Bailey not holding anything back in bid to win bullpen spot

TAMPA, Fla. -- There are three small scars near Andrew Bailey's right shoulder, permanent reminders of the major procedure that threatened to end his career. But since the discomfort has disappeared, the Yankees right-hander sees no reason to hold anything back.

"I've got nothing to lose," Bailey said. "I'm out there competing, throwing the ball as hard as I can, and see what happens. To me, having a surgery like I had, a lot of guys don't come back from it. For me, it's letting it go and trusting the stuff and trusting the rehab and the time put in."

Bailey made his second appearance of the spring on Saturday, firing a scoreless seventh inning with two strikeouts in the Yankees' 3-2 Grapefruit League victory over the Astros. The former All-Star closer has not pitched in the Majors since 2013, when he was diagnosed with labrum and capsule damage in his pitching shoulder.

"It's definitely fun to get back on a hill and follow up my first outing with another healthy second one," Bailey said. "That's most important for me, and just take the ball whenever they want."

Yankees manager Joe Girardi said that Bailey has looked "pretty good," coming off his one inning of work on Wednesday against the Braves, but the team is still not sure when he will be ready to pitch on consecutive days.

Because of that, as well as the Yanks' stocked bullpen, Bailey could begin the season in the Minors. In the meantime, Bailey said that he has been working with pitching coach Larry Rothschild on the mechanics of his cutter, which he said improved on Saturday. Bailey was also pleased with how his fastball and curveball felt against the Astros.

"I like to get out there and let it go," Bailey said. "Today I just hit my spots a lot more, executed better and was able to get that cutter where I wanted to this time around. Last time I was kind of middle with it. I had some better movement on it and I look forward to the next time."

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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Gregorius' flash key to Yanks' reimagined defense

The fluidity Gregorius brings to the position is somewhat surprising, given his tall frame, but the range he brings to an infield slated to feature the veterans Headley and Stephen Drew on each side of him, with Mark Teixeira at first, is a major run-prevention asset for a team that has made deliberate efforts to win in a new way.

Gregorius thrilled to join Yanks

Gregorius on joining Yankees, championship goals

Didi Gregorius talks about coming to the Yankees, being part of the team's winning mentality and learning from the club's veterans

That I am 175 words into this without having mentioned Derek Jeter makes this some sort of 2015 Spring Training record, I believe, but there you go. I mentioned Derek Jeter. Happy now?

Obviously, Gregorius isn't and won't ever be Jeter the Icon, but, more pertinently, he won't be the 2014 installment of Jeter, either.

Look, we love Jeter, we rightly celebrate Jeter, many of us would love to be Jeter. But strictly from a baseball standpoint, by the end, Jeter was one of the Majors' least-productive regulars at the plate, which only made his range deficiencies in the field more of a liability.

To date -- and we're only talking about 724 plate appearances here -- the 25-year-old Gregorius has not proven he can provide even league average production at the plate. He's a pull-happy left-handed hitter who has struggled mightily against southpaws. There have been a few positive signs from him offensively this spring, and Yankee Stadium's short porch at least benefits his pull-side approach, but the Yanks didn't acquire Gregorius to hit like Jeter in his prime. They'll just bat him in the lower third of the lineup and figure he can at least approximate -- and more likely improve upon -- the totals brought to the equation by the 40-year-old Captain.

Gregorius' RBI triple

NYY@ATL: Gregorius lines an RBI triple to right field

3/18/15: Didi Gregorius drives a triple down the right-field line, scoring Chris Young to give the Yankees a 7-0 lead

The Yankees still have many of the issues that plagued them in consecutive October-less campaigns in 2013 and '14 -- namely, a lineup and rotation loaded with potential DL candidates -- but they were wise to learn not only from their own experience in the second half of '14, but also the outcome of October, by prioritizing the bullpen and the infield defense in their offseason dealings.

"The game is a little bit different than it was a few years ago," Headley said. "You can be a below-average or average defender if you're driving in 120 [runs] and hitting 35 homers, but there's just not that many guys doing that anymore. That's the shift in the game we've seen the last few years."

