March 21, 2012
George M. Steinbrenner Field
(Formerly Legends Field)
Tampa, Florida

There’s a little area on my side of the chain link fence.  Three benches mark the spot.  I turn one of the benches around to face the field on the other side of the chain link fence

It is the New York Yankees pitcher’s practice field.

The time is 10:30 in the morning.
The perfectly manicured baseball diamond glistens after the early morning dew, as the warm sun prepares to overtake the day.

Waiting on the field are four Yankees pitching legends, as if choreographed, #54, #49, #33 and #46.

RHP – Rich “Goose” Gossage – The Goose is enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown;
LHP –  Ron Guidry – The “Gator” had his number retired at Yankee Stadium;
LHP – David “Boomer” Wells pitched a Perfect Game, when he played for the Yankees;
Standing on the pitcher’s mound, the youngest, newest legend LHP – Andy Pettitte.

The pitchers prepare for a fielding practice session, as Andy Pettitte once again trains to play Major League Baseball, after his announced retirement in 2010.

The Goose is at home plate holding a bat and ball, prepared to hit  come-backers to the pitcher;
the Gator is at 1^st Base, glove in right hand;
Boomer stands near the pitcher’s mound offering advice to Pettitte on fielding to 1^st Base.

Practice fielding proceeds as follows:
Andy Pettitte, on the rubber, does his wind-up and pitches an imaginary ball to Gossage;
Pettitte assumes position and waits;
Gossage bats the clean baseball on hand, to Pettitte on the mound;
Pettitte fields the ball and throws to Guidry who’s poised at 1^st Base.  Out 1-3

Pitcher fielding practice continues for a timed 5 minutes.
When practice is over, the pitchers meet on the mound and one of them says “it is official”.

The pitchers exit the pitcher’s practice field through the gate of the chain link fence, as in a synchronized walk, one-by-one.  Yankees Legends – Ron Guidry, David Wells, Goose Gossage and Andy Pettitte

I observe with awe from “my place of privilege”.

Stay tuned.

March 16, 2012
New York Yankees Hines Field
George M. Steinbrenner (Legends) Field

Gulf Coast League Yankees
     Rookie – Gulf Coast League
     DSL Yankees 1
     Dominican Summer League – Rookie
     DSL Yankees 2
     Dominican Summer League – Rookie

Short Season – New York Penn League
     Staten Island Yankees

A – South Atlantic League
     Charleston Riverdogs

A – Advanced – Florida State League
     Tampa Yankees
AA
Trenton Thunder
AAA
Scranton – Wilkes Barre Yankees

The future success of every Major League Team lies largely in its Minor League pipeline.

The New Yorkk Yankees have a deep reservoir of prospects in the minors that could help them remain competetve for years to come.

I have visited the Yankees Minor League training Hines complex in Tampa Florida.
This is what I saw:

March 13, 2012
Major League Baseball Spring Training
George M. Steinbrenner Field
Tampa, Florida

The Rivary.

It does not matter where they meet.  Yankee Stadium.  Fenway Park.  Steinbrenner (Legends) Field or Jet Blue Park, the atmosphere will always be the same.  Competitive.

It is a Spring Training Game.  A night game.  There isn’t a seat available in the ballpark. Sold Out!  Every available member of the media covering the two teams and  Major League Baseball is in attendance.  YES, CBS, ESPN.  MLB.com.  Asian Media.  Spanish language Media.   They are all here.  During batting practice, the field in front of the dugouts is crowded with reporters, just as if anticipating the playing of a World Series game.  Photographers are posted at every angle to catch an image of a player.  TVcameras are in place and microphones are tuned to receive that special interview – the player image and voices of the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox.  The Yankees large Press Box is filled past capacity.

Boston pitches Felix Doubront.  A 26 yr. old Rookie from Venezuela.   23 games in the Major Leagues, 3 starts.  It is his first start during Spring Training.

The Yankees start Ivan Nova.  A 26 yr. old Rookie from Dominican Republic.  10 games in the Major Leagues, 7 starts.  Nova has open two games during Spring.

