CC Sabathia Looking Slimmed Down For 2013 Season

CC Sabathia has lost 10 pounds this off season and looks slimmer than I think I have ever seen him, well as slim as you can be at 290 lbs. CC says that this is his "ideal weight" after hitting 300+ lbs last season. Gotta lay off the room service and the captain crunch CC.

Spring Training Notes 2/12/13: State Of The Yankees Address

[caption id="attachment_14794" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Photo taken by Mark Feinsand of the Daily News[/caption]

Today may be the State Of the Union Address for the United States of America, but today was the State of the Yankees Address live from the minor league complex by none other than the Yankees manager Joe Girardi (who might I add is in the final year of his contract). Girardi covered a plethora of topics but one of the biggest topics that Girardi covered was Alex Rodriguez. Here's some notes and news from today.

Girardi on Alex Rodriguez:

"There really isn't a lot to talk about. My concern is for him to get healthy. This club is used to having what people might call distractions."

Girardi hasn't spoken to Alex Rodriguez about the PED topic and has confirmed that Alex Rodriguez will not be in camp this spring. Instead, Rodriguez will rehab in New York.

Girardi on the 2013 team:

"We're going to have to find a different way to score runs. Our offense is going to be different but I believe [we're going to score runs]."

Girardi also believes that the Yankees are going to win 95 games and the World Series. "There's a lot of talent in this room. If we play up to our capabilities, I believe we're a very good team."

Girardi's biggest concern:

Girardi's biggest concern is finding a right-handed DH bat before the actual season begins.

Girardi on Brett Gardner, Curtis Granderson and Ichiro Suzuki:

As of today, Brett Gardner will be in LF, Curtis Granderson will be in CF and Ichiro Suzuki will be in RF. There's no plans on moving Gardner and Granderson as of yet, but it could change as he discusses it with his coaches.

Girardi on concerns of Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera:

He doesn't have any concerns on both Yankees who are coming off of injuries.

MORE AROUND YANKEES CAMP

-- Austin Romine came into camp thirteen pounds lighter and his back in very good shape. He believes he sees an opportunity.

-- CC Sabathia is also 100% after having elbow surgery over the winter. He says that the surgery was a relief and he now has complete mobility of his elbow. Sabathia also lost a lot of weight, now weighing in at 290. His first bullpen session will be on Thursday.

-- We also have new locker arraignments and numbers in Yankees camp. Here they are:

-Travis Hafner takes Nick Swisher's old number and will now wear #33. Hafner's locker is now next to Youkilis, formerly vacated by Eric Chavez.
-Francisco Cervelli will now wear #29, formerly worn by Rafael Soriano.
-David Phelps changed his number to #35. Mike Mussina used to wear #35 back in the day as did Michael Pineda last season (who we never saw during the season).
-Michael Pineda will now wear #43. His previous number was #35.
-Kevin Youkilis wears #36 and now has Nick Swisher's old locker.
- David Aardsma will now wear #34.
- Matt Diaz will now wear #22.
- Dan Johnson will now wear #27.
- Juan Rivera will now wear #54.

Yankees Run Out Of Uniform Numbers For Spring

The Yankees have run into a quite unusual problem as they have too many players invited to Spring Training this year and not enough numbers for players. 83 players have been invited to the big league camp along with the coaches and the retired numbers the Yankees have run out of double digit numbers. The Yankees solution is to let some pitchers and positional players split a number this spring. Should get pretty confusing seeing a guy pitch with the #99 on and then play the outfield the next inning so here is the list of guys sharing numbers for your information.

#87 — C Francisco Arcia and RHP Corey Black
#88 — OF Tyler Austin and LHP Juan Cedeno
#89 — 1B Greg Bird and RHP Preston Claiborne
#90 — SS Cito Culver and RHP Nick Goody
#91 — OF Adonis Garcia and RHP Shane Greene
#92 — OF Slade Heathcott and RHP Tom Kahnle
#93 — SS Walter Ibarra and RHP Bryan Mitchell
#94 — 1B Luke Murton and RHP Mark Montgomery
#95 — OF Ronnier Mustelier and RHP Zach Nuding
#96 — SS Addison Maruszak and LHP Vidal Nuno
#97 — 2B Jose Pirela and RHP Mike O’Brien
#98 — 1B Kyle Roller and RHP Kelvin Perez
#99 — OF Rob Segedin and RHP Branden Pinder

Yankees Pitchers & Catchers Report Today

Thank God baseball is finally back with Spring Training officially starting today. The Yankees pitchers and catchers will report to George Steinbrenner Field in Tampa Florida sometime around noon. We will have Joe Girardi's annual State of the Yankees address as well today so keep your eyes out for that. Welcome back to baseball Yankees fans! It's been too long.

