S.T. Game 21. Yanks win, but rest of S.T. cancelled, Reg. Season Opener delayed.

First the game, then the other MAJOR ramifications.

The Yanks (11-8-2) did beat Washington today, 6-3, to go to 11-8-2 on the spring training schedule.

BUT…. there it will stay for now.

Because of the coronavirus epidemic, the rest of spring training has been cancelled and the regular season has been pushed back two weeks—-AT LEAST. Could be more.

Everything is off right now. The NBA, NHL, XFL… all suspended or cancelled. March Madness for the guys and gals is cancelled.

Schools cancelled. Colleges doing online courses only.

Golf first said that it would go on with no spectators—after all, if there is only two golfers per hole with their caddies, no problem and no one in the next 450 yards, right? But now it looks like that is out, too.

So….nothing.

If you want to look on the bright side of life (cue Monty Python) this actually may help the Yanks regarding injuries/illness like Judge, Sanchez, Stanton and Paxton. But you don’t really want this as the way to help yourselves.

The Yanks did win, 6-3. Tyler Wade had two hits, inc. a 2-run HR. Good. He was struggling.

Diego Castillo had 2 hits.

Loaisiga 3 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 W, 3 K. Gave up HR.  2.70
Tropeano (W, 1-1) 2 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 2 W, 1 K.  5.19
Hale (H, 1) 3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K.  6.14. Good job, but enough?
Abreu 1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K.  5.40

So, there won’t be many updates for a while, not until this virus clears up.

Good news: Aaron Judge feels better.

 

 

S.T. Game 18. Yanks fall 3-1 to Phils, make more cuts.

The Yanks made a few more cuts today. From MLB.com:

Right-hander Brooks Kriske was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Right-hander Albert Abreu and outfielder Estevan Florial were optioned to Double-A Trenton. Right-handers Luis Gil and Luis Medina have been optioned to Class A Advanced Tampa. In addition, right-handers Domingo Acevedo and Alexander Vizcaíno were reassigned to Minor League camp.

I think you may see Kriske sometime this year in the Bronx.

Gary Sanchez is expected to catch Friday after being shut down for a few days with a sore back.

As for the game Monday, the Yanks (10-6-2) lost to the Phils, 3-1. J.A. Happ was solid, giving up one run in four innings on a HR. But Mike King gave up a 2-run HR in the bottom of the eighth that lost the game.

So far, it’s an encouraging spring from Happ. If he gets back to 2018 or 2016 form, he helps make up for this year’s loss of Severino.

Happ 4 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 0 W, 5 K.  1.38  Gave up a solo HR.
Chapman 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K.  0.00
King (L, 0-1) 2 2/3 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 1 W, 0 K.  3.86  Gave up 2-run HR.
Holder 1/3 IP 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K.  0.00

Just a hunch. I think Loaisiga gets the #5 starter spot (barring injury) and Garcia, Schmidt and King go to AAA. I have no clue as to what the Yankees do with Tropeano. Once Paxton is back, Loaisiga goes to the bullpen. The Yanks probably won’t push Loaisiga, but hope he gives four or five. Now what happens when German is ready is up in the air. For when Paxton does return, you have Cole, Tanaka, Happ, Montgomery and Paxton. Three lefties in the rotation, especially at Yankee Stadium, is a good thing so there is no guarantee that German gets his starting role back.

Of course, much could change with injuries and/or ineffectiveness.

S.T Games 16 & 17. A win and a tie.

The Yanks split the squad today (Sunday) and won one game and tied another. They are 10-5-2 in Spring Training.

First, the 1-0 win over the Braves, in which Yankees’ pitchers combined for a two-hit shutout.

Clint Frazier had 2 hits. Chris Iannetta with the RBI.

Concerns: Mike Tauchman .056; Tyler Wade .080

Tanaka 3 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 4 K.  2.08
Kriske 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K.  3.38
Ottavino 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.  0.00
Britton (W, 2-0) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K.  0.00
Kahnle (H, 1) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K.  0.00
Green (H, 1) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K.  2.25
Acevedo (S, 2) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.  0.00

Now the tie, 5-5 against the Orioles.

