Yankees and Pitchers Batting Bore At Wrigley

Though it was just another game, albeit one between the Yankees and Chicago Cubs there was something really irritating about this afternoon's game. Like a gnat buzzing around your ear; one that just won't leave you alone. Think Joba and midges.

Perhaps it was losing 3-1 to the mediocre Cubs. Perhaps it was losing to starter Doug Davis who entered the game without a win and an ERA around 6.00. Perhaps it was seeing Freddy Garcia struggle early. Perhaps it was seeing the Yankees hitters do nothing all day. Perhaps it was listening to Michael Kay drone on about irrelevant topics. Perhaps it was watching the pitcher bat. Perhaps it was watching the pitcher bunt with one out already. Perhaps, no, definitely it was all of those things combined.

Interleague play starts the DH/non-DH, harder to manage the NL, double switch BS conversation every year. There's NOTHING fun about watching a pitcher bat, except for the occasional, "oh wow he got a hit" for any pitcher, which is most pitchers, hitting around .130. It's boring. It dulls the senses. It's the trap defense in hockey, the old four corners offense in the pre-shot clock era in college basketball, and the option play in football all rolled into one. BORING. PREDICTABLE. HAS TO GO!

As for the game itself, Garcia put the Yankees in an immediate whole in the 1st inning. He walked the lead off man Kosuke Fukudome, which is never a good way to start any inning. Starlin Castro doubled to make it a 1-0 game and two batters later Aramis Ramirez singled for a 2-0 lead.

Three straight hits by Castro, Blake DeWitt, and Ramirez produced a third run in the 3rd inning, but Garcia escaped further trouble by getting out of a two on, no out jam. Meanwhile, the Yankees offense did nothing against Davis, who hadn't won a game since May 5 in an injury plagued 2010 season.

The Yankees didn't have a hit until Robinson Cano's two out single in the 4th and didn't pose a real threat until an inning later. Eduardo Nunez reached on an infield single, but Brett Gardner grounded out, putting Garcia up with one on and one out. Not wanting to tax the bullpen that early, Joe Girardi stuck with his pitcher, who laid down the previously mentioned, ridiculous one out bunt. Nick Swisher walked to put two aboard, but Curtis Granderson struck out on a 3-2 pitch out of the zone.

The Yankees finally got on the board in the 8th and knocked Davis out in the process. When Swisher reached on a one out double, Mike Quade went to left-hander Scott Marshall to face Granderson. The move worked as Granderson struck out again, but switch-hitter Mark Teixeira singled from the right side to get the Yankees off the schneid. Quade then called on closer Carlos Marmol, who struck out Alex Rodriguez to end the frame.

The Yankees had one more shot in the 9th when Russ Martin drew a one out walk to bring the tying run to the plate. Jorge Posada pinch-hit for Nunez, but was called out on strikes for the second out. Gardner kept the Yankees alive with a single, but pinch-hitter Chris Dickerson went down swinging to end the game.

And now we have the idiots from Fox and ESPN the next two days debating the DH, pitchers, and droning on.

BD Spring Training Report: And Stretch That Money | Baseball Digest

BD Spring Training Report: And Stretch That Money | Baseball Digest

One of the things that clearly is not a favorite among players during spring training is the daily stretching. It’s a necessity, but it’s an incredible bore. And running, sprinting…all this getting in shape stuff. How many times have you heard a player say “I haven’t picked up a ball since (fill in some late date)”. Of course for hurlers nothing is worse than PFP (Pitchers Fielding Practice). Spring training is all about rote. Turning the double play. Who goes where on a sac bunt. Hitting the cut off man.(The MLB Network has videos demonstrating the pitcher’s workout) Spring training is also about answering questions from the media that you sometimes would rather not have to.

