S.T. Game 27. Nestor is Nasty in Yanks 1-1 tie with Cards.

Opening Day is one week away.

Nestor Cortes. because of a hamstring strain, is a little behind the other pitchers and as a result, today was only his second start of spring training.

But Nasty Nestor was in midseason form, tossing four scoreless innings with seven strikeouts in what turned out to be a 1-1 tie game with the Cardinals.

The Yanks are 10-15-2 in spring training.

Both teams only got three hits apiece, and the Yankees run was on a HR by Oswaldo Cabrera.

Notes:

Volpe 0 for 4 #1 prospect.
Stanton 1 for 3
Cabrera 1 for 3, the HR
Peraza 0 for 3, #3 prospect. So neither Volpe or Peraza was outdoing the other today in the SS competition battle.
Trevino 1 for 3.

Cortes 4 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 7 K.
Weissert 1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 W, 1 K. 1 HBP.
Marinaccio 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 3 K.
Ramirez 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 2 K.

S.T. Game 24. Yanks fall to O’s, 5-3.

Gerrit Cole had one bad inning (he’s had a good spring training) and as a result, the Yanks (9-14-1 in spring training) lost 5-3 to Baltimore on Sunday.

Now is around the time I really pay attention to results. Because now most of the minor leaguers have been sent down and others cut.

I read from Jon Heyman that he thinks the best Yankees infield would be Rizzo at 1B, Volpe at 2B, Peraza at SS and D.J. at 3B. Fine, but what then happens with Donaldson and Gleyber? It’s basically a given right now that IKF will serve as a utility man.

My thoughts. I think Rizzo, Gleyber, Volpe and D.J. would be best. Peraza could still go to the minors until the infield glut is resolved. Maybe there will be a trade soon. But Donaldson is hitting just .179 this spring, and despite manager Aaron Boone’s confidence that Donaldson still has something in the tank, concerns abound after Donaldson’s off year in 2022 and with Donaldson’s age (37). Maybe at the trade deadline Gleyber would be dealt, opening a spot for Volpe or Peraza, whoever doesn’t make the Opening Day cut. But in order to get Peraza and Volpe on the team, someone has to go.

As far as LF is concerned, Hicks will probably be there, but I’d prefer Cabrera. Hicks is hitting .290 this spring but mostly with no one on. When there are RISP, then nothing. Actually, the best hitter among the LF candidates has been Willie Calhoun. (.344). Rafael Ortega can play all OF positions, but after a hot start to spring training, has cooled off. Jasson Dominguez (#2 prospect) isn’t a consideration. He’s only played five games at AA, and that is where he’ll probably start the season. He isn’t far away, though.

So, my choices? Gleyber at 2B, Volpe at SS, Cabrera in LF. Until Bader is over his oblique injury, the OF alignment won’t be what I’d like (who plays CF? Hicks? Judge? Cabrera? Heck, IKF was out there the other day. Ortega?)

Boone says that Volpe is a leadoff or middle of the order hitter. As of now, he is committed to LeMahieu leading off. I beg to differ. I’d have Volpe lead off for a few reasons.1) He’d be helped by Judge behind him. No pitcher wants runners on base with Judge coming up. He wouldn’t want to walk Volpe. Volpe would see better pitches to hit. 2) Volpe would disturb pitchers more than DJ. He is a better SB threat. If the pitcher is concentrating on Volpe, there is less concentration on Judge. 3) Volpe is more likely to get the extra base, like scoring from first on a Judge double, or going first to third on a Judge single, than DJ. I’d have DJ batting fifth.

So my lineup would be:

Volpe SS #1 prospect
Judge RF
Rizzo 1B
Stanton DH
LeMahieu 3B
Torres 2B
Cabrera LF
Bader CF
Trevino C

Today’s highlights:

LeMahieu 2 for 3
Judge 1 for 4, double.
Rizzo 0 for 2, RBI, walk.
Stanton 1 for 3
Donaldson 0 for 3
Cabrera 2 for 3, RBI.
Hicks 1 for 2
Peraza 0 for 3 #3 prospect.
Calhoun 0 for 2
Trey Sweeney 1 for 2 #7 prospect

Cole (L) 5 IP, 4 R, 6 H, 1 W, 7 K. Gave up 1 HR. 1 HBP. All runs in fifth.
Abreu 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.
Cordero 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K.
Marinaccio 1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 W, 3 K.
Ramirez 1 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K.

