The first full week of Spring Training – full as in the whole team was in camp – is nearly over and what have we learned?

Well, for one thing, we learned that the Yankees are open to switching the defensive alignment of the outfield by placing Curtis Granderson in left field and allowing Brett Gardner to patrol center field. This is all in the beginning stages and it may not even come to fruition but the fact that the Yankees are open to this idea makes me happy. I believe the stronger outfield would have Gardner in center.

Another thing we learned is that Ichiro Suzuki is pretty funny. From him showing up on the first day of training camp in a glittery Yankee cap – at least according to the beat writers who couldn’t take pictures in the clubhouse so there actually isn’t any proof that this hat exists. I guess we’ll have to take their word for it – to his quote in which he subtly made fun of the New York sports media for focusing on Derek Jeter’s weight which, surprise surprise, turned into a non issue to him tipping his cap or, in this case, helmet after he blasted a batting practice home run off fellow countryman Hiroki Kuroda. I like Ichiro. He can stay.

Next up, we have Mariano Rivera who seems to be healthy and ready to pitch in 2013. He threw his first live batting practice and said he felt good. He said that he was more worried about how his knee would respond to fielding practice than he was about pitching. You and me both, Mo. Let’s hope everything stays copacetic.

Jorge Posada returned to Tampa as a guest instructor this week. He already shot down the comeback idea. According to Posada there will be no repeat of what happened with Andy Pettitte last season although some Yankee fans wouldn’t mind it considering the team doesn’t actually have a starting catcher as of this moment.

Phil Hughes hurt his back earlier in the week and was diagnosed with a bulging disc. The Yankees conservatively estimated he’d be out two weeks. Hughes started getting ready for the season two weeks earlier than usual so these next weeks off, according to him, will put him right on schedule. Or something.  Frankly, I’m concerned because this is the third season in a row that Hughes has had a back issue. His 2012 ended when he left Game Three of the American League Championship Series with a back problem.

What else happened in Tampa?

• Joba Chamberlain grew this thing on his face. 
• New Yankee Kevin Youkilis arrived and hugged it out with Joba.
• Alex Rodriguez issued a statement about his rehab and the New York Daily News which seems to be obsessed with Alex, reported that he ate at the same seafood restaurant three nights in a row this week. He ordered oysters. No word on if this is all a part of his rehab.

Day two of Yankee camp started with Francisco Cervelli answering questions about his involvement in the Biogenesis scandal.

Cervelli said someone told him about the clinic and he also said he left without buying anything.

“When I got my foot injured in 2011, I checked with doctors and somebody recommended me Biogenesis,” Cervelli said. “I went there for maybe suggestions, and that’s it. I walked away without nothing in my hands. I just went there, talked and that’s it.”

He wouldn’t say who recommended the place but insisted it wasn’t a fellow player or one of his agents. Cervelli answered a bunch of questions from the writers gathered in Tampa and he stated:

“I will be here just doing what I know, having fun…I know my situation right now, no distraction. I just came here to play baseball.“

Mariano Rivera arrived this morning – he was allowed an extra day and didn’t have to report yesterday. According to the writers, Mo made small talk but didn’t discuss his knee or his future. He is scheduled to throw a bullpen session today along with Andy Pettitte, Phil Hughes, and Hiroki Kuroda.

The other pitchers throwing today are: David Aardsma, Tom Kahnle, Jim Miller, Zach Nuding, Clay Rapada, Juan Cedeno, Vidal Nuno, Ryan Pope, Matt Tracy.

And because I know everyone loves this sort of news, David Robertson’s Spring Training locker has been moved. From the Lohud Yankees blog (with my favorite part bolded for emphasis):

Dave Robertson has been moved to the locker right next to Rivera (that’s where Rafael Soriano was the last two years). It was suggested that Robertson moving down the line to be so close to Rivera is an indication that he’s the heir to closer’s role. Robertson said he it was simply an indication that he’s going to be picked on this spring.

