Thursday, February 26, 2009

Live Blogging Spring Training: Rays at Yankees

Well, why not?

The Yankees' line-up and starters, courtesy Pete Abraham


Damon LF
Jeter SS
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Cano 2B
Nady RF
Posada DH
Molina C
Cabrera CF

Pitching today: Phil Hughes followed by Phil Coke, Brian Bruney, Damaso Marte, Jon Albaladejo, Mark Melancon.


So it looks llike the Yankees are pulling out all the stops for the fans today--Nady gets the nod over Swisher, and Posada's shoulder is given some more time of as Molina's behind the plate--but Damon, Jeter, Teixiera, Alex and Canó are all there--this is a line up you could and, might argue, probably will see throughout the season.

Will update as the game progresses.

[1.02 PM] Gorgeous late February day? I'll be damned if I've ever heard that one before...

[1.17 PM] Bernie Williams with the first pitch. Have to admire his determination to play in the WBC, hope he has a great time.

[1.19 PM] First pitch strike....followed by a HBP. What this means, if anything, who knows?

[1.21 PM] First K of the spring for Phil Hughes! (What, I like celebrating firsts!)

[1.28 PM] Not a bad first inning if we ignore the two hit batsmen for Phil. Problem is, he did hit two batters...

[1.32 PM] Two quick outs. Nice, Yankees, nice.

[1.37 PM] Not a whole lot of control for Phil so far, but then, if you're going to judge his entire value this season on the first spring training game, you're in the wrong sport.

[1.42 PM] Well, Phil didn't hit a batter or allow a hit, so I guess I shouldn't complain. Control will work itself out in time. Well, it should.

[1.43 PM] Some boos for A-Rod, but the cheers are drowning them out. Or, at least, trying. Always controversial, that one...

[1.45 PM] ...And Alex strikes out.

[1.46 PM] Holy crap this offense looks bad. Or Tampa's pitcher looks good. Take your pick. Actually, neither offense looks very good thus far.

[1.50 PM] Phil Coke now pitching. You can't judge players on September, but Coke's September '08 compares to Joba's September '07. Just sayin', is all.

[1.53 PM] Now THAT was an awesome defensive play. Coke seems to have picked up just where he left off, and that is fine by me.

[1.56 PM] ....Welcome back Jorge! Long home run against the wind on the first pitch he saw...dang, Jorge, we missed you.

[2.00 PM] And the rest of the Yankees go down in order. Holy crap it's good to have Jorge back.

[2.06 PM] First hit of the game for the Rays, nice clean single up the middle, well played by Melky.

[2.07 PM] Not sure who got Canó to flash the leather, but I am enjoying it.

[2.12 PM] As I've said before, I love me some Coke.

[2.16 PM] Mark Teixiera with the second Yankee hist of the evening.

[2.17 PM] And Alex grounds into a double play. He is not doing himself any favors...

[2.20 PM] Albaladejo on, one pitch, one out.

[2.23 PM] And, apparently, now it's Bruney. So I guess I was wrong on that one.

[2.26 PM] Who are these Yankees, and when did they learn to pitch?

[2.30 PM] Nady is awarded a double as a fan reaches out and touches the ball in play down the first base line.

[2.31 PM] Holy shit Jorge, try to save some for the rest of the season, ok?

[2.37 PM] Dámaso Marte in to pitch; Ransom in at first, Curtis, Gardner and Duncan in the outfield, Angel Berroa at 2nd, Cervelli at catcher and I missed the guy at third. This is where most of the fans leave the game.

[2.40 PM] Nice throw by Colin Curtis to keep Ensberg from stretching a single to a double.

[2.45 PM] Quick 1-2-3 inning for the Yankee offense. I've lost track of what inning it actually is, which may or may not be a good thing.

[2.48 PM] I think Melancon is on to pitch, but I'm not sure. Apparently now it's JB Cox.

[2.51 PM] Angel Berroa beat out Hideki Matsui for RotY? Dang, I have got to pay some more attention.

[2.54 PM] Rays now on the board after a single. 2-1 Jorge Posada.

[2.58 PM] Three consecutive hits for the Rays now. Safe to say Cox has not looked very good thus far.

[3.06 PM] Berroa with a single. I wonder if Shelley Duncan has a bit of a grudge to settle here...

[3.08 PM] Guess so. 5-1 Yankees.

[3.16 PM] Mark Melancon in to pitch. If you're new to the Yankees, watch this kid.

[3.21 PM] Nice quick 1-2-3 inning for Melancon.

[3.26 PM] Gardner was robbed there. Great play.

[3.31 PM] Okay, NOW Albaladejo is in.

[3.34 PM] Humberto Sanchez is hurt again? Seems like that Sheffield trade didn't really work well for anyone. Still, that's a LOT of depth the Yankees have in their bullpen...

[3.35 PM] Nice play by Albaladejo to end the game, and the Yankees win 5-1.

That's it for the live blogging today, thanks for reading!

6 comments:

  1. Just wanna say thanks for live blogging. No one else is and youre keeping me entertained.

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  2. Don't worry, I get Bruney and Albaladejo confused all the time. They look so similar. JK.

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  3. Just so your readers know, you are not the only one doing live blogging. I'm doing it at Bronx Baseball Daily, River Ave Blues has a live chat, Scott Proctor's Arm is doing it as well. I believe there were at least two others I saw this morning as well, but I can't remember who they were off the top of my head.

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  4. RAB's chat has been long over.

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  5. I thought you said you were doing homework....

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  6. "Swish may have been my favorite off-season signing, actually." - You on LoHud 8:55 PM


    We did not sign Swisher, Rebecca. He was traded for from the White Sox. Get your act together.

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