Yanks Press Release On Bob Sheppard

Last Thursday I posted this about a Neil Best article in which he stated that Bob Sheppard would not be attending opening day. Today the Yankees posted this press release on Yankees.com:

The New York Yankees announced today that longtime public address announcer Bob Sheppard will be unavailable at the commencement of the Yankees' 2009 inaugural season, including the club's workout on April 2 as well as the first exhibition games at Yankee Stadium on April 3-4 and Opening Day on April 16, as a result of his continuing recovery from a bronchial infection.

For the Yankees' workout day on April 2 and their exhibition games vs. the Chicago Cubs on April 3-4, Paul Olden will substitute for Mr. Sheppard in the public address booth at Yankee Stadium while he continues to recover at his home on Long Island. A 12-time Super Bowl public address announcer, Olden's broadcasting career spanned 17 years, including two seasons in the Yankees' television broadcast booth from 1995-96, alongside Bobby Murcer and Phil Rizzuto.

This season marks the 58th anniversary of Sheppard's debut as the Yankees' public address announcer. His first game was on Opening Day, April 17, 1951, as the Yankees defeated the Boston Red Sox, 5-0.

"I will not be able to be at Yankee Stadium for the series with the Cubs or Opening Day," Sheppard said. "My personal physician advised me to wait until I am ready. It is in the hands of God. I am looking forward to doing games in the new Stadium."

What happen to Jim Hall?

YES! Beer is Back in the Bleachers

Earlier this off season it was reported that bleachers would once again be alcohol-free. Well, it turns out that is not totally true. Here's more from Jeremy Olshan (hat-tip to River Ave. Blues):

The raucous fans who populate Yankee Stadium's bleachers should return to form this season, now that the team has lifted its nine-year prohibition on performance-enhancing suds.

Beer was banned in Section 39 at the old Stadium in 2000 to tame the sometimes overly passionate Bleacher Creatures, but with the move to the new ballpark, the taps will be turned on once again, a team official told The Post.

No beer vendors will come through Section 203, but fans will be permitted to purchase 12-ounce beers for $6 in the stadium and take them back to their seats or imbibe at the new Bleacher Cafe.

"The good news is we can drink again; the bad news is I'm going to be spending a lot more money, I guess," said "Sheriff Tom" Brown, 40, a Creature since 1993.

..."There is something to be said for a cold frosty one on a hot July day, and the ban had been a turnoff for a lot of people," [Bald Vinny] said.

Cheers!

Spring Training Game 34: Yanks @ Reds

Spring Training Game 34

Yankees @ Reds
Ed Smith Stadium - Sarasota, FL
Game Time: 1:05 p.m.
TV/radio: MLB.com Gameday Audio

Here are the lineups:

YANKEES
Brett Gardner CF
Nick Swisher LF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Jorge Posada C
Xavier Nady DH
Melky Cabrera RF
Cody Ransom 3B
Angel Berroa SS
Ramiro Pena 2B

Pitching: Joba Chamberlain

REDS
Willy Taveras CF
Chris Dickerson LF
Joey Votto 1B
Brandon Phillips 2B
Jay Bruce RF
Ramon Hernandez C
Edwin Encarnacion 3B
Paul Janish SS
Micah Owings P

Pitching: Micah Owings

News & Notes

- Here's an update on A-Rod: Cashman said that he began throwing the ball yesterday. He also said that the Yankees expect him back in Tampa by mid-April, probably the 13-15 because that's when the Yankees will be in Tampa to play the Rays. And A-Rod is still in line to return to the lineup on May 15th.

- Kevin Cash was reassigned to minor-league camp.

- As I posted earlier, it was announced today that Jonathan Albaladejo will make the Opening Day roster. So here's your 2009 Opening Day pitching staff:

STARTERS:
C.C. Sabathia
Chien-Ming Wang
A.J. Burnett
Andy Pettitte
Joba Chamberlain

BULLPEN:
Phil Coke
Damaso Marte
Jonathan Albaladejo
Edwar Ramirez
Jose Veras
Brian Bruney
Mariano Rivera

The only spot on the team that remains up for grabs is the utility spot, so it's a big day for Angel Berroa and Ramiro Pena.

- Former Yankee Gary Sheffield was released by the Tigers today. He was hitting just .178 in 18 spring training games this year. He's sitting on 499 home runs right now, one shy of becoming the 25th member of the 500 Home Run Club.

Think he's pissed?

UPDATE 12:32 p.m.: Here's a quote from Sheffield: "It's one of those things where you move on, you know?... I was surprised. I thought I was getting ready for the season. I never thought that I wasn't going to be playing with the Detroit Tigers this year. It's probably a blessing."

UPDATE 2:38 p.m.: Nady just got hit on the elbow by a pitch and was taken out of the game. Hopefully it's not too bad.

