Archive for March, 2007
New York. March 25, 2007. With injuries to Chien-Ming Wang (RHP), who is now on te 15-day disabled list (DL), and Jeff Karstens (RHP), with a still unknown elbow problem, the pitchers on the Yankees’ 25-man roster for their home opener is in doubt. Clearly, Wang will be on the DL on April 2nd, and Pavano and Igawa will take over as the number three and four starter (with Pavano possibly getting the ball for the first game).
So, how will this all play out? (See below.) It looks to me that Darrell Rasner (RHP), who has been very good this spring, will step into the fifth starter role. The Yankees will probably still take 12 pitchers up north with them. Henn and Villone will still probably vie for that second lefthanded role and, pending Karsten’s injury, Bruney could find himself in a significant bullpen role to start this year.
(as of March 25, 2007)
Hitters
Going North: Jorge Posada (C); Robinson Cano (2B); Derek Jeter (SS); Doug Mientkiewicz (1B); Alex Rodriguez (3B); Jason Giambi (DH/1B); Bobby Abreu (RF); Johnny Damon (CF); Hideki Matsui (LF); Melky Cabrera (OF); Miguel Cairo (U).
Likely: Josh Phelps (1B); Wil Nieves (C).
On the Bubble: Andy Phillips (1B); Kevin Reese (OF); Kevin Thompson (OF); Ben Davis (C); Todd Pratt (C); Chris Basak (SS).
Cut: Ramiro Pena (SS); Marcos Vechionacci (3B); Francisco Cervelli (C); P.J. Pilittere (C); Omir Santos (C); Juan Miranda (1B); Alberto Gonzalez (SS); Brett Gardner (OF); Jose Tabata (OF); Eric Duncan (1B); Raul Chavez (C); Angel Chavez (SS); Andy Cannizaro (SS); Bronson Sardinha (OF).
Pitchers
Starting: Carl Pavano (RHP); Andy Pettitte (LHP); Kei Igawa (LHP); Mike Mussina (RHP).
Relievers: Mariano Rivera (RHP); Scott Proctor (RHP); Kyle Farnsworth (RHP); Mike Myers (LHP); Luis Vizcaino (RHP); Brian Bruney (RHP);.
On the Bubble: Jeff Karstens (RHP); Ron Villone (LHP); T.J. Beam (RHP); Chris Britton (RHP); Sean Henn (LHP); Darrell Rasner (RHP); Colter Bean (RHP); Humberto Sanchez (RHP).
Disabled List: Chien-Ming Wang (RHP); Jose Veras (RHP).
Cut: Steven Jackson (RHP); Steven White (RHP); Kevin Whelan (RHP); Jeff Kennard (RHP); Philip Hughes (RHP) Ross Ohlendorf (RHP); Matt DeSalvo (RHP); Chase Wright (LHP); Tyler Clippard (RHP); Ben Kozlowski (LHP).
March 25th, 2007
New York. March 18, 2007. Getting ready for Yankees’ baseball? I sure am. In fact, I’ve even disected the Yankees spring training roster to give you all an update. The names below include the obvious, the minor-league bound and basically everyone else that played this pre-season in pinstripes.
Based on my analysis, there are four roster spots open and the following players are vying for the same – (i) Phillips and Phelps for the platoon first base job, (ii) Chavez, Pratt and Nieves to back up Jorge Posada, (iii) Bruney, Karstens (who has been very impressive this spring) and Rasner as the “extra” (or long) reliever and (iv) Villone and Henn for the second lefty reliever spot. Obviously, Mr. Torre could opt to start the season with only one left-handed reliever (I doubt this) or no long reliever (since there are three days off early in the season). Other than that, it looks like the Yankees will settle with 12 pitchers (the current five starters, Mariano and six other relievers) and 13 hitters (two catchers, three at first, four other infielders and four in the outfield). See you on April 2nd — or earlier…
(as of March 18, 2007)
Hitters
Going North: Jorge Posada (C); Robinson Cano (2B); Derek Jeter (SS); Doug Mientkiewicz (1B); Alex Rodriguez (3B); Jason Giambi (DH/1B); Bobby Abreu (RF); Johnny Damon (CF); Hideki Matsui (LF); Melky Cabrera (OF); Miguel Cairo (U).
Likely: Josh Phelps (1B); Wil Nieves (C).
On the Bubble: Raul Chavez (C); Andy Phillips (1B); Kevin Reese (OF); Bronson Sardinha (OF); Kevin Thompson (OF); Ben Davis (C); Todd Pratt (C); Angel Chavez (SS); Chris Basak (SS); Andy Cannizaro (SS).
Cut: Ramiro Pena (SS); Marcos Vechionacci (3B); Francisco Cervelli (C); P.J. Pilittere (C); Omir Santos (C); Juan Miranda (1B); Alberto Gonzalez (SS); Brett Gardner (OF); Jose Tabata (OF); Eric Duncan (1B).
