My Pinstripes Alpha

New Big Unit to Debut Soon

We all heard good things about Andrew Brackman when the Yankees drafted the 6'10" pitcher with their first pick in the 2007 draft. But we quickly learned the NC State product would also need Tommy John surgery, meaning he wouldn't be contributing to the Yankees any time soon. That's all about to change.

Lisa Winston of MLB.com reports that Brackman is almost ready to make his professional debut. When pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training, Brackman should be ready to go. He was expected to pitch in the Gulf Coast League late last season, but an emergency appendectomy threw those plans out the window. He did get to throw in the Hawaiian Winter League.

Brackman went 3-4 with a 5.56 ERA, striking out 36 batters in 34 innings and limiting the league's batters to a .235 average. He went five or more innings in four of his starts, including three of the last four.
"His velocity was between 94-97 [mph], so he had no problems and he's ready to go for Major League camp," said Mark Newman, the Yankees' senior vice president of baseball operations. "His stuff is outstanding, and he's getting a feel for his delivery and throwing strikes. But first and foremost, he was healthy and, at times, dominant."
The delivery and mechanics are definitely the biggest challenge for Brackman, and not just because he has had so little mound time. For a pitcher of his size, there are both benefits and challenges.
"The benefits are the power and deception because the ball is released closer to the plate," Newman explained. "But the downside is you have long levers to manage, and it takes time. There aren't many of those guys in the environment to use as test cases, but most people believe that taller guys take a little longer to get their command."
That said, Newman added that Brackman has the advantage of being an exceptional athlete.
"To watch him run, he looks like he's 6-foot-2," Newman said of the young man who offsets that explosive heat with a knuckle curve and a developing changeup.

Here's hoping he can have a comparable career to the real Big Unit...with much less acrimony.

Labels: Andrew Brackman, New Big Unit to Debut Soon, Spring Training, Tommy John Surgery

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Day Dreaming of Tampa

Another snow storm on the way tomorrow. The grass still a frozen tundra from Wednesday's ice storm. Oh to be in Florida and warm. Yankees Spring Training tickets went on sale today. How nice would it be to go watch the workouts, get some autographs, and soak up the sun (Had to use that line as Sheryl Crow was just singing it on Pandora radio).

Section	Price
Lower Reserved	$31.00
Tampa Tribune Deck - Bar	$30.00
Lower Field Reserved	$29.00
Upper Reserved	$27.00
Tampa Tribune Deck - Table	$25.00
Upper Field Reserved	$17.00
GA Standing Room Only	$17.00

2009 Spring Training
Home Schedule
All times eastern and subject to change

Date	Opponent	Time
February 26	Rays	1:15 p.m.

February 28	Twins	1:15 p.m.

March 3	United States	1:15 p.m.
* Exhibition vs. United States *

March 5	Canada	1:15 p.m.
* Exhibition vs. Canada *

March 6	Tigers	7:15 p.m.

March 7	Braves	1:15 p.m.

March 9	Blue Jays	1:15 p.m.

March 10	Reds	7:15 p.m.

March 14	Astros	1:15 p.m.

March 15	Twins	1:15 p.m.

March 16	Phillies	1:15 p.m.

March 17	Pirates	7:15 p.m.

March 19	Blue Jays	7:15 p.m.

March 21	Tigers	1:15 p.m.

March 24	Red Sox	7:15 p.m.

March 27	Reds	7:15 p.m.

March 29	Pirates	1:15 p.m.

April 1	Phillies	1:15 p.m.

April 3	Cubs	7:05 p.m.
* At new Yankee Stadium *

April 4	Cubs	1:05 p.m.
* At new Yankee Stadium *

Labels: Day Dreaming of Tampa, Spring Training, Yankees Tickets

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Oh That Rob Thomson

The new Yankees bench coach is often mistaken for Robby Thompson, who played for 11 seasons for the San Francisco Giants in the '80s and '90s. This Rob Thomson has never played in the majors, but has held several positions in the Yankees over an 18 year period. Now he gets the biggest on-field opportunity as manager Joe Girardi's right hand man.

But as the Star Ledger's Ed Price tells us, Thomson will be completely prepared for the job. Thomson is the first one to arrive at the Yankees' spring training facility in Tampa, usually around 4 a.m.

Thomson has been planning the Yankees daily spring routine since 1998 and this year is no different. He makes his early arrival at the complex to fine tune the plan he put together the night before. And that plan include contingencies for the often wet Florida weather in February and March.

Thomson assigns the 30 major and minor league coaches and guest instructors to their daily duties. He also lines up catchers and pitchers so each get a "look" at each other.

Thomson's worth has not been lost on the most important man on the field.