The line-up of both teams reads like a line-up of Spring Training.  A mix of old and new.

From the Yankees – gone, super-star #20 Jorge Posada, after 17+ seasons behind the Yankees catcher’s mask.  Two new pitchers have been added to the rotation; RHP Michael Pineda and RHP Hiroki Kuroda.  RHP Joba Chamberlain is still a fan favorite.  LHP C.C. Sabathia remains the heart of the pitching roation and RHP Mariano River (nearing the end of his career) is the team’s savior.  The outfield is covered by Curtis Granderson and Nick Swisher.   Mark Teixeira at 1st, Robinson Cano at 2nd, “El Capitan”, shortstop, Derek Jeter and Alex “A-Rod” Rodriguez at 3rd complete the shine of the baseball diamond of the Yankees.  Expectations are high for the 2012 season.

 Boston is sporting a “real” new look –  Bobby Valentine is the New Manager, and Boston also has a new General Manager, a new Spring Training ballpark, a new Closer RHP Andrew Bailey and a new shortstop Mike Aviles.   Returning  are RHP Josh Beckett, RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka, Infielders  David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis and Outfielders Jacoby Elllsbury and Carl Crawford are the more familiar faces of the 2012 team.

The competition is fierce as the teams play 8 complete scoreless innings.  At the top of the 9th Boston scores a run and records the first game win of Spring Training vs. the Yankees.  “Let’s play two”.  The teams meet again on March 22 in Ft. Myers for a repeat performance.  The Yankees will play to win………so will the Red Sox!

Final Score:  Boston 1 –  Yankees 0
Time of the game: 2:46
Attendance:  11,048 – the 5th sell-out game of Spring Training for the Yankees.

March 12, 2012
Houston Astros vs. New York Yankees
George M. Steinbrenner Field
Tampa, Florida

New York Yankees history will  note that pitcher Hideki Irabu was the first to bring fame to a  player from Japan pitching for the Yankees.  From the start of negotiations, it was Irabu’s decision that he would only pitch for the New York Yankees.  In 1977, under major league teams controversy, Irabu signed a 4-yr. , $12.8M contract with the Yankees.  The criticism by the teams on the negotiations for Hideki Irabu led to the creation of the “Posting System” currently used by Japan and Major League Baseball.

Hideki Irabu made his highly publicized Major League debut on 7/10/97 and pitched for the Yankees from 1997 until 1999.

During one Spring Training game, George M. Steinbrenner offended Irabu with a comment which criticized his weight.  Expectations were high.  Hideki Irabu was a pioneer player from Japan and he paid a price.
He developed an alcohol problem.

Hideki Irabu appeared in two World Series Championships, 1998 – 1999.  Despite only pitching in one postseason game and having no postseason decision, he was awarded two World Series rings.  He celebrated with the team during two parades down the Canyon of Heroes.  And, twice visited the White House and met the President of the United States with the World Series Champions New York Yankees.

After the 1999 season, the Yankees traded  Hideki Irabu to the Montreal Expos.  In 2002 he pitched for the Texas Rangers.  After 6 seasons of Major League Baseball, Irabu returned to Japan.  He never returned to the Major Leagues.

The gentle-man from Japan never achieved the success he sought, to make him proud to his nation as a pitcher in the Major Leagues.  On July 27, 2011, fourteen years after he signed his contract with the Yankees, Hideki Irabu sadly ended his life in California.

Fast forward Yankees/Japanese  player history to 2012:
Outfielder, Hideki Matsui – LHP,  Kei Igawa – RHP, Hiroki Kuroda.

Hiroki Kuroda made his 2nd start of 2012 Spring Training under the stars of  Steinbrenner (Legends) Field.
After losing his first start, he pitched for a no decison vs. the Astros in his second game.

Fourteen seasons later, it is a different time for baseball players from the “land of the rising sun”, Japan.

Stay tuned.

