San Francisco Giants vs Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day Preview

Outside of the AL East there are only a handful of truly vicious rivalries that have the history of the Giants and Dodgers.  But no matter how much bad blood between the teams historically there might be the 2011 versions of each team feel like they are going in very different directions.

Last year the Giants came from seemingly no where to win the World Series while the Dodgers parted ways with on of baseballs most iconic managers in Joe Torre.

While the Giants are battle hardened and learned exactly how to win games they now have a target on their back and will be taught a lesson that teams like the Red Sox and Yankees have faced: life is different when you get every team's best shot day in and day out.

Detroit Tigers vs New York Yankees: Opening Day Recap

Justin Verlander served up one of the greatest Opening Day starts of his career today.  Six innings, three runs, and with two men on in a tie game he strikes out Nick Swisher and then Jorge Posada on his 114^th pitch to end the 6^th inning?

CC Sabathia vs Phillies: Too Dominant to be Interesting

New York Yankees vs Philadelphia Phillies 3-20-11 Recap
The complete package showed up for the New York Yankees today from CC Sabathia to the bullpen to the lineup and from power to small ball.

This was the perfect example of why the Yankees have a chance to win every start CC makes and how the power of this team can overwhelm even a very good pitcher like Joe Blanton while one of the best aces in all of baseball can keep a good team like the Phillies down.

Let’s go ahead and make the note here that the Yanks used their DH (Arod) and the Phils let the pitcher bat. These are still exhibition games and everyone has things they need to work on still.

That being said, of every player on this roster I think I devote the fewest words to CC Sabathia for one very simple reason: He is the best starter on the staff and comes with zero question marks. What am I going to say about the guy except: CC’s great. CC’s going to give you 7+ innings every start, CC lost weight, he could win the Cy Young.

BOOOORRRRRING!

AJ Burnett - His Importance as the Yankee's #2 Starter

Earlier today AJ Burnett was announced as the second starter for the Yanks to begin the season. Whether or not you think that job was better suited for Phil Hughes or that because of his inconsistencies Burnett should have been more of a back end of a rotation guy so he could get skipped once in a while until he proved more stable on the mound is a moot point now.

When AJ is on I have always felt he is one of the top ten pitchers in the American League, with absolutely unhittable stuff. When’s he’s off… let’s just not bother with that anymore because if you’re reading this you know what happens when he doesn’t have his command.

Now that we know where AJ lines up in the rotation I want to take a look at the early part of the season and dissect a little bit of what to expect from him and how a poor start could affect the Yankee chances of winning games.

Yankee Rotation: Facts of Life

I fear that the Yankee Rotation is going to be so inconsistent that we are going to be forced to “Take the Good and Take the Bad” all season long. We don’t need a pitching coach; we need Mrs. Garrett.

So, without further ado, introducing the 2011 New York Yankee Rotation; from left to right:  Ivan Nova, Phil Hughes, Pitching Coach Larry Rothschild, AJ Burnett and CC Sabathia.

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Yankee Offense Relies on Long Ball Against Rays

Two hits until the 6^th.

Last night, the Yanks put up 10 runs, but what a lot of people don’t know is that Baltimore only sent a series of relief pitchers against the Yanks.  And tonight?  Well, tonight the Rays also sent a series of relief pitchers against the regular Yankee lineup and provided a very different result.  Until the 7^th inning the Yanks only managed to eek out two hits.

New York Yankees vs Tampa Rays Spring Training Preview 3-17-11

And so the great experiment begins.  Brett Gardner leads off for the Yankees tonight with Derek Jeter behind him in his classic Yankeeography inducing number two slot.  Joe Girardi stated yesterday that he may very well use this lineup every day for the rest of the spring so we will get an excellent look at how these two table setters will do.

Boston Red Sox vs New York Mets Spring Training 3-16-11

Anyone watch baseball in Boston on St. Patrick’s Day?  Is this blog post an utter exercise in futility?  Well, we’ll see.  Here is today’s lineup:

Let’s pay special attention to Francona’s approach to the Ellsbury/Crawford order in the lineup.  Both men have amazing speed and on-base skills so these two men could steal 6 or 7 bases today if they both get on a lot.  There is the chance for lots of hit and run action, but the Sox are missing Gonzalez, Youkilis and Ortiz from the lineup today so the big RBI bats behind them are missing.

