BOMBER BRIEFS

As of this writing the Yankees won just one game in their last nine. That victory came courtesy of Kei Igawa. Igawa was just demoted to the bullpen because of some lack luster pitching and was summoned into action do to a potential season ending injury to Jeff Karstens. The real story is when Igawa was interviewed and asked about his demotion.

Igawa answered through an interpreter was that he was demoted many times in Japan for much the same reason. He added he never realized that Americans hit that well and in Japan they don’t nibble at the corners they challenge the hitters.

Well, where were our scouts when this was going on? And correct me if I am wrong but wasn’t Kei teammates with Hideki Matsui? Go back a few blogs for my number theory and that may just answer all my questions.

Did anyone really expect this season to be a cakewalk? If they do fire Joe Torre, Joe Girardi sound like he would be the best choice.

After an off day today Yankee phenom Phil Hughes takes on the Rangers in Texas. I am really pulling for this kid. A victory in Texas will give us our first road victory since Oakland. Here’s hoping all you hits go for extra bases.

I DON'T CARE ABOUT INJURIES

By Special Guest Blogger : Barry Spencer

And I don't care what anybody says. This team, on it's worst day, is far from a last place team. You know I will always find something positive to pull from the deepest darkest recesses this team.

But I have reached the end of my rope and now I'm tying a knot and hanging on.I have had some problems with Joe in the past starting with last October. To that point I have done nothing but support him though he had me scratching my head from time to time.

Now I'm just about ready to freaking lose it. He's pulling Damon and Phelps for defensive replacements in the 7th!!??!!??

Now regarding other matters, I might not be the brightest star in the sky, but I KNOW THE GAME OF BASEBALL!!! Been breathing it for as long as I have been breathing. Been studying the finer points of this great game for years. Some guys know trivia, some know players and events long since forgotten, some can rattle off stats all day long.

Strategy is my forte, and based on that I can say the following with all confidence: YOU DO NOT PULL YOUR OFFENSE FOR DEFENSIVE REPLACEMENTS IN THE 7TH INNING, AND PUT IN YOUR TWO WORST HITTERS ON THE TEAM, WITH THE WAY OUR BULLPEN HAS BEEN PERFORMING!!! Result? Two automatic outs in the 9th.That's just flat out stupid! Beyond freaking stupid! We were a bloop and a blast from tying the game, and Joe hands it to them on a SILVER FREAKING PLATTER!!! A baserunner is called safe at first when he was clearly out on the throw from Cairo. Joe never even gets off his fat ass to argue the call. At least get up and argue the stinking call and support your defense you freaking moron!

Our captain gets hit and leaves the game. Is anything done about that? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! You know why he got hit, and keeps getting hit? Because the league knows they can pitch inside on us and we won't do anything about it! Pitching inside to Abreu in the first totally took the bat right out of his hands. Wang was hitting the gun at 97 last night. I'm screaming for him to put one under Crawfords chin! Screaming! Nope. According to Joe, thats not the Yankee way. Let me clue you in on something Joe. It might not be the Yankee way, but it's the FREAKING BASEBALL WAY!!!! I don't know what's happened to Joe. Too fat and happy maybe. Too comfortable now that he's got his buddy Cashman pulling the strings maybe. Don't ask me. No answer here.

What I do know is this isn't the same manager I've grown to love over the years. Frankly, they could fire his ass today and I wouldn't bat an eyelash.

Last place. Un-freaking-believable! This division is still ours. I firmly believe that with all confidence and every fibre of my being. I'm afraid though, it will have to be done inspite of my once beloved manager.

DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN

As far back as the sinking of the Titanic when Fenway Park first opened, long before the wall boxes, long before they were known as the idiots, even before they traded Babe Ruth to the Yankees. There have always been games like this in this historic ballpark and it won't be the last one.

You doubters that second guessed Joe Torre for bring Mariano Rivera to pitch two innings got your wish, he only had to pitch one. Mo needs work and he needs lot of it or he'll be proving Brian Cashman right by not giving him a contract extension.