As with most things Yankee-related, the effectiveness of the infield hinges on health.

Headley has battled back issues in the not-too-distant past, and Teixeira hasn't played a full season since 2011. With Drew, the question is probably less about health and more about whether his bat will allow him to stick as a starter. Youngsters Rob Refsnyder and Jose Pirela have both had strong camps and could force the issue at second, though Refsnyder, in particular, is a converted outfielder who needs to show improvement on the defensive end.

Gregorius' nice play

NYY@PHI: Gregorius makes a tough play on grounder

3/6/15: Didi Gregorius ranges to his left, spins and fires to first in time to throw out Odubel Herrera

Anyway, in the absence of clarity about what the future holds, the best we can do is look at the penciled-in lineup and conclude that infield defense should be a strength for this squad, something we could not say a year ago. And while that doesn't guarantee us that CC Sabathia's improved spring velocity is going to stabilize or that Masahiro Tanaka's elbow ligament won't snap or that Michael Pineda's shoulder will stay intact, it does lead you to believe the pitching staff will be backed by a dependable supporting cast.

"I don't hear a lot of people talking about it, but I'm sure people are going to realize how good defensively we're going to be," third-base and infield coach Joe Espada said. "If we stay healthy, we're going to help this team win some games with our gloves."

Gregorius is the biggest source of potential improvement. Primarily because of his glove, Gregorius' Steamer projections available at FanGraphs.com call for a 1.3-WAR season, which would be more than a full win better than the minus-0.3 mark Jeter posted on his farewell tour.

"I'm not replacing him," Gregorius said. "It's not like he's here and playing a different position. I just have to play my game."

Gregorius' game revolves around making the routine and the not-so-routine look easy, with great instincts and a strong arm. As is the case with all young shortstops, anticipation is everything, and the more he learns opposing batters in a new league, the better-situated he'll be to make the plays.

Didi's strong throw

TB@NYY: Didi fields grounder, throws out Souza Jr.

3/9/15: Shortstop Didi Gregorius handles Steven Souza Jr.'s ground ball and retires the speedy runner with a strong throw to first base

"It's all about being in the right position at the right time," Gregorius said. "I'm not worried about changing leagues, because you've got the charts and everything here, and they'll tell you where to play."

The Yankees have made defensive positioning a greater priority over the last two seasons, and now they've got an infield that can cover a lot of ground. The guy with the biggest adjustment ahead of him might be Headley, if only because he'll have to get used to backing off more balls bounding toward his left.

"You really have to pay attention to where he is," Headley said. "I can give him an extra two steps, because he's going to make up those balls. We have to communicate more. I don't want to make a play that's a difficult play for me when he has an easy angle on it. So it's just about getting to know each other."

They've had plenty of opportunity to do so in a clubhouse in which their lockers neighbor each other, though gold headphones are noticeably absent from Headley's stash.

Perhaps one day Gregorius will have a Gold Glove Award to go with his headphones, but for now his main goal is improving the profile of a club emphasizing the obstruction of offense, perhaps even more than the obtainment of it.

Anthony Castrovince is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his columns and follow him on Twitter at @Castrovince. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Girardi prefers Gardner stay away from climbing walls

"We're working on pace of game in Spring Training, and Chris Young was like, 'You think I'm going to have to jump over there?'" Gardner said. "I said, 'If you're not going to, I am. Otherwise, we're going to be waiting 10 minutes for someone to go all the way around and get your glove.' So I just said, all right, I'll do it, whatever."

Once over the wall, Gardner saw the ball lying next to Young's glove and tossed that in for good measure. He said that he had wanted to throw the ball all the way to second base, but the overhang of the batter's eye made Gardner settle for a soft flip over the fence.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi did not seem to be amused. A replacement glove was already being sent out to center field, and Girardi was worried by the off chance that Gardner could have been injured by leaping over the fence -- which measures eight feet and five inches -- twice.

