New York Yankees Spring Training Notes 2/15

In what seems like is going to be a daily thing we bring you the latest in the Michael Pineda rehab from shoulder surgery last Spring Training. Pineda threw a 25 pitch bullpen side session today throwing all fastballs and apparently everything went well. Pineda reported no pain or set backs and everything felt and looked great according to Larry Rothschild.

Cesar Cabral also threw a 25 pitch bullpen side session while working his way back from a stress fracture in his left throwing elbow after almost making the team out of Spring Training last season. Cabral also threw all fastballs and came through the session with no set backs or pain and that is all you can ask for at this point.

CC Sabathia is scheduled to throw his first bullpen side session of the spring tomorrow as planned according to manager Joe Girardi.

Shawn Kelley Reports To Yankees Camp

Shawn Kelley has officially shaved his beard and reported to Yankees Spring Training camp after being traded for earlier in the week when the Yankees sent minor league outfielder Abraham Almonte to the Seattle Mariners. It was announced that he will wear #27 for the Yankees so he will have big shoes to fill after the clinic that Mr. Yankee Raul Ibanez put on last year. Welcome to the team Shawn!

YES To Televise 19 Yankees Spring Training Games

The Yankees television network, the YES Network, will televise a whopping 19 of their games this year during Spring Training. In these 19 games will be the Yankees exhibition game with Team Dominican Republic which will see the Yankees pitching facing Yankees 2B Robinson Cano. Also the YES Network will show the exhibition games with the Washington Nationals and the Army University baseball team. 

Here is the complete list:

2/24 vs. Toronto 1:00 pm

2/27 vs. Baltimore  1:00 pm

2/28 vs. Toronto  1:00 pm

3/1 vs. Philadelphia  1:00 pm

3/2 vs. Detroit  1:00 pm

3/3 @ Boston 1:30 pm

3/5 vs. Atlanta  7:00 pm

3/6 vs. Dominican Republic – 1:00 pm

3/9 vs. Atlanta  1:00 pm

3/11 vs. St. Louis  1:00 pm

3/13 vs. Philadelphia  7:00 pm

3/15 vs. Miami  1:00 pm

3/16 vs. Philadelphia  12:00 pm

3/20 vs. Boston 1:00 pm

3/21 vs. Minnesota 7:00 pm

3/24 vs. Tampa Bay  1:00 pm

3/26 vs. Houston  7:00 pm

3/29 @ Washington  2:00 pm

3/30 @ Army (West Point)  2:00 pm

Wang & Yankees Reunion?

"If you bring me back I'll promise to wear this outfit to the ballpark every day."

The Yankees are looking for another starting pitcher to add to the AAA rotation, in case they need somebody as a part-time fill in during the season (a strong possibility). The reason for that is that it's not ideal to pull up a young kid that's still developing to make a few spot starts in MLB. You'd rather leave that kid in the minors to get regular work, and let a veteran make those MLB appearances instead.

So the Bombers are keeping their eye on former Yankee Chien-Ming Wang. Spring Training pitching instructor Billy Connors was impressed with a recent workout by Chien-Ming, and will be watching Wang when he pitches for Team Taiwan in the World Baseball Classic.

Wang is looking for a Major League contract, but after missing all of 2010 and following that up with two lackluster seasons, he may have to settle for a minor league deal. In that case I'm okay with the team bringing CMW back, as there aren't any better options for that role available, but if it would cost a MLB contract then no way.

Should Pineda Pitching Differently?

I don't get it, what's so funny about the longest bone in the arm?

Yesterday we posted an update regarding Michael Pineda's rehab, and a friend of mine (who is not a Yankee fan, and therefore has an outsider's perspective) had an interesting response... particularly to the part where it was mentioned that Pineda's mechanics have not seemed to change since the injury.

Let me get this straight, Pineda had major shoulder surgery on presumably an injury, presumably caused by damage created throwing since he is a pitcher. He has emerged to throw with the same exact delivery as he had pre-surgery and this is a good thing? Shouldn't we be able to logically presume that there is a mechanical flaw in his delivery somewhere that is placing pressure on the shoulder? Otherwise why would he need surgery?

