Could Jackson get the call this year?

No, I don't mean Steven Jackson, who has been on the 25-man roster for over a week and has yet to pitch. This is bigger. According to ESPN (hat tip to SitH), the Yankees could use uber-prospect Austin Jackson in center field:

A source with knowledge of the Yankees' thinking tells 1050 ESPN New York's Andrew Marchand that Austin Jackson could be the Yankees' starting center fielder at some point this summer. Jackson is dominating at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre right now, hitting .354 with a .429 OBP. (source)

Apparently the Yankees are getting frustrated with Gardner's lackluster offensive production and are not sure that Melky Cabrera can continue his hot hitting. Promoting Jackson does make sense. The outfielder is hitting at a .340/.410/.453 clip while playing solid defense. I got a chance to watch him shag fly balls last week, and I assure you that he is a better fielder than both Cabrera and Gardner. He'll improve the offense at the bottom of the order, should Cabrera stop hitting.

Berroa, Melancon on their way to Boston

Here's some bittersweet news for Yankee fans. Word on the street is that Mark Melancon is on his way to Boston in order to join the bullpen. While this is great news for Melancon, it has to suggest that Brian Bruney may miss a significant amount of time due to injury. Berroa will also join the club, and will likely man third base until Alex Rodriguez returns from the disabled list. This could mean that Humberto Sanchez will be designated for assignment. David Robertson will also join Melancon in the pen.

Ransom, Wang to the DL

via Peter Abraham, the Yankees have made several roster moves:

Brian Bruney was sent back to NY to get his elbow checked. It was bothering him on Wednesday which is why he didn’t pitch. Then he felt it again today.

Cody Ransom has a strained right quad. There’s a tear to some degree. He’s going on the DL. The Yankees will get an infielder here tomorrow and will need to make a 40-man move to do so.

As for Chien-Ming Wang, the Yankees are claiming he has an issue with his hips that is related to his foot injury and that accounts for his velocity and command issues. Cashman said he would need two weeks of physical therapy but would continue throwing. I would think Wang is gone for a month and once he gets a few minor-league games under his belt, he’ll be back. (source)

David Robertson will join the Yankees tomorrow, but Phil Hughes will likely replace Wang in rotation. Angel Berroa is probably the best candidate to replace the injured Ransom. He's done a tremendous job at short for Scranton and deserves a promotion.

Bruney's elbow is certainly a cause for concern, but hopefully he'll just need some rest. Mark Melancon could easily replace him in the pen, but Bruney has thrown quite well so far. The Yankees need him to be healthy.

Holliday would play in New York

According to Ken Davidoff, outfielder Matt Holliday is open to playing in New York and will consider both the Mets and Yankees when he reaches free agency after the season. There is a chance that he could be traded by the Athletics, but he'll definitely test the market come November.

"Yeah, I would play here," Matt Holliday told Midweek Insider Tuesday night, before his A's 5-3 loss to the Yankees. "I'd have no problem playing here."

"I just try to focus on what I can do today," he said. "But I have a wife and two kids. I'd like to provide some stability and a location for more than a couple of months here and there." (source)

Holliday is a Scott Boras client, but with Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui and Xavier Nady likely freeing up the outfield and checkbook afte the season, the Yankees may explore adding an outfiedler. The Yankees and Mets both make sense for Holliday, but it should be noted that his father would prefer the former. Can you imagine an outfield of Nick Swisher, Austin Jackson and Holliday?

Another look at the Nady/Marte trade

13 games into the season, both the New York Yankees and Pittsburgh Pirates have an identical 7-7 record. I'm sure the Yankees will end up with a better overall record than the Bucs, but I think it would probably be a good time to revisit the trade that brought Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte to the Bronx. Most fans felt that the deal favored the Yankees, especially considering that they were able to keep Phil Coke. Let's look at the players involved, and how they've performed thus far:

The Yankees received:

Xavier Nady:
.270/.319/.469/12 HR/42 RBI in 66 games with the Yankees
Originally tabbed as the starting right fielder, Nady never really contributed at the plate before suffering an elbow injury on April 14. Fortunately, the outfielder will be able to return later on this season, but he'll need several weeks of rehab and nothing is definite. He's a free agent after the season.

Damaso Marte:
1-3/7.59 ERA/25 K/11 BB in 21.1 innings for the Yankees
Desperately needing a left-hander in the pen, the Yankees finally traded for Marte, a pitcher they had long admired. After signing him to a three-year, $12 million contract over the winter, most fans assumed Marte would form a strong bridge to Mariano Rivera. He's struggled thus far.

The Yankees gave up:

Ross Ohlendorf:
1-5/4.87 ERA/21 K/15 BB in 40 innings for the Pirates
Ohlendorf never found his stride in the bullpen for the Yankees in 2008, and after some struggles in the Pirate rotation at the end of the season, he's finally seemed to have found a groove. So far this season, the tall right-hander has posted a 3.00 ERA in 18 innings with the Bucs.

Jeff Karstens:
3-6/3.97/27 K/20BB in 61.1 innings for the Pirates
Karstens gave Pirate fans something to cheer about by tossing 15 scoreless innings in his first two starts. He was average for the remainder of the season, but he's talented enough to be a solid bottom of the rotation pitcher for the Pirates. Karstens held the red-hot Marlins to one run over six innings today in his second start of the 2009 season.

