Games 13 & 14. Yanks lose Friday, win Saturday on 1-hitter. CC back, but bad Betances news.

This will be brief, because I was out of town Friday night and all day Saturday.

The Yanks lost Friday night 9-6. J.A. Happ (0-2, 8.76, took the loss Friday) and Chad Green (0-2, 11.81) have been disappointing so far and both didn’t pitch well at all Friday night. They have to improve.

Greg Bird has to also. 6 for 35, 16 whiffs. Only one hit for extra bases.  James Paxton is 1-2, 6.00.

As for Bird, when guys get healthy, then someone has to be sent down, and if your numbers aren’t there, then….

It’s just the nature of the business. If he wants to stay in the majors, he’ll have to pick it up. Voit is only hitting .200, but Voit does lead the Yanks with 13 RBI.

The Yanks are in 2nd in the AL East, but 4 1/2 back of the Rays. It’s early but don’t discount Tampa Bay. Boston, like the Yanks, has been struggling so far. (5-10).  For the Yanks to get better, some players (see above for an example) must play better, as well as others have to get healthy.

The Yanks (6-8) snapped their four-game losing streak on Saturday. CC Sabathia returned from the DL (Stephen Tarpley sent down) and combined with three relievers on a one-hit shutout as the Yanks won 4-0.

Aaron Judge hit his 4th HR of the year in this game.

Tyler Wade squeezed home a run. I love to see that. With all the injuries, the Yanks have to find different ways to win. With Wade’s speed and bunting ability, this is one of them.

I can’t remember the last time the Yanks squeezed a run home.

If short on power because of the injuries, then pitching and defense and speed.

Dellin Betances’ shoulder isn’t better. Bone spur. Cortisone shot. Shut down 6-7 weeks, probably out 3 months.

Saturday’s pitching line:

CC 5 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 3 K
German (W, 3-0, 1.38) 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 4 K.
Britton (H, 3) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 4.05
Chapman 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 3.00

CC is now 11 strikeouts short of 3000 for his career.

 

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S.T. Game 25. Yanks win 6-2 but Betances goes to D.L.

The good news: The Game. The Yanks won 6-2 over the Rays to improve their S.T. Record to 15-6-4.

Luis Cessa continued his strong spring with four scoreless innings.

Aaron Judge singled, walked, scored two runs and drove in one.

Giancarlo Stanton had an RBI double.

Gary Sanchez had 2 doubles and drove in 2 runs.

Greg Bird hit a solo HR.

Billy Burns 2 for 2, RBI

Green 1 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K.
Cessa 4 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 5 K.
Britton 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 2 K.
Coulombe 2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 W, 2 K.
Sosebee 1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 2 W, 0 K.

The bad news: Dellin Betances to the DL with a shoulder issue. He’ll miss the start of the season.

Estevan Florial has another fracture in the wrist besides the one first diagnosed.

Other news: The Angels’ Mike Trout has 2 years and $66MM left on his deal. That was extended today for 10 more years and some $362MM(!!) .

Leroy Stanton, an OF for the Mets (1970-1971), Angels (1972-1976) and Mariners (1977-1978) from 1970 to 1978 died at the age of 72. He had 14 HR, 82 RBI and 18 SB for the 1975 Angels and 27 HR and 90 RBI for the expansion 1977 Mariners. For his career, a .244 hitter, OPS+ 103.

S.T. Games 22 and 23. Yanks hit 3 HR in each game, win both. Hicks to miss Opening Day.

Before we get to Sunday’s games, some news.

Kyle Higashioka sent down to AAA SWB.

Aaron Hicks will miss Opening Day. He got a second cortisone shot for his back.

This means, for a while (a week?) that Greg Bird AND Luke Voit could be on the opening day roster. Stanton would play LF, Gardner CF, Judge RF. Bird or Voit 1B, the other DH.

Rumors are the Yanks have made an offer to Gio Gonzalez, but are probably far apart. Being over the cap already, I can’t see the offer being substantive, and Gio made $12MM last year. My guess is that the Yanks probably offered half of that to cover themselves in case Severino has more issues and cannot come back in May.

Ok, the Yanks won BOTH split squad games today, hitting 3 HR in each game. So they are 13-6-4 for spring training.

Game 22. Yanks beat Phillies, 7-3.

Troy Tulowitzki 2 hits, a 2-run HR.
Greg Bird solo HR.
Gleyber Torres solo HR.
Tyler Wade 2 hits, 2 SB
Matt Lipka 2 for 2, 2 SB

Great outing for James Paxton. Not so for Chad Green.

Paxton 4 1/3, 1 R, 0 H, 2 W, 4 K.
Green (BS)  2/3 IP, 2 R, 2 R, 3 H, 0 W, 0 K.
Betances 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.
Kahnle (H) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K.
Coulombe 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.
A. Severino 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 W, 2 K.

