New York YANKEES spring training thread......... 2 days until season starts: LETS GO YANKEES!

[true 3 blue]

Nah, I don't care about MVPs or none of that. The dude does not come through when it's most needed, I'd EASILY take Godzilla, X Man, Texiera, overhim.

 

[diplomat007]

With tex in front of arod i think he will have a above average season for himself , depending if he can keep his head in the game

 

[アミーゴ]

when do single game tickets go on sale?? I check the site like every other day and still nothing...

 

[fede dpt]

Originally Posted by Ecook0808

when do single game tickets go on sale?? I check the site like every other day and still nothing...

You should check StubHub.

 

[bkmac]

Originally Posted by briannnnn

Some other pics from Reuters:

Bruney looks like he is wearing his cap from last year

I don't know much about him, and I never realized how personable he is in the clubhouse, but Swisher is that dude

 

[tbone95860]

Joe Girardi just called off the workout. The entire team and coaching staff will instead head to a local pool hall for a tournament and lunch.

With games starting Wednesday, Girardi decided to give his team a break and build some chemistry at the same time. This is part of what I wrote about in yesterday's paper, Girardi improving his relationship with the players.

Back with some more later. To me, this is a great idea. Right out of the Tom Coughlin playbook.

UPDATE, 10:36 a.m.: The Yankees are out of here, off to play pool. They're going to be partnered up with a teammate and play some 8 Ball.

"It's a team day away from the field. We're going to have a little tournament and try to enjoy the day," Girardi said.

Coughlin, as you may remember, took the Giants bowling during training camp in 2007. Next thing you know, they won the Super Bowl. Was there a connection? Maybe not a direct one; but building relationships is an important aspect of success.

The players were laughing as they walked to the bus. Jorge Posada stopped to speak to the writers and he said he thought it was a good idea.

"It's good to get together," he said. "It's something you don't see often. Being together away from the field, hopefully we start some relationships here. … It's a day to forget about baseball a little but and think about the family we have. I think its good. It's good for everybody."

So there you have it. No baseball today, just billiards. No press coverage, either. But we'll get a report later on and I'll let you know what happened. Word is that Brian Bruney is a serious player.

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Posted by Peter Abraham on Monday, February 23rd, 2009 at 8:59 am |

 

[yoda]

Originally Posted by bkmac

Originally Posted by briannnnn

Some other pics from Reuters:

Bruney looks like he is wearing his cap from last year

I don't know much about him, and I never realized how personable he is in the clubhouse, but Swisher is that dude

Word..He seems like a great clubhouse kinda guy..

 

[tbone95860]

The Yankees had two Eight-Ball tournaments. Mariano Rivera won both of them, once paired with Phil Coke and the second time with Andy Pettitte.

There will be some quotes and some photos shortly.

UPDATE, 3:00 p.m.: Via a pool reporter, some comments were obtained. Here is what Johnny Damon had to say:

"It was a great day. We've been at spring training for a week and Joe came up with a great idea to get us together as a team. It was great to break up spring training a bit, get the team together, get some camaraderie there.

"I think everybody had a great time. We got to see who's been spending too much time at the pool hall and we know the ones that don't spend enough time in there.

"For Joe to let us take a day off from practice like that, it makes you want to work even harder for him."

"Camp has been going great so far. We all have been rallying around each other, having a good time in the clubhouse. Today is one of those days that, as a ballplayer, you'll never forget. I don't think any team has ever really done this. It's a day I'll never forget. It says a lot about Joe. He knows we've been working hard and he rewarded us with a day off."

Mark Teixeira:

"It was great. That was probably the most fun I've ever had in spring training in my whole career."

"I thought it was a great idea. We've been working really hard - the pitchers a little bit longer than the position players. We had a good week of practice and we're going to start games here soon, so I think Joe just wanted to give us some time off."

"I've never have (heard of a team doing something like this), but I think more teams should. This was a great time, great for all of us to get together."

"There were probably 16-18 pool tables, there were some card tables, we had darts, we had guys playing dominos and we had lunch also. Everyone was just having a good time."

"It makes you relax and realize that we can have fun off the field. Once we get on the field, it's business, but we can build some relationships as well."

"Usually during the season, you get to hang out with guys because we're always on the same bus or the same plane. Our schedules are identical. In spring training, you don't go on trips together, the pitchers have different schedules than the hitters and the hitters are in different groups, so there might be a couple guys you don't get to know at all."

 

[venom lyrix]

Mariano is a beast on 9 ball

 

[jrp44]

Mo and P Coke

 

[we get live]

It's very good to see that Joe is doing his best to foster chemistry between the guys. With so many new faces in the clubhouse, it's important thateveryone gets to know each other in order to build a level of trust, especially for CC and A.J. - they need to know that the guys behind will be giving them110% on every play, something I didn't see all the time last year.

 

[bkmac]

Originally Posted by jrp44

Mo and P Coke

That is Phil, right?

More pics from the day at the pool hall.