Daniel McCutchen:
3-4/ 4.20 ERA/54 K/12BB in 60 IP for the Indianapolis Indians (AAA)
You read that right; 54 strikeouts and 12 walks. The Pirates' "other" McCutchen has always had pinpoint control, but his competitive attitude and aggressive approach make him one of the better pitching prospects in the organization. He could easily break into the Pirate rotation sometime this season.

Jose Tabata:
.312/.376/.477/3 HR/17 RBI in 32 games for the Altoona Curve (AA)
Tabata was rated as one of the best outfield prospects in the Yankee system before getting traded to the Pirates. He dealt with some issues off the field during the 2008 season, but the 20 year-old has plenty of time to develop into an All-Star outfielder. When Tabata finally does mature, he'll be a household name in Pittsburgh.

Evaluation: Given the current state of Nady and Marte, it's easy to see that the Pirates are the clear winner in this deal.

The Pirates received four solid players, but only Tabata has a chance of become an above-average player. Karstens, Ohlendorf and McCutchen will all get a chance in the Pirate rotation, and they will all likely perform a few ticks above league average, but none of them will anchor the staff. If anything, McCutchen will end up as an excellent setup man, while Ohlendorf and Karstens form the back-end of the rotation.

Damaso Marte will eventually rebound, and Xavier Nady could come back and platoon with Hideki Matsui. He won't hit well enough to net the Yankees a draft pick, but he could rejoin the Yankees on a cheaper contract. At this point, Marte will likely give the Yankees the better return, if he can find a groove on the mound.

Either way, the Pirates have four players that they can control for a number of seasons. The Yankees have Damaso Marte, who will need to pitch better to rightfully earn his $3.75 million this year. As of now, and probably the future, the Pirates got the better deal here.

Nady won't need surgery

According to Jon Heyman, Xavier Nady may not need Tommy John surgery after all:

Nady has been diagnosed with a partially torn ligament in his right elbow, but he will avoid surgery, SI.com has learned.

The Yankees feared originally Nady could be lost for the season with a completely torn ligament, but a review of multiple X-rays revealed that the ligament is only partially torn. He will likely need to rehab the injury for a period of weeks, perhaps a month.Club sources are saying he is feeling much better. (source)

Heyman suggests that the Yankees could use Nady as the designated hitter once he returns, but having two players that can't field will probably hurt more than it will help. The bench needs to be flexible, and with two designated hitters, the Yankees will be at a disadvantage in tight game situations.

Either way, a lot of what happens depends on his rehab timetable, so there is no sense worrying about what the Yankees should or should not do.

Alright, I'm off to PNC Field in a bit to do some interviews. Check my Twitter to see if anyone has been promoted or demoted.

Scranton still perfect

With the Visalia Rawhide's loss over the weekend, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees and Fort Wayne Tincaps remain as the only undefeated teams in professional baseball. The Yankees 11-0 start is the best International League start in the past 30 years. With the team facing off against the Red Wings today and the last place Buffalo Bisons later on this week, Scranton may be able to pick up a few more easy wins. If the team can earn 21 wins without a loss, it will be a professional baseball record.

MLBN on Wang's mechanics

Check out the MLBN's analysis of Wang's possible mechanical issues:

The leg lift and arm placement definitely have an impact on his delivery, but I wonder if his injury last season is causing the change in delivery. The Yankees may skip Wang's next start, which is probably a good move, but they are limited in terms of where they can put him. I think the best choice may be to let him work out of the pen until he regains his confidence and fixes his delivery.

Yankees remain positive about Nady's elbow

via George King of the New York Post:

The Yanks were privately a lot more optimistic by Sunday that Xavier Nady could avoid Tommy John surgery and that he might be able to return in June and form a righty-lefty DH platoon with Hideki Matsui. Of course, that would mean the Yanks were carrying two players who did not play the field, which hurts roster construction. Also, that is assuming that Matsui's fragile knees could last.

King has it right. The Yankees should not have two designated hitters on the roster. I'm sure more details on Nady's status will be revealed this week. I still think he'll end up getting surgery and will miss the year, but I'm wondering if the Yankees will think about calling up Austin Jackson to replace Brett Gardner in order to add more power to the lineup.

Wang needs a demotion

After waking up early to get my interviews done at PNC Field, I really needed a nap but I wanted to catch the first inning of Wang's start. I was satisfied after a single hitless inning and went to sleep. I can understand how Anthony Claggett, a rookie who has hardly pitched at the Triple-A level could give up eight runs, but there is something seriously wrong with Wang. The Yankees will need to send him down to regain his confidence and refine his mechanics. Phil Hughes will probably get the call.

Update: Looks like that can't happen, according to Peter Abraham.

King: Yanks could look into Kearns, Repko

According to George King of the New York Post, the injury to Xavier Nady could force the Yankees to explore trading for a corner outfielder. King notes that the Dodgers' Jason Repko and Washington's Austin Kearns could both make sense for the Yankees. Nick Swisher has a firm grasp on the right field job, but the team likely wants to strengthen their bench.

Here's a thought: Eric Duncan. He's in tremendous shape right now, comfortable at first, third and left field and is hitting .346 in seven games for Triple-A Scranton. If he can hit this way for another two weeks, I'd say the Yankees should add him to the 40-man and give him a shot. He's worked very hard over the years and deserves a shot.

Claggett promoted

Anthony Claggett was promoted to the big leagues. I got to the S/WB clubhouse early this morning in order to interview the right-hander, but his locker was nowhere to be found. Eric Wordekemper was called up from Double-A Trenton in order to replace the pitcher. I'm not sure how long Claggett will stay in the majors, but he'll likely work as a long reliever thanks to his ability to throw a changeup and pitch for more than two innings.

