Yankees Friday Spring Training Notes

It was a quiet day in Yankees camp today. There wasn’t much going on, Kevin Youkilis became a big story because there wasn’t much else going on. Youkilis clarified comments he made yesterday about always being a Red Sock. I think the whole thing was overblown and it really was much of nothing. He was just trying to say that most of his career is with them and you can’t take that away. The bottom line is performance, if he does well and helps the Yankees win the fans will love him and if not they won’t love him. 
George King of the NY post reports that the Yankees are going to have scouts watch Chien-Ming Wang as he pitches for Taiwan in the World Baseball Classic. He has never been the same since hurting himself running the bases in 2008 with the Yankees. Billy Connors is recommending him as extra depth in AAA, Connors is with the Yankees as a spring training instructor.

Michael Pineda threw 25 pitches today, all fastballs. He reported no problems and is still on schedule. He has looked pretty good and had no setbacks. The Yankees could have a big piece coming in June if he keeps this up. He is projected as a number one or two starter and if he is anywhere near that the Yankees are going to have a good pitcher for a long time. Cesar Cabral is overshadowed but he had a chance to make the team last year and then the Yankees discovered a fracture in his elbow. He is on the exact same schedule as Pineda and is obviously overshadowed but he seems to be doing well also.

CC Sabathia is on schedule to throw his first bullpen of the spring on Saturday. He will be the last Yankees pitcher to do so. Francisco Cervelli will not be playing in the World Baseball classic. I think that would have been bad for him if he did, he wants to win the starting catcher job and needs to be in camp.

Jorge Posada will be a guest instructor but the Yankees don’t know when he will be showing up yet. Girardi said they usually make their own schedule and a lot of them wait until the games start. The Yankees first game will be next week so it is coming soon.

Girardi said the Yankees will quickly make up for todays light day with a crazy day on Saturday. He said there are a lot of bullpens and batting practice sessions planned. The full squad reports on Sunday with Monday being the first official full squad workout.