Yankees baseball blog

Igawa continues to improve

Kei Igawa's fastball doesn't push radar guns much past 90 mph and his change-up misbehaves at times. However, Igawa is a better pitcher leaving spring training than the one who arrived in February. "I got a lot better from the first week," the Yankees' fourth starter said after hurling six innings in a 3-3 tie yesterday at Legends Field against the Tigers. Igawa gave up three runs, six hits and didn't issue a walk.

Nobody is sure what the Yankees have in their $46-million investment. A dozen walks in 23 innings suggests he has trouble throwing strikes. However, 22 strikeouts are certainly impressive. "I was able to work on the change-up," said Igawa, who was honored as the Yankees' top rookie yesterday when he was named the winner of the prestigious James P. Dawson Award. "I still have to work on a couple of minor things [control of change and fastball]." Continue

Pavano looks ready to go

It appears all but a formality for the Yankees to name Carl Pavano their Opening Day starter. Pavano did not do anything to take himself out of the mix for that start yesterday. He gave up two earned runs on six hits and a walk in six innings in the Yankees' 3-2 loss to the Twins, getting 14 outs on ground balls, including four double plays. Nothing is official yet, though.

"Because we saw this doesn't mean it automatically makes him a day one starter," manager Joe Torre said. "It's certainly nice to see. He's come a long way. He's come a long way." Continue

Pettitte's back holds up in session while Iggy impresses Phils & self

Andy Pettitte threw 25 important pitches in the bullpen yesterday, but it was the 87 tosses made by Kei Igawa that may have most calmed the Yankees' fears. Igawa had his finest start of the spring, holding the Phillies to one run over five innings in the Yankees' 5-1 victory at Legends Field. Igawa allowed three hits and walked two, striking out four to increase his team-leading total to 19 in 17 innings this spring.

"I think he's beyond the point of just trying to impress people," Joe Torre said. "Now I think he's understanding what he needs to improve or feel better about going into the season. To me, that's a good step and a good presence for him to have." Igawa allowed just one baserunner the first time through the Phillies' lineup, striking out Chase Utley and getting both Ryan Howard and Pat Burrell to ground out. Continue

Wang's pain is Pavano's gain

Carl Pavano arrived at camp this spring as the Yankees' biggest question mark. When he leaves next week, he might just be their Opening Day starter. No, that's not a misprint, but the result of Chien-Ming Wang's strained hamstring, Andy Pettitte's balky back and Mike Mussina's schedule. "It's Opening Day, but there are 161 other games," Joe Torre said. "It certainly is an important game, but so are the other ones."

Should the Yankees bestow the assignment on Pavano, he would be making his first start for the Yankees since June 27, 2005 - a span of 643 days - due to a multitude of injuries and mishaps. Pavano missed the final three months of the 2005 season with rotator cuff tendinitis, though no structural damage was ever found in his shoulder. He missed most of spring training last year with stiffness in his back, then when it looked like he was ready to return, he suffered a bruised backside while pitching on the final day of the spring. Continue

Moose feeling better than stats show

Of the three original candidates to start Opening Day, Mike Mussina is the last man standing. He won't pitch the opener, though - the Yankees don't want him to go on short rest either in his last exhibition start or his first real start - but at least he is healthy.

Mussina pitched yesterday, giving up four runs, three earned, in six innings in the Yankees' 4-4 tie with the Blue Jays. He allowed seven hits and walked two. Three of the runs off him were scored in the first inning, which was marred by a catcher's interference on Wil Nieves and a hit that Derek Jeter reacted to slowly but usually would reach. Continue

'Pen could become Henn house

When Sean Henn was tagged with a rare fourth option in January, it easily was assumed the lefty reliever's chances of making the Yankees were very long. And they became longer when Ron Villone signed a minor-league contract on the first day of camp that will pay him $2.5 million if the veteran sticks.

Yet, with one week remaining before the Yankees split Florida, Henn, the 25-year-old former starter, has pitched himself into position to unseat Villone as the second lefty in Joe Torre's bullpen. "He hasn't done anything wrong, let's put it that way,'' Torre said of Henn, who didn't allow a hit or run in 1 1/3 innings yesterday at McKechnie Field, where the Yankees lost, 3-2, to the Pirates. Continue

Pavano earns Yankee applause

When the Yankees came to camp five weeks ago, there was little doubt that Carl Pavano was the biggest question mark facing the team this season. Having not pitched since June 2005, Pavano had become a punch line in his own clubhouse, with teammates even questioning his desire.

