Pirates at ‘Confident’ Yankees ST Game Preview

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The Yankees feel confident they will win the World Series again, because as Mark Texiera said, “they are the Yankees.”  Wow.  Congratulations, arrogant World Champions.  It appears the Yankees are making sure the other teams in the league know that confidence is not lacking from thei ballclub.

The Pirates will face Yankee fifth starter candidate Chad Gaudin in the lidlifter on the Grapefruit League season.  Five or six Yankees who will be in the opening day starting lineup will be in the lineup today at Legends Field.  

The Yankees also anticipate to get the following pitchers some work in the game.  Sergio Mitre, Alfredo Aceves, Jonathan Albaladejo, Wilkins Arias, Jason Hirsh, Royce Ring, Amaury Sanit and Zack Segovia.    Pinstripe Alley looks at the eleven pitchers vying for one spot on the Bronx Bombers roster.

The Pirates will send the following pitchers to the bump tomorrow.  Ross Ohlendorf, Brian Bass, D.J. Carrasco, Chris Jakubauskas, Steven Jackson, Jack Taschner, and Jean Machi, who had a solid AFL season will close it out for the Bucs.  Most of the regular Bucs are on the traveling squad to Tampa.

Lineup:

Cutch, Aki, GFJ, Doumit, ChurchDH, Milledge, Clement, LaRoche, Cedeno in the nine hole.

The exhibition game against the hated Manatees is a great time to have some fun. It’s a great fundraiser, but if you’re anything like me, let’s see the real thing.

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Billy Crystal had a hell of a birthday present two years ago at Legends Field in Tampa versus the Bucs. Crystal was the Yankees lead off hitter and went 3-1 in the count before Pirate pitcher Paul Maholm threw two fastballs past Crystal.  The moment is detailed in this post

I love watching Ryan Doumit gun the ball down to third immediately like Crystal is just another hitter, but then Derek Jeter gets the ball for Crystal: