What wins baseball games? Pitching does, something the Phillies have and the Mets don't. The Mets will rely on Glavine, El-Duque, Sele, Maine, and Pelfrey. Pedro is out till August too and outside of Glavine their starting pitching stinks.

The Phillies have Myers (14-7), Garcia (16-9), Hamels (led NL in strikouts after the All Star break as a rookie), Moyer (7-3 after he joined the Phillies), and Eaton/Lieber. The Phillies also ranked 1st in run scored last year in the NL.

RRA Tired of Non-Important Yankee Camp Tidbits

EAST TENNESSEE - While the New York Yankees are enjoying a nice series of internet and newspaper articles regarding storylines and minor events, not everyone is happy.

"There are some legitimate stories for the Yankees at Spring Training. Is this Joe Torre and A-Rod's last season at New York? Can Derek Jeter deliver another MVP-like season of numbers? Can the bullpen get its act back together? But when it becomes little stories of Cano always being worried, or frequent hypercondriac Pavano crying about being out of routine, is that really news?"

This comes from RonnieRocketAgo(which we will refer to him as such, since he doesn't want his full name Joe Gayeski exposed to the public), a lifelong baseball fan and even a rare fan outside of New York City that doesn't hate the Yankees.

"In a way, the media coverage of Yankees camp is like the real world I guess. We have a bloody civil war that we're stuck in at Iraq. AIDS and Famine own Africa. Osama Bin Laden is still out there. Obama and Hillary are slugging each other. Instead, we only pay attention to stories that don't matter, like Anna Nicole Smith's death and Anne Coulter calling John Edwards a queer."

But "RRA" wants everyone to know he doesn't hate the Yankees at all.

"Unlike most baseball fanboys, like say Boston, the Yanks are not an evil empire. Its just a commercial imperialist club that exploits the hell out of the legality that Bud Selig allows. But Papa George Steinbrenner is evil. He was a roommate of Bob Novak, Idia Amin, and Lucifer over at Princeton."

Source: REUTERS & THE ONION

I didn't realize you had to go into the Yankee thread.

Why not start another thread for disgruntled baseball fans instead of polluting this one?

Giambi wishes Opening Day was here

TAMPA, Fla. -- Pitchers, these two weeks are for you.

At least that's the mind-set of Jason Giambi, who slugged a mammoth grand slam on Sunday off the Pirates' Zach Duke, leading the Yankees to an 8-1 Grapefruit League victory at Legends Field.

After the game, Giambi said New York's offense is ready to roll the calendar forward to Opening Day. Twelve more exhibition games remain on the slate, so the hitters will have to busy themselves with a few more free at-bats.

"We can definitely break camp right now," Giambi said. "The hard part is to fight through and get some intensity and a little adrenaline flowing. You're basically here now for the pitchers."

Though the 36-year-old slugger has three home runs this spring, Giambi ended Sunday afternoon batting just .206. He hasn't been concerned by a spotty showing thus far; in fact, Giambi is elated by how good his surgically repaired left wrist has felt in his plate appearances.

Yankees manager Joe Torre said that Giambi has looked "free and easy" and said that he has been very comfortable with his projected designated hitter, believing that "his at-bats are right where they should be."

Torre said his coaches have been comparing data on at-bats from appearances at this point last season, up and down the lineup, and they compare favorably to March 2006. That's encouraging, but for hitters ready to sniff out the regular season, tough luck.

"They're going to get a little bored here, but they understand the last week is when you have to start locking yourself in and getting mentally ready for the season," Torre said.

Giambi wasn't expecting to do much this spring, having undergone a procedure to repair ligament damage in the wrist after the Yankees' playoff elimination last October. He has been hitting the ball hard and feeling no pain, which in itself is a minor achievement.

"I'm excited where I'm at," Giambi said. "I thought it'd be a little bit longer where I'd have to get my swing back a little bit, and get a little more work. Everything's gone faster than expected, no doubt about it."

Giambi said that his fourth-inning home run off Duke was a good indication of his rehabilitated stroke. Giambi turned on an up-and-in fastball and launched it inside the right-field foul pole, driving it through a stiff wind and over the wall.

"That tells me I'm swinging the bat good, when I can keep that ball fair," Giambi said. "Especially with that wind pushing it foul, when I can stay inside the baseball like that and keep it fair down the line, that's exactly what I'm looking for."

