New York Yankees vs. Miami Marlins 3/29

This is it, the final tuneup before the games actually start counting. The New York Yankees will host the Miami Marlins at George M. Steinbrenner Field down in Tampa in the final spring training game in 2014. Ivan Nova will be on the mound for his final tuneup before his start on Thursday against the Houston Astros. The game will be televised at 1:05 pm ET on the YES Network and MLB TV. Enjoy the day and the rest of your weekend Yankees family.

New York Yankees Spring Training News & Notes 3/29

These are the early notes, we may do another one later after the game:

Brendan Ryan will be eligible to come off the DL after just eight days into the season but the Yankees do not seem to think he will be ready. Ryan had 10 at bats before he went down with an oblique injury and will basically have to do spring training all over again meaning that the Dean Anna, Yangervis Solarte, and Eduardo Nunez competition will mean much more when it's resolved.

As we reported last night Anna has made the Opening Day roster while Solarte and Nunez have been told not to pack their bags and bring them with them today. A decision could be made today, it could be tomorrow, or it could be as late as Monday. Anna is expected to give Derek Jeter days off against right handed pitching since he is a left handed bat.

Rule 5 Draft pick Tommy Kahnle has made the Colorado Rockies 25 man roster and will not be returned to New York, not yet anyway.

Vidal Nuno made the team over Cesar Cabral due to versatility. With the Yankees playing in 13 straight games to start the season the Yankees would rather have guys who can throw multiple innings, not one batter or one inning type guys.

Jacoby Ellsbury is expected to play today in the final spring training game against the Miami Marlins.

Yankee Stadium Legacy: #3 Lou Gehrig

Lou Gehrig started his famous games played streak in 1925 and took the field in every Yankees game for the next 13 years. The final game of his 2,130 consecutive games played stretch came at Yankee Stadium on April, 30 193. Gehrig had a dedication to his teammates, the New York Yankees franchise, and to the game of baseball and it's fans and really helped enhance the Yankee pride reputation.

We are a Babe Ruth, 3 days away, from Yankees Opening Day. Cliff Mapes wore #3 too in case you forgot.

Quick Hit: Yankees Pen Will Help The Rotation

The New York Yankees should have zero problems keeping the likes of Hiroki Kuroda, CC Sabathia, Masahiro Tanaka, and Michael Pineda fresh and well rested this season after the bullpen announcements. The Yankees basically have three long men in the pen that are also capable of pitching in middle relief.

There is absolutely no reason to run Kuroda out there for more than seven innings a start, no reason to let CC go much over the 100 pitch mark per game, no reason to let Tanaka get wore down in August and September, and no reason that Pineda should not be in the rotation all season long, innings limit or not.

The Yankees bullpen, on paper of course, is deep and versatile and should really help out the starting rotation. Barring injuries or bad performance the pen should never be tired or overused either which is always a good thing over the course of a season, ask anybody. I really love the way this bullpen was constructed, my only beef is having Thornton in it but what can you do.

I feel better and better about the 2014 New York Yankees the more we inch closer to Opening Day.

This Day In New York Yankees History 3/29

On this day in 1948 the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox played an exceptionally long exhibition game that went 17 innings, unheard of nowadays. The game still ended in a 2-2 tie in a four hour and two minute game. The Yankees scored a run in each of the bottom of the ninth and tenth innings to keep the game tied and moving along. New York had the winning run at third base in the bottom of the 17th inning but Frank Crosetti attempted a bunt to squeeze the runner home and failed.

On this day in 1975 the Yankees released Mel Stottlemyre after he tore his rotator cuff. Mel finished with a 164-139 record and a 2.97 ERA with 40 shutouts before he became New York's pitching coach.

On this day in 2009 the Evil Empire struck again as they placed a permanent September 11 memorial at the entrance of George M. Steinbrenner Field, the Yankees Spring Training home in Tampa, Florida. The tribute showcased a foundation in the shape of the Pentagon that supported two towers made from steel from the World Trade Center that was placed on a grassy spot representing where United Flight 93 was hijacked and flown into the Earth in Pennsylvania. The Red Sox did nothing.