S.T. Game 20. Yanks lose to Phils, 9-8.

The Yanks (9-10-1 in spring training) gave up 7 runs before they came to bat, came back to take an 8-7 lead, but then fell to the Phillies 9-8 Wednesday afternoon.

Luis Severino started and had a bad first inning before settling in. He says he feels fine but so far this spring the results aren’t there. It is only spring training but from here on in, you want to see better results so that when the regular season starts, he hits the ground running.

Meanwhile, it was announced that Gerrit Cole—to no surprise—will be the Yanks’ Opening Day starting pitcher.

Jose Trevino is dealing with a strained right wrist but should be ok.

Michael Hermosillo was sent down to minor league camp.

From what I’ve seen, Anthony Volpe should be the Yanks’ starting shortstop. The kid continues to impress.

Highlights:

Volpe 1 for 2, RBI, 2 walks, SB.
Judge 1 for 2, walk and double.
Cabrera 1 for 2, RBI double.
Rafael Ortega 0 for 3, 2 strikeouts, misplayed a ball in CF.
IKF 0 for 3, 2 strikeouts.
Hicks 0 for 2, walk, 2 strikeouts
Florial 0 for 2
Mickey Gasper 2 for 2, RBI

Severino 2 1/3 IP, 4 R, 2 H, 3 W, 4 K. 1 balk
C. Gomez 1/3 IP, 3 R, 2 H, 3 W, 1 K. 1 WP
Cowart 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.
Marinaccio 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 1 K. 1 HBP
Nick Ramirez 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K.
Luis Santos 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 W, 1 K.
Jack Neely (L) 1 1/3 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 1 W, 1 K. gave up 1 HR.

S.T. Game 15 & 16. The Martian homers again, but Yanks lose both split squad games

You have to remember that Jasson Dominguez, aka as “The Martian”, is only 20 years old and has only played a handful of games in AA, where he will probably start out at in 2023.

But it is ok to dream of him being in the Bronx soon. He homered yet again today in one of the Yankees (8-8 in spring training) split squad games. He played in the home game, in which they lost to the Phillies, 6-3.

The Yanks only had four hits in this game.

LeMahieu 1 for 2 with a walk
Judge 0 for 2 with a walk.
Stanton 2 for 3, single and double.
Dominguez 1 for 3, 2-run HR #2 prospect
Volpe 0 for 1 with a walk, also was HBP #1 prospect

German 2 1/3 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 0 W, 3 K
M. Gomez 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K.
Peralta 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 1 K
Holmes 1 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 0 K 1 HBP
King 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K.
Krook (L) 2 2/3 IP, 3 R, 5 H, 1 W, 3 K. 2 WP has shot at bullpen spot.
Keating 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 1 WP

They lost the away game, 3-0 to the Pirates, getting just 5 hits.

Peraza 0 for 3 #3 prospect
Kiner-Falefa 1 for 3
Florial 0 for 2, 2 strikeouts. I expect him to be DFA’d soon.
Donaldson 0 for 3
McKinney 2 for 3
Jones 0 for 2, 2 strikeouts #5 prospect.

Weber (L) 2 2/3 IP, 3 R, 5 H, 2 W, 1 K. Gave up 2 HR 1 balk
Hamilton 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K.
Ramirez 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. Has shot at bullpen spot.
Santos 3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 3 W, 1 K.

S.T. Game 9. Yanks lose slugfest, 14-10.

The Yankees (5-4 in spring training) lost a slugfest to Tampa Bay, 14-10 Saturday afternoon.

Five Yankees hit homers, and the interesting thing is that four of them were hit by guys trying to win the LF job.