Giambi has joked often this spring about "letting the 'Big G' loose," which is his personal term for the afternoons he gets to take on the challenge of playing first base.

The first time he did so, Giambi took Don Mattingly aside and kidded the Yankees' bench coach about taking the blanket off the horse and letting it run around outside the stable.

The Yankees aren't asking much defensively of Giambi this season; not with former Rawlings Gold Glove Award winner Doug Mientkiewicz locked in to see the majority of innings at first base, plus Josh Phelps and Andy Phillips competing to win a reserve role.

Still, "Big G" is remaining prepared for unexpected possibilities. He wasn't supposed to play as much first base as he did in 2006 -- 64 starts, compared to 70 at designated hitter -- and said he is entering the season with that same mind-set.

If Giambi winds up being used as a designated hitter more, he's fine with that. But if not, at least he'll be ready.

"The best thing to do is just go as if you're going to be in there," Giambi said. "I think I could see anywhere from half [the games at DH] and half [at first base]. You've got to be prepared to play.

"I still go out there and prepare. I want to. They know I've done it for so long that I'll be ready. When you haven't played for a while, you have to get the speed of it back. When you have, that doesn't take very long at all."

Source: Yankees

RRA: DoubleJ needs to Chill

EAST TENNESSEE - Earlier on his 22nd birthday, ronnierocketago wrote a posting indicating that only "serious" storylines should be reported by the media from Yankees spring training camp. Later that day, DoubleJ responded that RRA should "start another thread for disgruntled baseball fans."

Ronnie was shocked, but not surprised. "Many Yankee fans are very defensive whenever anything, even simple meaningless criticism of the media, is uttered. I mean, I'm not disgruntled, I just rather read hard news instead of the soft-scoop ice cream pointless news that ESPN and other news outlets report from baseball camps that just don't matter."

Ronnie later adds, "Surely if Derek Jeter took a shit, we'll read about it tomorrow in the Post. If I question why this is news, I'll get attacked because some fans want to know important questions like, did Jeter eat corn or sausage last night?"

After the interview-by-phone ended, RRA's public relations camp then asked DJ's camp whatever bitchings about the Boston Red Sox' training camp constitutes a whole new thread, since *technically* its not about the Yankees.

No comment has been reached from DoubleJ's camp.

SOURCE: ESPN

The Red Sox and Yankee rivalry is well documented. Therefore, such discussions are relevant in the thread.

However, while we appreciate Mr. Rara's interest in our thread, we stand by our original statement. Thank you.

Oh, come on, leave the guys alone. Let them have their own little place to enjoy. You have your movie thread and your movie ratings don't you.

Wait, I do have my movie ratings!

HOW BOUT THEM YANKEES!? (2005-Present) - ***1/2

At times, this long-running thread at BB.Net has some wonderful baseball/Yankees sports commentary. God bless the soul of the wise Plawrence. At least fathersson is still here.

Otherwise, people complain when Red Sox get biased camp coverage of how wonderful and sunny it is, I agree with them(though I think all MLB camps have soft news that are about as meaningful as my reviews)...yet I discuss this same problem with Yanks camp, people complain.

If this thread was a TV show, it jumped the shark when Plawrence left us. What a pity. Sort of the SEALAB 2021 of BB.Net threads.

Look who's returned from the dead So were you going for the Cards in the World Series or was it Detroit all the way since they beat the awful and evil Yankees?

I didn't care. I figured Tigers if only because they displayed a more impressive ALCS, but people counted the Cardinals out way too much simply because they failed to field a title in the previous years with many of the same players.

In other words, I figured it might be a 7 game series. Well, I only overpredicted by two games. LOL

I'm sorry ronnie, my question wasn't directed at you, it was to fathersson. But yes, I counted out both Detroit and St. Louis last year. In fact, out of all 7 series of last year's postseason, I only got 1 right (Mets over Dodgers)

I will have to get back to you on that Irish...
I'm still busting a gut after reading the post where you whined about how many stars this thread gets!

No problem, just get back to me when you can. I know you've got a lot of catching up to do since you've been gone for so long.

We here at the Yankees Fanzone™ feel that because this thread is a micro topic and specific with regards to one team, such "soft" news as described by Mr. Rara is both welcomed and appreciated in this thread. The Yankees Fanzone™ would like to point out to Mr. Rara that if he feels the need for less Yankee-centric news, it would be more appropriate to start a general thread himself, and to abstain from any more intrusions into the Yankee Fanzone™ authorized thread, "How bout them Yankees!?"

