Mesa decides to forgo World Baseball Classic

TAMPA, Fla. -- Sensing a chance to crack the Opening Day outfield, prospect Melky Mesa has declined to participate in the World Baseball Classic.

Bench coach Tony Pena, who is also managing the Dominican Republic squad in the tournament, said on Saturday that Mesa is passing on his chance to play with hopes of securing a big league job.

The Yankees are evaluating their outfield choices with Curtis Granderson expected to be sidelined until May. Mesa is considered the best defensive option of a mix that includes Matt Diaz, Juan Rivera, Zoilo Almonte and Ronnier Mustelier.

"It's a decision that he has to make, and he wants to be seen more. I respect that," manager Joe Girardi said. "I told him, 'Whatever you do, I'll respect what you do. If you want to play, you go play. If you want to play here, you play here.'"

Six Yankees are participating in the Classic. Second baseman Robinson Cano and left-hander Juan Cedeno will play for the Dominican Republic, infielder Walter Ibarra and Gil Velazquez will play for Mexico, first baseman Mark Teixeira will play for Team USA and switch-pitcher Pat Venditte will play for Italy.

Yanks send nine to Minor League camp

TAMPA, Fla. -- After Saturday's game, the Yankees sent nine players to Minor League camp: right-handers Corey Black, Matt Daley, Nick Goody, Shane Greene, Bryan Mitchell, Zach Nuding, Mike O'Brien and Ryan Pope, and infielder Kyle Roller.

With the moves, there are 75 players on the camp roster, including Alex Rodriguez and Curtis Granderson, neither of whom will appear this spring, due to injury.

Heathcott, Logan dealing with minor injuries

TAMPA, Fla. -- The Yankees had two injuries to report after Saturday's 10-3 victory over the Tigers.

Outfielder Slade Heathcott has been diagnosed with a sprained right thumb, and left-hander Boone Logan has been shut down with tenderness in his pitching elbow.

Manager Joe Girardi said that Heathcott's injury came after he collided with outfielder Ronnier Mustelier in Thursday's 1-0 loss to the Blue Jays at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

Heathcott's MRI came back clean, according to Girardi, and he will be re-evaluated in the next few days.

The Yankees have been moving slowly with Logan, who made a career-high 80 appearances last season. Girardi said that Logan had a spot of discomfort in the back of his elbow and had to be scratched from a batting practice session on Friday.

"Boonie was doing good, and his elbow came up a little tender," Girardi said. "His MRI came up clean, so we'll probably just rest him a few days and get him back on the bump."

Nova proves a point with sharp outing vs. Tigers

TAMPA, Fla. -- Ivan Nova's confidence may have been dented when his second-half struggles prompted the Yankees to leave him off the postseason roster, but the right-hander aims to prove a point this spring.

Nova was sharp in his first Grapefruit League start, on Saturday, spinning two innings of scoreless one-hit ball in a 10-3 victory over a split squad of Detroit Tigers. Nova threw 22 of his 27 pitches for strikes and said that he has been working on getting ahead in the count.

"It's something that I have to do," Nova said. "Nobody has to tell me that I have to throw strikes. It's obvious you have to throw strikes as a pitcher, attack the hitter.

"You don't have to wait for someone to let you know or tell you what you have to do. I'm a grown man, so I'm going to do what I have to do in this game."

Manager Joe Girardi was encouraged, saying that Nova's fastball looked "really downhill."

"When he's consistent, he's dynamite," Girardi said. "He wins and he pitches extremely well. For me, he needs to be confident in his stuff, and he needs to be confident in his abilities to really make it work."

Catcher Chris Stewart said that Nova had a longer arm motion last season that was difficult to repeat, but Nova has now shortened it. Stewart said that the early results suggest it was a good change for Nova, who won 16 games for the Yanks in 2011.

"Hopefully, he's the guy we saw two years ago," Stewart said, "going out there with confidence every single day and not afraid of throwing strikes and daring people to try to hit them. We saw that a little bit last year. It kind of fell off at the end, but he's got the stuff. Obviously, it's just a matter of putting it together. If he can do what he did today, he's going to be real good."

Bombers bits

• Reliever Mark Montgomery made his second appearance of the spring on Saturday, allowing one run. Manager Joe Girardi liked the depth of Montgomery's slider, and the right-hander seemed to spot his fastball better as the outing went along. There has been buzz that Montgomery could have an impact in the bullpen this season, though general manager Brian Cashman has said that there is no chance Montgomery will go north with the team in April.

• Right-hander Phil Hughes (bulging disk) is scheduled to resume playing catch on Sunday at Steinbrenner Field. His session will be supervised by pitching coach Larry Rothschild.

• Chris Stewart hit his first home run of the spring on Saturday, but the owner of four career big league blasts knows that he won't be reminding anyone of Jorge Posada or Russell Martin with the bat this season.

"That's not my goal," Stewart said. "My goal is to help the team win any way I can, and I think I can do that better behind the plate right now. I happened to get a good pitch, put a good swing on it and it went out. That's not what I'm going to try to do."

• Actor Richard Gere threw out Saturday's ceremonial first pitch.

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

14.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Nova sharp, Stewart homers in win over Tigers

By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com | 3/2/2013 4:00 P.M. ET

TAMPA, Fla. -- Chris Stewart hit a two-run homer, Ivan Nova turned in a sharp first start of the year and the Yankees snapped their seven-game Spring Training skid, posting a 10-3 victory over the Tigers on Saturday at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

Stewart, who is competing with Francisco Cervelli to serve as the Opening Day catcher, cleared the left-field fence with a line-drive shot in the fourth inning off Detroit reliever Kyle Lobstein.

Saying that he has been focusing on attacking the strike zone, Nova threw two scoreless innings, limiting Detroit to one hit with a strikeout. He threw 27 pitches, 22 for strikes.

Tigers starter Shawn Hill permitted two runs (one earned) over 2 2/3 innings in his third appearance and first start of the spring. He struck out two in a 54-pitch outing, tossing 30 strikes.

The Yankees scored both runs against Hill in the third inning. Brett Gardner -- who has hit in all six of his spring games -- singled, stole second and scored on a Robinson Cano single.

