March 28, 2013

George M. Steinbrenner Field
Tampa, Florida

By: Rocky Julich

It’s been unusually chilly cold and windy during this March Spring season in the Grapefruit League.

Much like the weather, during Spring Training the New York Yankees experienced a season of cold players. The cold appeared in the Yankees line-ups.

Consider the use of six players at first base with left handed #55 Lyle Overbay with the “inside track” as the likely candidate to open the season in The Bronx. Overbay was signed on March 26th after being released by the Boston Red Sox. He appeared in three Spring Training games in a Yankees uniform. The Yankees released recently signed #54 Juan Rivera who covered first base for much of Spring Training. The reason may be that the last time Rivera played in a Yankees uniform was in the original Yankee Stadium outfield during the 2003 season.

Expect that after recovering from a torn right tendon sheath, #25 Gold Glove Mark Teixeira should take over at first base sometime after the month of May.

We watched five talented players commit 20 errors at third base and none had the number 13 of Rodriguez on the back of the uniform. At third base, for his first Opening Day in Pinstripes, #36 Kevin Youkilis of Red Sox fame is not a Rodriguez look-a-like. Will A-Rod, the real third baseman pivot at third after the All Star break?

Roaming between left field, centerfield and right field, twenty players took 94 turns at home plate with a total production of 107 hits, eleven homeruns and 47 RBIs. During the 2013 season, #56 Vernon Wells, #11 Brett Gardner and #31 Ichiro Suzuki will individually bring a lot of this and a lot of that to the fans of The Bronx. #14 Curtis Granderson, recovering from a fractured right forearm is expected during early May playing LF/CF?

Looking for a Yankees Catcher? #40 Francisco Cervelli and #19 Chris Stewart will be the men behind the mask.

DHing for the New York Yankees? No players lacking here. The bench will be kept warm.

New York Yankees Captain, shortstop Derek Jeter will be missed as he starts the season on the disabled list. Five players filled in at short, but #26 Eduardo Nunez has proven, as best he can, to be the replacement for the fan favorite Jeter. Derek will remain in the Minor Leagues for an extended Spring Training.

Only three players from the 2012 Opening Day line-up will step out of the dugout for the Yankees Home Opener on Monday, April 1st vs. the Boston Red Sox; #24 Robinson Cano, #11 Brett Gardner and #52 pitcher C.C. Sabathia.

Superstar second baseman Robinson Cano and MVP of the 2013 World Baseball Classic “is not feeling pressure to carry the Yankees”.

And so the time has come. It will be future Hall of Fame closing pitcher #42 Mariano Rivera’s final Opening Day. After 18 seasons in a New York Yankees uniform, Mariano is optimistic despite the injuries to the Yankees star players. Throughout his career, it is his talent and faith that has sustained him.

While #65 Phil Hughes will remain with the Minor League Club pitching during extended Spring Training, as he recovers from a bulging disk in his upper back, the Yankees team is returning to The Bronx with a strong pitching rotation and a healthy bullpen. Among the arms, #52 C.C. Sabathia, #46 Andy Pettitte, #18 Hiroki Kuroda, #41 David Phelps, #30 David Robertson, #62 Joba Chamberlain, #48 Boone Logan, #96 Vidal Nuno.

Vidal Nuno is the recipient of the 2013 James P. Dawson Award given annually to the outstanding Yankees Rookie in Spring Training. He is a left handed long reliever. His record: 1-1, 0.61 ERA with one save in seven appearances (2 starts). He permitted one run in 14-2/3 innings, allowing 10 hits, walking four and striking out 13.

It will not be a walk in the park to October for the ever highly competitive Yankees in the American League East.

In conclusion, please remember, these are the ever confident New York Yankees and injury set-backs have never put a tweek in their winning bravado.

In the meantime, the following is the projected Opening Day line-up at Yankee Stadium:
CF Brett Gardner
RF Ichiro Suzuki
2B Robinson Cano
1B Kevin Youkilis
DH Travis Hafner
LF Vernon Wells
3B Jayson Nix
SS Eduardo Nunez
C Chris Stewart
P C.C. Sabathia

Do you like the chances of the playoffs with the transitional Yankees line-up? Perhaps it might be fun to use the player numbers in your local lottery.