Meet A Prospect : Michael Pineda

Michael Francisco Paulino Pineda was born on January 18th, 1989 in Yaguate, San Cristobal in the Dominican Republic. Pineda has a big and intimidating frame standing at 6'7" and weighing in at 265 lbs and used every bit of that frame to blow Major Leaguers away since the 2011 season with a fastball that averages 94.7 mph. He has yet to appear in a game for the Yankees so it seems almost fitting to re-introduce everybody to the guy that cost us Jesus Montero, Mr. Michael Pineda.

Michael Pineda signed as a International Free Agent with the Seattle Mariners at age 16 in December of 2005 out of the Dominican Republic. Michael would spend the next five seasons in the Mariners system with mixed results. In 2006 and 2007 Michael Pineda dominated the Dominican Summer League with a combined 8-2 record with a sub two point ERA as a starter. In 2008 Pineda made the jump to A Ball and was named the Mariners Minor League Pitcher of the Year while leading the organizations farm system in ERA strike outs, and opposing batting average. Pineda was slowed down in 2009 because of an elbow strain that kept him out a big chunk of that season only allowing him to pitch 47.1 innings that season. Back healthy for the 2012 season Pineda split time between the Mariners AA and AAA affiliates and once again won the organizations Pitcher of the Year award while being a finalist for  the USA Today Minor League Player of the Year award before being shut down after 140 IP as a precaution.

The 2011 season would see Michael Pineda make his debut for the big league club Seattle Mariners after five seasons in their minor league system. Pineda would make the All Star Game as a replacement for Justin Verlander in his rookie season and pitched a perfect inning including striking out the National League's Scott Rolen and Rickie Weeks in his frame. Pineda would finish the 2011 season with an unimpressive 9-10 record but with a very impressive 3.74 ERA for a rookie even though he did not record a win in any of his final seven starts of the final two months of the season. Pineda would finish fifth in the Rookie of the Year voting after striking out 173 batters in 171 innings pitched. In January of 2012 the Mariners traded Michael to the New York Yankees along with Jose Campos for catcher and uber-prospect Jesus Montero and Hector Noesi.

Pineda's tenure as a Yankee would not start out on the foot that he probably expected after a less then stellar Spring Training and an extreme loss of velocity and control. The Yankees would eventually put him on the 15 day disabled list with a tendinitis in his right throwing shoulder. This would eventually cost Michael the entire 2012 season after a anterior labral tear caused him to require surgery while he hurt himself in a rehab assignment. Add a DUI arrest for Pineda in August of 2012 and the Yankees not expecting to see him back on a Major League mound before June or July of 2013 and you can understand why some Yankees fans are upset with Michael Pineda. The best thing though is Pineda is still young and will still be under team control for three more seasons after 2013 and has plenty of time to make all the haters forget the beginning of his career and see what he has done lately.

Derek Jeter Begins Running & Will Amp Up Rehab

Derek Jeter has begun running for the first time since fracturing his left ankle and subsequently having surgery back in October. While it was only for five minutes and it was on a treadmill any progress for the Captain is good news. Jeter still looks to be on schedule for Opening Day and a somewhat normal Spring Training this season. Jeter has also been given every green light in his rehab and has no restrictions so the ankle must be healing/healed well. Great news all around!

Yankees& Ticketmaster For Yankees Ticket Exchange

The Yankees and Ticketmaster have joined forces against Stubhub after opting out of the MLB Stubhub deal and formed the Yankees Ticket exchange program. This exchange, much like Stubhub, will allow fans to buy and sell their unused tickets to every Yankees game safely and securely. The tickets will be available for immediate download, which is convenient, and will have no price floor which is great for fans. You will still be able to buy tickets on Stubhub but they will not be available for immediate download so they get you either way.

Looking Back At The Free Agency Predictions

A few months back I took a stab at predicting the rest of the free agency class, seen here, and here are the results. Spoiler alert, I am terrible at this game. The BOLDED are correct predictions and the incorrect predictions are crossed out like THIS with the correct team out to the side. Some guys have not signed yet but with pitchers and catchers reporting tomorrow I figured we would go ahead and look at the results anyway. 