Left-hander Kenny Faulk issued a bases-loaded walk to Travis Hafner that forced home New York's second run.

David Aardsma allowed a run to Detroit in the third inning, when Danny Worth doubled and scored on Omar Infante's sacrifice fly. The Tigers tied the score against Clay Rapada in the fourth, as Don Kelly tripled and scored on a Kevin Russo sac fly.

The Yanks added three runs in the sixth off Detroit's Michael Morrison. Tyler Austin worked a bases-loaded walk, Corban Joseph collected an RBI groundout and a wild pitch permitted Adonis Garcia to score.

Up next: Right-hander Adam Warren will make his second start of the spring on Sunday as the Yankees travel to play the Red Sox in a 1:35 p.m. ET game in Fort Myers. New York's lineup will include Gardner, Eduardo Nunez and outfield hopeful Juan Rivera. The Red Sox will start right-hander Ryan Dempster.

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

14.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Heathcott, Logan dealing with minor injuries

TAMPA, Fla. -- The Yankees had two injuries to report after Saturday's 10-3 victory over the Tigers.

Outfielder Slade Heathcott has been diagnosed with a sprained right thumb, and left-hander Boone Logan has been shut down with tenderness in his pitching elbow.

Manager Joe Girardi said that Heathcott's injury came after he collided with outfielder Ronnier Mustelier in Thursday's 1-0 loss to the Blue Jays at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

Heathcott's MRI came back clean, according to Girardi, and he will be re-evaluated in the next few days.

The Yankees have been moving slowly with Logan, who made a career-high 80 appearances last season. Girardi said that Logan had a spot of discomfort in the back of his elbow and had to be scratched from a batting practice session on Friday.

"Boonie was doing good, and his elbow came up a little tender," Girardi said. "His MRI came up clean, so we'll probably just rest him a few days and get him back on the bump."

Mesa decides to forgo World Baseball Classic

TAMPA, Fla. -- Sensing a chance to crack the Opening Day outfield, prospect Melky Mesa has declined to participate in the World Baseball Classic.

Bench coach Tony Pena, who is also managing the Dominican Republic squad in the tournament, said on Saturday that Mesa is passing on his chance to play with hopes of securing a big league job.

The Yankees are evaluating their outfield choices with Curtis Granderson expected to be sidelined until May. Mesa is considered the best defensive option of a mix that includes Matt Diaz, Juan Rivera, Zoilo Almonte and Ronnier Mustelier.

"It's a decision that he has to make, and he wants to be seen more. I respect that," manager Joe Girardi said. "I told him, 'Whatever you do, I'll respect what you do. If you want to play, you go play. If you want to play here, you play here.'"

Six Yankees are participating in the Classic. Second baseman Robinson Cano and left-hander Juan Cedeno will play for the Dominican Republic, infielder Walter Ibarra and Gil Velazquez will play for Mexico, first baseman Mark Teixeira will play for Team USA and switch-pitcher Pat Venditte will play for Italy.

Yanks send nine to Minor League camp

TAMPA, Fla. -- After Saturday's game, the Yankees sent nine players to Minor League camp: right-handers Corey Black, Matt Daley, Nick Goody, Shane Greene, Bryan Mitchell, Zach Nuding, Mike O'Brien and Ryan Pope, and infielder Kyle Roller.

With the moves, there are 75 players on the camp roster, including Alex Rodriguez and Curtis Granderson, neither of whom will appear this spring, due to injury.

Nova proves a point with sharp outing vs. Tigers

TAMPA, Fla. -- Ivan Nova's confidence may have been dented when his second-half struggles prompted the Yankees to leave him off the postseason roster, but the right-hander aims to prove a point this spring.

Nova was sharp in his first Grapefruit League start, on Saturday, spinning two innings of scoreless one-hit ball in a 10-3 victory over a split squad of Detroit Tigers. Nova threw 22 of his 27 pitches for strikes and said that he has been working on getting ahead in the count.

"It's something that I have to do," Nova said. "Nobody has to tell me that I have to throw strikes. It's obvious you have to throw strikes as a pitcher, attack the hitter.

"You don't have to wait for someone to let you know or tell you what you have to do. I'm a grown man, so I'm going to do what I have to do in this game."

Manager Joe Girardi was encouraged, saying that Nova's fastball looked "really downhill."

"When he's consistent, he's dynamite," Girardi said. "He wins and he pitches extremely well. For me, he needs to be confident in his stuff, and he needs to be confident in his abilities to really make it work."

Catcher Chris Stewart said that Nova had a longer arm motion last season that was difficult to repeat, but Nova has now shortened it. Stewart said that the early results suggest it was a good change for Nova, who won 16 games for the Yanks in 2011.

"Hopefully, he's the guy we saw two years ago," Stewart said, "going out there with confidence every single day and not afraid of throwing strikes and daring people to try to hit them. We saw that a little bit last year. It kind of fell off at the end, but he's got the stuff. Obviously, it's just a matter of putting it together. If he can do what he did today, he's going to be real good."

Bombers bits

• Reliever Mark Montgomery made his second appearance of the spring on Saturday, allowing one run. Manager Joe Girardi liked the depth of Montgomery's slider, and the right-hander seemed to spot his fastball better as the outing went along. There has been buzz that Montgomery could have an impact in the bullpen this season, though general manager Brian Cashman has said that there is no chance Montgomery will go north with the team in April.

• Right-hander Phil Hughes (bulging disk) is scheduled to resume playing catch on Sunday at Steinbrenner Field. His session will be supervised by pitching coach Larry Rothschild.

• Chris Stewart hit his first home run of the spring on Saturday, but the owner of four career big league blasts knows that he won't be reminding anyone of Jorge Posada or Russell Martin with the bat this season.

"That's not my goal," Stewart said. "My goal is to help the team win any way I can, and I think I can do that better behind the plate right now. I happened to get a good pitch, put a good swing on it and it went out. That's not what I'm going to try to do."

• Actor Richard Gere threw out Saturday's ceremonial first pitch.

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

14.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Cervelli showcasing arm, accuracy behind plate

TAMPA, Fla. -- So far in Spring Training, Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli is giving opponents reason to think twice about trying to run on him.

