The Sports Xchange
MLB Team Report – New York Yankees – INSIDE PITCH
Phil Hughes became the first Yankees player to sustain an injury this spring, suffering a bulging disk in his upper back Feb. 18 while participating in pitchers’ fielding practice.
Hughes will miss between one and two weeks as he treats his back with anti-inflammatory medication and rest, then moves on to pool work. The right-hander, expected to be the Yankees’ No. 4 starter this season, said Feb. 20 he hopes to pick up a ball within a week.
“I threw a bunch of bullpens before I got here,” Hughes said. “Thankfully it’s early enough in spring where, it’s a setback, but we still have a lot of time to get it right and not push it and make sure I’m 100 percent healthy. When I do pick up a ball in seven days, I won’t be too far behind in my throwing.”
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman didn’t appear to be too alarmed over Hughes’ situation, though he admitted that until the pitcher is back on the mound, it’s somewhat of a concern.
“Obviously, it’s something you wish you weren’t dealing with,” Cashman said. “He came into camp kind of ahead of schedule, so hopefully this two-week timeout overall won’t be that big a deal given that he worked so hard this winter.”
If the injury lingers longer than expected, Ivan Nova and David Phelps — who are battling for the No. 5 starter job — could both begin the season in the rotation.
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MLB Team Report – New York Yankees – NOTES, QUOTES
–SS Derek Jeter isn’t concerned with his surgically repaired left ankle as he begins his spring workouts, but the rest of his body is another story. Following a winter in which he was largely limited to his couch, Jeter said it will take a little longer for him to get back into baseball shape. “My leg feels fine,” Jeter said after the Yankees’ first full-squad workout. “Everything else feels a little rough, but my ankle feels good.”
–C Francisco Cervelli, C Chris Stewart and C Austin Romine are competing for the two catching spots on the roster, but manager Joe Girardi said their offensive numbers this spring are unlikely to be the deciding factor. “I don’t think you’re going to get up with what they do offensively as much as how they’re handling our staff,” Girardi said. “As a catcher, a catcher usually gets less at-bats than a position player, because you’re not ready to catch as much. So I’m not going to get too caught up in it. I’ll watch their at-bats, to see the quality of their at-bats, but for me, the defense is the number-one thing.”
–2B Robinson Cano addressed his pending free agency next fall, saying that while he wants to remain with the Yankees for the remainder of his career, he said he isn’t planning to focus on his contract situation until after the season. Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner said he has had preliminary discussions with agent Scott Boras, discussing a “significant” offer for the All-Star, though it remains unlikely Cano will sign a new deal before becoming a free agent.
–SS Eduardo Nunez will get plenty of playing time this spring as SS Derek Jeter works his way back from last fall’s ankle surgery, but manager Joe Girardi said that Nunez’s spot on the Opening Day roster was not guaranteed. “He has to earn it,” Girardi said. “We’ve got to toy with some different options, but we liked what he did at the end of last year. We know he provides a lot of excitement. Our plans are probably to keep him at short for the most part, we did talk about that, but he does have to earn it.”
–RHP Mark Montgomery, a highly touted relief prospect, missed a few days of workouts with lower back soreness. Montgomery felt the soreness over Presidents Day weekend, but he played catch Feb. 19 and was slated to throw a bullpen session Feb. 22. Montgomery, 22, went a combined 7-2 with 15 saves and a 1.54 ERA in Class A and Class AA last year.
BY THE NUMBERS: 2 — Only two players — 1B Mark Teixeira and 2B Robinson Cano — will be missing from Yankees camp during the World Baseball Classic, the fewest Yankees to participate in the event during its three editions. LHP Andy Pettitte and C Francisco Cervelli contemplated participating before deciding to stay with the team.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “It was close. I was so scared. It’s been a long time that you’re not used to the speed. Now the first day, it’s behind my head, I was so scared; I didn’t want to hit anymore.” — SS Eduardo Nunez, after being knocked to the ground by a stray pitch from RHP Joba Chamberlain during the Yankees’ first live batting practice session.
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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:
–RHP Phil Hughes (bulging disk in upper back) was hurt Feb. 18, and he was shut down until early March.
–SS Derek Jeter (left ankle surgery in October 2012) hopes to be ready for Opening Day.
–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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