Thank you.

Regards,
The Yankee Fanzone™
1903-2007

Nice DJ. Man, you guys there at Yankee Fanzone™ have GREAT customer service!

Yeah, I love how the customer service [deleted] for absolutely free.

Amazing!

Edited by Don Sicilia
Edit Reason: Vulgar content

Momentous occasion... This is my first "Out of the Sandbox" post in the Sports section.

Keep it cool guys. Keep sports clean.

Alright, I'm fine with that.

I've been fine with. Usually DJ, SB, scarfacetm and other Yankees fans are usually the regulars in this thread. Although, we get those few "outsiders" from time to time

Karstens hits bump in road vs. Jay

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- It can be difficult to tell when Johnny Damon is joking around. It's even more challenging while he's wearing sunglasses and an unbuttoned Hawaiian shirt.

But the Yankees center fielder said he was being honest when he approached right-hander Jeff Karstens following the Yankees' 9-1 loss to the Blue Jays on Monday, boosting the hurler's spirits before hitting the road.

"You're good," Damon told Karstens. "You're a good pitcher. Seriously."

Karstens' bid as a dark-horse candidate for the Yankees' rotation hit a snag against Toronto's lineup, with windy conditions and an inexperienced left fielder combining to snap the 24-year-old's spring scoreless-innings streak at 10.

Karstens allowed four runs and six hits in a 75-pitch performance Monday, spanning 4 1/3 innings. He struck out two and still has yet to issue a walk in 13 1/3 spring frames.

"We've still got a lot of time left," Karstens said. "I learned a lot today about what I can and cannot do when I'm out there. You can't throw fastballs at 91 [mph] by people, especially when you're behind."

After recording the first four outs, Karstens thought Troy Glaus stroked enough of a pitch to homer, but a swirling breeze held it in the ballpark. Utilityman Miguel Cairo -- attempting to stay sharp in left field just in case of a future emergency -- then couldn't corral an Alex Rios fly ball that was scored a double, putting two aboard.

One out later, on what Karstens thought was a much better pitch than the previous two hits, Aaron Hill brought in both runs with yet another two-bagger off the wall.

"They were playing wall-ball, it seemed like," Karstens said.

Karstens would be charged with two additional runs when reliever Chris Britton surrendered a two-run single to Lyle Overbay in the sixth. Manager Joe Torre said the effort didn't change much relating to Karstens' continued bid for a Major League role.

"It's just more information," Torre said. "He's been [darn] near perfect, so I don't think he could hold up against that."

Karstens said he wasn't too deeply troubled by his spring string being nixed.

"You're going to give up runs at some time," Karstens said. "If that wasn't the case, I'd be in the big leagues. But everybody gives up runs."

After pitching in eight games (six starts) for New York last season, Karstens believes he came into camp better prepared for life in the Majors.

His velocity has ticked up a few mph after spending three months working out at Athlete's Performance in Los Angeles, shacked up in a hotel and training five days a week alongside established big leaguers like Chase Utley, Garrett Atkins, Nomar Garciaparra and Chad Cordero.

"You don't have any idea how hard these guys work in the offseason to put up the numbers they put up," Karstens said.

Karstens said that he was given a CD-ROM by the training center that shows a side-by-side photo comparison of the right-hander in November and on Jan. 19, the day he returned home to San Diego.

The results, he said, look like a magazine advertisement for 'Before' and 'After.' The change, visible most in Karstens' broader shoulders, has been striking to teammates and friends who hadn't seen him since last fall.

"My posture even got better," Karstens said.

If Karstens isn't a candidate to make the Yankees' starting rotation -- Torre said Monday that the team wants left-hander Kei Igawa, the likeliest candidate to be bumped, to be one of the starters -- he could serve as a long reliever and the 12th man added to the staff.

"You're adding just another layer to him right now," Torre said. "I have a sense he'll handle it fine, because he didn't shake last year when we brought him up."

Likewise, this isn't the time for Karstens to begin worrying and pressing. With probably two spring starts remaining, Karstens prefers to think as though he is operating on bonus time.

His Double-A and Triple-A teammates from last season have already been playing across the way from Legends Field on Himes Avenue for several days, and Karstens said he'll enjoy every minute he's still pitching for the big club.

"I came into camp thinking I'd probably hang around for a little while, and once games started at the Minor League complex, I'd be back over there," Karstens said. "I'll just make the most of it [and] have fun."

