Grading the New York Yankees' Third Spring Training Game

Most of the Yankee starters didn’t play and Joe Girardi gave a lot of young players a chance to prove themselves. Brett Gardner seems to have the upper hand over Melky Cabrera to start in center field. After Ian Kennedy pitched, the bullpen didn’t fare too well. The Yankees lost to the Minnesota Twins by a score of 5-4.

A+ Brett Gardner

Gardner is off to a hot start and has the upper hand to start in center field. He went 2 for 2 with one run scored and a walk. What Gardner brings to the table is speed and he also had two stolen bases. His stolen base potential should make it an easier choice for Joe Girardi to pick a center fielder.

A Ian Kennedy

Ian Kennedy pitched two scoreless innings giving up one hit and one walk while striking out three batters. Good performance from him.

B+ Jorge Posada

Posada went 2 for 3 and raised his spring batting average to .800.

C Xavier Nady

Nady went 0 for 3, left four men on base but he did get an RBI.

D Melky Cabrera

He’s losing the battle to start in center field badly by going 0 for 3. His spring batting average is .000.

F Eric Hacker

He gave up one earned run on three hits while walking two. He better get his act together. He was my favorite minor leaguer last year!

F Andrew Brackman

Brackman pitched one inning and gave up one earned run.

F George Kontos

Kontos gave up one earned run on three hits in one inning of work for the blown save.

F Wilkins De La Rosa

De La Rosa didn’t make it out of the eighth inning. He pitched .2 of an inning while giving up two earned runs on two hits. He walked a batter as well.

As you can see, the Yankees’ bullpen was a failure today. Four F’s is not good!