Brackman is a GIANT

 

[onewearz]

Mo playing pool in his house chancletas ......

 

[bkmac]

Originally Posted by onewearz

Mo playing pool in his house chancletas ......

If that's what helps him win

.

 

[tbone95860]

Jorge Posada will DH on Thursday. Hideki Matsui is still a little ways away from playing. He'll start his running program soon. I watched Posada throw today and his arm strength was good. The Yankees are very optimistic about his progress.
· Derek Jeter did his running today and ran the bases as well. His hamstring seems fine and he's good to go for the WBC.

· Francisco Cervelli is leaving camp to play for Italy in the WBC. Yes, he's Venezuelan. But under WBC rules you can play for any country you can point to on a globe.

· Alfredo Aceves will start on Sunday at Cincinnati. He ran the table off the break during one of the pool tournaments yesterday. "A shark," Phil Hughes said.

· Former big leaguer Reggie Smith was in the clubhouse representing a bat company. There are salesmen and equipment reps in the clubhouse throughout the spring selling or giving away bats, gloves, sunglasses, etc.

· Bernie Williams returned to camp after a three-day break and took some BP.

· The WBC guys (A-Rod, Jeter and Cano) will all play in Thursday's game at home and skip the Friday game in Fort Myers.

 

[briannnnn]

and

at your updated sig, TBONE.

BTW, for anyone worrying about Joba as a starter or as a closer, I think he should be fine as a starter. Sure, he can close, but the Yankees already havesomeone who may take Mo's place as closer once he retires: Mark Melancon.

Lots of good stuff has been written about him and he looks like he's going to be one of those "lights-out" kind of pitchers.

And I can't remember if this was posted but Phil Coke looks like he will be a long-relief guy or a lefty specialist.

 

[lesgodsonc0]

Is there anybody within the farm system coming up (Other than A-Jax) worth talkin' about?

Speakin' of A-Jax, will we even see him come up at all this season? We're already way toooooo jammed up in the outfield. What about having him adapt toa new position?

 

[briannnnn]

Austin Jackson and Jesus Montero are the two top prospects. A bunch of others makes up a list of middle-tier prospects.

 

[tbone95860]

GAMES ON YES
Feb. 26 vs. Tampa Bay, 1:15
Feb. 28 vs. Minnesota, 1:15
March 3 vs. Team USA, 1:15
March 7 vs. Atlanta, 1:15
March 10 vs. Reds, 7:15
March 14 vs. Astros, 1:15
March 17 vs. Pirates, 7:15
March 19 vs. Blue Jays, 7:15
March 24 vs. Red Sox, 7:15
March 26 at Phillies, 1:05
April 3 vs. Cubs (from New York), 7:05
April 4 vs. Cubs (from New York), 1:05

MLB NETWORK
March 3 vs. Team USA, 1:15
March 22 at Tampa Bay, 1:05
April 3 vs. Cubs (from New York), 7:05

GAMES ON WCBS
Feb. 28 vs. Twins, 1:15
March 7 vs. Braves, 1:15
March 14 vs. Astros, 1:15
March 15 vs. Twins, 1:15
March 21 vs. Tigers, 1:15
March 24 vs. Red Sox, 7:15
March 27 vs. Reds, 7:15
March 29 vs. Pirates, 1:15
April 3 vs. Cubs (from New York), 7:05
April 4 vs. Cubs (from New York), 1:05

Note: ESPN is not doing any exhibition games.

 

[yoda]

Today!

 

[fede dpt]

Originally Posted by onewearz

Mo playing pool in his house chancletas ......

 

[onewearz]

can't wait till tomorrow . girardi said the starters will be in

finally, baseball has come back !!!!!!!

 

[bkmac]

Originally Posted by LESGodSonC0

Is there anybody within the farm system coming up (Other than A-Jax) worth talkin' about?

Speakin' of A-Jax, will we even see him come up at all this season? We're already way toooooo jammed up in the outfield. What about having him adapt to a new position?

I posted this last night in the "Top 100 MLB Prospects" thread.

Last night after watching MLB Tonight (on the MLB Network), I started to get a vibe that Austin Jackson may not be used as we all hope he will be here in New York.

At the moment, I think Girardi is set on having Melky and Gardner battle it out for the CF job this Spring Training. I like Swisher out there over the both of them to be perfectly honest, but we'll see what happens with that.

Point is, we have 3 younger CF'ers on our team already, where does A-Jax fit in? I hope he is the future, considering the hype he's gotten from whatever I read about him.

Originally Posted by onewearz

can't wait till tomorrow . girardi said the starters will be in

finally, baseball has come back !!!!!!!

Too bad today's game isn't televised (or even on the radio). I could have sworn I read it would be on YES today. Now I have nothing tolook forward to all afternoon

.

 

[im cool c]

Wooo!

 

[harlemtothebronx]

@No websites even doing the play by play thing.

All I have to go off is the score.

Bottom 3rd. 1-0 Yankees.