Posted by: Patrick
Brett Gardner has won the starting center field job, beating out Melky Cabrera, reports Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.
Cabrera, who is out of options and would have to be placed on waivers before any demotion, is expected to make the team.
"Both of them played great," Girardi said. "Melky had a tough year last year, but he came into camp and was ready to go and played very well. Gardy finished up strong and had a great camp. We're just going to go with Gardy."
Gardner hit .385 (20-for-52) with three home runs, six RBIs and five stolen bases in 22 spring games for the Yankees, impressing the coaching staff by continuing to showcase plus speed in the outfield and on the bases.
The 24-year-old Cabrera skipped an opportunity to play in the World Baseball Classic in hopes of securing a job, putting up a good fight. Through 21 spring games, Cabrera batted .340 (18-for-53) with one home run, nine RBIs and two stolen bases.
Gardner hit .385 (20-for-52) with three home runs, six RBIs and five stolen bases in 22 spring games for the Yankees, impressing the coaching staff by continuing to showcase plus speed in the outfield and on the bases.
The 24-year-old Cabrera skipped an opportunity to play in the World Baseball Classic in hopes of securing a job, putting up a good fight. Through 21 spring games, Cabrera batted .340 (18-for-53) with one home run, nine RBIs and two stolen bases.
Cabrera, who is out of options and would have to be placed on waivers before any demotion, is expected to make the team.
Posted by: Patrick
Bryan Hoch of MLB.com says that the Padres have shipped pitcher Ivan Nova back to the Yankees after Nova failed to catch on with San Diego, who selected him in the Rule 5 draft in December. He's headed to Double-A Trenton.
Posted by: Patrick
Richard Sandomir has a profile of Randy Levine. As president of the Yankees, he has been the team's public face (or, at least, part of it) during some controversial and tenuous moments. I'm not a fan, though I can't say that I disagree with everything he says or does, either. Here's the start:
Via Ben.
When politicians questioned the propriety of the Yankees’ $1.2 billion in tax-exempt bonds for their new stadium, Randy Levine, the team’s president, scolded them for having their facts wrong or for failing to examine similar financing for the Mets’ Citi Field.
When the Milwaukee Brewers’ owner criticized the Yankees for signing $423.5 million in free agents this off-season, Levine countered, as he frequently has: we follow the rules, so don’t tell us how to invest our money.
In recent years, as George Steinbrenner has faded from view as the principal owner, Levine has emerged as the strongest voice of the Yankees, baseball’s wealthiest team. He is their executive-as-prosecutor, a tough, short-tempered and smart protector of the Steinbrenner family and the Yankees brand.
When the Milwaukee Brewers’ owner criticized the Yankees for signing $423.5 million in free agents this off-season, Levine countered, as he frequently has: we follow the rules, so don’t tell us how to invest our money.
In recent years, as George Steinbrenner has faded from view as the principal owner, Levine has emerged as the strongest voice of the Yankees, baseball’s wealthiest team. He is their executive-as-prosecutor, a tough, short-tempered and smart protector of the Steinbrenner family and the Yankees brand.
Via Ben.
Posted by: Patrick
Peter Abraham reports:
Via Drew Silva.
In other news, Joe Girardi threw a change-up after the game, saying it was “possible” they could start the season without a long reliever. That means Jon Albaladejo could make the squad instead of Alfredo Aceves, Dan Giese or Brett Tomko.
Via Drew Silva.
Posted by: Patrick
Steve Silva of the Boston Globe has some quotes from a WFAN interview with Mark Teixeira. In the interview, he says that he and his agent were clear, with any clubs interested in his services, that he would not negotiate through the media and asked that they also not do so.
The Yankees "were really the only team that did that," according to the first baseman. Specifically, the article centers around the fact that the Red Sox didn't and Teixeira says that it helped to impact his decision.
"... I think in the end, it probably worked against [the Red Sox] a little bit, because everyone thought the Red Sox were [my] No. 1, but in reality, the Yankees were gonna be the team, like I said all along, if all things were equal, the Yankees were the place that I wanted to go," Teixeira said. "It made the most sense for my family. It made the most sense for me and my career and where I wanted to go. Being a Yankee and wearing the pinstripes into the new Yankee Stadium, it doesn't get any better than that. They had a leg up all along."
Via Steve.
The Yankees "were really the only team that did that," according to the first baseman. Specifically, the article centers around the fact that the Red Sox didn't and Teixeira says that it helped to impact his decision.
"... I think in the end, it probably worked against [the Red Sox] a little bit, because everyone thought the Red Sox were [my] No. 1, but in reality, the Yankees were gonna be the team, like I said all along, if all things were equal, the Yankees were the place that I wanted to go," Teixeira said. "It made the most sense for my family. It made the most sense for me and my career and where I wanted to go. Being a Yankee and wearing the pinstripes into the new Yankee Stadium, it doesn't get any better than that. They had a leg up all along."
Via Steve.
Posted by: Patrick
Jason Jones, the pitcher who was taken from the Yankees by the Twins in the Rule V draft and later said he didn't feel appreciated by the Yanks, will remain in Minnesota.
The Twins elected not to carry Jones on their Major League active roster and, as such, Jones was offered back to the Yankees. They took him, but immediately sent him back to Minnesota in exchange for 23 year old right handed pitcher Charles Nolte. Chad Jennings has the story. On Nolte, he says:
The Twins elected not to carry Jones on their Major League active roster and, as such, Jones was offered back to the Yankees. They took him, but immediately sent him back to Minnesota in exchange for 23 year old right handed pitcher Charles Nolte. Chad Jennings has the story. On Nolte, he says:
... Nolte had a 2.05 ERA with Low-A Beloit last season and a 1.85 ERA in the Gulf Coast League the year before. All told he's struck out 97 batters in 94.2 innings while walking 46 and holding opponents to a .230 batting average. His groundout-to-flyout ratio last year was better than 4.82-to-1. That's a huge groundball tendency.
Posted by: Patrick
MLB.com's Bryan Hoch reports that Derek Jeter is day-to-day after injuring his pinky knuckle after a collision with Braves first baseman Greg Norton.
Jeter remained in the game for a while before being pulled. Joe Girardi expects him to play Sunday.
Jeter remained in the game for a while before being pulled. Joe Girardi expects him to play Sunday.
Posted by: Patrick
At first, I wasn't going to post this when I was e-mailed by Scott Blumenthal, the Yankees fan featured in the video. But, you know, I was entertained. Check it out. Their website is Nine More Outs.
Posted by: Patrick
Update: Add John Rodriguez to this list.
On his Twitter, MLB.com writer Bryan Hoch mentioned that the Yankees had reassigned Doug Bernier, Shelley Duncan, Justin Leone, Todd Linden, P.J. Pillittere, Dave Robertson and Chris Stewart to the Minor League camp.
On his Twitter, MLB.com writer Bryan Hoch mentioned that the Yankees had reassigned Doug Bernier, Shelley Duncan, Justin Leone, Todd Linden, P.J. Pillittere, Dave Robertson and Chris Stewart to the Minor League camp.
Posted by: Patrick
Kat O'Brien reports that Joe Girardi expects both Brett Gardner and Melky Cabrera to make the team, regardless of who wins the job in center. That's a decision that Girardi would like to have made by Sunday or Monday. From all indications, Gardner appears to be in the lead.
