Loads of stuff to get to this week, so lets jump right in:
-Joba was throwing 96 MPH this spring. For the past few seasons, Joba has always been a guy who gains velocity as the seasons progresses. Could we see 98-100 MPH heat this summer? Maybe. I don’t want to get too far ahead with this, but Brian Cashman said last winter the rationale for leaving Joba in the bullpen was that his stuff had never been the same since the 08 shoulder injury. If his stuff is back, and Freddy Garcia isn’t cutting it as your #5, let me just say that rationale would no longer exist.
-For what it’s worth, Buster Olney took Ivan Nova for his AL ROY pick.
-A RIVAL SCOUT SIZES UP THE YANKEES-An interesting feature on SI.com where an unnamed scout sizes up the strengths and weaknesses of notable players on a given team. He says the book on Jeter is that he is more prone than ever to being busted inside, but is also smart enough that you can’t do it too much. Like everyone else he loves Montero’s bat, but says “I’ve never been a big fan of Jesus Montero; he seems lazy, but the tools are there.” Which by my count is the 4th time I’ve heard someone either inside or outside the Yankee organization say that or something similar about Montero. It should be noted similar things have been said about Manny Ramirez and Miguel Cabrera, who are among the best hitters in Baseball. Ted Williams famously never cared a wit about playing defense either, saying hitting was where “the big money is”. The scout also lavishes praise on Alex, and touches on the mechanical issues Burnett had last year.
-If you’re going to Yankee Stadium anytime this year, make sure you get there early and check out the . They have 26 rings (and a pocket watch) from all 27 Yankee championships on display, which is a real treat. Museum is located on the second level, right next to the escalator at Gate 6.
Buster Olney
Heard this from rival evaluators: They think Derek Jeter is struggling in a big, big way with the stride adjustment he’s trying to make.
Started hearing that in the last two weeks of spring training. One scout saw him twice and said: “He looks awful right now.”
.
Buster went on to emphasize that the scout was someone who’s seen him recently, not in early spring. Many pundits have been dismissive of Derek’s down 2010, but not me. He’s 37, has had two down seasons in the past three and clearly lost bat speed last year. His ground ball rate was the highest it’s ever been, clearly indicating he’s getting beat and having trouble making solid contact. His best months last year were April (when pitchers don’t have their best fastballs) and September, when rosters are expanded. You don’t change your swing after 15 seasons because you want to, you do it because you have to. When I see Derek regain is past form, I’ll believe it. But not before. He looks too much like so many other players I’ve seen when they’re over the hill.
.
-Even if this Keith Olbermann nonsense is true, I couldn’t possibly care any less. I expect teams and players to do everything they can to win a game, it’s up to the league to police it. In the Yanks defense, they claim they were relaying radar gun readings since the stadium gun wasn’t working on opening day, which everyone knew happened on Thursday.
.
-And finally, a memorable Opening Day quote from BP-
“The sun has been there for 500, 600 years . . .”
–Mets outfielder Mike Cameron, after teammate Carlos Beltran lost a ball in the sun against the Dodgers (New York Daily News)
–Mets outfielder Mike Cameron, after teammate Carlos Beltran lost a ball in the sun against the Dodgers (New York Daily News)
If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it!
MosheTYA If neither Lackey nor Beckett returns to form, these might be the most evenly matched Yankees-Sox teams I can remember.
If Nova surprises to the upside, they could have vintage Lackey and it’s still even. I think there’s more there than people realize, and I’m glad someone prominent like Buster sees what I do.
[Reply]
Moshe Mandel Reply:
April 3rd, 2011 at 8:10 am
Agreed. Im just saying that if everyone performs to projection, except neither of those guys bounceback, each team had a very strong offense, a promising bullpen, and one great left starter, one good young Righty, and questions with the rest of the rotation. Very close.
