Archive for March, 2011

My man James Chipman over at Motor City Bengals and I decided to do a series preview since our teams are playing each other to open the season. The two clubs will open the 2011 campaign tomorrow at 1:05 (weather permitting), and jayrc, as he’s called on his site, and I asked each other a six pack of questions. Check it out after the jump:

Well first off let me say hello to everyone since this is my first post. My name is Stephen Crociata and I will be covering, for the most part, the Yankees minor league teams for Yanks Go Yard this season. I am currently the Lead Writer and Editor of Mile High Sticking the FanSided page of the Colorado Avalanche of the NHL. I was born and raised in the Bronx and I’m currently living in Croton-on-Hudson in Westchester, NY. I look forward to working with Andrew this season, and hopefully the post season, as we watch the best team in [...]

Curtis Granderson (oblique) said he feels that he will be “very close to it, if not” 100 percent for Opening Day. He has been cleared to play in a minor league game tomorrow and after that he will stay behind in Tampa to play in another on Wednesday before flying back to New York that night. Barring any setbacks he will be patrolling center field on Opening Day…which is a relief because who wanted to see Andruw Jones play the outfield? Roster moves:

Joe Girardi announced today that SuperNova will be the fourth man in the rotation and Freddy Garcia will be the fifth. He also revealed his plans to use Bartolo Colon as a long reliever, akin to how he used Al Aceves in 2009. The news about Nova shouldn’t come as a surprise, as anyone who’s followed the team recently could have concluded that that’s what was bound to happen. What is a shock, at least to me, is that Fabulous Freddy made the rotation and Colon is in the ‘pen. Bart has outperformed his counterpart for the most part this [...]

The Yanks were busy making moves last night, as the team dumped Sergio Mitre on Milwaukee in exchange for outfielder Chris Dickerson, and signed RHP Kevin Millwood to a minor-league deal. Mitre’s numbers with the Yanks (’09-’10) were rather lackluster, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a Yankee fan who’s upset about his departure. He gave up 114 hits, 68 runs (59 earned), 17 homers, 29 walks and 61 strikeouts in 105 2/3 innings for an 89 ERA+ in his two years in pinstripes (mostly mop-up duty). Peace out Meattray, don’t let the door hit you in the ass. Dickerson [...]

…you write a nonsensical article tearing into one of the nicest guys in baseball. TJ Simers, you fit the bill and may very well be an a-hole. Let me preface this by saying I have never met or spoken to Marcus Thames. However, from the outpouring of support for “Tems” and what I have read on the internet it seems like he’s a stand-up guy. I’m a few days late on this, but I just stumbled upon one of the greatest hatchet jobs in recent memory last night. TJ starts off by poking fun at the pronunciation of Thames. Nice. [...]

UPDATE: Granderson’s MRI revealed a strain of internal oblique, and he is slightly concerned about being ready for Opening Day. Oh well, I guess we’re going to be seeing a lot more Andruw Jones…especially next Thursday *      *     *     *     * Curtis Granderson became the latest Yankee to suffer an oblique injury, and he might not be ready for Opening Day. Grandy was scratched from the lineup yesterday with a strained right oblique and there is concern he won’t be ready for Opening Day next Thursday. He hasn’t been sent for an MRI, but he did get checked out by [...]

It’s that time of the year when the snow starts melting, grass begins to grow and we here at Yanks Go Yard make foolish predictions that never come true. With Opening Day 11 days away, here is what we think will happen with the 2011 season:

I don’t mean he is fecal matter, although that’s debatable. Girardi announced today that AJ will be the second starter behind CC, putting to rest rumors that Phil Hughes usurped the spot in the rotation. Hughes had been pitching before AJ this spring, but once the season begins he’ll move to the third slot. Girardi: That’s what we brought AJ here to do. He struggled last year, but we believe he is going to be back. I’m glad the team is going this route. Had AJ been bumped back in the rotation, especially for a 24-year-old kid, it might have [...]

Brett Gardner left today’s game against the Blue Jays after feeling soreness/tightness in his right calf. He fouled a ball off his right shin yesterday and it didn’t feel right today. He said he felt OK and isn’t worried about it: I’ll be fine. I’m fine now, but I just couldn’t run 100 percent and I guess when (Girardi) saw that he said he didn’t want to take any chances…It’s just a little bruise, that’s all. In other injury news, relievers Pedro Feliciano, who hasn’t pitched since March 9 due to a triceps injury, and Boone Logan are on the [...]