Yanks demote Robertson, call up Miranda

via Marc Craig of the Star-Ledger

Mark Teixeira feels "ten times better" after his cortisone shot on Thursday. Hideki Matsui does not. He's out of the lineup with fluid on his left knee. That's why Juan Miranda has been called up. He's an insurance policy if Teixeira suffers a setback and if Matsui's damaged knees get worse.Hard-luck David Robertson was sent down.

With Matsui hurting and Xavier Nady down for the count, the Yankees did need another semi-reliable bat on the bench and backup for Teixeira. In eight games, Miranda is hitting at a .361/.425/.667 clip with three homers and 13 RBI. Miranda is kind of stiff around first base, but he's a solid hitter and capable backup. With Teixeira reportedly feeling "ten times better,"
I think the Yankees should have kept Robertson and demoted Jon Albaladejo, but the Yankees need a long reliever more than a middle man.

I'll be at the S/WB opener tonight, but for pleasure. With my luck, they will finally lose. Tomorrow morning I'm going for interviews.

Nady to the DL

Xavier Nady will require surgery and will be placed on the disabled list, according to the Daily News.

Nady underwent an MRI on his right elbow Wednesday morning in Tampa, and while the Yankees didn't release any official diagnosis, both Nady and manager Joe Girardi said the results were not encouraging.

Although nothing is official, Nady told several teammates that he was likely headed for Tommy John reconstructive surgery, the same procedure he underwent in Sept. 2001. That would knock him out for the rest of this season, leaving the start of 2010 in doubt for the free agent-to-be.

Nady will be examined by team physician Dr. Chris Ahmad before Thursday's home-opener, at which time a final diagnosis will likely be released.

"I've been down this road before and I was hoping not to do it again," Nady said. "We'll see what he thinks tomorrow. Surgery wasn't fun years ago. I would prefer not to go down that road again, so hopefully tomorrow will be some decent news." (source)

The hot-hitting Nick Swisher will patrol right field for the Yanks going forward, and I could see Juan Miranda getting promoted to first base. He's been hitting well in Scranton and is already on the 40-man roster, so it really makes the most sense. I suppose the Yankees won't get a draft pick for Nady now, but at least they have a solid player in Swisher to take over.

Nady will likely need surgery

Peter Abraham is hearing that Xavier Nady may need surgery. What a week for Nick Swisher. He went from bench player, to first basemen, to pitcher, to starting outfielder. If Nady does need surgery, the Yankees could add another infielder to the 40-man roster and promote Angel Berroa. Shelley Duncan could also be another possibility.

Update 2:00 p.m. -Via Peter Abraham, Nady confirmed that he'll likely need surgery due to the slight tear in his elbow.

Update 2:19 p.m. - Pete Caldera is reporting that Nady will be placed on the DL. Also, Austin Jackson and Kevin Russo have been taken out of the Scranton lineup. Russo has the glove to play third base, and he is the more likely candidate for a promotion. Unless Jackson is used everyday, he really should stay in Triple-A.

Update 2:26 p.m. - A reader asked via e-mail if the Yankees would consider signing Frank Catalanotto to play some infield and backup the outfielders. The New York native would fit well with the club, but I don't think he can be counted on to play anything but first base and right field. He'd probably be pretty cheap too.

Update 5:41 p.m. - Xavier Nady is out for the season. No word yet on a promotion from Scranton, but I assume it will happen within the next day or two. Nick Swisher is now the everyday right fielder.

Nady injured

According to Peter Abraham, Xavier Nady was taken out of tonight's game because of a "sharp pain in his elbow." Nady underwent Tommy John surgery in 2002, so let's hope that this is nothing serious. An MRI is scheduled for tomorrow, but Nick Swisher will likely get the majority of the playing time in right field for the time being. Thankfully, the Yankees have a player like Swisher at their disposal.

Mark Melancon dominates Triple-A

Mark Melancon was arguably one of the best pitchers in the Yankees system last season, going 8-1 with a 2.37 ERA in 95 innings, split between Tampa, Trenton and Scranton. The right-hander struck out 8.3 batters per nine innings and was especially effective in tight situations. Melancon is continuing his domination of Independent League Batters this season, striking out 11 in five and two-thirds innings. If he continues to punch out batters as this rate, he'll be with the big league club beore Alex Rodriguez.

In case you were wondering...

Beer is ridiculously expensive at Yankee Stadium II. That's right. $11 per beer. As opposed to the $5 fee at PNC Field. Gotta love the Scranton Yankees.

The view from section 239

My pal Bobby was kind enough to upload the photos I took at the stadium last week, so now I can finally give you an idea of what the obstructed view is like from section 239. I was in the fifth seat in Row 9, so my view was actually decent, but if I was one of the fans in the last seat in the first row, I'd be pretty upset. Anyway, here are the photos.






Bonus: The most die-hard Yankee fan I have ever seen. He did not seem happy that I took his picture, but his tattoo is great. I wonder if A.J. Burnett will ever get one like this:

Game 2: Another bad outing for the Yankees

Chien-Ming Wang was easily out-dueled by his Asian counterpart, Koji Uehara, en route to a 7-5 loss for the Yankees. Following CC Sabathia's Monday performance, Wang allowed nine hits and seven runs over three and two-thirds innings. Thus far, the Yankee pitching has been quite embarrassing, but I don't think this trend will continue. There is just too much talent on the staff for the club to continue pitching this poorly, and the bullpen's performance made that evident.