Just as I was about to publish this post, some big news came across the wires…

Big uniform news: I’m told by @YankeesPR that David Phelps has reclaimed his old No. 41, while Michael Pineda has taken back his old No. 35.

That comes courtesy of a tweet from Mark Feinsand of the Daily News.

Carry on and Happy Wednesday!

It’s the first day of Spring Training and there are certain things Yankee fans can expect: Reports about who is fat and who is skinny, uniform numbers, which new players are getting which former players’ lockers, and A-Rod.

The weight update is about CC Sabathia who told reporters he’s down to 290 lb. and that he cut Cap’n Crunch from his diet, again, just like he did in previous off-seasons. He also told reporters that his surgically cleaned-up elbow is feeling good which is positive news.

This next section of text (about numbers, lockers and Austin Romine) is mostly taken from a post I wrote earlier this morning on It’s About The Money, Stupid. I know I’m probably breaking cardinal rule of writing but I’m lazy and I apologize for plagurizing myself.

Now, as you are well aware, Yankee uniform numbers are very serious business and that certain numbers are treasured by fans. So prepare yourselves for the following news. Maybe grab a seat or take a deep breath…

Oh, I’m joking, it’s not that important but since we’re lacking any serious news – for now – I figured I’d let everyone know what’s happening down in Tampa.

This information is from Mark Feinsand of the Daily News and his tweets:

• Travis Hafner takes over Nick Swisher‘s spring locker as well as his uniform No. 33.
• With Rafael Soriano gone, Francisco Cervelli reclaims his No. 29.
• David Phelps has changed his number to 35. He reminds me of a young Mussina, so it makes sense.
• Michael Pineda, formerly No. 35, will now wear 43.
• More uni numbers: David Aardsma 34, Matt Diaz 22, Dan Johnson 27, Juan Rivera 54.

I know, I forgot that the Yankees had some of these guys too.

And for some locker news, again from Mr. Feinsand:

• Correction: Kevin Youkilis is in Swisher’s corner locker. Hafner is next to him in Eric Chavez‘s old spot.

Also, Austin Romine who will be battling Chris Stewart and Francicsco Cervelli for the starting catching job, let everyone know that his back is feeling “absolutely fantastic,” and that he would like to win that starting catching job and avoid going back down to Triple A.

And last but certainly not least, some news about A-Rod. Alex Rodriguez is not in camp because he’s rehabbing from his hip surgery in New York. Manager Joe Girardi said the most important thing is to get him healthy. Of course, there are rumblings that Alex isn’t in Florida so he isn’t a distraction to the team. I’m one of those weirdos who thinks he just had hip surgery and is recovering so he doesn’t really need to be in camp and that the people complaining about him not being there will have to find someone else to write horrible stories about.

Ahem.

Happy Fat Tuesday, everyone! Except for CC Sabathia who isn’t fat anymore, well, for now…

(Syndicated from The Yankee Analysts)

Is it just me or does December seem like the slowest month of the year? Maybe it’s because it’s usually cold, dreary and dark. Or maybe it’s because we’re in that limbo period right smack in the middle between the two baseball seasons otherwise known as last season and this season. By the way, now that the calendar has changed and it’s a New Year, you can refer to the 2012 season as last season.

Anyway, whatever the reason is, I’m glad December is over because it means that this season is right around the corner.

Now, I know some people are fearful of what 2013 will bring for us Yankee fans but I, for one, am just excited for baseball to start.

Things will certainly look a lot different on February 12 when pitchers and catchers first report to Tampa. Especially the catchers. Russell Martin is gone and it looks like barring any last minute miracle of some sort, Austin Romine, Francisco Cervelli and Chris Stewart will be battling it out for the starting catcher job.

How exciting! She said sarcastically.

And then, when the position players arrive, things will look even more different without Nick Swisher, Raul Ibanez and Eric Chavez on the team. Plus, you have the new additions reporting to Tampa for the first time like Kevin Youkilis and Matt Diaz who will both be donning the Pinstripes even though we never thought in a million years they ever would.

I still can’t believe Youkilis is a Yankee. She said with lump of bile in her throat. (Kidding!)