Catchers
Rod Barajas (37) - New York Yankees Arizona Diamondbacks
Henry Blanco (41) - Retirement  Toronto Blue Jays
Jesus Flores (28) - Pittsburgh Pirates Los Angeles Dodgers
Miguel Olivo (34) - Detroit Tigers Cincinatti Reds
Ronny Paulino (32) - Miami Marlins Seattle Mariners
A.J. Pierzynski (36) - Chicago White Sox Texas Rangers
 

First basemen
Lance Berkman (36) - Houston Astros Texas Rangers
Miguel Cairo (39) - Retirement
Jason Giambi (42) - Retirement Cleveland Indians
Aubrey Huff (36) - Tampa Bay Rays
Dan Johnson (33) - Houston Astros New York Yankees
Casey Kotchman (30) - Pittsburgh Pirates
Adam LaRoche (33) - Washington Nationals
Carlos Lee (37) - New York Yankees
Carlos Pena (35) - Cleveland Indians Houston Astros
Nick Swisher (32) - Cleveland Indians
Ty Wigginton (35) - Baltimore Orioles  St. Louis Cardinals

Second basemen
Yuniesky Betancourt (31) - Los Angeles Dodgers Philadelphia Phillies
Kelly Johnson (31) - Arizona Diamonbacks Tampa Bay Rays
Ryan Raburn (32) - Detroit Tigers Cleveland Indians
Ryan Theriot (33) - San Francisco Giants

Shortstops
Jason Bartlett (33) - San Diego Padres
Stephen Drew (30) - Oakland Athletics Boston Red Sox

Third basemen
Miguel Cairo (39) - Retirement
Mark DeRosa (38) - Retirement Toronto Blue Jays
Chone Figgins (35) - New York Yankees Miami Marlins
Placido Polanco (37) - Chicago White Sox Miami Marlins
Scott Rolen (38) - Cincinnati Reds 
Ian Stewart (27) - Colorado Rockies Chicago Cubs
Ty Wigginton (35) - Baltimore Orioles St. Louis Cardinals 

Left fielders
Bobby Abreu (39) - Retirement
Endy Chavez (35) - Baltimore Orioles
Johnny Damon (39) - Kansas City Royals
Mark DeRosa (38) - Retirement Toronto Blue Jays
Matt Diaz (35) - Atlanta Braves New York Yankees
Kosuke Fukudome (36) - Miami Marlins
Scott Hairston (33) - New York Mets Chicago Cubs
Bill Hall (33) - Philadelphia Phillies
Josh Hamilton (32) -Texas Rangers Los Angeles Angels
Raul Ibanez (41) - Seattle Mariners
Ryan Raburn (32) - Detroit Tigers Cleveland Indians
Cody Ross (32) - Seattle Mariners Arizona Diamondbacks
Delmon Young (27) - Tampa Bay Rays Philadelphia Phillies

Center fielders
Rick Ankiel (33) - St. Louis Cardinals Houston Astros
Michael Bourn (30) - Seattle Mariners
Josh Hamilton (32) - Texas Rangers  Los Angeles Angels
Nyjer Morgan (32) - New York Mets
Grady Sizemore (30) - New York Yankees Will Sign Mid-Season

Right fielders
Endy Chavez (35) - Baltimore Orioles
Mark DeRosa (38) - Retirement Toronto Blue Jays
Kosuke Fukudome (36) - Miami Marlins
Scott Hairston (33) - New York Mets Chicago Cubs
Nyjer Morgan (32) - New York Mets  Japanese Baseball League
Ryan Raburn (32) -Detroit Tigers Cleveland Indians
Cody Ross (32) - Seattle Mariners Arizona Diamondbacks
Ryan Sweeney (28) - Kansas City Royals Boston Red Sox
Nick Swisher (32) - Cleveland Indians

Designated hitters
Bobby Abreu (39) - Retirement
Johnny Damon (39) - Kansas City Royals
Travis Hafner (36) - Cleveland Indians New York Yankees
Raul Ibanez (41) - Seattle Mariners
Hideki Matsui (39) - Retirement
Jim Thome (42) - Tampa Bay Rays
Delmon Young (27) - Tampa Bay Rays Philadelphia Phillies

Starting pitchers
Erik Bedard (34) - Baltimore Orioles Houston Astros
Dallas Braden (29) - Chicago Cubs
Ryan Dempster (36) - Boston Red Sox
Freddy Garcia (37) - Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim San Diego Padres
Rich Harden (31) - Chicago Cubs Minnesota Twins
Roberto Hernandez (32) - Miami Marlins Tampa Bay Rays
Edwin Jackson (29) - Baltimore Orioles Chicago Cubs
John Lannan (28) - Colorado Rockies Philadelphia Phillies
Francisco Liriano (29) - Cleveland Indians Pittsburgh Pirates
Kyle Lohse (34) - St. Louis Cardinals
Derek Lowe (40) - Cleveland Indians
Shaun Marcum (31) - Kansas City Royals New York Mets
Daisuke Matsuzaka (32) - Seattle Mariners Cleveland Indians
Jamie Moyer (50) - Retirement
Brett Myers (32) - San Diego Padres Cleveland Indians
Roy Oswalt (35) - Retirement
Carl Pavano (37) - Kansas City Royals
Mike Pelfrey (29) - New York Mets  Minnesota Twins
Anibal Sanchez (29) - Detroit Tigers
Jonathan Sanchez (30) - Colorado Rockies Pittsburgh Pirates
Joe Saunders (32) - Baltmiore Orioles Seattle Mariners
Chien-Ming Wang (33) - Washington Nationals
Carlos Zambrano (32) - Arizona Diamondbacks

