Slow Down That Prospect Train

by jscape2000 on Mar 9, 2008 10:57 AM EDT in New York Yankees News

Rays AAA 2B Elliot Johnson broke Yank catching prospect Francisco Cervelli's wrist.

Four days after Carl Crawford barreled over a catcher on a play at the plate, Elliot Johnson lowered his shoulder and floored New York Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli in the Rays' 4-1 victory on Saturday.

Cervelli broke his right wrist while making the tag, and Yankees manager Joe Girardi was angry with the aggressive play.

"I think it's uncalled for," Girardi said. "Spring training, you're going to get people hurt, and that's what we got, we got Cervelli hurt. It's one thing to get hit by a pitch, it gets away, but, I don't understand it."

Cervelli, in addition to having one of the coolest names in the minors, was the Yanks' most advanced catching prospect. He would have started this year at AA (Montero and Romine are the real studs, but they both only played rookie ball last year at 17 and 18 years-old.

One of the things that delayed Posada's debut was a leg broken in a collision at the plate. It also led to those swipe tags.
Hopefully Cervelli can heal quickly and put it behind him.

Girardi was (rightly) furious. While I understand that Johnson is trying to win a spot on the team (he's on the 40-man, but not in the depth cart), it's only spring training.

Expect some fireworks when the Rays come to the Bronx the first weekend of April. The Rays have earned a bit of a bad boy reputation the last couple of years, brawling repeatedly with the Red Sox. Joe G. seems old school enough to not stand for some of the nonsense Torre let roll off his back.

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really

what is with that? Their manager said he loved it...loves that hardball stuff.

Can't wait for them to come to the Boogie Down and find out what hardball really is.

I vote for Farnsworth to rip someone's head off.

"The secret of managing is to keep the guys who hate you away from the guys who are undecided." -Casey Stengel

by bxgrl1 on Mar 9, 2008 12:12 PM EDT reply actions

If it wasn't the first time

I would say that he is just defending his player in public so he could handle it privately, but this is the second time.

One of the reporters asked the most important question (in my mind.) Had Girardi addressed the issue before it happened? Yes! Someone asked about going in hard to the plate and he said absolutely not in spring training.

If it had happened opening day I would have understood.

Eleven wins in October...

by Edwantsacracker on Mar 9, 2008 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions

If the runner cannot hit the catcher

why was Frankie blocking the plate?

I think you have to practice like you're going to play.

I know baseball has these wierd rules. I do not get it. You can't continue to try if you're a few runs ahead. No stealing, etc. I don't get it.

It is a shame the kid got injured. Move on.

A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)

by Cbeck3 on Mar 10, 2008 9:22 AM EDT up reply actions

On another note,

maybe this will help the Yankees pump up for the devil rays. A lot of the time in the last couple years after a big series there was a let down when they played the lesser teams.

Maybe they can make themselves hate the Rays enough to mash their brains in.

Eleven wins in October...

by Edwantsacracker on Mar 9, 2008 12:46 PM EDT reply actions

On a completely unrelated note

why is today's game not on in New York? Yes is carrying Yankees Classics. The CW11 is carrying the Mets game. WTF???

"The secret of managing is to keep the guys who hate you away from the guys who are undecided." -Casey Stengel

by bxgrl1 on Mar 9, 2008 1:15 PM EDT reply actions

Just a guess

but its probably because today is a road game.

The YES crew doesn't like to stray to far from Legends field and wherever they are today is about 2 hrs. from Tampa.

by matthaggs on Mar 9, 2008 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Another unrelated note

has anybody else's browser been crashing regularly while trying to load MLB.com?

Maybe it's a Safari thing, and maybe it's because I've got my iTunes running at the same time, but I just spent 45 minutes on a story post only to lose it when my browser froze. grrrr

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Mar 9, 2008 1:22 PM EDT reply actions

Firefox is a

much better browser. Definitely make the switch.

I always feel pressure. What I don't have is fear. -- El Duque

by LateInningRelief on Mar 9, 2008 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions

No

it did it to me in Firefox too. I only seems to happen when I have multiple windows open (which is the case whenever I write a post).

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Mar 9, 2008 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions

For major posts I write in word,

use the spell check, etc. Then I cut and paste into PA.

A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)

by Cbeck3 on Mar 9, 2008 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions

I know I know

But Safari spellchecks for me, so it's extra work. It's only been a problem with MLB.com's frontpage. I'm going to bookmark the low-res page.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Mar 9, 2008 3:06 PM EDT up reply actions

I can't really tell what's really going on

but it looks like the youngsters are smacking the Twinkies around.

"The secret of managing is to keep the guys who hate you away from the guys who are undecided." -Casey Stengel

by bxgrl1 on Mar 9, 2008 2:13 PM EDT reply actions

Eh

I don't really see the big deal about what the kid did.

I've seen the play called "dirty" in some places, and it was the furthest thing from that. It wasn't like he threw his elbow out, or hit him in the head. 99 times out of a 100 Cervelli gets up unharmed from a collision like that. It was a freak injury, he just happened to hit him in exactly the wrong place.

I guess it doesn't have a place in Spring Training, but the runner could hurt himself if he pulls up, or slides awkwardly because he's thinking too much about it. And I bet a guy like Shelly Duncan would have done the exact same thing.

To me the story from yesterday is Moose. He had his curveball on a string and was putting his pitches exactly where he wanted to. He also overcame a rotten home plate umpire, which he doesn't do too often. I liked what I saw.

Also the bullpen - has Britton moved ahead of Ohledorf after yesterday?

And Karstens - he could be a HUGE innings-eater for this team.

by matthaggs on Mar 9, 2008 3:33 PM EDT reply actions

Re:

Britton should have been ahead of Ohlendorf anyways. Britton's had a full successful season as a reliever in the majors, Ohlendorf just switched to the pen in the second half last year.

I've really liked what I've seen out of Albaladejo.

You're right about Karstens. He pitched well enough last season that the Yanks were considering starting him in the rotation and Igawa in the minors before everyone got hurt. Karstens tweaked his elbow in his final tuneup before Opening Day and started the season the DL.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Mar 9, 2008 3:59 PM EDT up reply actions