Youkilis views rivalry through practical eyes

By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com | 4/1/2013 8:15 P.M. ET

NEW YORK -- Kevin Youkilis fastened the buttons of his Yankees-issued uniform on Monday, heard what he believes were chants of his name from the stands every time his name was announced and successfully completed Day 1 of his new reality.

Not that there was much doubt he would; Youkilis' world did not crumble when he took the field wearing a bright home pinstriped jersey against the Red Sox, no matter how some fans and media members may have painted the situation.

April 1: Red Sox 8, Yankees 2
W: Lester   L: Sabathia

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For Youkilis, there was a game to play, and one that he wished the Yankees had won.

"I've been playing New York Yankees baseball for over a month now," Youkilis said. "I think we need to move on past that. I play for the Yankees now. I think we're making it more than it is. I go out and play; I don't sit down and stare at my uniform all game.

"I don't look and say, 'Oh wow, look at these pinstripes! This is pretty cool!' I just go out and play baseball. That's part of the business. You play for an organization, you have pride in that organization when you play for it and you just play baseball. Keep it simple."

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Youkilis joined Johnny Damon (2005-06) and Wade Boggs (1992-93) as the most recent players to start season openers with the Yankees the year after they did so with the Red Sox. Prior to Boggs, the most recent example was catcher Steve O'Neill (1924-25).

As debuts go, Youkilis seemed to be fairly settled with his new surroundings during New York's 8-2 loss to Boston. He ripped a double to left field off former teammate Jon Lester in his second at-bat, scoring one of New York's two runs on Francisco Cervelli's fourth-inning single.

"It's just Opening Day," Youkilis said. "Going out and playing baseball, nothing is different for me. I'm just going up, having good at-bats and trying to play some defense. I think more is made of it than it is. We just go out here and play the game. We play on different teams, and that's just part of the job."

After spending all Spring Training seeing a hat with the interlocking "NY" in the mirror reflection, Youkilis may be used to the situation. His old teammates haven't adjusted so quickly; before Monday's game, Lester said that he thought facing Youkilis would feel "weird."

"I wouldn't have ever thought it would happen, but he made that choice for him and his family," Lester said. "He's got a chance to play third base here, and I'm sure he's excited about it. But now he's going to the bad guys, so we've got to worry about him."

Youkilis said that he was impressed by the pregame ceremonies at Yankee Stadium, and the right-field Bleacher Creatures welcomed him at his first-base post with chants of "Ke-vin!"

Youkilis said that the day was "cool" and "great," though naturally he would have liked to change the outcome.

"Yankee Stadium is a place where people dream to come play," Youkilis said. "It was very enjoyable to go out there. It stunk at the end to come up short, but this is a great place to play; great fans. We just didn't play the best ball possible today to win a game."

After his double, Youkilis appeared to share a laugh with second baseman Dustin Pedroia, who said that seeing Youkilis "clean-shaven and everything" would be a jarring sight. Pedroia added that Youkilis has "been family to us for a long time."

But Youkilis insisted there was nothing all that special about looking into the third-base dugout and seeing the Red Sox uniform that he wore from 2004 until last June, when he was traded to the White Sox for Brent Lillibridge and Zach Stewart.

"It looked like being on the first-base side," Youkilis said. "A lot of the guys on that team I never played with. I played on the White Sox and played four games against the Red Sox in Fenway Park, so it's not a first time.

"It's the first time at Yankee Stadium playing for the Yankees. It was a great experience to be a Yankee today. It didn't come out the way we wanted to, but hopefully next time it does."

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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Yankees get preview of One World Observatory

By Joey Nowak / MLB.com | 4/2/2013 1:59 P.M. ET

Legends board of directors and Yankees front office personnel were on hand for the event.

NEW YORK -- Yankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner was on hand Tuesday for an exclusive preview of One World Observatory from the 100th floor of One World Trade Center in New York.

Steinbrenner was joined by other members of the Legends board of directors and Yankees front office, including general partner Jennifer Steinbrenner Swindal, team president Randy Levine and senior vice president/chief financial officer Anthony Bruno at the event, which offered a glimpse of the views from the top of the building, more than 1,250 feet above Manhattan.

