S.T. Game 14. Yanks win 8-5

Jose Gil and Bill Hall each drove in two runs as the Yanks beat Washington 8-5 today to improve their spring training record to 6-8.

They went up against ex-Yankee Chien Ming Wang, and Wang was doing well, 2 2/3 IP, 0 r, 2 H, 0 walks and 4 K when he injured his hamstring in making an unassisted out on Russell Martin.

Michael Pineda started for the Yanks, and concerns about his velocity remain since he once again was stuck around 90-91 instead of hitting the 97 he was at last year. Pineda started well, retiring his first seven hitters, before running into trouble. I wonder if his conditioning will be called into play again since after those first seven hitters he then struggled a bit.

Pineda went 3 2/3, 2 R, 4 H, 1 walks, 4 K.

Clay Rapada came in, 1 1/3, 0 R, 1 H, 2 w and a K. Rapada is really making a mark for himself, and could be in the bullpen until Joba comes back. If so, the Yanks would have two lefties, Logan and Rapada. When Joba comes back, it’d go down to one.

Juan Cedeno went 2/3, 1 R,  1 H, 1 walk and 0 K.

Hall had a two-run double in the third, but the Yanks were losing 3-2 entering the seventh. They scored four in the seventh and two in the eighth on their way to the victory. For the most part, the offense today consisted of minor leaguers. One major leaguer who WAS in the lineup was Brett Gardner, who had an awful day by striking out in all three plate appearances.

Besides Gil and Hall’s two RBI each, Justin Maxwell had 2 hits and an RBI.

Brett Marshall got the win, going 2 2/3, 2 R, 2 H, 1 walk and 3 K.

Adam Warren faced one batter, and got him to pop up to end the game.

Ramiro Pena had to be removed after a caught stealing after he turned an ankle.

If I didn’t mention it before, I’ll mention it now. Long-time ump Harry Wendelstedt died last week.

Also, sportswriter Ken Davidoff has left Newsday to go to the NY Post.

Now to watch some March Madness…

S.T. Game 14: Yanks see an old friend

The Yanks take on the Nationals, and starting for the Nats will be Chien Ming Wang. Mostly minor leaguers in the lineup today.

From Lohud:

Brett Gardner LF
Russell Martin C
Andruw Jones DH
Chris Dickerson RF
Bill Hall 3B
Dewayne Wise CF
Jayson Nix 2B
Jorge Vazquez 1B
Ramiro Pena SS
RHP Michael Pineda

Today’s available pitchers: Michael Pineda, Brett Marshall, Juan Cedeno, Clay Rapada, Mike O’Connor, Cesar Cabral, Adam Warren and Graham Stoneburner.

• Today’s second string: C J.R. Murphy, 1B Jose Gil, 2B David Adams, SS Doug Bernier, 3B Brandon Laird, LF Justin Maxwell, CF Melky Mesa, RF Zoilo Almonte, DH Gary Sanchez

A lot will be made of Pineda’s velocity (or lack of it) today. Is he the 2012 version of the 2011 Hughes?

S.T. Gm. 13: Jays bruise Garcia (literally), Banuelos, Yanks, 7-5

Freddy Garcia didn’t pitch badly, but got a bruised hand for his troubles, and prospect Manny Banuelos was roughed up as the Yanks lost to Toronto in spring training game #13, 7-5. The loss drops the Yanks’ Grapefruit League record to 5-8.

Garcia went 3+ innings, giving up 2 runs, 4 hits, 1 walk, and getting one K. He gave up a HR to Edwin Encarnacion in the second. Encarnacion led off the 4th by lining one back off Garcia’s bare hand. It was said that Garcia suffered a bruise, and went for x-rays.

Cory Wade came on and finished the 4th, but not before giving up a two-run HR to J. P. Arencibia. That HR put Toronto up 3-1. Earlier, an RBI double by Granderson had tied the game in the third.

Wade’s line: 1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 walks and 2 K.

Banuelos was roughed up in the fifth. Walk, K, Flyout…ok, not bad, but then another walk, a 3-run HR by that man, Encarnacion, again, then a triple and single. 7-1 Toronto. He finally got a groundout to end the inning.

1 Ip, 4 R, 3 H, 2 walks, 1 K.

The Yanks got four in the sixth, on a two-run double by Doug Bernier and a two-run single by DeWayne Wise to make it 7-5. That is how it ended.

D.J. Mitchell pitched three scoreless, hitless innings, walking no one and striking out four.

For those of you who wanted Damon over Ibanez, you may be right. Ibanez is down to .083 so far this spring, and NY Post writer Joel Sherman states that he hasn’ t seen Ibanez hit a ball hard all spring. Um, Damon is still out there. Keep swinging in the cage, Johnny. If Ibanez is still lousy in May, maybe you’ll get a call?

