Earlier today Andy Pettitte threw a simulated game while the rest of the team played in spring training games. After today, he is one step closer to making his first start of spring training. Apparently in his 36 pitches he was extremely effective and made significant progress. Word is he did not allow a single hit, although he did get some easy scoring on a ball hit by minor leaguer Colin Curtis. This is the same thing Pettitte did last year. He eased into throwing, and he said he likes breaking into it like this. A sad truth Yankee fans have to start facing is that Pettitte is getting...

Javy Vazquez walked into the clubhouse this morning whistling with a big grin on his face.  Clearly Vazquez was excited to finally get on the mound in a game situation this afternoon. Flash to 1:05 ET and Vazquez is watching his first pitch of the 2010 spring training sail over the right field wall of George M. Steinbrenner field off the bat of Jimmy Rollins.  The pitch was an 86 mph fastball, either a very flat slider or two-seamer right down broadway and Rollins absolutely crushed it.  It definitely wasn’t the fresh start wearing a Yankees hat that Vazquez was looking for. ...

I’m calling it now – Mark Teixeira will win the AL MVP this season. I’m sure all the writers on Bronx Bombers Beat will submit their predictions for all sorts of awards, but this one I want to make loud and clear early. Teixeira really is the complete package. He’s a great defensive player (I know people think first base is an easy position to play, but strong defense there really is underrated. Try putting someone there who can’t handle a bad throw, or can’t react to a screamer down the line and then say first base is easy to play), he’s clutch, and he’s one of the best...

Today is Francisco Cervelli’s 24th birthday.  However, his celebrations won’t be going according to plan. He’ll be celebrating his birthday with a trip to the hospital; and not for the reason that many 24 year olds go to the hospital on their birthday.  The Yankees number one option for backup catcher for the 2010 season left today’s game against the Blue Jays early.  In the third inning Cervelli was hit in the head with a low 90′s fastball from Blue Jays’ pitcher Zech Zinicola.  The pitch drilled Cervelli squarely in the helmet dropping him...

For Yankee fans who haven’t seen live baseball in months, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of the first few spring training games.  As I sat down to watch today’s game between the Yankees and Rays, I caught myself treating it like it was an important game.  After a few pitches, I had to remind myself that this was the third game of spring training and not the third game of the ALCS. I feel like many baseball fans (myself included) get so excited with spring training that they over analyze the outcomes of these early games. The best way to watch a spring training game is...

I don’t know about other Yankees fans, but from the day the Yankees signed Igawa I expected nothing but bad news.  For some reason I just had a bad feeling about Igawa.  It was most likely the fact that it just seemed like an impulse move by the Yankees to match the Red Sox move of signing Daisuke Matsuzaka.  The signing was just a response to the signing made by a division rival, and those moves never turn out well.  Anyway, as every Yankees fan knows Igawa has been nothing short of abysmal in the majors since tha Yankees signed him in December of 2006 post a career 6.66 ERA. ...

Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain both saw their first live action of the spring today.  Hughes started the game and went two innings throwing 34 pitches.  In the first inning of the game Hughes’ looked shaky, throwing 21 pitches and allowing three hard hit balls.  The odd thing about Hughes’ first inning was that all three hard hit balls were recorded outs (hard one hopper to Jeter, hard line drive to Thames in LF, and hard grounder to Tex at first).  The only ball that wasn’t hit well in the first inning was a fastball on the outer half of the plate that Rays 2 hitter,...

Alex Rodriguez is going to go down as one of the best players in baseball history. Last season it was nice to see him get the proverbial monkey off his back in the playoffs. He had struggled mightily his entire career when playing in the postseason – until last year. He went on an absolute tear, including several clutch and game saving hits. He looked like a completely different hitter. He had a brand new confidence about him. Everything was clicking on all cylinders. The question now for Yankee fans is about that translating to the regular season. Plate Appearances: 719 At Bats: 648 Hits:...

It is officially the Yankees 2nd day of spring training games and already Nick Johnson has been scratched from a start.  Johnson was supposed to start the game today as the Yankees DH and bat in the 2 spot.  However, just before the game began Johnson was scratched from the lineup in favor of Jamie Hoffmann.  When the Yankees signed Johnson to be their primary DH this offseason I couldn’t help but be skeptical of the signing.  Johnson is perennially among the MLB’s top 10 in OBP when healthy.  In each of the last three years where Johnson has recorded enough at bats to be...

During the course of the off-season all that was being discussed about who the 5th starter in the rotation for the Yankees would be was that it was a race between Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes. Well, what about the other guys? Last time I checked, Chad Gaudin started some games for the Yanks along with Sergio Mitre. Alfredo Aceves is another candidate, seeing that he was originally brought up as a starting pitcher. However, in the grand scheme of things, I don’t really think Gaudin, Mitre, or Aceves stand much of a chance of being the 5th starter – especially in the long run. The...

Curtis Granderson, to me, is the best addition to the Yankees roster this year. People may complain that since he can’t hit lefties that he’s useless against them. While this has been true in the past, I think it’s obvious I am hoping for a different result this year and in the future. His weakness against left handed pitchers has been evident, and I think that the staff can work on this deficiency in spring training and throughout the season. If this bug is worked out even remotely, Granderson will be extremely dangerous in pinstripes. The Tigers lineup was very good, but it did not...

1st inning: Gaudin threw 20 pitches in the first inning allowing an infield single to Andrew McCutchen to begin the game.  Gaudin then threw a pick-off away to allow McCutchen to advance to 2nd.  Iwamura ground back to Gaudin, Garret Jones flied out weakly to Granderson, and Doumit grounded out to Teixeira.  Gaudin looked shaky as he had trouble controlling his fastball; his velocity was 87-91 on his fastball (which accounted for most of his pitches). Yankees went 1,2,3 in the bottom of the first.  Jeter grounded to short, Granderson grounded to 1st, and Teixeira grounded out to...

It has been an excruciatingly long 118 days since the Yankees played their last game on Nov, 4th of last year.  The withdrawal from Yankees baseball was only overcome by glistening memories of the Yankees champagne showers to end the season.  Today, all of that comes to an end as the Yankees play their first game (albeit an exhibition game) of the 2010 calendar year.  The Yankees play host to the Pittsburgh Pirates today at George M. Steinbrenner Field.  The game begins at 1:05 p.m. and MLB Network will begin its’ broadcast at 1:00 p.m. Today’s game will offer Yankees fans...

Each of the contributors of BronxBombersBeat.com have made their predictions on how they think the 2010 Major League Baseball season will pan out. The tables below each indicate what the contributors believe will be the standings come the end of the season, as well as how October will play out. NOTE: In each table, the (W) next to team names indicates the AL/NL wildcard winners. Brian Capozzi’s Prediction AL EastAL CentralAL West New York YankeesMinnesota TwinsSeattle Mariners Boston Red Sox (W)Detroit TigersLos Angeles Angels Tampa Bay RaysChicago White...

Jorge Posada has been one of the best catchers in all of Major League Baseball this decade – that goes without question. He has put up incredible offensive numbers for a catcher. Unfortunately, he is getting older. And catchers’ knees do not age like a fine wine, but rather like milk left out for days. I do think Jorge has another good season left in the tank, I really do. But after this season, it really might be time to pass the torch on to prospect Jesus Montero, who will be the biggest catcher ever if he actually (hopefully) plays the position, and does not physically grow out of it....