Yankees baseball blog

Selig fails to stir Sheff

Major League Baseball formally announced its investigation into steroid use yesterday, which meant another round of reporters' questions for Jason Giambi and Gary Sheffield. The responses from the two stars were predictable: Giambi said he believes he's done all he can to explain his actions in the past and Sheffield seemed irritated with having to deal with the issue once more. Both players, however, indicated they likely would cooperate with an investigation, though Sheffield hardly seemed excited about the prospect. "If I have to, I will," Sheffield said. "I'll do whatever the law (requires) me to do, but other than that, it's a waste of my time." Continue

Pavano fallin' behind

Carl Pavano is hurt again. After Pavano threw one inning in a Double-A game yesterday, Joe Torre said he wasn't sure when the $40 million investment would pitch again due to a bruised rear end the pitcher suffered when he fell covering first base Tuesday night.

"I don't think we can schedule him until the soreness gets out," Torre said of Pavano, who will open the season on the DL while he builds arm strength lost due to a balky back. "It's not related to why he is behind everybody." Pavano was gone from the Legends Field clubhouse by the time Torre described Pavano's latest physical problem. Last year, Pavano pitched only 17 games before being shut down with a right shoulder injury that didn't require surgery. Continue

Backup plan for Big Unit?

Randy Johnson and Jorge Posada pledged to forge a stronger relationship this spring, and in the beginning, it seemed they were succeeding. Illness and injury (Posada got sick and then broke his nose) got in the way, and the Unit finished his spring training having thrown only seven of his 29-1/3 innings to the Yanks' starting catcher.

Considering that, it was no surprise that Joe Torre fielded questions yesterday about whether he's considering having backup Kelly Stinnett catch Johnson during Monday's opener in Oakland. Torre said he's sticking with Posada for the time being, but didn't rule out returning to last year's routine, in which Johnson pitched to the backup catcher (last year it was John Flaherty) instead. Continue

Pavano dives right in

The ball was trickling along the first base line and Carl Pavano - he of the balky back - lumbered after it. Pavano bent down, fielded the grounder and, in a move that could hardly be called graceful, tumbled to the ground and tagged the bag with his glove as he rolled. For just a moment, everyone feared the worst. Pavano was making his spring debut two days before the Yankees leave Florida because he's been nursing an injury and this couldn't have helped. But Pavano came up smiling, shot a goofy look at Joe Torre and pitching coach Ron Guidry - who was laughing hysterically - and then proceeded back to the mound to finish his lone inning of work.

He threw 11 more pitches after that - one of which Chase Utley hit over the right field fence - and exited having allowed one run and one hit in the Yankees' 3-0 loss to the Phillies. He spoke afterward about being pleased with his velocity (which reached 92 mph, according to YES Network radar) as well as his command, but conceded that his flop into first will almost surely be the lingering memory from his first appearance since last Aug. 3. Continue

Randy beans ma of love child

Randy Johnson has a secret love child - and the Yankees superstar is playing hardball with the girl's mom, it was revealed yesterday. The flame-throwing lefty, who makes $16 million a year, is suing ex-girlfriend Laurel Roszell for less than $100,000 in child-care payments for their daughter Heather, now 16, according to court papers revealed by The Smoking Gun Web site. Continue

Pavano set to throw one inning tonight

The Yankees have a great deal (Great deal? That remains to be seen) invested in the one inning Carl Pavano is scheduled to pitch in Tampa tonight against the Phillies in what will not only mark the 30-year-old's first appearance of the spring, but also his first in a game since he made a rehab start in the Florida State League last Aug. 3.

Pavano, who went on the DL on June 28 with what was finally diagnosed as rotator cuff tendinitis, and is entering the second year of a four-year, $40 million contract, reported to camp with back problems. Under the direction of athletic trainer Gene Monahan, the Yankees have taken an extremely cautious approach this spring. Continue

Posada's nose a sore spot

Jorge Posada returned to camp yesterday sporting two black eyes and not free of the headaches that came with a fractured nose. "If I touch it, it is sore," Posada said. "But I feel much better." Posada didn't know when he would catch again, but he did hit and throw yesterday. He was told not to run. Today he will see an ophthalmologist, but he said there is "no problem with my vision." He also will have the packing removed from the nose.

