"A New York Treasure" --Village Voice

Reds 13, Yankees 11

The 24 runs scored by the Yankees and Reds this afternoon included eight home runs. Think the wind was blowing out? In the last game before the World Baseball Classic participants departed, the Yankees lost 13-11 and dropped their spring record to 2-3.

Lineup:

L – Brett Gardner (CF)
R – Derek Jeter (SS)
S – Mark Teixeira (1B)
R – Alex Rodriguez (3B)
L – Robinson Cano (2B)
R – Xavier Nady (RF)
L – John Rodriguez (LF)
R – Cody Ransom (DH)
R – Kevin Cash (C)

Subs: Juan Miranda (1B), Kevin Russo (2B), Eduardo Nuñez (SS), Justin Leone (3B), Jesus Montero (C), P.J. Pilittere (C), Shelley Duncan (RF), Austin Jackson (CF), Todd Linden (LF), Doug Bernier (DH)

Pitchers: Alfredo Aceves, Johnathan Albaladejo, J.B. Cox, Damaso Marte, Brian Bruney, Christian Garcia, Mark Melancon

Big Hits:

Robinson Cano went 3-for-3 with a single, a double, and a solo homer. Brett Gardner went 2-for-3 with a double and a solo homer. Alex Rodriguez doubled twice in three trips. John Rodriguez added a solo homer in three trips.  Derek Jeter went 3-for-3, all singles. Mark Teixeira and Kevin Cash both went 2-for-3, with Cash picking up a double, but also getting caught stealing following his single. Three of the Yanks’ five doubles came off Yankee punching-bag Arthur Rhodes.

Who Pitched Well:

No one really. Mark Melancon allowed an unearned run on a triple, a walk, and an error in the eighth. Brian Bruney allowed just a solo home run to Laynce Nix in his one inning of work. Those performances qualified as “good” in this game.

Who Didn’t:

Starter Alfredo Aceves gave up three runs on a walk and two hits in his only inning of work. Two of the runs came on a Chris Dickerson homer. Christian Garcia entered with an 11-8 lead in the seventh and blew the save by allowing four runs (three earned) on two singles, an error, and a grand slam by Craig Tatum. Damaso Marte gave up a pair of solo homers to straight-away center in the fifth, both to lefties as Dickerson hit his second of the game and Joey Votto also took him deep.

Battles:

Brett Gardner is hot as hellfire, having hit his second homer in four spring games after hitting a total of three between spring training, the majors and minors last year. Gardner leads the Yankees in homers, extra-base hits, total bases, and is slugging 1.300 on top of a .500 batting averge. That said, Gardner’s double today came when he hustled out a pop-up that happened to fall in, then got thrown out trying to stretch it into a triple. Xavier Nady went 0-for-3 with a strikeout and a rally-killing double play. Jonathan Albaladejo didn’t help himself by giving up a run on four hits and a walk in 1 2/3 innings, needing J.B. Cox to get him out of a third-inning jam, but he did well to bury that performance in a 24-run game. After Dan Giese opened up the long-man battle with an awful two-inning performance yesterday, Alfredo Aceves did almost as bad in a single inning today.

Ouchies:

Jesus Montero strained his right groin sliding after a passed ball. Jonathan Albaladejo was hit in the back of his left leg by a comebacker and is day-to-day. The soreness in Jorge Posada‘s shoulder is disappating. Edwar Ramirez has not resumed throwing since being diagnosed with bursitis in his pitching shoulder. He will skip the World Baseball Classic as a result.

More:

The World Baseball Classic participants have departed for their respective teams. Francisco Cervelli (1-for-6) joins the Italian team, which means he should be back in camp in a week, as Italy is likely to be eliminated on March 9. Derek Jeter (5-for-11, all singles) is likely to be gone much longer as the US are the favorites in the tournament despit their early exit last time. Jeter hit .450/.522/550 in the 2006 WBC, then went on to have an MVP-worthy season (.343/.417/.483). Here’s hoping he’s similarly inspired this year (though it’s worth noting Jeter was just 32 in 2006 and is 35 this season). The largest Yankee contingent will be on the Domincan team (even without Edwar Ramirez and Jose Veras, who made the final roster, but won’t be participating). Damaso Marte (2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 HR, 0 BB, 2 K), Alex Rodriguez (.429/.545/1.143 in 10 PA), and Robinson Cano (.556/.636/1.111) will all likely be away for most of March as the Dominican team looks like the best non-Asian team after the US.

Speaking of the WBC, I’ll be liveblogging most of the USA’s game’s for SI.com, and if my new laptop shows up tomorrow like it’s supposed to, I’ll liveblog Tuesday’s game between the USA and the Yankees here at the Banter.

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20 comments

1 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Mar 2, 2009 12:36 am

[0] Cliff, would love to follow the live-blogging for the WBC but with the time-change that isn't practical..thankfully all the games will be broadcast here on tape delay.

