World Baseball Classic - 3/7

Team USA gained some revenge from 2006 when helped off Team Canada earlier today, 6-5. The US team powered up with home runs by Kevin Youkilis, Brian McCann, and Adam Dunn all went deep and J.J. Putz got out of a jam in the ninth inning to preserve the win.

Former Yankee LaTroy Hawkins picked up the win after starter Jake Peavy allowed two runs in three innings of work. Canada scored a run in the ninth off of Putz and had the tying run on second base. But the new Mets set up man retired Jason Bay on a fly out to right to retire the side. Derek Jeter went 2-3 before giving way to Jimmy Rollins.

Datuske Matsuzaka allowed a couple of runs over four innings in Japan's 14-2 blow out of Korea. Norichika Aoki and Shuichi Murata drove in 3 runs each, and Murata and Kenji Johjima each homered.

The Netherlands pulled off a major upset, upsetting the Dominican Republic 3-2. The Netherlands picked up all 3 unearned runs in the first inning as the Dominican played poorly in the field. An Edinson Volquez wild pitch and a Hanley Ramirez throwing error put the visiting team in the lead for good.

Miguel Tejada homered and Ramirez drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, but the D.R. lost despite their pitchers allowing just 3 hits and striking out 12. Sidney Ponson pitched four innings for the win.Blogger: My Pinstripes - Create Post

Puetro Rico blasted Panama 7-0 as Ivan Rodriguez added to his free agent resume. The 37-yr old catcher, who spent last season with the Tigers and Yankees, is still in search of a team with opening day less than a month away. He may have opened some eyes this evening when he homered twice, doubled, singled, walked, and drove in 4 runs in five plate appearances.

Carlos Delgado also homered and Javier Vazquez tossed 4.1 scoreless innings for the win. Bernie Williams drew a pinch-hit walk in his one plate appearance.


Italy and Venezuela are just underway.

Wang Impresses in Second Start

Chien-Ming Wang is done for the day after three stellar innings. He allowed three hits, including a solo home run to Casey Kotchman, walked none and struck out two.

Brett Tomko is now in as he competes for the long man role in the bullpen.

Yankees vs Braves on YES! - Mar 7

Ah, a televised spring training game. The Braves are in Tampa for a battle with the Yankees and Chien-Ming Wang.

The Yankees are coming off a 7-3 victory over the Tigers in which CC Sabathia (2 IP) made his Yankees debut. Al Aceves helped his cause in the battle for the Yankees long man spot in the pen with 2.2 scoreless inning of relief. It also earned him the victory.

Six different Yankees drove in a run in a 14-hit attack.

Box Score

CC Makes His Debut

CC Sabathia made his first start as a Yankee tonight. He's allowed an unearned run in 2 innings of work. The Tigers and Justin Verlander lead the Yankees 1-0 in thebottom of the second inning.

Sabathia allowed a one out double to Placido Polanco in the first; Angel Berroa's error allowed Polanco to score the game's run.

Update 7:52 PM - Yankees have tied the game up on a Cody Ransom double and a Tiger passed ball.

World Baseball Classic Update - Mar 6

We had absolutely no interest when the WBC debuted back in 2006. We have next to no interest this year, but we do realize that some of our readers are interested. Therefore, will be providing daily updates and brief recaps of each days games.

Games of Thursday, 3/5

China 0 5 2
Japan 4 5 0

The tourney's opener saw defending champion Japan blank China, 4-0. Japan managed just 5 hits, but Chinese pitching walked 8 batters, including the Cubs' Kosuke Fukudome 4 times.

Shuichi Murata belted a 2-run home run off of losing pitcher Chenhao Li. Japanese phenom Yu Darvish pitched 4 innings of no-hit ball for the win.

Ichiro Suzuki (M's) and Aki Iwamura (Rays) were a combined 0-9. China's two Yankees prospects both made appearances. Catcher Zhenwang Zhang struck out both times up, while pitcher Kai Liu threw one scoreless inning with one walk allowed.


Games of Friday, 3/6

Chinese Taipei 0 5 0
Korea 9 10 0

Korea won the opener in easy fashion, 9-0. Hyun-jin Ryu picked up the victory with 3 innings of work. Jin-young Lee delivered the big blow with a grand slam. The Indians' Shin-soo Choo was 1-3 with a walk.


China will now face Chinese Taipei at 10:30 EST tonight.