Posada was injured when he was struck last Wednesday after taking his eye off a ball thrown by catcher Kelly Stinnett. "It's not his fault," Posada said of his backup. "It was my fault. I got distracted by another ball." Continue

Chien-Ming dinged

On a day when Jorge Posada returned to Legends Field for the first time since breaking his nose Wednesday night, the Yankees watched starting pitcher Chien-Ming Wang limp off the field in the top of the third inning of yesterday's game against Detroit.

With one out, Tigers leadoff batter Curtis Granderson whacked a sharp, one-hop grounder that ricocheted off Wang's right kneecap. Wang was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa, where X-rays were negative. The Taiwanese righty later talked with reporters at his locker and said he expects to make his next spring training start Friday in Arizona unless the pain and swelling is too severe today. "No problem," said Wang, who had a gauze wrap around the knee. He left the stadium joking and in good spirits. Continue

Randy's dandy

You didn't need to hear Randy Johnson's words to understand the Yankees' ace is ready for his second season in pinstripes. You didn't require catcher Kelly Stinnett to describe how well Johnson pitched yesterday against the Twins at Lee County Stadium. Joe Torre explained Johnson's outing very well, but it amounted to being told Jessica Alba is hot.

All you had to do was watch Johnson's fastball get clocked at 94-95 mph and notice the teeth his slider possessed. Then, as a final clue that the Yankees' Opening Day starter is ready for April 3 and the A's, you simply had to look at the feeble hacks the Twins took. Continue

Posada could miss start of season

Jorge Posada told Joe Torre he still wasn't feeling well yesterday, and the Yankees aren't counting on their catcher to be ready for Opening Day. If Posada recovers from a fractured nose in time to catch Randy Johnson on April 3 in Oakland, the Yankees certainly will welcome him back. However, they aren't going to push it. "Whether it's Opening Day or two days later, it's no big deal for us," Torre said yesterday after speaking with Posada, who suffered the injury Wednesday night playing catch. Continue

Drop Dad

Jason Giambi yesterday railed against the authors of "Game of Shadows" for dragging his father, John, into the book that hit stores yesterday and focuses mainly on Barry Bonds' alleged steroid use. "I think it's pathetic," Giambi said. "To do that to my father is pathetic. It hurts."

In excerpts of "Game of Shadows," it was reported that Giambi began using steroids to please his perfection-seeking father. Yesterday, Mark Fainaru-Wada, who wrote the book with Lance Williams, said that got twisted around. Continue

Sheff denies book allegations of 'roid use

With the steroid spotlight back on Gary Sheffield, he essentially sneered and shrugged, denying the latest allegations of drug use in his colorful manner. "Game of Shadows," the explosive book written by two San Francisco Chronicle reporters, focused predominantly on detailing Barry Bonds' steroid use, but it also stated Sheffield used injectable testosterone and human growth hormone in January 2002.

When Sheffield -- who reportedly told the BALCO grand jury in December 2003 that he unknowingly used steroids -- was informed of the allegation yesterday, he loudly said, "Great!" after each drug was mentioned. When asked if it is true, he said, "Nope." Continue

Yankees, Sox turn up heat

It was only an exhibition game but there was still some typical Rivalry emotion between the Yankees and Red Sox last night after three players got hit by pitches during the Bombers' 5-4 victory. Sox manager Terry Francona was upset about Tanyon Sturtze hitting Mike Lowell in the ribs with a eighth-inning fastball.

Although Sturtze claimed innocence, the Sox felt it was in response to David Riske hitting Derek Jeter - with a breaking ball - an inning earlier. Mike Myers also hit J.T. Snow in the seventh. "Actually I wasn't too pleased about it," Francona said. "Derek got hit with a (split-finger fastball). We knew it, they knew it.... I'm not too happy about it but you have to ask the man who threw it." Continue

Wang shows a minor flaw

At least Mike Mussina was spanked by big league hitters Monday. Yesterday at a windy minor league complex Chien-Ming Wang, who could wind up being the Yankees' No. 3 starter, was paddled by Syracuse while pitching for Columbus (Triple-A).

