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It is finally that time of year again. Spring training games have begun! I am really excited for this upcoming season, especially because I think we have a legit shot at a title. Today several teams hit the fields including our cross town rivals, the Mets. The Yanks also had a game of their own, except it was an intrasquad game. It wasn’t the prettiest of games, with seven errors committed, but the field conditions were bad with wet grass and a lot of wind. Still not something to be happy about, but its just some rust that will go away soon. The outcome of the game was the Geese beating the Gators 6-2. Our first game against another team is this Saturday (March 1st) against the Phillies.

In other Yankee news is another story concerning Mitchell madness. I didn’t want to dedicate a whole post to it because I think that subject has already taken up to many posts. But anyway, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has asked the Department of Justice to investigate whether Roger Clemens lied under oath, hence committing perjury. Who didn’t see this coming?

It looks like Cashman won’t be cut as quickly as a lot of the media predicted. Today Hank Steinbrenner came out and talked about how he will be talking to Cashman during the season about a possible extension. He also said how this was the plan all along and that the media was trying to create controversy where there wasn’t any. This isn’t really the first time the media has done something of this sort. In today’s world of TV ratings and money it is surprising when they aren’t trying to create controversy. But anyway, Steinbrenner explained how unlike what the media said, the Santana dispute (Hank wanted to make the trade, Cashman didn’t) was not the only factor in this situation.

He said how Cashman was close with the family and had done a lot of good for the team. In recent years one of Cashman’s most revered moves was hiring Damon Oppenheimer. Oppenheimer is the current chief of scouting and he is also the mastermind behind our amazing farm system recovery (the system was recently ranked fifth in the majors by BA). I really think the everything that Cashman has done for the Yanks’ farm system  in recent years shows that he’s still got it. I also respect how he stuck with his decision of going young even when the biggest pitcher in baseball was availible. I think that dedication will lead this team to success once more (by success I mean a World Series championship.)

The Yankees may have decided that Chien-Ming Wang was not worth the extra 600k, but they do realize that he is still one of our better pitchers. Today, it was announced that the 19 game winner will get the start on opening day 2008. This isn’t just any opening day though, it is the last opening day at old Yankee Stadium, definetely a moment for the books. It’s good to see Wang gets atleast some recognition from the Yankees (atleast from Girardi). Hopefully he can perform in the postseason next year and get rid of the scrutiny from last year.

The more I read about him, the more I like him. After the beginning of Spring Training practices, several people including Joe Girardi, Jorge Posada, and Jose Molina are saying that Phil Hughes looks even better these season.

Hughes confirmed that the velocity of his pitches has been better this year than last. More importantly though, he said that he is confident that he can pitch his fullest heading into the 2008 season. Last year he missed several games due to an injury to his left hamstring, but after doing some extra training this offseason he says he isn’t afraid that anything will happen to it again. Here are his exact words:

“It’s really the fact that I’ve felt more comfortable and I’ve been able to trust my body. I don’t have any inklings or thoughts in the back of my head that something will flare up again. I think that’s the key, to trust all my pitches and finish everything.”

The young pitcher is becoming one of my favorites, not only because he is showing dedication, talent and leadership, but also because of his attitude. He is constantly saying (and thinking) positive things and trying to keep his head up. Plus he’s got a blog, which is pretty awesome too.

A Rod has been on the radar a few times this week due to the omnipresent media at Legends Field during Spring Training time. Rodriguez has been in headlines a few times this week for some of his comments. The first being everyone’s favorite topic: steroids (I was being sarcastic by the way.) He told the media that he expects his name to pop up in steroid conversations more and more as he approaches Bonds’ count. He realizes that it is inevitable despite what Jose Canseco and ex-teammate John Rocker have to say. I definetely think that is the right attitude to take because he is 100% correct. That is the sad truth. Under the current system every player who hits home runs will be subject to rumors of steroid use.

The media still found fault with one of his comments concerning the matter.A Rod had said that he was tested 9 or 10 times last year and was negative every time. Being tested 9 or 10 times suggests that either A Rod was picked an unusually high number of times or he was caught once, which increased the rate at which he would be tested. This made some think that the third baseman has already been caught for his first offense. He later came out and said that it was a hyperbole and not an exact number. I don’t think A Rod is lying here because it was a casual talk and he probably didn’t think of what the consequences of that exaggeration would have been. Say what you want about him, but I truly believe that he has not used steroids. I am not just saying this as a Yankee fan, I would’ve said it when he was with the Rangers, Mariners, or if he landed with another team this offseason.

Ok, now to move away from PED talk (I just wish we could stay away from it all together by finding a solution.) A Rod also came out and said that he is glad that the Yanks aren’t the “team to beat” for the first time during his tenure with the team. He said it takes pressure off and allows the team to concentrate on what they are supposed to do: play. That is a really good point, but hopefully they can win it all this year and once again become the “team to beat” for the 2009 season.