Before sharing my response I wanted to point out that throwing a baseball upwards of 95 mph, or with as much break as MLB pitchers generate, is not healthy for the shoulder. Steve Silverman, a blogger at LiveStrong.com, points out that "when the shoulder moves, it is the result of four small muscles pushing, pulling and rotating the shoulder. These four muscles are small and they make up the rotator cuff. When placed under stress or used improperly, these muscles can be damaged or torn." I don't recall anybody saying that Pineda's mechanics were in some way improper, or add excess stress to his shoulder, so I'm filing his injury under "it happens". I don't believe Michael's torn labrum is the result of a mechanical flaw in his delivery, as my friend says, so I see no reason to change it.

Here's my actual response to my friend...

Good point. But on the flip side, if his delivery were different, then there's no way at all to know how he'll throw when healthy. At that point we could have a totally different pitcher. Might as well see what he can do the same way and hope the surgery was done in such a way that it prevents further damage.

I feel the same way about my friend sometimes.

Say Pineda changed the way he threw, and due to those changes he couldn't generate as much velocity on his fastball or break on his slider... then who knows the type of pitcher he'd be? My guess is that he wouldn't be an ace-caliber pitcher, and may not be effective at all. I mean, have you ever heard of a pitcher of that high caliber changing his delivery, and still being a pitcher of that high caliber? Might as well take the chance on Michael getting hurt again... right?

It's a heartless way to think, but unlike with CC Sabathia the Yankees won't lose much should Michael Pineda go out there later this season and messes his shoulder up again... maybe this time permanently.

So far the Yankees have paid Pineda $528,475 (it may be lower as I'm not sure if a player on the 60-day DL makes his MLB salary). Let's say he gets the same amount this season, as it's unlikely he gets a raise for being out all of 2012. In his first appearance of the season, and first in pinstripes, Michael blows out his shoulder and is lost again for the season. In the offseason it's learned that his shoulder is beyond repair, and his career is prematurely over with. In that case the Yankees would have spent a little over a million dollars, which is more than an acceptable loss for a team that has spend 2/3 of a billion dollars on payroll in the last three years.

"You ready to talk about me again?"

Some may point out that the Yankees would have lost Jesus Montero for nothing as well. My response to that comment would be simple... that chapter in the Yankees' history is over. I still hear bloggers and other Yankee fans whining about the team dealing away Montero, but he's gone... get over it. At the time of the trade it made sense, as the Yankees lacked young ace-like pitching talent in the minors (at least in the upper level), and didn't have a position for Jesus with the big club. Playing around with "what if" scenarios can be fun, but the bottom line is that at the time of the trade it made sense. Although, if you want to play the "what if" game, then I can point out the fact that young ace-like pitching isn't even reaching free agency anymore, so trading for one of those guys is necessary (see Felix Hernandez, and soon Justin Verlander and Clayton Kershaw). And with the new CBA teams are willing to spend more, so the Yankees may never get a chance to sign a CC Sabathia again.

Again it's a heartless way to thing about things, but if Pineda is lost because he came back and threw the same way as when he got injured, then the team isn't out a whole lot.

Fox To Broadcast Eight Yankees Games This Season

Fox has announced that they will be broadcasting eight New York Yankees games this season. I do not know how I feel about this because on one hand as a misplaced Yankees fan that was forced to move to metro Atlanta Georgia I live when the Yankees are nationally televised. On the other hand the Yankees just plain out suck when they play on Fox, especially day games, for whatever reason. Anyway it is what it is so here is the scheduled lineup.

4/6 1:00 pm ET

New York Yankees @ Detroit Tigers

6/1 7:15 pm ET

Boston Red Sox @ New York Yankees

6/15 7:15 pm ET

New York Yankees @ Los Angeles Angels Of Anaheim

6/29 7:15 pm ET

New York Yankees @ Baltimore Orioles

7/16 8:00 pm ET

2013 MLB All Star Game from Citi Field

7/20 4:00 pm ET

New York Yankees @ Boston Red Sox

8/17 4:00 pm ET

New York Yankees @ Boston Red Sox

9/14 1:00 pm ET

New York Yankees @ Boston Red Sox

Greedy Pinstripes Exclusive Interview W/ Corey Black

The Greedy Pinstripes are proud to present to you our latest exclusive interview, this time with Yankees starting pitcher Corey Black. Corey was drafted by the Yankees in the 2012 MLB First Year Player's Draft in the 4th round and spent time with the Gulf Coast Yankees, the Staten Island Yankees, and the Charleston Riverdogs last season. Going on two years removed from Tommy John Surgery we are really starting to see the full extent of Corey's potential especially in how he can dial up the radar guns with his fastball. We want to thank Corey for taking the time to do this interview and for being a Greedy Pinstripes follower, @GreedyStripes, on twitter. Follow Corey on twitter @ CblackCSC13 and follow him all season long for the Yankees minor league affiliate teams. 

