With Derek Jeter‘s press conference – or “Q & A” session as he called it – in the rear view mirror, the Yankees are finally ready to get down to business. The spring’s first full-squad workouts are scheduled to begin Thursday down in Tampa.
Since pitchers and catchers reported last week, Yankee fans have already gotten glimpses of Brian McCann and Masahiro Tanaka on the field. Now, it’s time for newcomers Jacoby Ellsbury and Carlos Beltran to don the pinstripes and put on that interlocking NY hat.
Even with about half a billion dollars spent this offseason, the Yankees still have holes in their roster. The infield and bullpen are the most pressing issues, and manager Joe Girardi will have to figure out where to put the pieces on the fly. With Mariano Rivera gone, David Robertson will slide into the closer spot – but who’s going to replace Robertson’s previous setup role? Even in a crowded outfield, Girardi is going to have to push the right buttons on who gets a day off and who plays.
With a lot of aging players, Girardi may be tasked with a tougher job than last year when injuries ravaged the roster. This team may be the most fragile in all of baseball, and with a lot of new faces, Girardi will have to get to know them quickly. The team’s first official spring training game comes in six days against the Pittsburgh Pirates, which will come one day after an exhibition against the Florida State Seminoles on February 25th.
Until the first pitch is thrown, players will try to get their work in as we inch towards the beginning of the marathon that is the baseball season. It all begins today.