At least some things will look the same. The pitching rotation is unchanged with CC Sabathia, Hiroki Kuroda and Andy Pettitte as your top three. Then there’s Phil Hughes, Ivan Nova and David Phelps who will be battling it out for the last two slots in the starting five.

What I’m most interested in seeing is the return of Mariano Rivera to the bullpen.

2012 was such an odd year for the Yankees, wasn’t it? All seemed lost when Rivera was first injured in May but then the Yankees recovered and they still went on to win 95 games thanks to the performance of Rafael Soriano who stepped into the closer role and was fantastic through the summer and into fall.

Right now, Soriano is still a free agent and unsigned. I really wish the Yankees could sign him again but I know that can’t happen. He’ll want too much money and they’re all about austerity! Bring on 189 in 2014!

I think it will also be interesting to see how Derek Jeter comes back from his ankle injury. My fellow, soon to be 39-year-old, says that he expects to be ready by the start of Spring Training. Let’s hope he is and that he’s able to perform.

***

About a week ago, someone on Twitter bet me that the Yankees would finish at .500 this year. After I stopped laughing, I told him I’d wait until the start of Spring Training before I made any sort of wager because I wanted to see if the Yankees would make any more moves.

My brother thinks I’m crazy and that I should take that bet because he feels there is no way the Yankees would do that badly this season.

I tend to agree with my brother.

Yes, the Yankees lost some key players and yes, the Yankees are a year older but everyone is (or will be) a year older. I will be a year older, you will be a year older, the world will be a year older.

And yes, other teams – namely the Blue Jays – revamped nearly their entire squad. But so what? Divisions and World Series aren’t won on paper. Just ask the 2011 Red Sox and Phillies.

Besides, the Blue Jays, like every other team in baseball, have some injury concerns. Josh Johnson isn’t a guarantee to last all season in the starting rotation and it will be some sort of miracle if Jose Reyes can stay off the disabled list all year.

Other AL East teams haven’t improved that much (so far) this offseason. Have the Red Sox made some moves? Sure, but they didn’t really address what they needed to address and that’s their starting pitching.

But Stacey, they signed Ryan Dempster!

Like I said, they didn’t really address their pitching problem – Dempster isn’t that great. Will they be as bad as they were last season? Probably not. Guys will be healthier, new manager John Farrell will miraculously help Jon Lester and they will more respectable than they were in 2012.

The Orioles who had every single thing go right last season – from their record in one-run games to their record in extra inning games and the performance of their bullpen – were able to finish with 93 wins which was good enough for second place in the AL East, haven’t done a damn thing yet this Winter. Sure, they have still time to do something but it seems they’re hoping that 2012′s luck will carry over into 2013 and I don’t think it’s a given.

Will they fall off by a lot? Probably not. In fact, this year, I can see the AL East being a three or four team race right down to the wire.

Now, wouldn’t that be something?

Then there’s the team down in Tampa that plays in that awful dome. They added free agent and power hitter (kidding) James Loney and lost Wade Davis and James Shields to a trade with the Kansas City Royals.

The trade seems to be more of a help to the Rays of the future, not to the 2013 squad but still, you can never count the Rays out of anything because no matter what, they’re always lurking and ready to pounce when one of the upper echelon teams falter.

So after all of that pontificating, the point to this overly wordy, somewhat babbling post is that the 2013 baseball season is almost here and contrary to popular belief – from media and fans alike, I believe that Yankee fans have a lot to look forward to.

It’s what we’ve been waiting for all Spring, the Yankees finally will be in Miami for the next two days to take on the Marlins in their brand spanking new stadium, complete with fish tanks, changing color palettes and the monstrosity in the video above. And no offense to the Yankees’ pitchers but I really hope the Marlins hit about 20 home runs so we can see this bad boy in action.

In all honesty, I’d love to have a miniature version of it in my front yard. Better yet, the Marlins should make a desktop size version that people can set off when they meet deadlines or finish a major project at work. They would probably make a lot of money.

