New York Yankees: Spring Training Information

By In Mo We Trust
Location: George M. Steinbrenner Field - Tampa, FLA
Pitchers and Catchers Report: Feb. 14th
First Game: Feb. 29th
Schedule

Projected Opening Day Lineup

1. Johnny Damon (LF)
2. Derek Jeter (SS)
3. Mark Teixeira (1B)
4. Alex Rodriguez (3B)
5. Jorge Posada (C)
6. Hideki Matsui (DH)
7. Nick Swisher/Xavier Nady (RF)
   
8. Robinson Cano (2B)
9. Melky Cabrera/Brett Gardner (CF)
   

Projected Rotation

1. CC Sabathia
2. AJ Burnett
3. Chien-Ming Wang
4. Andy Pettitte
5. Joba Chamberlain
   

Projected Bullpen
Long: Alfredo Aceves
Situational: Edwar Ramirez, David Robertson, Mark Melancon 
7th Inning: Brian Bruney
8th Inning: Jose Veras/Damaso Marte
Closer: Mariano Rivera
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Key Battles: Two major positional battles to be fought out in the spring, center field and right field. Melky Cabrera was handed the center field job out of spring training last season and he squandered it with pathetic play in the regular season. Brett Gardner came up from Scranton and was given every opportunity to take the job away from Melky, but he could barely hit his weight at the big league level. One of these guys will have to step up and prove he's a capable center fielder in the league. The edge probably goes to Gardner because his speed is disruptive.

Right field is most likely going to be a platoon situation. In fact, both corner outfield spots and DH will probably be more of a rotation than a platoon. Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui, Nick Swisher and Xavier Nady will all have to find their at bats in those three positions and I expect Joe Girardi to mix and match liberally, probably too liberally.

The only thing settled in the bullpen is Mariano Rivera, everything else is wide-open. My best guess is Veras for the 8th inning with Marte as the late-inning lefty specialist. Bruney probably has the inside line to the 7th inning. The rest of the pen will be filled out with some combination of Edwar Ramirez, Phil Coke, David Robertson, Alfredo Aceves, Mark Melancon, and Dan Geise. Melancon can cement a large role in the pen with a strong spring, he's viewed as a possible successor to Rivera a couple of years down the road.

What To Expect: From the Yankees, you can expect plenty of news during Spring Training, and probably not a whole lot of answers to these questions until very late. From me, you can expect regular updates as news breaks right here, and some first-hand accounts including photos and video from Tampa in the middle of March. Check back early and often for your Yankees Spring Training Fix.

Brian and Mike cover the Yankees on their blog, In Mo We Trust. Brian also covers the 76ers on Depressed Fan while Mike handles the Jets on Green Pinstripes.