After issuing a walk to Aubrey Huff, Edwar Ramirez settled down to retire the next three batters. Ramirez finished the night with two walks and a strikeout over one and one-third innings. Jon Albaladejo and Jose Veras combined to toss three scoreless innings.

As Steve from WasWatching pointed out earlier this week, this type of two-game performance has been a trend in Yankee-land for several years. Let's hope that A.J. Burnett can lead the Yankees to a win tomorrow afternoon.

The Yankees were pretty much forced to play "catch up" after Wang's disastrous fourth inning, but Robinson Cano was the only player to drive in a run until the last inning. Derek Jeter hit his first homer of the season in the ninth inning, making the score 7-4. Mark Teixeira finally got his first hit as a Yankee, doubling in Johnny Damon to come within two runs of the Orioles. If the pitching had just been a little better, the Yankees might have had this one.

Be sure to check back tomorrow night for the summary of Triple-A Scranton's first game of the season. The Yanks take on the Iron Pigs at 7 p.m.

Dan Giese claimed by Oakland

According to Peter Abraham, the Oakland A's claimed right-hander Dan Giese and optioned him to Triple-A Sacramento. Giese went 0-1 with a 6.48 ERA during a very forgettable spring, but he was a very important part of both the Triple-A and big league pitching staff last season. Prior to his promotion, Giese started the season in Scranton's pen.

When Alan Horne got injured in early May, Giese stepped into the rotation, even though he had never made a start in his 10-year career. Against the Durham Bulls, he scattered three hits and one run over four and two-thirds innings, striking out two. For the next month, he led the International League with a 1.01 ERA. Eventually, his strong performance warranted a promotion and Giese did not disappoint. Working mostly as Joba Chamberlain's personal reliever, the right-hander went 1-3 with a 3.53 ERA in 20 games. Good luck in the future Dan.

Evaluating the Triple-A pitching staff

Pitching will certainly be a strength of the Triple-A Scranton roster this season, as the staff boasts one of the most potent rotations and deepest pens in the International League. While the team lacks the speed and defense it had in previous seasons, the pitching will surely make up for any other shortcomings.

Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy form an extremely strong 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation, and could win a lot of games if they remain in Triple-A throughout the whole season. Kennedy posted a 2.59 ERA in 69 innings last season, and while Hughes did struggle at the Triple-A level in 2008, he has the talent to be the ace of this staff.

When Kei Igawa, arguably the most dependable pitcher for Scranton last season, is third in the rotation, you know the staff is deep. Igawa went 14-6 with a 3.45 ERA last season, and led the team in strikeouts with 117.

Alfredo Aceves and Jason John will form the back end of the rotation. Aceves rocketed through the farm system last year, compiling a 8-6 record and 2.62 ERA and 4.2 K/BB ratio in 140 innings split between Tampa, Trenton and Scranton. Journeyman Jason Johnson went 11-5 with a 3.85 ERA last season for Las Vegas 51's.

If Hughes can improve on his 2008 season and the rest of the starters can duplicate their previous season, the Scranton rotation could be the best in the IL. While the bullpen does lack the star-power of the rotation, it could end up being just as deep. With Brett Tomko, Mark Melancon, Steven Jackson and David Robertson closing out games, the starters won't have much to worry about.

According to Chad Jennings, Brett Tomko will be used as Scranton's closer at the start of the season, which makes plenty of sense. Scott Aldred, the new Triple-A pitching coach will want to regulate the ammount of innings thrown by guys like Mark Melancon and David Robertson. In the previous two seasons, Jim Brower and Scott Strickland successfully closed out games for the Yankees, so I don't think Tomko will have a problem. Especially if he pitches the way he did this spring. Perhaps the role will also entice him to stick around past his opt-out date.

Future closer Mark Melancon will likely work as the setup man. The former Arizona Demon went 8-1 with a 2.27 ERA in 95 innings split between Tampa, Trenton and Scranton. He'll need a bit more time to mature, but he should make his big league debut sometime this season.

Steven Jackson and David Robertson will likely be two of the more dependable cogs in the 2009 pen. Jackson's 0.87 ERA after the All-Star break made him one of the reasons that the club made it to the playoffs. Robertson was a strikeout machine prior to his big league promotion in June, averaging 12.5 K/9 and holding batters to a .133 AVG.

The rest of the bullpen will consist of Anthony Claggett, J.B. Cox, and left-hander Zach Kroenke. Claggett, possibly the only chance of a return from the Gary Sheffield trade, posted a 2.15 ERA in 58 innings for Double-A Trenton. If he's able to maintain an agressive approach on the mound and induce grounders, he'll find success this year. Especially if his changeup develops into a pitch he can use all the time. Kroenke will likely work as the situational lefty after notching a 2.85 ERA in 53 innings last year. J.B. Cox wore down during the 2008 season, but if he cut down on the walks we'll see a big improvement in his peripherals.