Stay tuned.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional baseball Leagues

March 21, 2013
New York Yankees Spring Training
George M. Steinbrenner Field
Tampa, Florida

By: Rocky Julich

HOPE Week 2013 will return for the fifth consecutive season at Yankee Stadium in New York from July 8 through July 12. The Initiative is a unique week-long community program that brings to light five remarkable stories intended to inspire individuals into action in their own communities.

During the 2012 HOPE events, it marked the beginning of a new tradition for the New York Yankees as all of the organization’s minor league clubs held their own HOPE Weeks, allowing the initiative to reach five new cities.
Hope Week is rooted in the fundamental belief that acts of goodwill provide hope and encouragement to more than just the recipient of the gesture.

Helping Others to Persevere & Excel can be compared to the colors of the rainbow. HOPE is driven by the outreach of the rainbow like individuals, families and organizations.

During Spring Training, the New York Yankees kicked off HOPE Week prior to the Yankees game against the Minnesota Twins. The Yankees were proud to host the HOPE ceremony with the Twins in attendance, as the Minnesota organization continues to embrace the HOPE Week concept with their third annual HOPE Week planned for June 10-16 in Minnesota.

During the pregame ceremony, in the spirit of the H.O.P.E. Initiative, the Yankees recognized 73-year old Ken Guill, founder of the non-profit organization “Missions Made Possible”. The organization provides lifeguard and emergency relief flights for those in need of transportation due to health problems and medical needs.

Ken Guill is a look-a-like to Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger, pilot hero of the Hudson River. Pilot Guill along with his crew of “Missions Made Possible” Vice President Joe Kemmer, Co-Pilot Chris Meyer and Flight Nurse extraordinaire Vicky Smith were the honorees of the HOPE Initiative at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

The H.O.P.E. honorees were presented with a $5,000.00 check to aid “Missions Made Possible” in their medical missions.

One Airplane. “Missions Made Possible” is able to transport non-ambulatory individuals using specialized FAA-approved stretchers which are secured inside the airplane.

Since its founding during 2005, the “Missions Made Possible” team has transported over 90 severely ill individuals; ranging from newborns to the elderly, to their respective hospitals, doctors and clinics in cities across the country.

“Missions Made Possible” has flown from home base Orlando, Florida to as far away as Pittsburgh, Little Rock and Tulsa to pick up passengers who are then flown to other cities for urgent care. The work of “Missions Made Possible” is a lifeline for individuals whose families cannot afford the costs of arranging critical medical treatment far from their home.

A nurse is always present on flights to ensure the safety and health of patients being transported. Vicky Smith, nurse retired after 20 years of service from the Florida State Penal System Department of Corrections was honored for her work in helping others persevere. She considers the service she volunteers to provide rewarding “by the act of completing the missions made possible by however it takes to help the patient in need, sometimes under not the most favorable weather conditions”.

We asked Nurse Smith if she ever flew with a recognized celebrity during one of the missions, to which she replied “every patient is a celebrity”. She continued “and today, the New York Yankees honored us as if were celebrities”.

The group made comments how “the thrill and the whole experience of being with the Yankees as wonderful”. They all stood at Home Plate while being honored, listening to the Yankees announcer during the presentation and later remained on the field as each met and spoke with favorite players and posed for pictures. They received autographed balls. Nurse Smith held her autographed baseball and indicated to me that while a lifelong Yankees fan her favorite autograph belonged to Jennifer “Jenny” Steinbrenner.

Fans can learn more about the initiative and nominate inspirational individuals for HOPE Week recognition by visiting the official website at www.hopeweek.com

You can make contributions to the non-profit organization “Missions Made Possible” by visiting the official website at www.missionsmp.com

Stay tuned.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional baseball Leagues or its clubs.

March 06, 2013
George M. Steinbrenner Field
Tampa, Florida

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC vs. NEW YORK YANKEES

By: Rocky Julich

The New York Yankees Spring Training field was visited by various dignitaries from the Dominican Republic; among them, Jaime David Fernandez, Ministro de Deportes and Hector Pereida, Presidente de La Federacion de Beisbol. Leo Lopez, Director de Relaciones de Media.

