S.T. Game 35. Yanks lose final spring training game, 8-5. Ex-SS Amaro dies.

The Yanks and Braves opened up the Braves’ new stadium (saw some of it on MLB, looked really nice) with the Braves winning 8-5 thanks to a Baltimore chop base hit, an error and a bloop 3-run double.

A little bad luck.

The Yanks finish spring training at 25-9-1. Now the regular season starts Sunday and the games count.

Greg Bird got the first HR in the place (albeit, an exhibition game) with a 2-run blow in the third inning.

Michael Pineda was, well, Michael Pineda. So much promise but that one big mistake. So often last year he gave up the big hit with two out, and in the third, with two out, he gave up a 3-run HR to Freddie Freeman. You really wonder if it’s a concentration issue. It’s something he has to correct.

Dustin Fowler doubled in two in the top of the sixth to put the Yanks up 4-3, but then Atlanta got five runs, all unearned, in the bottom half of the inning as manager Girardi sent in bullpen guys to just get them work. For example, Aroldis Chapman faced just one batter, and he struck him out. Tommy Layne faced one batter, and he got him out. Then the roof fell in between Betances, Holder, the error by 3B Miguel Andujar and the bloop 3-run double that fell between four fielders.

Chris Carter homered in the seventh for the final score of 8-5.

Gary Sanchez was 2 for 2, hitting a double that just missed going out. Greg Bird was also 2 for 2, with that 2-run HR mentioned earlier. Sanchez hit .373 for the spring, Bird .451.  They’ll cool off, obviously, but it shows how much potential these two youngsters have.

Some guys that had rough springs that you hope heat up are Gardner, Headley and Carter.

Pineda 5 IP, 3 R, 6 H, 1 walk, 6 K. Gave up 1 HR.
Chapman (H) 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks, 1 K.
Layne (H) 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks, 0 K.
Betances (L) 0 IP, 2 R (both unearned), 2 H, 0 walks, 0 K.
Holder (BS) 1/3 IP, 3 R (all unearned), 1 H, 2 walks, 0 K.
Mitchell 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks, 1 K.
Shreve 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks, 1 K.
Heller 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks, 0 K.

Ruben Amaro, the main SS on the 1967 Yankees team, died yesterday at the age of 81. Your typical good field/no hit SS of the 1960s, he was also on the 1964 Phillies team that “Pholded” at the end of the season. He was with the Cardinals in 1958, the Phils from 1960-1965, the Yankees from 1966-1968, and finished his major league career with the Angels in 1969.

A .234 career hitter with eight major league home runs and an OPS+ of 71, his best year was in 1964 for the Phillies, when he hit .264-4-34, all career highs, OPS+ 84, and won a Gold Glove. He also finished 21st in MVP voting. He had 299 at bats in 129 games. Primarily a SS, Amaro played all infield positions and even one game in LF in his career.

His Yankees’ tenure consisted of 191 games, 130 of which were in 1967 when he was the team’s primary SS, hitting .223-1-17, OPS+ 70, in a career high 417 at bats.

After his playing career ended he worked for the Phillies for many years, and expressed his desire to be buried in his Phillies uniform.

His son, Ruben Amaro, Jr., became a major league player himself, later served as the Phillies’ GM, and is now the first base coach for the Red Sox.

 

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S.T. Game 34. Yanks blow out Phillies, 14-1. 25 man roster set.

On a day when the Opening Day Roster of 25 men was set, the Yanks scored 9 in the top of the first and cruised to a 14-1 win over the Phillies.

Before the game started, Aaron Judge was anointed the RF, Luis Severino the #4 starter, Pete Kozma the backup infielder, Bryan Mitchell to the Bp.

Now if Mitchell is only there until a 5th starter is needed, that I do not know. But it appears that he is in the BP and the #5 starter spot is between Green and Montgomery, neither being needed until April 16. Which is why Montgomery is going to AAA and Green AA, both pitching on the same day, aligned for April 16. Mano a mano. Best pitcher gets the April 16 assignment.

So Aaron Judge is the RF. Luis Severino the #4 starter…

and the 25 man roster for Sunday, Opening Day,  is:

Sanchez and Romine.

Holliday, Bird, Carter,  Castro, Kozma, Torreyes and Headley.

Gardner, Ellsbury, Judge &  Hicks.

Tanaka, CC, Pineda, Severino.

Chapman, Betances, Clippard, Layne, Shreve, Warren and Mitchell, along with Holder.

My friend Josh doesn’t like Holder over Heller.

Now if Montgomery or Green is named the #5 starter on April 16, who goes? Shreve? Holder?