Alex Rodriguez has said that he is excited for the upcoming and hopes to have a repeat of his amazing 2007 season. He is following a very similar routine this Spring in order to try to duplicate the results. The Red Sox better watch out this year if A Rod manages to have even 80% of last year’s success because Cashman has really set this team up with good versatility, something which it hasn’t had much of in past years.

Andy Pettite spoke at a press conference today after arriving to training camp in Florida. The main topic was the obvious one. Performance enhancing drugs. Petite allowed the media to ask him what they wanted and he tried to answer all the questions. He apologized to the Yankees, Astros, and all his fans for what he called the embarrassment he has caused them. He also assured everyone that his recent revelation of using HGH in 2004, is the last surprise in the bag. There is nothing more, he has came out and admitted everything. With his recent affidavit about the conversation he had with the Rocket about PED’s, I think Pettite is definetely telling the truth about coming clean about everything. I think he wants to rid himself of the burden and I really respect him for that. I think it should also be noted that during both of the times when he used HGH it was to heal from injuries and more importantly HGH was not banned by the league at those times. Despite these facts, it is inevitable that fans on road games will make comments and be disrespectful to Pettite for what has probably been his worst offseason ever.

Kyle Farnsworth. What comes to mind when you hear that name? If you are a Yankee fan it might be unhappiness, disgust, contempt, or maybe even hatred. It isn’t surprising considering what was expected and how it actually turned out. Looking back at 2007, Farnsworth’s year was filled with boos. But with his constantly struggling command, his 4.80 ERA, and only 2 wins it really wasn’t a surprise. 2006 wasn’t much better either.

Now Farnsworth has come out and said that he is anxious for the 2008 season to begin. He is out to prove something: that he is still good. It is no surprise that he said that because it is what any player would say, but Girardi has also come out and spoke about how he thinks Farnsworth has potential. Girardi didn’t have to say anything about Farnsworth and he could have certainly said something that wasn’t very telling, but he did say something and it was positive:

“I believe in him because I’ve personally witnessed it, I know that he can be an outstanding pitcher. I know he has the ability to strike out people in tough situations. I look forward to seeing him get out on the mound in a couple of weeks.”

I hope Girardi is right, I really do. If Farnsworth can bounce back, even to being average, it will help the Yanks. Girardi and Farnsworth seem to be forming a good relationship, so that is always good. Hopefully they can work together to fix Farnworth’s problems and hopefully he can get out there and strike people out like the manager said. I’m not going to put any money on it, or even say that he will be good, but I will say I hope he is can prove us all wrong.

The Yogi Berra Museum in Little Falls, New Jersey has taken down the Roger Clemens display which stood next to Jeter and Rivera’s displays. This is just the beginning for the Rocket, especially if he is guilty. The museum directors said that they took it down due to the allegations against Clemens. It made answering children’s questions about the pitcher awkward. This was not Berra’s decision, but he said he was ok with it when he found out. Berra has been close to Clemens, but he probably realizes that taking down the display was the best thing to do, atleast for the moment.

The 19 game winner lost his arbitration case today meaning that the Yankees will only have to pay him $4 million this year (which is what they offered.) Wang had asked for $4.6 mil. Either way he will earn a lot more money than he had last year (under 500k.) This was Wang’s first eligible year for arbitration and he will continue the process until 2011, when he can become a free agent. If he keeps performing like he did last year he will probably get a long term deal before that.

George  M. Steinbrenner. What comes to mind when you hear that name? Victory? Hatred? Obsession? Maybe Legend. Whatever you think of the Yankees’ owner there is no question that it is due to his autocratic rule that the Yankees have achieved so much success in the past 15 years. Sure they haven’t won a World Series in a few years, but if it were any other team a World Series drought of nine years would be nothing. Even without a ring of late, the Yankees have still been the most successful team in baseball in the last 15 years, by far.

And that is part of the reason why the Yankees organization has decided to rename Legends Field in Tampa, Florida as George M. Steinbrenner Field, in honor of the big man himself. The decision was announced today by the next in line Steinbrenners: Hank and Hal. The Tampa City Council and Hillsbourogh County Commision have already approved the name change. They feel it is appropriate, especially because of all of the philanthropy work the Steinbrenners have done in that community over the years.

In respond George Steinbrenner said:

“I am humbled and flattered to have this outstanding and totally unexpected honor conferred on me. I extend my thanks to the Tampa City Council and to the Hillsborough County Commissioners for passing resolutions suggesting and recommending the change. I also thank my family for supporting the renaming of the stadium and for everything they have done for so many years that helped bring about this great day”

Love him or hate him, George Steinbrenner will be in the baseball world for a very long time.

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