With a little more than one week until Opening Day, Pavano has answered many of those questions, with yesterday's performance marking the latest step toward redemption. "This is what we hoped we would see; he certainly hasn't let us down," Joe Torre said. "The spot was his to have, and he's certainly seized the opportunity." Continue

Igawa has best start to date

On the day Andy Pettitte was held back with back spasms, Kei Igawa stepped up. Igawa produced his best start on these shores, twirling five shutout innings of two-hit ball during the Yankees' 2-0 victory over the Phillies last night. If you want to nitpick, the Japanese import walked three, but he struck out three to run his total to 15 Ks in four starts (12 innings).

Though some in the Japanese media weren't bowled over by the start, Igawa's stuff translated perfectly in the eyes of the Yankees. The 27-year-old lefty solidified his chances of being named the team's No. 5 starter. Continue

Moose is on track

A spring training start is rarely afforded status as a "big day" for pitchers who have been in the major leagues for 16 years and own 239 victories. But Mike Mussina thought his five scoreless innings against the Pirates yesterday qualified because the outing was so different from his frustrating previous start, when he allowed three runs in three innings last week against the Reds.

"I threw the ball where I wanted and made adjustments I couldn't make last time," Mussina said. "I could give myself more time - I just wasn't giving myself enough time to get my arm where I needed it to be. Every throw was work. This was more smooth and it didn't take as much out of me. "This was a big day. It was important to feel more like I was pitching than just throwing, I think, for everybody's peace of mind - for Joe (Torre's) peace of mind, (Brian) Cashman's peace of mind, (Ron) Guidry's peace of mind." continue

Giambi happy guy after slam

Jason Giambi broke out of a sluggish spring at the plate in a big way yesterday. Giambi ripped a fourth-inning grand slam off Pittsburgh Pirates lefty Zach Duke to break open the game en route to an 8-1 Yankees win. Giambi belted the ball just inside the rightfield foul pole. It was his third home run of spring training, but he entered the game hitting only .167 (5-for-30) with four RBIs.

Considering that Giambi underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left wrist in October and was unable to do as much offseason work as usual, he is very pleased. "I'm excited where I'm at," he said. "I thought it'd be a little longer." Continue

Andy would be fine even if he ends up no. 5

Chien-Ming Wang is the way to bet when it comes to being Joe Torre's Opening Day starter against the Devil Rays. Andy Pettitte and Mike Mussina will fall in after Wang, but if Torre wants to use Pettitte fifth, it's OK with the veteran lefty.

"It's always an honor, and that would be special," Pettitte said of pitching the first game of the season that will be played at Yankee Stadium. "But for me, that first start for me is going to be like my Opening Day. It will be special for me to get back on the mound." If Pettitte could duplicate his performance yesterday against the Phillies at Brighthouse Field, the Yankees would take it for all 30 or so starts they hope he makes. In five shutout innings, he allowed two runs, fanned four and didn't issue a walk. Continue

Only relief is Carl's healthy

When Carl Pavano utters a phrase like, "I felt a little funky out there," in a postgame interview session, that's usually time for Yankee executives to wince and team trainers to reach for their medical kits. But on a windy day that was unusual in other ways, nothing strange happened to the fragile Pavano, who wasn't brilliant against the Phillies but wasn't awful, injured or absent, either, which is progress of sorts in his attempt to revive his career.

Pavano allowed four hits and three runs (two earned) in three innings and took the loss as the Yankees fell, 3-2. Andy Pettitte started the game and threw five scoreless innings, giving up only two hits while striking out four in a performance Joe Torre called "as economical as you can get." Continue

Kei: Many K's, BBs

The Yankees committed $46 million to Japanese lefthander Kei Igawa during the offseason - $26 million in posting fees and a five-year, $20-million contract. They did so with the thought that Igawa would lock up a spot in the starting rotation from now through 2011. But at this point, the 27-year-old still is trying to win a place in the Opening Day rotation.Igawa worked in and out of trouble last night in a 3-2 victory over the Braves at Legends Field. He pitched three scoreless innings but had trouble staying in the strike zone. Continue

Pavano moving up in Joe's eyes

Joe Torre sounded even more pleased than Carl Pavano was with the oft-injured righthander's outing last night against the Red Sox at City of Palms Park. It wasn't so much Pavano's statistical line that impressed Torre as the way Pavano went about his work."He looked like he was free and easy," Torre said, "and that's what I care about. I didn't really care about results. I just liked how he looked."