Pitchers to Watch: Mark Melancon, Ian Kennedy, Phil Hughes
Promotion Possibility: Ian Kennedy, Alfredo Aceves, Steven Jackson
Team Ace: Phil Hughes
Closer: Brett Tomko
Future Closer: Mark Melancon
Situational Lefty: Zach Kronke
Most Reliable Reliever: Steven Jackson
Triple-A Veteran: Kei Igawa
Best fastball: Phil Hughes, Mark Melancon

Yankees announce Triple-A roster

The Yankees officially announced their minor league rosters today, and and they were pretty similar to what I listed yesterday. Here they are, courtesy of Peter Abraham:

Pitchers:
Alfredo Aceves, Anthony Claggett, J.B. Cox, Dan Geise, Phil Hughes, Kei Igawa, Steven Jackson, Jason Johnson, Ian Kennedy, Zach Kroenke, Mark Melancon, Dave Robertson, Brett Tomko

Catchers:
Kevin Cash, P.J. Pilittere, Chris Stewart

Infielders:
Doug Bernier, Angel Berroa, Eric Duncan, Justin Leone, Juan Miranda, Kevin Russo.

Outfielders:
Shelley Duncan, Austin Jackson, Todd Linden, John Rodriguez.

There are actually 26 players listed, and only 24 can be on a minor league roster. The team has interestingly decided to carry three catchers, but I think one of them will be sent down prior to opening day. I can also see the Yanks sending Zach Kroenke to Double-A.

Predicting the 2009 S/WB Yankees Roster

The Yankees have already released the rosters for Double-A Trenton and Single-A Charleston, but have yet to confirm who will be on the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre roster. We'll probably find once the fate of Dan Giese is decided, but just for fun I'll take a stab at predicting the 24-man roster:

Pitchers:
Phil Hughes
Ian Kennedy
Kei Igawa
Alfredo Aceves
Jason Johnson

Mark Melancon
Steven Jackson
David Robertson
J.B. Cox
Anthony Claggett
Brett Tomko
Dan Giese

Catchers:
Chris Stewart
Kevin Cash

Infielders:
Juan Miranda
Kevin Russo
Angel Berroa
Doug Bernier
Eric Duncan
Justin Leone

Outfielders:
John Rodriguez
Austin Jackson
Todd Linden
Shelley Duncan

Once the roster is actually released, I'll evaluate it. The team has a very strong pitching staff, but is much slower than last year. Also, Kevin Russo and Austin Jackson are the only players that could be considered above-average on defense. The rest of the infielders and corner outfielders are average to below-average. Once Ramiro Pena is sent down, I'm sure the look of the infield will change a bit.

Game 1: O's bash Yanks as CC falters

CC Sabathia was simply horrendous in his Yankee debut, allowing six runs in four and-one-thirds innings of work. Sabathia failed to strike out a single batter in the 10-5 loss to the Orioles, which hasn't happened since July 25, 2005 against the Oakland Athletics. In that outing, Sabathia gave up eight runs in two and-one-third innings.

Jon Albaladejo kept the O's at bay for one and-one-third innings, but Phil Coke and Brian Bruney allowed a combined four runs in three innings.

Mark Teixeira and Cody Ransom failed to record a hit in the loss. Derek Jeter went 3-for-5 at the plate, while Jorge Posada and Hideki Matsui both hit their first home run of the season.

Podcasting with The Bronx View tonight

Scott and Ian from The Bronx View are recording the latest edition of their podcast tonight, and I'll be joining them to talk about the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees and my impressions on the new stadium. Be sure to subscribe, or send in some questions.

You can e-mail your questions to feedback@thebronxview.com or leave Scott and Ian a voicemail question at 801-286-4918.

Evaluating the opening day roster: Part 2

Earlier today, I evaluated half of the 2009 roster, and made stat predictions for every position player. Now we'll take a look at the pitching staff, which looks to be very impressive:

CC Sabathia (SP)
The Yankee ace has always been a workhorse, but he'll need to stay healthy for the team to be successful this year. He appears to be in better shape this year, and had a decent spring - but that doe not erase the fact that he's thrown 512 innings over the previous two seasons. A strong season from Sabathia will significantly increase the chance of a championship season for the Bronx Bombers.
2009 Prediction: 18-5 / 3.23 ERA /226 IP

Chien-Mang Wang (SP)
Wang is a very durable pitcher, and arguably one of the better no.2 starters in the American League. I can see the Yankees going light on the innings with Sabathia at the start of the season, and therefore counting on Wang to eat innings in order to keep the bullpen fresh. His slider worked well in strikeout situations last season, but inducing ground balls will be the key to success for the Wanger.
2009 Prediction: 15-8 / 3.94 ERA / 212 IP

A.J. Burnett (SP)
Burnett may have some of the best stuff on the team, but he'll need to stay healthy in order to help the Yankees. If Burnett can stay healthy and duplicate the season he had in 2008, he'll likely be one of the best middle of the rotation starters in the American League. Burnett's reputation could be on the line this season. Each of his 200-inning seasons have been followed by either free agency or surgery. The Yankees really need him, and he needs to prove that he can stay healthy. Either way, I'm very excited about his potential.
2009 Prediction: 15-6 / 3.95 ERA/193 IP

Andy Pettitte (SP)
Thankfully, Pettitte and the Yankees were able to agree on a contract, because the team really needed another experienced starter. Pettitte looked pretty good in spring training, and now that he's at the bottom of the rotation, he's a much more serviceable. If Hughes has a big year for Triple-A Scranton, this may be the final year for Andy Pettitte.
2009 Prediction: 11-8 /4.35 ERA /170 IP

Joba Chamberlain (SP)
In his first major league season as a starter, Chamberlain was extremely impressive until going down with rotator cuff tendinitis. His velocity was a bit of a concern earlier in the spring, but his latest outings have been encouraging. The Yankees will again limit his innings, but he'll need to stay healthy this season if he wants to stay in the rotation.
2009 Prediction: 10-6 /4.04 ERA /145 IP