Today, the player practice on George M. Steinbrenner Field took a different meaning as most of the vocal exchanges heard from the opposing team were in Spanish. The visiting team on the field is the baseball crazed Dominican Republic and they came prepared to play with a line-up that is unforgiving.

As I prepare the line-up sheet in my score book, it is interesting to note that all of the opposing Major League players have Spanish names. Vidal Nuno, Carlos Santana, Edwin Encarnacion, Robinson Cano, Hanley Ramirez, Eric Aybar, Ricardo Nanita, Alejandro DeAza, Nelson Cruz. Tony Pena manages the Dominican team, while Alfredo Griffin is at first base and Juan Samuel coaches third. Moises Alou is the General Manager.

It may be one of the rare times in franchise history that the New York Yankees have faced an all Latino Major League Baseball players line-up.

The New York Yankees line-up reads as follows; Hiroki Kuroda, Francisco Cervelli, Luke Murton, Jayson Nix, Kevin Youkilis, Eduardo Nunez, Matt Diaz, Melky Mesa, Juan Rivera. Joe Girardi is the manager. Brian Cashman is the General Manager, presently among the long list of injured players of the Yankees.

After losing in the Inaugural (2006) and second World Baseball Classics (2009) the Dominican Republic team is playing to win with a little bit of everything; power, hit & run, steals and player chemistry.

The 2013 Dominican Republic club include seven players who have participated in Major League Baseball All Star games. Hanley Ramirez, Jose Reyes and Robinson Cano played for their Country in the 2009 World Baseball Classic.

As evidenced by the exhibition debut defeat of the Philadelphia Phillies by 15 runs, 28 hits in a 15-2 win. The Dominican Republic is passionate about winning the World baseball Classic. Playing the second game of competition, during the second half of the 7th inning, the Dominican Republic led the Yankees 6 – 0, with 10 hits vs. Yankees 0. Continuing play in the bottom of the 7th inning, the Yankees Zoilo Almonte, with two outs on the board, connected a two run home run. Dominican 7 – Yankees 2.

There were lots of fans in the seats (8,146), many of them waving the flag of the Dominican Republic with loud cheers for baseball Nationalism over the New York Yankees.

The Dominican Republic continues strong in competition in the World Baseball Classic with wins over the National League Phillies and the American League Yankees.

Final score:
Dominican Republic 8 runs – 13 hits – 0 errors
New York Yankees 2 runs – 2 hits – 2 errors

The question was asked of Yankees star second baseman Robinson Cano regarding the difficulty in his competing for the Dominican Republic vs. the team he plays for, the New York Yankees.

La dificultad en apoyar la Republica Dominicana sobre su quipo los New York Yankees.

No response necessary.
It’s just baseball with a bilingual flavor. Es un poquito de beisbol con sabor bilingue.

Stay tuned.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

February 27, 2013
George M. Steinbrenner Field
Tampa, Florida

By: Rocky Julich

Prior to the afternoon of a spring training game, a lot goes on with the players. All types of physical conditioning; print, radio & TV interviews and meetings.

Today there was a player/union meeting. Mark Teixeira as the Yankees team representative, during a briefing of the media in the player’s Clubhouse presented a picture of the issues discussed.

Steroids. The one voice assured that “most guys are on the same page”. They want a clean game and are voicing each new issue as it comes up. The Yankees first baseman made his feelings clear as to solutions regarding steroids. He expressed belief that the sight of players becoming twice their size will be less common, as will the feat of hitting 60 homeruns.

Recognizing that steroids is a part of baseball which will not go away, Mark Teixeira is all for increasing testing, in order for the teams to stay ahead of the “cheats”. With union leadership, he would like to see fixing the science side. Having your “name dragged through the mud” is punishment.

The game of the day starts promptly at 1:05 pm as both teams place and test on the playing field the best players of previous seasons and the best players in development.

A, AA and AAA players each play to learn from the other during a spring training afternoon.

The Yankees lost this game early with the pitching failure of a young LHP being developed for the Major Leagues. To quote the manager Joe Girardi, “it was nerves, but a good experience for Nik Turley”.

Nine (9) Yankees pitchers followed Nik Turley on the mound to complete the game; Eppley, Daley, Rondon, Kahnle, Montgomery, Spence, Claiborne and Pope. Between the group, they combine one year of Major League Baseball experience.