Pavano pitched three innings, allowing four hits, a walk and two earned runs and striking out two. And he did it in the closest approximation of a regular-season game one can get in spring training. Continue

Hughes is shelled but relishes time

Phil Hughes may have made his final outing for the Yankees this spring, and while he was hit around a little by the Indians yesterday at Legends Field, the young fireballer feels that his experience this past month has been extremely valuable. Hughes allowed three runs on four hits and three walks in just 1-1/3 innings, struggling with his command. "You look and see 1-1/3 innings, but I threw six innings worth of pitches," Hughes said. "It's not like I'm not getting my work in just because I'm throwing an inning. I'm still getting my arm strength up and my pitch count."

Joe Torre will start making cuts tomorrow, as players will be assigned to minor-league camp. Hughes could be among them, as the Yankees' starting pitchers will begin throwing five innings per outing, leaving little room for him to get his work in to prepare for his own Triple-A season. Continue

Iggy hop

Kei Igawa doesn't have Jeff Karstens' breath warming the back of his neck. However, with a shade under three weeks left in spring training, the beginning of a competition for the No. 5 starter spot is developing regardless of Igawa being better yesterday in his second start than first. When the Yankees invested $46 million in Igawa - $26 million to get the negotiating rights; $20 million across five years to sign him - he instantly went to the back end of Joe Torre's rotation. Continue

Pavano's back in business

Carl Pavano will take the mound tomorrow night in Fort Myers against the Red Sox, looking to get back to baseball after a difficult weekend. Pavano left Legends Field less than an hour before his scheduled start Friday night, rushing off to tend to an emergency medical situation involving his fiancée, Gia Allemand.

Pavano returned shortly after noon yesterday, throwing a 10-minute bullpen session. He even displayed a little humor, asking a reporter if he wanted to stand in as a hitter while he threw. As he left the bullpen, he stopped briefly to chat with reporters, though he said he would answer only baseball-related questions. Continue

Pavano scratched

Carl Pavano's troubled time with the Yankees continued on two fronts Friday. Because of a personal problem, the righthander was scratched from his start and left Legends Field 45 minutes before game time, and word got out that he is being sued for a car accident last August that the police report said was his fault.

Pavano was to make his second start of spring training at 7:15 Friday night against the Devil Rays. At about 6:30 p.m., he approached manager Joe Torre and pitching coach Ron Guidry to tell them of a personal situation of concern to him. Moments later, director of media relations Jason Zillo announced that Pavano had left the building and would not pitch because of personal reasons. Continue

Igawa gets 2nd chance

Kei Igawa takes the mound in Bradenton against the Pirates today, looking to make a better impression on his new team than he did in his first start five days ago. Igawa struggled with his command during his first outing, giving up two runs on two hits and three walks in one-plus inning against the Tigers on Monday. Joe Torre hopes that the lefthander won't try to do too much today to make up for that subpar start, since it's still early in spring training.

"We'll do whatever we can not to pile on; we've got a long way to go," Torre said. "I know Gator (pitching coach Ron Guidry) is certainly trying to get the point across to him to keep it light, but when he goes out there, there's a pride factor. When you come to a new ballclub, especially in a new country, you want to make an impression." The Yankees invested a little more than $46 million in the Japanese hurler, paying more than $26 million for his posting fee before giving him a five-year, $20 million contract. Continue

Another Manny?

Yankees outfield prospect Jose Tabata is only 18 years old. Yet his talent and potential have led scouts to liken him to a young Manny Ramirez. Even general manager Brian Cashman had to stop himself from drawing that comparison when he was asked which major-leaguer Tabata has the potential to be like.

"In fairness to the kid, he's just got to continue to make his own name," Cashman said. "He's got high-end ability. I won't say [Ramirez] pops into my mind. That's what I keep hearing other people say about him. There's only one Manny. A guy like Manny comes along, it seems, like once every 40 years. It'd be nice to say that you've got another one on the way, but it would be disrespectful to someone of Manny's abilities." Tabata himself has heard the "Baby Manny" talk. He appreciates the compliment but would rather do what Cashman advised and make his own name. Continue

Loose Moose

Mike Mussina's missing arm strength will surface at some point, although don't expect mid-90 readings. His ability to paint the corners will return. And he is a good bet to win 12-15 games this season if he avoids injury.

