Youbtube: Posada Family Harlem Shake

Jorge, Laura, and all of the Posada family doing the Harlem shake. This is just something we had to share here at TGP. Enjoy!

Yankees Draft Pool Cap Set at $7,957,400

The Yankees have a huge chunk of change to spend in the 2013 MLB First Year Players Draft as it was set at nearly $8 million today. The Astros obviously have the most money to spend because of having the worst record at $11.7 million for this years June draft. The Yankees have the eight most pool money in the draft to sign their 12 picks in the first 10 rounds. The Washington Nationals have the least amount of money at $2.7 million in the pool after having the best record in baseball last season and losing their first round pick to sign Rafael Soriano.

Cano Fires Boras

"Ronery. I'm so ronery."

This is hardly news that falls in the "ho hum" category. The biggest free agent to be has fired the agent known for getting his clients the most money. Robbie hasn't said why he made this decision, but it stands to reason that he wasn't liking the way talks between Boras and the Yankees were going. I mean, that was the only thing going on right now, so what else could it be? 

Mark Feinsand said that Cano has hired CAA Sports, who also represents stars such as Buster Posey, who just signed a huge contract extension with the Giants. Another good sign as far as I'm concerned. Oh, and CAA also handles Phil Hughes, which makes me feel even better about things, seeing as how I'd like Philthy to remain in New York with Robbie (at least for now). 

Another interesting bit surrounding this news is that Jay-Z's Roc Nation will handle the marketing surrounding Cano. Robbie is actually Roc Nation's first client. While some may find it interesting that Cano and Jay-Z are in business together, I find it interesting since Jay-Z has ties to New York, making me think that too will help keep Robinson in pinstripes for the rest of his career.

"What Jay-Z song should I use for my at-bat music?"

Cano Fires Boras, Signs With Jay-Z and CAA

Just seven months before hitting free agency with the potential to sign a mega contract, Robinson Cano has fired agent Scott Boras to sign with the Jaz Z's Roc Nation . Buster Olney of ESPN, had it first in a tweet.

Roc Nation announced Tuesday that it will be teaming up with Creative Arts Agency (CAA) and that Cano will be the agencies first client.

"At this point in my career, I am ready to take a more active role in my endeavors on and off the field," Cano said in a statement. "I am confident that the pairing of Roc Nation Sports and CAA Sports will be essential in helping me accomplish my short- and long-term goals. I am making this important decision now so I can keep my focus on helping the Yankees succeed in 2013, while minimizing any distractions for me and my teammates."

This is outstanding news for the Yankees, as the likelihood of Cano signing an extension with the Yankees just went up greatly. Obviously nothing is guaranteed, but it was very clear that Boras wanted Cano to go to free agency to the highest bidder. It doesn't hurt that Jay-Z is a New York icon and a huge Yankees fan himself. He even coined the phrase in "Empire State of Mind" that he could "make the Yankee hat more famous than any Yankee can".

According to George A. King III of the New York Post, a friend close to Cano told him that Alex Rodriguez and LeBron James were in Cano's ear about switching to Jay-Z and that Cano wants to remain a Yankee.

"It's not a coincidence Jay Z is involved because Alex and him are friends and Alex is a guy Robbie has a lot of respect for,'' the friend said. "He didn't want the same situation as Albert Pujols. Robbie wants to be a Yankee.''

CAA baseball starts like Matt Cain, Ryan Braun, Buster Posey and Ryan Zimmerman have all signed extensions with their clubs before hitting free agency, which is more good news for the Yankees. Signing Cano would be a very good PR move for the Yankees, who at this point could really use one.  It is doubtful that Cano will take any discount to sign with the Yankees, but the fact that it appears that he wants to stay with the Yankees and that the Yankees appear to want him back is huge.

Morning Bits: C.C.'s velocity, A-Rod, & more...

Well they got the first loss out of the way quickly.   Off day today.   Let's get started with some links...

-- Andy McCullough of The Star Ledger wonders if the Yankees should worry about C.C.'s velocity.

-- Danny Knobler of CBS writes that A-Rod sees return to Yankees as "year of opportunity."

-- Wallace Matthews of ESPN NY writes that is an opener to forget.

This Day In Yankees History : 4/2/13

This Day In Yankees History... April 2nd

The Yankees for the first time since 1962 started a rookie short stop to start a season and his name was Derek Jeter. Derek responded by hitting a home run off of Dennis Martinez in a 7-1 Yankees victory over the Cleveland Indians. He wen't on to hit a few more base hits in his career if I remember correctly.

In the same game of the Derek Jeter Opening Day home run the Yankees also trotted out a new manager, Joe Torre, after the Buck Schowalter fiasco. Joe would win his first game of 1173 victories with the Yankees in his 12 seasons as a Yankees manager. That included ten American League East titles, a post season birth all twelve seasons, six American League pennants, and four World Series rings.

Roger Clemens, also on opening day but this time in 2001, passed Walter Johnson to become the American League's all time strike out king when he sat down Kansas City's Joe Randa for his 3509th K of his career. This would put him at 7th all time on the Major League strike out list.

In 2003 Todd Zeile hit a home run in his first at bat as a Yankee which is obviously not that uncommon. What was uncommon was Todd became the first player in Major League history to hit a home run for ten different teams. Those teams were obviously the Yankees, Cardinals, Cubs, Phillies, Orioles, Dodgers, Marlins, Rangers, Mets, and Colorado Rockies.

