Pitchers and catchers report in less than a week, but there are already Yankees in camp working out. The Yankees have no players returning from major injuries (Chien-Ming Wang and Xavier Nady having both moved on), and it will be weeks before we’ll find out if Joba Chamberlain can find the missing ticks on his fastball and more than a month before Joe Girardi names a fifth starter or a left fielder. So, with pitchers and catchers somewhat anticlimactic, and spring training games still three weeks away, what are you anxious to see or hear about as the players begin reporting to camp?
I know I'm in the minority, but I don't really get excited for Spring Training. Its just so long and so much of it is so god damned pointless. I set the countdown for opening day.
Great title, Cliff!
I'm anxious about injuries, and about Hughes/Joba. Last year the rotation went 6 deep and we had two averageish outfielders (Melky/Gardner and Swisher/Nady) on the bench. We quickly "lost" our #2 pitcher (Wang), and one of the averageish outfielders (Nady). Of course we had ARod's injury and the Gardner injury (which one of these is not like the other). I really think the depth of last year's team is going under-appreciated - and we still had lots of Gaudin/Mitre.
On the pitching side, I think Joba needs to get the #5 slot for the whole year - gloves off for the first time. I really want Hughes to start in AAA for the first half of the year as injury insurance and to build up innings. This is based on the sense that if he begins the year in the bullpen and a starter goes down Hughes will remain the the 'pen and some scrub will come in - as we saw last year. I think the bullpen will be fine without Hughes anyway. If by the all-star break Hughes is still toiling in the minors and the big league rotation is full, then I suppose he could come up to pen for the remainder of the year to get some reps in. He'd end up with substantial innings, and still some additional ML experience. Otherwise I just see him spending the whole year in the pen, or swapping back and forth frequently. This way there's a maximum of one transition at the ASB.
For the offense, I'm not sure what else can be done. Going in to last year we had a decent but not great starting outfield with crazy depth (5 starting caliber guys, but no stars). This year we have the potential for a better front 3 OFers, but behind them it's pretty yukky. That said, left field should be a really easy spot to patch on the run, if that's necessary. So I don't see any obvious moves (besides ponying up for Damon). Getting Thames was nice and makes Winn more palatable. Hoffmann will have his work cut out for him - hell, maybe he beats out Winn.
Beyond that, I would love for The Jesus to get some ABs, maybe during an inevitable NJ injury, and hope to see him on TV during ST games!
I'm looking forward to Joba with the leash off, Montero getting some AB's against big league pitchers (yeah I know Josh Beckett in March is just Josh Beckett in March, but it's a start), and taking bets on the over/under of when Gardner is put in CF and Granderson in LF (my guess is March 22).
Sure it goes on too long, but I love Spring Training. Think about it, we're 3 weeks away from being able to say "oh the game is on tonight"...that's reason enough to celebrate.
[3] I agree with your take on Joba/Hughes.
As for depth, I'd argue Winn=Melky and Thames=Nady, so there's as much depth in the OF this year as last, and more in the rotation given that Joba and Hughes are a year further in their progress an no one is coming off injury like Wang was last year.
Damon lifetime in Comerica .... who knew?
http://bbref.com/pi/shareit/B39DE
I think the biggest key is Joba's velocity. If this Spring ends like the last one (with Joba topping out in the low-90s), I think some concern will be warranted.
I am also looking forward to Mo's first appearance. Every year he seems to have an effortless 1-2-3 inning in his spring debut, which always makes me feel better.
[6] I'd have to imagine that the absolutely awful Tiger teams from 2001 to 2005 played a role in that.
[5] Right, I forgot Wang was coming off injury. Further, Posada was coming off a serious injury last year (and damn, didn't my boy deliver), as was Matsui (moderate injury), so we had probably more question marks last year. So I guess I come down as feeling like this year we have a smaller numerator (less options/depth) but also a smaller denominator (less question marks/uncertainty) as last year, and that probably works out to net equality or small improvement. I appreciate the Melky/Winn and Nady/Thames comparisons, but feel/felt better about the former guys in both cases (age, recent performance).
[7] Right about Joba. If he's looking bad and Hughes is looking great maybe just send Joba to start in the minors to get worked out. I just don't want any of sending either of them to the pen to begin the year.
I am not looking forward to seeing Matsui in an Angles uniform. I'm am giddy with anticipation with watching Granderson in pinstripes. He's going to look sharp!
[7] Re: Mo. For sure. I also like that one pitch during Spring Training when he throws a change-up and some hapless batter swings and misses wildly. Mo turns to Jeter with a big grin on his face. Seems to happen once every Spring.
I can't wait for that first televised game. Watching the classic games on YES and MLB Network is fun - but it's not real. Real baseball is the sure sign that winter is ending and we'll soon be back in that rhythm of the season.
I love baseball.
[9] Couldn't agree more...especially that last part. As soon as those first images of the team on the field in uniform start filtering in, it feels as if the winter is over.
[7]
Yes, I was thinking the same thing re: Tigers pitching during that timeframe ...
Hooray, spring signals the end of purgatory! Winter is over, and I look forward to feeling, likeTerance Mann suggests, like I've dipped myself in magic waters. As a writer, I know it's your job to ask questions, but as a spectator, I can delight in passively watching a season unfold like a soap opera. All triumphs and failures will be revealed over 162 glorious installments. I can't wait!
has YES released a ST broadcast schedule? I know they usually show the saturday/sunday afternoon games unless it conflicts with the Nets, and a couple of midweek night games thrown in.
Yay, 6 days to pitchers & catchers. And I just got my high-def set up.
[13] With the poor ratings the Nets have been getting (I believe one broadcast had fewer than 1,000 viewers), a Yankees ST game would blow them out of the water.
[15] looking at their March schedule, the only Net games anyone could possibly have any interest in are 3/3 vs Cleveland, 3/5 vs Orlando, maybe 3/12 vs OKC, and 3/22 vs Miami...thats about it. Anything else the Yankees would easily beat them.
[15] Somebody still watches the Nets? Must be like slowing down to look at a car wreck.