Ellsbury CF

Crawford LF

Cameron DH

Lowrie SS

Drew RF

Hoover C

Anderson 1B

Sutton 3B

Spears

Lackey SP

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Ivan Nova No Hits (kinda) Orioles

What do you say to a guy who is battling for a spot in the rotation when he throws a no hitter over 6 innings and you have to take him out just so other guys can get some work in during the game? 

You say, “Do you want your apartment on Central Park West or are you going to buy a place out in Jersey by CC?”

New York Yankees vs Baltimore Orioles Preview Spring Training 3-16-11

And so let the second guessing begin.

For the first time this Spring the Yankees are putting together their full regular season lineup:  Derek Jeter leads off and Brett Gardner bats 9th.

Red Sox vs Braves Recap: Marco Scutaro Tells Me to STFU

This morning, in my preview of this game I questioned Francona’s decision to give Scutaro at bats in the lead off position since there is a lot of noise being made about what form the lineup should take.

Marco promptly told me to shut my mouth and sit my ass down by homering in the very first at bat of the game.

I still contend though, that a 1-2 lineup of Pedroia/Crawford is as viable as an Ellsbury/Pedroia one and Marco Scutaro’s presence at the top of the order keeps them from working on important fundamentals in game situations like bunting, hit & run, and base stealing.

Either way, Scutaro, you win this round and I will stfu for the next twenty-four hours about it.

It wasn’t the best day for Jon Lester vs the Braves in Orlando today, but this is why we spend a month playing exhibition games.  You just gotta reach your pitch count, find your location and begin to get ready for Opening Day.

Lester was out pitched by the Braves Tommy Hanson and gave up 8 hits and 3 ER to Hanson’s 5 inning, 5 SO start.  The game was ultimately decided late when the bullpens for both teams each gave up leads marking the biggest question mark of the afternoon in Atlanta’s George Sherill who has a 7.20 ERA in March.

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Luis Salazar, Braves Minor League Manager, Loses Eye

MLB.com is reporting that Braves minor league manager Luis Salazar had to have his left eye removed during surgery this morning.  Mark Bowman writes, "After holding out hope for a few extra days, doctors were unable to prevent Braves Minor League manager Luis Salazar from losing his left eye."

With all of the world events that have been reported so widely over the past month, from Tunisia and Egypt to the life changing events for millions in Japan we sometimes forget that the small joys in life, such as going to the ball park to watch a game, could alter the course of a man's life in an instant.

My thoughts and prayers go out to Luis Salazar, his family, the Braves organization and Brian McCann who hit the foul liner that struck Salazar.  According to the article just that Salazar survived the intial impact and the fall without any brain damage was considered a miracle. 

The AP is reporting that Salazar still plans to manage once he makes a full recovery.

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Boston Red Sox vs Atlanta Braves Spring Training 3-16-11

Lester beat cancer, he can have a hot wife.

Interesting choice by Francona today as he doesn't have Jacoby Ellsbury in the lineup and moved Mmarco Scutaro into the leadoff position instead of Pedroia.  There's some grumbling being made that the Sox have their own top of the order issues that are similar to what the Yankees are going through in New York.

San Francisco Giant Depth and Experience

In one of those rare sports experiences the giants are the team who was not expected to make the play offs last year and came out of nowhere to win the World Series. They were off of every radar save that of the Dodgers and Padres a year ago but now, even in Spring Training the Giants have a huge target on their backs.

Yet tonight against the Diamondbacks the Giants showed what a little forging in the fire could do when they survived a very solid outting by Dback pitcher Chris Young by hitting two homers, including a pinch hit home run by Aubrey Huff to break a 2-2 tie in the fifth.