Hughes, Jeter, Granderson, & Teixeira Injury Updates

The Yankees fell flat today both in the pitching department and on the offensive side of the ball so these little bits of good news are sights for sore eyes.

Mark Teixeira met with team doctors today and was given clearance to remove the brace that is on his injured wrist. He can still wear it during work outs and such but this seems like progress, however small.

Derek Jeter played catch in the outfield today and received treatment on his surgically repaired ankle. The team wants Jeter to sit for 10 days before playing in back to back nine innings games before being activated. Better to take it slow with the captain now and have him for 140 games or so at 100% then to rush things.

Phil Hughes pitched a extended spring training game today and got seven innings of work under his belt. He will pitch for the Scranton Wilkes-Barre Railriders on Saturday and is scheduled to make his first start in the majors on April 11th.

Curtis Granderson shagged fly balls but has nothing new to report on his fractured forearm. He has not been cleared to throw and can only swing the bat with one hand. He is scheduled for X rays today so we will wait on those results.

Opening Day Does Not Go As Planned, Lose 8-2

Opening Day did not go as planned for the Yankees as CC Sabathia, a traditional slow starter, got hit around a little bit and left the game pretty early. Sabathia only managed 5 IP with 4 ER 8 H 4 BB's and 5 K's. Not exactly the start we expected or necessarily wanted out of the big man but his stuff did not look bad he just could not buy a break. I know some Yankees fans were panicking on Twitter about it, especially about his velocity, but I am not... not yet anyway.

Brett Gardner, Ichiro Suzuki, Robinson Cano, Kevin Youkilis, and Francisco Cervelli all had a hit a piece as the Boston Red Sox pitching staff kept the Yankees offense down. Francisco Cervelli had the only two Yankees RBI's on a two out hit. Travis Hafner would add a pinch hit single in the 8th inning in his first at bat as a Yankees player.

The Yankees bullpen did their job as David Phelps, Boone Logan, and Shawn Kelley all combined for three innings only allowing one run, charged to Phelps. Joba Chamberlain started to get into some trouble in the top of the 9th as he walked two batters and gave up a single to Jonny Gomes to load the bases with only one out before striking out Jose Iglesias. The Red Sox would put two more runs on the board with a lazy little ground ball that Cano bobbled with the bases loaded that put the game out of reach for the Yankees. Shane Victorino would add an 8th run with a single scoring God Jackie Bradley Jr before Joe Girardi had seen enough of the stache for one day. Cody Eppley would finish off the 9th.








The Yankees offense in the 9th inning is pictured above... no I did not forget to put a picture there the Yankees offense was just nothing.

Yankees lose 8-2

Phil Hughes Is Ready To Go

Via Howie Rumberg, Phil Hughes will start for the Scranton RailRiders this Saturday, before rejoining the Yankees next week in Cleveland. FYI, David Phelps will be starting for the Yankees this Saturday, making it pretty clear who is being removed from the rotation once Philthy returns.

Hughes has already been rehabbing, starting a game last Wednesday before going seven innings in a game today. Word going around is that Hughes is healthy enough to pitch, but has yet to be stretched out enough.

Yanks fall flat on Opening Day in 8-2 loss to Red Sox

Looking back at the game, the second inning is where the Yankees fell flat. CC Sabathia made some costly pitches which resulted in the Red Sox scoring four runs off of the Yankees ace. The three run ninth inning by Joba Chamberlain didn't make matters any easier. In the end, the Yankees looked as flat as Sabathia's fastball in the fourth inning. The offense was barely existent, minus the two run single by Francisco Cervelli in the fourth. To put it in perspective, the Yankees as a team looked sluggish. So sluggish that by the time the ninth inning rolled around, no one was in their seats.

The Yankees had one chance to score some more runs in the seventh when Cervelli and Brett Gardner got on base with back to back walks, but Eduardo Nunez, Robinson Cano and Kevin Youkilis struck out to end the inning, and any chance of the Yankees coming back in the game.

The Yankees pitching wasn't as sharp either. David Phelps was able to tightrope out of danger in the sixth inning due to a base-running blunder by Jacoby Ellsbury, but the seventh was where everything fell apart. Phelps gave up a run with the assistance of Boone Logan, Chamberlain gave up three in the ninth. Now it's back to the drawing board for the Yankees, as they prepare to take on the Red Sox again on Wednesday night.

Some Notes:

-- Mark Teixeira went to visit the doctor today and got the OK to take off the brace on his wrist--but he has to wear it when he works out.

-- Derek Jeter had some treatment done in Tampa today and played catch in the OF. Although Jeter could come off the DL on Saturday, I doubt he would since the Yanks want him to play a full nine innings before he returns.

-- Curtis Granderson had X-Rays on his forearm and told reporters in Tampa that his arm is feeling better. He's allowed to shag fly balls but he can't throw them back in the infield.

-- Phil Hughes pitched in an extended Spring Training game today, and went seven innings. Hughes will next pitch for Scranton Wilkes-Barre in five days, meaning he's on track to return on April 11. Girardi left open the option that Hughes could return by Saturday but David Phelps is still in line to make that start.