Meanwhile, Jon Heyman of CBS chips in on the Pineda talk—that he showed up in camp overweight and his fastball is far below what it should be.

Hopefully x-rays are negative on Garcia.

As for the offense, Granderson and Wise each had two hits.

Tomorrow the Yanks will face the Nats. Starting for the Nats is our old buddy, Chien Ming Wang.

UPDATE: X-Rays on Garcia negative, thankfully.

Game 102. Seattle snaps 17 gm. losing streak. Beat Yanks 9-2.

Today’s game is an afternoon game. The Yanks have off tomorrow.

I’ll be at work today, so there will be nothing here except a recap when I get home tonight.

Phil Hughes will be up against King Felix.

Given the matchup, and the fact that Seattle has lost 17 in a row, it looks good for the M’s to end their streak. Sooner or later, they’ve got to win one.

Yesterday’s combined 18-k (14 CC, 2 each by Robertson and Mo) tied the Yankees record for the most by the Yanks in a game. Of course, the record they tied was the one set by Ron Guidry in June 1978 when the Gator struck out 18 Angels by himself.

Recap:

Phil Hughes rebounded and pitched well, 2 R in 6 ip, but he took the loss in  a 9-2 Mariners win that snapped Seattle’s 17 gm. losing streak. Hughes goes to 1-3, 8.24 (6 IP, 2 R, 9 H, 1 walk, 3 K ).

Seattle scored a run in the third when Ichiro singled and scored on a triple by Dustin Ackley. They put four singles together in the fifth to make it 2-0, with one runner being thrown out at the plate.

The Yanks cut it to 2-1 in the bottom of the fifth on a SF by Jeter.

After Hughes departed, the Mariners broke it open with five in the seventh. Wade came in, GO, double, single. 1st and 3rd, one out and Logan replaced Wade.  Cano made an error on a force attempt, a run scored. The error would prove to be very costly. A walk loaded the bases, then Logan got a K, which should have been the third out, limit the damage to 3-1. It was the second out however, and Mike Carp’s triple cleared the bases to make it 6-1. Luis Ayala came in and gave up a double to make it 7-1 before getting the last out of the inning. The game had gotten away from the Yankees.

Cano’s RBI groundout made it 7-2 after eight, but Hector Noesi gave up two runs in the ninth for the final of 9-2.

Wade 1/3, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 hits, 0 walks or K. ERA to 1.88.
Logan 1/3, 3 R, all unearned, 1 H, 1 walk, 1 K, ERA to 3.29.
Ayala 1 1/3, 0 R, 2 H, 0 walks, 2 K, ERA to 1.47.
Noesi 1 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 0 walks, 1 K, ERA to 3.34.

Congats to Ervin Santana of the Angels. A no-hitter today vs. the Indians.

TRADES:

The Reds sent Johnny Gomes to the Nats yesterday (.211-11-31 OPS+ 100).

From MLB.com:

The White Sox, Blue Jays and Cardinals completed what amounted to a three-team trade on Wednesday that sent right-hander Edwin Jackson (7-7, 3.92, ERA+ 104, CWS) to St. Louis and outfielder Colby Rasmus (StL .246-11-40, OPS+ 111)  to Toronto, and nine other players changing teams, with as many as three more to be named later.

The White Sox got reliever Jason Frasor (2-1, 2.98, ERA+ 137) and pitching prospect Zach Stewart from Toronto in exchange for Jackson and third baseman Mark Teahen (. About two hours later, the Blue Jays sent Jackson to the Cardinals, along with relievers Octavio Dotel (2-1, 3.68) and Marc Rzepczynski (2-3, 2.97) and outfielder Corey Patterson (.252-6-33, 13 sb) and three players to be named later or cash, and received Rasmus, left-handers Brian Tallet (0-1, 8.31) and Trever Miller (0-1, 4.02) and right-hander P.J. Walters (0-0, 9.00).

who’s going where? From MLB.com:

A look at which players went where in the 11-player trade between the Cardinals, Blue Jays and White Sox:

Cardinals	Blue Jays	White Sox
Octavio Dotel	Trever Miller	Jason Frasor
Edwin Jackson	Colby Rasmus	Zach Stewart
Corey Patterson	Brian Tallet
Marc Rzepczynski	Mark Teahen
3 PTBNL or cash	P.J. Walters

In another deal, the guy I wanted but the Yanks werent’ pursuing (and Beltran didn’t want to DH anyway) looks to be going to SF.  Click the link for details.

