CC terrible as Yanks fall to Nats, 3-2

CC Sabathia gave up 3 earned runs (4 hits) in 3 innings of work today as the Yankees fell to the Nationals without much of a fight, 3-2. Throughout this one's first 4.2 innings, the Yanks amazingly didn't get a single guy on base, so yeah, I guess you could say that they struggled here. 

Anyway, after that runner-less drought ended the Bombers did manage to score 2 runs this afternoon, as Dean Anna singled home Eduardo Nunez in the fifth and Brett Gardner drove Zoilo Almonte in with a Sac Fly in the sixth. So yeah people, at least there's that. I guess, in some ways, this game wasn't a complete disaster.

Yankees Trying To Trade Ichiro With No Luck

According to Jon Heyman on Twitter the New York Yankees have been trying to shop spare outfielder Ichiro Suzuki basically all winter long and have had little to no success. 40 year old Ichiro will start the season with the Yankees unless something drastic changes in the next two or three weeks. Ichiro is making $6.5 million this season as a fifth outfielder if you include Alfonso Soriano spending a lot of time at DH, that's a lot.

Hal Steinbrenner signed Ichiro for two years hoping for the 3,000 hit parade to come to New York and draw in revenue, after a season in which Ichiro hit .262/.297/.342 that obviously did not happen. Now the Yankees will try to unload him and that contract, and I find it unlikely that they do so. Looks like we're stuck with Ichiro for at least a couple more months.

New York Yankees Spring Training News & Notes 3/11

Just a few New York Yankees spring training news and notes from my porch as I watch my son play in his firetruck on a 80 degree day. Enjoy the day Yankees fans.

Nik Turley is still experiencing tightness in his throwing forearm and is still shut down for the immediate future. Not great news for a guy who had a shot, albeit a very outside shot, at making the team out of the bullpen this camp.

Masahiro Tanaka threw his first simulated game of his professional career here in the states. Jake Cave and Cito Culver did not stand a chance against Tanaka today as pitching coach Larry Rothschild called balls and strikes behind the mound. John Ryan Murphy caught Tanaka possibly squashing the idea of Francisco Cervelli being his personal catcher.

David Phelps, Ivan Nova, Michael Pineda, Adam Warren, Bruce Billings, Bryan Mitchell, Manny Banuelos, Chris Leroux, and Shane Greene all threw side sessions today.  Along with Tanaka, Davis Robertson, Matt Thornton, Preston Claiborne, and Vidal Nuno all threw simulated games today to Cervelli.

CC Sabathia sucked today, his words not mine. CC's velocity was in the 88 - 89 MPH range but velocity may not have been the problem. CC experimented with his new cutter today so I expected mixed results and apparently so did he.

Chad Jennings with the assignments from the day:

Batting practice groups in Tampa:
Group 1: Carlos Beltran, Derek Jeter, Brian Roberts, Alfonso Soriano, Ichiro Suzuki
Group 2: Russ Canzler, Francisco Cervelli, Kelly Johnson, John Ryan Murphy

· Today’s second string: C Gary Sanchez, 1B Francisco Arcia, 2B Corban Joseph, SS Yangervis Solarte, 3B Zelous Wheeler, LF Antoan Richardson, CF Mason Williams, RF Ramon Flores, DH Pete O’Brien

· Today’s scheduled relievers: Cesar Cabral, Fred Lewis, Matt Daley, Brian Gordon, Jim Miller and David Herndon (with Dellin Betances, Chase Whitley, Mark Montgomery and Danny Burawa also making the trip)

New York Yankees vs. Washington Nationals 3/11

The New York Yankees are coming off their first full off day of the spring to take on the Washington Nationals in their latest spring training game in the Grapefruit League. CC Sabathia will start the game for the Yankees while Masahiro Tanaka will pitch a simulated game for New York back at the minor league complex. The game will be televised on MLB Network on a delay and MLB TV, I think. Enjoy the day Yankees fans and Go Yankees!

Yankee Stadium Legacy: #20 Phil Rizzuto (Again)

Phil Rizzuto was part of seven World Series championship teams with the New York Yankees, claiming his first title in 1941. Rizzuto would have to wait until 1947 to get his second but would more than make up for lost time with five straight rings in pinstripes from 1949-1953. In 52 career World Series games Phil had 45 hits, 30 walks, 21 runs, and 10 stolen bases. On three different occasions Rizzuto had at least eight hits in a single World Series. #Clutch

20 days until Yankees Opening Day.

This Day In New York Yankees History 3/11

On this day in 2006 the New York Yankees lost out on an opportunity with their own free agent when first basemen and designated hitter Nick Johnson signed a three year contract extension worth $16.5 million with the Washington Nationals. The 27 year old first basemen signed a $3.2 million one year deal in January with the Nationals after spending his first five seasons with the Yankees.