Cervelli threw out the Phillies' Jimmy Rollins attempting a steal of second base in the Yanks' 10-5 loss on Friday. Cervelli also threw out two runners in Thursday's game against the Astros and is 5-for-6 in catching potential basestealers this spring.

"I just think he worked hard at it," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "He had a chance last year to catch every day. He also went to winter ball, and I think he worked really hard at it.

"I think he got a little out of whack from maybe rushing or trying to do too much, and he was able to go down there and really get it back together like he had when he first came up for us throwing the baseball. It's shown up."

Last season at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Cervelli caught 27 of 90 runners stealing (30 percent). He was even more impressive in the Venezuelan Winter League, where he gunned down nine of 14 attempting to steal.

"[Before], I tried to throw the ball too hard and I tried to get the ball before it was in my glove," Cervelli said. "Now I work relaxed behind the plate. Same energy, but I just try to be more relaxed and let my body go."

Cashman to skydive for Wounded Warrior Project

TAMPA, Fla. -- Brian Cashman proved he was not afraid of heights when he rappelled twice down the side of a 22-story Connecticut building, and now the Yankees' general manager is raising the daredevil stakes by agreeing to parachute with the Army Golden Knights.

Cashman will participate in a jump on Monday morning with soldiers at the Homestead Air Reserve Base outside of Miami, an event that is intended to raise awareness for the Wounded Warrior Project (http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/).

"It's an opportunity to do something that a lot of people don't do or will ever do, so that's awesome," Cashman said. "It's called living. But it's not on my list of something I've always wanted to do. I'm kind of excited for the opportunity to do it, but at the same time, big-time nervous about doing it."

Cashman will execute the jump with Duke Castiglione, a television reporter for FOX 5 in New York, and they will be jumping in tandem with military members.

The Golden Knights invited Cashman to participate in a jump when they parachuted into Yankee Stadium last summer and again as the Yankees finalized plans for the March 30 exhibition game to be played at West Point.

"I like doing new things," Cashman said. "I like challenges and stuff like that. This is a great opportunity, and a great opportunity to raise awareness."

The Wounded Warrior Project's purpose is to raise awareness and enlist the public's aid for the needs of injured service members, to help injured servicemen and women aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs.

Youkilis glad to be back in Yankees' lineup

TAMPA, Fla. -- Kevin Youkilis returned to the Yankees' lineup on Friday, going 0-for-1 with a walk in New York's 10-5 Grapefruit League loss to the Phillies at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

Youkilis had been sidelined with what the club called a sore left oblique, but said that the injury has given him no problems for the last few days.

"It was good to get back out there and play in a game," said Youkilis, who also made a nice diving stop in the field. "I feel good just going up there and going through all the exercises in the morning and all that."

Youkilis took a called third strike in the third inning from Phils' reliever Cesar Jimenez and is looking for his first hit in a Yankees uniform. Youkilis said that he might have heard some boos from the home crowd on Friday, but would prefer to think they were chanting, "Youk."

"If people are booing, they're booing," Youkilis said. "If you're a Yankees fan and you want to boo me, that's your prerogative. But if you don't want to win a World Series and root for guys on your team, that's what you've got to do, I guess. But they all sound like Youk.

"You can't tell whether it's boo or Youk. You always have one fan that yells at you. I struck out looking and a guy's yelling at me; he's just angry in life. That's the bottom line. That guy was really angry. There's always one out of a hundred."

Mantle's life story to become Broadway show

TAMPA, Fla. -- Mickey Mantle may have become a legend in the Bronx, but the Hall of Famer is about to take a few swings on Broadway.

Mantle's sons, Danny and David, have teamed with writer and producer David Leaf to bring their father's story to the Great White Way. Plans for the production were first reported by BroadwayWorld.com, which said that the group will now begin meeting with potential creative team members.

"There has been so much written about my dad over the years," Danny Mantle told the website. "When my brother and I met David Leaf, we felt we could work with him to finally tell the real story of who our dad was as a man.

"Late in his life, Dad spoke openly about what he felt were his shortcomings when it came to our family. The truth is, he gave so much more to all of us than what he, or anyone else, gave him credit for. Now is our chance."

The announcement came exactly 44 years after Mantle's retirement from baseball on March 1, 1969. Mantle hit 536 home runs over his storied 18-year career with the Yankees.

Bombers bits

• Yankees right-hander Michael Pineda threw a 30-pitch bullpen session on Friday and said it went well. Pineda said he threw only fastballs and changeups in what was his second 'pen session of the spring. The Yankees are optimistic that Pineda will be able to help them at the big league level in June.

• Right-hander Phil Hughes has been sidelined by a bulging disk in his upper back, but Girardi said that Hughes should be able to resume throwing on Sunday. He has been exercising in a pool at the Yankees' Minor League complex.

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

14.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Youkilis glad to be back in Yankees' lineup

TAMPA, Fla. -- Kevin Youkilis returned to the Yankees' lineup on Friday, going 0-for-1 with a walk in New York's 10-5 Grapefruit League loss to the Phillies at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

Youkilis had been sidelined with what the club called a sore left oblique, but said that the injury has given him no problems for the last few days.

"It was good to get back out there and play in a game," said Youkilis, who also made a nice diving stop in the field. "I feel good just going up there and going through all the exercises in the morning and all that."

Youkilis took a called third strike in the third inning from Phils' reliever Cesar Jimenez and is looking for his first hit in a Yankees uniform. Youkilis said that he might have heard some boos from the home crowd on Friday, but would prefer to think they were chanting, "Youk."

"If people are booing, they're booing," Youkilis said. "If you're a Yankees fan and you want to boo me, that's your prerogative. But if you don't want to win a World Series and root for guys on your team, that's what you've got to do, I guess. But they all sound like Youk.

"You can't tell whether it's boo or Youk. You always have one fan that yells at you. I struck out looking and a guy's yelling at me; he's just angry in life. That's the bottom line. That guy was really angry. There's always one out of a hundred."

Cashman to skydive for Wounded Warrior Project

TAMPA, Fla. -- Brian Cashman proved he was not afraid of heights when he rappelled twice down the side of a 22-story Connecticut building, and now the Yankees' general manager is raising the daredevil stakes by agreeing to parachute with the Army Golden Knights.