However, two starts into the exhibition season, Mussina looks like exactly what he is: a 38-year-old hurler working his arm into game shape. "I had to work a little bit today," Mussina said following a three-inning stint against the Braves in which he gave up two runs and four hits in a 5-3 Yankees victory. "But it's still the first 10 days of March. It's still new." Continue

Hughes potential

The shoulder tap is coming. It may be June or September or a year from now. But if there was ever a lock bet in sports, Philip Hughes being told he is going to the big leagues is it. "I told him at some point somebody will tap you on the shoulder and say, 'It's your turn,'" Joe Torre said yesterday at Chain Of Lakes Park. Torre has also told Hughes not to expect that tap this spring. Before the 20-year-old future of the organization threw a pitch in a bullpen session, Torre instructed Hughes he was going to start the season in Triple-A. Continue

Igawa can't find the plate

So far, the first impression of the Yankees' latest pitching acquisition, Kei Igawa, has been uneven at best. The Japanese lefthander, in whom the Yankees invested $46 million, struggled against the Tigers yesterday, consistently leaving his pitches up during a rocky one-inning-plus.After giving up two runs, two hits and three walks and striking out three, Igawa said through his interpreter that he isn't worried by his lack of control because this is normal for him around now.

"This is the same as Japan," he said. "Right now usually at this time, my pitches are usually high." Joe Torre said the lack of command might be attributed to feeling "anxious." Jorge Posada said Igawa was "overstriding ... His body was ahead of his arm." Continue

Mo pitches in

Mariano Rivera made his spring debut yesterday, throwing a perfect inning against the Tigers. Rivera struck out Brent Clevlen and Brandon Inge, then got Sean Casey to ground out back to the mound. "Everything was good," said Rivera, who threw just 13 pitches. "I felt real good." Rivera will throw every two or three days through the rest of the month, pitching roughly 10 innings. His forearm injury from last September did not flare up at all. Continue

Pavano's able to start over

Carl Pavano and Ron Guidry were talking before the righthander's start yesterday and the pitcher admitted, "I'm a little worked up." Guidry, the Yankees' pitching coach, told Pavano not to make too much out of a spring training outing. Both chuckled.

Who could blame Pavano for fretting? There was no getting around the simple truth about his start against the Phillies. It may have come during the laid-back, early days of spring training, when players with soaring uniform numbers still dot the lineups, but it was a chance to start proving a few things to the Yankees after two lost years in pinstripes. Perhaps to himself, too. Continue

Mussina fast and furious in spring debut

Mike Mussina won eight of his first nine decisions last season, and Joe Torre believes the fast start was due in part to Mussina concentrating on throwing his fastball during spring training.

So Torre was happy yesterday when Mussina threw a lot of fastballs in his two-inning stint in a 4-3 victory over the Pirates at Legends Field. "That's why he started so well last year, because he used his fastball and built up his arm strength," Torre said. Of course, the sometimes-cranky Mussina felt like his pitches weren't exceptionally fast yesterday, saying, "I felt like it was going about 81 miles an hour out of my hand." Continue

Andy caps off return

The cap was pulled down low and Andy Pettitte's eyes were just visible over the top of his glove as he peered toward home plate to read the catcher's signals. The moment before each pitch was a flashback to the Yankees' past, to the tight television shots of Pettitte's face as he worked each October.

But Pettitte's spring debut yesterday was also a glimpse of the Yankees' present. Pettitte is back in the Bronx and more mature, according to Joe Torre, and a little wiser, according to the pitcher himself. Continue

Wang wows, Phil phlops

Chien-Ming Wang got things started by inducing a ground ball, and he was followed by a so-so outing from phenom Phil Hughes in his spring debut. It was the Yankees' lineup that really got things going, with a home run courtesy of Johnny Damon. With that, the chase for No. 27 was officially underway. "We only have 210 more games," Damon said. "I'm looking forward to it." The Yankees opened their spring schedule yesterday with a 6-1 beating of the Twins at Legends Field, as a sellout crowd watched the Bombers begin in style. Continue

Pavano set to take hill

It's been a long time since you've read these words: Carl Pavano will make his next scheduled start. After throwing well in the bullpen yesterday and experiencing no problem with his left foot, the oft-injured right-hander is in line to start Sunday against the Phillies in Clearwater.