You can talk all day about what should have and what could have. Despite only being game 15 of the season the Friday night game can set the pace for the whole weekend. If Mariano came in mowed down the next five outs Joe would have looked like a genius.

On a high note Alex Rodriguez continued his 2007 tour with another 2 home runs and figured in all 6 of the Yankee runs. It up to the Baby Bombers now.

MARIANO PRESSES THE PRESS

Mariano Rivera hadn't been get much action prior to Saturday's game so he had much too much time hanging out in the bullpen.

So Mo got the Yankee media agent to gather all the press available around his locker after Friday's game. The press were baffled and could not guess why Rivera called them together. When the media arrived Mariano was stone faced and solemn. Then he began to speak.

He went on to announce "I just call you all to let you know that I too will be wearing #42 on Sunday." Mo went on and laughed hysterically, seeming to enjoy his joke more than anyone present. So uncharacteristic of him, way to go Mo!

For those of you who don't know, Mariano Rivera is the last player allowed to wear #42 since MLB retired the number in all of baseball. April 15th to celebrate Jackie Robinson's anniversary of breaking the color line in MLB players from all teams will be allowed to wear the number. In addition to Mariano, the keystone combo of the Yankees, Derek Jeter and Robinson Cano (who was named after Jackie) will be wearing #42. A making of a great trivia question down the road.

AN ARM, AN ARM, MY KINGDOM FOR AN ARM

The plane just about landed in Oakland and Carl Pavano came up with tighness in his arm. This will push his next start back to Tuesday against the Indians. Meanwhile Moose Mussina is hoping to avoid the DL after tweking his hammy in last night finally in the homer-dome. Mussina remains day-to-day, but Brian Cashman said Mussina will start doing some "functional work" today. Never a dull moment in the Bronx.

Kei Igawa get a chance to redeem himself in Oakland tonight as he starts for the Yankees.

THERE IS NO BUSINESS LIKE SNOW BUSINESS

What a strange season so far. Alex Rodriguez is leading the leagues in home runs, Carl Pavano is leading Yankee starters in victories with 1 and the Cleveland Indians are hosting the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Miller field in Milwaukee.

Rather than move the series to Anaheim being the Angels head to Boston after this series the Indians (or should we say baseball) have moved their series against the Angels to Milwaukee's Miller Park after a spring snowstorm wiped out Cleveland's entire series against Seattle for the fourth straight day Monday. With inter-league play this was suppose to be Seattle's only visit to Cleveland this year.

With all the nippy weather across the country Injuries have been on the rise. The cold weather has been indirectly responsible for DLing our own Hideki Matsui.

Promoted Mascot? Scooter the Holy Cow who resided on Staten Island since the Baby Bomber were created in 1999 has been spotted, well he had the spots already, in the new home of the AAA Yankee affiliate in Scranton Wilkes Barre. Hmmmm, first there were multiple Lassies, could there now be two Scooters? Or have Red and Huck going to work without the elder Mascot on Staten Island this season? Stay tuned Scooter fans.

SPECIAL GUEST BLOGGER dg

Alex Rodriguez-- Before starting my mini-rant, I should point out that EVERY team has it's share of idiotic fans. That being said, the booing of A-Rod in 2006 was inexcusable. Let me see if I understand the motive..... as long as A-Rod hits .350 with 50+ HR's every season, he'll be cut some slack?? .290 BA 113 R 35 HR 121 RBI is DISAPPOINTING?? WHERE IN THE HELL DOES THIS NONSENSE COME FROM?? My boyhood idol, Graig Nettles, was a long-time Yankees 3B. His glove was the best at 3B I've ever seen (though it shouldn't be forgotten that A-Rod is a natural SS), but let's look at his career bests as a Yankee: 37 HR 107 RBI .276 BA 99 R .No.... I don't want to hear any whining about his contract. A-Rod is a 1st-ballot HOF'er. The Yankees will pay Jason Giambi $21.5 mil. in 2007...... and will pay A-Rod $16 mil. Don't worry..... I know how much of A-Rod's deal the Rangers are paying, though, with all the booing, I sometimes wondered if I was the only one.I guess Yankees fans can do what they want...... go ahead and boo a 1st ballot HOF'er out of town, but don't cry when his replacement hits .270 with 25 HR.

