Masahiro Tanaka started off Friday morning by throwing his first live batting practice session since coming over from Japan. Also for the first time Tanaka was throwing to Brian McCann, who is assumed to be his every day catcher.
CC Sabathia, Ivan Nova, and Hiroki Kuroda also faced live batters sometime this morning at Yankees camp. Ramon Flores, Antoan Richardson, Adonis Garcia, Austin Romine, Brian McCann, John Ryan Murphy, and Francisco Cervelli all rotated in and out of at bats against the top Yankees four pitchers.
Speaking of CC he wen't to Dr. James Andrews over the offseason and we didn't hear about it. Not because he needed Tommy John surgery but because he wanted to get his delivery and mechanics digitally analyzed, something he did after the 2003 season as well when he was with the Cleveland Indians. Everything looks basically exactly the same from then and to now except for a little more hip movement. It's not mechanics or delivery that made CC "bad" last season, what now?
Kelly Johnson is taking ground balls at first base today after fielding grounders at second base and third base yesterday. As you probably remember Joe Girardi has said the Yankees backup first basemen is Mr. Johnson.
Speaking of Joe Girardi he announced today that he would not skip or push back Masahiro Tanaka starts this spring just to avoid American League East opponents. This is something that he has done in the past but will not tinker with Tanaka with it, awesome.
Alfonso Soriano was sidelined again today with flu like symptoms and was kept off the field. He did do some indoor drills and the such and is expecting to be on the field with the team tomorrow.
Chad Jennings once again has the bullpen assignments and such over on Lohud:
Early morning batting practice
Ramon Flores, Antoan Richardson, Adonis Garcia hitting
(catchers rotating for at-bats as well)
Bruce Billings (to Austin Romine)
Masahiro Tanaka (to Brian McCann)
Ivan Nova (to John Ryan Murphy)
Hiroki Kuroda (to Francisco Cervelli)
CC Sabathia (to Cervelli)
Ramon Flores, Antoan Richardson, Adonis Garcia hitting
(catchers rotating for at-bats as well)
Bruce Billings (to Austin Romine)
Masahiro Tanaka (to Brian McCann)
Ivan Nova (to John Ryan Murphy)
Hiroki Kuroda (to Francisco Cervelli)
CC Sabathia (to Cervelli)
· Bullpens
David Herndon (to Jose Gil)
Yoshinori Tatayama (to Pete O’Brien)
Jose Campos (to Gary Sanchez)
David Herndon (to Jose Gil)
Yoshinori Tatayama (to Pete O’Brien)
Jose Campos (to Gary Sanchez)
· Infield drills
(team scheduled to stretch at 10:30 before beginning drills)
Group 1: Russ Canzler (1B), Corban Joseph (1B/2B), Brian Roberts (2B), Derek Jeter (SS), Scott Sizemore (3B/2B), Dean Anna (3B/SS), Zealous Wheeler (3B/2B)
Group 2: Mark Teixeira (1B), Jose Pirela (2B/3B), Yangervis Solarte (2B/SS), Brendan Ryan (SS), Eduardo Nunez (3B/SS), Kelly Johnson (1B/3B)
(team scheduled to stretch at 10:30 before beginning drills)
Group 1: Russ Canzler (1B), Corban Joseph (1B/2B), Brian Roberts (2B), Derek Jeter (SS), Scott Sizemore (3B/2B), Dean Anna (3B/SS), Zealous Wheeler (3B/2B)
Group 2: Mark Teixeira (1B), Jose Pirela (2B/3B), Yangervis Solarte (2B/SS), Brendan Ryan (SS), Eduardo Nunez (3B/SS), Kelly Johnson (1B/3B)
· Batting practice
(only change is moving Pirela from an overcrowded infield group to to last outfield group)
Group 1: Derek Jeter, Eduardo Nunez, Brian Roberts, Austin Romine
Group 2: Kelly Johnson, Brendan Ryan, Mark Teixeira, Brian McCann
Group 3: Dean Anna, Russ Canzler, Scott Sizemore, Francisco Cervelli
Group 4: Corban Joseph, Yangervis Solarte, Zealous Wheeler, John Ryan Murphy
Group 5: Carlos Beltran, Jacoby Ellsbury, Ichiro Suzuki, Jose Gil
Group 6: Zoilo Almonte, Brett Gardner, Alfonso Soriano, Francisco Arcia
Group 7: Tyler Austin, Antoan Richardson, Mason Williams, Pete O’Brien
Group 8: Ramon Flores, Adonis Garcia, Jose Pirela, Gary Sanchez
(only change is moving Pirela from an overcrowded infield group to to last outfield group)
Group 1: Derek Jeter, Eduardo Nunez, Brian Roberts, Austin Romine
Group 2: Kelly Johnson, Brendan Ryan, Mark Teixeira, Brian McCann
Group 3: Dean Anna, Russ Canzler, Scott Sizemore, Francisco Cervelli
Group 4: Corban Joseph, Yangervis Solarte, Zealous Wheeler, John Ryan Murphy
Group 5: Carlos Beltran, Jacoby Ellsbury, Ichiro Suzuki, Jose Gil
Group 6: Zoilo Almonte, Brett Gardner, Alfonso Soriano, Francisco Arcia
Group 7: Tyler Austin, Antoan Richardson, Mason Williams, Pete O’Brien
Group 8: Ramon Flores, Adonis Garcia, Jose Pirela, Gary Sanchez