New York Yankees News: Baseball Today

by WhatwouldJeterdo on Mar 2, 2012 6:00 AM EST in New York Yankees News

-At long last, the New York Yankees will be playing an actual baseball game, on an actual baseball field, against an actual baseball team (kind of) today.

Adam Warren will get the start against the University of South Florida today, while the regulars will get one to two at bats. Brett Marshall, Dan Burawa, Juan Cedeno, Graham Stoneburner, and Kevin Whelan are also due to pitch at some point during the game. Legitimate baseball games begin tomorrow against the Phillies.

-The Yankees held their annual team bonding session yesterday at Tampa Improv.

Apparently something involving Mark Teixeira and Michael Jackson happened. Everyone loved it. Tex doesn't really strike me as the funniest of guys, but he was named MVP of the outing by Nick Swisher.

-Speaking of Teixeira, he has hired agent Casey Close to replace old agent, Scott Boras.

You may know Casey Close as the agent for Derek Jeter. Coincidence? Perhaps, but who knows? Teixeira still has five years remaining on his contract with the Yankees, so this is largely a non-issue.

-Hal Steinbrenner confirmed yesterday that the Yankees have every intention of getting their payroll below $189 million by 2014.

A lot of people have called their bluff on the matter, but under the CBA, there is simply too much to be gained to ignore. Hal also said that if you have a good farm system, you don't need the $220 million dollar payroll. It could be all smoke at this point, but if they are truly dedicated to getting under the luxury tax limit, they will definitely have to lean on the kids on the farm.

-Mike Axisa at River Ave Blues uses fangraphs' new pitch blocking data to examine the Yankee catchers.

Verdict: while Russell Martin supposedly calls a good game, he isn't so great at blocking pitches. In fact, over the last three seasons, only seven catchers with at least 1,000 innings caught have been worse than him at blocking balls in the dirt according to this data. He was rather bad in 2009, and right around league average since then. Apologize.

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Indeed

Martin Forever

"Don't you think it's strange that you'll make more money than President Hoover this year?"
"Why not? I had a better year than he did." - G.H. Ruth

by Andrew GM on Mar 2, 2012 6:41 AM EST reply actions

Cervelli!

by jetanumba2 on Mar 2, 2012 7:37 AM EST reply actions

This

"You kind of took it for granted around the Yankees that there was always going to be baseball in October." - Hall of Fame Pitcher Whitey Ford

by DarthYankee on Mar 2, 2012 8:12 AM EST up reply actions

That's interesting...

…because it kinda contradicts what Baseball Prospectus found in the article over here.

by pinstriper on Mar 2, 2012 8:37 AM EST reply actions

BTW

Biggest takeaway from the RAB article might be this:

pitch blocking is similar to base running in that its impact isn’t as significant as we may think. The best pitch blockers save about seven runs per season while the worst allow seven runs. Most catchers are within two runs of average. Yeah, every bit does count, but on the whole it’s not a huge part of the game.

by pinstriper on Mar 2, 2012 8:41 AM EST up reply actions

The main difference is it ignores pitch framing

Martin was very good at framing pitches, and just average at blocking them (in particular, he had a horrible 2009 and a very good 2008, with 2010-2011 basically average).

On pitch framing, he’s seen as the third best in the BP sample.

by PortlandYankee on Mar 2, 2012 1:35 PM EST up reply actions

AJ factor

has to skew the numbers against Martin.

by mspcpa on Mar 2, 2012 8:48 AM EST reply actions

Mike K. comment on RAB...

…makes a lot of sense, and wouldn’t have been caught (no pun intended) in the algorithm:

I do wonder if there’s something to the difficulty of catching the pitcher rather than just the pitch. That is, CC may put as many balls in the dirt (and in similar places) as AJ. But CC (more or less) intended to put them there, so Martin was in a good spot to block it. While AJ, may put a ball in the dirt outside…but was supposed to be high in in to the batter. Seems that would be a lot harder to block.

Note that none of the Yankee catchers — not even Jose Molina — did well based on the passed ball algorithm. The above comment might help explain that.

by pinstriper on Mar 2, 2012 8:49 AM EST up reply actions

Interesting developments...

Steven Goldman‏ @GoStevenGoldman

I am leaving @baseballpro to become a lead baseball writer for @bleacherreport. Thanks to so many for their support:

Baseball Prospectus writer leaves for B/R? Really?

"Don't you think it's strange that you'll make more money than President Hoover this year?"
"Why not? I had a better year than he did." - G.H. Ruth

by Andrew GM on Mar 2, 2012 9:13 AM EST reply actions

B/R could certainly use the help?

by pinstriper on Mar 2, 2012 9:27 AM EST up reply actions

Moar A.J. News!

Peter Gammons ‏ @pgammo
The good news on AJ Burnett is no longterm damage, but it likely is an 8-10 week process before he starts

Poor Pirates.

"Don't you think it's strange that you'll make more money than President Hoover this year?"
"Why not? I had a better year than he did." - G.H. Ruth

by Andrew GM on Mar 2, 2012 9:26 AM EST reply actions

Just a suggestion....