Working 32/3 innings for Columbus because the Yankees were off, Wang gave up five runs, seven hits (two homers), walked two and fanned three. Wang was flying open with his left shoulder, so he left everything up in the strike zone and was hit hard in the first two innings. In his final two frames, Wang was able to get the ball down, and retired six of the last seven batters. Continue

Pain Clouds

Carl Pavano might not be ready by April 15, the first time a fifth starter will be needed. Jaret Wright spent yesterday on a trainer's table getting treatment for back spasms. Aaron Small is sidelined with a hamstring injury. And Mike Mussina gave up 10 runs on 12 hits in four innings against the Tigers yesterday.

Opening Day is 13 days away and the Yankees pitching is a bigger question mark than ever. When Pavano wasn't able to join the regular throwing program at the start of camp, it was assumed he would be available April 15. However, Joe Torre dampened that story yesterday, saying he wasn't sure Pavano would be ready. Continue

Damon confident his shoulder's OK

Johnny Damon returned to Yankee camp yesterday with Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Bernie Williams and confidently predicted his ailing left shoulder would be well enough for him to play center field by Opening Day, April 3. "It was a temporary setback," Damon said of the tendinitis that was discovered last week by Dr. Lewis Yocum while the outfielder was playing for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. Continue

Pitching to Rocket

Roger Clemens said goodbye when the U.S. was eliminated from the World Baseball Classic but no one will be surprised if the Rocket shows up on the mound at some point this season. That's why Clemens got several sales pitches during the WBC, including a couple from those who hope he returns to the Yankees. Derek Jeter said "maybe" with a big smile when asked if he tried to sway Clemens, and Johnny Damon admitted he did what he could, too.

"I wish I could bear-hug him and twist his arm but he's a pretty big guy," Damon said. "We definitely want him. Hopefully when he makes his decision, the Yankees will come up first." The Yankees, Red Sox, Astros and Rangers have expressed interest and one of Clemens' agents, Alan Hendricks, met recently with Boston GM Theo Epstein. That encounter was termed to be nothing more than a routine spring training visit and Randy Hendricks, another of Clemens' agents, said he has already been to Yankees camp. Continue

After 22 seasons, Leiter says: I'm done

Only twice in Al Leiter's pitching career did he get tears in his eyes on the mound. One was when he was taken out of Game 5 of the 2000 World Series after 142 pitches, knowing he had given all he had. The other was the Yankees' exhibition game yesterday, when he knew pretty much the same thing.

Leiter retired yesterday and wanted to make one last appearance. So he walked in from the bullpen with Yankees spring training instructor Gil Patterson, who was his first pitching coach 22 years ago, warmed up to Springsteen music, retired the Indians' Eduardo Perez on a 3-and-2 grounder and walked off to the rest of his life. "Whatever," he said, "that will be." Continue

Winning by losing

America's loss is the Yankees' gain. Because Team USA was eliminated from the World Baseball Classic on Thursday night, Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter and Johnny Damon will rejoin the Yankees tomorrow when they host the Indians at Legends Field. Had the U.S. squad advanced to Monday night's final, the trio of stars wouldn't have been back until Wednesday at the earliest. "The negative thing by [Team USA] losing turned out to be a benefit for us," Joe Torre said. "Now we don't have to cram it through the last week or 10 days." Continue

In arm's way

The pre-camp plan was to take a dozen pitchers. Now, with Carl Pavano definitely starting the season on the disabled list and Aaron Small a strong candidate to join Pavano, Joe Torre is thinking 11 arms might be enough. "Let's get to there and see what our needs are," Torre said yesterday when asked if Pavano and Small would be replaced by non-pitchers. "I think there is a possibility of starting the season with 11, but I don't think it's realistic to start with 10."

From the moment camp opened, Torre had an inkling Pavano wouldn't be ready by Opening Day. Though Pavano and Torre have been encouraged by the pitcher's progress from a back problem, everybody has resigned themselves to Pavano starting where he finished last season - on the DL. Continue

Johnny: 'I'll be ready for season'

Johnny Damon is suffering from tendinitis in the rotator cuff area of his left shoulder. He had the shoulder examined Tuesday by Dr. Lewis Yocum. Damon resumed batting practice yesterday with Team USA after a two-day break and said that if this were the regular season he would be able to play center field. "I'll be all right," said Damon, who also had an MRI. "I'll be ready when the season starts. I'm not too concerned, just for the short time, not the long term."

