Major League Baseball denied statements of a Cuban official indicating that the Orioles were set to play the Cuban national team in Havana this year, as Eduardo Encina of the Baltimore Sun reports. The league is clearly interested in forging ties with the neighboring country, but is also proceeding quite cautiously given the still-uncertain political situation.
- Recently-recalled Orioles catcher Steve Clevenger says that he primarily focused on improving his defense during his minor league stint to open the year, as Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com reports. Of course, he also put up some impressive numbers at the plate. Discussing the move manager Buck Showalter made clear that Clevenger is playing as much for next year — when the team will see Matt Wieters reach free agency — as for this one, when Wieters will likely force him back to Triple-A. “I try to be blunt to a fault about what they need to do when they’re there,” Showalter said. “I talked about continue to be engaged with the pitcher and catching and throwing. I said, ’You’re going to be out of options next year, you’re going to control all this.’ I said, ’Try to present yourself for us and everybody else in the game as good as possible. Go down there and lead the league in hitting.'”
- Yankees center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury could miss a month or more with his knee injury, skipper Joe Girardi told reporters, including NJ.com’s Ryan Hatch. While the club has received excellent production from Chris Young and can also use Slade Heathcott in center to spot him and take the platoon advantage, a prolonged absence from Ellsbury is a major hit to New York. On the plus side, the Yankees ought to have a handle on Ellsbury’s progress well in advance of the trade deadline.
Chris Young has been terrible. And now later on the Yankees face the other Chris Young who somehow has had a Cy Young caliber season
Wow, no pressure for Clevenger. Manager only wants him to lead AAA in hitting
That statement from Showalter had some, “we want you to go down to the mail room and be the beat softer there. Who knows? Maybe another company will see you.”
You never want a guy like Ellsbury out for too long of a stretch, but at least they get to get a good look at Heathcott at the MLB level, and Chris Young in a more concentrated dose. Definitely not a panic button situation
Oh it can be a panic situation if both Heathcott and Young struggle. Young has an 11 (yes Eleven) wRC+ in the month of May. But very thankful Heathcott is off to a hot start and Yankees gotta hope it stays that way. Thankfully Beltran is hitting well again and even Headley has been a bit better lately (with that bat, certainly not glove)
Well, it’s certainly not ideal, but it’s also not terrible. Young has definitely cooled off, but at least he’s solid in the field and had bits of production, and Heathcott has handled his first chance up pretty well so far, both swinging the bat and fielding. If it doesn’t work out, they’ve also got Flores in AAA as a potential call up option they could try, but that’s far from imminent. Also, Beltran has been a pleasant surprise, hasn’t he?(well,offensively) Headley now is hitting right where most had expected he’d be, but Beltran has surprised with his hit streak and hot month.
Well as long as 2 of the 3 (Beltran, Young, Heathcott) play average to above average on offense, I think they’ll be okay. No doubt this Ellsbury loss is huge though.
Showalter and his musings! SMH!
Like he is going to play Clevenger.
He hardly played Lavarnway,
He turned Joseph into something he is not: A full-time player.
PS Bristling and SMH with a frowny face! =P
Ellsbury injured? Who could possibly have anticipated that? Going to be a long year for my fellow Yankee fans. Let’s hope Cashman doesn’t compound things by making a bad trade.
He’s only got two or Three more years left on his contact !
Nonsense. Cashman will sit on his hands again while Boston and LA make all the moves before the trade deadline.
Boston in all likelihood will Have to make moves, and what does LA have to do with the Yankees?
Phillies have abundance of outfielders , including Bennie the Jet, for a fair to meddling relief Pitcher. He steals bases and hits triples. He might even hit 10 home runs in Little League Yankee stadium right field section.