#1 prospect Anthony Volpe 1 for 4, double in trying to win SS job.
Oswaldo Cabrera 3-run HR trying for LF job. Yanks probably will use him as utility man.
Oswald Peraza 0 for 3 in trying to win SS job. (#3 prospect).
Trey Sweeney 2-run HR (#7 prospect and yet another SS)
Aaron Hicks solo HR in trying to keep LF job.
Jasson Dominguez 2 for 3 (#2 prospect)
Esteven Florial 1 for 3 tying for LF job and out of options.
Willie Calhoun 2 hits, 2 RBI. HR trying for LF job
Rafael Ortega 2-run HR and he too is aiming for LF job.

Not a good day for the pitchers.

Severino 2 2/3 IP, 3 R, 2 H, 1 W, 6 K. 1 HBP Both hits back-to-back HR
McGarity 1/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 0 K. 1 WP
Loaisiga (BS) 1 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 0 W, 2 K.
Weissert (H) 1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K. Gave up HR. Aiming for bullpen job.
Ramirez (BS, L) 1 IP, 4 R, 2 H, 2 W, 1 K. 1 balk. Gave up HR. Aiming for bullpen job.
Brito 2 2/3 IP, 4 R, 2 ER, 5 H, 0 W, 2 K. #27 prospect.
Vrieling 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K. #17 prospect.

S.T. Game 5. Rough day. Yanks lose, 12-0.

It wasn’t a good day for the Yankees (3-2 in spring training) and especially not for pitcher Tyler Danish as the Yanks were hammered today by Tampa Bay, 12-0.

The Yanks only had five hits, all singles. They struck out 11x.

UPDATED PROSPECT RANKINGS

Boxscore notables:

Gleyber Torres 0 for 3 with a strikeout and an error
Oswald Peraza 1 for 3 as he tries to grab the SS job. #3 prospect.
Jose Trevino 1 for 3 with a strikeout.
Everson Pereira 1 for 3 with a strikeout. #6 prospect.
Spencer Jones 0 for 2, 2 strikeouts. #5 prospect having rough spring so far.


Sean Boyle (L) 3 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 2 W, 3 K. Gave up 1 HR. #29 prospect
Matt Krook 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 3 K. 1 HBP competing for a bullpen spot.
Nick Ramirez 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 3 K. also competing for a bullpen spot
Tyler Danish 0 IP, 6 R, 4 H, 2 W, 0 K. Faced six batters, didn’t record an out, all six scored.
Kaleb Cowart 1 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 1 W, 1 K. Gave up 1 HR.
Sean Hermann 2/3 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 1 W, 0 K.
Alex Mauricio 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.

An interesting development. Dodger SS Gavin Lux was injured, tearing an ACL and will miss the whole season. So IKF could be on the trading block, being that the Dodgers need a SS and the Yanks may want to go with Oswald Peraza or Anthony Volpe at SS.

S.T. Game 1: Gleyber and “The Martian” HR, but Yanks fall 7-4; Will new rules cause problems?

Gleyber Torres and Jasson “The Martian” Dominguez homered, and Oswaldo Cabrera had a 2-run RBI bloop single, but the Yanks fell to the Phillies 7-4 yesterday in their first spring training game.

Torres will soon be leaving the Yanks to join Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic. Also leaving the Yanks soon will be Kyle Higashioka (USA) and Jonathan Loaisiga (Nicaragua).

Dominguez, who turned 20 just a few weeks ago, is the youngest player in Yankees camp. He will probably begin the season at AA. He hit a hard (102.7 MPH off the bat) as he grounded out his first time up batting lefty, homered (about 110 MPH and 420 ft) batting righty his second time up, and popped up batting lefty his last time up.

Of the nine Yankees pitchers used, Ryan Weber pitched in five games last year for the Yanks, being on the shuttle and DFA’d a few times. Greg Weisssert was up and along with Nick Ramirez, is looking to make the Yanks’ bullpen. Randy Vasquez is a top pitching prospect who struggled yesterday. Alex Mauricio looked good, as did Ramirez.