With a score of Baltimore 10 – Yankees 7, the Yankees notched five (5) errors during the game. Manager Girardi “the game was sloppy, but these are young kids, our regulars are not healthy”.

There were bright moments in the Yankees fielding. Johnson to Joseph 5-3 out during Baltimore’s 4th inning. What a throw, what a leg splitting catch.

A Spring Training afternoon – observed, player development.

Stay tuned.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

February 24, 2013

George M. Steinbrenner Field
Tampa, Florida

By Rocky Julich

How many ways has it been written about the “rite of spring”? A good guess would be as often as has been written about the rite of Major League Baseball Spring Training. It was the year 1890 when the concept of Spring Training was developed as a time for the players of the day to experience the game through rebirth, rejuvenation, renewal, resurrection and regrowth.

Since 1903, the New York Yankees teams have experienced all of the above during the 111 seasons of spring, while training 18 consecutive seasons in Tampa and before then, 33 seasons in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

The Yankees have always been considered a resilient team. They have been a franchise which has been able to pull championships out of a hat or better yet out of free agents.

It is a different era in Major League Baseball and there can be no denying that the 2013 Yankees will place on the field what some consider the worst line-up in decades. The current players are a little bit of this and a little bit of that.
The oldest player in camp, RHP Mariano Rivera is 43 years of age. Eight players listed on the Yankees roster have more than 10 years of service. While their superstars 3B A-Rod and shortstop Derek Jeter are in the sunset of their careers.
So fans get ready, rebirth through youth is where the team is headed.

The Yankees players, vulnerable positions?

During the media press briefing Manager Joe Girardi stated, “I’ve said you never really know about the depth of your club until it’s tested. Well, it’s going to be tested here. We’re going to find out how deep we are.” During the rite of Spring Training.

The Yankees outfield is uncertain with the injury to Curtis Granderson and Brett Gardner’s switch to centerfield. The infield is being held by the gloves of Robinson Cano and Mark Teixeira. Perhaps looking forward to Rob Segedin at third? Catcher, catcher, how about the glove of youngster Gary Sanchez? And, starting pitching for the Yankees, straight out of Single-A may be Jose Ramirez and Nik Turley.

Stay tuned………

March 16, 2012
Friday – 3:15 pm
George M. Steinbrenner (Legends) Field
Tampa, Florida

LHP ANDY PETTITTE COMES OUT OF RETIREMENT
RETURNS TO “work” WITH THE NEW YORK YANKEES

Andy Pettitte in Deer Park Texas
Telephone Press Conference
Transcript of questions and answers:

Jason Zillo, New York Yankees
Director, Communications & Media Relations

I’ve got the (media) crew here. Thanks for joining us, I know there is a lot going on today.

Wall Street Journal:
How much was your family behind this decision. Were they fully supportive 100%?

Pettitte:
They are, they weren’t crazy about me retiring last year. I would’ve never have done this if, especially my wife, if she didn’t feel good about it. It’s been awsome being home, that’s for sure. Like I said, I’m sure we’ll get into it. When Cash called me and we kind of committed try tostart working out and kind of get this thing going. I couldn’t commit in January or February and I just was enjoying working out again. My family is behind this 100%, I’ve got a wife of absolute gold. She looks at me and she says you are the lead of the household and I am going to follow you and what ever you think is the right decision for us I’ll support you and I would love for you to do it if you want to do it, so it makes my life easier that’s for sure.

Star Ledger
Cash was telling us earlier that at one point he told you to shut it down from your throwing. Why did you keep throwing? You told him later on that you kept working, why?

Pettitte:
All I can say is, tha’s exactly right. I was working out, I spoke with Hal. In January we were talking and obviously we talked and I couldn’t commit and he said we’ve got to build a team and I said I understand that so we kind of agreed that something may not happen so keep working out and let’s see if you can get the juices flowing and if nothing happens then we’ll see if you’ll be able to commit in a few weeks and obviously something happened, they signed Kuroda and Michael and so when they signed those guys they called me and said hey you can shut it down. The money that we were going to use is gone and you know the spot in the rotation you know obviously we have 7 starters now cause at that time they had A.J. (Burnett) and they said so just go ahead and shut it down and so I said o.k. And after three or 4 days, I looked at my wife and I said Babe I was loving it working out, I couldn’t commit to them but I was loving working out and she said well just keep working out, so I kept working out and that’s when I went down to Spring Training and didn’t know if I would tell them or not but I told Hal and I told Cash that you all told me to quit working out but I was working out and still was throwing and I think I would love to play man and they were like oh my goodness. How are we going to work this out so that kind has been the process.