"I didn't have any concerns and I felt fine," said Pavano, who was struck by an Alberto Gonzalez liner while pitching batting practice last Saturday. "By Sunday, it won't be an issue." Pavano hasn't made a scheduled start for the Yankees since June 2005. Since then, he has been sidelined by shoulder, back, buttock, elbow and rib problems. Continue

Yanks phenom acts his age and struggles on the hill

On a day always dominated by hope and hype, Yankees fans may have received a bit of a reality check. There's no doubt in Yankees camp that Phil Hughes has the makings of an ace, but the team has stressed patience for a reason. Hughes is only 20 years old, and the righthander showed a rare glimpse of his youth during the spring training opener Thursday against the Twins.

Saying he was anxious and nervous, Hughes struggled with his command during his 1 1/3 innings. He allowed one run, one hit, two walks and a wild pitch. He threw 33 pitches, 18 for strikes. He was overthrowing and his mechanics were off. "A kid who gets excited, he wants to go a million miles per hour instead of just taking everything slow and doing everything properly," Hughes said. "That was the biggest thing for me." Continue

Shuttle stops for Scott

Scott Proctor shuttled between the Bronx and Columbus three times in 2004, becoming familiar with the route. A year later, he went back and forth twice, once again splitting time between Triple-A and the big leagues. Many players have gone through the same frustrating experience, knowing that their time to impress the big club is limited.

Bubba Crosby felt it, going up and down five times in 2004 and four in 2005. Bret Prinz went back and forth five times in 2004, never staking claim to a spot in the bullpen. Even last year, T.J. Beam's introduction to the bigs included four trips between New York and Ohio. Continue

Giambi at peace with new role

He is 36, feels 46 on certain mornings, had his share of injuries, did his share of performance-enhancing drugs (based on his grand jury testimony), suffered some bad PR and comes to spring training as a designated one-dimensional baseball player. This is hardly what life in pinstripes was supposed to be like for Jason Giambi when he signed his seven-year contract in December 2001 and became the symbol of Yankee excess.

He got choked up that day when he told his father, a big Mickey Mantle fan, that he was finally a Yankee. Giambi believed he'd arrived as a player and a star. He had every intention of being Mantle-like and hitting tape-measure home runs and charming the city. Well, in retrospect, he never really became the heart and soul of the ballclub, nor a legend, and five years later, Giambi is just another familiar name in a lineup with plenty, nothing more or less. And that's fine with him. Continue

Igawa debut dazzling

As Kei Igawa prepared to take the mound for a two-inning stint in the Yankees' lone intrasquad game of the spring, pitching coach Ron Guidry delivered a simple message to him. "Have fun," Guidry said. Igawa did just that, throwing two nearly flawless frames in his first game action since he signed with the Yankees this winter.

"I told him that this was an intrasquad game; it's not like you're trying to make the club here with this game, so go out, have a little fun and get your work done," Guidry said. "Concentrate on getting ahead of guys, because you can make a lot better pitches when you're ahead in the count than when you're behind. And that's what he did." Continue

Wang early favorite for Opening Day start

Joe Torre declined to name his starting pitcher for Opening Day, but based on the rotation the manager unveiled for the exhibition season, there's a good chance that Chien-Ming Wang will get the call on April 2 against the Devil Rays at the Stadium.

Wang will start Thursday's exhibition opener against the Twins, while Andy Pettitte will make his spring debut Friday in St. Petersburg against the Devil Rays. Mike Mussina starts Saturday, followed by Carl Pavano and Kei Igawa. "There's too far to go," Torre said when asked if the spring rotation was a sign of things to come. "You can put those first three guys in a hat." Continue

Fighting through the pain just part of being Damon

He was being serious when he said it, serious and somewhat sheepish, but there was more than a touch of irony sprinkled amid the words Johnny Damon used through his smile. "I wish we could all be made of steel," Damon said yesterday, a few minutes after walking off the Legends Field complex following a good morning's work. "I wish it was an easy thing to simply be able to put your head down and tough through things."

He was talking about his personal life, about the reasons he left the Yankees for a couple of days this weekend to go back to Orlando, to tend to some "personal business," he declined to name. It has been a full offseason for Damon. He became a father for the third time. His own father has battled health issues. Damon insisted yesterday that both were fine, wouldn't say if either was responsible for his absence. Continue

Wang's dial is set on low

The absolute last thing you ever will hear in the Yankees' clubhouse is someone yelling at Chien-Ming Wang, saying, "Hey, keep it down!"That takes in his pitching, because keeping it down goes without saying for the man with the devastating sinker. Mostly it refers to the fact that he is the club's Least Voluble Player. He minds his own business, smiles easily and razzes teammates after they razz him. For the most part, though, he is seen and not heard.