Pitchers
Starting: Chien-Ming Wang (RHP); Carl Pavano (RHP); Andy Pettitte (LHP); Kei Igawa (LHP); Mike Mussina (RHP).
Relievers: Mariano Rivera (RHP); Scott Proctor (RHP); Kyle Farnsworth (RHP); Mike Myers (LHP); Luis Vizcaino (RHP); Brian Bruney (RHP); Jeff Karstens (RHP).
On the Bubble: Ron Villone (LHP); T.J. Beam (RHP); Chris Britton (RHP); Sean Henn (LHP); Darrell Rasner (RHP); Colter Bean (RHP); Humberto Sanchez (RHP); Jose Veras (RHP); Ben Kozlowski (LHP).
Cut: Steven Jackson (RHP); Steven White (RHP); Kevin Whelan (RHP); Jeff Kennard (RHP); Philip Hughes (RHP) Ross Ohlendorf (RHP); Matt DeSalvo (RHP); Chase Wright (LHP); Tyler Clippard (RHP).
March 18th, 2007
As follow-up to my article “Western Conference: Restrict the NBA” — three months later — I have updated the non-conference standings for all NBA teams below. I added the current record (as of March 7, 2007) and the current non-conference record to the numbers tabulated on December 10, 2006. (The current records are in bold.)
Eastern Conference
Cavaliers 35-25 (15-9) / 12-7 (4-1)
Magic 29-33 (12-13) / 15-7 (7-2)
Bucs 22-39 (11-13) / 8-12 (5-4)
Pistons 37-21 (11-10) / 13-7 (4-5)
Pacers 29-30 (9-16) / 11-11 (3-4)
Hawks 22-39 (10-15) / 8-11 (2-4)
Knicks 28-34 (11-13) / 8-14 (3-5)
Heat 30-29 (13-13) / 8-11 (3-6)
Celtics 17-42 (6-18) / 6-13 (1-4)
76ers 22-38 (8-18) / 5-14 (1-4)
Wizards 34-25 (12-12) / 9-11 (1-4)
Bulls 35-27 (11-15) / 10-10 (1-7)
Bobcats 22-39 (8-18) / 5-15 (1-8)
Nets 28-33 (7-17) / 7-12 (1-8)
Raptors 32-29 (10-15) / 7-13 (1-8)
Western Conference
Suns 46-14 (24-4) / 13-6 (6-0)
Clippers 29-31 (13-11) / 10-9 (3-0)
Rockets 36-24 (16-6) / 14-6 (9-1)
Spurs 43-18 (17-7) / 15-6 (6-2)
Jazz 41-19 (17-7) / 15-5 (5-2)
Mavericks 51-9 (19-3) / 14-6 (5-2)
Lakers 33-28 (14-14) / 17-6 (5-2)
Hornets 28-33 (12-12) / 9-10 (5-2)
Nuggets 29-29 (16-8) / 11-7 (7-3)
SuperSonics 25-35 (13-12) / 10-11 (6-4)
Timberwolves 27-33 (11-11) / 10-9 (3-2)
Kings 28-32 (14-11) / 9-10 (4-3)
Warriors 27-35 (13-16) / 10-11 (2-2)
Grizzlies 15-46 (6-17) / 5-15 (4-6)
Trail Blazers 25-36 (10-15) / 8-14 (4-7)
As of today, March 7, 2007, the Eastern Conference teams are 154-215 (.417), which is a little better than their 38-74 (.339) record almost three months ago. The Western Conference teams are playing .583 basketball against the east – they were playing .661 basketball back in December. These numbers are still staggering, although, not nearly as much as they were earlier in the season. Basically, since December 10, 2006, the Eastern Conference teams have “amped” it up and are 116-141 (.451) against the west. Still, at this time, only 3 of the 15 Western Conference teams have a losing record against Eastern Conference teams. (And one of them, the Memphis Grizzles, completely fell apart against the east.)
Out east, only Detroit and Cleveland have winning records against the west — can you say Eastern Conference championship opponents? What a series that will be — the winner receiving a ticket to lose to the Mavericks, or the Suns, or the Spurs (these three teams combining for a Jordan-like .811 record against the east). Of course, my prediction may fail if the Spurs beat down the Mavericks again — only losing by a couple of calls — and Dallas goes on to embarrass themselves again in the finals.
We’ll return at the end of the season…
March 7th, 2007
I apologize that it has been so long. I promise to be more consistent and more interesting. (It’s hard to write articles when you spend your time reading The Audacity of Hope — trying to figure out what Mr. Obama’s views really are.)
For now, let me leave you with the two things that scare me moving ahead in 2007…
Well, once the first pitch is thrown in St. Louis — on Sunday April 1st at 8:05 pm (New York time) – by Chris Carpenter to Jose Reyes (likely a strike-out or a triple) and the Republican and Democrat primary polls really start making sense — this blog will finally get going…
March 7th, 2007
