S.T. Game 29. Yanks lose, Gio rusty. Roster set? Trade made.

You may be working out on the side, but until you get that game experience ….

Newly signed Gio Gonzalez showed his rust as the Yanks lost to Toronto Saturday afternoon, 7-3.

The loss puts the Yanks S.T. record at 16-9-4.

Gleyber Torres had a 3-run HR for the Yanks in the first inning.

Masahiro Tanaka only worked two innings in preparing for his Opening Day start this coming Thursday and looked sharp. We can only hope he’s like this on Thursday. Two scoreless innings.

Besides Gonzalez’ rust, Aroldis Chapman had a rough outing. His velo is down and I am a bit concerned about him.

Tanaka 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 3 K.
Chapman (H) 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 W, 1 K.
Green (H) 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K.
Holder (H) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K.
Gonzalez (BS, L) 2 IP, 5 R, 4 ER, 4 H, 2 W, 0 K. Gave up 1 HR.
Kriske 1 1/3 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 2 W, 2 K
Bristo 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K.

I had to look up who Kriske was. Never heard of him. Brooks Kriske, 25, RHP, 2-2, 1.09 at short season Staten Island last year. 33 K in 24 2/3 IP. 2 games for Low A Charleston. 0-0, 4.50 in four innings. Far down on the “totem pole”. But had to see who was this guy? Was with Staten Island a bit in 2016, missed all of 2017. My guess is Charleston (low A) bound.

The Yanks basically set the 25 man opening roster today, but there could be a minor move yet.

C Sanchez and Romine
IF Bird (could still make a move here to put him on DL if elbow (HBP recently) problem lingers. If he is on DL, Wade AND Tauchman could make team? See below), Voit, Torres, LeMahieu, Andujar, Tulowitzki
UT Wade? See below.
OF Gardner, Judge, Stanton (Tauchman? See below).

The ? is Wade. I mentioned in my this blog earlier today that the Yanks could pick up an OF via someone getting cut by another team or by trade. I nailed that one. Just a few hours after I wrote that, the Yankees made a deal today for an OF.

The Yanks sent LHP Phillip Diehl to Colorado for OF Mike Tauchman. I was concerned about Wade’s lack of OF experience and the Yanks apparently are too.

So that final spot could come down to Wade or Tauchman.

UPDATE: Bird makes team, is OK. Wade sent down. Tauchman is backup OF.

First off, Diehl. 24. LHP. Goes to Colorado. Last year 2-3, 2.51 between High A Tampa and AA Trenton. Probably going back to AA. Boone was impressed with him in S.T.

Wade, mostly an IF (2B/SS/3B) has been used in the OF to increase his versatility, but is not a true OF. In 124 MLB at bats for the Yanks in 2017 and 2018, has hit only .161-1-7, 42 strikeouts, OPS+ 25. In 176 AAA games, .282-11-58 with 37 SB. He hasn’t taken that to the majors yet, and the 24 year old lefty hitter, although possessing great speed, hasn’t had a lot of OF experience.

Hence the trade for Tauchman. That last spot on the team for now (position player) is between Wade and Tauchman (unless Bird has to go on the DL, then both may make the team). Tauchman, a lefty bat, is 28, and is only 9 for 59 in his MLB career (.153-0-2, OPS+ 20). Like Wade, he needs his skills to translate from AAA to a major league level. While Wade has the speed, Tauchman could show the power, and is a true OF, which Wade isn’t. In 112 games at AA in 2018, Tauchman hit .323-20-81 with 12 SB. In 2017 at AAA, Tauchman hit .331-16-80 in 110 games with 16 SB.

Unlike Wade, Tauchman has a lot of experience in all three OF positions.

Whether it is Wade or Tauchman, expect neither to be there long. He’ll be gone once Hicks is ready.

As for what happens if or when Ellsbury is ready? We won’t go there.

The 13 ptichers are:

Tanaka
Paxton
Happ
Cessa (starter? Middle relief?)
CC (to start year w/suspension, then go on DL)
Chapman
Tarpley (I told you not to overlook him…. made team)
Britton
Green
Ottavino
Holder
German (starter? relief?)
Kahnle

When CC goes on the DL, Loaisiga, who was sent down, will replace him temporarily.

As for room for Gio (rusty today, see above) or Severino when ready, who knows. Same with Betances, and same with Montgomery this summer.

But you can never have enough pitching.

As I said in my prior post, sometimes you have to make tough decisions, and sometimes due to poor performance and/or injury, they are made for you.

Some decisions you just have to wait on. Cross that bridge when we get to it.

