The Sports Xchange
MLB Team Report – New York Yankees – INSIDE PITCH
Mariano Rivera climbed atop a bullpen mound at George M. Steinbrenner Field during the first day of workouts, an unfamiliar sight for the Yankees in recent years.
But this isn’t just any year for the 43-year-old closer as he works his way back from last season’s torn ACL in his right knee.
“It was wonderful to be out there again, especially another spring training,” Rivera said. “I was grateful.”
Rivera was wearing a small brace on his surgically repaired knee and, although he may have been running a step slower during fielding drills, his delivery on the mound looked as smooth as ever.
“It looked normal to me,” manager Joe Girardi said. “It looked like the first day of spring training for any year that I’ve been here. The command was there, he took it nice and slow and didn’t try to overthrow. He’s been doing it for so long, I think he’s pretty aware of what he has to do.”
Rivera said he wasn’t even thinking about his knee as he threw his 25 pitches. While Rivera may have his share of doubters, the legendary closer believes he’ll be as good as ever by the time the season starts April 1.
“I always demand myself that,” Rivera said. “I’m looking for that. Otherwise I wouldn’t be here.”
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MLB Team Report – New York Yankees – NOTES, QUOTES
–3B Kevin Youkilis did some damage control Feb. 15 in the Yankees’ spring training camp after declaring a day earlier that he would always be a Red Sock.
The longtime Boston infielder in his first year with the Yankees quickly realized his faux pas.
“The one comment alone looks bad,” he said, according to ESPN.com. “Let’s be honest, I mean, the comment by itself looks terrible, but that was not what it was meant to be.”
Youkilis wanted Yankees fans to rest assured that, despite playing for the hated rival Red Sox for more than eight years, he’s happy to be in New York and proud to be a Yankee.
“I think the Yankee fans are going to love the fact that every day I’m going to bust my butt and get dirty on the field and do all that stuff,” he said.
Youkilis, who signed a $12 million contract in the offseason, will start the season at third base as Alex Rodriguez’s replacement. Rodriguez underwent hip surgery in January and isn’t expected back until after the All-Star break.
“I said, ‘Oh my God,’ that does not look good,” Youkilis said of his Thursday comment about being a Red Sox for life. “It is one of those things that you have to take with a grain of salt. It wasn’t meant to be like that. It was talking about the history of who I am.
“It wasn’t meant to be anything like, ‘My heart is in Boston,’ because honestly it wasn’t there. My heart is in New York. I’m excited to live in the city. I’m excited for the whole experience.”
–LHP CC Sabathia threw from a mound Feb. 15 for the first time since having elbow surgery last October.
Sabathia told reporters after the 29-pitch session that he was nervous as a small crowd of coaches and reporters looked on.
“Just because it was the first time doing it,” he said.
Sabathia had arthroscopic surgery during the offseason to clean out a bone spur in his left elbow.
“I’m not surprised (he was nervous),” manager Joe Girardi said. “When you have to kind of let it go a little bit, I think there’s probably going to be a little bit of nervousness, because you’re anxious to see what your arm is going to feel like when you get up there.”
–LHP Andy Pettitte flirted with the idea of playing for his old manager, Joe Torre, on Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. But after discussing the situation with the Yankees, who clearly didn’t want the 40-year-old taking part in the event, the left-hander decided to pass on the opportunity. “I want to be there for the organization, I want to be there for the team this year,” Pettitte said. “If something goes wrong, I want it to go wrong when I’m playing for this club.”
–RHP David Phelps posted a solid 3.77 ERA in 11 starts during his rookie campaign in 2012, but his work as a reliever — 2.76 ERA in 22 appearances –could work against him as the Yankees watch him and RHP Ivan Nova battle for the No. 5 starter job. “When we talk about our pitching staff, we talk about how they work together as 12 and not just five,” manager Joe Girardi said. “He did a really good job in that role, but we’re going to look at him as a starter going into camp because that’s what we project him as in the future. And we’ll make adjustments as we have to.”
–RHP Ivan Nova reported to camp looking to reclaim the No. 5 starter job after being dropped from the rotation late last season. Nova, who was not active on the postseason roster, said his first order of business before camp was to turn the page on 2012 and only look forward. “That’s the biggest thing right now,” Nova said. “Consistency during the year, stay healthy and try to do the best I can to do my job.”
–C Francisco Cervelli denied using any performance-enhancing drugs despite his link to the controversial Biogenesis clinic. He said the controversy won’t impact him as he battles C Chris Stewart and C Austin Romine for the starting catcher job. “This is my dream, since Day 1, to be a starting catcher,” Cervelli said. “I will be here, doing what I know, having fun, doing things right. I know my situation right now; no distractions, I just came here to play baseball.”
