TAMPA — According to Alex Rodriguez the Yankees can’t lose between Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes in the fight for the fifth starter’s spot.
“They’re both great young pitchers,” Rodriguez said after facing Hughes in batting practice yesterday. “It’s a great luxury for us to have. You can throw balls up in the air and whoever comes down, the Yankees are the winner. A good problem to have.”
Hughes and Chamberlain threw batting practice for the second time and Rodriguez tagged Hughes twice.
“He has a good arm, easy cheese,” Rodriguez said of Hughes, off whom he drove deep balls to left and right.
Hughes and Chamberlain are slated to pitch against the Rays Friday.
“My delivery and fastball command were much better,” Chamberlain said of his batting practice session. “It’s nice getting guys in there and throwing fastballs up.”
Like everybody, Chamberlain is anxious to start competing in games to show he deserves the No. 5 spot.
“Games give you a better read of what you are doing,” Chamberlain said.
Hughes said will be happy when the batting cage vanishes from the landscape.
“I don’t like the cage thing,” Hughes said.
Hughes said he was able to read hitters’ swings better yesterday.
“It was nice to see the reactions,” Hughes said.
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With what appears to be an excess of relievers now that Chan Ho Park is in camp, general manager Brian Cashman was asked if other clubs have called about his arms. He said he hasn’t talked to another GM about the subject.
As for Park, he was clean shaven for his first workout with the Bombers.
“He comes out of pen with a plus fastball and snap dragon breaking ball,” Cashman said. “He will just have to do it without a beard.”
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Mariano Rivera and Damaso Marte will throw their first bullpen sessions of the spring today.
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CC Sabathia appreciates Roy Halladay‘s pitching genius, but isn’t getting jazzed over drawing the Phillies’ ace Thursday in Clearwater.
“I’ll be in dugout eating seeds,” said Sabathia, who is expected to throw 35 pitches or two innings. “If I faced him in the (regular) season I would be more concerned because I have to hit.”
Sabathia, who will start against the Red Sox on Opening Day in Fenway Park, threw batting practice for the first time yesterday.
Chad Gaudin, Alfredo Aceves and Sergio Mitre are scheduled to start Wednesday when the Yankees open their exhibition season against the Pirates.
Manager Joe Girardi told his players to be in street clothes by 10 a.m. tomorrow. That’s when the club will leave for a group outing that is likely to be a billiards tournament for the second straight year.