"We've seen guys hit a home run, jump up and land on the plate and break an ankle," Girardi said. "... I told him, 'This isn't Little League. Gardy thought he was in the movie 'The Sandlot' or something."

Gardner said that he did not see danger in jumping over the wall, noting that he has done it before.

"It was easier to go over than to come back. I could get a little running start," Gardner said. "I think I kind of put my foot into the wall and climbed up going over. Coming back, I had to grab on to the top of the fence and pull myself up. That fence is dirty, too, by the way -- real dirty, dirty, dusty."

Gardner also said that he never considered the embarrassing scenario in which he was able to climb out of the stadium, but couldn't get back in.

"I would've probably walked around back to the players' lot to my truck and left, maybe," Gardner said. "If I stayed back there long enough, I guess they would have sent somebody else out to play left field. I would've had a quick exit. It worked out all right."

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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Ryan laces double in spring debut for Yanks

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Brendan Ryan finally made his first appearance of the spring on Friday, playing five innings at shortstop and contributing a run-scoring double in the Yankees' 11-2 Grapefruit League victory over the Tigers at Joker Marchant Stadium.

Ryan has been sidelined all spring by a mid-back sprain that he said was sustained while performing biceps curls in an offseason workout. Ryan got off to a quick start, belting a Alfredo Simon fastball over the head of left fielder Rajai Davis to drive in the Yanks' first run.

Ryan said that it felt "awesome" to be back on the field, finishing the afternoon 1-for-3. Yankees manager Joe Girardi said that there seemed to be no lingering issues with Ryan, who is expected to serve as the backup shortstop to Didi Gregorius opening the season.

"He almost got killed in BP, but besides that everything was good," Girardi said. "Two bullets smoked at him when he was playing catch. That's Brendan. Just leave it at that."

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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Warren takes step forward in battle for rotation spot

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Adam Warren said that it is only human nature to peek over a shoulder and see how the competition is handling the Yankees' fifth-starter race, but if the right-hander takes care of business like he did on Friday, there will be little to worry about.

Warren showcased his sharpest stuff of the spring in New York's 11-2 Grapefruit League victory over the Tigers, scattering four hits over five innings of one-run ball with no walks and three strikeouts. His lone blemish was a solo Yoenis Cespedes homer in the fifth.

"I feel like I'm getting close," Warren said. "Just spotting the fastball, getting ahead in the count for the most part with all my pitches. I feel like I'm getting there and a lot more consistent with everything in my delivery. I was pleased. I just want to take the next step next outing and keep building on that."

Warren's outing impressed manager Joe Girardi, one day after he judged Esmil Rogers to be just "OK" after coughing up his first three runs of the spring in a 3 1/3-inning effort against the Braves.

"Good, really good," Girardi said. "He had everything today. He was effective with all his pitches. He was ahead in the count."

Girardi has said that he is beginning to evaluate these outings more seriously, and so it is only natural to compare that with the "we've seen him sharper" that he offered in analysis of Rogers' outing. Girardi said that it would be premature to declare a front-runner.

"Let's let them have the whole body of work, because things can change quickly in a week or 10 days," Girardi said. "Adam threw the ball exceptionally well today, and that's what competition does. You're going to have a lot of discussion about it, but you wait until the end."

Girardi said that the fifth-starter competition is likely to come up in meetings several times between now and March 28, when the Yankees would like to have a decision made so the other pitchers can begin preparing for their bullpen roles.

In addition to Warren and Rogers, the Yanks are evaluating Chase Whitley -- who threw three scoreless innings on Friday -- as well as Bryan Mitchell and non-roster invitee Scott Baker. Warren had a 2.97 ERA in 69 relief appearances for New York last season and said he does not feel any added pressure because of the competition.

"It does make it feel more like a real game, I guess, just because you want to go out there and do well," Warren said. "It definitely adds a little bit to it. I'm not trying to put any extra pressure on myself. I already put enough pressure on myself as it is."

