Tampa, Fla., March 7, 2016; Houston 1, Yankees 0 — Back in the days when the world stage was dominated by just two global powers; one of them, Russia, or the USSR, loved to show off its military prowess and armament on one day: May Day. If there was one thing a Yankee fan could be happy about on Monday afternoon following the team’s loss to Houston, it was the display of power arms, so many on one day. Continue reading
Category Archives: Spring Training
March Miscues
Clearwater, Fla., March 6, 2016; Phillies 6, Yankees 5 — There are plenty of reasons to not get invested in team success or failure in Spring Training games, but by far, the unbearable, unending, utterly disastrous inning is the No. 1 culprit. Continue reading
Young Yankee Thunder
Tampa, Fla., March 5, 2016; Yankees 6, Red Sox 4 — For all of 2 minutes or so, it appeared the Yanks might be hard pressed to beat the visiting Red Sox Saturday. Mookie Betts raced to third after drilling free agent righthander Tyler Cloyd’s third pitch, then scored when Brock Holt singled sharply to right. Continue reading
Armed and Dangerous
Lakeland, Fla., March 4, 2016; Tigers 3, Yankees 0 — “Five Yankee Pitchers Collaborate on a 2-Hitter” would be a nice headline for a piece covering the Yankee/Tigers tilt in Lakeland, but it avoids the painful truth. When Miguel Cabrera crushed a 3-1 Vinnie Pestano fastball in the bottom of the third, it was the lone scoring drive of the game, a 3-run home run to center field. Continue reading
Where Do We Go From Here
Tampa, Fla., March 2, 2016; Yankees 10, Tigers 9 — What are the chances that the first ever Yankee Classic from a Spring Training game to appear on YES television took place today? Hey, I get it. I’ve been attending Spring Training on each Florida coast for 3 decades now. For the teams, it’s applying practiced skills in game situations, and evaluating different levels of talent. While observing talented pros playing the game we love in warm environs after a cold, bland winter totally describes the fan experience. Continue reading
Baseball Among Friends
Sarasota, Fla., March 10, 2015 — The Yanks traveled south to play the Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota Tuesday. The ballpark has been there for years, with several teams — including the White Sox and the Reds — serving as Spring tenants, but the city and the O’s have teamed to make an unadorned diamond into something of a jewel. But neither can take credit for the gorgeous blue sky, the white puffy clouds, or the 85 degree temps we enjoyed on a perfect day. Continue reading
The March of Time
March 9, 2015, Tampa, Fla. — The Yanks hosted the Tampa Rays Monday afternoon under bright sun, some high clouds, and 82 degrees worth of heat. The home team fielded what could be their opening day lineup, while the Rays’ traveling squad included several of the name players their nondescript offense will feature in 2015. Neither team knocked the cover off the ball, and each scored when the other was struggling on defense. The Rays out-errored the Yanks 2-1, and the Yanks won the game, 4-3. Continue reading
Cave for the Save
Kissimmee, Fla., March 7, 2015 — For five innings Saturday in Kissimmee, the Yankees were frustrating their fans with more of their 2014 attack. The Friday evening plan featured two singles until three eighth-inning hits produced a run; now a second-inning Mark Teixeira line single and a walk was the sole output. This stood in stark relief against what the Astros had done in their first inning against veteran righthander Scott Baker, a free agent trying to land a spot with the Yanks. Continue reading
Winning Streak Whitleyed Down
Tampa, Fla., March 4, 2014 — Coming off four straight wins, David Phelps was handed the ball to start the prime time game against the visiting Orioles Tuesday night, and he succeeded, with mixed results. He almost made it through three innings and allowed one run, but his outing could have been titled “Surviving Adversity.” Continue reading
Nova, Super AND Grounded
Tampa, Fla., March 3, 2014 — Early Spring Training “disappointment” is a pretty specific condition, one the speaker should be able to defend. Six days of rain, much less cold rain, well, we’d all cut that vacationer a break. Losses – ugly losses – in every game attended? Well, the team is here to get ready, not to win meaningless games, but still, most would cut the person whining about that a little slack. Continue reading