March 11, 2012
George M. Steinbrenner Field
Tampa, Florida

The Yankees played their 9th & 10th  (split squad) games of Spring Training, vs. the Philadelphia Phillies at Steinbrenner Field, while a second team of player stravelled along with Manager Joe Girardi to Minnesota Twins, Hammond Stadium in Ft. Myers, Florida, to manage the team and observe #65-RHP Phil Hughes pitch his 2nd start.

With Bench Coach Tony Pena substituting as Manager at Steinbrenner Field the Yankees star closer Mariano Rivera pitched his first game vs. the Philadelphia Phillies.  The fan favorite Panamanian pitched 1 inningof no hit, strikeouts, walks or runs.

A session of questions and answers  followed in the Yankees Clubhouse at the conclusion of Rivera’s one inning of pitching:
Mariano:

Reporter:  Was it where it would be at mid-season?
Rivera:  It’s at mid-form.  So at mid-form is where you have to be when you are ready to pitch.  You know what it means.

Reporter:  I just want you to say it.
Rivera:  It’s Spring training.  It’s the first outing.  You just have to do what you have to do.  I think I did what I wanted  to do.  I threw  my pitches, I feel good and I am waiting for the next outing.

Reporter:  Does it compare to other years, your first time out.  Is is similar?
Rivera:  Oh yea, definitely.  The same feeling, the same situation.  Just trying to get people out and go home.

Reporter:  Do you appreciate that you got a standing ovation, when you came out, do you appreciate that a little bit more?
Rivera:  What are you trying to say?

Reporter:  As you get older (laughter).
Rivera:  Be nice you guys. (laughter)  I always appreciate.  Don’t matter the situation, I always appreciate it.

Reporter:  The second hitter made you work a little bit.
Rivera:  That’s what it is.  That is the game.  You have to work,  you have to pitch, In a situation like that, I mean, you don’t want to throw 7 or 8 pitches, you want to throw the most you can, so that when the situation comes you are ready.

Reporter:  The large part of the crowd gave you a standing ovation even before you pitched when you came out.  You think that’s because a lot of them think this might be the last year?
Reply:  Thanks, I’ve got to go.  Laughter!

So, abruptly, ended the post-game interview with Mariano Rivera as he one again dodges the number one question  in the Yankees camp.  Is Mariano Rivera returning to the the Yankees team for the 2013 season.

Now, according to the fact that the average person is “willing to wait” 250 miliseconds, less than a blink of an eye – fans, you are going to have to wait until when and if Mariano Rivera decides he has had enough of the Yankees mound to announce his departure from the team.  A sad day it will be.  An end to a Yankees era.

Stay tuned.

Freelance writer and photographer Aris Sakellaridis is at Yankees Spring Training to assist community advisor and author Ray Negron, writing stories about heroes and unsung heroes that surround the Yankees Universe. Aris visited Apopka, Florida, a suburg of Orlando on Saturday, February 26th, to report on a movement led by local businessman Armando Gutierrez to possibly relocate the Class-A Tampa Yankees to the area by 2013.

The Yankees organization showed the town of Apopka that they are serious about bringing a pro ball club to town.  A team of Minor League players and coaches, along with staff members and team mascot Bly, made the trip from Tampa.  They put a whole new meaning into the phrase, “If they build it, we will come.”

As a full house was enjoying the opener of the Yankees 2011 Spring Training season at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, over 1,000 baseball fans showed up in Apopka at the Orange County Northwest Recreational Facility to support the return of pro baseball to Central Florida.  The starving fans started entering the facility at 7:30 a.m. with a hunger for baseball, and Yankees community advisor Ray Negron complied by keeping them entertained with a Yankees version of “American Idol.”  Negron gave young fans a chance to step up to the stage and belt out a tune for a prize of a replica 2009 World Series Championship ring.  The lesson here was to instill confidence that you can become anything you desire if you focus your mind to it.  Thanks to the Yankees, there were plenty of rings available as the crowd was entertained by over a dozen talented singing  hopefuls.  Just like that, a “Yankees Idol” was created.

