By “it” I mean CC’s lousy outing today against the Nationals. According to LoHud, he couldn’t wait to share the news with the missus.
“I just called my wife and she started laughing,” Sabathia said.
I guess if I were the Sabathias, I’d laugh too. Today wasn’t the first time he’s gotten knocked around in spring training and it won’t be the last. What’s more, the significant point is that his knee feels good.
I listened to the last four innings of the game – my first of the season with John and Suzyn, who were cracking jokes about the mistakes John kept making with his calls. (He’d say somebody was safe and the ump would say otherwise.) The pitching wasn’t exactly stellar for either side, and aside from Gardner’s heroics it was pretty dull.
Which brings me to spring training games in general. While I enjoy seeing the young guys who are actually battling to make the club, I honestly have little-to-no interest in the kids that are just there to… to what? Everybody knows they’ll be cut any second, so is it a perk to be out there for a few innings with the big boys? Is it sort of a rehearsal so they’ll know what it’s like if they ever get to the majors? Is it to showcase them for scouts because they’re trade bait? Or is it just an opportunity for them to play, period? Somebody help me here.
Don’t forget that all these minor leaguers are getting ready for their season too. Just cause they aren’t playing in the big leagues doesn’t mean they don’t need to get their at-bats and innings in during Spring as well. It’s really not some complicated process.
Then the answer, Matt, is that they’re getting their playing time because the minor leagues haven’t started yet. Fine. But I’d like to see less of them and more of the guys who are closer to being ready for prime time.
Given CC’s history with ST, I’m hardly surprised his wife laughed.
I usually turn off after the regs are taken out of the game, mentally anyway. I appreciate that those guys have to get ready for their season at whatever level they end up at, but most of them won’t break camp with the big league club. And even fewer will remain in the Yankees system for long. At the end of the day, there is minors camp for minor league players. I would like to see more of the guys who genuinely have a chance at breaking camp and coming to New York – Montero, Romine, etc. – and less of guys who’ll end up tagged to some trade in June.
I agree completely, Anji. I can’t keep track of all the kids we’ll never see again and, while I wish them well, I don’t care about watching them. Give us more of the guys we’re likely to see now and in the future.
i am so happy that baseball is here. i love spring training. i saw the first game of spring training and i was over the moon just to see that the yankees are back. i saw friday night’s game against the sox. those are the only two (the only two broadcasted nationally so i could see them) i’ve seen so i think i might not be interested in the who are these kids and why are they playing if i saw more than a couple of games. i just needed a dose of yankee baseball so it made me happy. i love spring training because i love the anticipation and very little angst. i don’t get upset if they lose–ok just a tiny touch–so there is joy and no pain which i must say is not what i experience in the regular season. which brings me to my new experiment.
for three weeks now i have been saying i like the red sox. i am trying this because after 23 years of fighting with my husband about the red sox i am sick of it. he offered long ago that we would both we fans of each others teams and he knew it would be harder than me so he gave me four years and he would do it in three years and i couldn’t do it. i could stop hating the sox. the other things is i don’t like hating anything. i think love who you love and let me love who i love. i can’t stand yankees sucks shirts. i think if you like the red sox wear something that says red sox, not yankees with hate. and finally the red sox are going to be good this year and i am going to feel tortured in boston so i thought i’d try not hating them and maybe even liking them. so i go around telling people i like the sox and i have been told i sound unconvincing, i have been told i say it with distain and have been told more than once that i sound like i am possessed. all i am can say is i’m trying.
now don’t get me wrong, i love the yankees and that is never going to change. the yankees fill me with joy. i have been told i am crazy for watching spring training games and i love this blog because no matter what i know i am not alone. every now and then when i have to talk about the yankees and my husband is not interested in listening to me he says why don’t you go talk to your blog friends.
i am taking the day off from work for opening day. it’s being televised on espn so i can watch it. i asked my father to stay home and watch with me on the phone but no luck, so i’ll have to write here when i need someone to talk to. happily counting the days until then, barbara
Speaking of Suzyn, it is really about time she fades into the sunset. She was a George’s favorite and it’s time for Hal and Hank to send her packing. Would you miss her Jane? Let me guess, probably not.