Tommy Milone 3 for 3, 3 RBI, a 2-run HR.

Schmidt 2 IP, 3 R, 1 ER, 4 H, 1 W, 2 K.  2.57
Abreu 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K.  4.50
Medina (H, 2) 1 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 2 W, 1 K.  2.25
Lane (H, 1) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K.  10.80
Gil (H, 2) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K. 2.25
Vizcaino (BS, 1) 1 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 1 W, 1 K.  9.00
Rosa 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K.  6.00

Recent cuts: C Kellin Deglan and Wynston Sawyer (minor league camp), P Nick Nelson (AAA) and Miguel Yajure (to AA).

 

S.T. Game 7. Yanks beat Braves 5-3. Garcia pitches, Florial Homers.

The Yanks (4-2-1) beat Atlanta 5-3 Friday, as their pitchers gave up just three hits.

The Yanks got their first look this spring at seeing top pitching prospect Deivi Garcia pitch in a game. He got three of his first four outs via the strikeout, but then gave up a walk and a HR.

Garcia, just 20, is a long shot for that #5 rotation slot, a slot open until James Paxton comes off the DL and/or Domingo German comes back from suspension.

At 20, he may need more time in the minors at AAA.

Speaking of German, he was involved in a car accident yesterday in the Dominican Republic but wasn’t hurt. He wasn’t driving but was a passenger in the vehicle.

Estevan Florial hit a 2-run HR for the Yankees.

The pitching line:

Garcia 2 IP, 2 R, 1 H, 1 W, 3 K.   9.00  Gave up 1 HR.
Nelson 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K.   0.00
Lyons 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.  0.00
Avilan (W, 1-0) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 3 K.   3.38
Kriske (H, 1) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K.   3.00
Vizcaino (H, 2) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K.  9.00
Abreu (S, 1) 1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K.  9.00  Gave up HR.
Don’t sleep on Kriske. He could be with the team sometime this year.

Avilan is a lefty, 30, who has pitched for Atlanta (2012-2015), Dodgers (2015-2017), White Sox (2018), Phillies (2018) and Mets (2019). He is 23-10, 3.28 with 2 saves in his career (ERA+ 121). Last year for the Mets he was 4-0, but with a 5.06 ERA. He is looking for a bounce-back year. He has pitched in eleven postseason games and hasn’t given up a run (7 2/3 IP) in the postseason.

S.T. Game 2. Andujar HRs, but Yanks lose 9-7.

The Yanks (0-2) lost to Tampa Bay 9-7 in their S.T. game today.

Good news: Miguel Andujar homered. Jonathan Loaisiga had a 1-2-3 inning. He is competing for the #5 starter job or a spot starter/long relief position.

There weren’t too many “major leaguers” who played. It was mostly minor leaguers. The only possible MLB players were Tyler Wade, Andujar, Luke Voit, maybe Thairo Estrada or David Hale, and that’s about it.

It came out today that Voit’s injury that sabotaged the second half of 2019 for him was worse than thought. He basically ripped everything. 3 ligaments on both sides of his groin had to be repaired in the off season. In the first half of last year, he had 17 HR and 50 RBI. Do the math. 34 and 100.

He feels fine now. Good sign. Even lost a little weight to make him a little more flexible. But that injury wasn’t just a sports hernia. It explains the big drop off in the second half.

Two hits for Chris Gittens today after he homered yesterday.

Estrada with a hit and an RBI.

Two hits and 2 RBI for OF Trey Amburgey. I like this kid. Righty hitter, 25. Hit .274-22-62 for AAA SWB last year. But no room for him at MLB level right now.