Meanwhile, it's 3-0 Yanks in the top of the sixth. Joba is pitching well: 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K. He's thrown 67 pitches, 44 for strikes.

UPDATE 3:09 p.m.: The Yankees made it 4-0 with a Melky Cabrera sac fly in the 6th.

After cruising through the first five Joba got knocked around a bit in the sixth. He he allowed two runs on two hits and two walks. His final line was 5.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 K... George King has already writing his "See, this is why Joba should be in the bullpen" article as you read this. ... He once again threw too many pitches, needing 83 to get through just 5.1 innings.

The Yankees added two more in the top of the sixth and now it's 6-2 Yanks.

Stick around and discuss the game

as it happens in the comments section.

Albaladejo Makes The Team

According to Pete Caldera the Yankees have optioned Alfredo Aceves and Dan Giese Scranton. And Brett Tomko was reassigned to the minor-league camp, he'll also be at Scranton.

"I'm extremely disappointed because I felt like I pitched my way onto this team," Tomko said.

They both pitched very well, Tomko went 1-1 with a 1.17 ERA. In 15.1 IP he allowed 2 earned runs on 12 hits, walked two, and struck out 12. and Albaladejo had a 0.93 ERA in 9.2 IP, and allowed 1 run on 8 hits, walked 1 and struck out 8.

I guess Girardi feels that a combination of Albaladejo and Phil Coke will do the job in the long relief role.

Pettitte Sharp in Yanks 3-1 Win

FINAL	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
NY Yankees	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0		3	7	0
Toronto	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0		1	7	0

Andy Pettitte ended his spring in fine fashion today by allowing just a run on five hits in 6.2 innings, while striking out seven. In 22 innings this spring (including minor-league games) Pettitte had a 1.23 ERA and has struck out 20. Not too shabby. It all won't matter if he gets rocked in his first couple starts once the season starts, but it's still nice to see him have a good spring, especially coming off a shoulder injury.

The bullpen did its job as Damaso Marte, Jose Veras, and Edwar Ramirez combined for 2.1 shutout innings, allowing just two hits. Ramirez picked up the save, his second of the spring.

Mark Teixeira continues his hot hitting, going 2-for-3 with a walk a double and two RBI. He's now hitting .408/.464/.653 with 2 HR and 8 RBI this spring.

Angel Berroa went 1-for-1 and drove in the Yankees other run with an RBI double. Ramiro Pena who is fighting Berroa for the utility spot went 0-for-2 with a strikeout.

Derek Jeter went 1-for-2 with a stolen base and a run scored.

	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Jeter, SS	2	1	1	0	1	0	0	.379
Cabrera, M, LF-CF	2	0	1	0	0	0	0	.345
Damon, LF	1	0	0	0	2	0	0	.288
Pena, SS	2	0	0	0	0	1	2	.309
Teixeira, 1B	3	0	2	2	1	0	2	.408
1-Duncan, E, PR-1B	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1.000
Matsui, DH	3	0	0	0	0	0	5	.200
Swisher, RF	4	0	0	0	0	0	3	.239
Rye, RF	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Cano, 2B	3	0	0	0	0	0	3	.327
Snyder, 2B	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	.250
Ransom, 3B	2	0	0	0	1	1	1	.262
Berroa, 3B	1	0	1	1	0	0	0	.370
Molina, J, C	4	0	1	0	0	2	0	.255
Anson, C	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.100
Gardner, CF	3	1	0	0	0	0	1	.364
Cooper, LF	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	.000
Totals	32	3	7	3	5	5	17
1-Ran for Teixeira in the 7th.
BATTING 2B: Jeter (3, Purcey), Teixeira (6, Frasor), Berroa (7, Ryan). 3B: Snyder (1, Ryan). TB: Jeter 2; Cabrera, M; Teixeira 3; Snyder 3; Berroa 2; Molina, J. RBI: Teixeira 2 (8), Berroa (11). 2-out RBI: Teixeira. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Cano; Teixeira; Matsui 2. Team LOB: 8. BASERUNNING SB: Jeter (2, 2nd base off Purcey/Barrett). CS: Ransom (1, 2nd base by Purcey/Barrett). PO: Ransom (1st base by Purcey). FIELDING Outfield assists: Gardner (Rolen at 3rd base).

	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Pettitte (W, 2-0)	6.2	5	1	1	0	7	0	0.79
Marte (H, 4)	0.1	1	0	0	0	0	0	5.40
Veras (H, 4)	1.0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1.80
Ramirez, E (S, 2)	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1.13

Only two games left in Florida. Thank goodness. The first is tomorrow afternoon in Sarasota as the Yanks take on the Cincinnati Reds. Joba Chamberlain will start for the Yankees, with right-hander Micah Owings going for the Reds. Game time is set for 1:05 p.m.

Girardi: Joba Needs To Be More Efficient

From the AP:

Joba Chamberlain needs to show Yankees manager Joe Girardi two things in his next-to-last spring training start for it to be considered a success.

