Daily Archives: March 11, 2009

The Yankees didn’t hit much and CC Sabathia and Alfredo Aceves gave up a bunch of runs. Yanks lose to Tigers 7-4.

Lineup:

S – Melky Cabrera (CF)
L – Johnny Damon (LF)
S – Mark Teixeira (1B)
S – Jorge Posada (DH)
S – Nick Swisher (RF)
R – Cody Ransom (3B)
R – Angel Berroa (2B)
S – Ramon Peña (SS)
R – Kevin Cash (C)

Subs: Juan Miranda (1B), Doug Bernier (2B), Eduardo Nuñez (SS), Justin Leone (3B), Austin Romine (C), Todd Linden (RF), Austin Jackson (CF), Colin Curtis (LF), Hideki Matsui (DH)

Pitchers: CC Sabathia, Alfredo Aceves, Brian Bruney, Jose Veras, Mark Melancon

Opposition: The non-WBC Tigers.

Big Hits:

No Yankee had an extra-base hit, but Johnny Damon went 2-for-2 with a walk, and Mark Teixeira, who is hitting .529 this spring, went 2-for-3. The rest of the team had just two singles (by Cody Ransom and Juan Miranda).

Who Pitched Well:

Brian Bruney and Jose Veras each pitched a perfect inning while striking out two. Mark Melancon pitched around a single for a scoreless eighth.

Who Didn’t:

After a scoreless first inning, CC Sabathia gave up five runs on five hits in the second, capped by a Gary Sheffield homer, and was pulled with two outs in that inning. Sabathia said he felt fine, but was having trouble locating his pitches. Alfredo Aceves then gave up a second home run to Sheffield, a solo shot, as well as a solo home run to Triple-A outfielder Wikin Ramirez.He also gave up a walk and a double, but only struck out one in his 3 1/3 innings.

Battles:

Melky Cabrera went 0-for-3 with a walk, a stolen base, and a run scored. Nick Swisher went 0-for-3 with two walks and a sac fly, but left six other runners on base. Angel Berroa went 0-for-3. Jose Veras is locked in. Mark Melancon still hasn’t given up an earned run. Alfredo Aceves has struggled in two of his three outhings this spring.

Ouchies:

Mariano Rivera and Edwar Ramirez both threw bullpens without incident.

WBC:

Derek Jeter and the USA take on Venezuela at 6:30 tonight (that’s now, actually) to decide the seeding for Round 2, but I won’t be liveblogging it this evening. My next liveblog will be of the USA’s first Round 2 game on Saturday.

Many of us long for the ballparks of our youth.  We’d love one more chance to walk through the corridors and glance upon the field where our childhood heroes played.

One enterprising Yankee fan is pursuing that desire in a unique way. Rick Kaplan, by day a mild-mannered CAD Systems Administrator, is in the midst of building a 3-D interactive recreation of the old Yankee Stadium, circa 1973.

Right field alley

Aerial view

I got the chance to interview Kaplan regarding his Yankee fandom, the reasons behind this audacious project and the challenges inherent in bringing the old Stadium “back to life”.

BB: How old were you on your first visit to the Stadium?

RK: Having grown up in the Bronx (Mosholu Pkwy), the Yankees were my home team. We used to get Yankee tickets through the PAL (Police Athletic League). I guess I went to my first Yankee game around 1965.

BB: Did you have any favorite players or memories of the Stadium?

RK: Most of the Yankee games I went to, we would be in the upper deck and I vividly remember how thrilling it was to walk out on the catwalks to get to our seats. You would be suspended above the mezzanine level – looking down on the crowd – and then emerge through the portal into the upper deck stands, which were impossibly steep. It was both thrilling and scary at the same time (I don’t think liability would permit such a design today).

I also remember being in the bleachers a few times (left field) and how far away from the field it seemed.

My favorite player as a kid was Horace Clarke.

I remember before the 1967 whitewash, the exterior concrete skin was badly cracked. It looked a bit tired. I really like the post-‘67 look, with the white paint on the outer walls and façade and the blue seats. That’s the time period my model represents.

BB: Did either of your parents get to the pre-renovated Stadium?

RK: Before my brothers and I started taking the subway on our own, my Mom would take us to Yankee Stadium. My dad, a Giant fan (and then a Met fan after the Giants left) would take us to Shea to see the Mets. I found out later that he and Uncle Fred never set foot in Yankee Stadium all the time they lived in New York (My uncle Fred still lives in Queens). I think they considered it enemy territory.

(more…)

With the nation’s economy in the tank, and our best player on the DL, we could all use a good laugh. So, today’s news is powered by the late, great George Carlin:

• It appears the Yanks are beholden to Ransom:

As for acquiring a fill-in for Rodriguez, Cashman said again on Tuesday that he is not actively searching. “I’m not optimistic about doing anything,” he said. “I’m not going to be proactive in trying to do something.” Cody Ransom, a 33-year-old journeyman, is in line to step in for Rodriguez. “With the team not wanting add payroll, not wanting to hurt the farm system and stuff like that, and we’re going to get Alex back, we’re going to go with what we have in camp,” Cashman said.

• The Captain has been getting to know the BoSox’ Pedroia and Youkilis, and it appears to be a mutual admiration society:

“You get to know guys playing against them, as players,” Jeter said. “But one of the good things about something like this is you get an opportunity to put personalities with the players.” Previously, Pedroia and Youkilis had only spent time with Jeter as part of last year’s AL All-Star team. … “I like to keep it loose and have fun,” Pedroia said after yesterday’s workout at Rogers Centre, where Team USA resumes play tomorrow night, having already clinched a berth in this weekend’s second round in Miami. “I think [Jeter] kind of laughs at me the whole time. He probably thinks I’m crazy.” Youkilis said he has always respected Jeter, but spending the past week with him has taken that admiration to another level. “[Jeter] has been unbelievable, and you see why he’s the captain of the Yankees,” Youkilis said.

• There was a Moose sighting at Steinbrenner field:

The recently retired right-hander was a special guest visitor at Yankees camp on Tuesday, escaping the Pennsylvania cold for a vacation and some fun in the sun. He has no regrets about his decision to walk away from the game. “I’m doing nothing,” Mussina said, grinning. “And when I walked through the weight room, I knew why I’m doing nothing. I feel good being retired.” As he would later reveal, Mussina knew last spring that 2008 would be his final season. There was no point during the offseason that he thought about changing his mind, he said, and even when pitchers and catchers began reporting to Spring Training camps, Mussina found himself content. … Mussina’s former corner locker is now occupied by CC Sabathia, and Mussina greeted his replacement, calling him “Mr. Sabathia” and telling him to keep the space.

(more…)