YANKEE NOTES
Like many members of the Yankees’ family, Joe Torre hopes for the best when it comes to Darryl Strawberry’s life after prison.
“I just wish Darryl the best,” Torre said of the left-handed slugger who was released from a Florida prison yesterday. “I don’t know what the next step is for him. I am certainly happy he is out and hope he can get his life back on the right path.”
Despite Strawberry’s checkered past before he joined the Yankees and since April 14, 1999 when he was busted for cocaine possession, he never was a discipline problem for Torre.
“The dealings I had with Darryl with the Yankees was that he was never late one day and was always there for the younger players,” Torre said. “It’s unfortunate that people have to deal with drugs and situations. It’s tough to criticize because unless you have to deal with it you don’t realize how tough it is. I wish him the best and I certainly would like to call him and say hello.”
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Mariano Rivera and Steve Karsay updates from Tampa: Rivera (right groin) threw on flat ground for eight minutes at 120 feet and will throw in the bullpen today. Karsay (bursitis right shoulder) continued a strength and conditioning program and is slated to resume a throwing program today.
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With 130 wins, Andy Pettitte is one victory shy of tying Allie Reynolds for ninth place on the all-time Yankees list . . . Knowing Jason Giambi’s history of hamstring problems, Torre used Nick Johnson at first and Giambi as the DH yesterday when it was 35 degrees for the first pitch. Johnson went 2-for-3 and Giambi went 1-for-4.
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When Jason Anderson made the Yankees in the final days of spring training, the youthful-looking rookie right-handed reliever knew it was just until Rivera or Karsay returned from the DL. It was his wish to make it long enough to pitch in a game at Yankee Stadium.
Yesterday he did that, hurling a perfect ninth in a 7-3 victory over the Twins.
“The biggest rush was riding the subway train here and seeing how big the stadium is from the outside,” Anderson said. “Then you get in [the clubhouse] and it tops it all off.”
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Mike Mussina (1-0, 6.00) draws RHP Kyle Lohse (1-0, 0.00) tonight. David Wells (1-0; 1.13) faces RHP Rick Reed (0-1, 6.00) tomorrow afternoon.
