Saturday, February 16, 2013

Spring Training Notes 2/16/13: Rivera, Sabathia, Chamberlain, Cervelli

[caption id="attachment_14875" align="aligncenter" width="225"]Mariano Rivera watching Andy Pettitte throw a bullpen session Mariano Rivera watching Andy Pettitte throw a bullpen session[/caption]

The main event for the Yankees today was the bullpen pitching, provided by none other than Andy Pettitte, CC Sabathia and Mariano Rivera. Rivera threw his second official bullpen of the Spring, and feeling more and more comfortable on the mound.


"There's no piece of mind when I say 'OK, I feel good now." Rivera said. "No, I knew the job that I put in during the whole year, it's been a hard job and I always tell you guys I trust myself. I trust God first, then I trust myself. I'm capable to do this. I was expecting this, it feels good. I feel good."


So what would be the biggest test for Rivera as he gets ready for the season while wearing a knee brace?


"Bunting. Comeback liners. Cover first. All that stuff. You can't think, you have to react." Rivera said. "That will be, what I think, the biggest test."


CC Sabathia is also coming back from surgery, and hopes to make all his starts while staying healthy.


"After the season I had last year, being on the DL a couple of times, getting a little older, I just want to concentrate on staying healthy." Sabathia said. "Any kind of numbers I feel will be there if I'm healthy, so that's the only thing I'm worried about."


-- Francisco Cervelli has confirmed that he will not play in the World Baseball Classic for Team Italy and made sure that he let the manager know.


"I talked to the manager a couple of days ago, and he understood the situation."


So what was the situation? Apparently, Cervelli wants to win the catching job with the Yankees in Spring Training.


"This is what I've been waiting for."


-- In...interesting...news, Joba Chamberlain has been reportedly been acting a little--out there at camp today. According to Bryan Hoch, he got into a laundry cart and asked Boone Logan to push him in it. That just shows that 1) Chamberlain has an awesome child-like imagination and 2) it's not all work and no play with that guy.


-- Even the manager of the Yankees has to get in some Spring Training workouts this season. After workouts were finished, Joe Girardi spent time doing batting practice with his son Dante, warming up his catching arm. I wonder if Girardi is considering the role of 'emergency catcher' this season. I think he still has some game in him.

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Sorry for the Capatcha... Blame the Russians :)