Sunday, March 16, 2014

AB4AR 2014 Season Preview: Season Storylines Wrap-Up

Week 1 of the 2014 AB4AR Season Preview series is in the books, which means the start of the regular season is right around the corner.  If you were going to sum up the major storylines for the upcoming season with 1 word, I think that word would be "different".  Everything about this season feels a little different, including the offseason that was.  If you missed any of the individual "Season Storylines" posts from this past week, here they are.

- A Rotation in Transition

- Platoon City

- Tanakapalooza!

- Bridging The Gap

- The Captain Hangs 'Em Up

Starting tomorrow afternoon, we move into Week 2 of the season preview with the "What We Know & What We Don't Know" series, which breaks down the team by position group to get an idea of what the Opening Day roster is going to look like and what its strengths and weaknesses will be.  That series get started with the infield tomorrow.

Report: Ellsbury Scratched From Today's Lineup

Well this isn't good news.  There was a report that Jacoby Ellsbury didn't take BP yesterday morning, but that turned out to be nothing because he hit inside instead so I don't think the 2 stories are related.  But being taken out of the lineup for health reasons is never a good thing.  Jack Curry said Ellsbury told Rob Thomson about it this morning and the decision was made.  According to Wally Matthews, Ellsbury is being called day-to-day right now and will not make the trip for the road game tomorrow.

Spring Training News And Notes: 3/15/14

It was day 1 of the 2-day split squad series in Panama yesterday, and it didn't get off to the start the Yanks were hoping for as they lost both games.

- Back in the states, the Yanks fell 2-1 to the Orioles.  Vidal Nuno threw 4 scoreless innings with 3 Ks, allowing just 1 hit and 1 walk.  Brian Roberts went 2-3 against his former team.

- In the Panama nightcap, the Yankees were actually no-hit by the Marlins in a 5-0 loss.  Adam Warren was pretty good (4.1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K) but got no help.  The group of MLB regulars in the starting lineup went a combined 0-14 with 6 Ks and 1 BB.

- Larry Rothschild indicated that Masahiro Tanaka may start the 4th game of the regular season as a way to give him an extra day of rest.  Tanaka makes his latest ST start today.

- Eduardo Nunez is fine after getting spiked in Friday's game.  Russ Canzler has been getting treatment for some hip stiffness.