Closers
Matt Capps (29) - Toronto Blue Jays Cleveland Indians
Brett Myers (32) - San Diego Padres Cleveland Indians
Rafael Soriano (33) - Detroit Tigers Washington Nationals
Jose Valverde (35) - Milwaukee Brewers
Brian Wilson (31) - Los Angeles Dodgers

Right-handed relievers
Mike Adams (34) - Milwaukee Brewers Philadelphia Phillies
Jose Contreras (41) - Retirement
Kyle Farnsworth (37) - Kansas City Royals Tampa Bay Rays
Francisco Rodriguez (31) - Texas Rangers
Takashi Saito (43) - Retirement Japanese League Baseball
Jose Veras (32) - Milwaukee Brewers Houston Astros
Cory Wade (30) - New York Yankees Chicago Cubs

Left-handed relievers
Pedro Feliciano (35) - Washington Nationals New York Mets
Mike Gonzalez (35) - New York Yankees Milwaukee Brewers

Yankees Announce 2013 Scranton Rail Riders Roster

The Yankees have announced their 2013 Scranton Wilkes-Barre Rail Riders roster and in honor of "Prospects Month" here on The Greedy Pinstripes we wanted to bring it to you first. For the official Scranton Wilkes-Barre Rail Riders website and news please go HERE. Here is the Scranton Wilkes-Barre Rail Riders roster:

Pitchers:

Juan Cedeno
Chase Whitley
Preston Claiborne
Kelvin Perez
Josh Spence
Matt Tracy
Ryan Baker
Matt Daley
Pat Venditte
Vidal Nuno
Jim Miller

Catchers:

Austin Romine

Infielders:

Luke Morton
Reggie Corona
Dan Johnson
Jayson Nix

Outfielders:

Ronnier Mustelier

Meet A Prospect : David Aardsma

David Allan Aardsma was born on December 27th, 1981 in Denver, CO where he went to high school at Cherry Creek High School in Englewood, Colorado. Coming in at 6'3" and 205 lbs he has a great frame for a pitcher, although struggling with control sometimes, he spent his college years splitting time for Pennsylvania State University in Pennslyvania and Rice University in Houston Texas. The San Francisco Giants made him their first round pick, 22nd overall, in the 2003 MLB First Year Players draft. Just as an FYI when you list all the Major League Baseball players of all time David Aardsma is listed first right ahead of Hank Aaron, and being ahead of Hank Aaron on ANY list is quite an accomplishment. Let's take a look back at the Yankees new middle reliever.

After spending a year at Pennsylvania State University David Aardsma transferred to Rice University in Houston where he led the Rice Owls team to a National Championship in 2003 after winning the College World Series. David had two wins and a save in the College World Series that year and set both the single season and career saves record for the Owls in that 2002-2003 season. David was named to the Summer League All American First Team in 2002 as well.

David started his career with the San Francisco Giants in their minor league system where he spent parts of three seasons in the Giants minor league system. Aardsma was sent to A Ball straight out of the draft where he finished the 2003 season and amazingly started the 2004 season with the big league club totally skipping over the AA and AAA affiliates. He lasted until April of that season before being sent down to AAA Fresno where he was sent down and called up from six different times during that season. David would start the 2005 season with the AA affiliate Norwich Navigators before being traded along with Jerome Williams in 2006 to the Chicago Cubs for Latroy Hawkins. Aardsma was traded again during the 2007 season this time to the Chicago White Sox in a deal that brought the Cubs Neal Cotts. Aardsma was traded once again in 2008 this time to the Boston Red Sox. In early 2009 the Boston Red Sox traded David to the Seattle Mariners and stayed there until he required Tommy John surgery in mid 2011.

The Yankees swept up David as a free agent in February of 2012 signing him to a one year deal worth $500K with a club option for the 2013 that we obviously picked up. Coming back fully and healthy from Tommy John surgery was the one goal for David and the Yankees in 2012 and he did more than we could have asked for making it all the way back to the majors as a September call up in 2012. David is married to Andrea Aardsma and are listed in the Yankees Wives and Girlfriends section so check that out and look out for David in the 2013 season for the Yankees!