New York Yankees news and notes from Tuesday/Wednesday

CC Sabathia did take his new cutter into the game on Tuesday.  He seemed happy with the results. 

He guessed he threw about eight or nine of them and didn't have a problem.  He said he will still use

the four seam fastball but as he gets up there in his career this is another weapon.  He said he

doesn't know if it will come right away or take a whole season but he will continue to work on it and

see what happens. 

Mark Teixeira still hasn't swung and missed and hasn't checked his swing.  He is happy so far though and stated he is feeling good.  He also said though that the more he plays the less those things seem like significant milestones.  He said he has swung at good pitches  and is taking good swings as well as getting good work in BP. 

Brendan Ryan swung with a broomstick on Tuesday.  He still has a mild oblique problem although he said it is more of a back issue and they are just being really cautious.  Masahiro Tanaka faced 18 batters in his sim game Tuesday and struck out nine.  The AP stayed behind in Tampa to document this.  He gave up four hits and a run in five innings.  He at one point threw 16 straight strikes.  I don't know about anyone else but what I am most impressed about is his control.  I think he will be a very good pitcher.  He has a good personality and has met every challenge so far. 

Brian McCann will catch Sabathia again on Sunday in Panama.  He is trying to learn all the pitchers.  He has already got high marks from a couple of the pitchers.  CC Sabathia who said he noticed something in his start Tuesday and made an adjustment with him that worked right away and also from Ivan Nova. 

Joe Girardi announced that McCann, Dean Anna, Derek Jeter, Brett Gardner, Alfonso Soriano, Carlos Beltran, Yangervis Solarte, Zelous Wheeler, John Ryan Murphy, Gary Sanchez and Jose Gil.  He said he isn't sure about the pitchers other then Sabathia and Adam Warren who are starting the two games.  That is entirely up to Larry Rothschild the pitching coach. 

Teixeira said he isn't going to Tampa because they don't have the training room that is ideal for him.  He needs a lot of extra work and staying back in Tampa is better for him.  The team that is going to Panama will be leaving at 6PM on Thursday. 

Jose Campos will make his spring debut in Wednesday's game.  He was added to the 40 man roster this spring and is the other pitcher in the Michael Pineda Seattle trade.  Dellin Betances was scheduled to throw a simulated game on Wednesday.  Ervin Santana has come off the market to sign with the Braves who had a couple of pitching injuries to throw them in the mix and sign him. 

The Yankees will have a bunch of minor leaguers come up to camp to fill the roster while the other half of the team is in Panama.  The call-ups will start on Thursday with the split squad.  Tyler Webb and Pat Venditte are coming up for the day as pitchers.  Wes Wilson, Rob Refsnyder, Carmen Angelini, Rob Segedin, Ali Castillo, Ben Gamel and Taylor Dugas. 

The games will start getting more interesting and the starters playing longer next week.  This is the kind of boring mundane part of the spring but Opening Day is quickly approaching so hang in there.