Cashman will participate in a jump on Monday morning with soldiers at the Homestead Air Reserve Base outside of Miami, an event that is intended to raise awareness for the Wounded Warrior Project (http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/).

"It's an opportunity to do something that a lot of people don't do or will ever do, so that's awesome," Cashman said. "It's called living. But it's not on my list of something I've always wanted to do. I'm kind of excited for the opportunity to do it, but at the same time, big-time nervous about doing it."

Cashman will execute the jump with Duke Castiglione, a television reporter for FOX 5 in New York, and they will be jumping in tandem with military members.

The Golden Knights invited Cashman to participate in a jump when they parachuted into Yankee Stadium last summer and again as the Yankees finalized plans for the March 30 exhibition game to be played at West Point.

"I like doing new things," Cashman said. "I like challenges and stuff like that. This is a great opportunity, and a great opportunity to raise awareness."

The Wounded Warrior Project's purpose is to raise awareness and enlist the public's aid for the needs of injured service members, to help injured servicemen and women aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs.

Cervelli showcasing arm, accuracy behind plate

TAMPA, Fla. -- So far in Spring Training, Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli is giving opponents reason to think twice about trying to run on him.

Cervelli threw out the Phillies' Jimmy Rollins attempting a steal of second base in the Yanks' 10-5 loss on Friday. Cervelli also threw out two runners in Thursday's game against the Astros and is 5-for-6 in catching potential basestealers this spring.

"I just think he worked hard at it," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "He had a chance last year to catch every day. He also went to winter ball, and I think he worked really hard at it.

"I think he got a little out of whack from maybe rushing or trying to do too much, and he was able to go down there and really get it back together like he had when he first came up for us throwing the baseball. It's shown up."

Last season at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Cervelli caught 27 of 90 runners stealing (30 percent). He was even more impressive in the Venezuelan Winter League, where he gunned down nine of 14 attempting to steal.

"[Before], I tried to throw the ball too hard and I tried to get the ball before it was in my glove," Cervelli said. "Now I work relaxed behind the plate. Same energy, but I just try to be more relaxed and let my body go."

Mantle's life story to become Broadway show

TAMPA, Fla. -- Mickey Mantle may have become a legend in the Bronx, but the Hall of Famer is about to take a few swings on Broadway.

Mantle's sons, Danny and David, have teamed with writer and producer David Leaf to bring their father's story to the Great White Way. Plans for the production were first reported by BroadwayWorld.com, which said that the group will now begin meeting with potential creative team members.

"There has been so much written about my dad over the years," Danny Mantle told the website. "When my brother and I met David Leaf, we felt we could work with him to finally tell the real story of who our dad was as a man.

"Late in his life, Dad spoke openly about what he felt were his shortcomings when it came to our family. The truth is, he gave so much more to all of us than what he, or anyone else, gave him credit for. Now is our chance."

The announcement came exactly 44 years after Mantle's retirement from baseball on March 1, 1969. Mantle hit 536 home runs over his storied 18-year career with the Yankees.

Bombers bits

• Yankees right-hander Michael Pineda threw a 30-pitch bullpen session on Friday and said it went well. Pineda said he threw only fastballs and changeups in what was his second 'pen session of the spring. The Yankees are optimistic that Pineda will be able to help them at the big league level in June.

• Right-hander Phil Hughes has been sidelined by a bulging disk in his upper back, but Girardi said that Hughes should be able to resume throwing on Sunday. He has been exercising in a pool at the Yankees' Minor League complex.

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

14.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Cashman to skydive for Wounded Warrior Project

TAMPA, Fla. -- Brian Cashman proved he was not afraid of heights when he rappelled twice down the side of a 22-story Connecticut building, and now the Yankees' general manager is raising the daredevil stakes by agreeing to parachute with the Army Golden Knights.

Cashman will participate in a jump on Monday morning with soldiers at the Homestead Air Reserve Base outside of Miami, an event that is intended to raise awareness for the Wounded Warrior Project (http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/).

"It's an opportunity to do something that a lot of people don't do or will ever do, so that's awesome," Cashman said. "It's called living. But it's not on my list of something I've always wanted to do. I'm kind of excited for the opportunity to do it, but at the same time, big-time nervous about doing it."

Cashman will execute the jump with Duke Castiglione, a television reporter for FOX 5 in New York, and they will be jumping in tandem with military members.

The Golden Knights invited Cashman to participate in a jump when they parachuted into Yankee Stadium last summer and again as the Yankees finalized plans for the March 30 exhibition game to be played at West Point.

"I like doing new things," Cashman said. "I like challenges and stuff like that. This is a great opportunity, and a great opportunity to raise awareness."

The Wounded Warrior Project's purpose is to raise awareness and enlist the public's aid for the needs of injured service members, to help injured servicemen and women aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs.

Youkilis glad to be back in Yankees' lineup

TAMPA, Fla. -- Kevin Youkilis returned to the Yankees' lineup on Friday, going 0-for-1 with a walk in New York's 10-5 Grapefruit League loss to the Phillies at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

Youkilis had been sidelined with what the club called a sore left oblique, but said that the injury has given him no problems for the last few days.

"It was good to get back out there and play in a game," said Youkilis, who also made a nice diving stop in the field. "I feel good just going up there and going through all the exercises in the morning and all that."

Youkilis took a called third strike in the third inning from Phils' reliever Cesar Jimenez and is looking for his first hit in a Yankees uniform. Youkilis said that he might have heard some boos from the home crowd on Friday, but would prefer to think they were chanting, "Youk."

"If people are booing, they're booing," Youkilis said. "If you're a Yankees fan and you want to boo me, that's your prerogative. But if you don't want to win a World Series and root for guys on your team, that's what you've got to do, I guess. But they all sound like Youk.

"You can't tell whether it's boo or Youk. You always have one fan that yells at you. I struck out looking and a guy's yelling at me; he's just angry in life. That's the bottom line. That guy was really angry. There's always one out of a hundred."

Cervelli showcasing arm, accuracy behind plate

TAMPA, Fla. -- So far in Spring Training, Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli is giving opponents reason to think twice about trying to run on him.