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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A-Rod finds power stroke with opposite-field shot

"That's a good sign," Rodriguez said. "I laugh when people say, 'You can't hit a ball in the mid-90s.' I couldn't hit it in my prime when I was 28, certainly not consistently. When a guy's throwing 95, 96 and he's spotting, maybe Mike Trout or some of those great young superstars can hit it, but not me."

A-Rod on his spring so far

TOR@NYY: A-Rod on spring so far, excitement for 2015

3/17/15: Alex Rodriguez discusses what he needs to still work on as Spring Training finishes and his excitement for Opening Day

Rodriguez's collection of 654 home runs would suggest otherwise, but the Yankees' concern is with what he can do for them on the field this season. Rodriguez cracked out of a 1-for-14 funk with the homer, producing easy grounders in his other two at-bats on Friday, and is batting .269 (7-for-26) this spring.

"It's a real good sign," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "I thought he made the adjustment after his first two at-bats, and he put a really good swing on a ball and hit it a long way."

There was some initial confusion on the homer, as it appeared to strike the top of the fence and ricochet back into play after hitting a palm tree. Rodriguez scampered back to first base, unsure of what had happened, before first-base umpire Jerry Layne instructed him to circle the bases.

Asked what he has been surprised about this spring, Rodriguez replied, "That I hit that ball today, that way. And that it went over. I thought it was going to be a long single."

Rodriguez said that his body has reacted better than he would have thought, noting that he was "very curious" to see how he would bounce back after a night game on Thursday in Tampa, Fla. He added that he was "pleasantly surprised" by the answer, and is looking forward to his assigned workload for Sunday and Monday, when he and Carlos Beltran are scheduled to rack up at-bats at the Yanks' Minor League complex.

"I just feel like my body's getting in better shape, and feel like I'm running a little bit better," Rodriguez said. "Every day, you just want to get a little bit better."

Rodriguez declined to comment when asked about a report published on Friday that stated that Rodriguez's cousin, Yuri Sucart, is expected to plead guilty to distribution of testosterone and human growth hormone when he appears in U.S. District Court later this month.

"Guys, we have so many good things to talk about, but that's not one of them," Rodriguez said. "We'll keep it baseball. Have a good weekend."

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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Headley homers, Drew, Beltran help out behind Rogers

Drew's RBI double

PHI@NYY: Drew hits an RBI double to right field

3/19/15: Stephen Drew hits a double down the right-field line that bounces up against the wall, scoring Slade Heathcott from first base

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Utley delivers as DH: Chase Utley went 2-for-2 with one walk and two runs scored. He has not played in the field yet because of a sprained right ankle, but Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said before the game that could be coming soon.

Utley's 1st-inning double

PHI@NYY: Utley doubles to right field in the 1st

3/19/15: Chase Ultey hits a double down the right-field line off Esmil Rogers in the 1st inning

Fifth-starter competition underway for Yankees: Rogers has been considered one of the leading candidates for the last rotation vacancy, but he appeared shaky at times. Rogers said that he was trying to work on his curveball Thursday and has been huddling with pitching coach Larry Rothschild to fine-tune his mechanics. The Yanks like his live arm and he's expected to continue competing with Adam Warren, Chase Whitley, Bryan Mitchell and non-roster invitee Scott Baker.

Rogers discusses his outing

PHI@NYY: Rogers on his outing, preparing for season

3/19/15: Esmil Rogers talks about his performance against the Phillies and his chances of making the starting rotation

Harang's back on track: Harang allowed two hits and one earned run in three innings, which was progress. He had missed two of his first three starts this spring because of back soreness. The Phillies need Harang healthy with Cliff Lee lost for the season.

Harang fans Romine

PHI@NYY: Harang strikes out Romine swinging

3/19/15: Aaron Harang strikes out Austin Romine swinging to end the 2nd inning

Sir Didi wins a battle: Didi Gregorius has struggled mightily in his career against left-handed pitching, so he and hitting coach Jeff Pentland had to be pleased with a sixth-inning at-bat against Rodriguez. Gregorius battled, fouling off several pitches against the southpaw, before producing a ground-ball single up the middle.