Kershaw Implodes as Dodgers Lose to Rangers

Texas Rangers vs Los Angeles Dodgers Recap 3-15-11 Spring Traning

The Dodgers have gone through so much in the past couple of seasons with the McCourts, Manny Ramirez, and Don Mattingly replacing Joe Toree that Clayton Kershaw was starting to be viewed as coming savior that would channel a little Orel Hersheiser, Don Sutton and Sandy Koufax back onto the mound and give Chavez Ravine something to cheer about on Opening Day.

Red Sox vs Detroit Summary and Ellsbury for MVP

Daisuke Matsuzaka in a Japan jersey

Read this slowly, and read it well:  Daisuke Matsuzaka pitched 5 innings, struckout 5 and only gave up 2 hits and a walk.

The hopes of the Red Sox rotation were buoyed for another day as the man who has been so important to them in both the best and worst possible ways on the mound was able to put his thoughts of home in a compartment that allowed him to completely shut down the best Tiger lineup.

Bobby Valentine, "Crawford Doesn't Fit the Image of the Red Sox 3 Hitter"

I was shocked last night to hear Bobby Valentine, on ESPN 2, claiming that Boston fans would never accept Carl Crawford as the number 3 hitter on the Red Sox because he doesn't fit the IMAGE of what their number three hitter.
After stammering over himself, for a bried second or two, Valentine went on to state that Red Sox fans remember Ted Williams and Carl Yastrzemski, and can't have a person like Crawford battig third in their order because he wasn't a "pure" hitter.  But this qualification only only came after he must have realized he was calling the entire Red Sox fan base racist xenophobes who could not think that a black man that gets on base at a historic rate could succede in Boston just because he doesn't fit the image of Ted Williams.

Boston Red Sox vs Detroit Tigers Preview Spring Training 3-15-11

All the talk last night was about the 2 and 2/3 innings Manny Banuelos pitched against the Red Sox regulars.  He may not have given up a run, and Kevin Youkilis may have already voted him into the Hall of Fame with his comments after the game, but today's another day and Justin Verlander is the next pitcher who must sweat this team.

Here's the lineup for the Split Squad game.  As usual the man to watch is Matsuzaka, on whose shoulders the Sox have placed much of their hopes this season.  He is untradable to anyone but a small market team looking to expand their marketing presence into the Far East, but really folks... shouldn't we give these Japanese plaers a break right about now? 

Ellsbury CF
Crawford LF
Drew RF
Varitek C
Lowrie SS
MacDonald DH
Anderson 1B
Navarro 3B
Spears 2B

Matsuzaka SP

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Stud after Red Sox Stud Shut Down by Yankee Rookie

Here is the one down side of sending your entire every day lineup out in a meaningless Spring Training game against your biggest rival and their top pitching prospect: said prospect could very well own your biggest hitters and wish list of future Hall of Famers.

New York Yankees vs Boston Red Sox Spring Training Lineups 3-14-11

What started out early this morning as a routine spring exhibition gets the rivalry treatment on national television tonight between the Yankees and Red Sox as, Manny Banuelos, one of the young studs of the Yankee farm system gets the last minute nod from manager Joe Girardi to replace injured Sergio Mitre.  The game will be on ESPN 2 at 7:05 pm

Mariano Rivera himself called the twenty-year old the greatest pitching prospect he has ever seen.

Red Sox Beckett Rocked by Pirates

Does anyone really care if Josh Becket gave up five runs and two homers - one by Ronny Cedeno (left) against the Pirates today?  I’m sure the good people of Pittsburgh, who are still desperately searching for something to believe in after the Super Bowl are thrilled by this offensive outburst today.

Tim Wakefield to be Traded?

Can the Red Sox actually trade Tim Wakefield?!

Gordon Edes at ESPN Boston has a piece today about players the Sox have on the trading block and one of them is Tim Wakefield. 

Boston Red Sox vs Pittsburgh Pirates Spring Training 3-13-11

With neither team fielding a full compliment of their every day major league lineup the most compelling reason to check out today’s game for Red Sox fans is Josh Beckett who has a 2.84 ERA this spring and remains the ace of this staff.  With Matsuzaka’s struggles the last two seasons and getting lit up so far this spring Beckett pitching lights out is something that keeps the Red Sox staff spirits up.