Construction on the observation deck will begin in early 2014, and when the facility opens in '15, it will provide millions of visitors with an observatory-deck experience on Floors 100-102.

"As a building unlike any other in the world, One World Trade Center rightfully deserves an observatory experience unlike any other in the world," Steinbrenner said in a statement. "The Yankees organization is proud to be a part of One World Observatory, a project that will combine the best that New York has to offer, from awe-inspiring city views to top-notch service, and elevate the visitor experience to new heights."

Guests at the event got a first glimpse at what the experience will entail, including "Skypod" elevators that will give visitors the experience of being outside the building as they ascend and descend the structure in 60 seconds.

The observatory will feature a pre-show theater called "See Forever," where guests will learn about the history of the building. The deck will also feature dining options and an event space.

One World Trade Center is a joint venture between The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and The Durst Organization. Legends, which is owned by the Dallas Cowboys, the Yankees and the Checketts Partners Investment Fund, was the company chosen to develop and operate the observation deck.

"Legends is owned by two of the most well-respected and prolific organizations in sports history, and it's clear that Legends intends to bring that same level of prestige, tradition and excitement to One World Observatory," said Port Authority vice chairman Scott Rechler. "The One World Observatory experience will be the Yankee Stadium of observation decks, one that solidifies the rebirth of the World Trade Center, of Lower Manhattan and the resilience of America."

Joey Nowak is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @joeynowak. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Cano signs with Jay-Z, CAA, leaves Boras' agency

NEW YORK -- As he approaches what promises to be a lucrative contract payday, Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano cut ties with the Scott Boras agency on Tuesday in favor of a representation deal with a new agency involving hip-hop star Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter.

Cano's marketing endeavors under the Creative Artists Agency umbrella will be handled by Roc Nation, an entertainment company founded by Jay-Z, while his on-field baseball activities will be headed by CAA agent Brodie Van Wagenen.

The four-time All-Star second baseman spoke briefly on Tuesday at a Victoria's Secret VS PINK event in SoHo, telling MLB.com that he was not ready to celebrate the decision just yet.

"We've got to focus on the games first and then we'll celebrate, how about that?" Cano said. "Yes, I'm excited, of course. When you make that kind of a decision, you have to really be with that kind of company."

Earlier on Tuesday, the 30-year-old Cano also posted a photo on Twitter of himself and Jay-Z pressing pen to paper as they made the partnership official.

Cano said in a statement released by CAA that he is "ready to take a more active role in my endeavors both on and off the field," and that he is "confident that the pairing of Roc Nation Sports and CAA Sports will be essential in helping me accomplish my short- and long-term goals."

In the statement, Cano added, "I am making this important decision now, so I can keep my focus on helping the Yankees succeed in 2013, while minimizing any distractions for me and my teammates."

Cano declined to comment when asked by MLB.com if the agency switch increases the chances that he will stay with the Yankees, but it is possible that the change could impact the tone of the discussions with the team.

"As with all clients, we won't discuss negotiations publicly, but I can say that New York and the Yankees fans have been great to Robinson," Van Wagenen said in a telephone interview. "He has flourished in pinstripes and certainly loves the team and the city."

General manager Brian Cashman has revealed that managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner authorized a "significant offer" to Cano and Boras with the hopes of reaching an extension, but those negotiations did not appear to be moving quickly.

It was believed that, on Cano's behalf, Boras was planning to push instead for a deal approaching the eye-popping contracts signed by the Reds' Joey Votto (10 years, $225 million) and the Angels' Albert Pujols (10 years, $240 million).

Van Wagenen declined comment when asked if Cano would be interested in signing an extension during the season, but said, "Every situation is unique, I think that's fair to say, and our methodology is to outline a strategy that helps the client achieve his goals -- not ours. We will certainly do the same for Robinson."

During Spring Training, Cano repeatedly said that he did not care to discuss his upcoming contract talks. While he said that it had not yet become a distraction, Cano seemed largely uncomfortable with the attention surrounding the situation.

"For us, we're here to accomplish two things for him: one, to minimize his distractions so he can put his focus where he wants it, which is on the field with his teammates and the New York Yankees," Van Wagenen said. "And two, help him accomplish his business goals both in the short term and long term. We certainly will work with that mindset."