Damon said he does not want to push it and play the outfield in tonight's game against Mexico. It's likely he will be replaced on the roster if the U.S. advances to San Diego. "We do have to obey the wishes of the Yankees, so that's what we're doing," Damon said of the reason why he is not playing. He added he would like to stay with Team USA. "But it's not my decision, that's up to Buck [Martinez]). Too many times players, they think they can make the calls for the GM, make the calls for this thing or that. I'm not that guy." Continue

Damon's injury irritates Yanks

Johnny Damon won't throw for at least a week because of a sore left shoulder and - even if he wouldn't talk about it - it seems George Steinbrenner is just plain sore over an injury to his $52 million center fielder that was revealed at the World Baseball Classic, a tournament Steinbrenner was opposed to from the start.

"Nothing to say," Steinbrenner said when approached by reporters at the Yankees' spring camp in Tampa. Asked why not, Steinbrenner perhaps referred to comments he made earlier this spring about his concern over his players getting hurt: "I've said it all," Steinbrenner said. Continue

Strong early, Unit fades out

For four innings yesterday, Randy Johnson's fastball looked great and his slider was tilting like a top. The Big Unit looked ready for Opening Day. Until the fifth inning came around. At that point, Johnson's stamina was exposed by the Cardinals.

His outing became a reminder that the regular season doesn't begin on March 14. The 42-year-old tossed four shutout frames of one-hit ball to begin his start. In the fifth, he was touched for two runs on four hits during the Yankees' 4-3 loss. "I really just kind of cruised along the first four innings," Johnson said. "I decided to go back out there for the fifth, and then I hit a wall, I guess." Continue

Wright all wrong

The 10th hit Jaret Wright gave up yesterday was definitely the hardest - although much of what Wright threw to Pittsburgh had been smashed like watermelons. And as Joe Randa crushed a 1-and-0 sinker in the third inning, Wright immediately looked down - which is where his starting chances are plummeting.

Randa's three-run bomb traveled over the left-field fence and past palm trees, one of 11 hits Wright surrendered over three innings during a 9-8 loss to the Pirates. He was charged with eight runs, and his Grapefruit League ERA is now a ghastly 12.91. Continue

Injury to sideline Damon further

Johnny Damon said his sore left shoulder, which has kept him out of Team USA's starting lineup in the last two games in the World Baseball Classic, likely will prevent him from playing the field Thursday and could jeopardize his eligibility for the next round of the tournament, if the US advances. Damon’s shoulder – his throwing shoulder – started bothering him several days ago and he discussed the injury with Yankee GM Brian Cashman Sunday after pinch-hitting in Team USA's victory over Japan and Damon said Cashman thought "it was a good idea" if Damon took a break from throwing.

Damon said the injury "is just a problem for the short-term. Long-term, I’m good, but we’re playing it safe. Obviously, I would love to be in there and do what I can, but we’ve got to wait, which kind of stinks. "It's just spring training tired. As much as I want to push, I know Cash and George (Steinbrenner) don't." Continue

Wang is silent, deadly

A group of players gathered around Mariano Rivera's locker yesterday, sitting in a circle and chatting. Chien-Ming Wang was at the adjacent locker, occasionally poking his head into the conversation and laughing along with the others, but mostly just watching. His eyes, which look even younger than his 25 years, kept moving slowly around the room. This was pretty standard for Wang, who may be the most inconspicuous 6-foot-3 pitcher ever. Jason Giambi recalled a road trip early last season, when several veterans - including Giambi and Rivera - had dinner with the Taiwanese righthander just after he was called up from the minors. "He's never going to talk your ear off," Giambi said. "But you could tell he understands a lot. He just listens."

Wang's personality is the same when it comes to his pitching. After getting knocked around in his first spring outing, pitching coach Ron Guidry told Wang he had been changing the arm angle in his delivery and was throwing his sinker from too low; he needed to get more on top of the ball and "throw downhill" to get the movement and velocity he was seeking. Continue

Mussina finding way around

When the Yankees' bus turned onto I-275 north instead of south yesterday, Mike Mussina very nearly didn't follow it. Mussina, as many starting pitchers do during the spring, was driving his own car from Legends Field to Ed Smith Stadium and couldn't figure out why the team wasn't taking the typical route. "We almost went the other way," said Mussina, who was riding with bullpen catcher Mike Borzello.