The Greedy Pinstripes: Was your dream as a child always to be a baseball player? If not then what did you want to be when you grew up?

Corey Black: My dream was always to be a baseball player and if that didn’t work a pro at another sport

 

TGP: What team did you root for growing up as a kid?

CB: Growing up in SD I was always at Padres games

 

TGP: Favorite player(s) growing up?

CB: Alex Rodriguez and Ken Griffey Jr

 

TGP: Your biggest inspiration when it came to baseball?

CB: My mom was always pushing me to never give up on my dreams

 

TGP: Best college memory? Doesn't have to be baseball related.

CB: Being named SSAC Pitcher of the year

 

TGP: What is the hardest part of coming back from a Tommy John surgery?

CB: The set backs with dealing with an injury are always the worst. Surrounding yourself with people that push you to come back is what helped me

 

TGP: Favorite moment as a Yankees prospect?

CB: Being around all these soon to be Hall of Famers at big league camp

 

TGP: Who was the best prospect in the Yankees system that you ever played with?

CB: Its hard to pick one out because everyone in this organization is here for a reason

 

TGP: Do you keep in touch with any other current or former Yankees prospects or coaches?

CB: Ive only been here for a short amount of time so the people I am around are usually the people I associate with

 

TGP: Hardest part of being a prospect?

CB: Exceeding the expectations I put on myself

 

TGP: Were you always a pitcher? Did you ever want to try another position?

CB: I didn’t pitch until college. I was always a utility player mainly a shortstop & 3^rd baseman growing up

 

TGP: With almost a strike out per inning would you consider yourself a strike out pitcher or more of a control pitcher?

CB: Last year I tried turning myself into a control pitcher because in college I walked way too many people and wouldn’t be able to get into later innings. Looking back as the walks went down the strike outs started rising. So yes I do think I am a strike out pitcher

 

TGP: Do you think you are better suited as a starter or a future reliever in the Major Leagues?

CB: I try not to think about that. I just do as I’m told and I go out and pitch

 

TGP: Over/Under 2 times you get called Francisco Arcia this spring?

CB: Over! Way over

 

TGP: Most famous person in your cell phone?

CB: Bryce Harper

 

TGP: Most embarrassing song/artist in your ipod?

CB: Bye bye bye –N SYNC

I want to thank Corey once again for taking the time to do this interview for us. You're always an awesome guy on twitter and we really appreciate you. By the way Corey can we get Bryce Harper's phone number?

Meet A Prospect : Melky Mesa

Melquisdec Mesa was born January 31st, 1987 in Bajos de Haina, Dominican Republic. This will be Melky's third season under 40 man roster and Rule 5 Draft protection and he has done nothing to disappoint the Yankees brass thus far. He has impressed so much that he recently has been promoted to AAA Empire State Yankees but this will be a make or break season for him in my eyes. With a 6'1" 190 lb frame he should be ready to start filling in physically and filling in for the big league club come mid season if we have an injury or two. 

Melky has shown, although raw, some amazing power and even more amazing plate discipline at such a young age in the Yankees system. Melky Mesa has the potential to be a five tool player with great defensive ability and a cannon for an arm, out of this world speed, raw power and discipline at the plate, and even hit for average. He has not quite lived up those expectation yet but he was signed as a 16 year old IFA in 2003 so he has some more time to go. The question is whether the Yankees will wait out his "Jekyll and Hyde" kind of offensive spurts. In 2009 Melky was named to the SAL All Star Game while playing for the Charleston Riverdogs and even participated in the Home Run Derby. In the 2010 season he was named the Class A Advanced Florida State League while playing for the Tampa Yankees. 

Melky Mesa made his Major League debut last year with the Yankees as a September call up when he pinch ran in the 14th inning against the Oakland Athletics.  Alex Rodriguez hit a single up the middle after Derek Jeter bunted Melky over to second base but he missed third base causing him to have to back track and prevent the winning run from scoring. Melky saved his first hit for October in true Yankees fashion as he got an RBI single off of Red Sox closer Andrew Bailey. While Melky will be in camp for the Yankees this season I see very little possibility for him to make the team out of Spring Training but will be one of the first in line should we need to call up an outfielder. Watch out for Melky Mesa in 2013. 

ETA: 2013