Johan Santana..spring achiness or something more serious??

Jim Bowden out as Nats GM..what a mess, they should have stayed in Montreal!

2 thelarmis   ~  Mar 2, 2009 12:50 am

[1] uh-oh, you're in agreement with steve phillips of why the WBC is good! me - i don't care for anything but MLB. as far as WBC or ST is concerned, my only concern is injuries...

johan supernatural - who knows, we'll see. it's like our deal w/ jorgie.

nats/bowden - yes, GIANT mess! i've been to Olympic Stadium, it was cool! i agree that the Expos franchise was waaaaaay cooler than the "Nats." i'm just not a fan...at all.

3 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Mar 2, 2009 1:35 am

[2] I always heard Olympic Stadium in Montreal was in contention with the Vet in Philly for worst in the bigs..

The Nats are sad, am glad Soriano got out of there!

4 thelarmis   ~  Mar 2, 2009 1:40 am

[2] oh, it may have very well been the worst stadium ever. i was a freshman in high school and we took a band trip to canada (montreal, toronto) and i was with my (basement) band and the singer was/is my best friend, so it was all cool! we didn't see a game, we just took a tour there; i have pictures.

i hope sori's leg issues are not an issue this year and he, once again, joins the 20-20 club. that said, i believe he had 19 each of the past 2 seasons, so it's not like he's far off. i just cannot wait for him and beltran to reach the 300-300 club! cant. friggin'. wait.

5 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Mar 2, 2009 1:46 am

[5] Talking with a few old timers once, they claimed the old Arlington Stadium was the major's worst..barely AAA level facility that was torturous in the Texas summers..I have to admit, I love reading about and looking at pics of old baseball stadiums..as much as looking at old record album covers!

Soriano..always will be a fan since his dinger off of Schilling that won us the World Series in 2001..yes, that Game 7 in which Mo closed it out perfectly as always..

6 thelarmis   ~  Mar 2, 2009 1:57 am

[5] i still have nightmares about that game 7. i remember everything about those last coupla innings. everything. it's brutal... : /

NOTHING better than old Blue Note covers!!! francis wolff/reid miles = perfect album art!!! Hank Mobley's "Workout", is pretty much my fave! : )

my brother still proudly sports Lil' Sori's #12 t-shirt. i don't think i'll be that proud wearing melky's #28, however... : ~

7 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Mar 2, 2009 2:00 am

[6] it's a sunny day here, i won't ruin it by discussing how it felt to watch Curt Schilling get a ring that night when we had that game won..

Blue Note IS the best! "Workout" is classic, though I love Jimmy Smith "Back At the Chicken Shack", and the one where he's standing in front of some soul food joint..maybe that was "The Sermon"?

8 thelarmis   ~  Mar 2, 2009 2:02 am

btw, we got real, actual snow here in hotlanta today. it was awesome! big, beautiful flakes, falling from the sky for hours. i cleared off over 3 inches of snow from my car. people here were looking at me like i was crazy, since nobody has any type of winter tools. my car and another guy from PA, were the only ones w/ automobiles clear of snow. i had to wipe off a coupla neighbors' cars just so they could get out. it was too funny.

everything cleared up and was fine, but since it's the south, everyone freaks out - my gig was cut early and school is closed tomorrow, so i can't work during the day. it is soooo lame!!!

9 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Mar 2, 2009 2:05 am

man, what is wrong with people form the south and snow?? My sister told me in Maryland and Virginia (hardly even Dixie but then again it's all the South for me once you cross the Verazano..) they close school when there's only 2 or 3 inches of snow! Is it that rare??

10 thelarmis   ~  Mar 2, 2009 2:11 am

sun - what's that?! ; )

yes, BN is most certainly theeeee BEST!!! i listened to Jimmy Smith today and played with an organist tonight (and will again tomorrow). today, i listened to "The Sounds Of Jimmy Smith." i listened to his "Rockin' The Boat", with Lou Donaldson, yesterday and "Back At The Chicken Shack", last week! if you like "Chicken Shack" (and my jazz trio plays that tune semi-regularly), you MUST get the companion album: "Midnight Special". same lineup, same session - 2 different releases. Alfred Lion, did that a lot w/ Jimmy Smith, as he set him up for monster sessions that were unprecedented for the label.

No, "The Sermon," has an up-close shot of Jimmy in a ribbed turtleneck making a weird contorted shape w/ his hands. the companion record for that session, is "House Party." the awesome cover you're thinking of, is "Home Cookin'". that album, featured the random Percy France on tenor sax. the restaurant Jimmy's standing in front of, is Kate's Home Cooking on West 126th Street. i guess that's Harlem...

11 thelarmis   ~  Mar 2, 2009 2:15 am

[9] no, not rare. they close schools here if there's a *THREAT* of flurries!!! i'm not kidding. pathetic. i'm glad i have a gig tomorrow night, but i really wanted to teach high school tomorrow. i've been slaving over these conductors' scores. i need more time with 'em anyway, but it would've been productive and the kids were all excited about these pieces; i wanted to keep the momentum going. plus, i'm out the moulah...

school got closed quite a bit when i taught in northeast PA (Moose country), but it was always for VERY good reason!

