Throwing Sparks

From Bryan Hoch on Mike Mussina’s outing against the Rays:

Mussina also said he felt pleased with his velocity, which was pegged by radar guns at 88 and 89 mph. No longer a threat to consistently pop gloves in the 90s, Mussina said he can work with what he has.

“Eighty-eight in March is OK,” Mussina said. “I can pitch with that.”

If Moose can get his velocity up another notch or two and throw 91 MPH, he can definitely be a force this year. In 2006, he was consistently throwing around that speed and was tremendously effective. Even with an 88-89 MPH fastball, he should be able to put up respectable numbers (or better). Knowing that he’s at 88-89 now and not later is a very good sign.

A Fractured Wrist With a Twist

From PA’s Blog:

The look on Joe Girardi’s face said plenty. Then he had plenty to say about the play in the ninth inning when Tampa Bay’s Elliot Johnson rolled into Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli.

“I think it’s uncalled for in spring training. You get people hurt and that’s what we got, we got Cervelli hurt,” Girardi said.

Carl Crawford of the Rays ran over a Houston catcher on Wednesday. Now there has been a second incident. Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon dismissed it as a “good hardball” when he spoke to the Tampa Bay writers. But Girardi didn’t agree.

“I’ve always known that you don’t do it. I know kids play aggressive and play hard. That’s how you want them to play. But maybe if it happens too much you should mention something,” he said.

Cervelli was taken to St. Joseph Hospital for x-rays. The Yankees are fearful that he has a broken right hand or wrist.

“It’s one thing to get hit by a pitch that gets away or twist an ankle running the bases. I don’t understand it,” said Girardi, who felt Johnson should have simply slid into the plate. “I don’t understand it. During the season I’m all for. It happens in the season, I understand it. In spring training, I don’t really.”

Johnson had no remorse: “From my point of view, I’m trying to score a run. … His left foot was right there blocking the plate. My options were to hook around and slide and I thought that would take too much time and I would be out,” he said.

Several New York writers waited to ask Maddon questions but he hid in his office and sent a team spokesman out to say he wouldn’t answer any questions.

The Yankees play the Rays three more times this spring. Bet on there being some sort of reprisal.

Girardi has every right to be upset. Cervelli, a very young catcher with some great defense, now has a fractured wrist because of that unnecessary play (which will obviously hamper his development for the year). It’ll be fun to watch Girardi let the team loose on the Rays during the regular season and in their next exhibition game.

Saturday Bits: Moose, Matsui & Mariano

A couple of items for the day:

• The Yanks lost to Tampa Bay today (4-1), although Mike Mussina was very effective, throwing 2 2/3 innings, allowing 1 ER, 2 hits, and striking out 5. Farnsworth and Chris Britton also pitched well out of the pen, which could definitely bode well for Britton, who’s essentially fighting for a BP spot.
• Hideki Matsui will start in tomorrow’s exhibition game against the Minnesota Twins. He will likely be relegated to DH since his legs and neck may still be a bit tender. His position as DH during the spring could obviously change if A-Rod and Posada are still sore.
• Next, Tyler Kepner has a nice article on Mariano Rivera, as he’s been a clubhouse leader who is always willing to help out the new guys like Edwar Ramirez or Joba Chamberlain. The text also talks about Chico Heron, a Yankee scout and a mentor to Rivera. Heron discovered Mariano in Panama, and he actually passed away late last year.

Another One Bites The Dust

For anyone who actually wants to defend Joe Torre’s bullpen management, Luis Vizcaino, one of Torre’s more recent toys who left for greener pastures at Coors Field (…), is reportedly feeling some discomfort in his elbow and will be recieving an MRI. Vizcaino participated in 76 innings last season (his second highest total), despite having some elbow problems in the second half.

Good thing the Yankees didn’t resign the Viz after last season. Many people were clamoring for it, but I’m sure Cashman knew that the inevitable elbow problem would flare up. Vizcaino’s relationship with the club could be seen as a baseball booty call. He was used and abused and the next day, he was gone.

That’s why the team has decided to throw together a group of guys with promise, guys like Billy Traber, who can hopefully come through and make the club, while not worrying about their arms falling off. It sure is cheap, but I guess we’ll have to wait and see if it is ultimately effective.

If At First You Don’t Succeed…

Rotoworld is reporting that Steven White, Scott Strickland, Dan McCutchen, and Steven Jackson have been reassigned to the minors.

Also, my apologies for the lack of updates and posts thus far (today). WordPress has been having some server problems but they have seemingly died down a bit. Back with more in a few.

Joba’s Celebrity Status a Concern?

From the NY Post:

March 8, 2008 — TAMPA – This is a new season and a new set of Joba Rules.

Manager Joe Girardi and GM Brian Cashman made that clear yesterday. They want Joba Chamberlain to continue to be his outgoing self – but they also want to make sure the rookie right-hander does not get carried away with his newfound celebrity status and spread himself too thin.

There’s only so much Joba to go around, and pitching for the Yankees must be his top priority. Chamberlain has gotten the message.

“He’s kind of drinking from a fire hose right now,” Cashman said at Legends Field.

“So much has happened for him because of the 24 innings of major-league work. It was 24 innings, so it’s incumbent on all of us around him who care about him, his father and everyone in the Yankee family to make sure that we slow it all down for him because sometimes that stuff can carry you away.”

Chamberlain, 22, fully understands what is at stake. He said he is already learning to say no to outside forces.

“You’ve got to do your job first,” he said. “If you don’t do your job you don’t get the chance to do anything else.”

Of his incredible celebrity status, Chamberlain noted, “It’s a blessing and a curse. Everybody wants you.”

There are business opportunities, charity events, fans and media, who all want their piece of Joba.

Girardi, who knows what’s going on in his clubhouse, had a good talk with the rookie this week and told him he knows it can be difficult.

“It’s just hard because Joba’s got such a big heart,” the manager said. “I just remember as a young player, and I was playing at home [in Chicago], the hardest thing for me was saying no. I had college friends, I had family, but you can’t do everything.”

Joba’s newfound celebrity status should be a big deal for the Yankees, as it could truly effect his outings and impact the rest of his career. Too much, too fast, is always problematic. The Yankees are comprised of so many veterans, people like Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez, all of whom can really help Joba in understanding his current situation. It’s best that the Yankees teach him how to deal with his fame now, and he seems like he has his priorities in order, so hopefully there will be a happy ending to this celebrity story.