Newsflash, idiots : THE YANKEES LACK OF STARTING PITCHING PREVENTED THEM FROM WINNING A TITLE SINCE 2000. Blame A-Rod if you must, but, last I checked, he doesn't pitch. Sure, sure...... the likes of Kevin Brown, Jeff Weaver, Javier Vazquez and Jaret Wright have performed WONDERFULLY over the past few seasons...... Carl Pavano has been well worth his 4-year $40 mil. investment..... Randy Johnson was the true ace the team needed (never, ever, ever count on a SP in his 40's to be your ace..... I said that at the time the Yankees traded for RJ..... seems to have proven my theory true. No....not much of a "theory".... it's simply common sense). I respect the red sox 3B more than some Yankees fans respect A-Rod. Pathetic. Exit mini-rant ...........

A-Rod will improve on his 2006 #'s. Trained harder than ever this past off-season and dropped 13 # to help improve his defensive flexibility. The addition of High School teammate Doug Mientkiewicz will help, not only in the clubhouse, but because few, if any, 1B are better at scooping low throws (this, of course, will help Derek Jeter and Robbie Cano a lot as well). Look for another MVP run for A-Rod.

YANKEES WASHED OUT

Game two of the young 2007 season was postphoned. The Yankees called the game at 11 AM. It would be nice if they could announce this on the Subways, Metro North, LIRR and Ferries. Are your reading this Mayor Bloomy?

YANKEES WIN OPENER

Bernie Williams phoned Joe Torre Monday morning and wished his former team luck. It was the first Bernieless Opener since 1990. He also got to talk to (Jorge) Posada and (Derek) Jeter.

Rudy Guiliani and Bobby Murcer were in the house for the festivities. The widow and son of Corey Lidle were on hand to throw out the forst pitches. Corey's son is southpaw. Lidle's parents and twin brother also stood near the Yankees' dugout during the pregame tribute. The family stayed for the game and watched from a suite. ... The average age of players in Tampa Bay's lineup was 24.

STILL IN THE BOMBER FAMILY

Andy Phillips who was waived by the Yankees on Thursday has passed through waivers and will be returning to AAA to play for the Scranton Yankees. Welcome Home Andy!!

JUST A LIDLE BIT LONGER

I want to start out this blog by saying I have the ultimate respect for the Lidle Family and continue to offer my condolences on their tragic loss.

As you remember last October when I originally wrote about Corey Lidle's accident I said he was a great friend and a great teammate to whomever he played with. Well that was 100% true. I also mentioned he probably wouldn't get more than a moment of silence on Opening Day. Well the Yankees obviously thinks more of him than I do as his wife and kids will be throwing out the first ball while his twin brother will be in attendance. In addition the Yankees will be wearing a black armband all season in his honor.

My problem is that a lot of Yankees have passed over the years, many with larger ties to the Pinstripes that have virtually been ignored outside of a proverbial moment of silence. Corey Lidle may have been the perfect teammate but he didn't even play with the Yankees for a whole season and there was no guarantee that he would be wearing Pinstripes this Spring had he survived.

Do I think it was a nice gesture on the Yankees part? Sure I do! But what about the Jim Spencers' and the Shane Rawleys' that have played as much if not more than Lidle? All they got was a mention on Old Timers Day, which is great, I wonder what effect this will have on Mrs Lidle's lawsuit?

INSIDE SKINNY: My insiders say Chien-Ming Wang is progressing much faster than scheduled, that is mainly because his actual problem stemmed from a tired arm and not a hammy.

Opening Day is Monday, Go Yanks!