12 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Mar 2, 2009 2:25 am

[10] I'm a dope, i've got BOTH those cds! The Sermon is ridiculously groovy, and love that "Home Cookin" too. That's great you play "Chicken Shack" regularly..when you bringing the trio over here???

hey, you ever wonder why they don't play more jazz at Yankee Stadium?? I mean, it's New York , the jazz capital of the world! Hearing C&C Music Factory played on the system at the Stadium was depressing..

13 thelarmis   ~  Mar 2, 2009 2:37 am

[12] man, i've got soooo much shit and i keep pretty damn good track of it all and i STILL don't know what i have, haha! so, i totally understand.

wow, i'd LOVE to bring the trio over there. and my old Fusion trio, too. it'd be perfect and a blast. and completely unrealistic. at least, for the jazz trio. i wish we could make it happen, though. if i am fortunate enough to make it over there with this "other" project, it's completely different than jazz!!!

i dunno, maybe it's 'coz of the projected audience at the stadium? i know, for a fact, that one of the two organists at Yankee Stadium, is an absolute musical GENIUS, and i don't throw that word around lightly, for whatever it's worth. i have no idea who makes up the rules for the music being played there, if that is even the case. things that make ya go, hmmm....

14 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Mar 2, 2009 2:41 am

[13] Man, you GOTs to email me soon..I am doing some side work now that involves jazz group promotions..it's difficult, but not impossible! ALL kinds of jazz are popular here so bring the fusion AND the straight-ahead group, we'll find you clubs and bars to gig in..

ignoring the C&C pun at end of your previous post, am ashamed I even recognize and could start singing it...

15 thelarmis   ~  Mar 2, 2009 2:41 am

[12] don't forget:

The Sermon & House Party = companion cd's

Midnight Special & Back At The Chicken Shack = companion cd's

each were 1 session apiece, just released as 2 separate records...

16 thelarmis   ~  Mar 2, 2009 2:45 am

[14] yeah, i can sing that C&C, too - we're probably about the same age...

holy crap! well, the Fusion trio is on hiatus...for the moment. we might have a pretty *BIG* project later this year, not positive. if there was ANY way to get the working Jazz trio over there, we'd be all about it. for real! yes, i should definitely email you soon. i know i've got your addy here at my computer desk somewhere, if it's still the same one, and i'm pretty sure it is...

if the 'other' project flies, i'll try to get my bassist on the gig, as he's my favorite. i guess there's also an outside possibility i could get the guitarist from the trio as the 2nd one on the main gig. that way, the whole trio would already be there and we could play jazz on the off days! ah, everything looks so good on paper. it'll never happen... : /

17 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Mar 2, 2009 2:58 am

you'll make it one day, man! and when you do the record shops, jazz bars, cafes and, er..female population will blow you away..
same email so anytime is cool, just put "thelarmis" or Banter in the subject so I don't spam it..

[15] but the greedy BN marketing dept re-issued them on separate cds!

18 thelarmis   ~  Mar 2, 2009 3:06 am

you have any "blondes" over there?! emily procter (of csi:miami) has joined sarah chalke (of scrubs) as my current faves!!!

[15] well, i think those 2 (or 4), have always been separate. there are a bunch of other Jimmy sessions for BN, that have been released all-on-one. that said, i'm not an expert on his BN catalog...yet. if they released a 2cd set of each, it'd probably be more expensive than the single reissues; plus, you get some extra awesome artwork! at least, on the midnight/chicken ones, house/sermon, are kinda lame - at least for BN standards. Dexter Gordon had some GREAT album covers. i'm still pissed they never released "Landslide" on cd...

i'm worried about the state of BN. the RVG series and slew of reissues has been wonderful, but they're not selling and Bruce Lundvall is about to retire and the industry is at an all-time low and these albums may become more scarce than ever. i guess i've chosen a good time to go on an all-out spending spree on this stuff. i'm awaiting a coupla cool (but too expensive!) titles from your country. hopefully i'll have 'em soon...

yes, of course - banter/thelarmis/blue note in the subject title!

19 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Mar 2, 2009 3:08 am

[18] trust me, you'll lose the Blonde thing no doubt!
quittin time, gotta run but more BN questions for you. have a good one, enjoy the snow day tomorrow.

20 thelarmis   ~  Mar 2, 2009 3:15 am

[19] i've tried to lose the blonde thing; doesn't work so well...

i'm all about BN ?'s...

wish i was working 2 jobs instead of 1 tomorrow...

rock on, be good and enjoy the WBC! we'll see ya here, and i'll get in touch with you, via email, in due time...

np = Tina Brooks. talk about underrated...

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"This ain't football. We do this every day."
--Earl Weaver