Highlights:

Kiner-Falefa 1 for 3, double.
Torres 2 for 3, double and solo HR.
Cabrera 2 RBI but misplayed a ball in LF
Dominguez solo HR (#2 prospect)

Weber 1 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K.
Vasquez 1 IP, 2 R, 6 H, 1 W, 1 K. Gave up 1 HR. #14 prospect
Mauricio 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 3 K.
Weissert 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K
Danish (BS) 1 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 0 W, 2 K.
Ramirez 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K.
Snelten (L) 2/3 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 H, 3 W, 1 K.
Pestana 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K.
Fitts 1 IP, 1 H, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. Gave up 1 HR. #29 prospect.

These rule changes could cause problems. I don’t like a lot of them. I understand Manfred is trying to speed up the game, but the beauty of baseball is that it doesn’t have a clock. Now there is one. And imagine if this happened in the regular season:

In the Red Sox/Braves exhibition game yesterday, it was tied in the bottom of the ninth. Two outs, full count on the batter, and since the batter wasn’t ready in time, strike three was called ending the inning (and since it was just a spring training game, it ended the game as well). Can you imagine that happening in a regular season, or worse, a postseason game? What a travesty!

I understand the desire, but is the time to get ready too short? You know I hate the extra innings rule with that “man starts the inning on second” rule. I understand the desire to speed the game along and save pitchers arms, but…. and I wonder if the clock—by not allowing pitchers to compose themselves—will hurt more pitcher’s arms.

I can live with the bigger bags. I like banning the shift. And those, along with another change I don’t like which I’ll mentioned next, are going to make the speed game more important. I understand (again) the desire not to turn baseball into a beer-league softball game where HRs decide everything, and to put speed and athleticism back into the game. But limiting the pitcher to only two step-offs or pickoffs, then giving the runner the base if the third try is unsuccessful is too much. Maybe after five, ok. But this is another rule I don’t like. And how will records be affected? Will someone steal 100 bases in a season in which 15 of those are actually bases he was given because of a third unsuccessful attempt at a pickoff? Will a pitcher lead the league with 250 strikeouts in which 15 are because of the batter not being ready in time? What about consistency of records over time? How will those records stack up against these new rules?

I see the intent. But with all these changes will it still be baseball or morph into something unrecognizable and unlikeable?

Minor Leagues. SWB eliminated on next-to-last day of season. Somerset survives in AA Finals.

AAA: SWB (82-67) lost 8-1 in the next-to-last day of the season to be eliminated from the playoffs. Even had they won last night, Durham’s win would have eliminated them anyway.

SS Anthony Volpe 2 hits. #1 prospect .250-21-65, 49 SB

Banda (L, 0-3) 2 1/3 IP, 3 R, 2 H, 1 W, 2 K. 1 HBP. 6.14
Zach Greene 2/3 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 W, 1 K. 1 balk. 3.42
Miguel Castro 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 3 K. 0.00 REHAB
Duffey 1 2/3 IP, 3 R, 3 H, 0 W, 4 K. 10.50
Brito 1 1/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 2 K. Gave up 1 HR. 3.31
Rich Rodriguez 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 1 HBP 3.86
Weissert 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K. 1.69

The Yanks picked up guys like Banda, Duffey and Barnes because of depth and prior MLB experience. None impressed while with SWB.

AA: Somerset evened up their Eastern League finals series with a 9-2 win. The third and deciding game will be tonight for the Eastern League Championship.

CF Jasson Dominguez (“The Martian”) 2 hits, 2 RBI. 2-run HR. #2 prospect.
C Austin Wells 2 hits, 3 RBI. 3-run HR #4 prospect.
3B/1B Andres Chaparro 2 hits, RBI
DH Elijah Dunham 2 hits, 2 RBI 2-run HR #21 prospect
RF Jeisson Rosario 2 hits.

Yoendrys Gomez (WIN) 5 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 1 W, 6 K. Gave up 1 HR. #12 prospect.
Loseke 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 4 K.
Ramirez 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K.
Espinal 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K.

