New York Yankees notes as exhibition season ends

The New York Yankees were scheduled to finish their exhibition schedule with a game Saturday

afternoon.  They were set to face off against the Miami Marlins but the game was postponed due to

rain.  The Yankees had two pregame ceremonies, the first to give Masahiro Tanaka the James P.

Dawson award for outstanding rookie in camp and the second for Derek Jeter.  The Jeter ceremony

ended and they immediately called the game.  The Yankees were all packed up and ready to head to

Houston to start the season Tuesday night.  CC Sabathia will make the start and he is eager to erase

his worst year which was last year. 

The Yankees had an interesting lineup put out for the game Saturday and it looks like that will be the lineup on Opening Day.  It was Jacoby Ellsbury, Derek Jeter, Carlos Beltran, Brian McCann, Mark Teixeira, Alfonso Soriano, Brett Gardner, Brian Roberts, Kelly Johnson.  I assumed that Gardner would bat ninth to have the double leadoff but I guess Joe Girardi is thinking differently and we will see how it all works out on Tuesday and then moving forward.  It is a pretty good lineup however you look at it and much better than last year. The Yankees have power, speed and on base guys plus switch hitters which should be a huge help to them. 

There were some guys missing on the flight to Houston but they will eventually join the rest of the team.  Yangervis Solarte was just told he made the team and needed to go pack.  Eduardo Nunez in a bit of a shocker was optioned to AAA Scranton Wilkes-Barre.  Michael Pineda will pitch in a minor league game on Sunday in prep for his start next Saturday in Toronto.  Brendan Ryan will stay behind to continue to work his way back from a sore back.  Ryan stated that he expects to be down there for at least a couple more weeks.  He said he expects to be activated by May 1st but they told him he is basically starting spring training over again. 

The pitchers who were scheduled today went inside and threw simulated games.  Steinbrenner Field which was formally Legends Field opened in 1996 which was Jeter first season.  He was given a key to the city of Tampa.  He said he lives in Tampa now and can do what he wants now.  He said he isn't sure for how long the key will unlock stuff but it is good to be recognized and he spends a lot of time in Tampa and will continue to do so, probably even more so now after retiring. 

The Houston Astros announced that they will honor Jeter with a pregame ceremony on Wednesday.  Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens will be among those honoring him.  Those two guys are both former teammates of his, Pettitte was a longtime teammate and fellow core four member. 

Solarte came to camp as a 26 year old with no big league experience.  He really opened some eyes and they are now giving him his shot.  He never made a roster before.  The Yankees also have Dean Anna who never even was invited to big league camp before, Dellin Betances who was never more than a September call up.  They also have Vidal Nuno who was nothing more than a September call up as well.  It is nice to see some infusion of young blood and we will now see how they can help and if they can stick with the team.