Game 23. Yanks beat Orioles, 5-3.

Jonathan Loaisiga needed a good outing to keep up with Luis Cessa and Domingo German as far as filling in for Luis Severino and CC Sabathia in April. He provided it.

Kyle Holder 2 hits, RBI
Miguel Andujar solo HR.
Luke Voit 2 -run HR (the competition remains good and fierce between him and Bird).
Higashioka 2 hits.
Zack Zehner 2 hits, solo HR.

Loaisiga 3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 0 K.
Hale (H) 3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 1 W, 1 K.
Hutchison (H) 2 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 1 W, 0 K. Gave up 1 HR
Brothers (S) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K.

S.T. Games 15 and 16. A tie and a win.

The Yankees had a split squad today, so first, the away squad, who tied, 2-2, with the Tigers today.

Since on the road, mostly the prospects and minor leaguers.

Brandon Wagner solo HR.

Miguel Andujar 2 hits.

Cortes 2 1/3 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. Gave up HR (Miguel Cabera).
Coulombe 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 3 K
Adams 2 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 0 W, 2 K.
Coshow 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K.
Farquahar (H) 2/3 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 3 W, 0 K.
Hale (BS) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H. 1 W, 2 K.
Brothers 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K.

Despite the nice story Farquahar presents (the brain aneurysm last season), it is best he start in the minors before a possible call up.

The home game saw a 6-5 win (record 8-6-2).

Gardner 2 hits.

Zack Zehner GW 2-run HR.

Clint Frazier hit, RBI.

Gio Urshela solo HR.

Happ 4 IP, 3 R, 5 H, 0 W, 6 K. Gave up 2 HR. Ok this spring, not great yet. Looking for better. 1 WP.

Ottavino 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 3 K. Awesome.
Chapman (H) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 w, 1 K.
Betances (BS) 1/3 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 1 W, 0 K.
Holder 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 0 K. 1 HBP.
Kahnle 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K.

With the tie and win, the Yanks’ S.T. record is 8-6-2.

S.T. Game 13. Yanks fall, 6-5 to Tigers. Stanton Homers.

LF Giancarlo Stanton hit a massive 2-run HR, but the Yanks fell to Detroit 6-5 in S.T. action Friday night to go to 6-6-1 on the spring training season.

Masahiro Tanaka struck out the first four batters he faced before running into trouble. He had 5 K, as did Domingo German who also put up the K’s but also gave up runs.

A tough day for SS Troy Tulowitzki, 0 for 3 with 3 strikeouts.

The Yanks loaded the bases with no out in the second but didn’t score.

SS Kyle Holder 2 hits, 2 RBI, solo HR.
RF Isiaih Gilliam 2 for 2
C Austin Romine 2 hits, RBI.

Tanaka 3 1/3 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 1 W, 5 K. Gave up 1 HR.
Britton 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K.
Betances 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K.
German (L) 3 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 5 H, 1 W, 5 K. 1 HBP
Kahnle 1 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K.

Meanwhile Esteban Loaiza, briefly with the Yanks in 2004, got 3 years for cocaine possession (with intent to distribute some 44 pounds worth), and once time is served, will be deported.

Lastly, I’d like to welcome two new nieces into the world! They were born Friday morning.

 

S.T. Game 10. Yanks win but now have worries about Severino.

The Yanks beat the Braves 5-1 today to go to 5-4-1 on the spring but the game is of secondary importance.

In the game, Aaron Judge had a double and a 3-run HR.

But Luis Severino was supposed to start and did not, because of problems with his throwing shoulder. An MRI showed inflammation in the rotator cuff, (thankfully nothing worse) and Seve will be shut down for two weeks, given an injection, and also anti-inflammatory medication.

It also means that he is 99.9999999999% out as far as starting Opening Day.

Worrisome news, indeed. Thank goodness not worse, but the concern is there.

If the news WAS worse, Dallas Keuchel and Gio Gonzalez are free agents but you know the asking price would then go up.

Tarpley 1 IP,  0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K.
Green 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.
Happ  3 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 0 W, 3 K.
Kahnle 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.
Betances 1 IP, 0 r, 0 H, 0 W. 0 K.
Cortes 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K.

CC Sabathia will be working for ESPN as his final year progresses. Expect to see some reports from him on SportsCenter and Baseball Tonight.

Former Yanks’ broadcaster Al Leiter will be working in the Mets’ front office. ESPN announcer Jessica Mendoza will also be a special advisor for the Mets as well as keeping her Sunday night baseball gig.

New Daddy Betances reports in a few days.

Dellin Betances and his wife became parents of a baby boy, Dellin, Jr. the other day, so Betances will be reporting to the Yankees spring training camp a little later than his pitching mates. Probably Monday, according to manager Aaron Boone.