Mariano Rivera (CL)
Rivera had a tremendous 2008 season, and is definitely one of the best closers in baseball history. He had off season surgery, but it probably won't be a cause for concern. Rivera will probably not have many more seasons like he did last year, but he is still one of the better closers in the game today.
2009 Prediction: 2-1 /2.34 ERA /60 IP

Bruany Bruney (SU)
Bruney did not have the best spring, but he's good enough to be the setup man for Mariano Rivera. After fighting back from a Lisfranc injury last season, the right-hander put up great numbers and earned Joe Girardi's trust. If he stays healthy, he'll likely continue that success.
2009 Prediction: 4-1 /3.85 ERA / 52 IP

Damaso Marte (RP)
The Yankees finally got their hands on Marte, who dealt with elbow soreness while pitching for the Yankees. Marte was actually more effective against right-handed batters last season, but if he can avoid elbow issues - he'll be the left-handed setup man the Yankees have lacked for years.
2009 Prediction: 4-2 / 3.78 ERA /58 IP

Jose Veras (RP)
Veras missed 2007, opened 2008 as the S/WB closer and pitched his way to the bigs last year. Despite some control issues, the right-hander put up impressive numbers while serving as one of the more trusted cogs in the pen. If he can cut down on the walks, Veras will again be one of the table-setters for Rivera.
2009 Prediction: 5-2 / 3.60 ERA / 74 IP

Edwar Ramirez (RP)
The rail-thin Ramirez has one of the best changeups on the team, but he's still somewhat unproven despite his solid 2008 campaign. He's been streaky during his major league career, so 2009 could be the make-or-break season for Edwar. He'll need to cut down on the walks and work in his secondary pitches to be successdfull.
2009 Prediction: 5-2 /4.13 ERA /71 IP

Phil Coke (RP)
The left-hander climbed up the organizational ladder last season, right into the graces of Joe Girardi. He's was very impressive during his brief big league stint, and boasts a great fastball/slider combo. I think he'd be over matched as a starter, but he has the chance to be a very good reliever - and maybe one of the best in the pen.
2009 Prediction: 7-2 /3.94 ERA / 89 IP

Jon Albaladejo (RP)
The former Nat's spring performance must have really impressed Joe Girardi if he convinced the manager to not carry a long reliever. Albaladejo is a very hard thrower who had success over the winter as a closer in the Puerto Rican Winter League. I don't see him sticking around the in the majors all season, especially with Mark Melancon waiting in the wings.
2009 Prediction: 2-1 / 4.68 ERA/41 IP

A-Rod could be back in April

According to ESPN, Alex Rodriguez could possibly return to the club by the end of April. Multiple sources have said that his rehab is going well,

Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long told the New York Post that Rodriguez has begun to hit and "feels 70 percent." Long speaks with the third baseman daily, the Post reported.

The three-time AL MVP has been rehabbing and working out in Colorado and eventually will move his workouts to the Yankees' spring training complex in Tampa, Fla. A firm date for the switch is not set, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said last week. April 13 would be the latest date, Cashman said. (source)

I don't think rushing A-Rod will be an issue here, but I wonder if the Yanks will force him to take it slow if Cody Ransom does a good job at the plate. Also, I'm wondering if A-Rod's rehabilitation will put him in even better shape. Either way, if he returns by the end of April, it will really help the Yankees out. No matter which way you shake it, A-Rod is tremendously better than Ransom and the team needs him.

Evaluating the opening day roster: Part 1

Ramiro Pena has won the final roster spot and the roster has officially been set. Let's take a look at each of the 25 players that make up the 2009 New York Yankees, and make a few predictions.

Jorge Posada (C)
Posada has already shown that his arm can handle throwing out runners, so the only thing left to worry about is his offensive production. There is no way he'll ever repeat his 2007 numbers, but his presence in the middle of the batting order will certainly help the club.
2009 Prediction: .278 AVG - 18 HR - 75 RBI

Jose Molina (C)
The light-hitting backup will probably not get as many at-bats as he did in 2008, but if he manages to hit .240, it'll help the team. Molina is a decent secondary catcher because of his steady glove and ability to throw out runners, but the Yankees should let him walk after the season. Francisco Cervelli is the backup backstop of the future.
2009 Prediction: .220 AVG - 2 HR - 18 RBI

Mark Teixeira (1B)
Teixeira is traditionally a slow starter (.259 career AVG in May) but the Yankees will depend on him to power the batting order in A-Rod's absence. Even if he gets off to a slow start at the plate, he'll help improve the infield defense. Based on his performance against the Cubs this weekend, he could have a career year.
2009 Prediction: .290 AVG - 38 HR - 140 RBI

Robinson Cano (2B)
The second-baseman appears to have improved his work ethic over the winter, but will still need to improve his walk rate to have a solid season at the plate. Cano is a decent fielder with a strong, accurate arm entering the prime of his career. It's time for him to string together a few strong seasons.
2009 Prediction: .292 - 15 HR - 80 RBI

Derek Jeter (SS)
Derek Jeter has been on a steady decline for the past three seasons, so he'll have to prove he can still handle both sides of the ball if he wants to avoid becoming a designated hitter once his contract expires. Now that he's batting leadoff, Jeter will probably hit into less double plays and score a few more runs.
2009 Prediction: .280 AVG - 12 HR - 58 RBI