Although not announced, my guess is that Somerset’s starter for the deciding game tonight will be Clayton Beeter, the Yanks’ #9 prospect, who they got in the Gallo trade.

Minor League Action. AA Somerset sweeps semifinal series, goes to Eastern League finals.

AAA: SWB (79-64) edged out Lehigh Valley, 8-7.
CF Estevan Florial 2 hits, RBI. #15 prospect .291-15-43, 36 SB. Needs to hit in majors. (3 for 31)
C Ben Rortvedt 2 hits, RBI. Solo HR (6)
PR/1B Armando Alvarez 2 for 2
2B Chris Owings 2 hits, RBI
3B Tyler Wade 2 hits, RBI
RF Michael Beltre 2 hits, 2 RBI
PH/RF Blake Perkins 1 for 1, R, RBI, walk

Zach Greene 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 5 K. 3.24
Deivi Garcia 2 2/3 IP, 4 R, 2 H, 2 W, 5 K. Gave up 1 HR 8.17 #26 prospect. Overall: 4-5, 7.00
Mujica (W, 3-1) 1 1/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 1 W, 1 K. 4.21
M. Gomez (H, 8) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 3 K. 5.12
Rich Rodriguez (H, 2) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. 4.22
Bard (S, 2) 1 IP, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 W, 0 K. 4.41

AA: Somerset won their Eastern League semifinal series, two games to none, and will go into the finals to play Erie for the Eastern League crown. Down 3-0 in the bottom of the seventh, they came back to tie it up. Down 5-3 in the bottom of the ninth, they tied it up again before winning in the bottom of the tenth, 6-5.

Game 1 will be at Erie Sunday, Sept. 25. The next two games (Game 3 if necessary) are at Somerset, September 27 and 28.

CF Jasson Dominguez (“The Martian”) 2 hits, RBI #2 prospect.
LF Brandon Lockridge 2 hits, 2 RBI #28 prospect.

Clayton Beeter 5 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 H, 3 W, 6 K. #9 prospect (Got him in the Gallo trade from Dodgers)
Jennings 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.
Ramirez 1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 2 W, 3 K. 1 Balk
Ernst 2/3 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K. 1 WP
Minnick 1 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 2 W, 1 K. gave up 1 HR.
Myatt 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.
Coleman (WIN) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K.

Minor League Action from 9-18-22. 1st AA HR for “The Martian”. AA playoffs start Tuesday. Effross AAA rehab. Abreu AA rehab.

AAA: SWB (77-63) lost 3-2.
CF Blake Perkins 2 hits, RBI
2B Chad Bell 2 for 2
RF Michael Beltre 2 hits

Chi Chi Gonzalez 5 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 1 W, 6 K. Gave up 1 HR. 4.36
Effross (L, 0-1) 1 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 0 W, 0 K. Gave up 1 HR. 10.80 REHAB
Bard 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K. 4.54
Deivi Garcia 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 3 K. 7.75 #26 prospect. Overall: 4-5, 6.71
Zach Greene 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 3.34

AA: Somerset (83-53) won 6-3. This concludes their regular season.
As the first-half division champ, Somerset will start a best-of-3 semifinal playoff vs. Portland at Portland on Tuesday.

DH Jasson Dominguez solo HR (1). First AA HR for “The Martian”
#2 prospect. Overall stats (3 levels): .273-16-59, 37 SB. Just 19 years old.

3B Andres Chaparro 2-run HR (19)
2B Jesus Bastidas 2 Hits, 2 RBI Solo HR (18)
C Rodolfo Duran Solo HR (9)

Yoendrys Gomez 4 1/3 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 0 W, 7 K. 1 HBP. 3.86 #12 prospect. Overall: 1-0, 2.49
Myatt 2/3 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 2 W, 0 K. 1 WP 4.30
Albert Abreu (W, 1-0) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K. 0.00 REHAB
McGarrity (H, 3) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 2.30
Semple (H, 1) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 4.63
Ramirez 1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K. Gave up 1 HR. 1.93

Everyone is off today in the Yankees Universe. Majors and Minors.
Me too, as I have been out a while on disability and have a medical procedure today.