It was a very happy bunch of players in the clubhouse today -- guys excited to get back to New York and play games that actually mean something. The exception is guys who found out in the last few days they wouldn't make the team. Even if they expected it (say, Kevin Thompson, Chris Basak, etc.), it's still a tough time to go back to Triple-A while witnessing the excitement of those on the Opening Day roster.
Here is the lineup for today's game, the last exhibition!
Tigers
Ivan Rodriguez C
Placido Polanco 2B
Gary Sheffield DH
Magglio Ordonez RF
Carlos Guillen SS
Sean Casey 1B
Craig Monroe LF
Curtis Granderson CF
Brandon Inge 3B
Mike Maroth P
Yankees
Johnny Damon CF
Derek Jeter SS
Bobby Abreu RF
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Jason Giambi DH
Hideki Matsui LF
Jorge Posada C
Robinson Cano 2B
Josh Phelps 1B
Kei Igawa P
Comments (12)
Jim Baumbach introduces his first web-only column today.
Tigers are playing "on the road" yet they field their starting lineup. What other evidence do you guys need to support my claim that the Tigers want to beat the Yankees badly?
Any thoughts on Damon coming to camp overweight and hitting so poorly? Does Johnny often start out like this but turns it on soo enough, or is there reason to worry about him?
Roy : Tiger regulars played 3 innings .How bad?
I see Andy Phillips cleared waivers. Who would have EVER thought that would happen? To hear half of you guys on this blog, you'd a thought 14 teams would have snatched him up in a heart beat!
The blog is deader than an aborted Pavano love child today...
1ST I get "regulars don't make road trips". Now "they only played 3 innings". That's not the best "song and dance" you've ever performed. But a valiant effort indeed.
Roy
You ready for battle?
We square off tomorrow at 20:05 EST
"Roy" : All Tiger regulars were at "Legends Field" today .The reason being ,they as well as Yankee players leave from the Tampa airport to fly north tonight...I give you every chance there is ,but yet ?
Just a question...what happened to Bubba Crosby?
Keith, here's what happened, and I quote:
"On November 10, 2006, the Cincinnati Reds signed Crosby for the 2007 season. Crosby agreed to a 1-year contract that pays $400,000 while he is in the majors, and $75,000 in the minors [2]. By signing him to a Major League deal, Cincinnati protected Crosby on its 40-man roster. But he was not assured a 25-man roster spot for Opening Day 2007, and went to spring training competing for a job as a reserve outfielder.
"We're getting a guy that's been on winning teams, that plays the game the right way, that always plays it hard and can play all three outfield positions," Reds general manager Wayne Krivsky said. "We're happy to have him." [3]
The Reds sent Crosby outright to Triple-A Louisville on March 24, 2007, however, a move that could make him a free agent. Crosby was out of Minor League options, and had to clear waivers first. Crosby has 72 hours to decide whether to accept the demotion. Crosby hit .276 in 16 games in spring training with one homer and seven RBIs.[4] "We just felt he was behind a couple of other guys for that spot," Krivsky said. "At the same time, doing it when we did -- he has the choice of maybe hooking on with someone else or reporting."
UPDATE ON BUBBA as of March 27 (again I quote):
"Reds announced OF Bubba Crosby and INF Mark Bellhorn accepted outright assignments to Triple-A Louisville. Both could have become free agents. We're surprised Crosby didn't take his chances elsewhere, but he obviously didn't think he could land a bench spot this late in the spring."
I thought Bellhorn was still with the Red Sox. I thought he was very good, as a matter of fact. Oh, well, that's what happens when you have an over-abundance of talent.