Source: Yankees

Mientkiewicz moving forward

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Doug Mientkiewicz finally stroked his second hit of the spring on Monday, doubling off Toronto's Victor Zambrano and raising his batting average to .076.

Luckily for Mientkiewicz, those numbers will soon reset to zero. Now 2-for-26 in his first Grapefruit League action as a Yankee, Mientkiewicz said he has given up on improving his offensive statistics and is more focused on preparing for the regular season.

"No one ever flipped over the back of a baseball card and saw your Spring Training stats," Mientkiewicz said.

The 32-year-old Mientkiewicz was signed primarily to lend his strong defensive skills to the infield, and he has shown flashes of the deft error-saving play that the organization envisioned.

Even with a powerhouse offensive lineup around him, Mientkiewicz must produce at least a little from his projected No. 9 spot to make the arrangement work.

"Everyone keeps saying, 'You're on the team,'" Mientkiewicz said. "I understand that, but you also want to earn your way on the team. I didn't expect to come in here and hit .400, but I didn't expect to do this either."

On the positive side, manager Joe Torre pointed out that Mientkiewicz has been making contact -- he has struck out only twice this spring -- and has been smacking line drives in a number of his appearances.

"He seems to be having better at-bats," Torre said. "That's why it's advantageous to watch guys instead of just looking at results."

Mientkiewicz said he spent about 1 1/2 hours on Sunday working with bench coach Don Mattingly and hitting coach Kevin Long, going through batting drills on a back diamond at Legends Field.

While he had resisted those types of heavy workouts earlier in camp, preferring to remain cautious so as not to irritate his surgically repaired back, Mientkiewicz said he enjoyed the experience, grueling as it may have been.

"It seemed like three weeks," Mientkiewicz said.

Mientkiewicz said that he felt more confident going into Monday's game, the lessons from Long and Mattingly ringing in his ears. He spoke of being more aggressive and loose at Knology Park, comparing the feeling of rapping his bat against home plate to carefree hitting in the backyard as a child.

"If the season started tomorrow, I'm going in the right direction," Mientkiewicz said. "I'm better than what I've shown."

Abreu ready for duty: Bobby Abreu said he is prepared to serve as the Yankees' designated hitter on Tuesday against the Phillies at Legends Field. Abreu strained his right oblique while taking batting practice on Feb. 26 and has spent most of the last three weeks receiving treatment.

"Three weeks inside the training room," Abreu said. "I don't think that's good at all."

The Yankees plan to bring Abreu along cautiously so as not to duplicate the injury. Tuesday was selected because it is a home game and the Yankees can better control Abreu's play, compared to Thursday and Friday, which are road games at National League parks.

"We've invested so much time, I think we'd be making a big mistake if we tried to rush things," Torre said.

Abreu said that he still feels some tightness in his side, though he has taken batting practice, played the field and run the bases with no issues. It remains possible that Abreu could stay behind in Tampa when the Yankees go north, just to be safe, but Abreu said that he expects to be in New York on Opening Day.

"I feel stretching in there when I make a move or anything," Abreu said. "There's no pinching and no pain, so no problem."

'Pen proud: Torre said that Guidry called Carl Pavano's bullpen session Monday "outstanding." Pavano said following his last start on Saturday that his upcoming bullpen would be a major checkpoint in his effort to return to some sort of normalcy in his routine.

"To me, that's the best news of all," Torre said. "The more you pitch without any setbacks physically, the closer you are to getting the guy that you signed back."

Source: Yankees

Karstens pushes for Igawa's spot
Japanese lefty might begin season in minor leagues

DUNEDIN, Fla. (AP) -- Jeff Karstens has put himself into consideration for Kei Igawa's spot in the New York Yankees' rotation.

"I'm just taking it in stride," Karstens said Monday after New York's 9-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays.

Karstens allowed his first runs of the year, giving up four over 4 1-3 innings. He had pitched 10 consecutive scoreless innings before Aaron Hill's two-run double with two outs in the second. Two more runs scored when reliever Chris Britton gave up a two-run single to Lyle Overbay in the fifth.

Karstens' emergence could alter plans for Igawa, who signed a $20 million, five-year contract after the Yankees bid $26 million for his rights.

"We want Igawa to be one of the starters," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "The only way that wouldn't happen is if we think, he could improve here."