Jeter's Top 10

We're not talking about rating Jessica Biel or Jessica Alba, though that would be fun. No, Derek Jeter and 9 Team USA teammates were on the David Letterman Show last night to read the top 10 list. Here it is:

Top 10 reasons to watch the World Baseball Classic:

10. Jimmy Rollins: "Due to economic crisis, we all have to share same pair of pants."

9. Curtis Granderson: "Japan has one of them crazy robot shortstops."

8. Dustin Pedroia: "Because it's an international event, our right fielder is Secretary of State Hillary Clinton."

7. Chipper Jones: "The winning team plays Neptune in the Galactic Baseball Classic."

6. Roy Oswalt: "It's fascinating seeing how players from other countries scratch themselves."

5. Adam Dunn: "You'll be part of a cherished baseball tradition dating all the way back to 2006." (Letterman added: "Oh, the stories they can tell.")

4. Ryan Braun: "Because of the metric system, games will be 6.83 innings."

3. Kevin Youkilis: "Before each game, get to sit through 30 different national anthems."

2. David Wright: "Australia's secret weapon: a fastball-throwing kangaroo."

1. Derek Jeter: "What else are you going to watch, hockey?"

Oswalt definitely got the best one. You can also watch the Top 10 on Letterman's website.

The Daily Yankeeland - 3/6

We said Joba Chamberlain was awful yesterday, and we stick by that. But he feels good, which is important. After walking four and allowing a hit without retiring a batter, Joba shrugged his performance off as one of those spring days when the mechanics are off. More importantly, he felt good physically. Joe Girardi isn't concerned about Joba yet, but will be if he throws the same way his next time out.

Hideki Matsui participated in his first game, going 0-2 in the exhibition game with Team Canada. Le Canada won 6-0.

Both Mariano Rivera and Edwar Ramirez threw off a mound yesterday. It was the first time this year for Mo and the first time since experiencing shoulder discomfort for Ramirez.

The beat writers for various teams around the country are already looking at who their team can deal to the Yankees if A-Rod is out. The Dallas Morning News would like to move the injury prone Hank Blalock and his $6.25 million annual salary. One of the bay area papers (sorry, we lost the link) suggested the even more injury prone Bobby Crosby, who is not even a third baseman. A's GM Billy Beane has said, for now, he does not intend to trade Crosby despite the acquisitions of Orlando Cabrera and Nomar Garciaparra.

Joe Sherman of the Post reported today that Brian Cashman recommended that the Yankees let A-Rod walk if he opted out of his contract prior to the 2008 season. Perhaps the Steinbrenners should have listened.

MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo takes a look at 10 Yankees prospects to watch.

Former Yankees pitching coach/mentor Billy Connors has established a fund to help Schenectady, NY students.

Can A-Rod Play Thru the Pain?

Hold your scalpels. A-Rod may not need surgery after all. In Brian Cashman's (WFAN has it) press conference this afternoon, he brought up the possibility of A-Rod trying to play through the pain.

A-Rod felt stiffness in his hip and was having trouble getting loose during his daily stretching. That led to further stiffness in his hip when he tried to bat. That's when the Yankees took an MRI, which showed changes from an MRI that was on done on the leg last season.

A-Rod had the cyst (one of significant size) drained of fluid, and had his range of motion measured before and after. The Yankees will continue to monitor A-Rod's range of motion, amount of pain, etc., as they determine whether or not to go forward with surgery.

"We're taking it one day at a time"- Brian Cashman discussing A-Rod's injury

You only have to think back to Jorge Posada last season to realize what a crucial decision this is. Posada tried to play through the pain in his shoulder, was unable to, and then missed the majority of the season.

Do you start the season with A-Rod playing and risk further injury? Do you take the hit early and go ahead with surgery or do you end up with a situation similar to that of Posada last year?

Brian Cashman, the medical, staff, and, of course, A-Rod have a lot of thinking and talking to do in the weeks ahead.

Cashman - A-Rod could be out 4 Months!

The news has gotten a whole lot worse. Sweeny Murti just reported on WFAN that Alex Rodriguez could be out up to 4 months. That news from Brian Cashman, who informed reporters that A-Rod has a torn labrum in his hip.

The Yankees just went from Cody Ransom to being held for ransom to acquire a better player.