Cody Ransom (3B)
If Ransom can maintain a .250 AVG with an occasional homer, he'll be a fine replacement for Alex Rodriguez. Once A-Rod returns, the 33 year-old infielder will likely stick around as the utility infielder. The Yankees never really had a player like Ransom, who can play every infield position, during the Torre era.
2009 Prediction: .255 - 7 HR - 34 RBI

Ramiro Pena (INF)
The slick-fielding youngster banished Angel Berroa to Scranton, and will likely join him there once Alex Rodriguez returns to the team. Pena is an extremely weak hitter, but makes up for his paltry bat with sparkling defense. Girardi will also use Pena as a pinch-runner. I still think it would have better to use Berroa as the backup and let Pena develop in the minors.
2009 Prediction: .250 - 0 HR - 6 SB

Johnny Damon (LF)
Damon is entering the final year in his four-year, $52 million contract, and start the season as the no. 2 hitter behind Derek Jeter. Damon's bat will likely begin slowing as he enters the final years of his career.
2009 Prediction: .284 - 14 HR - 60 RBI - 20 SB

Brett Gardner (CF)
The speedy outfielder will spark the bottom of the order while playing solid defense. His arm is on the weaker side, but Gardner makes up for that with his blazing speed. If he can cut down on the strikeouts and get on base as often as he did in Scranton, Gardner could be a huge asset to the team.
2009 Prediction: .267 AVG - 1 HR - 48 RBI - 34 SB

Xavier Nady (RF)
Nady had a career year in 2008, but reverted back to his career norms after getting traded to the Yankees. He'll balance the lineup by adding some right-handed pop to the bottom of the order, but he's not the best defensive outfielder. Either way, Nady is a very serviceable player who has already gotten used to playing in New York.
2009 Prediction: .278 - 22 HR - 88 RBI

Nick Swisher (OF/1B)
Swisher had a horrible 2008, but some of that could be blamed on bad luck. The former first-round pick will backup Xavier Nady and Johnny Damon in the outfield and Mark Teixeira at first. He's an above-average fielder and decent athlete with 30 home run power. Girardi needs to make sure Swisher gets at latest 500 at-bats.
2009 Prediction: .256 AVG - 19 HR - 60 RBI

Melky Cabrera (OF)
Cabrera will serve as the fifth outfielder, but will probably get the majority of his starts in center field. Cabrera really is the ideal backup outfielder; he has a strong arm, passable defense and some power. If Gardner excels, I can see the Yankees trading Melky.
2009 Prediction: .262 AVG - 5 HR - 22 RBI

Hideki Matsui (DH/LF)
Matsui appears to be completely healthy, but he still won't play the field. He's still a terrific offensive player, but he cannot be depended on in the outfield. Hideki is entering the final year of his contract and likely won't return next year, but for the time being he is the power from the left side of the plate.
2009 Prediction: .280 - 16 HR - 88 RBI

Tomorrow we'll tackle pitchers.

A-Rod to the DL, Yanks go with Pena

According to Peter Abraham, Alex Rodriguez has been placed on the disabled list, retroactive to March 27. The rehab appears to be going very well, and A-Rod should enter the second phase soon:

The Yankees rarely give any updates on his rehab. He’s supposedly still in Colorado under the care of Dr. Marc Philippon and Dr.Mark Lindsay, a rehab specialist. He is expected in Tampa any day now to start doing baseball stuff. (source)

Sounds like he'll be back in no time, and hopefully with a hot bat. The Yanks are swinging really well of late, and a healthy A-Rod can only make the offense more potent. The only thing to worry about now is a re-injury.

In other news, the Yankees have deiced to keep Ramiro Pena as the utility man, meaning Angel Berroa will likely play shortstop for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees. Personally, I felt that Berroa was the better option, albeit the more expensive one, because of his experience and offensive upside.

Ramiro won't be on the roster for a long time, but he certainly will get a chance to show off his tools. Michael Kay has probably already informed you that Pena can "really pick it," but that is almost an understatement. He has the footwork, reflexes and arm to perfectly field any position on the left side of the infield, and above-average speed to boot. My only concern is that the promotion will negatively affect his development. The selection does show that the organization is truly committed to fielding a young, energetic and defensively-sound team.

Initial thoughts on the new Yankee Stadium

*** Updated - I forgot about the two photos I took with my cell phone. Both have been added.

Now that I've had time to organize my thoughts, have a good meal and unwind, I think I can properly express my feelings about the new stadium. I don't actually own a digital camera, and have yet to figure out how to post pictures on Twitter, so you'll have to wait until tomorrow for photos. There are some good ones of my obstructed view section in the bleachers.

Also, if you heard my two-man roll call for Melky Cabrera, Nick Swisher and John Rodriguez in the eighth inning, let me know. I got a wave from all of them, but J-Rod was the most stubborn.

Parking:
I'm not sure if anyone else experienced this, but parking was extremely simple. Before settling on the new Yankee Garage, I pulled into one of those "pay-per-hour" open lots, and the tenant tried to charge me $30 when the sign said $15 for 10 hours. Remembering Peter Abraham's post on parking fees, I decided to give the stadium a try - and it worked out very well. The attendants were all polite, and it was quite easy to find a spot. I managed to get one close to an elevator as well. $19 is a bargain when you split it amongst four people. On that same hand, it was also easy to enter and exit the garage. Nice job on this one, Yanks.

Seating
The best tickets I could afford were in Section 239, where the view is obstructed by the Bleachers Cafe. My particular seat (#7) was in a terrific spot and allowed for superior visibility, but I was unable to see any balls hit to deep center field. That means I missed Kosuke Fukudome's drop.