An introduction of future Yankees players were greeted with wild applause as bobble heads, bats and pins were handed to everyone in sight.  Legendary Mayor John Land was introduced and shared his memories of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Joltin’ Joe DiMaggio.  He was taken aback when he was presented with a replica 2009 ring and wanted to earn it by singing a song.  A baseball clinic followed with fielding drills, a baseball IQ and advise was offered for life skills.

With 15 million tourists and a huge residential following, the ball is on their side of the fence, Orlando.  Armando Gutierrez, Jr., president of Baseball Enterprises in Central Florida, declared the three-hour affair a success.

“The impact of the community was felt today” said Gutierrez.  “The kids were on top of the world and the rest of the world that we attract will recognize the Yankees emblem and will flock to games.”

Yankees vice president Felix Lopez is excited about the potential move of the Tampa Yankees.  “An extension of our team to the Orlando area will mean more fans representing us” said Lopez, also stressing the importance of the impact it will have on youths.  “They will focus on working to become Yankees in various positions like scouting directors or front office personnel.”

It is a real-life “Field of Dreams” and with the Yankees’ desire to relocate, Orlando owes it to their taxpayers, but more importantly to its’ future leaders, the children.  With the NBA’s Orlando Magic being the only sports team in its’ radius, it’s a win-win situation for everyone.

Keeping score of a Major League Baseball game during the regular season is no easy feat.

Keeping score of a Major League Baseball game during the first game of Spring Training  is as amazing as the players used on the field. 

The New York Yankees have 64 players on their Spring Training camp roster: 32 Pitchers, 8 Catchers, 13 Infielders, 11 Outfielders

February 26, 2011     New York Yankees vs. Philadelphia Phillies

Philadelphia played with, pinch hit and pinch ran and moved around the field 16 men for a total of 37 at bats.  They produced 11 hits, 2 doubles, 1 triple, 3 walks and 5 strikeouts with 1 error.  One stolen base.  Zero home runs.  There were 27 putouts and 11 assists on the field.  Philadelphia left 8 men on base.  Six pitchers were used as the  final score was 5 runs by the National League Phillies.

New York played with, pinch hit and pinch ran and moved around the field 18 men for a total of 35 at bats.   They produced 9 hits, 3 doubles, 1 triple, 5 walks, 6 strikeouts.  One stolen base.  One home run.  There were 27 putouts and 8 assists on the field.  New York left 10 men on base.  Seven pitchers were used as the final score was 4 runs by the American League Yankees.

Practice, practice, show what you learned and can do.  That is what is logged on the spring training game score sheet.

Oh yes, there were balks and double plays.  

Stay tuned,  Major League Baseball score sheet to follow.

The Yankees opened their 32-game schedule on Saturday, February 26th vs. the  Philadelphia Phillies at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida.  The schedule is the fewest official spring training games since a 29-game Grapefruit League schedule in 2008. The Yankees will play 32 games in 32 days, with doubleheaders on 3/7 and 3/11.  It is the Yankees’ 16th consecutive season at George M. Steinbrenner Field  (formerly Legends Field).  It is the 109th Spring Training in franchise history.

• 1903-04  Atlanta, Georgia
• 1905         Montgomery, Alabama
• 1906         Birmingham, Alabama
• 1907-08  Atlanta, Georgia
• 1909         Macon, Georgia
• 1910-11   Athens, Georgia
• 1912          Atlanta Georgia
• 1913          Hamilt0n, Bermuda
• 1914          Houston, Texas
• 1915          Savannah, Georgia
• 1916-18   Macon, Georgia
• 1919-20   Jacksonville, Florida
• 1921          Shreveport, Louisiana
• 1922-24  New Orleans, Louisiana
• 1925-42  St. Petersburg, Florida
• 1943         Asbury Park, New Jersey
• 1944-45  Atlantic City, New Jersey
• 1946-50  St. Petersburg, Florida
• 1951         Phoenix, Arizona
• 1952-61  St. Petersburg, Florida
• 1962-95  Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
• 1996-present  TAMPA