But also, don’t be surprised if, until Seve and CC are ready, Boone goes with an “opener” in a couple of games.

S.T. Game 28. Yanks beat Phils, 6-3. Stanton HRs 2X. More cuts.

Giancarlo Stanton homered twice as the Yanks (16-8-4) beat the Phillies 6-3 in spring training action Friday night.

It’s the last game at Tampa for spring training. They have a game on the road Saturday (Gio Gonzalez starting) and also Sunday in Florida, then go to DC for an exhibition game against the Nationals in Washington, D.C., then have two days off before opening the season at home in the Bronx Thursday against the Orioles.

Jonathan Loaisiga showed his talent and his rawness. He pitched 4 innings, striking out 7, but gave up 2 solo HR.

Two of the Yanks’ runs scored on wild pitches.

Stanton 2 HR, 3 RBI. One HR an absolute bomb.
LeMahieu 2 hits.

Loaisiga 4 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 0 W, 7 K. Gave up 2 HR.
Britton 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 0 K.
Tarpley (H) 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K.
Ottavino (H) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H. 0 W, 1 K
Hale 2 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 2 W, 4 K.

Cuts made today: Clint Frazier (6 for 46 in S.T. with 15 strikeouts—aftereffects from concussion problems last year?)

Also (from the NY Post): The Yankees also announced pitchers Rex Brothers, Danny Coulombe, Phillip Diehl and Drew Hutchison were re-assigned to minor league camp.

 

 

 

 

S.T. Game 27. Yanks fall, 11-3. Some injury concerns alleviated.

Maybe the signing of Gio Gonzalez made Domingo German try too hard today, because after a decent spring training, German had a rough day today, giving up 3 HR in an 11-3 loss to St. Louis.

Some injury concerns were alleviated today. Tyler Wade, who complained of hip tightness yesterday, felt much better today. Greg Bird’s elbow, hit by a pitch yesterday, swelled up, but X-rays, thankfully, were negative.

Hopefully, spring training instructor Lee Mazzilli is ok. He was hit in the head by a line drive during batting practice Wednesday in Tampa and was in the hospital for observation.

Gleyber Torres had a double and 2 RBI.
Gio Urshela had 2 hits.

German (L) 3 2/3 IP, 5 R, 6 H, 0 W, 4 K. Gave up 3 HR, 2 to Dexter Fowler.
Brothers 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.
Tarpley 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K. Hasn’t given up a run this spring.
Reeves 1/3 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 2 W, 0 K.
Coshow 1 IP, 4 R. 5 H, 0 W, 2 K.
Diehl 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K.

The Yanks are 15-8-4 this spring training. Opening Day is one week away.

One-time Yankee Ichiro Suzuki ended his career today in Japan. He played the first two games of the season for the Mariners, going 0 for 5.

S.T. Game 24. Tanaka good as Yanks win 7-4. Yanks sign Gio for insurance.

Masahiro Tanaka looked good today as the Yanks beat the Braves 7-4 to improve their spring training record to 14-6-4.

Tanaka gave up just 1 run on 2 hits in 5 IP in preparing for his Opening Day assignment.

Aaron Judge continued his hot spring with a 2-run triple. He has 11 hits this spring, and ALL are extra base hits. 4 doubles, 1 triple and 6 HR.

Luke Voit is continuing to make you think he isn’t last year’s flash in the pan. He hit a solo HR, his fourth of spring training.

Austin Romine had 3 hits and 2 RBI.

Ryan Lavarnway had 2 hits and 2 RBI.

Tanaka 5 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 2 W, 7 K.
Ottavino 2/3 IP, 3 R, 2 H, 2 W, 2 K. Free agent signing struggling a bit.
Tarpley (H) 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K. Don’t sleep on this kid.
Diehl (H) 1 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 W, 3 K.
Alvarez (S) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K.

Yanks pitchers combined for 15K.

It’s just spring training, but some encouraging things, esp. from Tanaka, Voit, Judge, and Tarpley. And tonight, Romine.

The Yanks made a low-risk, high-reward signing tonight by signing Gio Gonzalez to a minor league deal. He has an April 20 opt-out. He gets $3MM if he makes the major league roster, with incentives.

It is an insurance move in case of a worst-case scenario regarding Severino and CC.

A lefty, but I don’t mind having a lot of lefties (Happ, Gio, CC, Paxton).

UPDATE: And Jordan Montgomery when he gets healthy.

I remember that the 1980  Dick Howser led Yankees, who went 103-59 before getting swept in the ALCS by KC, had four lefty starters in Guidry, John, Rudy May and Tommy Underwood.