For future reference, the key to getting a good spot in this to aim for a seat number between 1-10 and in a higher row. Anything higher than the eighth row should suffice. I'm kind of aggravated that the Yankees decided to put a giant concession stand in between the bleachers, but it was certainly handy once hunger stuck.

The three LCD television screens mounted on the wall to the left of me were actually useful, because you can't see the scoreboard at all from this section of the bleachers. The Yankees need to get bigger screens for the fans sitting further away, but I'm glad they had enough forethought to incorporate them in the first place.

Otherwise, I honestly didn't get a chance to explore the stadium too much. There was a bad car accident in Clifton, and the rubbernecking from my side of the road caused delays, so we got in later than we wanted. I did manage to take a lap around the lowest level, and I can see how some fans can complainin about the overhangs affecting their view.

Concessions:
There is an extremely large variety of food in the stadium, but I could only really afford a $5 slice of pizza. When I took the lap, I managed to peek at what everyone else was eating and ask a few questions.

Hot Dogs - I asked several fans about the taste and overall quality; every fan approved. One even had a toasted bun.

Cracker Jacks - Why are they $5.75. I know its a large bag, but come on.

*Pizza - Sucked. But I'm particular about pizza.

Johnny Rockets - The burgers looked decent, and people seemed satisfied. There was a tremendous line here, and at the Moe's Southwest Grill. It can be kind of a pain to get around it, so try to not get seats in this area. Also, I can't imagine eating baked beans at a baseball game. At least not in New York.

Noodle Bar - The food here actually looked good, and the Sushi is a healthy alternative to the traditional ballpark food. If you can afford it.

Tommy Bahama's Bar - The length of this line was equal to the one for Monument Park. That puzzled me, but I did not get a martini or see the plaques.

While there is a wide selection of food, half of me wants to say "only baseball food should be here." Stuff like hot dogs, burgers, fries, pretzels, nachos and beer. Then logic takes over, and I realize that we're not in that kind of society anymore. Ah well, the variety is nice.

Overall Notes:

The Yankees went all-out on this stadium, and it's obvious. The wide selection of food, state-of-the-art bathrooms, spacious seating and technologically advanced displays make this park one of the classiest in the majors. However, the inclusion of an art gallery, fancy restaurant and cocktail lounge irritates me and saps some of the "baseball feel" of the stadium. If there is a Yankee fan serious enough to by Yankee art, I'm sure they are smart enough to not get ripped off at the stadium. If you really need a cocktail during the game, maybe your in the wrong place.

From what I understand, there are some other visual obstructions because of the facade and support structures. The Yankees really should have planned things out better and there is no excuse for this. They included plenty of fancy stuff, but seemed to have forgotten about the fans. We don't need an art gallery, we need good seats with a good view. Oh, and affordable food. A working sound-system would be nice too.

Also, the city of New York needs to seriously invest in making the area surrounding Yankee stadium a bit nicer. Part of what makes Camden, Fenway and Wrigley so nice is the clean, comfortable and welcoming atmosphere. I'm talking about bars, restaurants, fan shops and things of that nature (Yankees take note - this is where the gallery goes). Making sure the streets are a bit cleaner in that area would be a good start.

The bottom line: I really did not feel at home, but I know it will take time to get used to this.

That being said, I do feel that this state-of-the-art park lacks the Yankee vibes, and I almost felt like I was watching an away game. I also really miss the light blue color scheme from the old stadium, but that is a relatively minor issue. There is plenty to love here, and in time most fans will accept this stadium, but it needs to develop something unique. It'll take more than the facade now, which ironically stops at the bleachers.

Heading to Yankee Stadium

I'm glad I went home to New Jersey this weekend, its only an hour drive from here to the Bronx. In a few minutes, I'll be heading to the new Yankee stadium, and I'll update via Twitter as much as possible. I'm in the obstructed view 239 section of the bleachers, so you can get a review of the stadium from a fan who does not have much money.

Either way, I'm really looking forward to it. As fans of the sport, we live for baseball. An obstructed view means nothing when you feel at home. Let's home the New Stadium makes us feel like that.

I'll be back later tonight. Enjoy the game everyone.

Some Housekeeping Notes

You can now follow Pinstripes, Pa. on Twitter, but I can't promise my "tweets" will be baseball-related. I'm still tinkering with the overall design of the page, but I promise that the content will be good. Go on, follow me. You can read my updates on the sidebar.

I'll be attending the Yankees/Cubs game on Saturday. If you see anyone with a Scranton Yankees cap and Mark Teixeira shirt in the bleachers, say hello. Check out StubHub! for cheap tickets. I got mine for (Section 239) for $19.

Starting next Monday, I'll be doing a podcast with Scott from The Bronx View. We'll discuss the Triple-A roster, among other Yankee-related topics.

BaseballBoss.com is offering a free simulation game for fans of the sport. Visitors can simulate the 2009 season for free with their "Baseball Boss" cards. Fans of fantasy baseball, stat-heads and the casual fan can all find something to enjoy here. I've heard nothing but good things about the site, so be sure to check it out if you are a fan of MLB simulation games.

Author Peter Hadrinos is holding a "meet the author event/cocktail reception" at the Borders Books at Park Avenue & 57^th Street in Manhattan at 7 pm tonight. If you are in the area, be sure to stop by. Peter will talk about his new book, The Truth About Ruth (And More): Behind the New York Yankees’ Greatest Myths, Legends, and Lore. I can't wait to read this one.