Sunday, March 26, 2006
Notes: Classic Yankees rejoin team
03/19/2006
TAMPA, Fla. -- Team USA's Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter and Johnny Damon and Puerto Rico's Bernie Williams rejoined the Yankees on Sunday after their respective teams were eliminated from the World Baseball Classic. For the first time in a while, it actually looked like the Yankees at Legends Field.
"We got a little shot of energy today," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "We got the guys back, and you know they've been playing, and I think they were happy to be back, too.
It didn't take long for the stacked lineup to put some runs on the board. Damon hit a leadoff single in the bottom of the first and scored on a double by Jeter, who was brought home on a single by Jason Giambi. The 2-0 lead held up.
Jeter, Damon and Rodriguez each expressed disappointment about Team USA's exit from the tournament in the second round, although they all had positive things to say about the experience.
"I enjoyed it," Jeter said. "I would recommend it to anyone that has a chance to play. It was a good experience, like I said, besides the results. But I guess some teams had to go home.
"I enjoyed getting a chance to play with some people that I've haven't played with before. You experience some things you haven't experienced."
Rodriguez said playing with guys like Oakland's Huston Street and Houston's Brad Lidge was a highlight.
"Loved it," Rodriguez said. "It was well organized. Just meeting the kind of players you get to play with [was fun]. It's just a neat experience."
"I thought all the players did a good job representing the game," Damon said. "I think now people are going to appreciate how the game is played in other countries."
Williams, who had a very good showing at the tournament, said he enjoyed his experience with Team Puerto Rico.
"I loved it," Williams said. "I can't stress enough how fun it was."
Al Leiter, a non-roster invitee to Yankees camp who pitched for Team USA, retired hours after rejoining the team.
Damon improving: Damon was relegated to playing designated hitter in his first game back while he recovers from tendinitis in his left shoulder. He said he feels better than he did while at the Classic and expects to play in the field later this week.
"They're going to keep me from throwing for a couple days," Damon said. "I felt pretty good, but I think they're going to wait until after the off-day [on Tuesday]. It's a temporary setback, nothing major."
Getting there: Staff ace Randy Johnson had his best outing of the spring on Sunday, pitching six shutout innings and scattering four hits with nine strikeouts and no walks.
"I felt pretty good," Johnson said. "That's what I've been talking about all along."
Torre said, "Randy was excellent."
Around the horn: Carl Pavano pitched on the field before Sunday's game for the first time since he felt soreness in his back earlier in the spring. The right-hander threw 35 pitches with a batter standing in the box. "I felt pretty good," Pavano said. He will likely throw live batting practice on Wednesday. ... The Yankees made several roster moves, optioning right-hander T.J. Beam to Double-A Trenton and outfielder Melky Cabrera and left-hander Sean Henn to Triple-A Columbus. Left-hander Frank Brooks, right-hander J. Brent Cox, catcher David Parrish and infielders Marcos Vechionacci, Ramiro Pena, Eric Duncan and Mitch Jones were reassigned to the Minor League camp.
Source: http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/
TAMPA, Fla. -- Team USA's Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter and Johnny Damon and Puerto Rico's Bernie Williams rejoined the Yankees on Sunday after their respective teams were eliminated from the World Baseball Classic. For the first time in a while, it actually looked like the Yankees at Legends Field.
"We got a little shot of energy today," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "We got the guys back, and you know they've been playing, and I think they were happy to be back, too.
It didn't take long for the stacked lineup to put some runs on the board. Damon hit a leadoff single in the bottom of the first and scored on a double by Jeter, who was brought home on a single by Jason Giambi. The 2-0 lead held up.
Jeter, Damon and Rodriguez each expressed disappointment about Team USA's exit from the tournament in the second round, although they all had positive things to say about the experience.
"I enjoyed it," Jeter said. "I would recommend it to anyone that has a chance to play. It was a good experience, like I said, besides the results. But I guess some teams had to go home.
"I enjoyed getting a chance to play with some people that I've haven't played with before. You experience some things you haven't experienced."
Rodriguez said playing with guys like Oakland's Huston Street and Houston's Brad Lidge was a highlight.
"Loved it," Rodriguez said. "It was well organized. Just meeting the kind of players you get to play with [was fun]. It's just a neat experience."
"I thought all the players did a good job representing the game," Damon said. "I think now people are going to appreciate how the game is played in other countries."
Williams, who had a very good showing at the tournament, said he enjoyed his experience with Team Puerto Rico.
"I loved it," Williams said. "I can't stress enough how fun it was."
Al Leiter, a non-roster invitee to Yankees camp who pitched for Team USA, retired hours after rejoining the team.
Damon improving: Damon was relegated to playing designated hitter in his first game back while he recovers from tendinitis in his left shoulder. He said he feels better than he did while at the Classic and expects to play in the field later this week.
"They're going to keep me from throwing for a couple days," Damon said. "I felt pretty good, but I think they're going to wait until after the off-day [on Tuesday]. It's a temporary setback, nothing major."
Getting there: Staff ace Randy Johnson had his best outing of the spring on Sunday, pitching six shutout innings and scattering four hits with nine strikeouts and no walks.
"I felt pretty good," Johnson said. "That's what I've been talking about all along."
Torre said, "Randy was excellent."
Around the horn: Carl Pavano pitched on the field before Sunday's game for the first time since he felt soreness in his back earlier in the spring. The right-hander threw 35 pitches with a batter standing in the box. "I felt pretty good," Pavano said. He will likely throw live batting practice on Wednesday. ... The Yankees made several roster moves, optioning right-hander T.J. Beam to Double-A Trenton and outfielder Melky Cabrera and left-hander Sean Henn to Triple-A Columbus. Left-hander Frank Brooks, right-hander J. Brent Cox, catcher David Parrish and infielders Marcos Vechionacci, Ramiro Pena, Eric Duncan and Mitch Jones were reassigned to the Minor League camp.
Source: http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/