Pitching line:

Loaisiga 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K   0.00  Nice
Hale 2/3 IP, 3 R, 4 H, 0 W, 1 K.  40.50   Not so hot.
Lyons 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K. Threw a WP that let a run in. 0.00
Schmidt 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 0 K. 0.00  A top prospect.
Nelson 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 W, 0 K.   0.00
Yajure 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K.   0.00
Vizcaino (H,1) 1 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K.  18.00
Abreu (H,1)  1 IP, 1 R, 0 H, 2 W, 1 K.  9.00
Lane (L; BS) 2/3 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 H, 2 W, 0 K.  27.00
Reeves 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K, 0.00

C Wynston Sawyer, who spent last year (43 Games) with the Twins AAA team, made two errors, I didn’t see the one, but the other was quite embarrassing.

Gerrit Cole will pitch tomorrow (Monday) night.

HOF announcement tonight.

Baseball makes its HOF announcement tonight, as we see who the writers put in the Hall to join Ted Simmons and Marvin Miller, who both were selected by committee earlier.

You need 75% to get in.

As of this writing, 211 votes, 51.2%, are known.

Derek Jeter is still running unanimously at 100%, we will see tonight if that still holds up and if Jeter will join Mariano Rivera as the only unanimous selections.

Larry Walker, in his last year on the ballot, is at 83.7%. Curt Schilling is at 78.7%.

But only a little over half of the votes are known. Usually when the other, non-publicized part comes in, players drop, and someone like Schilling then is really on the bubble.

Barry Bonds and one-time Yankee Roger Clemens are at 71.6 and 70.6% respectively, thus a little short and expected to drop once more votes become known.

So it appears as if Jeter and Walker get in and the question is whether Jeter is unanimous and if Schilling joins them

Other notables: staying on the ballot would be Omar Vizquel, Gary Sheffield (the one -time Yankee at 36%), Scott Rolen, Billy Wagner, Jeff Kent, Todd Helton, Manny Ramirez, one-time Yankee Andruw Jones (23.7%), Sammy Sosa, Andy Pettitte (the Yankees’ great is at 10.4%) and another former Yankee, Bobby Abreu (6.2%).

You need 5% to stay on the ballot. Abreu is on the bubble. Pettitte stays on, but isn’t getting much support.

It appears like these notables will drop off the ballot, among others:

Ex-Yankees Jason Giambi (1 vote), Alfonso Soriano (0). Eric Chavez (one vote). Brian Roberts (0) and Raul Ibanez (0). 

Also dropping off would be Cliff Lee (1), Adam Dunn (0), and Paul Konerko (1).

The bold is players with Yankees’ connections, even if ever so briefly.

D.J. 4, Gleyber 17th in MVP vote.

Mike Trout of the Angels won his 3rd MVP—narrowly— over Alex Bregman of Houston. Trout got 17 of the 30 first place votes, Bregman the other 13.

Trout is the second youngest ever to win 3 MVP awards. The youngest being Stan Musial.

In the last eight years, Trout has 3 MVP awards, four runnerups and a fourth-place finish. If he retired NOW, he’d be in the HOF.  So close to 7 MVP Awards already.

He is tied for most in AL history. Barry Bonds won 7******** in the NL. (Asterisks necessary).

The Yankees’ D.J. LeMahieu finished 4th in the voting. Gleyber Torres finished 17th.

In the NL, Cody Bellinger won with 19 first place votes to 10 for defending MVP Chistian Yelich and one for Anthony Rendon of Washington.

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Will Smith became an early free agent signing, going to Atlanta from SF for 3 yrs. $39MM.

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Taking the Q.O. and NOT becoming free agents: Jake Odirizzi of the Twins and Jose Abreu of the White Sox.

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Minor League Report. Trenton sweeps, but SWB down 0-2 in postseason series. Severino, Betances pitch on rehab stints.

AAA: SWB has their backs against the wall. They are heading home, but are down 2 games to none in their best of five series against Durham after losing 4-2 tonight.

C Kyle Higashioka 2 hits, solo HR. RF Zach Zehner 2 hits, rbi.

Michael King gave up two 2-run HRs in the second and took the loss.

AA: Trenton advances to the Eastern League finals after sweeping Reading in the first round of the Eastern League playoffs with a 12-2 win.