Cano had been thinking about finding new representation in recent weeks, according to a source, and he decided over this past weekend that he would be the first client of the new Jay-Z-anchored Roc Nation Sports group.

Van Wagenen said that the alliance between Jay-Z and CAA will be a "true collaboration," and that Jay-Z would be "critically involved" in every step of the negotiations in Cano's future.

"Jay will not be out of the loop in any respect of it," Van Wagenen said.

Cano had been with Boras since February 2011, when he dismissed Bobby Barad, the agent who negotiated Cano's current deal with the Yankees. That contract expires after this season, during which Cano is set to earn $15 million on a club option that was triggered by the Yankees last October.

Cano said that he would not discuss reports that said Boras was unaware of his decision to part ways with the agency. Cano is the third Yankees star to leave Boras' stable in recent years, joining third baseman Alex Rodriguez and first baseman Mark Teixeira.

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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Against Red Sox, Yankees have a rock in Kuroda

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For diminished Yankees, goals remain lofty

NEW YORK -- Looking on the bright side for the New York Yankees, at least there shouldn't be much of that "Evil Empire" stuff going around.

April 1: Red Sox 8, Yankees 2
W: Lester   L: Sabathia

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Opening Day videos

Not that anyone from any of the other 29 franchises is going to feel particularly sorry for the New York Yankees. Nobody else has 27 World Series championships. Nobody else has qualified for the postseason 17 times in the last 18 years.

The Yankees have set a standard of excellence in North American professional sports. The competition rarely says "thank you" for that sort of thing.

No, the Yankees will receive neither sympathy nor empathy from their Major League peers when they hit a rough patch. And a rough patch is what they have hit, beginning a season with four mainstays of their lineup -- and their identity, for that matter -- on the disabled list.

But doesn't it become just a bit more difficult to paint the Yankees as the all-purpose baseball baddies when they are banged up like this? It is one thing to see them typically as the richest, most privileged family in the neighborhood. But doesn't that perspective lose some bite when they are more readily identified as hurt and aging?

The problems officially began on Monday at Yankee Stadium with an 8-2 Opening Day loss to the Boston Red Sox. There are people in the world of baseball who are saying that the real argument in 2013 for these two antediluvian rivals will be over fourth place in the AL East. But Opening Day is no time to resort to worst-case scenarios.

Even Monday's loss, though it came at the hands of Boston, should not have represented a major change of direction. CC Sabathia's performance has typically been that of a true ace for the Yankees, but not on Opening Days. Including Monday, Sabathia has started five straight Opening Days for the Yankees. He is 0-2 with a 7.42 ERA over those five starts.

Sabathia's top velocity on Monday was just 91 mph. But both he and Yankees manager Joe Girardi said that the velocity would return to its mid-90s level as Sabathia built up arm strength.

"I feel good," Sabathia said. "The arm strength will be building up as the season goes on. I'm sure the velocity will come back ... the more I throw."

Beyond this one area of difficulty in Sabathia's otherwise admirable career, the rest of the problems might have more staying power. The Yankees have just 11 players who were on their 2012 Opening Day roster. On Monday, there were just two starting position players who had started for the Yankees at the beginning of 2012.

Still, Girardi insists that the team's standards and the expectations haven't changed. And that had better be the case, because if the standards and the expectations vanish, the Yankees stop being the Yankees and become somebody less.

"I know there are some different faces in the clubhouse," Girardi said on Monday. "But the expectation is the same.

"Our belief is to go out and win every day. It's an opportunity for a lot of guys to get some more playing time and to show us what they can do, but I don't think you ever think about that. I think that's a negative thought. Go out and win every series."

The opener was attended by 49,514, a record for a home opener at the new Yankee Stadium. Late in the game, the wind came up, the rain came down and the place emptied out, while the game continued. By the end, the ballpark scene was equal parts desolate and bleak.

The Yankees, however, should not be written off, because they still have the kind of pitching -- barring an epidemic of injuries on that half of the roster -- that will keep them in games and competitive.

What you can say about the Yankees right now is that without Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Curtis Granderson, Mark Teixeira, et al, they no longer summon up images of the big Bronx Bombers.

But once we have acknowledged that fact of life, even non-Yankees fans can move farther from the notion of this operation as the big, bad bully on the baseball block.

