Greetings from Spring Training
I’m the “old guy” of the new writers. Been a Yankee fan all of my 51 years. I’ve lived in Florida last 15 years but still keep my NY roots.
38 degrees in NY, 40 in Detroit but a beautiful 75 degrees in Lakeland, Florida for the Yanks-Tigers today. A little pre-game fun as Chan Ho Park gets used to being a Yankee by signing autographs and then playing catch for 20 minutes with all of the kids on the berm in Center Field at Joker Marchant Stadium. Joba also started signing in CF and this “reporter” caught up with him for a little chat:
SIH: Joba, What would you like to say to your loyal fans over at the Sliding into Home Blog?
Joba: Tell them I said “Hello”
SIH: What was the best part of last year for you?
Joba: “Winning”
That’s Joba Chamberlain, man of few words.
Joba’s Dad was also at the game and was a little more talkative than his talented son. He told us how he hit .505 in American Legion ball and how disappointed he was that Phil Coke was traded (Joba and Phil came through the system together and Harlan saw Phil’s parents at the game).
Joker Marchant looks pretty good for a 45-year-old park after numerous facelifts. Today’s game set a new attendance record – 10,219 and numerous birds dropping aerial bombs. I saw at least 2 make direct hits, the first on a proud Yank fan – that’s good luck isn’t it? When at Joker Marchant, don’t keep your mouth open when you look up.
Pitching matchup was AJ vs. Nate Robertson, who is trying to hang onto his job in the Tiger rotation. Robertson pitched in & out of trouble but was touched for the Yanks only 2 runs on an RBI double by crowd favorite Curtis Granderson (nice 2 for 4 day) and HR by former Tiger and past/present Yank Marcus Thames. AJ pitched very well, going 6 2/3, allowing 3 hits and a run, but didn’t have the sharp breaking strikeout pitch going. Jorge & AJ shared a nice moment as AJ got out of trouble in the 6th and seem to be going out of their way to make nice with each other.
Some of the young Yanks & Tigers looked overmatched at the plate including Ajax, Kevin Russo & Brandon Laird. Tigers rookie 2B Sizemore looked more ready, hitting line drives all day.
Most impressive performance of the day was from Joel Zumaya who finally looks all the way back to his 2006 self. He K’ed the side in the 6th making Granderson look helpless with 100mph high heat (and 83mph curve) and reached 101 on gun against Pena.
Yanks 2, Tigers 1. WP: AJ Burnett, S: Joba Chamberlain. Here's the box score.
On to Tampa to see the same two clubs battle tomorrow. Hopefully, I’ll see full Yank lineup as only Posada, Gardner, Granderson & Johnson of the regulars made the trip today.