Torre didn't rule out the possibility that Igawa could begin the season in the minors. The left-hander, who has struggled with his control, is to pitch Tuesday night against Philadelphia.

"I think we have a lot of options that we have to consider," Torre said. "But the first consideration for us is do what's best for the player, especially someone you feel is going to be a big part of what you do."

Torre said Igawa had a good bullpen session Monday.

"We're anxious to see how it translates tomorrow," Torre said. "He's gotten better in areas through the three starts. Hopefully tomorrow we'll see a little better demeanor as far as his command and stuff."

In 13 1-3 innings, Karstens has given up 11 hits, struck out 11 and walked none. He was 2-1 with a 3.80 ERA in six starts and two relief appearances for the Yankees last year.

"I came into camp thinking, probably hang around for a little while and then once games start at the minor league complex I'll be back pitching over there," Karstens said. "I was thinking more, come get my work in and try and learn as much as I can while I'm there."

Gregg Zaun hit a three-run homer off Britton, who allowed five runs and four hits in one-third of an inning.

Source: SI

If anything, Karstens deserves the 5th spot, Igawa the 4th. I can't believe this is even a discussion. While Igawa has control issues, his stuff has been electric. He's struck out guys, making them look silly. He just needs to adjust to MLB mounds and umpires.

Pavano, on the other hand, is total shit. He has gotten bombed on every occasion, his stuff has no action, and he's not going to get better even if Ron Guidry puts on a happy face and says he's had a "great" bullpen session with an imaginary, nonexistent hitter.

Please, please, please...package Pavano and some pitchers and get Texiera. Please.

Or, at worst, we get rid of Eye-Chart over at first base and trade Pavano for Richie Sexson, straight up.

Igawa heeds Guidry's advice

TAMPA, Fla. -- On the day Kei Igawa was introduced at Yankee Stadium, general manager Brian Cashman cautioned that the hurler's first season in the United States would be a period of transition, with the Japanese left-hander making countless adjustments.

Some tweaks are coming quicker than others. After battling command issues over his first three Spring Training appearances, Igawa followed pitching coach Ron Guidry's advice to better finish his delivery, allowing him to pin his pitches down in the zone.

The effort flowed into Igawa's sharpest performance as a Yankee. Igawa blanked the Phillies over five innings on Tuesday night at Legends Field, allowing just two hits in New York's 2-0 Grapefruit League victory.

Yankees manager Joe Torre said that he has been pleased by Igawa's continued progress. With two starts likely remaining before the regular season, Igawa has come a long way from a shaky March 5 debut against the Tigers, in which he lasted just one-plus inning.

"Each outing, you can take something from it," Torre said. "Last outing, even though his command wasn't good, I thought his slider was real good. Tonight, it just looked like all his pitches were working. And again, we're not finished yet."

Igawa threw 38 of 65 pitches for strikes, walking three and striking out three. The start was far more economical than his previous one, a March 15 outing against the Braves in which Igawa used 62 pitches to squeak through three innings.

"I think he'll probably sleep better tonight," Torre said. "He's been frustrated with the fact that he knows he can do better. That's what's tough about being a starting pitcher; you've got to wait five or six days for your next time."

Igawa had shown flashes of dominance in his Grapefruit League starts, but they were often obscured with counts that placed him at a disadvantage behind hitters. Igawa has allowed four runs in 12 innings, but he has also struck out a team-high 15 this spring.

"Results are important, but as of now, I just want to prove and learn my way of pitching -- the style," Igawa said through translator Yumi Watanbe. "That's the important thing right now."

The next step, Torre said, would likely be a six-inning effort projected at 85 pitches.

With 24-year-old Jeff Karstens campaigning for a rotation slot, Igawa may have needed a strong game to quell any lingering doubts about his status in the rotation, keeping Karstens shooting toward a role as a long reliever and spot starter.

On Monday, Torre floated the idea that Igawa could begin the year at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, adding fuel to that fire. But his performance against Philadelphia showed a microcosm of what could translate to the Bronx, sparing Igawa a trip to Lackawanna County.

Igawa changed speeds well and made good use of a slider that rescued him from a few tough counts, and even continued his dominance of dangerous Phillies slugger Ryan Howard.

Igawa recalled facing Howard three times during the United States' tour of Japan after the 2006 season, retiring the reigning National League MVP all three times with one strikeout. Howard was retired twice more on Tuesday, flying out to center field and grounding to first.

"I was able to throw the ball low, and that's the good part about today," Igawa said.