Tears aren't going to be shed over the Yankees' difficulties by anybody other than Yankees fans. But in their current circumstances, it becomes increasingly difficult to look at the Yankees as convenient villains for any baseball story. To be an "Evil Empire," you really need to appear to the rest of the world as somebody who is still favored to win it all.

Mike Bauman is a national columnist for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Youkilis views rivalry through practical eyes

By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com | 4/1/2013 8:15 P.M. ET

NEW YORK -- Kevin Youkilis fastened the buttons of his Yankees-issued uniform on Monday, heard what he believes were chants of his name from the stands every time his name was announced and successfully completed Day 1 of his new reality.

Not that there was much doubt he would; Youkilis' world did not crumble when he took the field wearing a bright home pinstriped jersey against the Red Sox, no matter how some fans and media members may have painted the situation.

April 1: Red Sox 8, Yankees 2
W: Lester   L: Sabathia

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For Youkilis, there was a game to play, and one that he wished the Yankees had won.

"I've been playing New York Yankees baseball for over a month now," Youkilis said. "I think we need to move on past that. I play for the Yankees now. I think we're making it more than it is. I go out and play; I don't sit down and stare at my uniform all game.

"I don't look and say, 'Oh wow, look at these pinstripes! This is pretty cool!' I just go out and play baseball. That's part of the business. You play for an organization, you have pride in that organization when you play for it and you just play baseball. Keep it simple."

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Youkilis joined Johnny Damon (2005-06) and Wade Boggs (1992-93) as the most recent players to start season openers with the Yankees the year after they did so with the Red Sox. Prior to Boggs, the most recent example was catcher Steve O'Neill (1924-25).

As debuts go, Youkilis seemed to be fairly settled with his new surroundings during New York's 8-2 loss to Boston. He ripped a double to left field off former teammate Jon Lester in his second at-bat, scoring one of New York's two runs on Francisco Cervelli's fourth-inning single.

"It's just Opening Day," Youkilis said. "Going out and playing baseball, nothing is different for me. I'm just going up, having good at-bats and trying to play some defense. I think more is made of it than it is. We just go out here and play the game. We play on different teams, and that's just part of the job."

After spending all Spring Training seeing a hat with the interlocking "NY" in the mirror reflection, Youkilis may be used to the situation. His old teammates haven't adjusted so quickly; before Monday's game, Lester said that he thought facing Youkilis would feel "weird."

"I wouldn't have ever thought it would happen, but he made that choice for him and his family," Lester said. "He's got a chance to play third base here, and I'm sure he's excited about it. But now he's going to the bad guys, so we've got to worry about him."

Youkilis said that he was impressed by the pregame ceremonies at Yankee Stadium, and the right-field Bleacher Creatures welcomed him at his first-base post with chants of "Ke-vin!"

Youkilis said that the day was "cool" and "great," though naturally he would have liked to change the outcome.

"Yankee Stadium is a place where people dream to come play," Youkilis said. "It was very enjoyable to go out there. It stunk at the end to come up short, but this is a great place to play; great fans. We just didn't play the best ball possible today to win a game."

After his double, Youkilis appeared to share a laugh with second baseman Dustin Pedroia, who said that seeing Youkilis "clean-shaven and everything" would be a jarring sight. Pedroia added that Youkilis has "been family to us for a long time."

But Youkilis insisted there was nothing all that special about looking into the third-base dugout and seeing the Red Sox uniform that he wore from 2004 until last June, when he was traded to the White Sox for Brent Lillibridge and Zach Stewart.

"It looked like being on the first-base side," Youkilis said. "A lot of the guys on that team I never played with. I played on the White Sox and played four games against the Red Sox in Fenway Park, so it's not a first time.

"It's the first time at Yankee Stadium playing for the Yankees. It was a great experience to be a Yankee today. It didn't come out the way we wanted to, but hopefully next time it does."

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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Yankees victorious in return to West Point

WEST POINT, N.Y. -- In most places, the Yankees are hardly an afterthought. But when manager Joe Girardi started walking around West Point on Saturday, he noticed an interesting phenomenon.

