In addition to my usual Yankees Chick posts, I have also begun writing regularly for AOL's FanHouse blog on all things AL East. I will post the beginnings of those articles here on YC, and then you'll have to click the link to jump on over to FH to read the rest... stick with me here, amigos! --------------------------------------------------------
Most everyone from fans to teams concur that Spring Training doesn't "mean" anything, but I am of the mindset that it means different things for different players. In the case of veterans, the most important thing is to just get a good workout and stay un-injured (eeeeeasy does it, Painvano). On the other side of the spectrum, Spring Training is a very important time for the young fellows. These games serve as a great rehearsal for the kids with limited experience and allows the coaches/managers to get a feel for how (or if) they can use their youngsters in the coming season.
In the olden days when the Yankees were essentially a group of expensive elderly gentlemen Spring Training was not much more than a month-long batting practice session. Nowadays, much to the collective satisfaction of us Yankees fans, New York is home to three of the top young pitchers in the league. I am, of course, referring to Philip Hughes, Ian Kennedy, and the illustrious Joba Chamberlain. At this point in the spring they've each pitched enough innings for us to take a gander at their performances, evaluate, and make some guesses about how they're going to perform in the coming season. Join me as I do just that!
Check out their vital stats and my truly vital opinions of them after the jump!
Labels: fanhouse articles, jobamania, spring training |