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.