From Twitter: Yanks tried for Nolasco. Marlins not ready to deal him (7-7, 4.04).

The Cubs called the Yanks on Carlos Zambrano. Yanks not interested.

Wang back in majors. Starts for Wash. Friday vs. Mets.

Hurting M’s sign Wily Mo Pena. Matt Stairs DFA’d by Nats.

Lots of info. One last thing: A-Rod turned 36 today.

The Yanks farm system today.

AAA: SWB won 7-2. The bad news is this. Soriano one inning on rehab. 1 R, 1 H, and he gives up ANOTHER HR on rehab. If they put him back in the 8th inning to replace Robertson, I’ll absolutely LOSE IT!     Brackman gave up 1 R in 4 IP, but it wasn’t pretty. 3 H, 5 walks. Montero 2 doubles, RBI. RF Jordan Parraz 2 h, triple, 2 RBI. Gus Molina 3 run HR.

The loser? Chien Ming Wang of Syracuse. 5 r in 5 IP.

AA:  6-4 win for Trenton. Shaeffer Hall 9-4, 4.07, 6 1/3, 4r,  3 er. Brad Halsey finally has a decent outing. 1 2/3 scoreless, ERA 7.32.   Zoilo Almonte solo HR.  Addison Maruszak 3 for 3, 4 rbi.

High A: Tampa 2-1 losers. Chavez 0 for 4. Graham Stoneburner, 7 ip, 0 r, 2 h.

Low A: Charleston won in a rout, 14-0. Kelvin De Leon, triple, 2 HR, 6 RBI.

 

 

Game 99. Yanks beat A’s 7-5.

Derek gets 1/2 a day with the heat.

Yanks 58-40, 2nd in AL East, 3 g.b.; They have a 5 1/2 gm. lead
for the wild card position.

OPS+ 109, ERA+ 119; FOUR games worse than their Pythagorean record.

Jeter DH .274-3-28  11sb/14att OPS+ 87   3015 hits, 5 behind Palmeiro
Granderson CF .266-26-72  19/28  146
Teixeira 1B .240-26-72  2/3  123
Cano 2B .297-16-62  6/7  127
Swisher RF .261-12-56  2/4  118
Martin C .222-10-39  7/8  88   see prv. post. not in favor of him 6 or 7th 
Jones LF .204-6-17  0/0  85
Nunez SS .261-3-20  13/17  86
Laird 3B .250-0-1   0/0   81     1 for 4 in mlb career

Colon P  6-6,  3.34   ERA+ 124

Hopefully Colon holds up in the heat.

Check the bottom of the lineup. Check my previous post. Think they don’t need a bat? Please, Cash, check into Beltran (I wanted Beltran over Randy Johnson for 2005!)

One piece of concern: A.J. Burnett is 2-5 since June 1st. A foreshadowing of a repeat of last year?

I will have the minors on another post, but guess who is starting for Syracuse against SWB today? Chien Ming Wang.

In the 2d, trouble for Colon. With two out, he gives up a double, single and double for 2 runs. The Yanks got one back in the bottom of the 2d. With two outs, Martin singled, SB #8, scores on a Jones single. 2-1 A’s after two.

Two on, no out for the Yanks in the 3d, but they can’t score. 2-1 A’s after 3.

The Yanks take the lead in the 4th. With two out, Martin is HBP, Jones walks and Nunez comes through with a 2-run double. I know Nunez makes the errors, and a friend of mine doesn’t like Nunez, but I think the 24 year old rookie has some potential (as long as he tightens up his D). That’s 22 RBI for him, 13 SB, and compare that to Jeter. Remember that Nunez has a little less than half the at bats that Jeter has.  3-2 Yanks after four.

THANK YOU! In the Daily News Fifth, Filip Bondy FINALLY mentions to John and Suzyn that the Yanks might seek a bat (and he mentioned Beltran!) and that Posada hasn’t adapted to the DH role! FINALLY! Think John or Suzyn would say that? They’ll kiss Jorge’s ass to the end of time. Remember I’ve been advocating that for a while! I do give John and Suzyn credit for insisting that Robertson remain the 8th inning guy when Soriano returns. Suzyn makes a point to say that Robertson was an All-Star and has been fabulous (1.14 ERA) as opposed to Soriano’s 5.40 before he went on the DL. Salary be damned, you go with your best.

Great defense by the Yanks preserves the lead. With two out and a man on first, our old buddy, now nemesis, Hideki Matsui doubles, but the runner is thrown out at the plate. It’s an 8-4-2 (a daily # to play?) as it’s Granderson to Cano to Martin. The Yanks preserve a 3-2 lead. The two outs before that relay play were long shots to the warning track, one caught by Granderson, the other by Jones.

