Marchand: Pettitte to See Game Action vs. Mets

From Andrew Marchand:

New York Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte will see game action for the first time since ending his brief retirement when he pitches against the New York Mets in Wednesday's spring training finale.

Pettitte is set to go one inning at Steinbrenner Field. The left-hander called it a big step in his return after his workout on Tuesday.

Pettitte ended a one-season retirement by agreeing to a minor league contract on March 16. He could be ready to join the Yankees in May.

Pettitte threw his second simulated game Saturday, and talked on the phone with pitching coach Larry Rothschild after a 25-pitch bullpen session on Monday.

"I bounced back pretty good after that last one, so we feel like an inning would be good tomorrow," Pettitte said. "I realized I feel good enough to pitch."

Hey, a reason to watch spring training. Nice!

Valentine Upset at Girardi for Ending Game in a Tie

From Mark Feinsand:

Bobby Valentine thought he earned another inning of play against the Yankees when the suicide squeeze he called brought the game-tying run home in the ninth Thursday night.

Instead, he got a 4-4 tie, one that left the Red Sox manager puzzled.

“The umpire came over and said we couldn’t play,” Valentine said. “I don’t care about not playing. It’s just, why do I have to warm up my pitcher who’s trying to make a team come in in a tie game against the Yankees and maybe help him make a team and instead he has to walk off the mound and take a shower? That’s just not very courteous.”

...

“I used all our pitching, so I just said, ‘That's it,’ ” Girardi said. “I looked at Tim and was like, ‘We don’t have any more.’” Valentine disagreed.

“They had plenty of pitching,” Valentine said. “Probably too long of a ride. They could have known that going in.”

He's an idiot, but one thing is undeniable, he's going to make the rivalry a lot more fun.

As for the tie, who cares? It's spring training.

Cano Leaves Game After Being Hit on Hand With Pitch (Updated - X-Rays Negative))

(Update 11:45 PM)

From Bryan Hoch:

Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano left Sunday's Grapefruit League exhibition against the Orioles after being hit on the left hand by a pitch.

Cano was batting in the sixth inning at Ed Smith Stadium against Baltimore left-hander Troy Patton when he swung at a pitch that clipped his hand, a sequence that was ruled a strikeout by first-base umpire Tim Welke.

Cano doubled over in apparent pain and was immediately seen on the field by head athletic trainer Steve Donohue, who helped the slugger into the third-base dugout.

More updates as they come... Cross your fingers.

D-Rod Update

Garcia OK After Taking Comebacker Off the Hand

Freddy Garcia was forced out of today's spring training game after being hit on his right hand by an Edwin Encarnacion liner. He was taken for x-rays after the game and luckily for the Yankees they came back negative.

The Yankees are saying he has a right hand contusion and so far there is no word on how much time he'll miss, if any.

Times Sure Have Changed

When I was a kid, my family & I would always go down to Florida every year to visit my grandparents in March.  Not so coincidentally those trips were always planned around Spring Training.  I remember standing by the bullpen or down the third base lines of Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter in hopes of scoring an autograph from a big league player.  Besides trying to get a lucky signature from someone (I did a fair amount), I was always awe struck when I got to see a household name up close.  I also immediately became bored once the regulars came out of the game.  I had no idea who any of these players were & I was too young to appreciate the development of prospects.  These days though, I don't have any interest in seeing the guarantees play during the Spring Training games because for them, it's just about getting back into a routine.

I am more interested in watching the young talent that is out there trying to make a name for themselves.  To me, that is why I look forward to Pitchers & Catchers reporting because it represents potential.  It is the official beginning of the 2012 season and the possibilities are endless.  The speculation is endless as well as the question "What if?"  "What if Dellin Betances harnesses the command of his plus stuff?"  "What if Austin Romine has added some power to his game?"  "What if Melky Mesa finally puts those ridiculous tools into consistent production?"  You can't help but get giddy over the thought, I know I can't.

Now don't get me wrong, I am not delusional into believing certain things will really happen (ie, Mesa putting it together) but you never know.  That's the exciting part of watching these kids during Spring Training. Maybe this is their year & if it truly is, that can alter the course of a franchise.  If a young talent starts producing like his potential suggests is possible, that is millions of dollars that the Yankees would save because they did not have to go out & poach that player from another roster.

I'd like to assume that the Yankees wished that they had Mark Melancon and Tyler Clippard back.  Those two plus Robertson would have given them a lights-out back end of the bullpen at very little cost.  Instead, we have a surly and inconsistent 7th inning reliever making more than those three combined.  The things I would have done if he opted out of that contract, I probably should just keep to myself.

This year, the only players in camp with the combination of proximity to the majors & franchise altering potential is Dellin Betances & Manny Banuelos.  Again, "What if?"  There is no denying their stuff, it's all about command with them.  Manny is more of a sure bet to lock it down because before last season, he hadn't had any command issues.  Dellin, with his great height, is a different story when it comes to locking down his command.  But what if?  If these two can remedy that one glaring issue and pitch to their potential, the Yankees would have two cost-controlled front of the rotation pitchers for years to come.  That kind of talent would cost a fortune and if Hal Steinbrenner truly wants to get payroll under $189Million, they are going to need the remaining B's to take that next step.

Austin Romine certainly has potential and with great offense being a luxury as opposed to a necessity at that position, he can help the Yankees' goal of getting under $189M.  Russell Martin isn't going to come cheap, especially after the huge deal that Yadier Molina signed to stay on with St. Louis.  Romine needs to put up a healthy and consistent year because he already has the necessary skills to be a backup catcher.  As I said, what if he adds power to his game?  The Yankees could let Martin walk and have themselves a cost-controlled catcher that can call a good game and swing the stick.

The next great wave of talent is on the cusp of helping the New York Yankees for years to come.  "What if?" can become a reality this season & you do not want to miss the show.