Remember that lefties, hitters and pitchers, are what has made Yankee Stadium and the Yankees over the years.

Gio was predicted by MLBTR to get a 2-yr., $24MM deal. Quite a come-down from that prediction, and along with Tulowitzki, a possible steal.

Gonzalez, 33, was 10-11, 4.21 (ERA+ 100, right on league average) between Washington and Milwaukee last year. In 2017, he won 15 games, had an ERA of 2.96 and finished 6th in CYA voting.

A 2x All-Star (2011 and 2012) he led the majors in wins with 21 in 2012, when he finished 3rd in CYA voting and 20th in MVP voting.

Since 2010, he’s pitched 170 or more innings in every year except one. So he eats innings. His career mark is 127-97, 3.69, mostly in the NL. ERA+ 111.

From 2008-2011 he was with the A’s. 2012-2018 Nationals, end of 2018 Brewers.

In 8 postseason starts, 0-0, 4.91.

Average 162 g. season 14-11, 3.69 (ERA+ 111). Average last six years, 11-10, 3.72.

I’d expect a decent back of the rotation starter, 11-10, ERA around 4 or low 4’s (taking into account AL vs. his recent no-DH NL years) if he is there all year long.

He is a low cost insurance policy, esp. against injury (Severino and CC now, maybe injury prone Paxton/Tanaka later) and youth/inexperience (Cessa, German, Loaisiga).

But a surprise in that he fell to such a low cost, minor league deal after earning some $12MM/year or close to it the last four seasons.

S.T. Game 21. Yanks bomb Jays, 17-7. Hit 6 HR. 11 of 19 hits extra bases. Florial breaks wrist.

2 days. 31 runs.

Today, 17 runs, 19 hits, 6 of which were HR. of the 19 hits, 11 were for extra bases.

6 hr, 3 doubles, 2 triples.

Bring it north, don’t leave it in FL.

The Yanks improved to 11-6-4 on spring training with a 17-7 win today over Toronto.

Lots of highlights.

Aaron Judge has 10 hits this spring, 4 doubles, 6 HR. If this is an indication on his 2019 season, then he’ll be a monster. A four-man OF does not help when he hits a bomb for a HR. And he had one today.

Unfortunately, in this game, top prospect Estevan Florial broke his wrist. Sigh.

Minor league C Jorge Saez had a 2-run HR.

Matt Lipka 2 for 2 , HR, 3 RBI.

Greg Bird single, 2 walks.

Gleyber Torres had a 2-run HR

Thairo Estrada 2 hits, RBI

Clint Frazier 2 run triple.

Zach Zehner 2 run HR.

2 hits, 2 RBI Gio Urshela, inc. a HR.

A bit disappointed with J.A. Happ so far this spring.

Happ   3 IP, 3 R, 4 H, 1 W, 2 K. Gave up 2 HR.
Britton (H) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.
Chapman 1 Ip, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K.
Kahnle, 1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. Gave up 1 HR
Diehl 1 1/3 IP, 3 R, 2 H, 1 W, 2 K.
Weissert 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K
Holder 1 Ip, 0 r, 1 h, 0 w, 0 k.

 

 

 

 

S.T. Game 18. Yanks and Phils tie, 5-5.

The Yanks and Phillies tied last night 5-5. It is the Yanks third tie of spring training. They are 9-6-3.

Phillip Diehl couldn’t hold a 5-4 lead in the top of the ninth.

Luke Voit singled in a run in the first. The Yanks wasted an opportunity for more runs, since they only scored that one run despite getting four hits.

Masahiro Tanaka got out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the second without giving up a run.

Brett Gardner plated a run with a SF in the bottom of the second to put the Yanks up 2-0.

But in the fourth, Tanaka gave up a HR to Realmuto to cut the lead to 2-1. After a single and two outs, his day was done, but Chad Green gave up a 2-run HR to Kingery, the first batter he faced, and the Phils were up 3-2.

The Phils, aided by a catcher’s interference call on Gary Sanchez, made it 4-2 in the fifth, but Aaron Judge threw out a runner at the plate or the Phils would have had another run.

The Yanks took the lead with three in the sixth. Giancarlo Stanton homered to cut the lead to 4-3. Luke Voit walked, went to second on a groundout and to third on a WP. Sanchez walked and Greg Bird singled in a run to tie the game. Gio Urshela singled to load the bases and when Tyler Wade walked, the Yanks had a 5-4 lead.