Gregorius works for single

PHI@NYY: Gregorius battles for a single

3/19/15: Didi Gergorius battles through the at-bat and collects a single up the middle

INJURY UPDATES
Brown suffers setback: Phillies right fielder Domonic Brown left the game in the bottom of the third inning because of soreness in his left Achilles. He said it has been bothering him for a couple of weeks. He will be examined by a team doctor on Friday.

Brown strikes out, leaves game

PHI@NYY: Brown strikes out, later exits the game

3/19/15: Domonic Brown strikes out swinging in the 3rd and later leaves the game with an apparent injury

Ellsbury expecting to play in opener: Jacoby Ellsbury will not participate in baseball activities for about a week, but the center fielder said that he is "fully confident" that he will be able to play in the Yanks' April 6 opener against the Blue Jays. Infielder Brendan Ryan, who has been sidelined by a mid-back strain, is scheduled to make his spring debut on Friday against the Tigers in Lakeland, Fla.

QUOTABLE
"He struggled a little bit with his breaking ball tonight, and Utley put some tough at-bats on him, which he's done to a lot of guys over the years. He stayed away from the big inning and kind of kept us in it. But we've seen him sharper." -- Yankees manager Joe Girardi on Rogers

WHAT'S NEXT
The Phillies play the Pirates on Friday at 1:05 p.m. ET in Bradenton, Fla., where right-hander Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez has another opportunity to prove he deserves a spot in the rotation. Gonzalez has not shown that yet. He has a 9.00 ERA in three Grapefruit League appearances. "A little bit more consistency and a good solid outing would go a long way," Sandberg said.

Warren will get another chance to impress in the Yankees' competition on Friday as the Bombers visit the Tigers for a 1:05 p.m. ET contest at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland. Alex Rodriguez, Brian McCann, Brett Gardner and Chris Young are scheduled to highlight the lineup that faces Detroit right-hander Alfredo Simon.

Todd Zolecki is a reporter for MLB.com. 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

Pirela's spring likely not enough to earn roster spot

"I don't want to have to say that there's no chance of him making our roster, but I think [general manager] Brian [Cashman] said it, our roster was fairly set," Girardi said on Thursday.

Girardi said that outside of the backup catcher competition, where John Ryan Murphy and Austin Romine are trying to win a spot, the Yankees were sure about 12 of their 13 position player spots coming into camp.

That includes second base, where Stephen Drew is guaranteed of being the Opening Day starter, and a backup infield job that will be handed to Brendan Ryan if healthy. Ryan has yet to appear in a game this spring because of a mid-back sprain, but he is listed on the Yanks' travel roster for Friday's game against the Tigers in Lakeland, Fla.

"You don't ever lock yourself in and say, this is exactly what it's going to be, but when we came to Spring Training, we were pretty sure -- excluding the second catcher -- who the 13 guys were going to be," Girardi said. "They were kind of signed to do that."

Girardi allowed that it is possible that an injury or a trade could change the landscape. As of now, the Yanks project to carry Alex Rodriguez, Garrett Jones, Chris Young and either Murphy or Romine as reserves, leaving Pirela on the outside looking in.

"I just want to continue being given the opportunities to play," Pirela said. "I just want to keep getting opportunities."

At one point this past offseason, Yankees people were talking about a potential second-base competition between Pirela and 23-year-old Rob Refsnyder. The Yanks signed Drew to a one-year, $5 million deal in January, putting an end to that talk, and Girardi said that he hopes Pirela and Refsnyder were not discouraged by the move.

"What you hope is, if you continue to play the way that you're playing, and continue to have success, you're going to have your opportunity," Girardi said. "Sometimes the opportunities don't come as fast as you want them as a player, and sometimes they come faster than you think.

"You have to be able to handle them and you have to be mentally strong enough to handle whatever comes your way, because you're going to have setbacks in this game. Whether it's at this level, the big league level, you've got to be able to handle them and get through it and say, 'It doesn't matter. I'm going to go out and play.'"