Someone at PSA should do a payroll scenario for 2014. Is it really acheivable or is this just management blowing smoke? It could be presented position by position based on current committed costs. Could we afford to extend Cano, Swisher, Martin…etc? Stuff like that.
Really enjoyed the way Brandon tracked the possible line up this year. We knew exactly what the options were right up to signing Chavez. More stuff like that would be great!

by alouishes on Mar 2, 2012 10:01 AM EST reply actions

Why no...

…audio broadcast of today’s game? C’mon…I know it’s not “real” MLB baseball, but still! I don’t want to wait til tomorrw for audio and Sunday for YES!!!

I WANT BASEBALL NOW!!!

by CalinCT on Mar 2, 2012 10:04 AM EST reply actions

Lineups Today

LINEUP
Derek Jeter SS
Curtis Granderson CF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Raul Ibanez DH
Nick Swisher RF
Brett Gardner LF
Eduardo Nunez 2B
Gustavo Molina C

Pitching: Adam Warren

per YES Network

"Don't you think it's strange that you'll make more money than President Hoover this year?"
"Why not? I had a better year than he did." - G.H. Ruth

by Andrew GM on Mar 2, 2012 10:31 AM EST reply actions

what about for USF?

Is Brian Hobbs playing?

by long time listener on Mar 2, 2012 10:35 AM EST up reply actions

Don't know who that is and no.

SOUTH FLORIDA
Alex Mendez LF
Chad Taylor CF
James Ramsay RF
Todd Brazeal DH
Daniel Rockhold 3B
Buddy Putnam 1B
Andrew Longley C
Kyle Teaf SS
Luis Llerena 2B

LHP Matt Reed

Lohud

"Don't you think it's strange that you'll make more money than President Hoover this year?"
"Why not? I had a better year than he did." - G.H. Ruth

by Andrew GM on Mar 2, 2012 1:40 PM EST up reply actions

I like the names

Daniel Rockhold & Buddy Putnam!

"WHO WOULD LEAD?! THE CLOWN?!"
ImNotAHRHitter
Pinstripe Alley Podcast

by I'mGivingYouARaise on Mar 2, 2012 1:47 PM EST up reply actions

And Kyle Teaf!

Sounds like it should be an anagram for a better player or something.

Cricket blogger and writer of nonsense at 7500 to Holte

by MattF15 on Mar 2, 2012 10:40 PM EST up reply actions

Gustavo? Ugh

A baseball park is the one place where a man's wife doesn't mind his getting excited over somebody else's curves.

by david d on Mar 2, 2012 11:12 AM EST up reply actions

Sadly...

"Don't you think it's strange that you'll make more money than President Hoover this year?"
"Why not? I had a better year than he did." - G.H. Ruth

by Andrew GM on Mar 2, 2012 11:17 AM EST up reply actions

I didn’t even realize he was still part of the organization

A baseball park is the one place where a man's wife doesn't mind his getting excited over somebody else's curves.

by david d on Mar 2, 2012 11:23 AM EST up reply actions

Organizational players are sneaky like that

"Don't you think it's strange that you'll make more money than President Hoover this year?"
"Why not? I had a better year than he did." - G.H. Ruth

by Andrew GM on Mar 2, 2012 11:32 AM EST up reply actions

Today's NYTimes suggests that Swisher and Martin may be allowed to go to reduce payroll.

Hal is quoted as saying that they won’t be extended during the season, and that signing Kuroda was essentially $10m that they weren’t planning to spend.

There is no way any lineup with Gustavo Molina in it can beat USF. Sorry, that’s the way it is.

by designatedquitter on Mar 2, 2012 10:39 AM EST reply actions

I do realize I'm on a link dump roll today but still...

Former Yankees #1 draft pick arrested for cocaine trafficking! Hint: It’s not Derek Jeter.

"Don't you think it's strange that you'll make more money than President Hoover this year?"
"Why not? I had a better year than he did." - G.H. Ruth

by Andrew GM on Mar 2, 2012 11:33 AM EST reply actions

that's a sad story

I remember being so excited to see Taylor pitch. I was sure he was going to be the team’s ace for years and lead a renewed Yankee dynasty. Instead, he’s Exhibit A for why you don’t draft high school pitchers in the first round, and why you don’t get excited about pitching prospects until they’re at least very close to the majors.

by long time listener on Mar 2, 2012 11:52 AM EST up reply actions

Worth pointing out

The injury he sustained wasn’t from pitching, so that doesn’t really have to do with his high school status. The Yankees drafted Gerrit Cole out of HS in ‘08, and if he had signed, that would’ve been a great pick.

"Don't you think it's strange that you'll make more money than President Hoover this year?"
"Why not? I had a better year than he did." - G.H. Ruth

by Andrew GM on Mar 2, 2012 1:15 PM EST up reply actions

Keep in mind

Martin had one ridiculously bad year for passed balls with the Dodgers when he had a bad hip. His mobility behind the plate really suffered quite badly that season. He looked much healthier last season.

by Iggy Poptart on Mar 2, 2012 11:04 PM EST reply actions