But in the ninth, Diehl gave up back-to-back singles, got an out, then gave up a walk to load the bases. A WP tied the game. A walk reloaded the bases, but then Diehl got a force at home and a fly out to end the inning.

The Yanks did get 2nd and 3rd with one out in the bottom of the ninth but coudn’t score.

Stanton 2 hits, solo HR.
Voit 1 for 3 RBI
Bird 1 for 2 RBI Interesting 1B Battle.
Urshela 2 hits

Tanaka 3 2/3 IP, 2 R, 6 H, 0 W, 6 K. Gave up 1 HR.
Green (BS) 1/3 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. Gave up 1 HR.
Ottavino 1 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 H, 1 W, 1 K.
Kahnle 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.
Hutchison 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 3 K.
Diehl (BS) 1 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 2 W, 1 K.

The Orioles will be starting Alex Cobb against Tanaka on Opening Day, March 28.

Catcher John Romano, an All-Star catcher for Cleveland in 1961 and 1962, passed away at the age of 84. He played with the White Sox 1958-1959 and was the backup C on the Go-Go AL pennant winning White Sox team of 1959. He was with Cleveland 1960-1964, back with the White Sox 1965-1966 and ended his career by playing briefly with the Cardinals in 1967. A .255 career hitter with an OPS+ of 122, he hit 20 or more HR in both 1961 and 1962 and finished 24th in MVP voting in 1961. He was 0 for 1 as a PH in the 1959 WS.

S.T. Game 14. Cessa makes statement in Yanks’ 6-1 win. Tanaka named Opening Day Starter. A-Rod engaged to J-Lo.

On a day when Masahiro Tanaka was named the Opening Day Starter, Luis Cessa made a statement about who should fill in while Luis Severino and CC Sabathia are on the shelf.

Cessa pitched four great innings (granted, against Baltimore) in the Yanks’ 6-1 win over the Orioles last night. The win puts the Yanks’ spring training record at 7-6-1.

Paxton and Happ will follow Tanaka, in that order.

Getting back to the game.

C Gary Sanchez drove in 2 runs.

Tyler Wade, who’ll probably stick as a utility man, had a double. Clint Frazier, probably AAA bound to get regular at bats (especially since most of 2018 was lost due to the concussion issues) went 0 for 4.

Greg Bird, fighting it out with Luke Voit for the 1B job only one will win, went 1 for 3 with an RBI.

Billy Burns had a double, RBI and 2 SB. Angel Aguilar went 1 for 1 with an RBI, as the lineup was very prospect-heavy.

Cessa 4 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 4 K.
Tarpley (H) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. Don’t count him out for a spot.
Abreu 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 3 W, 1 K.
Diehl 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K.
Harvey 1 1/3 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 W, 4 K. Gave up HR.

In other news, Yankee-related, ex-Yankee Alex Rodriguez and singer/dancer Jennifer Lopez announced their engagement.

S.T. Game 11. Yanks fall 9-5. Besides Seve, CC to miss start of season too. Would Yanks use “opener”?

The Yanks lost to the Cardinals, 9-5 today, to drop the spring training record to 5-5-1.

We know that Seve will miss time, and now the Yanks have said that because of the knee surgery and stent put in, that CC will begin the season on the injured list. Remember that once activated, CC has a five-game suspension to serve.

So two of the five starters will NOT be starting the season. As of now, GM Brian Cashman wants to plug from within, meaning no Dallas Keuchel, Gio Gonzalez or Edwin Jackson.

Gonzalez has been rumored to be someone the Yanks might consider, but he’d have to agree to a bullpen move once Severino and CC are ready.

I like Loaisiga, and he shows great potential to step in as a spot starter now, and to replace CC in the rotation in 2020, but he is a raw talent. 5 out of his 7 outs today K’s, but gave up 5 Runs in 2 1/3.

With both Severino and CC out, we are looking at Cessa, German and/or Loaisiga filling those two spots unless the Yanks sign someone.

Loaisiga (Johnny Lasagna) had mixed results today. Good: 5 K in 2 1/3 IP. Bad: 5 runs given up.

Austin Romine had a 3-run HR today, Gleyber Torres 2 hits. Prospect Trey Amburgey had 2 RBI.

Loaisiga (L) 2 1/3 IP, 4 R, 3 H, 2 W, 5 K. Gave up 1 HR
Harvey (BS) 2/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K.
Chapman 1 IP, 0 R , 1 H, 0 W, 1 K.
Coulombe 1 1/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 1 W, 1 K.
Diehl 1 1/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 2 K.
Coshow 2/3 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 0 W, 0 K. Gave up 1 HR
Reeves 1 2/3 IP, 0 R , 1 H, 0 W, 1 K.