And he didn't have to look hard. The popular phrase, "Go Army. Beat Navy," is all over the campus at West Point, and Girardi cannily tried to find a way that it might benefit his team. Army is so fixated on Navy, quipped Girardi, that the Yankees might just get their own free pass on Saturday.

"Maybe Army will overlook us," he joked in the hours before the Yankees took a 10-5 exhibition victory over the Black Knights. "Since they're playing Navy the next four games."

That age-old rivalry -- commemorated everywhere on campus, but most pointedly on the roof of Gillis Field House, which reads, "Sink Navy" -- may be big news starting Sunday, but the Yankees were the bold-faced headline Saturday. The exhibition game marked the first time since 1986 that a big league team has visited West Point, and it improved the Yankees to 22-0 all-time against Army.

Perhaps more importantly, it continued a tradition that had fallen out of favor. The Yankees began playing against Army all the way back in 1927, and they made the trip to West Point frequently in the 30's and the 60's. Prior to Saturday, though, they hadn't played against Army since 1976.

It probably won't take another generation to happen again. The Yankees seemed thrilled to take a campus tour and to spend time with the cadets in the mess hall, and the West Point faithful set a record attendance (6,127) as part of their welcome to the reigning American League East champions.

"I thought it was a wonderful experience going around the university and looking at the different buildings," said Girardi. "I took my time. I had a chance to eat with the cadets in the mess hall, and then the game. I spent 2 1/2 innings over there talking to their players. That was a real thrill."

And Girardi wasn't alone. He sent several of his players over to the Army dugout to spend some time with the cadets, sharing stories and inquiring about their lives at the academy. For Mark Teixeira, sidelined due to a wrist injury, it was a reminder of his college days at Georgia Tech.

"I forgot how fun it is to be in college," said Teixeira of his afternoon at West Point. "When I was a freshman, I got to play against the [Atlanta] Braves. Being a kid who was a switch-hitter and playing third base, getting to play against Chipper Jones was just unbelievable for me. For these kids, I hope they had the same experience. I know my teammates, and we enjoyed the heck out of it."

Normally, the Yankees are answering questions. But for one day, they were asking them.

Much of their interest, predictably, centered on the cadets' routine and how they manage to fit baseball into their arduous schedule. Girardi said he asked the Army players about their days and their duties, about their responsibilities and about how their lives will change once they enter the service.

The Army players, by contrast, were happy to talk about baseball and to ask their own questions about life in the big leagues. Senior catcher Andrew Johnson said that it's a natural inclination to think that pro ballplayers are completely different specimens until you stand right next to them.

"Sometimes, with MLB dreams, you think they've gone over and beyond people's expectations and that they do crazy things," Johnson said. "But honestly, those guys just simplify the game for themselves. When you watch them take batting practice, it's nice and easy and they do a lot of the same things that Coach makes us do. To watch how easy they make the game is really an eye-opener."

Girardi had to take care of some business on Saturday, and he said that Adam Warren and Cody Eppley have earned the final two spots on his roster. Girardi also said that Travis Hafner was scratched from Saturday's game due to general stiffness, but that he could've played in a regular-season setting.

Brennan Boesch, who replaced Hafner in the lineup, drilled a two-run homer in the second inning and the Yankees never trailed. Army made it 5-4 after three innings, but New York pulled away with two runs in the sixth. Reliever Boone Logan notched just one out and gave up all four earned runs for the Yankees.

But this game -- and this day -- was bigger than the box score. For the Yankees, it meant an opportunity to both get some work in and to give back to the community at the same time. And for Army, it was the opportunity of a lifetime and the chance to measure themselves against the best in the world.

"I think the big thing that was obvious today was respect," said Army coach Joe Sottolano. "These individuals, each and every day, they've been to this type of situation hundreds of thousands of times. They've come to these types of ballgames and lived it each and every day. Not only did they come over [to our dugout], but they came over open and with a legitimate interest. It wasn't a job at that point. For them, I believe it was more of a curiosity and something they really wanted to partake in.

"They made us feel special, even though for them it's two days away from their Opening Day. They're not going to see their families very often, and tomorrow's Easter Sunday. The greatest gift that they say you can give people is time. They gave us that time, and we're very respectful and grateful for that."

Girardi, for his part, was impressed by the talent on the other side and even more touched by the way that Army's cadets approach the game. Girardi said it was a special day for everyone involved, and he said he came away from West Point with a profound appreciation for his country and the military.