SPRING, BASEBALL, Squirrels and NUTS...

Fellow webmasters and admins. Baseball is just around the corner. There have been a rash (of at least 2) spammers on the team forums either spamming or putting up some tasteless stuff. Just be on the lookout, many of you have banned them already.

As the Daily Snooze (among others) reported the Opening Day pitcher for our beloved Bronx Bombers is none other than Carl Pavano. The right hander sttod healthy all the way through Spring and thanks to some injuries to Chien Ming Wang, Andy Pettitte and Jeff Karstens, Pavano will be given the ball on Monday afternoon. Mark Feinsand also reported that Josh Phelps has the inside track to make the 2007 squad. The writer also wonders what will happen to Andy Phillips.

Over at The Post George King looks into his cracked crystal ball and shares with us what he sees in store for the Yankees in 2007. And as if we had nothing else to worry about King also reads between the lines and reports that Joe Torre want to return for the Stadium's Swan Song in 2008.

Who Can't Live On $81 Million?

Brian Cashman came out today in the NY Post as well as well as many other media outlets and said point blank that there will be no extension for Alex Rodriguez. I mean, how much is too much? After this season Alex can opt out of the remaining three years on his contract, which is for $81 Million over the period. Will he get more from someone else? I don't see how. Worse case we find someone else to choke in the post season. This has Scott Boras stinking all over it. This comes just days after A-Rod said to the press that he want to remain in NY. I guess he means the Mets. This can only add to the boo-birds for Pay-Rod. Mark Finesand of the Daily Snooze had his own takes on the situation.

The Yankees are asking Melanie Lidle, the widow of late pitcher Cory Lidle, to throw out the first pitch on Opening Day.... Andy Pettitte may throw a bullpen session today, though it could be pushed back based on how his back feels. Pettitte, who was scheduled to make a minor-league start Friday, has been battling back spasms for a few days. Chances are he will miss at least his next start. ... Bobby Abreu, who had his first game since injuring his oblique muscle on Tuesday, is scheduled to play right field in today's game against the Reds in Sarasota. Carl Pavano starts for the Yankees, Kyle Lohse is on the hill for Cincinnati's . ... Andy Phillips is playing with sore hands as he has blisters all over them. Normally they are calluses by now and tough enough to play.

Lastly take a trip over to Sports Illustrated and vote for Behindthebombers.com as your favorite website/Blog. There is some tough competition up there as LoHud is one of my favorite blogs as well.

NOW YOU SEE HIM, NOW YOU DON'T

If this was anyone else it would be no big deal but since it is the everlucient Carl Pavano the press will have a field day with it.

It seem Carl was scratched right before game time becuase of personal reasons. The Yankee insisted it had absolutely nothing to do with the lawsuit stemming from a 2006 accident he was involved in. The only thing they said it was personal. LoHud reports what Brian Cashman told the press.

Andy Phillips returned to camp yesterday, back from visiting his injured mother in a hospital near her Alabama home after she was in a serious car accident. We here at BTB wish Andy's mom a speed recovery.

WHAT'S IN A NUMBER?

What does it mean to wear a number in the 50s or 60's? Most of the time it means you are fighting for a job on the Yankees but in Japan it is a different story. It is an honor for a starting pitcher in Japan to have a number in the teens with 18 being most coveted.

In Boo Boo's (Hideki Irabu) first season with us he wore 35 and that did play head games with him. The next season he wore 14 which was more to his honor.So where am I going with this you may ask?

That brings me to Kei Igawa, he was issued number 29 upon arrival. As a matter of fact you can buy his 29 Jersey already. So you must be thinking, ahhh he must have had a number in the teens in Japan. Heck Dmat wore 18. Wrong again, he wore the same number 29 in Japan.

Was he always a starter in his home country? Or was he a swing man? I don't know alot about him. (Where is Zbi when I need him?) So as Jerry Seinfeld would say "What's Up With That?" Or better yet "How Good Is He?"