Today’s game will be televised at 1 p.m. EST on MLB Network for the out of towners and on YES Network for the locals. And again, let’s hope we get to see that home run machine in action at least once while the Yankees score about 15 more.

For more on the Marlins’ new ballpark, visit Aerys’s Marlins site, A Fishy Situation.

As everyone knows, Michael Pineda has been the main topic of conversation this Spring. Even with freak injuries happening to both David Robertson and Joba Chamberlain, the subject of Pineda’s fastball velocity or lack thereof is what has been dominating the New York Yankees blogosphere.

From the pure adulterated panic of some, to the more calm and even keeled attitude of others, Pineda and his not so fast-fastball, have been written about continuously this past month. Some people are already questioning the trade that brought Pineda here from Seattle and some fans are even clamoring for Jesus Montero’s return.

Everyone needs to calm down and take a few deep breaths.

» Continue reading “Michael Pineda’s Fastball Or Lack Thereof And Other Pitching Notes”

It’s Tuesday afternoon, the Yankees haven’t played since Sunday night and I am antsy waiting for tonight’s game.

But before we get to tonight’s game and its implications for Michael Pineda let’s talk about what’s happening at 6 p.m. in Tampa. Andy Pettitte will be addressing the media outside George M. Steinbrenner Field.

I don’t know about you but I still feel like this is a dream and it’s not real. How could Andy Pettitte be coming back to the Yankees?

I am looking forward to hearing Pettitte’s good ol’ boy drawl during the presser. I am also really looking forward to him saying “man” about 1500 times. He gives Nick Swisher a run for his money when it comes to calling everyone – men and women – “man.” I’m sure Pettitte will say the same things he’s been saying on the radio and on TV since his comeback was announced but it will be nice to see him again and having him in Tampa talking about it, will make it more real.

Now onto Michael Pineda and his diminished fastball. With Andy Pettitte returning to the fray, a lot of talk has been focused on the Yankees starting rotation and what will happen if Pettitte pitches well enough to make the Major League squad, talk of Pineda, Freddy Garcia and Phil Hughes being affected by his return – even Ivan Nova to a lesser extent. So tonight’s start though a Spring Training start, could be pretty big for Pineda. It’s his fourth start and even though he has seen good results so far, his lack of velocity is what’s worrying some folks.

Earlier this afternoon, I was watching a show on HGTV called “My Favorite Place” and Mark Teixeira’s Connecticut home was featured. Teixeira showed off his children’s playroom, his home office and his 4000 square foot basement. When I did the math in my head I laughed because his basement alone is more than three times the size of my entire house.

The tremendous finished basement has a few designated areas. Teixeira’s favorites are his large home gym, complete with a Yankees logo rug and his customized home theatre. He said the gym is where he does his intense offseason workouts and his home theatre is where he spends his time when he isn’t in the mood to work out.

Hey Mark, if you need a live in nanny let me know. I have experience babysitting though I haven’t done it in a while. Plus, I’m a blogger and most people think we all live in our mom’s basements anyway, so yours would be like a playground for me to work in. Think about it, okay? Thanks.

Good afternoon Yankee fans! Here are some quick hits for you.

Look who was in Tampa! Andy Pettitte took the Yankees up on their offer to come to Spring Training to act as a guest instructor. I’ll admit it’s nice to see him but at the same time it’s also depressing. According to those in the know, Pettitte is enjoying retirement and has no plans to return.

The Yankees finalized their deal with Eric Chavez today. It’s a one year $900,000 contract and Chavez can earn as much as $3.05M in bonuses based on his plate appearances.

From the AP:

The 34-year-old, a six-time Gold Glove winner, hit .263 with two homers and 26 RBIs last year, starting 33 games at third and playing a bit at first. He broke a bone in his left foot on May 5 after just 17 games and didn’t return until July 26.

Chavez would make $50,000 for 75 plate appearances, $100,000 each for 100 and 150, $200,000 apiece for 200 and 250, $300,000 each for 300 and 350, $400,000 apiece for 400 and 450 and $500,000 each for 500 and 550.

