Sunday, March 26, 2006
Notes: No Classic concerns for Torre
03/13/2006
BRADENTON, Fla. -- Johnny Damon was taken out of Team USA's starting lineup for the second-round opener against Japan, as the center fielder went just 1-for-6 in the team's first three games.
Damon, who was replaced by Randy Winn, is no sure thing to be back in the regular starting lineup for the U.S., though he did pinch-hit in the win over Japan. Yankees manager Joe Torre isn't concerned about how often Damon -- or Derek Jeter or Alex Rodriguez, for that matter -- plays, as the trio will have at least 10 days of spring games after they return from the World Baseball Classic.
"He'll have plenty by the time we get out of here," Torre said. "My feeling is that position players need about 10 days of Spring Training, as long as they're in shape."
Torre typically plays his entire starting lineup during the final week of Spring Training, and this year will be no different.
"The way I look at it, by the time they come back here, that's the time of the month when everybody is usually in shape and they're ready to leave," the manager said. "Maybe it will be different -- it will seem brand new again.
"They can come back, get all of the bragging out of the way. The problem is, we may have to separate Jeter from Bernie [Williams], because they may be at each other's throats."
From the bullpen: Both Carl Pavano and Tanyon Sturtze felt fine after throwing on Sunday, as they continue to work their way into shape for April.
Pavano, who is expected to start the season on the disabled list, will take an extra day off before throwing a 50-pitch bullpen session on Wednesday.
His next step would be another bullpen, in which he will throw 25 pitches, sit down for a few minutes, then throw another 25 pitches. After that, his next step would be a batting practice session.
Sturtze, who threw a scoreless inning in his first appearance of the spring, hasn't been scheduled for his next outing, though it should come on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Torre said that Sturtze wasn't very open with the club about his health last season, but the pitcher has been honest this spring as he works his way back.
"He was still pleased this morning, which is good," Torre said. "It didn't hurt. We don't know to what extent the discomfort was last year, but evidently, it was pretty regular."
Liking the lefty: The addition of Mike Myers to the Yankees' bullpen has given Torre something he hasn't had since 1996 -- a reliable left-handed specialist.
"Myers is probably the [specialist] we haven't had since Graeme Lloyd," Torre said. "It's a necessity, but it's a luxury because there aren't that many guys available. You can count them on one hand."
Painful day off: Robinson Cano was scheduled to make the trip to Bradenton on Monday, but the second baseman missed the game to undergo a root canal back in Tampa.
Source: http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/
BRADENTON, Fla. -- Johnny Damon was taken out of Team USA's starting lineup for the second-round opener against Japan, as the center fielder went just 1-for-6 in the team's first three games.
Damon, who was replaced by Randy Winn, is no sure thing to be back in the regular starting lineup for the U.S., though he did pinch-hit in the win over Japan. Yankees manager Joe Torre isn't concerned about how often Damon -- or Derek Jeter or Alex Rodriguez, for that matter -- plays, as the trio will have at least 10 days of spring games after they return from the World Baseball Classic.
"He'll have plenty by the time we get out of here," Torre said. "My feeling is that position players need about 10 days of Spring Training, as long as they're in shape."
Torre typically plays his entire starting lineup during the final week of Spring Training, and this year will be no different.
"The way I look at it, by the time they come back here, that's the time of the month when everybody is usually in shape and they're ready to leave," the manager said. "Maybe it will be different -- it will seem brand new again.
"They can come back, get all of the bragging out of the way. The problem is, we may have to separate Jeter from Bernie [Williams], because they may be at each other's throats."
From the bullpen: Both Carl Pavano and Tanyon Sturtze felt fine after throwing on Sunday, as they continue to work their way into shape for April.
Pavano, who is expected to start the season on the disabled list, will take an extra day off before throwing a 50-pitch bullpen session on Wednesday.
His next step would be another bullpen, in which he will throw 25 pitches, sit down for a few minutes, then throw another 25 pitches. After that, his next step would be a batting practice session.
Sturtze, who threw a scoreless inning in his first appearance of the spring, hasn't been scheduled for his next outing, though it should come on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Torre said that Sturtze wasn't very open with the club about his health last season, but the pitcher has been honest this spring as he works his way back.
"He was still pleased this morning, which is good," Torre said. "It didn't hurt. We don't know to what extent the discomfort was last year, but evidently, it was pretty regular."
Liking the lefty: The addition of Mike Myers to the Yankees' bullpen has given Torre something he hasn't had since 1996 -- a reliable left-handed specialist.
"Myers is probably the [specialist] we haven't had since Graeme Lloyd," Torre said. "It's a necessity, but it's a luxury because there aren't that many guys available. You can count them on one hand."
Painful day off: Robinson Cano was scheduled to make the trip to Bradenton on Monday, but the second baseman missed the game to undergo a root canal back in Tampa.
Source: http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/