As pitching coach Ron Guidry said, "You wouldn't know he was there unless you spoke to him." You wouldn't know Wang was on the Yankees if he weren't the only one who won a postseason game for them last year, if he didn't tie for the most wins in the major leagues in 2006, if he weren't one of the best starters in baseball. Continue

Damon to return today

Johnny Damon is expected to rejoin the Yankees today at Legends Field. With the Yankees' permission, Damon missed workouts Saturday and Sunday for personal reasons. It's not believed to have anything to do with infant daughter Devon Rose, who was born in early January.

"He will be here in a day or so,'' Joe Torre said of his center fielder and leadoff hitter who is using spring training to shed pounds after he reported heavier than the Yankees wanted him. Damon said he was five pounds over the 212 limit, with most of it in his belly. Continue

Damon gets personal leave

The Yankees have given Johnny Damon permission to leave spring training to deal with a personal issue, and the team does not expect him back for at least a few days. The Yankees refused to specify why Damon left, saying only that he spoke with manager Joe Torre and general manager Brian Cashman after their workout Friday. "I think it's going to be some time, a few days or so," Torre said. Continue

Enter Spring Sandman

Mariano Rivera pumped one fastball after another to Yankees hitters yesterday, taking part in the annual tradition of live batting practice. A few of those hitters even took swings, while others chose to let Rivera's pitches slam into the catcher's mitt. Johnny Damon joked after the workout that he was glad he didn't have to face Rivera for real any more, having traded in his Red Sox uniform last year for pinstripes.

While Boston and the rest of the league will have to deal with Rivera again this season, the reality is that he is 37 years old, entering his 11th season as the Yankees' closer. Considering the short life span of most closers throughout the game, the question has to be asked: How much longer can Rivera keep this up? Continue

Melky a regular backup

Melky Cabrera made quite a splash last season, showing his stuff as a replacement for an injured Hideki Matsui. Cabrera's role this season may be as the Yankees' fourth outfielder, but Joe Torre met with the youngster yesterday to let him know that there are bigger plans for the 22-year-old.

"We still want his mentality to be as a regular player, not as just a backup," Torre said. "We'd like to think we can keep everybody strong before they get tired." Continue

Stress releif

Scott Proctor's 83 appearances for the Yankees a year ago topped the American League. He took the ball even though his right arm sounded like a bag of gravel when raised. His locker this spring at Legends Field is between Andy Pettitte and Carl Pavano, so Proctor has arrived on Pitchers' Row after spending the previous camps on the other side of the room with the long shots. His fastball pushes speed guns toward triple digits and his breaking stuff can be filthy. So why hasn't Proctor yet looked for a New York-area apartment in which to spend the summer? Continue

Unlike Sheff, no stirring for Abreu

When Gary Sheffield said of Bobby Abreu this past offseason, "He ain't me," he wasn't kidding. These rightfielders couldn't be more different. Take, for example, their contractual situations. Abreu is entering spring training the same way Sheffield did last year: with one year left on his contract plus a team option. But Abreu is going about business far differently from his predecessor.

While Sheffield - who wound up being traded to the Tigers this offseason - bickered all through camp about the status of his $13-million 2007 option, Abreu all but shrugged when asked about the $16-million option the Yankees hold for 2008. "I don't think too much about that," Abreu said. Continue

Hughes da man

The Yankees can't play the media card ever again concerning Philip Hughes. No longer is he a product of the hype machine. As of yesterday, every story concerning the right-hander will start with glowing observations from Jason Giambi and Todd Pratt.

The two veterans with a combined 24 years of big-league experience compared the 20-year-old to Roger Clemens and Curt Schilling, this after one batting practice session against Hughes at Legends Field. "We could have used him last year," said Giambi, who didn't get a fair ball out of the cage against Hughes. "He looks like a young Rocket." Continue

Andy reaches for pride

If you believe the Yankees have been missing a certain toughness, resolve, killer instinct, whatever you want to call it, the last few Octobers, you have to love the idea of Andy Pettitte being back in pinstripes.

Pettitte's Yankee past is proof enough that he can help as this team looks to get back to a World Series for the first time since he left after the 2003 season. And to listen to him talk yesterday about the agony of pitching through elbow problems in Houston was a further reminder of the level of commitment he brings. Continue

Crowded house

Bernie Williams was jobless even before deciding upon unemployment. The token the Yankees had offered - and Williams rejected - was a chance to be the fifth outfielder, a role that exists kind of like Big Foot, more in vivid imagination than reality.