I wasn’t too sure about Shreve. Kozma is there until Didi gets back.

I’m a little worried about CC. He didn’t have a good spring, nor did Gardner or Carter. We’ll see.

Severino had a shaky first today, but calmed down thereafter.

Meanwhile, the Yanks got nine in the first on a RBI single by Judge, Torreyes singled in two, Refsnyder singled in two, Ellsbury singled in one, and Sanchez capped things with a 3-run HR.

Torreyes hit a 2-run HR in the second.

In the sixth, Chris Carter doubled in a run and prospect Rashad Crawford hit a 2-run HR.

Severino 5 IP, 1 R, 5 H, 1 walk, 4 K.
Warren 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks, 2 K.
Clippard 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 walks, 1 K.
Marsh 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks, 3 K.
Frare 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 walk, 0 K.

Ellsbury had 2 hits and an RBI. Sanchez the 3-run HR. Torreyes 2 hits, inc. the HR, 4 RBI. Crawford the 2-run HR, and Refsnyder 2 rbi.

The win puts the Yanks’ spring record at 25-8-1. They have an exhibition game today at the Braves’ new field in Atlanta (Michael Pineda starting). They are off Saturday and the regular season starts in Tampa against the Rays on Sunday with Tanaka on the mound.

 

Yanks name Judge RF, Severino #4 and send down Refsnyder.

According to the blog River Avenue Blues and some other sources, the Yanks have made a couple of decisions.

Aaron Judge has won the RF job, and Aaron Hicks will be the fourth OF.

Rob Refsnyder has been sent down to AAA. Pete Kozma will be the utility infielder, with Ronald Torreyes manning SS until Didi Gregorius returns.

Luis Severino has been named the #4 starter. #5 is still up in the air between Chad Green, Bryan Mitchell and Jordan Montgomery. The Yanks won’t need Severino until the home opener April 10 and the #5 until April 16th.

Remember that next week I’ll resume postings for not only the major league games but for the minor leaguers too, that way you can keep track of the prospects like Gleyber Torres.

S.T. Game 33. Montgomery and Judge state their cases.

The case for the #4 and #5 starter just got more interesting, not to mention the RF job.

Jordan Montgomery pitched five strong innings today to further his case to make the starting rotation, giving up just one run in a 3-1 Yankees’ win over Toronto.

Aaron Judge went 2 for 3 with an RBI, is hitting .345 for spring training, and shockingly, may still be sent down to AAA.

The Yanks scored a run in the second when Starlin Castro tripled and Judge singled him home.

Toronto tied it in the fourth.

The Yanks got two in the fifth. Hicks walked and Judge singled. After a double steal, Austin Romine singled in a run. One out later, Brett Gardner singled in another.

I am one among many who are stupefied that the Yanks would go with Hicks in RF over Judge. Hicks may cover a bit more ground and have a better arm, but Judge has hit .345 this spring! If that can’t get you on the team, what will? I understand the Yanks want him playing every day, but I and many Yankees fans I talk to feel that Hicks, after hitting .217 last year, has a LONG way to go to gain our confidence. If this is indeed a youth movement, then why not go with Judge?

If anyone shouldn’t play, it’s Gardner, who’s had a bad spring. If anything, the OF should be Hicks, Ellsbury and Judge based on spring training results.

Needless to say, we want Judge over Hicks.

As for Ellsbury batting fifth, I only think it lasts until Didi is ready. Then Didi #5 and Ellsbury…. 8th? It sure looks that way.

We’ll see what Severino does tomorrow, but Montgomery, despite just six starts in AAA, laid down the gauntlet. Big, lefty, looking good. I’d go with the kid in the rotation.

Montgomery 5 IP, 1 R, 6 H, 1 walk, 4 K.
Heller (Josh’s boy, he loves him) (H) 2 IP, 0 r, 2 H, 1 walk, 1 K.
Shreve (H) 1 Ip, 0 R, 2 H, 0 walks and 1 K.
Graham (S) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks, 0 K.

Just two spring training games left. Thurs vs. Phillies with Severino starting, and an exhibition game in Atlanta on Friday at the Braves’ new stadium. Saturday is an off day and the regular season starts Sunday.

The Yanks go to 24-8-1 on the spring.

Random thoughts as we head to Opening Day.

I don’t mind the Sanchez 2 Bird 3 lineup. Girardi wants to be certain that both get up in the first inning where if they weren’t 2-3 one of them wouldn’t get up in the first in the event of a 1-2-3 inning. Also more at bats for when the lineup turns over.  Basically it’s subbing Bird in the first inning for Ellsbury (as well as splitting lefty/righty hitters).