It's a good thing they didn't. The bus driver had already heard about the massive backup on the Sunshine Skyway that would have turned an hour-long trip into something closer to three, so he changed plans. If Mussina had gone the usual way, the righthander might not have gotten to the park until just before the game.

Instead, he arrived in plenty of time to prepare for a four-inning outing in the Yanks' 5-4 loss to the Reds. Mussina allowed three runs (two earned) and three hits, walking one and striking out one. He threw 57 pitches and retired nine of his first 10 hitters before giving up a double and two singles in the fourth. Continue

Randy roughed up

Randy Johnson thrust both of his arms skyward after retiring his final batter - a self-deprecating gesture, for sure, following a performance that reminded no one of his 2004 perfect game for Arizona. Facing a Tigers lineup mostly devoid of major-league talent - even for them - the Big Unit was knocked around for his second straight spring start in Detroit's 6-1 victory over the Yankees yesterday. Still, Johnson was taking nothing but positives out of his latest shaky performance, as only two of the five runs charged to him were earned due to a questionable official scoring decision.

"I got something out of today. I'm just looking for progress and I think it's been there," Johnson said. "When you cross the lines, that's what people pay to see, they want to see results, too."The fans, they probably think, 'My God.' But what I got out of today was: increased velocity, that I felt a little better with my mechanics, that I felt more comfortable out there. My next start I'll work on something else." Continue

Rivera serves up a blast

Marcus Thames of the Tigers has a thing for future Hall of Fame pitchers. Four years ago in a Yankees uniform at Yankee Stadium, Thames homered off Randy Johnson in his first major league at-bat. Yesterday at Legends Field, Thames took Mariano Rivera over the left-field wall. "It was a fastball up, I was trying to go away," said Rivera, who gave up two homers in 781/3 innings a year ago. "But I feel good. Let it happen here, that's why we are here. It doesn't mean anything."

After requiring only six pitches to navigate an inning in his last outing Tuesday, Rivera needed 20 chucks to record three outs yesterday. "I can't complain, it was a good outing," Rivera said. "I threw a lot of pitches." Rivera wavered on how good his command was. "Not the best," he initially said. But then he changed his mind by saying, "It was good. For this time of the year it was great. I consider it good." Continue

Carl craving return

The hardest task facing the Yankees this spring is keeping the harness on Carl Pavano. Slowed by a back problem when camp opened, Pavano still lags behind the other starters and will open the season on the disabled list, in order to build arm strength. After a 35-pitch bullpen session yesterday at Legends Field, however, Pavano said he is feeling frisky.

"I asked to go to the top of the mound and throw more pitches," said Pavano, who worked halfway up the hill before moving to the mound. "I feel good; that's how I should feel. They are the ones who will have to pull back the reins. I felt stronger than the last time." Joe Torre hinted that Pavano could be throwing batting practice within a week. Continue

Shawn thriving in battle for starting job

Shawn Chacon knows the gig. Whenever Carl Pavano is ready, the Yankees will have six starters for five spots. And even with Pavano beginning the year on the DL while building arm strength, there isn't a need for a fifth chucker until the middle of April.

So Chacon understands every pitch he throws in the exhibition season is being watched and recorded by one of the many cameras located in Yankee camp. While some pitchers would feel threatened for being judged in games that don't count, Chacon embraces it, and believes it's good for the entire staff. "I get more out of competing," Chacon said after helping the Yankees blank the Twins, 5-0, at Legends Field. Continue

Pitching & power save U.S.

On a day when most of the baseball world was abuzz over new allegations that Barry Bonds did steroids and mourning Kirby Puckett, the Americans "dodged a bullet," in the words of Johnny Damon. Team USA, one of the favorites in the inaugural World Baseball Classic, edged Mexico, 2-0, in a tense game that easily could have been an opening nightmare for the Americans in baseball's great experiment.

Instead, thanks to sharp pitching and homers by Derrek Lee and Chipper Jones, the U.S. is nearly guaranteed a trip to the second round because of a "gimme" game against South Africa - a team with one player who has been as high as Triple-A - on Friday. Continue

MLB will sanction, sell supplements

Union head Donald Fehr met for nearly two hours with the Yankees yesterday, and part of the discussion centered around Major League Baseball's reported plan to begin selling approved supplements in an attempt to produce fewer positive drug tests amid the game's ongoing crackdown on steroids and other banned substances.

