MLB 13 The Show: RTTS Starting Pitcher Career (Year 3) - Hapshoops32's Dynasty

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MLB 13 The Show: RTTS Starting Pitcher Career (Year 3)

Posted on November 25, 2013 at 03:05 PM.

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HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL: HAPPEL, YANKS RETURN TO FLORIDA
Fans, Team Searching for Better Season in 2015

February 14, 2015
TAMPA, Florida (OS) - Pitchers and catchers reported for Spring Training today at George Steinbrenner field in Tampa looking forward to a new season and, hopefully, a much better 2015. Among those doing everything they can to forget about last year's horrible season and look ahead to this year was second year starting pitcher Brian Happel. The 20-year-old right-hander has been in Tampa training for several weeks now.

"Honestly, I just couldn't wait to get back. Last season was tough for all of us. But, that's in the past. I want to do whatever I can to make sure I'm prepared for the new year, and help my teammates get ready, as well."

Happel had a banner year as a rookie, leading the league in both ERA (2.14) and WHIP (0.92). He also had an eye popping 223 strikeouts and finished second in voting for American League Rookie of the Year in his inaugural campaign. C.C. Sabathia returns for a potentially lethal one-two punch at the top of the rotation, and Robinson Cano is looked as good as ever last year. But, in an offseason in which New York was unusually quiet, many are wondering how this year can be different.

"We're looking for big things from some young guys we've got coming up. Plus, with Brian, C.C. and Robbie, we think we've got a good core. I think we'll be much more competitive than last year," said Yanks skipper Joe Girardi.

MLB Major Free Agent Signings
POS	PLAYER	TEAM	YEARS	MONEY
C	Buster Posey	Boston Red Sox	1	$4.1 Mil.
SS	Elvis Andrus	Tampa Bay Rays	3	$10.5 Mil.
SP	Brett Anderson	Minnesota Twins	5	$23.3 Mil.
1B	Paul Goldschmidt	Milwaukee Brewers	1	$12.6 MIl.
SS	Troy Tulowitzki	Cincinnati Reds	8	$131 Mil.

There were clearly a few blockbuster deals in the offseason around the majors, including the signings of Buster Posey in Boston and Troy Tulowitzki in Cincinnati. One thing the Bronx Bombers were able to do was lock up Happel for a few years, anyway. The team signed its young ace to a three-year, $1.5 million deal in mid-November. One thing to look for this Spring is the pitcher's development of the slider. He says he learned it during the winter and had an incredible teacher: Randy Johnson, one of the best to throw a slider ever from the left side.

Brian Happel Pitch Ratings
PITCH	VEL	CTL	BRK	STATUS
4 Seam FB	99	92	93
Curveball	94	92	91
Circle Change	89	91	92
Slider	77	78	77

Expect Happel to continue working on that slider, which right now tops out at a ridiculous 91 miles per hour, all part of plan to devastate hitters even further in 2015. As for the rest of the Yankees squad, time will tell.