Cervelli threw out the Phillies' Jimmy Rollins attempting a steal of second base in the Yanks' 10-5 loss on Friday. Cervelli also threw out two runners in Thursday's game against the Astros and is 5-for-6 in catching potential basestealers this spring.

"I just think he worked hard at it," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "He had a chance last year to catch every day. He also went to winter ball, and I think he worked really hard at it.

"I think he got a little out of whack from maybe rushing or trying to do too much, and he was able to go down there and really get it back together like he had when he first came up for us throwing the baseball. It's shown up."

Last season at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Cervelli caught 27 of 90 runners stealing (30 percent). He was even more impressive in the Venezuelan Winter League, where he gunned down nine of 14 attempting to steal.

"[Before], I tried to throw the ball too hard and I tried to get the ball before it was in my glove," Cervelli said. "Now I work relaxed behind the plate. Same energy, but I just try to be more relaxed and let my body go."

Mantle's life story to become Broadway show

TAMPA, Fla. -- Mickey Mantle may have become a legend in the Bronx, but the Hall of Famer is about to take a few swings on Broadway.

Mantle's sons, Danny and David, have teamed with writer and producer David Leaf to bring their father's story to the Great White Way. Plans for the production were first reported by BroadwayWorld.com, which said that the group will now begin meeting with potential creative team members.

"There has been so much written about my dad over the years," Danny Mantle told the website. "When my brother and I met David Leaf, we felt we could work with him to finally tell the real story of who our dad was as a man.

"Late in his life, Dad spoke openly about what he felt were his shortcomings when it came to our family. The truth is, he gave so much more to all of us than what he, or anyone else, gave him credit for. Now is our chance."

The announcement came exactly 44 years after Mantle's retirement from baseball on March 1, 1969. Mantle hit 536 home runs over his storied 18-year career with the Yankees.

Bombers bits

• Yankees right-hander Michael Pineda threw a 30-pitch bullpen session on Friday and said it went well. Pineda said he threw only fastballs and changeups in what was his second 'pen session of the spring. The Yankees are optimistic that Pineda will be able to help them at the big league level in June.

• Right-hander Phil Hughes has been sidelined by a bulging disk in his upper back, but Girardi said that Hughes should be able to resume throwing on Sunday. He has been exercising in a pool at the Yankees' Minor League complex.

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

14.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Mo, CC both 'feel good' after latest sessions

TAMPA, Fla. -- Mariano Rivera pounced off the mound to grab a slow roller, straightened and fired a strike to first base. If not for endless replays of that afternoon gone wrong in Kansas City last year, you'd never suspect there was anything out of the ordinary.

The Yankees closer smoothly fielded two bunts and a grounder and also covered first base during an 18-pitch simulated inning on Thursday morning. Rivera said that his next step will be to prove his surgically repaired right knee passes the test in game action.

"It feels good. It feels real good," Rivera said. "That's what I wanted to do, field some bunts, go after some balls in between first and the mound and just plant and throw. That's perfect."

Rivera said there is no exact plan to get into a spring game, though with a month left to go in Spring Training, the Yankees don't feel any particular urgency to hurry the 43-year-old all-time saves leader.

"There is no real timetable, in a sense," manager Joe Girardi said. "We just go day by day to see how he's doing. I expect he'll throw another simulated game and then we'll evaluate after that. You're just able to control it.

"For me, he's getting his work in. He's facing right-handers and left-handers; we can bunt on him. We can force a bunt on him and make him do some things, so he knows that he's comfortable doing those things."

Yankees ace CC Sabathia said that Rivera looked crisp as he worked to a group of Minor League hitters on a back diamond of the George M. Steinbrenner Field complex.

"He looked good, which I expected," Sabathia said. "He's throwing the ball right where he wants to, and for him to be able to do that in February is amazing."

Sabathia threw 46 pitches over two simulated innings on Thursday and said he is getting "antsy" to appear in a game. Sabathia is coming off surgery to remove a bone spur from his left elbow in October.

"It feels good; no problems," Sabathia said. "I'm excited. I don't have that little pain in there anymore, and I'm getting used to not dealing with that."

Girardi said that Sabathia will throw a simulated game on March 5. Though that would line Sabathia up to start in a Grapefruit League game on March 10, the Yanks might skip that start, too, because New York is facing the division-rival Blue Jays that day.

"I think CC knows how to get prepared," Girardi said.

Pettitte's 18-year-old son throws a no-hitter

TAMPA, Fla. -- Andy Pettitte said that he might have thrown one no-hitter in his life, probably around age 10 or 11 before he advanced to Pony League ball. What the Yankees lefty knows for sure is that his son just threw one, and he couldn't be more proud.

Josh Pettitte fired a 10-strikeout, one-walk masterpiece in tournament play last week for Deer Park (Texas) High School against Boerne Champion High, and his big league father said that the young right-hander has been taking his success in stride.

"I just said, 'Way to go, that's pretty cool,'" Pettitte said. "He was laid-back about it. He actually seemed more excited a couple of days later when he called me and he got the game-winning hit in the sixth inning with two outs. When I called him about the no-hitter, he was like, 'Yeah, I felt pretty good.'"

Pettitte, 18, has committed to Baylor University. The elder Pettitte said that his son was throwing around 84 mph last summer, which was a tick low for Division I play, but his frame is filling out and he is now lighting up radar guns around 88 mph.

"It's cool. It really is," Pettitte said. "It's exciting, and I'm excited for him. He's worked hard, and for him to be your kid and see how he has developed over the last year -- last summer, when a lot of his friends and peers were getting looks from Division I colleges, that's what he wanted."

Josh Pettitte often joins the Yankees during the season and has served as a batboy on select road trips. He told FOX Sports Southwest that his father sends him a text message before every game, and that Andy's experience has been valuable in breaking down his own performances.

"We'll talk about pitch sequences and what he would have done," Josh said. "It's pretty good to talk to him about this stuff, because he knows what he's talking about. He's one of the most mentally tough players there is out there. We talk about the mental parts of the game."

Scouts from professional teams have been showing up at Pettitte's games, and the Yanks veteran said that he will not dissuade his son from signing with a big league organization if he is selected in this June's First-Year Player Draft.