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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Ellsbury echoes Girardi's thoughts on Opening Day status

TAMPA, Fla. -- Jacoby Ellsbury will not participate in baseball activities for approximately one week due to a mild oblique strain, but the Yankees center fielder is confident that he will be ready for Opening Day.

Ellsbury had an MRI exam on Wednesday that confirmed the strain, which he sustained while tossing in the outfield before Sunday's game against the Phillies. Ellsbury is hitting .222 (6-for-27) with one triple and one RBI in nine spring games.

"I think the good thing is we do have time and I'm fully confident that I'll be there Opening Day, ready to play," Ellsbury said on Thursday. "I think in the few days that it's been, it's been substantially better."

Ellsbury, 31, said that he has not previously dealt with oblique issues, which manager Joe Girardi often says can be "tricky." Girardi has said that he expects Ellsbury to be ready for the Yanks' season opener on April 6 against the Blue Jays, but there is no timetable to get him back in spring games.

"The thing is, I don't think we need to rush him," Girardi said. "I'm not concerned about him being ready for Opening Day now. If we got to [March 30], and the day after and he couldn't play, I'd be concerned. I'm not saying he's going to sit out that long. He's got [27] at-bats under his belt. You'd like to get him somewhere between 55 and 65, but if he's a little short, I'm not going to worry about that."

The Yankees hope that it will be a similar situation to last spring, when Ellsbury sustained a left calf strain that forced him to miss the final two weeks of exhibition games, but he was ready for the regular-season opener.

Ellsbury said that his timing and discipline have been solid, particularly in his last five spring games, so he is not worried about the possibility of jumping right into the regular season.

"I feel pretty good at the plate now," Ellsbury said. "Last year, I didn't think it had an effect on me at all. I felt pretty good at the plate. I felt like I had a pretty good first month. That really didn't have an effect on me."

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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Bailey comfortable in first game action since 2013

"I actually felt comfortable out there, which is great," said Bailey, who last pitched in a Major League game on July 12, 2013. "I was pumped up. I was excited. The ball was coming out good and it was a lot of fun."

Bailey actually appeared poised for a 1-2-3 sixth inning after quickly retiring the first two batters he faced before forcing Jesus Flores to hit a grounder up the middle. Yankees second baseman Rob Refsnyder flashed some good range in getting to the grounder, only to make a throw in the dirt that first baseman Francisco Arcia couldn't quite handle cleanly.

Flores then advanced to second on an Andrelton Simmons base hit before coming into score on an Albert Callaspo RBI single. Bailey escaped the inning without any further damage one batter later, thanks to a diving catch by center fielder Mason Williams.

"Honestly, I thought [Flores' grounder] was going up the middle for a hit at first, but then Refsnyder came flying over to make a play on it," Bailey said. "So he made a great play just to even get there, and that's just the way baseball goes. They made some good contact after that, but then Mason made that great play to bail me out."

The right-hander was a lights-out closer prior to his shoulder problems, even earning American League Rookie of the Year honors in 2009 after racking up a dominant 1.84 ERA with the Athletics. He continued that success into the following season, posting a 1.47 ERA, before injuries began to derail his career.

"I'm happy for him," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "I thought he threw the ball all right. I mean, he hasn't been out there in a long time. He came off and there was a smile on his face. It's a definite step in the right direction."

With another part of the process now out of the way, the next step for Bailey will be proving he's capable of pitching in back-to-back games. It remains to be seen when exactly that might happen, but it'll be a key factor in whether or not Bailey even has a shot to make the roster.

And finally feeling "completely healthy," Bailey is holding out hope that -- even with his late start this spring -- there's still enough time to do exactly that.

"I think everybody's goal here is to make the team Day 1, and mine obviously still is too," he said. "If I need more time, I totally understand that. Or if they feel I need more time, I understand that too. But I want to be there Day 1, for sure, just as everybody in this room does."

Paul Casella 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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