Bartolo Colon: Sign and Trade?

Ben Shpigel at the NY Times has a short piece about how Girardi is impressed by Colon and I think the Yanks should sign him before he opts out and then include him in a trade package early in the season.

Heart of Red Sox Order Shows What’s to Come

It’s only March 12^th but we just had our first view of the heart of the Red Sox lineup with the insertion of Adrian Gonzalez today and the AL East needs to sit up and pay attention.

Jacoby Elsbury hit for the Holy Trinity today when he went a perfect 3 for 3, scored 3 runs and had 3 RBI.  His Spring average is an astounding .440.  Elsbury launched a barrage by the first five batters, with a double and a Home Run.  Everyone but Youkilis did some damage against the ace of the Marlins staff, Josh Johnson.

Minnesota Twins vs St. Louis Cardinals Spring Training 3-12-11

If only Albert Pujols could take every at bat during this game that would make it watchable to anyone but the die hardest Cardinals fan.  The lineups are a mix of regulars and guys trying to make the team so the real question today come with Carl Pavano and Jake Westbrook establishing themselves on their teams. 

Pavano signed a new deal with the Twins in the off season but his time as a Yankee still hangs a bit over his head.  He’s pitched effectively since joining Minnesota but he must want to throw lights out every game to hush all of his critics. 

For the Cards everything this year is about Albert Pujols and their pitchers.  He can carry them only so far as they can keep the games close.  Albert is looking at this as a contract year so expect mega star numbers from him. 

Toronto Blue Jays vs Detroit Tigers Spring Training 3-12-11

Detroit is running out the more interesting and potent lineup today starting with Austin Jackson all the way through Miguel Cabrera in the clean up slot.  The first four batters are going to be their every day lineup come April and with Brad Penny working on re-establishing himself as a premiere starter this should be a fun game to watch if you are a Tiger fan.

Philadelphia Phillies vs Pittsburgh Pirates Spring Training 3-12-11

The Pirates are letting the pitcher bat today while the Phils use the DH and trot out what amounts to a minor league lineup (other than Ryan Howard) in this split squad game.

Tampa Bay Rays vs Philadelphia Phillies Spring Training 3-12-11

Two contenders feel each other out today as both Tampa and Philly send most of their starting lineups onto the field.  If only we saw Cliff Lee or one of the big four for the Phils today because Tampa is trotting out David Price and we could have had one of the great pitching match ups of the Spring.

Pittsburgh Pirates vs Toronto Blue Jays Spring Training 3-12-11

Here are the lineups for this split squad game and as usual the Pirates are fielding a light hitting line up this Spring.  The only player hitting above .300 in their lineup is Andy Marte, the former prized prospect who helped win championships in Boston by getting traded.

Boston Red Sox vs Florida Marlins Spring Training 3-12-11

Halfway through Spring Training and across baseball we are starting to see line up cards looking more like a regular season game.  The Sox are trotting out what might be the most potent 1-5 hitters in the game today.  It’s a great mix of speed, average and power which should now be anchored for years by Adrian Gonzalez.

Defensively they’re loaded in the outfield but with a handful of question marks in the infield.  Youkilis is a good 3^rd baseman who makes all of the plays but doesn’t have that special quality needed to be that lock down corner.  And Marco Scutaro is also solid, but lacks the flashiness of a Troy Tulowitzki.

New York Yankees vs. Washington Nationals 3-12-11 Spring Training

As always the main story today will be how AJ Burnett pitches. He’s under a New York media microscope this spring. I believe in his ability, I mean who doesn’t, so let’s hope he can avoid those small breakdowns that lead to big innings.


Brett Gardner gets his first start in Centerfield this Spring today. He’s been shagging fly balls and hasn’t needed any extra work in the field so Girardi was able to give some other guys a chance to show what they can do with the glove. But as March 31 gets closer it’s time for everyone to start playing in their regular spots.