New York Yankees News Roundup: Pitchers and catchers report today!

by Travis G on Feb 14, 2011 7:01 AM EST in New York Yankees News

Spring Training officially begins today as pitchers and catchers report to the Yankees training complex in Tampa, Florida. Doesn't it just feel warmer thinking about it?

The biggest question facing the Yankees is: Who will be the fourth and fifth starters? Wally Matthews tackled that issue -

[It's] all because one pitcher decided to take someone else's money and another decided it was time to stay home with the family.

Which leaves us where we are today, at the beginning of a (minimum) eight-month journey with CC Sabathia as the only reliable guide.

How long this journey lasts, and where it will end, depends in large part on the quality of [pitching] support the Yankees can drum up for Sabathia.

Ivan Nova is a favorite to win one of the vacancies -

The team thought so little of him that it didn't protect him in the Rule 5 draft in 2008, and he was selected by the Padres, before eventually being returned to the Yankees. After that back-and-forth, Nova posted his first truly strong showing, in Double-A Trenton in 2009. He was pounded during a 2009 promotion to Triple-A but bounced back with a strong first half, culminating in his major-league debut.

Nova uses his sinking fastball to induce plenty of groundballs, and he complements his sinker with a curveball and changeup. He'll have some security-by necessity, it would take a truly abysmal spring and some surprising performances by other pitchers for Mr. Nova to lose his spot in the rotation-but once the season starts, Nova will have a scant few months to show that he belongs.

I liked what I saw from Nova last season, and believe he can be a competent back-end starter capable of throwing 180+ innings with a sub-5.00 ERA.

A dark horse that rarely gets talked about is Mark Prior, who is still only 30. He has a chance to make the team as a reliever and pull off a comeback similar to his ex-teammate, Kerry Wood. You might remember that Prior was the "Strasburg" of his day, compiling a 2.74 ERA (154 ERA+) in his first two seasons (24-12, 328 ip, 11 K/9, 3 BB/9) at the ages of 21-22.
YES broadcaster Michael Kay married anchorwoman Jodi Applegate at The Plaza in New York. Attendees included Darryl Strawberry, Rudy Giuliani and Hal Steinbrenner. To our readers: What's your best Kay-ism for this occasion?
George King posed the "10 most pressing matters" for the Yankees as Spring Training begins. While I disagree with some of his answers, the questions are still food for thought.

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This is always something that lightens my heart on the first day of Spring Training

“I have no idea [if I will opt out,]” a noticeably lighter Sabathia said in the Yankees clubhouse Monday morning, as pitchers and catchers reported. “It is still in my contract. Anything is possible.” Courtesy Andrew Marchand

So… the surest part of the rotation for 2011 is CC Sabathia. Hopefully he’ll be the surest afterwards as well…

March 31st can't come soon enough.

by Chris McKeown on Feb 14, 2011 11:59 AM EST reply actions

He wouldn’t get the same money if he opted out, so it would be a bad move.

February 14th, pitchers, catchers, and Messiahs report to Spring Training.

by Wraithpk on Feb 14, 2011 2:14 PM EST up reply actions

Sabathia will be a year younger than Lee was with 10x better track record

And Lee got $120 million guaranteed.

Strikeouts are boring- Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.

by CasanovaWong on Feb 14, 2011 2:24 PM EST up reply actions

track record doesn’t matter, it’s how good someone is right now. It’s debatable who is better between Lee and Sabathia. If CC has a monster season he might get more money by doing it.

February 14th, pitchers, catchers, and Messiahs report to Spring Training.

by Wraithpk on Feb 14, 2011 9:19 PM EST up reply actions

Starting Piching will make or break us

I will always support our Yankees but I believe we need to add a quality lefty starter prior to the regular season in order to stay competitive for the AL East crown. Pitching and defense wins championships and their are too many question marks in our rotation to make that happen. This looks like a replay of 2008 except that the young kids are being replaced by the “over the hill” gang. Nobody liked the outcome in 2008 and I expect nobody will like the outcome in 2011 if everything remains the same.

Unfortunately, on paper, it looks like the RSox could have a awesome year in 2011. I understand the games must be played to determine a winner but we must take preventative steps to equalize the playing field. I would not like a 1998 type year for the RSox

by YANKEES FOREVER on Feb 14, 2011 12:20 PM EST reply actions

My jaw dropped when I read the King article. The most informative data was that the current temperature in NY is 55 degrees.

As Kay leaves for his honeymoon: See Ya!.

As for everyhting excpet starting pitching: don’t worry about it.

As for starting pitching: Worry about it.

by designatedquitter on Feb 14, 2011 1:34 PM EST reply actions

i don't know why I am wasting my time/ energy....

on anything that King writes, but (about Rothschild):

Mel Stottlemyre, Ron Guidry and Dave Eiland pitched for the Yankees and became pitching coaches. They understood when the pitchers didn’t perform, questions were going to be asked about the coach.

Larry Rothschild has bee around. I’m pretty sure he knows what kind of situation he’s getting to into, even without “Yankees ties.” Plus aren’t ALL pitching coaches held responsible for the success/failure of their pitching staffs? That’s not NY specific.

by NumberSeven on Feb 14, 2011 1:42 PM EST reply actions

Interesting...

that Girardi only named Mitre, Nova, Garcia, and Colon as candidates for the 4th and 5th starter roles. Also, I was greatly relieved to hear that CC is still NOT considering his opt out.

by alouishes on Feb 14, 2011 1:49 PM EST reply actions