[Reply]
I thought the Montero quote was wildly irresponsible to print. ‘He is lazy,’ while I hate judgments of character, I could have swallowed. But ‘he seems lazy’ reeks of an assumption and/or a lack of any real basis/evidence. You don’t print ‘seems’ regarding character.
[Reply]
Steve S. Reply:
April 3rd, 2011 at 9:01 am
I saw your comments on Twitter, but as we discussed last week I simply disagree. He may have said “seems” because it could be character, or just could be a smooth and languid style of play. The “lazy” tag is something Jesus will have to shake, or he’ll have to hit so much that no one will care.
But hearing this comment repeatedly, from inside and outside the Yanks, is noteworthy. I heard this a year ago from someone who knows Gene Michael. To ignore or dismiss it at this point would be willful. As I noted it doesn’t mean he won’t be an elite hitter, just that he may not be all that interested in fielding his position. That will be a factor in to whether or not the Yanks look to keep him or deal him. Catcher is a very important defensive position, and having two former (outstanding defensive) catchers in the dugout makes the focus on fielding even more acute. Moving him to 1B isn’t an option for the Yanks.
[Reply]
Moshe Mandel Reply:
April 3rd, 2011 at 9:07 am
The issue is that people take ‘he seems lazy’ to mean ‘he is lazy.’ They don’t see the nuance you applied, which is why I found it irresponsible.
[Reply]
Steve S. Reply:
April 3rd, 2011 at 9:38 am
That may be, but all I can do is try to articulate things as clearly and completely as possible. People will always read into a sentence what they will. Especially fans, who are by definition inherently biased.
[Reply]
Moshe Mandel Reply:
April 3rd, 2011 at 9:44 am
“People will always read into a sentence what they will. Especially fans, who are by definition inherently biased.”
Which is why a vague statement from an anonymous scout should not be printed by an esteemed publication like SI.
[Reply]
Moshe Mandel Reply:
April 3rd, 2011 at 9:20 am
Just to be clear, I think your position on Montero and laziness, while I disagree with it, is perfectly fair. My problem in this case was with how this particular person presented it, not with the general idea about Montero (which, again, I take some issue with).
[Reply]
Steve S. Reply:
April 3rd, 2011 at 9:57 am
Scouts are in the opinion business, its one man’s opinion. Though with Cashman’s recent comments, we may be at the point where the consensus on his fielding is nearly universal, so now there are attempts to explain why. As Brian said, he can be better when he stays focused, so this comment meshes well with other reports we’ve heard.
The final chapter isn’t written, he’s still a prospect with just one full season at the position. The Yanks may view this as a positive if it gets his attention. Last year, they made comments about him coming into camp “a little soft”. This year, by all accounts he came into camp in shape. Now he needs to take another step defensively, let’s see what happens.
[Reply]
Just clarifying, but Joba hit 96 in spring training. He didn’t reach 92 on opening day.
[Reply]
Steve S. Reply:
April 3rd, 2011 at 10:00 am
Thanks, its been edited. That post was Tweeted a few days ago, I assumed (incorrectly) it was fresh info.
[Reply]
I was shocked to see how many ESPN pundits picked Cano to win the MVP…and as it relates to Montero, Cano was tagged pretty early as “lazy”, especially his defense. Watching Robbie obliterate that “lazy” tag over the past two years has been one of my most enjoyable experiences while rooting for the Yankees. Hopefully Jesus gets a locker right next to Cano when he makes the bigs.
[Reply]
Steve S. Reply:
April 3rd, 2011 at 10:07 am
Yeah, it’s important to note that these things can change. The Yankee clubhouse is such that there are plenty of guys who can befriend him and have an influence. Alex (whose daily regimen is well known) was said to have had a big impact on Robbie, and now Robbie was holding camp for Cervelli and Nunez this offseason. Saying a 21 year old is “lazy” isn’t a final determination. I was pretty lazy at 21, and now work around 70 hours a week, sometimes more.
[Reply]