Source: Yankees

Pettitte likely to miss next start

TAMPA, Fla. -- Andy Pettitte is likely to miss his next scheduled Spring Training start on Friday with back spasms, Yankees manager Joe Torre said on Tuesday.

Pettitte, 34, began to experience tightness and spasms following a regular workout involving squats on Monday. Pettitte felt fine leaving Legends Field but said his back stiffened at home, then again on Tuesday morning.

"I'm pretty locked up," Pettitte said.

Torre said that that the left-hander would probably not be available to pitch on Friday, the next day his turn would have come around the rotation.

"I think it's safe to assume that," Torre said. "During the season, you may think differently."

Pettitte had originally been scheduled to throw on the side Tuesday, and Torre said it was doubtful that Pettitte would be able to take part on Wednesday. Pettitte had been slated for a Minor League game on Friday, with right-hander Darrell Rasner tabbed to start for the big-league squad against the Pirates.

"I want to stay on schedule," Pettitte said, "but I also realize that it's early."

Torre said he was not aware of any further tests, as the general consensus seems to conclude that the back spasms are not indicative of anything larger.

Pettitte said he had received treatment on Tuesday and was feeling looser.

"We're proceeding very cautiously here, even though it doesn't appear to be anything more than what it is," Torre said.

Pettitte -- back with the Yankees after three years in the National League with the Astros -- has not allowed a run in 10 spring innings this season, limiting opponents to five hits while walking two and striking out seven.

Along with Chien-Ming Wang, Pettitte is one of the Yankees' leading candidates to pitch on Opening Day, April 2, against the Rays. Torre said that missing one start is not likely to jeopardize Pettitte's standing for the regular season.

"Obviously, if they don't go away, it's going to mean something," Torre said. "You're getting close to the finish line. I don't anticipate it being a major problem."

Source: Yankees

Pettitte is going to be fine, they shouldn't push him now though. It's only ST, nobody cares.

Igawa's looking great, again, he deserves the 4th spot.

Pavano still is shit, he needs to be traded...give me Sexson or Texiera any day...one mediocre, injury prone pitcher, cash, and a prospect or two for Texiera should be enough. We could get Sexson straight up for cash + Pavano.

Don't you think it's a little late to get Sexson? I mean, we just got Mientkiewicz this season? I've heard how great Doug's glove is but we all know how bad his bat is too. I know Sexson is a MUCH better hitter than Doug but how about defensively?

Yanks to decide who stays, who goes

TAMPA, Fla. -- In the first of several planned group conferences, members of the Yankees' decision-making team gathered this week at Legends Field, attempting to feel each other out on the remaining issues that press the team's camp.

Much of the veteran Yankees roster has been set, with a number of players who reported to Tampa in February's second week already guaranteed a place on the baseline when the season opens on April 2 against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

With just 10 Grapefruit League games left before trucks are loaded and planes are boarded, the Yankees have several unsettled issues to tackle.

That's why manager Joe Torre, general manager Brian Cashman, the coaching staff and administrative personnel, such as special advisor Gene Michael, gathered on Tuesday to hammer out the remaining questions in a roundtable format.

"The best part of these meetings," Torre said, "is not that the manager says something and has other people agree. You want everybody's opinion. The manager will be the last one to talk after each individual. I've got some great minds, as far as I'm concerned, on my staff."

Now that right fielder Bobby Abreu has returned to action following three weeks on the sidelines with a strained right oblique, it's realistic to project that the Yankees' Opening Day lineup will be just as it was when pitchers and catchers reported on Feb. 13. From Johnny Damon on down, the order has endured no major setbacks.

Likewise, the pitching rotation has not been altered in any fashion, though Andy Pettitte's brief battle with back spasms this past week raises the possibility that changes could be necessary at some point.

For the moment, the Yankees have not tabbed their Opening Day starter, but speculation reigns that 19-game winner and American League Cy Young Award runnerup Chien-Ming Wang will receive the nod, matching up against Rays left-hander Scott Kazmir.

Pettitte would be the likely No. 2 starter, with Mike Mussina, Carl Pavano and Kei Igawa, who dodged speculation of opening the year at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre with a fine outing on Tuesday against Philadelphia, filling in the final three slots.

That leaves Torre, Cashman and the rest of the Yankees' minds to ponder how to fill in the rest of New York's 25-man roster. Step one toward whittling down the remaining 45 nameplates hanging in the home clubhouse at Legends Field began on Tuesday, with imminent reassignments to the club's Minor League complex on Himes Avenue.

