Wouldn’t you rather have A.J. throw another scoreless three innings, no matter when it is? He pitched well against the Phillies today and I’m a lot happier about it than if he hadn’t. The same goes for Meat Tray.
He didn’t give up a run in his three innings against the O’s in the second game tonight. Is he going to insert himself in the conversation for the #4 or #5 starter? No. Not in my humble opinion. He can put up goose eggs from now until the last day of camp, and he’s still not getting the job unless Nova/Garcia/Colon either get injured or have complete and utter meltdowns. But we do need a long man and we really haven’t had a good one since…Ramiro Mendoza. Well, hang on. Aceves was good until he got hurt. But Mendoza was one of the reasons the Yankees won those championships.
I’m sorry that Colin Curtis will be out a while. I haven’t heard the diagnosis of his injury – anybody know? – but I did read that he won’t be back any time soon. Bad luck. Whoever said the trick to spring training is staying healthy had the right idea.
Update: So Greg Golson is hurt too now? Sheesh.
as I sit here chortling and wondering how far behind his new nickname is…Deli? The Deli Man? Cold Cuts? Pickle Loaf? I’m out of control here, it’s late.
the fact that I sat and watched all nine scoreless innings of the Orioles game is a clear indication of how ready I am for the season to commence. The Baltimore commentators were scrambling to identify many of the youngsters the Yankees trotted out, but, in many cases, I was more in the dark than they were.
Meat Tray, Meat Tray, Meat Tray..now I simply cannot wait for him to become a hero, and have all of Yankee Stadium chanting his name
Girardi loves his Meat-tray.
http://paullebowitz.com.previewyoursite.com/blog/?p=512
I meant to watch the Orioles game, Michael, but time got away from me. Just had too much to do last night. I would have been with you though on the kids’ names. I think they rounded everybody up for that game, given that they’d already used the regulars and semi-regulars in the first one. I don’t know that Yankee Stadium will be ringing out with the name “Meat Tray” but it would be nice if he continued to pitch well.
Girardi does seem to like “Serge,” Paul. He puts him on the roster and then doesn’t use him though. Can’t figure that out.
“Law of averages plainly state
That chances go around…
But if you wanna know the truth about it,
Tell you what’s puttin’ you down…
Bad Luck! That’s what you got, that’s what you got…”
— Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, 1974
Poor Colin. No good deed goes unpunished…that’s The Rule in guv’mint land (but you knew that)!
Do hope that he’s healthy sooner rather than not.
As for Our Meat Tray (you know, I do believe that WE gave him that name!!) — good to learn that he’s mixing eggs with his meat…let’s hope that he’s part of our Party Platter for 2011…and becomes part of our Magnificent 7 (or 17) pitchers, however many it takes…!
I don’t think we gave him that name, Dave. They were calling him that on Twitter and I probably just carried it over. But if you think you’re its creator then I bow down to you because it’s a great name! And yes, right now he seems to be mixing meat with eggs. Will he become a party platter? Time will tell. (This is all making me hungry.)
It is _only_ spring training but I think we all prefer to be reminding ourselves it’s meaningless in order to help contain the glee over good performances than to console ourselves over bad ones. :)
They showed an interview on MLBN about AJ’s new delivery, explaining what’s changed. I thought it was very interesting.
Sorry I missed that interview, Kristen. Yes, A.J. and Larry Rothschild have worked out a new delivery and I wrote about it the other day – something about the gate opening and closing. If the mechanics change and the change works, great. But I also think it’s about confidence for A.J.
It’s only spring training. It’s only spring training. It’s only spring training. Darn it, I’m tired of spring training. How tired? So tired, I wrote this:
Waste one precious second? No — I treasure them all.
Life flies far too quickly — too short and too small.
But now comes March, when time slows to an ooze,
And I get the Cactus and Grapefruit Blues.
I long for the real thing, Bleacher Creatures and all.
Get back to the Bronx, boys — and dammit — Play Ball!
Okay — thanks for letting me vent!
Wow! What a great poem, Rob! We should all print it out and frame it! Bravo.
Sad fact: It took me a minute to get who “Meat Tray” was. I’m all good now :) And hey, any game, exhibition or real, where AJ doesn’t have a meltdown is an accomplishment.
Well, Mitre isn’t exactly a household name so you’re forgiven, Catherine. Very happy about A.J.’s performances so far.
So glad you liked the verse, Jane. I don’t really want time to speed up, but sometimes I can’t keep myself from chomping (champing?) on the bit.
Chomp/champ away, Rob. We’re all feeling the same way.
Jane,
It sometimes seems like these guys either wait too late or start too early in the off season with their conditioning, and they have a rough spot aboutr the third week of Spring Training. But the Yankees are not the only one showing some weakness right now. Seems the dreaded ” groin” and “hammy” region is getting a bit of extra play this Spring.
I can tell you as a former player who had to run for his supper, that region of the leg can be as flexible as “Stretch Armstrong”, and one little stone, clay clump or even hitting the base wrong can ruin 4 weeks of ball. Hopefully the injury bug can be exterminated soon before we lose some high price guys even before Opening Day.
The good news, Renegade, is that we’re not facing a Greinke situation. Do you believe he fractured ribs playing pickup basketball? Brewers fans must be apoplectic.
i’m embarrassed to admit i didn’t know why you had all the meat there. maybe it’s because i’m a vegetarian. i couldn’t look at it so i couldn’t get the pun. now mitre, who shouldn’t be in the starting rotation, will forever be meat tray to me with the image in my mind.
i am not sick of spring training yet. i am still happy to have stress free baseball. i like anticipation. i like counting the days. i like planning to take the day off on the 31st. likely the last week i’ll be itching for baseball but right now i am still happy that the snow is melting and there is baseball to read about and follow.
HAHA, Barbara. You must have missed the original post last year when we called Mitre by that nickname. So your snow is finally melting? Spring must be here then! I understand your feeling about stress free baseball, but I’m ready to be a glutton for punishment, I guess. March 31st can’t come soon enough for me.