With Seve out until maybe late April, and CC out until about that time, could the Yanks, with their strong bullpen, consider an “opener” for a game or two in April?

Steven Wright of Boston drew an 80 game suspension (and would miss the postseason) for HGH ban. Hmm, why would a knuckleballer need HGH?

Jacoby Ellsbury (the Nowhere Man) is expected to join the Yanks in Tampa around March 17.

Hicks is still recovering from back pain.

The Yanks sent Domingo Acevedo down to Trenton, and sent Trevor Stephan and Brady Lail to minor league camp.

 

 

 

S.T. Game 7. Forget the 8-7 loss. Farquhar an inspiration.

It’s only spring training, so wins and losses don’t matter so much (personally, I don’t care about wins and losses until the last week. I care that no one gets hurt seriously in these games). The story today was about Danny Farquhar, who although his numbers weren’t good and he took the loss, was an inspiration.

For you see, the fact Farquhar was on the mound at all is amazing. Last April while pitching for the White Sox, he came into the dugout after a relief appearance, suffered a brain aneurysm, and almost died. This near-fatal brain hemorrhage put him in intensive care for two weeks.

He had a rough outing today, giving up 5 runs in just 1/3 of an inning, so you can see it may be a long road back.

But the fact that there IS a road back is special.

The Yanks lost to the Pirates, 8-7, to drop their S.T. record to 3-3-1.

In the first, doubles by Tulo (looking good!) and Andujar plated a run. The Yanks got another in the second on a double by Estevan Florial and a single by Thairo Estrada.

They went up 3-0 in the third when Florial doubled in a run.

The Pirates got one in the third, but the five they got in the fourth off of Farquhar did the Yanks in.

Tulowitzki a double, Bird a double, Florial 2 doubles. Andujar 2 hits, one a double. Ryan Lavarnway 2 RBI. Clint Frazier a double. The Yanks hit 6 doubles.

Cessa 3 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 0 R, 4 K.
Farquhar (L, BS) 1/3 IP, 5 R, 3 H, 2 W, 0 K.
Tarpley 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K.
Harvey 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K.
Hale 1 2/3 2 R, 4 H, 0 W, 0 K.
Diehl 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K.
Lail 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K.

Ok, Cessa did well, so has Loaisiga so far. CC is suspended for the first five games of the season, so we’ll see who takes that first start.

S.T. Game 3. Tulo homers, Yanks one-hit Jays 3-0 and Andy joins front office.

Troy Tulowitzki and Kyle Higashioka homered, and the Yankees one-hit Toronto 3-0 to go to 2-1 on the spring training schedule. Aaron Judge added a double.

Tulo, who was let go by Toronto and picked up for minimum wage by the Yankees, so far looks good after missing all of 2018 and after playing just 66 games in 2017. We’ll see if it continues. The Yanks are only picking up half a million of his $20MM contract, with the Blue Jays paying the rest.

If Tulo can get anywhere close to where he was before the injuries, the Yanks may have a steal to fill in at SS until Didi Gregorius returns from his injury. Tulo is a 5x All-Star, 2x Gold Glove winner and 2x Silver Slugger winner. He got MVP votes in six different seasons and finished in the top 10 3x (2009-2011).

He’s 34 and after having missed all of 2018 and most of 2017, will need to be monitored carefully. But people are being blown away by how good he looks. Hopefully it isn’t a mirage, and Tulo puts a good bid in for Comeback Player of the Year.

He is a .290 career hitter (granted, most in Colorado) but has hit 20 or more HR in seven different seasons, and has a career OPS+ of 118.

Like I said, if he can come somewhat close to what he used to be, the Yanks got a steal.

The Yanks’ pitching was great today.

Paxton 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 W, 2 K
German 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 3 K.
Cessa 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K.
Chad Green 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K.
Diehl 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K.
Holder 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.

Combined one-hitter, 2 walks, 10 K.  Cessa and German are battling for one of the few bullpen spots available. Betances, Chapman, Britton, Ottavino and Holder more or less have spots sewn up. You also have Loaisiga (who I think will continue to start, but at AAA), Farquhar, Colombe, etc. battling for those few spots also.

Andy Pettitte has agreed to join the Yankees’ front office as a special advisor, and yes, the Yankees’ great was approached by Derek Jeter to do the same for Jeter with the Marlins. At least the Yanks kept Andy. Just recently, Jorge Posada agreed to help out his old buddy Derek.