"Efficency and location," Girardi said before leaving for Monday's road game against Toronto in Dunedin. "I'd like to get six innings if we could."

"The overall performance is what I really want to look at," Girardi said.

Girardi feels it is "fairly important" that Chamberlain have a longer outing before spring training ends.

"As a reliever, it doesn't matter if you throw 25 pitches in an inning," Girardi said. "You do that as a starter, and you're not going to be deep into games. That's what we want all our starters to do."

This was a problem for Joba last year. He would get into far too many deep counts and it would lead to very bloated pitch counts.

Joba starts tomorrow against the Reds, and as Girardi said, it would be nice to get at least six innings out of him. It won't make or break his season, but it would be a good confidence booster heading into the season.

New Yankee Stadium Tour Info

The Yankees have posted information on tours at the new stadium on Yankees.com. The tours will run daily beginning on May 4 and ending on September 25, but there will be no tours on these dates: May 7, 13, 16-17, 23-31, June 4, 6-7, 13-14, 18-19, 24-25, 30, July 3-6, 15, 18-19, 22, 25-26, August 4, 8-9, 12, 21, 27, 29-30, September 7, 12-13, 23.

Here's their ordering and pricing info:

For all online purchases, tickets are $20.00 per person. They are available for advance purchase by choosing a date from the drop-down menu above up until 11:00am on the day of the tour. Tickets may also be purchased in advance of 10 days from the tour date via Ticketmaster at (212) 307-1212, at any Ticketmaster outlet or any Yankees Clubhouse Shop.

For children 14 years & under and Senior Citizens 60 years & over, discounted tickets are available for purchase IN PERSON ONLY at the Yankee Stadium Advance Ticket Windows for $15.00. These specially priced tickets are subject to availability. To ensure admission to the tour, we strongly suggest purchasing regularly priced ($20.00) tickets in advance.

The Ticket Windows at Yankee Stadium will be open daily from 9:00am-5:00pm (Monday-Saturday) and from 10:00am-4:00pm (Sunday) throughout the season.

Here's how they describe their "Classic Tour:"

The Classic Tour lasts 45 minutes to one hour and includes visits to the New York Yankees Museum, Monument Park and the dugout. Guests will pass through the batting cages and Yankees clubhouse area before ending the tour in the Great Hall near the team store.

Classic Tours will commence every 20 minutes from 12:00pm-1:40pm and run daily except when the Yankees play at home on weekends or are scheduled to play a weekday day game. Certain areas of Yankee Stadium will not be available on the tours when the team plays at home. All parts of the tour are subject to cancellation or change without notice.

They also say that proceeds from the tours benefits the Yankees Foundation, which is a non-profit arm of the Yankees organization.

For more information go here.

Neyer: Slow Down With All The Ramiro Pena Hype

Rob Neyer had this to say in response to Bill Madden's article this weekend in which he called Ramiro Pena the Yankees short stop of the future.

Well first let's look at a couple quotes from the Madden article:

"When I first saw him three years ago, you could knock the bat out of his hands," said one veteran scout whose primary assignment is in the minor leagues. "But he was a magician with the glove and that made him someone to keep an eye on. Now that he's gained a little weight, put on a little muscle, he's no longer an 'out.' He can handle the bat. I always felt his glove would get him to the big leagues, but now I can see him as an everyday shortstop."

"Best looking young shortstop I've seen in a couple of years," said one National League scout.

And now for Neyer:

I haven't seen Ramiro Pena play. Until Sunday, I had never heard of Ramiro Pena. And now he's the Yankees' shortstop of the future!

Well, maybe.

This past winter, John Sickels wrote about 40 Yankees prospects in his book. Ramiro Pena wasn't one of them.

This past winter, the guys at Baseball America wrote about 30 Yankees prospects in their book. Ramiro Pena wasn't one of them. They mentioned a number of other young players, too, in their minor league depth chart for the Yankees. And here's where Ramiro Pena shows up: behind Carmen Angelini (Yankees' No. 28 prospect), Garrison Lassiter (not ranked) and Eduardo Nunez (not ranked).

I'm not saying Bill Madden's scouts are wrong about Ramiro Pena. But if they're right, they and Madden should be summarily promoted to the highest positions in their fields. Or, at the very least, they should get together and write a book about young baseball players who are a lot better than everyone else thinks.

I have to agree with Neyer. It does seem that people are jumping the gun a bit on Pena's future. People are getting a little too excited about a good spring. Yes, he's got a great glove, there's no doubt about that, but in four season in the minors he's just a career .258/.316/.319 hitter. I think he could probably be a pretty valuable utility man in the majors for a while, but who knows if he can hit well enough in the majors to be an everyday SS for the New York Yankees. For now, I think it's best if we just wait and see how things work out without making any bold predictions.