Fifth outfielders? The Yanks are going to have difficulty finding at-bats for fourth outfielder Melky Cabrera even as Joe Torre calls doing so "a priority." For now, Torre has the bonhomie of the four veterans whose playing time would have to be curtailed to start Cabrera. But it is February, when spirits are good and this is all only theory. Let's see how Bobby Abreu, Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui and Jason Giambi react come April when lineup cards are posted without their names. Continue

Yanks to Cano: Encore!

A year ago, the Yankees had no idea what to expect from Robinson Cano. They knew he had the talent to produce an All-Star-caliber season, but he reported overweight, leading some teammates to question his commitment. One year later, those questions no longer are asked - not only because of his stellar second season, in which he hit .342 with 57 extra-base hits, but also because of the shape he's in.

Third-base coach Larry Bowa made Cano his pet project last season and continued to do so throughout the offseason. Bowa called Cano multiple times, reminding him to work out so he wouldn't report to camp "heavy," as he did last year. Continue

Damon looks to drive in clutch

Johnny Damon breezed into camp yesterday, a welcome change from the contretemps that have swirled around the Yanks since spring training opened last week.

But Damon had some serious points to make, particularly about what he thought of his first season in pinstripes and the healing of the broken bone in his right foot and his left shoulder. While Damon called his first year as a Yank "a blessing," he also said he wanted to do more. "Last year, I tried to do everything I possibly could, but sometimes I didn't come through," Damon said. "Hopefully this year, I can be a little more relaxed and put up better numbers." Continue

Bernie's not coming

The Bernie Williams watch came to an end yesterday, as his agent confirmed that the outfielder would not be accepting the Yankees' offer to come to spring training on a non-guaranteed, minor-league contract.

"Bernie told me he had talked with Joe (Torre). Other than the invite, there wasn't any information that led him to believe he would be a member of the team," Scott Boras told the Associated Press yesterday. "He's continuing to work out, will wait to see if their position changes." Continue

Clock ticking on Bernie invitation

Brian Cashman hasn't rescinded his invitation to Bernie Williams to come to camp on a minor-league contract, but the GM said yesterday that he doesn't expect to see the outfielder at Legends Field this spring.

Cashman hadn't heard directly from Williams or his agent, Scott Boras, regarding the nonroster invite. Based on what he has read and heard in various reports during the past couple of weeks, he doesn't believe Williams will accept the deal and report to Tampa, where the Yankees begin full-squad workouts today. Continue

Rivera felt too good to continue

When Mariano Rivera took elongated breaks to talk with catcher Wil Nieves during a 10-minute bullpen session, flags started to rise. When Rivera walked off three minutes before then those flags went to the top of the pole. Was Rivera hurt? Did the strained muscle near the right elbow that sidelined him for three weeks last year return? Groin? Hip?

Nope. According to manager Joe Torre, pitching coach Ron Guidry, Nieves and Rivera, the future Hall of Fame closer and the most indispensable Yankee felt too good. "He was feeling so good that after 20 or so pitches he didn't want to push it," said Nieves, the leading candidate to back up Jorge Posada. "The fastball and change-up was good. He was very happy." Continue

It's tough to say goodbye

Reporting day for position players quietly passed yesterday without any sign of Bernie Williams, who still is struggling with his decision. Like many Yankees coaches and players, Don Mattingly left a voice mail for Williams last week that - not surprisingly - has not been returned. Nevertheless, Mattingly has a pretty good sense of Williams' thought process.

When Mattingly stopped playing at age 34 after the 1995 season, he said his decision was easy because of his bad back and his strong desire to return home to be a full-time family man. But it still took him another year to retire, to know for sure he wanted to stop. Continue

Bombers' hidden ace

When Chien-Ming Wang flew home to Taiwan for a two-month stay during the offseason, hundreds of fans were waiting at the airport. When he pulled up outside his parents' home, more fans were standing outside. Autograph seekers dogged Wang's every step when he tried to go out, which meant he needed bodyguards. "Too crazy," Wang said. "It was a mess. I couldn't go anywhere."

But when Taiwan's biggest baseball star arrived at Yankee camp last week, there was little fanfare. In any other camp, the appearance of an ace would be big news, but it wasn't for Wang, who tied for the major-league lead in victories last season with 19 and was runner-up to Johan Santana in the American League Cy Young voting. Continue

Man with the golden gun

The most important person - not just player - in the Yankees organization was born 11 days before the Olsen twins. He wears a number, 65, more associated with a football center than the center of attention.