BY THE NUMBERS: 13 — C Austin Romine dropped 13 pounds this winter, reporting to spring training at 215. He put on some weight last season after suffering a back injury, but he said he feels more agile behind the plate at his current weight.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “It’s just exciting to see him out there, running around, feeling good. And having somebody in their 40s running around out there to talk to, it feels good.” — LHP Andy Pettitte, on being back on the field with RHP Mariano Rivera.
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MLB Team Report – New York Yankees – ROSTER REPORT
PROJECTED ROTATION:
1. LHP CC Sabathia
2. RHP Hiroki Kuroda
3. LHP Andy Pettitte
4. RHP Phil Hughes
5. RHP Ivan Nova or RHP David Phelps
Sabathia has finished among the top five in Cy Young voting in three of the past four seasons. He’ll be backed by 40-year-old Pettitte (who hasn’t had a full, healthy season since 2009) and 38-year-old Kuroda (coming off a career high in innings pitched). If those two can remain healthy and productive, and if Hughes can build off last year’s strong second half, the Yankees should have a dependable rotation.
A midseason boost could come from RHP Michael Pineda, who’s rehabbing from the shoulder surgery that cost him all of last season. If things go well, he could be back before the All-Star break.
PROJECTED BULLPEN:
RHP Mariano Rivera (closer)
RHP Dave Robertson
RHP Joba Chamberlain
RHP David Aardsma
LHP Boone Logan
LHP Clay Rapada
Rivera will step back into the ninth inning after missing most of last season with a torn ACL. Behind him, Robertson will once again play the setup role and Logan will be the top left-hander, but the impact of the bullpen could hinge on Chamberlain and Aardsma, each of whom had Tommy John surgery in 2011 and hardly pitched last year.
The minor league system has several notable relief prospects who could rise quickly and play a role this season. Most notable is Mark Montgomery, whose minor league strikeout totals have led some in the organization to compare him to Robertson.
PROJECTED LINEUP:
1. RF Ichiro Suzuki
2. SS Derek Jeter
3. 2B Robinson Cano
4. 1B Mark Teixeira
5. CF Curtis Granderson
6. DH Travis Hafner
7. 3B Kevin Youkilis
8. LF Brett Gardner
9. C Chris Stewart
Either Suzuki or Gardner could claim the leadoff spot, with Jeter likely to be bumped down to the No. 2 spot to help split the five left-handed hitters in the lineup.
Right-handed infielder Eduardo Nunez could see regular at-bats against lefties — either at shortstop or designated hitter — and the Yankees will choose one of a half-dozen candidates to be a right-handed platoon starter in the outfield.
The team has yet to choose a starting catcher, but last year’s backup, Stewart, could be considered the favorite heading into camp.
TOP ROOKIES:
C Austin Romine missed most of last season with a lingering back injury, but he played in nine games for the Yankees in 2011 and is well regarded for his defense. He’s a career .278 hitter in the minors and, if the Yankees think he’s ready for a regular role, he could be an offensive upgrade over the more experienced catching options.
OF Ronnier Mustelier has a chance to win a job as a backup third baseman and corner outfielder. The Yankees need a right-handed bat, and Mustelier hit .314 with 15 home runs between Double-A and Triple-A last season.
2B Corban Joseph hit 15 home runs last season and could find a role as a left-handed reserve to pinch-hit late in games and backup at second and third.
RHP Adam Warren made one spot start for the Yankees last year. He had a 2.98 Triple-A ERA in the second half and could do what David Phelps did last season: help the Yankees in long relief and put himself in consideration to start if necessary.
MEDICAL WATCH:
–SS Derek Jeter (left ankle surgery in October 2012) hopes to be ready for Opening Day. He began taking ground balls and batting practice in mid-January.
–LHP CC Sabathia (left elbow surgery in October 2012) said his elbow felt great as he reported to camp and began throwing. Sabathia was slated to throw his first bullpen session on Feb. 16.
–RHP Michael Pineda (right shoulder surgery in May 2012) continues to rehab after having a torn labrum repaired. He is unlikely to pitch before May or June. He began throwing off a half-mound in late January.
–3B Alex Rodriguez (left hip surgery in January) is in the early stages of rehab after having a torn labrum and hip deformity repaired. The Yankees are expecting to have him back after the All-Star break, but there’s a chance he could miss the entire season.
–RHP Mariano Rivera (right knee surgery in June 2012) threw 25 pitches off a mound on the first day of camp and believes he’ll be as good as ever by the time the season starts April 1.
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