"I've got to leave the door open," Pettitte said. "I think we've got him in a real good place right now from the standpoint of, don't worry about the pro stuff right now. He's got scouts at every game watching him pitch, but just go out and pitch, and be yourself.

"I don't want him overthrowing or hurting himself trying to get his velocity up. He's got a great alternative to go play college baseball, and come May he'll probably have to start figuring out if that's something he's interested in. I'm open to it. It's his life, he'll be 19 in November, and I'll definitely talk to him about it."

Rare spring ejection shocks Yanks' Stewart

TAMPA, Fla. -- Yankees catcher Chris Stewart was on the receiving end of some good-natured ribbing in the clubhouse on Thursday after he was thrown out in a rare Spring Training ejection.

Stewart was called out by first-base umpire Marty Foster in the second inning of New York's Grapefruit League game against the Blue Jays. Replays showed that Stewart beat shortstop Jose Reyes' one-hop throw to first base.

After the play, Stewart threw his arms up and pointed twice at Foster, earning the ejection.

"I was shocked," Stewart said. "In the regular season, I'm probably going back and probably figuring out what the whole situation was. In the moment, I hesitated and I thought better of it. I came in the dugout. It wasn't worth it."

Stewart said that he never cursed and thought he only pointed once at Foster, but if he pointed a second time after Foster warned him -- as he did -- then Stewart acknowledged he would've deserved the ejection.

"Everybody's asking me, 'Who gets thrown out in a Spring Training game?'" Stewart said. "Well, it's this guy right now. ... I don't want to be in here after the second inning. I want to be out there on the field seeing pitches, catching my pitchers, getting a feel for them."

Bomber bits

• Michael Pineda is continuing to work out at the Yankees' complex, and he is scheduled to throw a bullpen on Friday. Pineda is not expected to appear in a game this spring for the Yankees, but general manager Brian Cashman is hopeful that Pineda could be at the big league level in June.

• Yankees left-hander Boone Logan is scheduled to throw his first batting-practice session on Friday. Girardi said that the team has progressed slowly with Logan because he has had issues with injuries in previous springs.

• Kevin Youkilis (left oblique) fielded ground balls at third base and took batting practice on Thursday. Girardi said he would "sleep on it" to decide if Youkilis would return to the lineup on Friday or Saturday.

• The Yankees have been trying Dan Johnson at third base, considering him for a corner-infield role similar to the one filled in recent years by Eric Chavez. Girardi said Johnson has "done OK so far," but he noted that he hasn't had many plays at the hot corner yet.

• Yankees outfielders Slade Heathcott and Ronnier Mustelier collided in pursuit of Edwin Encarnacion's seventh-inning fly ball on Thursday. Both players spilled to the warning track but were uninjured, and Mustelier caught the ball. Heathcott said, "We kind of fit the other like a puzzle piece."

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

14.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Pettitte's 18-year-old son throws a no-hitter

TAMPA, Fla. -- Andy Pettitte said that he might have thrown one no-hitter in his life, probably around age 10 or 11 before he advanced to Pony League ball. What the Yankees lefty knows for sure is that his son just threw one, and he couldn't be more proud.

Josh Pettitte fired a 10-strikeout, one-walk masterpiece in tournament play last week for Deer Park (Texas) High School against Boerne Champion High, and his big league father said that the young right-hander has been taking his success in stride.

"I just said, 'Way to go, that's pretty cool,'" Pettitte said. "He was laid-back about it. He actually seemed more excited a couple of days later when he called me and he got the game-winning hit in the sixth inning with two outs. When I called him about the no-hitter, he was like, 'Yeah, I felt pretty good.'"

Pettitte, 18, has committed to Baylor University. The elder Pettitte said that his son was throwing around 84 mph last summer, which was a tick low for Division I play, but his frame is filling out and he is now lighting up radar guns around 88 mph.

"It's cool. It really is," Pettitte said. "It's exciting, and I'm excited for him. He's worked hard, and for him to be your kid and see how he has developed over the last year -- last summer, when a lot of his friends and peers were getting looks from Division I colleges, that's what he wanted."

Josh Pettitte often joins the Yankees during the season and has served as a batboy on select road trips. He told FOX Sports Southwest that his father sends him a text message before every game, and that Andy's experience has been valuable in breaking down his own performances.

"We'll talk about pitch sequences and what he would have done," Josh said. "It's pretty good to talk to him about this stuff, because he knows what he's talking about. He's one of the most mentally tough players there is out there. We talk about the mental parts of the game."

Scouts from professional teams have been showing up at Pettitte's games, and the Yanks veteran said that he will not dissuade his son from signing with a big league organization if he is selected in this June's First-Year Player Draft.

"I've got to leave the door open," Pettitte said. "I think we've got him in a real good place right now from the standpoint of, don't worry about the pro stuff right now. He's got scouts at every game watching him pitch, but just go out and pitch, and be yourself.

"I don't want him overthrowing or hurting himself trying to get his velocity up. He's got a great alternative to go play college baseball, and come May he'll probably have to start figuring out if that's something he's interested in. I'm open to it. It's his life, he'll be 19 in November, and I'll definitely talk to him about it."

Mo, CC both 'feel good' after latest sessions

TAMPA, Fla. -- Mariano Rivera pounced off the mound to grab a slow roller, straightened and fired a strike to first base. If not for endless replays of that afternoon gone wrong in Kansas City last year, you'd never suspect there was anything out of the ordinary.

The Yankees closer smoothly fielded two bunts and a grounder and also covered first base during an 18-pitch simulated inning on Thursday morning. Rivera said that his next step will be to prove his surgically repaired right knee passes the test in game action.

"It feels good. It feels real good," Rivera said. "That's what I wanted to do, field some bunts, go after some balls in between first and the mound and just plant and throw. That's perfect."

Rivera said there is no exact plan to get into a spring game, though with a month left to go in Spring Training, the Yankees don't feel any particular urgency to hurry the 43-year-old all-time saves leader.

"There is no real timetable, in a sense," manager Joe Girardi said. "We just go day by day to see how he's doing. I expect he'll throw another simulated game and then we'll evaluate after that. You're just able to control it.

