighty was he awful today.

He got only one man out. 1/3 IP, 5 R, 4 ER on 3 H. He walked one, made an error and threw two wild pitches. I don’t know how you can get worse than that. The only plus was that the only out he recorded was a K.

Cody Eppley replaced him. He gave up 2 runs in 1 1/3 IP. Matt Daley came in, walked a batter and got an out. Lefty Francisco Rondon helped his cause with 2 scoreless IP. Tom Kahnle and Mark Montgomery each threw a scoreless IP. Josh Spence gave up 3 runs, all unearned, in his inning of work. Preston Claiborne and Ryan Pope each threw a scoreless inning.

Ok, we haven’t seen CC, Kuroda, Andy, Mo, Hughes or Nova yet. Nor have we seen Rapada, Aardsma or Logan.

But five errors and that performance by Turley were still pathetic. The Yanks were down 7-0 after 1 1/2 in a game they’d lose 10-7. It dropped their spring record to 1-4.

Brett Gardner had a triple and 3 RBI. Kyle Roller had 2 RBI. Chris Stewart 1 for 2 with an RBI, Cervelli 1 for 2.

It’s one thing to lose with minor leaguers who play the game crisply. It’s another thing to lose with ANYONE who plays sloppily.

Other news: This one hurts. ESPN reports that Phil Hughes, because of the bulging disk in his back, may NOT be ready for Opening Day. We’ve seen too many injuries (or people coming off injuries) to make us feel optimistic so far.

The Yanks are taking things slow with Kevin Youkilis, who reported a cramp above his hip (oblique) the other day.