Notes and Observations

Here are some of my observations from tonight’s spring training game between the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees as we get closer to the regular season.

 

 

-Scott Downs began the game and pitched well.  Casey Janssen pitched the second inning and looked exceptional, striking out the side. Though he was “effectively wild” when he struck out A-Rod, he demonstrated a nasty change to get Jorge Posada.  He has been K’ing guys left and right this spring and is throwing much harder than last year. Word on the street is that he suffered in silence through a back injury last season.

-Brian Tallet has been outrighted to Syracuse

-AJ Burnett went 7 strong today against the Philadelphia minor leaguers and was throwing free and easy, touching 95 on the gun most times.  His power curve was in full effect.

-Pitcher Jason Scobie gave up an opposite field moonshot to A-Rod before getting Matsui to ground out to end the inning.  Jays GM JP Ricciardi joined the broadcast for an inning described him as a AAAA type guy who pitched well in Syracuse.  After the inning the camera cut to the dugout and there was Gregg Zaun calling over Scobie to console him and go over what happened. For a guy like Scobie who has no hope of making the team, Gregg Zaun didn’t have to say two words to him about it but he did and that shows the kind of ball player Zaunie is.

-Rosario flashed an impressive slider, JP remarked how if two guys are equal and one is out of options, he is more likely to head north with the big club.  This is the case for Rosario, I would expect him to head north if he doesn’t get traded.

-Rios has been a jackrabbit, stealing 2 bags this game.

-In my opinion, Troy Glaus is not looking very comfortable at the plate. He keeps missing pitches that he should be crushing.

-The Jays brought in an A ball pitcher named Danny Core and he threw meatballs that the Yankee pitchers crushed. He must have been jittery facing possible future hall of famers. He later started pitching from the stretch and settled down a little bit, albeit against the Yankees’ scrubs.

-Zaun has frosted his tips big time. Looking sharp.

-I got to see hot shot prospect Chip Cannon for the first time.  He looked overmatched and had poor strike zone judgement in the one at bat I saw of him.

-The DP combo of Royce Clayton and Aaron Hill looks slick.

-Yankees right handed reliever Colter Bean has a sidearm delivery and he was pitching the nastiness tonight. I wonder if he makes the big club? Probably not as I’ve never heard of him but he brings filthy breaking pitches.