As ususal the first week of Spring Training brings excitment and great interest.  Here are some insights from Friday’s Practice!

 

Wang is Healthy

Not every pitcher throws each day but this Friday i got the opportunity to see Chein Ming Wang on the mound for one of his first appearances since a sprained Lisfranc ligament and a partial tear of the peroneus longus of the right foot ended a possible CY Young caliber season.  Wang threw around 30-35 pitches to live hitters and looked good.  He was popping the mit and making hitters swing and miss or hit weak grounders.  His only mistake was a sinker he left up to Bernie Williams (WHAT?), Yes Bernie was there and is practicing for the WBC (more on that in a min), but Bernie took a hogh sonker over the center field wall at GMS Field.

The most importan thing was to see the two time 19 game winner move around the mound without any sign of pain or discomfort. This is greta news for Yankee fans and even better were the word form Wang himself sfter the BP session “It’s normal,” Wang said. “I don’t feel anything.” The now #3 starter im the Yankee rotation is primed to have a monster season with a bonified Ace in CC and #2 in AJ pitching in front of him. 

Bring Bernie Back!!  Bring Bernie Back!!……

Those were the chants of teh fans at Steinbrenner field on Friday as the retired Yankee legend took batting practice and OF drills with the club as he prepares for the WBC where he will play for his native countey of Puerto RIco.  The 40yr old Williams has not ruled out an attempt to play in MLB again but says that is not something he would consider until after he gauges his performance in the WBC.  

Bernie played to the crowd as they chanted and he was motioning to them to get louder as he stood behind GM Brian Cashman with huge grin on his face.  While all pastied involved realize there is virtually no posible scenario tha brings Williams back to the Bombers it was great to see him back in pinstripes.  I also believ that it should not be underestimated the impact a presonlaity like this can have on the young players as well as the vets.  During a time of great fluxuation and media scrutinty is was great to have a this guy in camp to keep it loose and fun.  Derek Jeter stayed out on the field for the entire practice fielding gorunders and palying with his former teammate and buddy.   

 

Joba Who? 

As the debate continues on how to use Joba Chamberlein a new name appears to have emergered as his possible replacement and maybe that of closer Mariano Rivers.  Mark Melancon a 23 yr old RHP has impressed all at Yankees camp thus far,  This prospect has been viewed internally as the possible heir apparent to Mo.  But he is not ready to accept that or dismiss it just yet.

“I think it’s able to be done, so I’m excited for that,

“ Melancon said. “I’m excited that people are throwing that out there, but I know it’s not true until I make it true.”  

The young hard throwing righty made a few Yankee regulars look bad during BP including Derek Jeter who minutes before he smurked at Melancon after his 12-6 curveball made him look silly was chirping towards the mound after he shatteres Robinson Cano’s bat yelling, “Get him, Mark, get him!”

While the Yankees are in rush to put this kid in the pen they seem to agree he has a bright future and a chance to start the year with the big club in NY according to catcher Jorge Posada.

“We’ll see how he progresses,” Posada said. “I think they don’t really want to rush him right now. They want him to get a full year in and see what happens. But he’s got a bright future. There’s no doubt about that.”

These sentiments were retiterrated by mananger Joe Girardi when asked about the rookie..

“I think we’d like to see him get his feet wet before we start talking about that,” Girardi said. “Those are extremely big shoes to fill. But he’s got a chance to learn. He’s got a chance to be around a lot of big leaguers here and a lot of guys that have a lot of experience. That’s good for him.

”  His ball cuts, it sinks, it’s got late life to it,” Girardi said”That usually translates into swings and misses, and not solid contact.”  

I predict that Melancon is a major part of the Yankee bullpen rotation and along with Biran Bruney will become the 7/8th staples alng the bridge to Mo.

….more to come