Newsday
You were just talking on TV about how important it was for you to be the man of the house and you wanted to spend a little time with your family. What was it that persuaded you to come back and do this and change the teams direction completely?

Pettitte:
I think that it was just like I said, as a man, my desire to work is back . I felt like last year the desire to go to the gym and do what needed to be done to go to the gym just wasn’t there and the commitment level wasn’t there and once Cash and I spoke in December and I started working out again I don’t know if it was because I had a year off or I had however many months, it was 8 months from waking up and training and getting ready for the season was back and just my desire to work it’s just back and I love working and for me I guess as a man that kind of right now is just overriding and I guess also having the opportunity to be here to coach my kids to see my boys play high school baseball those things that I was missing so much, I’ve had the opportunity to do that and not that I’m not going to miss that, I’m going to really miss it but just when you pray about something which I have done continuously on this and when I look at my wife and she says she feels good about it, then I just kind of follow what I feel my heart is telling to do and this is where I’m at right now. And I think I told you all that when people ask me would I ever come back you know, I would probably be too embarassed to come back. Because I am retiring and I ‘m announcing a retirment and that’s really where I’ve been for the last 3 or 4 days. I am embarrased that I am coming back but then, I’m like what can I do, things have changed, my desire to do this has changed and I sure as heck don’t want to look back 10 years down and said I wished I would have done that. And the guys on the club when I am around the team the desire that they show that they want me to come back it’s just been amazing, for me it’s a no brainer. I’m not scared if this happens I don’t think I’m going to fail, but I’m not scared to coming back, I’m not worried about that. I’m going to come back and I’m going to trust in my heart that I am doing the right thing. And, I am hoping and praying that it’s going to be great.

George King:
Do you know you can win here or you’re going to find that out as this thing goes along?

Pettitte:
George, I don’t think that I could do this unless I thought for sure mentally that I could get back to where I was and so I really believe that mentally I’ll be able to get back to where I was and so I believe that if I am mentally right then I’m going to win. I just believe that because I have pitched through so much stuff and, I’ve talked to you all plenty, you all know me as good as anybody. The biggest thing for me was mentally can I get back to where I was and I really believe I can and I needed to, the reason why I couldn’t commit to the Yankees earlier was because I needed to go through the process, I didn’t have time to get on the mound to do the stuff I felt I needed to do to tell them that I could get there. And during my work right now, my bullpen work and stuff like that, I can feel it all coming back as far as the mental the mental side of it also. I’m just hoping and praying physically that I hold together which I think I will and, but you never know as far as that. I mean 2010 my groin was hurting but my mind was as sharp as its ever been and I felt as I pitched great in the playoffs and that was with a bad goin and not great stuff and just felt as I grind my way to get through it. I’m ready for that challenge to do that to get through what it takes.

The Record – Pete Kelly
Do you know exactly when you are going to get to Tampa and what you would be starting to do immediately. Are you ahead of what a normal start of Spring Training training would be at this point?

Pettitte:
I don’t know really. I plan on being in Tampa Tuesday night. It is my plan right now and then I’m not real sure. I have to get there and I’m sure I’ll be in touch with Larry (Rothchild) the pitching coach. And now it will be me and him just getting it figured out and just figuring out exactly how slow they feel like they need to take me. Because obviously like I said, I’m throwing bullpen where I am throwing 60 or so pitches in the bullpen so that’s built up pretty good right there but I may have to back off from that just to start getting my legs tough covering bases that stuff because I haven’t done anything like that on a daily basis.

Sweeny Murti – WFAN Radio:
What’s going to be the hardest part about this for you?