The Associated Press reported last night that MLB and the Players' Association are having NSF International, a company based in Ann Arbor, Mich., certify that products are clean before they can be made available for resale to players in the 30 major-league clubhouses. Continue

Baseball fun spelled W-B-C

Usually at this time of year, the members of Team USA are simply working their way through spring training, playing every other day for five or so innings. On the days they don't play an exhibition game, they work out and shower quickly so they leave and rest, tuning up to be ready for the start of a 162-game season.

But Johnny Damon, Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter and the rest of their Team USA teammates are on camp hiatus. Spring training changes drastically for them today when they face Mexico in their opener in the World Baseball Classic at Chase Field. Continue

For Cano,second things first

Robinson Cano admittedly played "a lot of late innings" in spring training one year ago. "Now I am always in the beginning of the game," Cano said yesterday of his sudden rise with the Yankees. "That's a good place to be." Where Cano is, and where he will be, probably is up to him as long as he doesn't take his rapid ascension for granted. Following a May recall from Columbus, the 23-year-old second baseman batted .297 with 14 homers and 34 doubles. He finished second to Oakland closer Huston Street in the voting for AL Rookie of the Year. Continue

Hammy sends Sheff to pine

After all the wailing and gnashing of teeth about what would happen if Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Johnny Damon or Bernie Williams were hurt during the WBC, the first injury suffered since the Fab Four left Yankees camp was to a player who remained behind.

A couple of hours before yesterday's Yankees-Blue Jays exhibition game at Knology Park, Gary Sheffield informed bench coach Lee Mazzilli that his right hamstring was stiff. When Mazzilli relayed that information to Joe Torre, the manager scratched Sheffield, who was going to DH. General manager Brian Cashman, Torre and Sheffield downplayed the problem, which originated when Sheffield grounded into a fielder's choice in the first inning against the Reds on Saturday at Legends Field. Continue

Big mystery

A year ago it was Chipper Jones spanking Randy Johnson in the lefty's initial exhibition start. That wasn't unexpected because switch-hitting Jones, who homered, owns Johnson. However, the sight of Edwin Encarnacion taking Johnson deep for a two-run homer and doubling in another run yesterday at Legends Field was surprising because Encarnacion never faced the Big Unit before. "Other than Encarnacion not showing up, it would have been a good game," Johnson said following a 4-1 Yankees loss to the Reds. "Who is that kid?" Continue

Return from rock bottom

On the road back from steroids poster boy to born-again slugger, Jason Giambi met many obstacles, none bigger than the one proposed by his own team.

On May 10, with his batting average at .195 in 77 at-bats, Giambi found himself sitting in the manager's office at Yankee Stadium. He listened as Joe Torre and general manager Brian Cashman talked about whether he should work out his problems in the minor leagues.Forget about the leaked grand jury testimony, and the news conference in which he apologized uncomfortably but without saying what for, and spring training of 2005, when each at-bat was scrutinized. Continue

Specter of injury haunts Wright

Jaret Wright realizes that his right shoulder could start to hurt after the next pitch he throws, and that his career could be over at any moment. Just like that. "I'm always going to think about it," Wright said. "You just look for signs."But sometimes there aren't any. Sometimes the pain comes out of nowhere, as it did a year ago. After pitching well in spring training, he kneeled on the mound in pain during his fourth start of the season and didn't return until August. "During that game," Wright said, "it was shocking to me to feel what I felt." Continue

Payback pitch

For the second time in four years, the Phillies and Yankees were involved in what the Yanks believed was an incident of a player being intentionally hit by a pitch. The hard-to-look-at exhibition game started innocently at Bright House Field yesterday when Jaret Wright drilled Aaron Rowand on the hand in the first inning to load the bases with two outs.

Two innings later, former Yankee Jon Lieber hit Felix Escalona in the back with two outs and the bases empty. "I am sure it was an answer," Joe Torre said of Lieber hitting Escalona. "You protect your own. That's what it looked like to me." Continue

USA-Rod psyched up for WBC

For a guy who "wasn't really fired up about coming here," Alex Rodriguez sure seemed to be having a good time yesterday at Team USA's first workout for the World Baseball Classic.

