Freddy Garcia Making Case for 5th Spot in Starting Rotation

TAMPA — It has been widely assumed that Freddy Garcia will be the odd man out of the Yankees’ rotation competition this spring, and while that still may ultimately be the case, the veteran plans on making that decision difficult for Joe Girardi.  Garcia tossed three shutout innings Friday against a Braves split squad, setting the tone in the Yankees’ 3-0 win at Steinbrenner Field. “Like I’ve said before, I’ve got to pitch good to earn the spot,” Garcia said. “I don’t want to take it for granted. I got to go out there and pitch. That’s all I can do.” Though Ivan Nova has allowed six earned runs over his first 4 2/3 innings (11.57 ERA), Girardi has said he’s not putting too much stock in a pitcher’s first start or two as his hurlers get their legs underneath them. Still, Garcia — traditionally a bad spring pitcher — knows that every game he throws will be an important one as he attempts to defy the odds and capture a spot for the second straight spring. “It’s important; doesn’t matter, first couple of starts, every start I want to go out there and try to pitch the best I can pitch,” said Garcia, who allowed one hit and one walk while striking out two. “That’s the point, to get people out. I got five pitches and I’m trying to throw every pitch." Girardi called Garcia’s outing “vintage Freddy,” noting that the 35-year-old is keeping himself entrenched in the competition. “There’s stages in your career: proving you can play, then just getting ready, then again proving that you can still play. I think, for Freddy, he’s in a competition. I believe Freddy can still pitch, though. The best thing for me is to have a tough, tough decision come April 6.”  Full Story

Freddy Garcia took a big step toward winning the 5th starting spot in the rotation with his first two outings in spring training. Yesterday against the Braves, Garcia allowed one hit, one walk, and struck out two to get the victory. He's effectively using all five of his pitches, and when he got behind in the count, made the right pitches to get out of the inning. Compared to Ivan Nova and Phil Hughes, Garcia is actually looking the most consistent right now. Even though he was hammered by the Red Sox and other better teams last year, at 35, he does have coveted veteran experience and went 12-8 as a starter. I still maintain that the 5th spot is Hughes to lose, but if he can't get his act together then fuck em' let's go with Garcia. Better wake up Phil, Sweaty Freddy is about to put you back in the bullpen.

Yeah, I said it Phil.