S.T. Game 32 Yanks lose on walkoff in 9th, 7-6; AAA roster cuts needed

In the old days, the Boss might have gone nuts, losing a walkoff to the Mets.

The Yanks lost 7-6 on a walkoff HR by Ike Davis in the bottom of the ninth. It might have taken a while to explain to the boss that a MLB star like Davis went deep off a 21 year old in Mark Montgomery who was pitching in Low A Charleston last year. Um, a 21 year old who was in low A last year pitching in the 9th of an exhibition game isn’t exactly Mo blowing one.

Montgomery was 0-0, 1.91, 15 saves for Staten Island and Charleston last year. He’ll probably be at Charleston or Tampa. He did have 51 K in 28 1/3 IP last year. But still, a legit star in Davis vs. a low-A kid. So take it as that.

The thing that was bothersome today was a poor start by Ivan Nova, who went 2 2/3, 5 R, 8 H, 2 walks and 3 K. A poor performance, and it’s good to get it out of his system now. But Nova has NOT had a good spring, and he has two bullpens to right himself before his first regular season start.

Down 4-0 after three, the Yanks got a solo HR by Swisher (2 hits today) in the fourth.

In the sixth, they scored five runs to take the lead. Andruw Jones had a RBI single, DeWayne Wise was HBP with the bases loaded, Bill Hall had a SF, Doug Bernier (2 hits) had a RBI single and Chris Dickerson had an RBI single. This was all off of Jon Niese of the Mets after the Mets got four good innings out of Pelfrey.

Dave Phelps had relieved Nova in the third. 1 1/3, 0 R, 1 H, 0 walks and 2 K in his bid to become the Yanks’ long man.

He was replaced by D.J. Mitchell, who in his bid to be the long man went 3, 1 R, 2 h, 1 walk and 1 K. He gave up the tying run in the bottom of the sixth.

Pat (ambidextrous) Venditte went 2/3, 0 R, 1 h, 1 walk and 0 k. Branden Pinder went 2/3, 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks and 1 K. Then came Montgomery, and Davis was the only batter he faced.

NOTES: The Yanks drop to 17-12-3 with the loss today. They will end the exhibition season tomorrow with a game vs. the Mets at home in Tampa, then have a workout day at Tropicana on Thursday before starting the season vs. the Rays Friday afternoon. Andy Pettitte is scheduled to pitch one inning tomorrow and expect him to get a huge ovation.

The Yanks released Jorge Vazquez. He hit .262-32-93 at AAA last year, but there is no place for the 30 year old 1B/3B. He has power, but holes in his swing and no patience (30 walks, 166 strikeouts). The Yanks recently signed Steve Pearce, 29, a righty hitting 1B/3b/OF, who has had 465 at bats with the Pirates in his MLB career (2007-2011), .232-9-52, OPS+ 79. He’ll be at 1B for Empire State. Vazquez basically wanted out after realizing he’s not in the Yanks plans at all.

In other minor league news, DeWayne Wise and Jayson Nix went unclaimed by other teams and thus can be sent to Empire State (AAA; and yes, it’ll be strange to write Empire State instead of SWB).

My friends at the BBD blog had this recently for AAA:

EMPIRE STATE YANKEES (AAA)

PITCHERS: Manny Banuelos, Dellin Betances, Juan Cedeno, Manny Delcarmen, Adam Miller, Mike O’Connor, Ryan Pope, and Kevin Whelan.

CATCHERS: Ryan Baker.

INFIELDERS: Brandon Laird, Steve Pearce, Ramiro Pena, Kevin Russo, and Jorge Vazquez.

OUTFIELDERS: Dan Brewer, Colin Curtis, Jack Cust, Cole Garner, Austin Krum, and Ray Kruml.

Ok. The losers among Phelps, Warren and Mitchell for the long man spot will go here. Jason Bulger (just signed) will go here soon. Pettitte may go here soon for one start on his way back, then you have the rehab projects later on who could go here late in the year (Aardsma? Joba?). Romine will go here once his back gets better. Recently picked up Craig Tatum will go here to catch (100 mlb games with Cincy/Balt., .223-1-22 in 269 AB). You figure that Doug Bernier goes down here to be another infielder. Bill Hall does NOT have an opt-out clause in his contract and so will be going to Empire State as well, per Chad Jennings of Lohud quoting Brian Cashman. Now add Nix.

Now look at the OF. You see the recently acquired Cust there, and a bunch of others. When Russell Branyan’s back gets better, he has to fit in at 1b/3b or Dh. Now add Wise to that bunch.  Also NOT on the list above is Chris Dickerson or Justin Maxwell.

From LoHud:

Cashman said he has not gotten any calls on outfielder Justin Maxwell. Despite a great spring, it seems that the Yankees have no spot on the roster for Maxwell, who’s out of options. Is Cashman surprised teams aren’t calling about him? “I don’t know what other people’s needs are out there,” he said.

In short… that AAA roster looks crowded. We’ll see what happens as far as narrowing that roster down.