Pettitte:
I think the hardest part will just be the next few days just knowing that I am coming back and I guess a little bit of the unknown for the first few days that I’m down there that will probably be the hardest part but I tell you man, the guys on the team are absolutely awsome and maybe it’s just me feeling anxious about it . Swish (Nick Swisher) just called me and was screaming on the phone (media laughter) and I talked to the guys, I texted pretty much everybody and right before we released this because I wanted the guys to know and I think everybody is fired up. I just can’t wait to get there. You just don’t know how important it isfor me to be around the guys and I just can’t wait to get there for me, even with the guys that are not there, to be able to build up the relationships and stuff with those guys and just looking forward to doing it. To answer your question, I think just because I have been gone and just the adjustment of the last time I walked in there I walked into the coach’s office and this time I will be walking to the other side again. That will probably just be the weirdest part of it. Once I stood on the mound the other morning it was like I never left even though it was Tuesday morning and Cashman was standing there with Gene Michaels, Joe and Larry it was like I never left, to tell you the truth it was really weird.

New York Times:
How much of this decision is just wanting to play baseball again and how much is it this team, in other words if there wasn’t an opportunity here there was not an opportunity in your mind anywhere.

Pettitte:
That is correct. Obviously, I realize they’ve build a team. It was the Yankees or nothing. Obviously, you guys realize this is all about just me having the desire to do this again. For what I am coming back and playing for is an awful lot of money and I realize that but it’s a long ways away from what we were talking about in January, you know. But I just have the desire to work again and as a man I want to go to work and my work is baseball, it’s pitching and that’s what I know. I am going to get it cranked back up and do it again.

Mark Feinseind
And what was Jeter’s and Mariano’s reactions when you told them for sure that you were coming back?

Pettitte:
Actually, Mo doesn’t know for sure. I’m sure he does now. Mo doesn’t carry a cell phone around anymore, so I have been told. He probably found out today. But I did talk to Jeter and they’re excited and pretty fired up and I tell you the first text message I got when it came out was from Jorgie (Posada) and he was fired up and was just saying welcome back and wishing me the best of luck so that was a pretty cool to get a text from him.

Andrew Marchand
ESPN-New York
Is Jorge (Posada) next?

Pettitte:
Oh, I don’t know. I don’t think so, he definitely hasn’t told me anything like that I can tell you that for sure. I don’t believe so.

?
When do you think you will be on a Major League mound, when do you think will be your time table.

Pettitte:
I’m just not sure. I mean, I hate to even start throwing stuff out there just because I’m not sure but I would imagine, I would think that if everything goes great, I don’t even know, I would hate to say anything just because I don’t know what the Yankees are thinking of yet how slow they want to take me, how careful they want to be, you know what I mean.

(Joel Sherman: Well just keep it between us)

We’re going to work together with that I think if they want me to go just from where I am right now, I think I could probably start doing rehab starts or starts in probably two or three weeks. That’s what I would think to be able to get out there and throw a couple of innings to start off with.

Mark Feisand (again)
On a separate note. Do you know if you are going to have to take time away to go to testify in the Clemens (Roger) trial?

Pettitte:
Oh man that’s not anything that I would even want to talk about. You know, until you brought that up, that hasn’t even entered into my mind.

Joel Sherman – NY Post
I realize you are just coming back but are you coming back and are you thinking I am going to keep on playing if I like this, not just the 2012 thing.

Pettitte:
I’m not sure Joel, I really am not. I can tell you right now in my mind it’s this year and then I would be like I’ve always been, just evaluate where I’m at and try to weigh my feelings, how I’m feeling and go from there so that’s probably the best answer I could give you right now is that I will probably be in the same boat I was in 2009 and 2010 and just try to go home and figure out exactly what I want to do.

Jason Zillo – anybody else?

Joel Sherman
Is Mariano (Rivera) retiring at the end of the year?

Pettitte:
Laughter! Oh man, I’ll let him tell you guys that.

Media members – Andy, thank you.

Pettitte:
All right guys, I appreciate it. It was extremely difficult to know that me and the Yankees were talking and to see you guys, a couple of you all said hey you look good why don’t you think about coming back in June. So that’s been tough and I am glad it’s over and it’s out of the way and I’m glad I can talk to you guys about it and looking forward to coming back and seeing you guys.

Sweeny Mirti
Next time you tell us the truth , no changing your mind, o.k? (Media laughter)

Pettitte:
All right man.

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.