"This is not something that everybody gets to do, and the tour we got was from cadets and from people who have been here," the manager said of West Point. "I think it's a great way to end Spring Training. It all starts for us Monday. And for them, it all starts tomorrow, because that's their first conference game."

Spencer Fordin is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Former Cy Young winner Turley passes away at 82

By Paul Casella / MLB.com | 3/31/2013 9:19 A.M. ET

Former Cy Young Award winner Bob Turley passed away on Saturday at the age of 82. The cause was liver cancer, his son, Terry, told The Baltimore Sun.

Turley, who spent most of his playing days with the Yankees, had lived in Alpharetta, Ga., and died in hospice care at Lenbrook, a retirement community in Atlanta.

Known for his electric fastball, "Bullet Bob" blew away hitters in the 1950s and early '60s, notching 101 wins and 1,265 strikeouts in his 12-year career. The right-hander made three All-Star appearances, but his career reached its pinnacle in '58.

Along with achieving his third All-Star selection that year, Turley won the Cy Young Award and earned World Series MVP Award honors after keying one of the greatest Fall Classic comebacks of all-time. Turley won a league-best 21 games to go along with a 2.97 ERA, 19 complete games and six shutouts in 33 regular season appearances (31 starts), but none were as vital as his final three outings in the World Series.

With the Yankees trailing the Milwaukee Braves, 3-1, after the first four games, Turley threw a shutout in Game 5, earned a 10th-inning save in Game 6 and picked up the victory in the decisive Game 7 by throwing 6 2/3 scoreless innings of relief.

Turley, who also spent three seasons with the Browns/Orioles and split his final season between the Red Sox and Angels, finished his career 101-85 with a 3.64 ERA.

Paul Casella is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @paul_casella. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Eppley, Warren earn final spots on Yanks' roster

By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com | 3/31/2013 4:29 P.M. ET

NEW YORK -- The Yankees have finalized their Opening Day roster in advance of Monday's 1:05 p.m. ET contest against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium.

As anticipated, the Yankees will carry a 12-man pitching staff, with right-handers Cody Eppley and Adam Warren having been informed by manager Joe Girardi on Saturday that they had secured the final two spots on the roster.

April 1: Red Sox vs. Yankees, 1:05 p.m. ET
Jon Lester vs. CC Sabathia

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New York's starting rotation will be comprised of Opening Day starter CC Sabathia, Hiroki Kuroda, Andy Pettitte, Ivan Nova and David Phelps.

Closer Mariano Rivera will be joined in the bullpen by David Robertson, Joba Chamberlain, Boone Logan and Shawn Kelley, plus Eppley and Warren.

The Yankees are carrying two catchers, Francisco Cervelli and Chris Stewart, and five infielders: Robinson Cano, Jayson Nix, Eduardo Nunez, Lyle Overbay and Kevin Youkilis.

New York has five outfielders on the active roster, carrying Brennan Boesch, Ben Francisco, Brett Gardner, Ichiro Suzuki and Vernon Wells.

In order to create room on the 40-man roster for Overbay, who was signed to a Major League contract on Sunday, the Yankees have designated left-hander Clay Rapada for assignment.

The Yankees have also placed Phil Hughes (right upper back thoracic injury), Derek Jeter (recovery from left ankle surgery), Mark Teixeira (right arm torn ECU sheath) and Curtis Granderson (fractured right forearm) on the 15-day disabled list.

They had previously placed Cesar Cabral, Michael Pineda and Alex Rodriguez on the 60-day disabled list.

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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Yankees relish touring Army campus

WEST POINT, N.Y. -- The Yankees are usually content to play the gracious host, but Saturday gave America's most successful pro sports franchise a chance to be the wide-eyed tourist.

The Yankees toured the grounds of the United States Military Academy on Saturday morning, meeting with cadets and learning about one of the nation's oldest college campuses. Everywhere they turned, it seemed, there was a statue commemorating a great American or a crucial historical moment.

Just behind Doubleday Field, for instance, lay statues of American Presidents Dwight Eisenhower and George Washington, and the baseball field itself is named after a famous Civil War general who purportedly invented the game of baseball. For manager Joe Girardi, whose father served as an airplane mechanic during the Korean War, it was an experience without parallel.