BOOMER IN ISRAEL

Former Yankees Ken Holtzman and Ron Blomberg along with ex Met Art Shamsky will manage three of the teams that will compete in the inaugural season of the six-team Israel Baseball League. The announcement of the three managers was made by the league commissioner Daniel M. Kurtzer, the former U.S. Ambassador to Israel.

Boss George's Son-In Law, Stephen Swindal, who is also the Yankees' general partner, was arrested for DUI before dawn yesterday after St Petersburg Police spotted him speeding and weaving along a road not far from the Tampa Complex. Swindal was driving 61 mph in a 35 mph zone in his Mercedes-Benz black two-seater sports car, about 20 miles from the Yankees' Legends Field in Tampa, police said. Daddy must be fuming.

Maybe 27 is in the cards as heartship again has hit the Yankee family. Frank Torre, a star in his own right and elder brother of the Yankees' skipper Joe Torre needs a kidney transplant. Frank received a heart transplant between Games 5 and 6 of the Fall Classic, making a speedy recovery that allowed him to watch Joe hoist the World Series trophy for the first time in his lengthy career.

Meanwhile in Tampa Joe Torre said yesterday that he had spoken with Bernie Williams on Wednesday, making a push for the veteran outfielder to come to camp as a non-roster player. The manager made no promises to Williams, who has played his entire 16-year career with the Yankees, and the two plan to speak again Friday or Saturday.

The Yankees will wear a black armband on both their home and road jerseys this season to honor the memory of Cory Lidle, who died last Oct. 11 in a plane crash on the upper East Side.
The team also has not issued jersey number No. 30, which Lidle wore during his two-month stint with the Yankees last season. But don't look for it hanging in Monument Park any time soon, at least not for Cory.

Mike Mussina is guilty of only one thing, going to the press sinstead of confronting Carl Pavano directly. Moose however did the right thing by apologizing for having comments relayed to Pavano through the press, and Pavano said he understood his teammates' frustration stemming from the right-hander's continued injury woes. So all is happy on the Yankee staff (so far) this Spring.

BOMBER BRIEFS

Roger Clemens was in town for some hoaky St John's University event. So naturally the press made a whole big thing about it hinting he is coming back to the Yankees. Believe me, Roger won't be back in Pinstripes unless his son comes too.

Bernie Williams was offered an invite to Spring Training. Sources close to BTB say Bernie will accept it and come to camp. Many of the press mongrels were hinting that it is an insult to Bernie but Bernie is the class guy he is won't say that even if he feels that way down deep. Scott Boras, Bernie's agent, told the AP that he's waiting to hear from his client before pursuing any other options.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and baseball commissioner Bud Selig announced at City Hall this week that the All Star Game is coming back to the Bronx in 2008. Now this time it is for real.

Any of you have a tough time buying Yankee tickets this week? Well you are not alone, the Bombers already sold over 3 Million tickets. "Nobody goes there anymore it's too crowded."

And lastly Staten Island Chuck (no truth to the rumor that he is the former Yankee 2B/LF) did not see his shadow this today, so we are ready for an early spring. The bad news is Barry Bonds did see his.

BERNIE'S FUTURE UP IN THE AIR

There comes a time in a players career when the start thinking about retiring. Then there comes a time when Mother Nature decides it is time to retire that player. Neither is the case for Bernie Williams,, who had been roaming the OF of Yankee Stadium for the last 16 years, but the Yankees may not agree with him.

Every newspaper including John Harper of the Daily Snooze has his own opinion of the deal. Poor Bernie is confused. He won't lead on to the press one way or another. Maybe he is preparing himself for a career in politics? Bernie wants to come back, he doesn't know baseball without pinstripes. He won't say if he would continue his career elsewhere if the Bombers don't invest that phone call and invite him to Spring Training. Is Bernie finished I say no, he could help several teams out there.