Granderson hits a 2-run HR #27 in the fifth to give the Yanks a 5-2 lead.

Love a Granderson HR. Hate it when Sterling sings The Grandy Man Can after he does so.

Teix follows with a single, moves up after a groundout. There’s a K, but singles by Martin and Jones make it 6-2. After the last couple of outs of last inning, I’d pull Colon here.

Nope. Colon still out there with the 6-2 lead. Boston is leading Seattle 5-3 in the 5th. If they win, it’ll be the Mariners 15th consecutive loss. They are currently 43-57. In other words, they were at .500 when this started. Ouch. A few weeks ago, the Orioles lost 9 in a row.

Still 6-2 after seven. D-Rob in for the 8th.

Colon was great. 7 IP, 2 R, 8 H, 1 H and 4 K. ERA drops a nickel to 3.29.

You knew Robertson was due for a blip. I mean, a 1.14 ERA? He gives up a run on back to back doubles in the 8th. 6-3. There is a walk, then two outs. But another double makes it 6-4, 2nd and 3rd, two out. A single can tie the game. Girardi goes to Mo for a four-out save. Mo is Mo as he gets out of the 8th inning jam.

Robertson 2/3 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 1 walk, 1 K. ERA to 1.57.

The Yanks get an insurance run in the 9th. Single by Nunez, to 2d on a sac, SB #14, scores on a grounder by Jeter. 7-4.

Trouble for Mo in the 9th. With one out, three straight singles load the bases with one out. That last hit makes Godzilla 5 for 5 for the day.

Uh oh. A 4th straight single makes it 7-5. Mo then gets a liner to Teix, who steps on the bag to complete a game-ending DP.

Colon goes to 7-6, 3.29. Mo gets his 25th save in ugly fashion. It’s #584 of his career. His ERA goes up to 1.88. It’s the 15th straight season of 25 saves or more for Mo.

Game 74. Giambi’s revenge. He HRs in Rockies win 4-2.

Phil Hughes has a rehab start for Trenton tonight. Check the minor league update late tonight/early tomorrow for the report.

The Yanks are home vs. Colorado tonight. Rain is in the forecast off and on for the next few days.

Yanks 43-30, 1/2 game back of Boston in AL East. 2nd place. Wild Card leaders. OPS+ 113, ERA+ 115. 2 games worse than Pythagorean record.

1. Gardner LF .286-4-18 14 sb/24 att. OPS+ 115
2. Granderson CF .278-21-54  10/17  150  leads MLB in R, AL in Triples
3. Teixeira 1B .246-21-55  2/3  136   needs to get BA up
4. Rodriguez 3B .296-13-45  4/5  138
5. Cano 2B .299-14-48  6/7  131  .299 highest amongst regulars
6. Swisher RF .236-8-35  1/3  106
7. Posada DH .225-7-23  0/2  92
8. Martin C .233-9-30  7/8  103
9. Nunez SS .241-2-11  8/11  80
Burnett P  7-5, 4.05  ERA+ 101

Update: I should mention that besides going up against Tulo and Helton, this marks the return of the Giambino (Jason Giambi) to the Bronx.

In the first, after an out and two walks, A-Rod doubled in one run. There was some indecision on whether to send Teix, but they held him up. Cano lined into a DP. 1-0 Yanks.

Welcome back, Jason Giambi, but not that way. The Giambino ties it up with a HR in the 2nd. It is #423 for Giambi.

Checking Twitter: Wang will finally take the mound in a minor league start on Monday. He hasn’t pitched (Majors or minors) since 2009.

Morneau neck surgery. Sheesh, between him and Mauer, the Twins have been hurting.

Yanks get two on, one out in the 2nd. Nunez pops up. Gardner grounds into a force. 1-1 after two.

The Rox load the bases in the third with one out. Single by Helton makes it 2-1. AJ limits the damage by getting Tulo to GIDP.

Alex comes through again in the 3rd. A Granderson run with his speed. Walk, SB, went to 3rd on a fly ball, and Curtis scored on a SF by A-Rod. Tied at 2 after three.

Bad AJ. Walk, double. 2nd and 3rd, no out. A nubber brings in a run, 3-2 Rox. AJ gets lucky with a lineout to Cano. Walk. Another walk, then AJ gets out of it.

AJ struggling. Hmm. Who gets up? Noesi used (and bombed) Wed. night. Carlyle?

After four, 3-2 Colorado.

I’d have pulled AJ after four. It’s clear he has nada, and Tulo goes deep off him. 4-2 Rockies. He puts two more on, but gets out of it. But it’s clear he has nothing tonight.

