Roster moves before Opening Day.

The Yankees made some roster moves before Opening Day on Thursday. Justin Wilson starts the season on the IL. No corresponding move yet, but I’d expect Lucas Luetge to make the team to replace him.

Michael King and Tyler Wade will break camp with the team.

Derek Dietrich and Robinson Chirinos have accepted minor league assignments. Chirinos is recovering from a wrist fracture.

Jhoulys Chacin was released.

S.T. Game 28. Yanks end spring training with a 5-2 loss.

The Yankees ended spring training with a 14-12-2 record by losing their last spring training game, 5-2, to the Tigers.

Domingo German gave up a 2-run HR, and Chad Green gave up a 3-run shot.

For the Yankees, who only got four hits (I’m a bit concerned the offense hasn’t been clicking so far), Giancarlo Stanton had an RBI double, and Thairo Estrada a solo HR.

German (L) 4 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 0 W, 4 K. 1 HBP. Gave up a 2-run HR.
Green 2/3 P, 3 R, 2 H, 1 W, 1 K. Gave up a 3-run HR.
O’Day 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K.
Loaisiga 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.
King 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K.
Gil 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 3 K.
McClain 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 2 K. 1 WP.

Opening Day is Thursday. Gerrit Cole on the bump.

S.T. Game 27. Yanks fall, 6-2.

The Yanks (14-11-2 in Spring training) lost Sunday to the Phillies, 6-2.

Thairo Estrada had a solo Hr.

Tyler Wade had two hits.

I haven’t been a big Luis Cessa fan, and he did struggle today.

The Yanks announced the rotation for the first six games of the regular season. Cole, then Kluber, then German, Montgomery, Cole, then Taillon.

Kluber (L) 3 1/3 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 4 W, 5 K. 1 HBP. Control off.
Kriske 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K
Nelson 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K
Chapman 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.
Cessa 1 IP, 3 R, 4 H, 0 W, 2 K.
Medina 1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 W, 0 K.

Tomorrow is the last Spring Training game. Regular season starts Thursday, April 1. It will be cold, temps at Yankee Stadium expected at 43 as a high.


UPDATE: This isn’t good. And bothersome. Sanchez hit .186 in 2018 and .147 last year. That hot start by Gary Sanchez this spring training is looking more distant by the day. After Sanchez struck out in all three plate appearances, he’s now in a 4-for-30 slump and has whiffed 15 times during that stretch.

That has to concern you.

S.T. Game 26. Torres and Ford power Yanks to 5-1 win.

With Luke Voit going on the DL, and Jay Bruce now making the team as the first baseman, it’s easy to overlook Mike Ford, who earlier in camp was optioned back to the minors.

Ford yesterday had a performance that basically said, “hey, don’t forget about me”, especially if Bruce doesn’t cut it.

Ford had a great 2019 for the Yankees, hitting 12 HR in just 143 at bats, and having an OPS+ of 136. His 2020 was lousy, as he hit just .135 in 74 at bats, OPS+ just 38. So which Mike Ford is it? Probably somewhere in between.

Yesterday Ford went 4 for 4 with a solo HR.

On top of that, Gleyber Torres went 3 for 3 with a double, two home runs, and 3 RBI in the Yanks’ (14-10-2 in spring training) 5-1 win over Toronto on Saturday.

Estevan Florial had 2 hits and an RBI.

A couple of cuts: Robinson Chirinos, who has a fractured wrist from a HBP a few weeks ago, and Derek Dietrich.

Pitching Line:

Chacin 2 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 2 K.
L. Garcia 1 1/3, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.
Luetge 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K.
Barraclough 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K.
Abreu 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.
Lyons 1 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K.

This was a covid-shortened, 8 inning game. 7 1/2 because the Yanks didn’t have to bat in the bottom of the eighth.

S.T. Game 25. Chapman off as Yanks lose to Baltimore, 4-1.

Aroldis Chapman had a rough time, giving up three runs on three hits and throwing three wild pitches—two of which brought runners home—while only recording one out in the Yankees (13-10-2 in spring training) loss to Baltimore on Friday, 4-1.

The Yankees only got three hits in the game. Tyler Wade made two errors.

Gerrit Cole looked good in his last spring training game before he starts for the Yankees on Opening Day, next Thursday, April 1.

Cole 5 2/3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 5 K.
O’Day 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.
Chapman (L) 1/3 IP, 3 R, 3 H, 1 W, 1 K. Threw 3 wild pitches.
Goody 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 0 K.
Green 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 1 K. 1 WP
Kriske 1 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 1 W, 2 K.

UPDATE: Domingo German has won the #5 starter spot. Deivi Garcia has been optioned to the minors. Remember, Garcia is still just 21 years old.

S.T. Game 22. Yanks, Tigers tie, 5-5.