Yet, don't let the number on his back or his not-legal-for-alcohol age of 20 diminish Philip Hughes' worth to the Yankees. He is the Great Right Hope. He is not just their No. 1 prospect, perhaps the No. 1 pitching prospect in baseball. Hughes is No. 1 in magnitude around Legends Field. There is immense pressure for him to fulfill his ace pedigree, because if he doesn't, the Yanks have to wonder where else they will find that commodity moving forward. Continue

Igawa has hill of a day

When Kei Igawa's first pitch on Thursday sailed six feet wide of Jorge Posada, pitching coach Ron Guidry took notice. Guidry watched Igawa struggle to find the plate, throwing several outside pitches. That prompted him to ask the pitcher when he last threw off a mound. "November," Igawa said through his interpreter. Guidry exhaled, breathing a sigh of relief. "You're going to be out of whack," Guidry said yesterday. "I thought I was a pretty good pitcher, but the first time that I threw after three or four months, I'd tell myself, 'I have to fight for a job this year.'" Continue

Pavano gets rebuttal

Mike Mussina said Thursday that Carl Pavano's actions would speak louder than words this spring. Yesterday, Pavano took action by arranging a meeting with his fellow starting pitcher. The peace summit ended with the two men emerging from behind closed doors smiling, a sign that they were ready to put the past behind them.

"I told him where I was coming from and he told me where he was coming from," Mussina said. "We need each other. You can't have division within a team and expect anything to have anything positive happen over the course of the year." Continue

Japanese pitcher is A-Okei

Kei Igawa wasn't nervous yesterday when he took the mound with his fellow starting pitchers in the Legends Field bullpen, though it was hard to tell by watching him throw. "I hadn't been on a mound in three months," Igawa said through an interperter. "I was a little rusty. In Japan, I'm like that too."

The lefthander had a severe lack of command early on in the eight-minute session, but he worked out the kinks after a few minutes. "It looks like he's loose and he doesn't have any trouble letting the ball go," said Joe Torre, who watched Igawa throw in person for the first time. "He seems to be very aggressive. I was pleased with what I saw." Continue

Rare Yankee phenom Hughes is real thing

For the first time in this mass-media era, the Yankees have themselves a phenom. Someone who has generated widespread excitement before he ever sets foot in a major-league ballpark."I kind of get that sense, somewhat," Phil Hughes, 20, said yesterday, speaking of his fan following. For this, you can thank (or blame) a perfect storm of circumstances.

Consider: Since the Yankees took Derek Jeter in the 1992 amateur draft, not one of their top picks has played for the big-league club. The 2007 Yankees' starting rotation appears thin, in terms of major-league experience. Hughes, the 23rd overall selection of the 2004 draft, is indeed great - the best pitching prospect, many believe, in all of baseball. Continue

Andy feels home again

There are more gray flecks in Andy Pettitte's short hair, but other than that sign of aging, nearly everything seemed the same for the lefty as he got settled at the Yankees' spring training camp yesterday for the first time in four years.

Except for several different faces wearing the same uniform, being back seemed only natural. "It's like 'Groundhog Day,'" Pettitte said. The familiarity actually hit him the night before when he was driving around Tampa with his wife, Laura, feeling like he had never left. Pettitte's first day at Astros spring training, before the 2004 season, was considerably less warm and fuzzy. Continue

Ready for Long haul

Spring training is still months away, but Kevin Long already has begun work in his new job as the Yankees' hitting coach. He has had lunch with Alex Rodriguez to plan an offseason routine and will visit A-Rod at his winter home in Miami to help prepare him for camp. "I know we all need the offseason," Long said in a recent telephone interview. "But I want to go to spring training tomorrow."

Long, 39, is an energetic "cage rat" who has generally been the first person at the ballpark during each of his stops in baseball, whether it was as a hitting coach in the Royals' system or while tutoring up-and-coming Yankees such as Robinson Cano and Melky Cabrera in the minors. His new job is his first taste of the majors after 18 years in the game, and he's understandably thrilled. He's also realistic enough to know that he's in a pressure-filled environment with the Yankees, one in which hitting coaches have paid with their jobs for past playoff failures. And he realizes there are skeptics who think he'll have difficulty reaching millionaire superstars because he is not a former major leaguer himself. Continue