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.
Everyone watching US-Venezuela?? 5-3 in the 8th..wish could see this live..
[1] I was watching, but then I came on to the computer - and it was only 5-1 when I turned it off, so now I wish I left it on!
looked like a great game..
..meanwhile on this side of the world.. http://tinyurl.com/chcm7c
The Tigers' fans are just great..
[3] Maybe that explains why KFC tastes so awful now >;)
[4] Did ya know that the "traditional" Xmas dinner here is KFC? it's a long story..
Not sure the equivalent of the (Osaka) Hanshin Tigers fans in the US..really fanatical and borderline crazy, maybe the Raiders?
this one for you Monkeypants, if you're out there lurking today
http://tinyurl.com/b5g7qh go go WBC!!
Awful game. The U.S. couldn't hit with runners on base and Davey Johnson let Jeremie Guthrie give up four runs in an effort to give him work. It was a spring training game for the U.S. These seeding games are a complete crock. So the U.S. goes 2-0 and beats Venezuela to clinch the second round, but because they didn't take the seeding game seriously they enter Round 2 as the #2 seed behind Venezuela and have to play Puerto Rico rather than the Netherlands in the first game? Yes, it was their fault for phoning in the game, but they should't have had to win it in the first place.
Same goes for Japan being the #2 seed behind Korea after clinching Round 2 by mercying them. Total crock.
[7] wow, what's up with Davey? I don't get the whole SS platoon thing either..play ti win, man!
Seeding system is odd to say the least..still excited for round 2 though.
[7] "Total crock."
Well Cliff, what did you expect from an exhibition baseball event played during ST with different rules in terms of pitchers' usage and no real rules as to which country a player can represent! I mean if your mom's favorite meal is Baked Lasagna with Italian Sausage and Romano Cheese, or you've seen the entire Godfather Trilogy and Francis Ford Coppola's Deleted Scenes, and any of your birth names contain a vowel, or you have a poster of Abe Vigoda in your room, you can play for the Italian Team fer Christ's sakes, with or without a mustache!
Where are the Super Mario Brothers (Lou Albano and Danny Wells) when you really need them?
;)
Point of Order
What are the chances that the Yankees can get Albertin Chapman, the Cuban left-handed pitching prodigy that can throw 102 MPH, to defect and sign a ten year deal with an option over the next week or so? I've seen 'em! He's no Sidd Finch!
;)
[9] "or you have a poster of Abe Vigoda in your room.." oh, that just about killed me, well put, sir!
Ok, so the nationality rules are flexible..ever see some of the athletes in the Olympics or World Cup? Eventually there will be an Italian team made up of local Italians..WBC a big success despite its shortcomings
All I know is if I see the team from The Netherlands win just one more game, I'm going to insist that they are all tested for opiates and canniboids right away, manager, trainers, and coaches, too!
But seriously, if the Yankees can sign Albertin Chapman for ten years with an option within the next couple of weeks or so, the WBC will be more than worthwhile! In fact, I'd let him start on Opening Day in the new Yankee Stadium and pitch every sixth day through the last World Series Game in 2020 or until his left arm fell off, whichever came first! This guy is Sandy Koufax and Randy Johnson combined with a changeup! He's a "teenager" that's got a 30 MPH differential (102-72), in case you're interested. Even if he's 70 years old, I couldn't care less! He makes Pedro's memorable 1999 All Star Game performance at The Fens look like an Ed Whitson start! It would be the Yankees' luck however, that he's a chemically enhanced third world lab experiment on the order of the Olympic Swimmers from the DDR in the 1970's and without them he pitches exactly like Ed Whitson!
;)