"In all likelihood, there are going to be more names than spots," Torre said. "There are no rules on this one. We're going to see how many guys are thinking the same way."

Among the major issues that must be tackled before April 2:

Yankees bullpen: The Yankees plan to carry seven relievers to open the season, and five of the spaces can be projected in ink. Mariano Rivera returns as one of the premier closers in the game, having spent his spring toying with a changeup, a pitch that raises eyebrows as an additional weapon for a pitcher who compiled many of his 413 career saves on the strength of his legendary cutter.

Setting up for Rivera will be right-handers Kyle Farnsworth and Scott Proctor. Farnsworth's first season in New York was a feeling-out process, and Torre believes that he has learned how to better manage the hurler to maximize his efficiency. Proctor led the American League with 83 appearances last season and wears that badge of honor proudly, hoping to approach that level of trust in 2007.

Right-hander Luis Vizcaino, 32, was acquired from Arizona in the Randy Johnson trade and has appeared in at least 70 games in four of the past five seasons. The Yankees are especially intrigued by Vizcaino's success against left-handed batters -- he handcuffed them to a .163 batting average in '06 -- which could negate the need for a second left-hander behind specialist Mike Myers.

"The thing I like about the bullpen is we have a lot of choices," Torre said. "If we [ran] into some problems in past years, you'd scratch your head and wonder where we're going."

Ron Villone, a non-roster invitee who appeared in 70 games last season for the Yankees, opened eyes earlier in camp with his velocity, but he has tailed off as the finish line nears. The 37-year-old Villone has shown signs of overthrowing, which could open the door for fellow lefty Sean Henn, who has quietly held opponents hitless and scoreless in five appearances this spring.

"You can't ignore what he's done here," Torre said of Henn.

The Yankees also project to carry a long reliever and spot starter, with right-hander Jeff Karstens stating his case most convincingly up to this point.

Karstens had pitched the equivalent of a shutout this spring -- nine innings, no runs, no walks and nine strikeouts -- before allowing four runs in his last start on Monday against the Blue Jays. Right-hander Darrell Rasner has also had a solid spring, doing little to hurt his standing.

Other candidates figure into the mix, such as right-hander Colter Bean, who has struck out eight in 6 2/3 scoreless innings. Bean leads a group that appears more likely to begin the year at Triple-A, being among the first to be summoned in case reinforcements are needed.

Right-handed first baseman: When they signed Doug Mientkiewicz to a one-year contract in the offseason, the Yankees also envisioned carrying a right-handed-batting first baseman in a platoon situation at first base.

That sparked a spring-long competition between Andy Phillips and Rule 5 Draft selection Josh Phelps, though in fairness, Phelps spent much of the spring uncontested when Phillips had to return to Alabama, tending to his mother, Linda, after a serious automobile accident.

Phelps has taken advantage of the opportunity, batting .481 with one home run and seven RBIs in 23 at-bats, chipping away at a "slight edge" that Torre said Phillips held because of his continued service in the Yankees' system.

The team does not want to penalize Phillips for attending to his family, but the absence cost him vital playing time, and he has been in a scramble to make it up with just 12 spring at-bats through Wednesday.

Backup catcher: Catching instructor Tony Pena predicts that Jorge Posada, 35, is primed for one of his best all-around seasons. That may very well be the case, but he'll still need a little help every now and then.

The race for the honors of backing up Posada have been split mostly between 40-man roster member Wil Nieves and 40-year-old Todd Pratt, though Raul Chavez has creeped into consideration.

All three candidates have had injury problems this spring, with Nieves most recently returning from a sore right forearm. Pratt missed time with plantar fascitis in his left foot, and Chavez started behind due to a broken left hand suffered while batting in winter ball.

The Yankees like Pratt's veteran presence -- third-base coach Larry Bowa, who managed Pratt in Philadelphia, raves about him -- his ability to pop a home run and his New York experience in five seasons across town with the Mets, most of it spent as an understudy to Mike Piazza.

But Pratt has just two hits this spring, which could cost him in the race. Nieves only has two hits as well, but he's considered to be a superior defensive catcher. Given his status on the Yankees' 40-man roster, Nieves could hold an advantage as the final days of camp approach.