Bernie almost made it to the majors right from single A. Dallass Greene to over the helm of the Yankees in 1989. Bernie despite his inexperience was having a great spring and Greene had him penciled in for a trip to Da Bronx. Fortunately Bernie got hurt at the end of Spring Training and never made the trip. If Bernie didn't get hurt it may have just ended ended his career (at least in pinstripes) due to the ever so many players that were rushed into the show.

Bernie Williams is the ultimate in class and will always have a job in the organization. His time may have come. No matter what he does I am sure we will be seeing that number 51 beyond the Center Field fence. Maybe he can devote full time to his music for a while.

SPRING TRAINING INVITEES

Jeff Nelson, 40, retired 1/12/07 was a member of four World Championship teams with the Yankees in 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000. He was originally acquired by the Yankees from the Seattle Mariners along with INF Tino Martinez and RHP Jim Mecir in exchange for LHP Sterling Hitchcock and INF Russ Davis on December 7, 1995. After being re-signed by the Mariners as a free agent in 2000, he joined the Yankees for a second stint in 2003 in a trade that sent RHP Armando Benitez to Seattle. In 331 career appearances with the Yankees, he posted a 23-19 record with a 3.47 ERA from 1996-2000 and in 2003. A Major-League veteran with 798 career appearances, Nelson has played in the postseason eight times and ranks second among all pitchers in Major League history with 53 postseason appearances, behind only Mariano Rivera (73). He appeared in six games for the Chicago White Sox in 2006 and was 0-1 with a 3.38 ERA before having his season cut short with a right elbow injury.

INF Andy Cannizaro, 28, batted .276 (115-for-416) with three home runs and 32 RBI in 116 games with Triple-A Columbus in 2006. He led all Columbus hitters with a .361 batting average vs. left-handed pitchers and led the team with 32 doubles. Cannizaro made his Major League debut with the Yankees on September 5, 2006 at Kansas City and appeared in a total of 13 Major League games, batting .250 (2-for-8) with one home run and one RBI. He was selected by the Yankees in the seventh round of the 2001 First-Year Player Draft. Had brief call up in 2006.

C Francisco Cervelli, 20, batted .309 (42-for-136) in 42 games with the Class-A Staten Island Yankees in 2006. He was named to the American League team for the NY-Penn League All-Star Game and helped lead the team to their second consecutive NY-Penn League Championship. The Venezuela native was signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent on March 1, 2003.

INF Angel Chavez, 25, split time between three different teams in two different Major League organizations in 2006. He batted .255 in 63 games with Double-A Reading (Phillies) and batted .276 in 60 games with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre before being traded to the Baltimore Orioles on August 30. In four games with Double-A Bowie (Orioles), he batted .267 (4-for-15). A native of Panama, Chavez made his Major League debut with the San Francisco Giants in 2005, going 5-for-19 (.263) in 10 games played.

C Raul Chavez, 33, spent most of the season with Double-A Bowie (Orioles), batting .255 (50-for-196) with two home runs and 21 RBI in 52 games. He made three stints with Baltimore in 2006, appearing in 16 games and batting .179 (5-for-28). Originally signed by the Houston Astros as a non-drafted free agent in 1990, Chavez has appeared in 170 Major League games during his career with four different teams (Montreal Expos, 1996-'97; Seattle Mariners, 1998; Houston Astros, 2000-'05 and Baltimore, 2006).

RHP Tyler Clippard, 21, led all Yankees' minor-leaguers with 175 strikeouts while posting a 12-10 record with a 3.35 ERA in 28 starts with Double-A Trenton in 2006. He was named E.L. "Pitcher of the Week" three times in 2006, marking the first time a Trenton player has ever won the honor more than twice in a single season. On August 17, 2006, Clippard became the first Trenton pitcher in the 13-year history of the franchise to toss a no-hitter in a 9-0 win vs. Harrisburg. Ranked by Baseball American as the seventh-best prospect in the Yankees' organization, Clippard was selected by the Yankees in the ninth round of the 2003 First-Year Player Draft.