Rodriguez had dreaded the WBC because of the disruption it would be to the routine he relies on to get ready for the season - and, perhaps, because of his uncomfortable winter of pressure from baseball officials and leaks about his decision whether to play for the United States or the Dominican Republic. But A-Rod "changed his tune a little bit" about the tournament after walking into the clubhouse, pulling on red, white and blue and bonding with new teammates. Continue

Torre's offense has a new tweak

It didn't take long for Joe Torre to send a message to his players that waiting for the home run to carry the Yankees isn't going to be a staple of the offense this season. Torre spent the winter preaching the Yankees needed to do the little things more, and in the second inning of yesterday's 6-3 loss to the Phillies at Legends Field, provided a glimpse of his thinking.

With Jason Giambi on first via a leadoff single and no outs, Torre put on the hit-and-run and watched Giambi reach third on Bernie Williams' single. Giambi scored on Jorge Posada's fly to center that advanced Williams to second. He scored on Derek Jeter's single to center. Continue

Shawn finds comfort, strike zone

Shawn Chacon wasn't used to pitching before 10,000-plus fans during spring training and he was a little surprised by the pomp and circumstance that always mark the Grapefruit League opener at Legends Field. Rockies spring training games in Tucson just aren't nearly as theatrical. One thing Chacon did find familiar yesterday, however, was the fighter plane flyover at the conclusion of the national anthem. "We were right next to an Air Force base out there," Chacon said with a smile. Continue

Big Unit will start opener

To the surprise of nobody, Joe Torre named Randy Johnson as the Yankees' Opening Day starter. "It's a nice honor, but there is a lot of work between now and then," Johnson said of the April 3 outing against the A's in Oakland. "I don't take anything for granted. I don't assume anything." It's Johnson's second Opening Day assignment in as many seasons for the Yankees and the 14th of his Hall of Fame career. He is currently tied for first place with Roger Clemens for the most Opening Day starts. Continue

Damon's spin on World

Sometime this afternoon, four prominent Yankees - Derek Jeter, Johnny Damon, Alex Rodriguez and Bernie Williams - will leave spring training to play in the inaugural World Baseball Classic. It's no surprise that George Steinbrenner isn't happy about this. "Not good," the Boss growled when asked how he will feel about their departures. But Steinbrenner wouldn't go any further, adding, "I'm not going to say anymore" as he rolled away in his golf cart.

Of course, he doesn't need to - he has already gone on record as saying he's against the WBC and is particularly concerned about someone getting hurt during the three-week event. While his players understand Steinbrenner's opinion, they are looking forward to representing their country in the 16-team competition. Continue

Moose stays loose

The setting was an intrasquad game witnessed by only a few thousand fans yesterday at Legends Field, but for a brief moment, Mike Mussina forgot the conditions. Robbed of an inning-ending called third-strike, he glared at the umpire. It was only his 17th pitch of spring training and Mussina was clearly in midseason form. The righthander was two steps off the mound and headed for the dugout, fully confident he had stranded runners on the corners, when his pitch was called a ball.

"I've been doing this for 16 years, so I know what's a strike and what isn't a strike," Mussina said. He then smiled, making it clear he was joking. His body language after the 2-and-2 pitch to Jorge Posada was called a ball was no laughing matter, but he was in good spirits after he kicked off his spring with a scoreless two-inning stint. Continue

Hughes opens eyes

Jorge Posada has caught a lot of pitchers but he didn't hold back yesterday when he was asked about 19-year-old righthander Phil Hughes. "He's a no-miss," the Yankee catcher said. "It wouldn't surprise me if I see him (in the Bronx) before the year is over." Hughes, the Bombers' top pitching prospect, started yesterday's intrasquad game and tossed two perfect innings, impressing Posada, who later compared him to Andy Pettitte when asked for the last time he felt as strongly about a young pitcher's potential. Continue

Matsui's knee iffy

Hideki Matsui said his puffy left knee isn't a problem. However, the Yankees left fielder didn't participate in yesterday's intrasquad game and could be held out of tomorrow's exhibition season opener. "The knee isn't bad," Matsui said before taking part in the morning workout. "It's actually improving. I have been told not to run."

Matsui was held out of running drills Monday when the knee swelled. "If this happened in the season I would play with it," Matsui said. "The swelling is going down on a daily basis." Joe Torre said he wasn't sure if Matsui would play tomorrow against the Phillies at Legends Field. "I don't know; we will see," Torre said. "Probably." Continue