"When you pull into this place, you see the beauty," said Girardi. "For me, it's [about] what the military does for us. We're here to play a game and they're here to protect us. Every day that I wake up, I feel safe. And in a lot of places, that's not true. Enjoy this day. I think our guys are having a blast."

Indeed, the day started with a quick tour of the campus, allowing the players to learn some of the basics of American history. West Point, situated on a crucial curve of the Hudson River, was considered a vital place in the Revolutionary War and became the home of the military academy in 1802.

The players started in the Kimsey Athletic Center on Saturday, touring the Army football team's locker room and seeing the school's Sports Hall of Fame. The Yankees later carried through the Foley Athletic Center and visited the Cadet Chapel and Trophy Point before meeting at the Mess Hall.

"What a campus," said southpaw Andy Pettitte. "It was good to be able to sit in there and meet some of these kids. I sat right next to a freshman in there who's 19 years old. It's interesting to be able to know that these guys and girls are here doing this, and it's cool. ... It's a pretty special place."

Army's baseball field usually seats around 800 fans, and the school's athletic department had to erect temporary bleachers with 4,800 more seats when the Yankees came to town. The entire day took on the atmosphere of a carnival, but Girardi wanted his players to take everything in and remember it.

"I'm glad we can do that, but I think it's more important to recognize what our military does for us on a daily basis," he said. "You come up here and you see the history, and you're able to have lunch with the cadets. You see the different stripes on their uniforms and you get an understanding of what they go through every day. Their summers aren't summers like normal students. They're training exercises. I think it's important for people to understand what these kids go through and how important it is."

Army cadets' code impresses Yankees

WEST POINT, N.Y. -- On this day, the highlight was the same for everyone. The Yankees made the most of their trip to the United States Military Academy on Saturday, and they said in the hours before their game against Army that the best part was their personal interaction with the cadets.

CC Sabathia said that he and Mark Teixeira sat at a table with eight cadets and asked questions about their lives, and Mariano Rivera was surprised to meet a cadet from Panama. That Panamanian student even brought the reliever a gift and invited him to his commencement later this year.

But that's not what Rivera will remember. The game's all-time saves leader said that he was struck by an astonishing answer from a cadet and the casual manner in which he offered it.

"We were asking how long they're here and when they're graduating," said Rivera. "One of them was graduating this year. I asked him, 'What are you going to do after that?' and he said, 'I'm going to do something to defuse bombs.' I said, 'What? OK. Good luck.' It's amazing. What a beautiful place."

Andy Pettitte said that he had never been to the USMA before, and he said that it was inspiring to consider the discipline and the dedication that the cadets carry with them every day. Sports are only part of the puzzle for the cadets, who also need to pass inspection and live by an honor code.

"We got a real quick glimpse of it," said Pettitte of the military code. "We didn't see an awful lot, but it's just cool to see the discipline they're teaching these kids and that they carry. You can eat off the floor in the locker room and in the mess hall. It's just absolutely incredible. And you can tell when you talk to them: These kids know exactly what they want to do. It's kind of a far cry from other places."

And that's exactly the point. The USMA is more interested in building leaders than it is in building baseball players, but the Yankees can still take a lot from the way they go about their business. That was the message from manager Joe Girardi, who would love to take this trip again one day.

"I just want our guys to take it all in," he said. "We had a chance to see the Army baseball team during Spring Training. They worked out at our facility. Then they were in the dugout in the seventh inning and that was neat. But just to watch these kids, I want to watch them do their thing too. I think you can learn a lot about the game and about life from other people. That's what I want them to take from this."

Teixeira healing nicely, to visit doc Monday

WEST POINT, N.Y. -- It won't be long now. Mark Teixeira took a trip with the Yankees for an exhibition game against Army on Saturday, and he said that his injured right wrist is healing according to plan. Teixeira, nursing a partially torn tendon sheath, said he'll see a doctor again on Monday.

"I hope they're going to tell me I can take this off and start strengthening it," said Teixeira of the cast on his wrist. "I've been trying to do as much as I can. I'm not able to do much, but I've been trying to push it as much as I can to get it stronger. Once this comes off, then you can start doing a lot more."