C Ben Davis, 29, was signed to a minor-league contract prior to the 2006 season and appeared in three games with the Yankees during Spring Training. He missed the first two months of the season while on the disabled list recovering from elbow surgery that he underwent in 2005. Once reinstated, he played in four games with Class-A Tampa before returning to action with Triple-A Columbus. In 48 games with the Clippers, he batted .222 (36-for-162) with four home runs and 20 RBI. Originally drafted by the San Diego Padres in 1995, Davis has played in 486 Major League games and owns a .237 career average.
INF Eric Duncan, 22, split time between Triple-A Columbus and Double-A Trenton in 2006. He began the season with the Clippers and batted .209 (23-for-110) in 31 games before being transferred to Trenton. In 57 games with the Thunder, he batted .248 (51-for-206) with 10 home runs and 29 RBI before being placed on the disabled list with a back strain. After coming off the disabled list, Duncan played in 26 games with the Peoria Saguaros in the 2006 Arizona Fall League, batting .257 with two home runs and 18 RBI. OF Brett Gardner, 23, ranked second among all Yankees' minor-leaguers with a combined .298 batting average and 58 stolen bases in 2006. He began the 2006 season with Class-A Tampa and was selected to participate in the Florida State League All-Star Game after batting .323 with 30 stolen bases in 63 games. He was promoted to Double-A Trenton in June and batted .272 with 28 stolen bases in 55 games with the Thunder. In December, Baseball American named Gardner the 10th-best prospect in the Yankees' organization as well as the "Fastest Baserunner" and the player with the "Best Strike-Zone Discipline." He was the Yankees' third-round selection in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft out of the College of Charleston.

RHP Philip Hughes, 20, was named the Yankees' "Top Prospect" by Baseball American for the second consecutive year after posting a combined 12-6 record with a 2.16 ERA and 168 strikeouts in 26 starts with Class-A Tampa and Double-A Trenton in 2006. He began the season with Tampa and was 2-3 with a 1.80 ERA in five starts before being promoted to Trenton in May. In 21 starts with the Thunder, Hughes posted a 10-3 record with a league-best 2.25 ERA and 138 strikeouts in 116.0 innings of work. He won his final eight decisions of the season and was named to the United States Team for the 2006 "Futures" All-Star Game in Pittsburgh. Hughes was the Yankees' number one selection in the 2004 First-Year Player Draft out of Foothill H.S. in Santa Ana, California.

RHP Steven Jackson, 24, posted an 8-11 record with a 2.65 ERA in 24 starts with Double-A Tennessee in 2006 (149.2IP, 131H, 52R, 44ER, 45BB, 125K). He ranked second among all Southern League pitchers with his 2.65 ERA and he limited right-handed batters to a .204 batting average (68-for-333). Originally drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2004, Jackson was acquired by the Yankees from Arizona along with right-handed pitchers Ross Ohlendorf and Luis Vizcaino and infielder Alberto Gonzalez in exchange for Randy Johnson on January 9.

LHP Ben Kozlowski, 26, began the 2006 season with Triple-A Louisville (Reds) and was 0-2 in seven appearances before being transferred to Double-A Chattanooga. In 10 games with Chattanooga, he was 2-1 with a 1.17 ERA before being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 1. In 23 games (seven starts) with Double-A Jacksonville, Kozlowski was 1-2 with a 2.85 ERA. He made one start with Triple-A Las Vegas and suffered the loss at Colorado Springs on August 31. Originally selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 12th round of the 1999 First-Year Player Draft, Kozlowski made his Major League debut and appeared in two games with the Texas Rangers in 2002. He was signed by the Yankees to a one-year minor league contract on November 2, 2006.