The Yankees Spring Training pitching rotation has been set:

Saturday: Ivan Nova
Sunday: Freddy Garcia
Monday: Michael Pineda
Tuesday: CC Sabathia and Phil Hughes
Wednesday: Hiroki Kuroda

There will be live baseball in five days! And YES will broadcast Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Finally, today is photo day and in what’s becoming a yearly tradition, most of the Yankee players look horrific in their pictures. Not only that, they set up one of the picture taking stations in the bathroom. Yes, the New York Yankees stood amongst urinals and sinks to take official photos. I realize this happens from time to time but you have to admit, it is amusing.

Good morning Yankee fans! It’s Monday February 27, 2012 and this is your daily rundown. Spring Training is underway and so far, so good for the Yankees. Everyone is in camp, everyone is healthy – so far – and there hasn’t been any drama.

We’re not even out of the month of February and already, the Yankees have been projected by the Las Vegas Hotel & Casino’s Superbook to lead the league with 93.5 wins in 2012. I’m not sure how the half win works but let’s go with it. They’re in the lead ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies projected to have 93, and the Los Angeles Dodgers and Detroit Tigers both projected to have 92.5 wins. The defending World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals are only projected to have 83 wins. The reasoning behind the Yankees finish are the two newest members of the starting rotation, Hiroki Kuroda and Michael Pineda. Also helping the Yankees was getting rid of A.J. Burnett.

Joba Chamberlain will be throwing off a full mound tomorrow. Good news for both the Yankees and Chamberlain and hopefully all goes well. Other pitchers in the league have not had luck coming back from injuries. Poor Joel Zumaya may have to retire after tearing his UCL.

Nick Swisher is not thinking about a contract extension but what he will talk about is how he wants to take over the pie throwing duties from the departed A.J. Burnett:

“You know, A.J. was a good buddy of mine and he was a good buddy of all the guys in here. Sad to see him go, wish him the best of luck. But hey man, we’re going to have to keep something going, because people in New York want pie!”

He was asked what would happen if he was the one to get the walk off hit and he answered by asking, “Can you pie yourself?” I’m sure if anyone can do it, Nick Swisher can.

Here are a few pieces for you to read from the Yankee blogging universe:

Rebecca Glass at Pinstriped Bible writes about the aging Yankee offense, specifically Alex Rodriguez. Aging sucks, I should know. I’m up there with the ‘soon to be pretty old’ Derek Jeter.

In case you missed it, Steve Sciacco of the Yankee Analysts makes his case for Joba the starter. It really is amazing how long that argument has been raging.

Another thing you may have missed, a piece in which Chad Jennings of the Lohud Yankees blog takes a look at the non-roster position players. You’ll learn a lot about guys you probably never heard of.

Dear Alex,

I’m going to start this by saying that this has nothing to do with how you are acting at all. In fact, you’ve been great so far in Spring Training but please, for the love of God, just stop talking to the media because no matter what you say or how you say it, some of them will always turn it into something else.

It could be the most innocent of comments, or the most honest of answers to a simple question they’ve asked and certain members of the media will take it upon themselves to psychoanalyze you, twist your words or just make fun of you no matter what you say or do.

And I have to say Alex, you have definitely improved in the way you answer those questions. There used to be a time when Yankee fans would collectively cringe whenever you spoke to the media. Now, there’s a sense of pride in how far you’ve come. You joke around, you seem more relaxed and you’re definitely not as rehearsed as you’ve been in the past.

We are also extremely thankful that the ‘Foot in Mouth’ crown has been handed to Lebron James of the Miami Heat and we’d really like to keep it that way.

Still, I think it would be best if you would realize who you are talking to. Just be mindful that some of them seem to have weird obsessions with you and never have nice things to say about you, no matter what you do.

Anyway, good luck this season Alex. Hopefully you can stay healthy, quiet some of those doubters and help lead the Bombers to championship number 28.

Yours truly,
Stace

P.S. I know you offered Jeremy Lin your couch but I could really use a place to crash in Manhattan too. Could you help a sister out? Thanks.