Yankees Keep Rolling Notching Their 22nd Win Of The Spring

The Yankees maintained the incredible strength of their Spring Training showing today by notching their 22nd win of the spring, beating the Tampa Bay Rays 7-4.

The Yankees just keep on ticking. And rolling. In what has become an improbable, though welcome, Pre-Season for the team, the Tampa Bay Rays became their 22nd victim in the season that doesn’t matter.

The 7-4 victory over the Rays was not, however, glittered with gold as Yankees starter, Bryan Mitchell, in what may be his final start before the fifth spot in the rotation is named, faltered. In a less than spectacular three innings of work

In a less than spectacular three innings of work, Mitchell surrendered three earned runs while giving up six hits and walking two of the 16 batters he faced. This is not likely to put him at the top of the team’s white board when Brian Cashman makes his decision that could come as early as this week.

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Mitchell could get a reprieve, though, as the Yankees do not expect to need a fifth starter until the middle of April due to the number of off-days on their schedule.

The Yankees offense combined for eleven hits, led by Aaron Hicks, who collected his third home run of the spring, a two-run shot off Matt Andriese. Hicks had two hits for the day as did his direct competition in right field, Aaron Judge.

Chris Carter, thank you very much, had three strikeouts in four times at bat.

Of particular note, Pete Kozma, who had the game-winning hit in yesterday’s win, started at shortstop, and not Tyler Wade. This indicates that the organization still has no idea what they are doing as far as a full-time replacement for Didi Gregorius. Wade, who started yesterday, did not play today. Kozma had one hit and scored a run.

In Other Developments

Aroldis Chapman pitched on two consecutive days for the first time this spring as Joe Girardi prepares him for that possibility when the season begins. His line was typical: 2/3 of an inning, no runs, no hits, and one strikeout.

Jon Niese, who has faltered of late, was released by the Yankees. Tagged primarily for a spot in the bullpen, the team has shown up mainly with no need. The door was not slammed shut as to his return at some point during the season if the need arises.

Ruben Tejada, who started at second base in place of Starlin Castro, hit his second home run of the spring and now is hitting .286 for the spring with a .366 on-base percentage.

Tomorrow And Beyond

Things aren’t getting easier for the Yankees in deciding the remaining components of the roster they will take North with them when the regular season begins a week from today.

The Yankees Twenty-Five Most Memorable Home Runs

In the Yankees storied history, twenty-five of their home runs stand out as moments in time never to be forgotten and always treasured by baseball fans.

Questions loom, and answers need to be filled in quickly as the incredibly long Spring Training segment of the 2017 season mercifully comes to an end.