Because of Hurricane Dorian, both Luis Severino and Dellin Betances got rehab work in with Trenton instead of SWB (who was in the Carolinas).

2B Thairo Estrada 3 hits, 5 RBI. Yes, I was surprised here instead of with SWB.
LF Ben Ruta 2 hits, 2 RBI.
DH Isiah Gilliam 2 hits.
RF Alexander Palma 3 hits, RBI
3B Max Burt 2 hits, RBI

Luis Severino (on rehab) 3 IP, 1 R, 5 H, 0 W, 5 K. Gave up 1 HR.
Dellin Betances (on rehab) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K.

Albert Abreu two scoreless innings, 4 K.

 

Minor League Report. Voit on Rehab, SWB at Lehigh Valley.

AAA: SWB (70-60) won 11-4 at Lehigh Valley. 1B Luke Voit started rehab games, 0 for 3 with a walk, scored a run. 2B Wendell Rijo 2 hits, RBI. SS Breyvic Valera (.319) 2 hits, 3 RBI, 3-run HR.  RF Trey Amburgey 2 hits. 2 hits, RBI 2B/1B Gosuke Katoh. 3B Mandy Alvarez 2 hits, 3 RBI.

Adonis Rosa (6-0, 3.51) 5 IP, 3 R, 7 H, 0 W, 5 K. Gave up 2 HR, all runs in first inning.

Recent signings David Hernandez and Ryan Dull each pitched a scoreless inning of relief, Hernandez striking out the side.

AA: Trenton (71-58) won 4-2. CF Rashad Crawford 2 hits, RBI. Trenton pitchers combined to strike out 14.

Abreu 3 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 2 W, 3 K.  4.07
Reeves 3 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 1 W, 5 K.  1.86
Lane (W, 4-2, 2.13) 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W 3 K.
Bristo (S, 1) 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 3 K.  3.38

High A: Tampa (60-68) lost both games of a doubleheader.

Regularly scheduled game: Lost 7-1, getting just 3 hits, 2 by 3B Oswaldo Cabrera.

Makeup of 8/1 postponement: Lost 6-1. Cabrera, 3B, 2 more hits.

Low A: Charleston (67-63) lost 4-2. RF Josh Stowers 4 for 4, 2 RBI.

These regular seasons will be coming to an end very soon.

Minor League Report. Maybin has great game on rehab. Frazier 4 for 4 with 2 HR.

AAA: DH Cameron Maybin had 4 hits, inc. a solo HR, in his first rehab game as SWB (58-43) won 11-6. SS Thairo Estrada 3 hits, 2 RBI, 2 -run HR. 2B Tyler Wade (.307) a 3-run HR. LF Clint Frazier 4 for 4, 2 HR, 3 RBI. C Kyle Higashioka 2 hits. 3B Breyvic Valera solo HR.

AA: Trenton (53-45) split a DH.

Reg. Sched. Game: Won 3-1. SS Hoy Jun Park 2 hits, solo HR. Starter Albert Abreu left after 1/3 of an inning because of injury. James Reeves and Danny Alvarez combined for
6 2/3 no-hit innings of relief.

Makeup of 7/22 postponement: Lost 6-0, got just two hits. Rony Garcia (L, 2-9, 4.63) tough luck losing pitcher. 5 1/3 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 6 H, 4 W, 4 K.

High A: Tampa (44-56) lost 6-5. SS Oswaldo Cabrera 2 hits. 1B Steven Sensley 3 hits. 3B Kyle Gray 2 RBI. Miguel Yajure hurt by his fielders 7 IP, 5 R, 1 ER, 7 H, 0 W, 7 K. 2.20. Five of the six runs given up were unearned.

Low A: Charleston (50-52) lost 8-6. CF Brandon Lockridge 2 hits. LF Canaan Smith 3 for 3, RBI (.309). C Mickey Gasper 2 hits, 3 RBI, 2-run HR. 2B Eduardo Torrealba 2 hits.