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Bronx Hot out of the Gate for #28
We Yankee fans have just sobered up from a winter-long celebration. We’ve had our bragging rights in bars, grocery stores, and just about anywhere else small talk turns into a war of allegiance. It’s just sunk in for a lot of us, and Derek Jeter has already clicked into “who cares what happened last year” mode. It’s over. So box up the memories, break out the regular season cap, and start highlighting the Red Sox series’ on the calendar. Spring training is upon the Yankees and the rest of the league, but New York proves once again to be the epicenter of offseason mobilization.
Is that a flake of confetti on the floor of the clubhouse?! Who tracked that in?! You’re running poles for the first week of workouts, bud.
The mood is intense. You think Toyota has something to prove? A week before players were required to report, Mr. November and his fellow veterans were on the diamond throwing and taking ground balls like the league had just melted their trophy. Four months removed from the final out of an epic 27th championship season, the Yankees are hard at work kicking up the ante. The two biggest moves feature changes to the starting lineup.
Last year’s World Series MVP is no longer with the team. Hideki Matsui swung off into the golden sun in California to lead the Anaheim assault. He will be missed in the Bronx, albeit a territorial hero.
New Rule: No one boos Godzilla at Yankee Stadium this season—until, of course, the playoffs.
New York released Johnny Damon and acquired Curtis Granderson from Detroit to beef up outfield operations. Ironic thing is: Damon was later signed by Detroit as Granderson’s replacement. Sorry Detroit, looks like you got the frayed end of that rope. Gracious Granderson even surrendered his jersey number (28) to manager Joe Girardi, as it has been custom since last season for Girardi to wear the goal of the organization on his back for as long as he inks the lineup. “Worst case scenario,” Granderson shrugged, “is that I get it back next season.” Of course he’s letting Girardi wear the number. I can’t imagine the amount of pizza joints he’d be kicked out of if he didn’t.
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In other Yankee news, Nick Johnson returned from the grav—I mean the Nationals, to take over at DH. He and Mark Teixeira will share that role as well as 1st baseman duties. But the most venom will be injected into opposing pitching when both are in the lineup. Pitching around this lineup will most likely involve walking in a run or two intentionally. In other words: Who need Bonds, anyway?
Their first regular season game will be on April 4th at the Red Sox. What a way to kick of 2010 at Fen’!
By Tim Gaffney
MLBcenter.com New York Yankees Correspondent
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