Saturday, March 7, 2015

Tanaka throws first spring simulated game


Yankees ace Masahiro Tanaka pitched his first simulated game of the spring Saturday morning at George M. Steinbrenner Field, throwing 29 pitches and roughly two innings to a pair of live hitters.

"He's exactly where you want him to be at this point in spring training," Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild said of Tanaka after his performance, according to The LoHud Yankees Blog.

Young catcher Eddy Rodriguez was behind home during Tanaka's outing -- in which the 26-year-old reportedly had little trouble. 

Prospects Gary Sanchez and Cole Figueroa batted against Tanaka -- with Sanchez recording the only would-be hit. Tanaka had told Rodriguez he wanted to work the outside part of the plate before Sanchez lined one softly to center -- a routine single. 

Tanaka is recovering from the partially torn UCL he suffered last July, and is attempting to get healthy in time for Opening Day. 

"It's good to see him get out there and be able to go through all his pitches and have a good day of work and feel good after," Rothschild said. 

Of the Yankees' next 10 games, seven will take place in Tampa -- so it's likely Tanaka will compete in a real contest soon. The starters for the Yankees' meetings with the Red Sox Wednesday and Braves Thursday still haven't been announced, nor have the ones for New York's weekend matchups with the Tigers and Phillies. 

Rothschild and the Yankees don't seem to be looking that far ahead yet, however, and appear to be content for the moment with what Tanaka did here. 

"It's his first sim game, so it was a good day of work," Rothschild said.

3 comments:

  1. Bull shit! We're supposed to be okay with our starting rotation? Every other team has thrown their starters already. Where's Tanaka, Sabathia, & Pineda? Throwing live BP? Who gives a shit? Maybe this is the reason we've had so many health issues with our rotation the past couple of years. They're not pushed in spring training.

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    1. Like I said, it's likely Tanaka will pitch in a real game next week. The Yankees just haven't announced anything and are happy he at least got through a sim game without problems

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    2. Pineda and Eovaldi pitch Monday with Pineda starting. Tanaka and CC are likely in sometime next week. They are taking it slow with these guys and honestly, with the health concerns, that may be the best bet.

      Divisions aren't won in April and May but it can be lost in April and May, I get that, but this schedule is geared more towards the long term.

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Sorry for the Capatcha... Blame the Russians :)