5th. Nunez singles, but is CS. Granderson walks, SB again, but is stranded.

In the sixth, AJ strikes out four. Yes, four. One reached on a WP on the strikeout.

After six, still 4-2.

AJ goes 6 1/3, 4 R, 7 H, 5 walks, 5 K. ERA 4.15. Logan in. He gets 2 K.

Not much O from the bats tonight. After seven 4-2 Rockies, just four hits for the Yanks.

With two outs, Logan gives up a walk and a double. Ayala in to get out of it.

Logan: 1 1/3, 0 R, 1 H, 1 walk and 2 K. ERA to 3.50.

Going to the 9th. 4-2 Rockies.

Ayala 1 1/3, 0 R, 1 H, 0 walks and K. ERA 1.48.

One out single by Swish, Yanks have a shot.

Nope. Lose 4-2. Drop to 43-31.

AJ drops to 7-6, 4.15.

Giambi 3 for 4, scored twice, 1 RBI. The revenge of Giambi.

 

Konerko to stay with Chisox?

MLBTR is reporting that Paul Konerko may stay with the White Sox. With their recent acquisition of Adam Dunn, it would give Chicago a 1-2 power punch. Chicago also this week retained A.J. Pierzynski.

The Orioles were also rumored interested in Konerko, but this would continue the string of players not going to Baltimore.

MLBTR also had interesting news on free agent Chien Ming Wang, who was non-tendered by the Nats:

the righty received some good reviews this fall following his recovery from shoulder surgery. One scout who watched the ex-Yankee pitch in instructional league action said he looked “filthy.”

It’s been a year and a half since he pitched in the majors, and that 2009 season was a disaster for Wang. You hope he can somehow get some of his stuff back after the two 19-win seasons he had for the Yanks.

Girardi to Cubs? Wasn’t going to happen and isn’t happening. Melky released.

LoHud reports:

The Chicago Cubs have hired a manager, and it’s not the guy currently leading the Yankees.

Mike Quade, the Cubs interim manager, has been given the full-time job with a two-year deal. The Cubs were long rumored to be interested in Joe Girardi — a natural fit given his ties to the organization and the area — but they made their decision before Girardi’s season came to an end.

Three other minor notes with some connection to the Yankees.

• The Braves have released Melky Cabrera. Given the disappointments of both Cabrera and Javier Vazquez, it might be time to refer to this winter’s deal with Atlanta as The Boone Logan Trade.

• The Nationals would like to re-sign Chien-Ming Wang. This story has been out there for a few days. Wang was never healthy enough to pitch for the Nationals this season, but he’s been pitching in instructional ball this fall.

• Yu Darvish wants to stay in Japan. Considered one of the top pitchers on the international market, Darvish was linked to various teams with plenty of speculation that he would be come to the States this winter, quite possibly with the Yankees. (thanks to MLBTradeRumors for the heads up).

Thoughts. I told people for weeks that Girardi wasn’t going anywhere. Maybe now they’ll believe me instead of a media that wants to hype a “story” even though that story isn’t true. Did I have personal information on Girardi? No. Just a gut feeling. But the people writing all this Girardi to Cubs stuff. Where were they getting it from? 

Melky is a nice little OF, that’s all. I wouldn’t mind him back with the Yankees, but it would be as a backup OF only. Defensive replacement, can play all three positions, can PR, switch-hits. Familiar with NY. Popular. Backup only and paid that way.

Darvish is something, but you always wonder about pitchers coming over from Japan. See Irabu, Igawa.

You really hope Wang can make it back. From back-to-back 19 game winner to where he is now. Tough.

 

 

 

Wang to Nationals.

The W stands for Washington…and Wang.

As expected, Chien Ming Wang signed with the Nationals today. It’s a 1-year deal worth $2M. He can make a couple million more if he reaches some incentives. He will try to revive a career that came up limping as he did on that summer day in Houston. Prior to that injury, Wang was 54-20 and coming off back-to-back 19-win seasons. Last year of course, was a 1-6, 9.64 disaster.

In 2006, I was at at game at old RFK where Wang pitched beautifully but lost the game in the bottom of the 9th when Ryan Zimmerman touched him for a walkoff HR. Now, Zimmerman is his teammate.

Wang was a class act. Without his arrival in 2005, the Yanks may not have made the playoffs. He was the ace of the staff for 2 1/2 years until his injury.

Good luck to him.

Lindsay Vonn may be doing some kind of successful voodoo dance or something. Once again, the Alpine events are working to her favor as far as getting more rest for that leg. Meanwhile the weather and bad slopes are throwing the men’s and women’s schedule regarding the skiing events into chaos.