The New York Yankees CC Sabathia found himself in that situation on Monday. Sabathia, who came to camp 25 pounds lighter (290 lbs), has a clause in his contract that would allow him to opt out after the 2011 season. Reporters quickly brought it up when questioning Sabathia. From the CC Sabathia_drops_25_pounds_says_not_eating_capn_crunch_is_key_to_yankee_aces_we.html" target="_blank">New York Daily News, ”I’m here to try to help this team win,” Sabathia said. “I went through it with the free agency thing, so it’s not going to distract me at all.” Still, Sabathia seemed to back off a previous statement that he had no plan to exercise the opt-out clause. ”Yeah. I said that, but …” Sabathia said. “Like I said, I’m here to try to help the team win. I don’t want to talk about that all year. This will probably be the last time I address it. I’m here.” Hank Steinbrenner for one doesn’t think Sabathia will opt out.

The St. Louis Cardinals having plenty weighing on their minds and it has nothing to do with how many pounds a player has lost. According to Cardinals GM John Mozeliak the team has until Wednesday at Noon to reach a deal with slugger Albert Pujols or the team won’t have access to the three time MVP until after the season. Pujols’ manager, Tony LaRussa feels the union is putting immense pressure on his star ball player. “I know what he’s going through with the union, and to some extent, his representatives,” said La Russa this morning at the Cardinals’ camp. ”His representatives are getting beat up by the union. ‘Set the bar. Set the bar.’” You can read the rest of LaRussa comments in Rick Hummel’s column in St.Louis Today.

Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel has imposed a deadline of his own. Manuel is entering 2011 in the final season of a contract he signed after the 2007 season and is reportedly seeking a two year extension. Manuel told reporters he doesn’t want his negotiation to be a distraction to the team. “Hopefully something happens in spring training, and if not, my extension and contract, I definitely don’t want it to be a distraction for our team,” Manuel said. “I definitely put my team first. The players, and how we play, that’s how I get a contract. That’s the whole purpose of me doing what I do, and that’s how I look at it.”

No new word on a new contract for Boston Red Sox 1st baseman Adrian Gonzalez, who isn’t scheduled to report to camp until Friday. But Adrian’s older brother Edgar has a new gig; the infielder signed a minor league deal with the San Francisco Giants.

Jose Bautista knows that the likelihood of him hitting 54 home runs again isn’t great so he has to strike while the iron is hot. Bautista and the Toronto Blue Jays were set to go to arbitration, but have pushed back the hearing with the possibility of a long term deal on the horizon.

Chicago Cubs closer Carlos Marmol avoid arbitration by agreeing Monday to a new three year, $20MM deal.

CC Sabathia wasn’t the only one who felt weight loss could help his performance. John Lackey, who had a decent first year with the Red Sox, dropped 11 pounds and feels great.

World Baseball Classic - 3/11

Time to catch you up on the World Baseball Classic. The US is back in action tonight (6:30 EDT) against Venezuela. That's because the South American squad pounded Italy last night, 10-1. Bobby Abreu, Miguel Cabrera, Ramon Hernandez, and Jose Lopez each homered.

One of the big surprises in the tournament was the elimination of the Dominican Republic last night by the Netherlands. It was the second time one run loss handed to the D.R. by the Netherlands in the tourney.

The game was scoreless in the 11th inning, when the D.R. broke through. The frame started out harmless enough when the first two batters were retired, but Jose Reyes walked and scored from first base when right fielder Gene Kinsgale misplayed Jose Bautista's fly ball.

The Cubs' Carlos Marmol came on to close things out in the bottom of the 11 for the D.R., but Sidney de Jong led off with a double. A ground out moved to de Jong to third, giving Kingsale a chance to redeem himself. And he did just that. Kingsale singled to right field to tie the game up.

Marmol then made an errant pick off throw to first, allowing Kingsale to scamper to third. Marmol struck out Scharlon Shoop for the second out, and intentionally walked Randall Simon to set up a force play. But first baseman Willy Aybar mishandled Yurendell de Caster's grounder to allow the winning run to score.

The Netherlands will now take on Puerto Rico later this afternoon.

Cuba, the runner up in last year's tourney, beat Australia 5-4. The Aussies led 4-3, but Yosbany Peraza hit a go-ahead 2-run home run off Angels prospect Rich Thompson in the eighth inning.

Australia will play Mexico tonight, with the winner facing Cuba tomorrow. The loser will go home.