Teixeira was reduced to the role of fan on Saturday, as he spent time chatting with the Army student fan section and enjoyed a tour of the campus with the rest of the team. Teixeira didn't have much on the baseball itinerary on Saturday, but he hopes to return to the field in about a month.

"They didn't pack any of my equipment today. I just ran and did rehab," he said. "No grounders, no hitting. So I'll take a couple days off, which is fine, and get back with those type of things Monday."

Teixeira, 32 years old, grew up with a healthy respect for the military because his father played baseball at the Naval Academy in Annapolis. Teixiera said that he was impressed by the athletic facilities at West Point, and he said that one line of conversation kept coming up when he talked to the players.

"A lot of guys said they watched me growing up," said Teixeira. "Everyone came up to me. 'Man, I watched you when you were in Texas,' or 'I watched you in Atlanta.' ... You forget that these are kids. They really are. These guys are going to be the leaders of tomorrow, the military and the protectors of our country, but they're kids. They're enjoying this time together and they're baseball fans, obviously, just getting to play college baseball. Being able to share this experience with them is very neat."

Injuries aren't derailing Yankees' expectations

WEST POINT, N.Y. -- The Yankees played their final exhibition game Saturday, and they used the occasion to push past Spring Training and set their expectations for the regular season. And if you ask manager Joe Girardi, the message for the players and for Yankee fans is quite simple.

"I expect the best, and that's the bottom line," said Girardi. "We expect to win every day."

Girardi said he is not overly concerned by his team's state of health entering the regular season, and he said he doesn't think the Yankees have to do anything differently to compete. This isn't football, the manager said, and the team's coaching staff doesn't have to script and re-script its plays.

"You don't have to necessarily completely change your philosophy because of the people you're missing," said Girardi of his ailing team roster, "Every year is change. And every year, you're going to go through things. Sometimes you're going to do it in the middle of the year and sometimes at the end of the year. We happen to be doing it in the beginning right now."

New York is missing first baseman Mark Teixeira, third baseman Alex Rodriguez and outfielder Curtis Granderson at this early stage of the season, but Girardi doesn't want to make excuses. The Yankees -- and every other team, for that matter -- have to play with the healthy players at their disposal.

And Teixeira, right wrist in a cast, said that the Yankees wouldn't have it any other way.

"It's low expectations outside the clubhouse. Expectations inside the clubhouse are the same," he said. "We hear the chatter. You hear people talk. You hear the fans, but we don't buy into it. I would've never even tried to play college baseball if I had listened to people outside my family growing up."

CC Sabathia, tabbed to take the mound for New York on Opening Day against the Red Sox, said he doesn't really understand the media's cause for concern. The Yankees are going to be solid, he said, and it would take a lot more than a couple of injuries to make him revise his own goals.

"I think we're going to be all right. We're healthy," said Sabathia of the Yankees' pitching rotation for Opening Day. "I think if we stay healthy, we've got a chance to be pretty good."

Another veteran, Andy Pettitte, has known so much success in New York that he can't even contemplate the alternative. Pettitte said he was taken aback after one recent Spring Training start because the assembled media started asking him questions about the team's future.

Pettitte hadn't watched TV, he said, and he hadn't heard the bubbling concern over the team's prospective record. Now, he said he has a better feel for the collective pulse of the market, but that hasn't changed his attitude about the team the Yankees will put on the field on Monday.

"I understand that now probably a little bit more," said Pettitte. "I don't even let my mind go in that direction. I think we're going to win our division. I expect us to be in the World Series.

"Bottom line, I feel we've got the pitching and the bullpen to do that. If people think we're going to be a little short scoring runs, we're going to figure out a way to score enough runs to win."

Worth noting

• Girardi said Saturday that Adam Warren and Cody Eppley have won the final two spots on his active roster. Clay Rapada and Phil Hughes will begin the year on the disabled list.

• Girardi scratched Travis Hafner in the hours leading up to Saturday's game, an absence he attributed to stiffness. Girardi said Hafner could've played if it were a regular-season game.

"He spends a lot of time getting loose every day, doing his routine and getting in hot tubs," said Girardi. "Taking his time in the cage and running around. We just didn't have time to do that today."

Spencer Fordin is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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