Source: Yankees

Yankees won't bid on A-Rod
Rodriguez as good as gone if he opts out of contract

Alex Rodriguez will attract interest from at least a handful of teams if he opts out of his $252 million contract at the end of the season, with the Angels perhaps first in line. But Yankees general manager Brian Cashman made clear in an interview on Tuesday that Rodriguez's current team will not chase A-Rod and will not be part of any bidding war.

"He has a significant contract as it is," Cashman told SI.com. "So I don't anticipate any dialogue regarding an extension."

In other words, Cashman is leaving the ball in A-Rod's court. If Rodriguez wants to remain a Yankee and keep the $81 million and three years remaining on his contract, he can do that. But if he wants to forego that $81 million to seek even greater riches, that's his choice, too. He just won't be getting those extra riches in pinstripes -- at least not this winter.

"I hope he stays," Cashman says. "He knows how I feel about him."

Cashman is a proven A-Rod fan, one of the main powers behind the megatrade that moved Rodriguez east from Texas. But Cashman has shown since taking over full GM powers in recent months that he is fully cognizant of the bottom line, and that means dollars and cents as well as wins and losses. He traded away Gary Sheffield and Randy Johnson (though those are two players he appeared far less enamored of than A-Rod), and the only megabucks deals he signed off on this winter were for Andy Pettitte (one-year, $16 million with a player option for 2008) and Kei Igawa (five years, $20 million, with a $26 million posting fee).

Cashman likes Rodriguez enough that it's believed he'd consider an extension at some point, but not an extension merely to prevent A-Rod from opting out of his current deal. "That's smart," one competing GM says. "This way all the pressure's on A-Rod, and there's no blood on [Cashman's] hands."

With plenty of teams likely to line up, including the Angels (the favorite for Rodriguez can offer a contending team, a stadium where he hits big, the American League and probably even a chance to switch back to shortstop), no one should be surprised if A-Rod does opt out. And no one should blame him if he does, though plenty will.

There's nothing wrong with exercising an option that was bargained for in good faith. J.D. Drew opted out of the $33 million that remained on his Dodgers deal, and more than doubled it, to $70 million, with Boston. And Aramis Ramirez more than tripled his pay, from $22 million to $75 million, when the Cubs made the opposite call and decided to re-sign him after he opted out of his deal.

Some Yankees fans might applaud A-Rod's departure, but his loss would sting since they'd also lose the $29 million Rangers owner Tom Hicks has to contribute toward A-Rod's contract through 2010, so long as he remains a Yankee. And perhaps even worse for Yankees fans, there isn't much right-handed power available, except Andruw Jones, who'll have plenty of suitors. As for right-handed power, not counting free-agent switch-hitter Jorge Posada, the Yankees will be down to Derek Jeter if A-Rod leaves.

Some will criticize Cashman if A-Rod walks away after at least eight teams called last year to inquire about acquiring the superstar in trade, including both Chicago teams and both L.A. teams. However, it wasn't really Cashman's call to keep him then; A-Rod made it clear to Cashman last summer that he wouldn't consent to a trade -- and as long as the Yankees are in the race, he still won't.

That was all A-Rod's call last summer. And once again, it will be his call again this winter.

Source: SI

Good. A-Rod doesn't deserve a new contract, which is the main point Cashman is trying to make. He can either prove his mettle on the field, and stay with the Yankees (which he claims is his true calling or whatever) or he can leave after the year, sign a monster deal somewhere else, and go back to playing shortstop (Cubs?).

Hell, if I were Cashman...I'd be on the horn with the Cubs right now. Let's trade our one year contract players - we'll give you A-Rod for Carlos Zambrano. Hooah. Piniella and the Cubs want A-Rod bad at shortstop, and they can't afford Zambrano AND A-Rod. So give them what they want. We get a young, awesome starting pitcher with an attitude and edge, and they get...chokey.

It's pretty clear we can do without A-Rod in the playoffs, since he makes zero contributions. On the other hand - having another young, experienced arm will give us great help down the stretch and into October. Just imagine this rotation:

Wang
Zambrano
Clemens (?)
Pettitte
Mussina

or, since the Zambrano trade would negate Clemens...

Wang
Zambrano
Pettitte
Mussina
Igawa/Karstens/Hughes

Nice!

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Jon Lieber is on the trading block. Can't we just send them Pavano and get good old Mr. Reliable back? We should've never let him go a couple of years ago, and I hated the decision then, and still do now. He'd be a great end of the rotation guy for us, especially if we get rid of Pavano.