"For me, he's getting his work in. He's facing right-handers and left-handers; we can bunt on him. We can force a bunt on him and make him do some things, so he knows that he's comfortable doing those things."

Yankees ace CC Sabathia said that Rivera looked crisp as he worked to a group of Minor League hitters on a back diamond of the George M. Steinbrenner Field complex.

"He looked good, which I expected," Sabathia said. "He's throwing the ball right where he wants to, and for him to be able to do that in February is amazing."

Sabathia threw 46 pitches over two simulated innings on Thursday and said he is getting "antsy" to appear in a game. Sabathia is coming off surgery to remove a bone spur from his left elbow in October.

"It feels good; no problems," Sabathia said. "I'm excited. I don't have that little pain in there anymore, and I'm getting used to not dealing with that."

Girardi said that Sabathia will throw a simulated game on March 5. Though that would line Sabathia up to start in a Grapefruit League game on March 10, the Yanks might skip that start, too, because New York is facing the division-rival Blue Jays that day.

"I think CC knows how to get prepared," Girardi said.

Rare spring ejection shocks Yanks' Stewart

TAMPA, Fla. -- Yankees catcher Chris Stewart was on the receiving end of some good-natured ribbing in the clubhouse on Thursday after he was thrown out in a rare Spring Training ejection.

Stewart was called out by first-base umpire Marty Foster in the second inning of New York's Grapefruit League game against the Blue Jays. Replays showed that Stewart beat shortstop Jose Reyes' one-hop throw to first base.

After the play, Stewart threw his arms up and pointed twice at Foster, earning the ejection.

"I was shocked," Stewart said. "In the regular season, I'm probably going back and probably figuring out what the whole situation was. In the moment, I hesitated and I thought better of it. I came in the dugout. It wasn't worth it."

Stewart said that he never cursed and thought he only pointed once at Foster, but if he pointed a second time after Foster warned him -- as he did -- then Stewart acknowledged he would've deserved the ejection.

"Everybody's asking me, 'Who gets thrown out in a Spring Training game?'" Stewart said. "Well, it's this guy right now. ... I don't want to be in here after the second inning. I want to be out there on the field seeing pitches, catching my pitchers, getting a feel for them."

Bomber bits

• Michael Pineda is continuing to work out at the Yankees' complex, and he is scheduled to throw a bullpen on Friday. Pineda is not expected to appear in a game this spring for the Yankees, but general manager Brian Cashman is hopeful that Pineda could be at the big league level in June.

• Yankees left-hander Boone Logan is scheduled to throw his first batting-practice session on Friday. Girardi said that the team has progressed slowly with Logan because he has had issues with injuries in previous springs.

• Kevin Youkilis (left oblique) fielded ground balls at third base and took batting practice on Thursday. Girardi said he would "sleep on it" to decide if Youkilis would return to the lineup on Friday or Saturday.

• The Yankees have been trying Dan Johnson at third base, considering him for a corner-infield role similar to the one filled in recent years by Eric Chavez. Girardi said Johnson has "done OK so far," but he noted that he hasn't had many plays at the hot corner yet.

• Yankees outfielders Slade Heathcott and Ronnier Mustelier collided in pursuit of Edwin Encarnacion's seventh-inning fly ball on Thursday. Both players spilled to the warning track but were uninjured, and Mustelier caught the ball. Heathcott said, "We kind of fit the other like a puzzle piece."

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

14.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Cashman: Yanks make 'significant offer' to Cano

By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com | 2/28/2013 5:57 P.M. ET

TAMPA, Fla. -- The Yankees have made a "significant offer" to Robinson Cano, according to general manager Brian Cashman, who is hoping to lock the All-Star second baseman into a contract extension before he reaches free agency.

Cashman confirmed on Thursday that an offer has been presented to Cano and agent Scott Boras. There have been negotiations between the two sides in recent weeks, but Cashman declined to comment further on the state of the talks.

"Robinson is focused on preparing for and playing the 2013 season,'' Boras told CBS Sports' Jon Heyman. "By agreement, discussions shall remain confidential. Also by agreement, discussions will cease if they are a distraction to Robinson's performance and leadership of the 2013 Yankees.''

Earlier this month, managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner had said the team was "willing to consider a significant long-term contract" to keep Cano in pinstripes, but Steinbrenner did not publicly acknowledge an actual offer had been made.

"I thought Hal announced that we made a significant offer, and we've had a few conversations," Cashman said. "I thought I was restating Hal's stuff. If I said a little more, that's all I'm saying."

Cashman would not say when the offer was made, or if it has been rejected by Cano and Boras.

Cano, 30, is entering his final season under contract with the Yankees after his $15 million club option was picked up in October. A two-time American League Gold Glove Award winner and four-time AL Silver Slugger Award winner, Cano batted .313 with a career-high 33 homers and 94 RBIs last year.

The move represents a departure from the normal stance of the Yankees, who have waited for contracts to expire before opening negotiations on a new deal, as they have done with shortstop Derek Jeter and closer Mariano Rivera in recent years.

"Usually it's applying to older guys -- [age] 37, 38, 39," Cashman said. "We have a policy. Since we're the team, we have the right to change our minds -- especially ownership."

Boras typically prefers to bring his clients to the free-agent market, and it has been speculated that Cano could seek a contract of eight to 10 years at $20 million to $25 million per season if he reaches free agency.

Cano has said numerous times that he does not want to discuss his next contract at this point of the year.

"It's not about the money, but like I've said, I don't want to go into details right now," Cano said recently. "I'm just focused on playing the game and just helping the team win another championship."

Cashman pointed out that the Yankees have made extension offers before deals expire in the past; New York reportedly offered catcher Russell Martin a three-year, $20 million deal last March, which was rejected.

"It's not like it's a country club, and here's the code of conduct that you can't deviate from," Cashman said. "We've had a history of doing things a certain way, but that doesn't mean you have to do it that way every day.

"Whatever conversations and however you want to define them with Robbie, it isn't something new or different, because we did it with Russell last March."

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

14.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

MLBPA not concerned about Yanks reducing payroll

TAMPA, Fla. -- Yankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner vowed to reduce payroll below $189 million in 2014, but Michael Weiner said the Major League Baseball Players Association is "not overly concerned" by the team's financial goals.