Barbara, where do I begin to comment on your experiment? First of all, I admire your effort. If it means that much to your husband, it’s sweet that you’re trying to like (notice I didn’t say “love”) the Red Sox. Secondly, you might as well try to like them since they’re on TV all the time there and you’ll be embraced by people instead of scorned. Thirdly, they’ll be a very good team this year and who doesn’t like winning? All of that said, HOW ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO LOVE THE RED SOX WHEN YOU’RE A YANKEE FAN? (I used caps because I was raising my voice. LOL.) There are many married couples with divided loyalties. I have friends where one is a Democrat and one is a Republican. Quite a few friends, in fact. I have friends where one is a Yankee fan and one is a Mets fan. I have friends where one loves skiing and the other can’t stand it. You get the picture. I’m not a marriage counselor (you’re the therapist), but I think it’s perfectly fine to love what you love, as you point out. But if you need to keep up your experiment, you have our full support. You can always come here and get your fill of Yankeeness.
I would miss Suzyn, John. She may not be my best friend socially and she certainly has her detractors from a broadcasting standpoint, but she and John are the voices of the Yankees for better or worse in my opinion. Life wouldn’t be the same without them. And I admire how much she’s accomplished as a woman in sports. All those cute little sideline reporters wouldn’t be there if Suzyn hadn’t paved the way.
So Bartolo Colon looks like an ace and CC Sabathia looks like Javy Vazquez with the chips on the line! I’m so glad that spring training is not about what have you done for me lately but rather time to prepare for the rigors of a long summer. I always like to see CC get his one big clunker out of the way so that we can get down to serious business when CC is shutting down the Red Sox and Bartolo is basking in the sun in the Dominican Republic reflecting upon the end of his professional career. The sad part about the minor leaguers is that it is an audition for the guys who will be heading the other way when the Yanks make the big trade for a frontline starter at the trading deadline. I really hope that any trade does not involve Manny Banuelos. He is the future…
Wow!
Agreed, Scott. Let CC get his mediocrity out of the way now, although he’s bound to have a few of those outings in the regular season too. He’s our ace but he’s human. As for the kids, I just want to see the killer B’s and a few others and to the rest I say “Best of luck!”
Why are you surprised, John? I do think Suzyn was a pioneer for women in sports broadcasting. Don’t you?
Pioneers all fade into the sunset sometime! She spoke of her spot in the Hall of Fame reciently on a broadcast. Its time for her to make live appearences there–often.
P.S. Listeneing to this Astro broadcaster on MLB radio today is like listening to grass grow.
I’m just not in the camp that thinks the Yankees need new, young blood in the booth, John. I’m listening to the Houston broadcasters too. Yawn. It was hilarious how excited they got that Cameron Diaz was there.
I’m with ya on the spring training games. I like it for about three innings and then I get totally lost as to who’s who. Still, beats the NBA, NHL and everything else.
ok i am not attempting to love the red sox. i will always LOVE the yankees. the question is if i can learn to like the red sox. so far, i find myself rooting against them and have to tell myself i’m not supposed to do that. i find myself thinking i don’t like that guy and think i’m not supposed to feel that. it may work, it may not. it may bring peace to my house. however i will always reserve love for pinstripes. i think what will happen is that like may never come but maybe i’ll turn down my hatred. time will tell.
so colon, garcia and nova look the best so far. too early to think it means anything. the snow piles are really melting so baseball is just around the corner!
Isn’t that the truth, Jeff. I’d rather listen to/watch guys I don’t know than do the same for any other sport!
I hope you’ll be able to succeed at your experiment, Barbara. I bet you can do it since you seem so motivated! Bringing peace to your house is no small thing.
John and Suzyn … they make me laugh. John was getting things all mixed up … and Suzyn said it was because they didn’t have a monitor. Oh well. I love listening to them. I love Suzyn’s Boston accent … and I love hearing John say “The Yankees win …. Theeeeeee Yankees win!”
I get a kick out of them too, Roberta, even when they sound like a bad vaudeville act!
I find it even more absurd that people are providing online play-by-play in spring training as if it means anything.
http://paullebowitz.com.previewyoursite.com/blog/?p=498
It does mean something, Paul. Some of us enjoy knowing how our team is doing.
Jane
I’m bored of ST. After the second inning, I can’t tell which team is up and which is in the field if I’m listening in the car. I have to say, I do like John and Suzyn. They may not be perfect, but they have a good rhythm / commeroderie together. It’s summer (in my head anyway) when I hear them.
Love your new site.
Tell your webmaster job well done.
Wendy
I’m pretty ready for the real thing, Wendy, so I know what you mean. But I also understand that the players need to get in shape and work on things and, especially for the new guys, learn to work with each other. John and Suzyn aren’t everybody’s cup of tea, but when you listen to as many out-of-market games as I do you realize that, short of Vin Scully, nobody’s perfect. Thanks for the compliment about the site. I’ll be sure to tell Kristen, who designed it.