YANKEE NOTES
BRADENTON – Everybody knows George Steinbrenner’s hatred of losing. And right next to The Boss’ disdain for not winning is injured players. Steinbrenner has often questioned players for being hurt and his medical staff for not getting injured players back quicker than they have.
So, with starters Derek Jeter, Shane Spencer and Jorge Posada missing time with injuries, GM Brian Cashman was asked if The Boss was turning up the heat.
“He has never said anything to me about it and I have heard from the trainers that his response has been with [Jeter] and Posada; take an extra day instead of bringing them back too soon. That was it, be cautious.” Cashman said yesterday morning at Legends Field.
While nobody can predict when Jeter will make his spring debut and Spencer will return after taking himself out of the first game last Thursday, Posada was slated to catch yesterday against the Pirates at McKechnie Field.
Heavy rains forced the game to be called. Posada is slated to catch today against the Braves today at Legends Field.
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With each passing day, it appears the Yankees are going to have to play David Justice in left field more they wanted or deal for another outfielder because it doesn’t seem like Spencer is going to be ready to start the season.
“Nothing other than [Spencer] is going to have to feel good enough to play baseball,” Joe Torre said when asked for an update on Spencer, who is attempting to come back from reconstructive right knee surgery performed last July. His latest problem, which forced him out of the exhibition season opener last Thursday, has been diagnosed as tendinitis.
The Rangers are willing to deal Ricky Ledee and the Indians will move Jacob Cruz. The Yankees have talked to the Rangers about Ledee but haven’t spoken to the Tribe about Cruz.
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The Yankees will get their first look at Mike Mussina today when they host the Braves at Legends Field. Mussina, who signed a six-year, $88.5 million contract in the off-season, will likely follow Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez. El Duque was supposed to start yesterday against the Pirates but the game was washed out.
“We have a list, El Duque, Mussina, Sid [Fernandez], [Mike] Stanton and [Mariano] Rivera,” Torre said of today’s chuckers.
It will be Fernandez’ first game since the early part of the 1997 season.
The Braves will start Tom Glavine.
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Justice, who underwent double hernia surgery in January, is slated to make his spring debut today. Most likely, Torre will use the left-handed hitter as the DH. However, with Spencer out, Torre needs to look at Justice in left field at some point. Since heavy rains drenched the Legends Field outfield yesterday, it’s not likely that Torre will use Justice in left today.