Spring training games are different, because closers like Chapman don’t close. They are there to get their work in, and often pitch in the fourth or fifth inning of spring training games, then leave. As long as they got their work in.

Which means often spring training games are decided by people who won’t make the team but will be going to AAA, AA or lower once spring training is over.

Such was the case today, when Nick Goody couldn’t hold a 5-2 Yankees (13-7-2 in spring training) eighth inning lead in a game that finished in a 5-5 tie.

Mike Tauchman had two hits, including a HR leading off the game.

Greg Allen and Chris Gittens hit back-to-back HR for the Yankees in the eighth inning. Allen had 2 RBI in the game.

Tyler Wade added two hits.

Kluber 3 2/3 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 W, 4 K.
Nelson (BS) 2 1/3 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 W, 3 K.
L. Garcia (H) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K.
Goody (BS) 1 IP, 3 R, 3 H, 1 W, 1 K. Gave up 1 HR (3-run HR). 1 HBP.
Kriske 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 W, 2 K. 1 WP.

S.T. Game 21. Phils blank Yanks, 4-0.

The Yankees (13-7-1 in spring training) only got two hits—both by Giancarlo Stanton—-in losing 4-0 to the Phillies Monday night.

The bats seem to be in a bit of a slump lately. I like the pitching, with one exception. With Zack Britton out, Justin Wilson needs to step up, and he’s had a bad spring so far. Last night he gave up a 2-run HR to our old buddy, ex-Yankee Didi Gregorius.

Taillon (L) 2 2/3 IP, 1 R, 5 H, 0 W, 5 K. Needs to go deeper and soon. Opening Day not far away.
Green 1 1/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K.
Chapman 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K. 1 WP.
O’Day 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 1 K.
Wilson 0 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 2 W, 0 K. Gave up the HR to Didi, didn’t get anyone out.
Cortes 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 2 K.
Lyons 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 3 K.

On another note (NBA), Lakers legend from the 1960s Elgin Baylor (retired #22) passed away, age 86. RIP.

UPDATE: Wilson complained of shoulder tightness and will be getting an MRI today. So the Yanks could have two lefty relievers on the DL come Opening Day (Britton and Wilson) and if so, we may see both Luetge AND Lyons on the team Opening Day.

S.T. Game 20. Yanks beat Toronto, 8-3.

Thairo Estrada hit a 3-run HR as the Yankees (13-6-1 in spring training) beat Toronto 8-3 Sunday.

Besides Estrada’s blast, the Yankees got 2 hits and an RBI double from Luke Voit, 2 hits, including a 2-run double from Clint Frazier, and 2 hits and an RBI from Tyler Wade.

Cole 5 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 1 W, 8 K. Gave up 1 HR.
Wojciechowski 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 3 K.
Luetge 1 1/3 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 0 W, 2 K. Gave up 2 HR.
Russ 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K.
Goody 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K.

S.T. Game 19. Yanks lose a squeaker, 2-1.

The Yankees (12-6-1 in Spring Training) lost a squeaker to Baltimore on Saturday, 2-1.

The Yankees only got three hits in the game, and the only run came on a HR by Gio Urshela.

King 4 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 1 W, 6 K.
Loaisiga (L) 2 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K. Gave up a solo HR.
Cessa 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 3 K.

S.T. Game 18. Control issues doom Yanks in 9th, lose 4-1.

In a game that only featured four hits, two by each team, control issues doomed the Yanks (12-5-1 in spring training) as they gave up four runs in the ninth to lose 4-1.

There were fifteen walks in the game, and Yankees’ pitchers gave up nine of those. They also had 2 WP, and a HBP—all in the ninth inning, as well as a missed catch error on a ball thrown back to the pitcher by the catcher that let a run score. Embarrassing.

Aaron Hicks doubled for the Yanks, leading to a SF by Luke Voit for their only run.

Starter Deivi Garcia walked four in his three innings of work, including three in the first to load the bases, but didn’t give up any runs.

Not so with Kyle Barraclough in the ninth.

Ex-Yankee Ivan Nova started for the Phils, giving up 1 run in three innings. The Phils didn’t get a hit until ex-Yankee Ronald Torreyes singled leading off the eighth.

D. Garcia 3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 4 W, 2 K.
Chapman 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K.
O’Day (H) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K.
Wilson (H) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K.
Green (H) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K.
L. Garcia (H) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 1 K.
Barraclough (L; BS) 2/3 IP, 3 R, 0 H, 3 W, 2 K. 1 WP.
McClain 1/3 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K. 1 WP, 1 HBP.

The Yanks sent four down to the minors yesterday. Mike Ford (which could mean Jay Bruce makes the team?), Thairo Estrada (meaning Tyler Wade makes the team?) , Albert Abreu and Brooks Kriske.