I do wonder about Ellsbury fifth, and also have to wonder how temporary that would be and how much lower Ellsbury goes down in the lineup.

For don’t you think that when Didi Gregorius is back, that HE will be hitting fifth, not Ellsbury, and that Ellsbury would then be hitting, say, eighth? Especially since Didi had 20 HR last year and was showing power again in the WBC and in spring training before his injury?

Gardner-Sanchez-Bird-Holliday-Didi-Castro-Headley-Ellsbury-Judge/Hicks when Didi gets healthy?

More random thoughts. It depends on how long Tyler Austin takes to heal, but if Chris Carter continues to be a whiff machine, should he be looking over his shoulder when Austin finally is ready to play?

The coaching staff wanted to bring Gleyber Torres north, even though he has never played above AA. Says a lot. The front office wants him to get more experience in the minors, at least in AA before coming up to the majors. Could be bypass AAA altogether? It just shows how fast he is coming.

I also think Gardner and Ellsbury should be looking over their shoulders. Gardner would be the easiest one to move because of Ellsbury’s prohibitive salary. But with both starting to hit the age of 33 and showing some decline, and with some promising outfielders coming (Fowler, Rutherford, Frazier, McKinney, Mason Williams), I wouldn’t be surprised to see one moved.

In fact, Gardner hasn’t had too good of a spring training. If the Yanks wanted to play their best outfield based on spring training results, the argument wouldn’t be over RF (Hicks or Judge) but CENTER field (Gardner or Ellsbury). They would have Hicks in LF and Judge in RF, for both have done better than Gardner or Ellsbury this spring. Just saying.

Jon Niese re-signed with the Yanks after being released the other day. He’ll stay in Tampa in extended spring training to build up more arm strength. A surgery late last year has him behind.

The next two days are huge in filling out the rotation. Jordan Montgomery starts today vs. Toronto and Luis Severino starts tomorrow vs. the Phillies. It will be very interesting to see how they do and if their performances make them or break them as far as being in the rotation. The Yanks won’t need a fifth starter until April 16.

Pete Kozma (good field/can’t hit water if he fell out of a boat) may make the team with Didi out, then get DFA’d when Didi is ready.  I’d like to see Tyler Wade there instead of Kozma, though.

UPDATE: Wade and Kyle Higashioka were sent down to minor league camp last night.

We’ll see what happens. A lot of decisions on the 25 man roster have to be made in the next few days. The season starts Sunday.

S.T. Game 32. Yanks reveal lineup in 6-3 loss?

Masahiro Tanaka finally gave up a spring training run as the Yanks lost to the Tigers in spring training action today, 6-3.

Tanaka was still sharp however, despite taking the loss. He went 5 innings, and of the two runs he gave up, 1 was unearned.

Of note was the Yankees’ lineup, which Joe Girardi said could be the Opening Day lineup. It featured Gary Sanchez hitting second, Jacoby Ellsbury fifth (!) and Aaron Hicks 8th and in RF. (I would prefer Judge, myself). Ronald Torreyes would be the SS, batting 9th.

Earlier in the day, it was confirmed that Adam Warren is heading to the bullpen, leaving four candidates for the #4 and #5 spots in the Yankees’ rotation—Severino, Mitchell, Green and Montgomery.

The Tigers scored two in the top of the first, with help by two errors, one by Bird and another by Sanchez.

Ellsbury got an RBI groundout in the first.

Dellin Betances gave up a 2-run HR in the sixth. 4-1 Tigers.

The Yanks got two in the seventh to cut it to 4-3. Judge hit a solo HR. Tyler Wade singled and went to third on a two-base error and scored on a SF by Rob Refsnyder.

Apparently the Rays were interested in trading for Refsnyder earlier this week, but instead they made a deal with the White Sox for Peter Bourjos.

Ernesto Frieri gave up a 2-run HR in the eighth for the final score of 6-3 Tigers.

The Yanks are apparently going to try out Johnny Barbato as a starter at AAA SWB.

Tanaka (L) 5 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 H, 2 walks, 6 K. Looks ready to go Opening Day (Sunday).
Betances 1 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 0 walks, 3 K. Gave up HR. Struck out the side but the 2-run HR.
Holder 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks, 1 K.
Frieri 1 IP, 2 R, 1 H, 1 walk, 2 K. Gave up a 2-run HR.
Feyereisen 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks, 2 k.

Torres wins award, Yanks cut 3.

The Yanks were off as far as playing today, but some Yankees news.

Gleyber Torres won the Jack Dawson award as the best rookie in camp.

The Yanks cut 3. Ruben Tejada, the former Met, Donovan Solano, and Wilkin Castillo.