"I can't say it concerns me," the MLBPA executive director said on Wednesday at Yankees camp. "I imagine Mr. Steinbrenner is sincere when he says that, but like a lot of things, I'll believe it when I see it."

Weiner said that the MLBPA knew that the Yankees would be tempted to reduce payroll because of the incentives built into the new Basic Agreement. If the Yankees can avoid paying the luxury tax in 2014, they would reset to a first-time offender rate of 17.5 percent if they exceeded $189 million in a future season.

"If the Yankees decide to drop their payroll to do that, I'm not concerned, because they're dropping their payroll to put themselves in position to greatly increase their payroll the next year," Weiner said. "That incentive was understood."

Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, should the Yankees exceed $189 million in 2014, they would be taxed at a 50 percent penalty rate. The Yankees have been hit with the luxury tax every season since it was introduced in 2003, and paid a $19.3 million penalty last season.

Weiner said that he does not expect the new revenue sharing disqualification program to benefit the Yankees as greatly as originally thought. The Yankees thought they might receive a rebate from clubs in larger markets, but those projections have changed because teams like the Blue Jays, Nationals and Braves are now projecting higher revenues.

"The market disqualification part of it, I'm much more skeptical about that incentive for the Yankees," Weiner said. "You can throw out all kinds of different numbers as to what the Yankees might garner from the market disqualification pool. But I think when the numbers are in, that pool is going to be much, much smaller than the Yankees or some people have suggested it's going to be."

Girardi uncertain if Hughes will be ready by April

TAMPA, Fla. -- Yankees manager Joe Girardi said that he is still waiting for Phil Hughes to be cleared to resume throwing and acknowledged on Wednesday that there is a chance the right-hander will not be ready to begin the season.

"It's possible," Girardi said. "I think it's too early to tell that, though."

Hughes has been limited to aquatic exercises and underwater treadmill work at the Yankees' Minor League complex for the last week after a bulging disk was identified in his upper back. Hughes said that he has already missed too much of the spring for his taste.

"All I know is I'm pain free, so I'm going to try to move this thing along as quickly as possible," Hughes said. "But obviously I have to go with what the doctor says and make sure it's completely calmed down before I can do anything."

Girardi said that Hughes needs to make four Grapefruit League starts to build his stamina into the area of 75-80 pitches, which would be enough to break camp with the club.

"Every day is worse in that I'm not throwing, but it's a double-edged sword," Hughes said. "I don't want to push this thing and have it become a recurring issue. I want to make sure that it's over and done with. At the same time, every day is a day lost, so I'm kind of in that in-between zone."

Yanks being cautious with Youkilis' sore oblique

TAMPA, Fla. -- Kevin Youkilis said that he hopes to return to the Yankees' spring lineup on Thursday after missing two days with what he called a cramp above his left hip.

The Yankees officially termed Youkilis' injury as a sore left oblique. Youkilis said that he is "perfectly all right" and resumed swinging a fungo bat on Wednesday with no problems.

"If they let me play [Thursday], I'm totally in for playing tomorrow," Youkilis said. "We don't usually even play games until March 1. I like playing baseball and don't like sitting around, so that's the only worry I have all the time. I like being out there playing."

Manager Joe Girardi scratched Youkilis from Tuesday's roster against the Phillies in Clearwater, Fla., and told Youkilis that the team wanted to be cautious at this stage of the spring.

"For me, the limitations of holding me back stinks, but I understand what they're doing," Youkilis said. "And it makes a lot of sense."

In the meantime, Youkilis said that there's no need to burn his down time thinking about the Yankee Stadium roll call and how he'll respond when the Bleacher Creatures chant his name for the first time on April 1.

"I'll probably ask [Derek] Jeter what to do, and whatever Jeter tells me to do, I'll do," Youkilis said. "We'll figure it out."

Teixeira tired of ongoing PED discussion

TAMPA, Fla. -- Mark Teixeira has been an outspoken critic of performance-enhancing drug use in baseball, commenting that he is "sick" of the topic being discussed, and the Yankees first baseman said that he is not alone among his peers.

"Most guys are on the same page, generally speaking," Teixeira said. "I don't even want a kid to look at me and say, 'Oh, he just hit three homers in a game, he's probably on steroids.' That's a tough thing.

"It's part of our job, it's been part of baseball for a long time, it's not going to go away. But we just have to, in our minds, know that we're doing everything we possibly can."

Teixeira's comments came after a visit to the Yanks' clubhouse from Michael Weiner, the executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association. Weiner has been touring big league camps and, among other topics, has briefed players on the increased testing for this season -- including blood tests for HGH, which will now be administered randomly in-season.

Weiner said that the sentiments expressed by Teixeira have been commonly heard in the wake of MLB's ongoing investigation into biochemist Anthony Bosch and his now-defunct Biogenesis clinic in Coral Gables, Fla.

"That is the view of the players," Weiner said. "I use those words in my talk. I said, 'I know you guys are sick of this subject and I know you want a clean game.' The players understand that we have a statutory, a legal obligation to represent any player who is subject to discipline or accused of wrongdoing, but the players also understand that we also have a legal obligation to the joint drug program.

"There's no mistake as to where the sentiment of the players are. Mark is right, they are sick of this issue. They would much rather focus on all the positives that the game of baseball is producing. If there is something going on, whether it's in Miami or otherwise, they want us to get to the bottom of it."

Teixeira said that the most important advance would be to have science continue moving forward so players are not tempted to think they can escape punishment. Teixeira said that, as a baseball fan, he believes the testing policies already in place have been working.

"I've been a 30/100 [homers, RBIs] guy my entire career," Teixeira said. "There were times early in my career guys were hitting 60 [homers] and 140 [RBIs], and you go, 'Goodness, there's nothing I can do.' I can't take that many swings. I can never hit 60 home runs. I think those days are over, and that's good.

"Guys aren't hitting 60 or 70 home runs anymore. In that case, people can look at it and say, 'OK, we're back to a more normal time period.' That's not to say there aren't people still trying to cheat, but the days of guys being twice the size they should be and hitting 60 homers a year, I think those days are over."

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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