Kuroda, Tanaka lead Yankees to 3-0 win over Marlins

SP Hiroki Kuroda threw three scoreless innings and Masahiro Tanaka followed him with another 6 tonight as the Yankees beat the Marlins in overall ugly fashion, 3-0. Threw 7 at-bats here, the Yanks amazingly were held hitless, but then Brian Roberts and Yangervis Solarte singled home runs in the bottom of the eighth to really put this one away. 

Anyway, in those six frames Tanaka was obviously pretty good, giving up just 3 hits while walking nobody and striking out 10. So yea, I guess you could say he looked pretty good tonight. Not necessarily amazing (this was the Marlins after all), but definitely good. 

Dean Anna Will Wear #39 For New York Yankees

Anna will trade in his no. 93 for no. 39. Wanted #3, but. . .
— wallace matthews (@ESPNNYYankees) March 29, 2014

Wally Matthews of ESPN New York said so.

Girardi confirms Dean Anna made the team. Final spot comes down to Nunez or Solarte
— wallace matthews (@ESPNNYYankees) March 29, 2014

Tampa Yankees 20th Anniversary Home Opener

Tampa, FL. - Come out and join the Tampa Yankees as they kick off their 20th Anniversary season on Friday, April 4th, when they take on the Lakeland Flying Tigers. The gates will open at 6:00pm with the first pitch at 7:00pm. The first 250 fans will receive a 20th Anniversary Tampa Yankees T-Shirt sponsored by AllergEase.

Fans can take advantage of our Bill Currie Ford Social Media Friday promotion with $2 Admission for ALL Social Media Fans. Check the Tampa Yankees' Facebook, Twitter and Google+ pages for a Keyword to use at the box office. In addition, all fans can enjoy select drink specials and $10 All-You-Can-Eat Chicken Wings on the Walgreens Deck and $1 Sodas at the Grill from 6-8:00pm. Fans are encouraged to stay after the game to enjoy a post-game Fireworks Show courtesy of Wells Fargo and will receive an AllergEase coupon upon leaving.

Then join us again on Sunday, April 6th, as we take on the Lakeland Flying Tigers at Steinbrenner Field. The game is at 1:00pm and gates open at 12:00pm. It's Seniors Eat Free Sunday and Senior Citizens ages 55 and older receive a FREE hot dog, small popcorn and small soda with the purchase of a reserved ticket for $5. This ticket/food special must be purchased at the Steinbrenner Field Box Office. All children ages 14 and under can receive FREE admission as well.

Tickets are $4 for general admission, $6 for reserved seating and can be purchased at the George M. Steinbrenner Field Box Office.

Being posted with permission from the Tampa Yankees organization. The original article can be seen HERE.

Dean Anna Wins Last Bench Spot, Maybe

Congrats @Dino24Baseball for making the Yanks OD roster!! #LetsGo
— Jedd Gyorko (@JGyorko05) March 28, 2014

Jedd Gyorko may have accidentally leaked some news before the New York Yankees were ready to announce it on Twitter today when he congratulated Dean Anna for breaking camp with the Yankees. I would have to assume that Eduardo Nunez would get the second bench spot, which leaves Yangervis Solarte as the odd man out. All of this is unofficial as of the time of this writing though so stay tuned.

New York Yankees vs. Miami Marlins 3/28

The New York Yankees have two games left in spring training before they close out their Grapefruit League schedule, both against the Miami Marlins. Hiroki Kuroda will be on the mound for the Yankees tonight in the first of those two games against Miami at 7:05 pm ET. As far as I know and can tell this game will not be televised anywhere, not on television or the radio. Seems odd that the YES Network would not pick up a Yankees game in prime time but maybe a Brooklyn Nets game is on or something, I don't know. Anyway enjoy the game Yankees fans and enjoy your weekend as we prep for Opening Day 2014.

Here is the Yankees lineup:

Brett Gardner LF
Derek Jeter SS
Carlos Beltran RF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Brian McCann C
Alfonso Soriano DH
Kelly Johnson 3B
Brian Roberts 2B
Ichiro Suzuki CF