An Awful Joba

Joe Girardi and the Yankees will try to down play it, and rightly so, but there will be no denying just how awful Joba Chamberlain was today. Making his second start of the spring (he only last 1 inning in his first start), Chamberlain faced just five hitters, walk four of them and allowing one hit. It translated to a 6-run inning as Team Canada bolted out in front of the Yankees in today's exhibition game.

Jonathan Albaladejo, making his first appearance since getting hit on the calf by a come backer, threw two innings, allowing one run. Kei Igawa has come on to start the fourth inning.

Nick Swisher and new starting third baseman Cody Ransom have drawn walks, but the Yankees are looking for the first base hit of the day.

Breaking News: A-Rod out 10 Weeks with Hip Surgery

ESPNdeportes is reporting, courtesy of A-Rod's brother, that the third baseman will be out 6-10 weeks to undergo hip surgery. The Yankees have not acknowledged the information, but A-Rod reportedly will have the surgery done in Colorado on Monday, by top hip guy, Dr. Michael Philippon.

It's a blow to the Yankees hopes of getting off to a good start, but thankfully, much of the time missed will be during spring training. It makes the signings of CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett even more significant to keep games lower scoring.

This means that Cody Ransom will most likely be the starting third baseman, with Angel Berroa serving as the utility infielder. It also means there is no way that Brian Cashman can trade Xavier Nady or Nick Swisher. It also means there is no way the Yankees should move Mark Teixeira back to his old third base position.

It also means Yankees fans should not start saying they should have signed Manny Ramirez, or that they should go out and get a player to replace A-Rod.

The Daily Yankeeland - 3/5

The Yankees take on Team Canada in Tampa today at 1:15. Joba Chamberlain will make his second start of the spring. He pitched just one inning his first time out.

Hip specialist, Dr. Mark Philippon, says A-Rod's bothersome hip is most likely not serious. Seems like everyone we've talked to has thought the same thing......is this a residual effect from steroid injections?

A-Rod's talks with MLB investigators centered on his relationship with banned trained Angel Presinal.

Some good news- Mariano Rivera will throw off a bullpen mound today. It's the first time he'll toe the rubber since his off-season shoulder surgery.

The NY Times' Jack Curry spoke to Bernie Williams about the possibility of making the transition from the Puerto Rican WBC team to a MLB team. Bernie's not ruling out the possibility, but unsure if could play for a team other than the Yankees. (photo courtesy of NY Times)

Looks like the Yankees were well aware of the bleacher view obstruction a year ago.

Braves Edge Yankees 3-2

Without Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, and Robinson Cano in the lineup, runs are hard to come by. With no Hideki Matsui, Jorge Posada, or Mark Teixeira, your chances are slim to none of winning baseball games. That was the case today when the Yankees were limited to 5 hits in a 3-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves in Orlando, Florida.

Casey Kotchman's 2-run double off of Ian Kennedy in the first inning put the Braves ahead for good. Rookie pitcher/Japanese import Kenshin Kawakami picked up the win and has not allowed an earned run in two spring appearances.

Pitcher Dan Giese reached on a single and later scored on Johnny Damon's single in the fifth, and Xavier Nady led off the sixth with a triple and scored on Juan Miranda's ground out.

Giese allowed one run in three innings of work as he battles for the long man spot in the pen.

Yanks' Drama Mama Strikes Again

Is Alex Rodriguez really that starved for attention that he needs to continually do and say things to draw attention to himself? They can be little innocuous things, like what occurred last night, but they cause him trouble nonetheless.

Watching Jose Reyes fly around the bases during the Dominican Republic's workout, A-Rod observed,

"I wish he was leading off on our team."

It was a simple statement, but a statement that took a shot at Johnny Damon and Derek Jeter, the Yankees pair of lead off men. A-Rod clearly has not learned to think before he speaks. Because while the statement is not a big deal, it does open a can of worms. Why?

Because, of course, today the media all asked Derek Jeter for a reaction. Jeter wisely responded,

"I've got nothing to say, man."

After the usual awkward silence hung in the air for a few seconds, Jeter said with a smile, "That about covers it."

Perhaps the dictionary should now look like this:

doofus

One entry found.
doo·fus
Pronunciation: \ˈdü-fəs, -fis\
Function:noun
Inflected Form(s):plural doo·fus·es \-fə-siz\

Etymology:perhaps alteration of 1goof Date:1960

slang : a stupid, incompetent, or foolish person