INF Ramiro Pena, 21, will be making his second consecutive appearance in Spring Training with the Yankees in 2007. He endured an injury-plagued season in 2006, batting a combined .257 (78-for-304) in 80 games with Class-A Tampa and Double-A Trenton despite three stints on the disabled list. A native of Monterrey, Mexico, Pena was signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent on February 18, 2005. RHP Ross Ohlendorf, 24, was acquired by the Yankees from the Arizona Diamondbacks as part of the trade for Randy Johnson on January 9. He spent most of the 2006 season with Double-A Tennessee, going 10-8 with a 3.29 ERA in 27 starts. He led all Southern League pitchers with four complete games, ranked second in innings pitched and shutouts (two), ranked fourth in wins and fifth in games started. Selected by the Diamondbacks in the fourth round of the 2004 First-Year Player Draft out of Princeton University, Ohlendorf was chosen by Baseball American as one of the Northwest League's Top Prospects in 2004 and was named to the Midwest League All-Star Team in 2005.

C PJ (Peter) Pilittere, 25, batted .302 (88-for-291) with five home runs and 38 RBI in 87 games with Class-A Tampa in 2006. He led all Florida State League catchers with a .998 fielding percentage and committed just one error in 587 total chances. In 12 games with the Peoria Saguaros in the Arizona Fall League, Pilittere batted .394 (13-for-33) with eight RBI in 2006. Originally selected in the 13th round of the 2004 First-Year Player Draft, he was named team captain at Cal State Fullerton and helped lead his team to the College World Series in 2004.

C Todd Pratt, 39, batted .207 (28-for-135) with four home runs and 19 RBI in 65 games with the Atlanta Braves in 2006. He has appeared in 662 career games since making his Major League debut with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1992 and owns a .251 career batting average and a .993 fielding percentage as a catcher.

C Omir Santos, 25, appeared in 101 games with Double-A Trenton in 2006, batting .269 (87-for-324) with four home runs and 38 RBI and leading all Eastern League catchers with a .996 fielding percentage. Since making his professional debut with Class-A Staten Island in 2001, Santos has played 516 games and owns a .259 career batting average. This will be his third consecutive Spring Training appearance with the Yankees.

OF Jose Tabata, 18, batted .298 (95-for-319) in 86 games with Class-A Charleston in 2006, earning a nomination to the South Atlantic League All-Star team in his sophomore campaign. He began the season by batting .356 (32-for-90) during the month of April and was batting .340 (33-for-97) with runners in scoring position before ending his season early with a left thumb injury. He played in 18 games and posted a .288 batting average with Caribe in the Venezuelan Winter League. Named the second-best prospect in the Yankees' organization by Baseball American, Tabata was selected to participate in the 2006 "Futures" All-Star Game in Pittsburgh.

INF Marcos Vechionacci, 20, batted a combined .235 (118-for-503) in 134 games with Class-A Charleston and Tampa in 2006. In 12 games with Navegentes of the Venezuelan Winter League, he batted .292 (7-for-24) with one home run and five RBI. Previously ranked among the Yankees' Top-10 prospects by Baseball American, Vechionacci was recently lauded by the magazine as having the "Best Infield Arm" in the Yankees' player development system. Originally from Valencia, Venezuela, he was signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent on August 26, 2002. This will be his second Spring Training appearance with the Yankees.

RHP Kevin Whelan, 23, ranked third among all Detroit Tigers' minor-league pitchers with 27 saves in 2006, going 4-1 with a 2.67 ERA in 51 games for the Class-A Lakeland Tigers. He limited opposing hitters to a .178 batting average (33-for-185) and held right-handed hitters to a .158 average (18-for-114). In addition to being named a top prospect in the NY-Penn League following the 2005 season, Whelan also ranked as the 10th-best prospect in the entire Tigers' organization according to Baseball American. Originally selected by the Tigers in the fourth round of the 2005 draft out of Texas A&M University, he was acquired by the Yankees on November 10, 2006 as part of the trade for outfielder Gary Sheffield.

RHP Steven White, 25, started 28 games in 2006, posting an 8-10 record a combined 3.70 ERA in a season split between Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Columbus. He began the season with Trenton, going 4-1 with a 2.11 ERA and holding opposing hitters to a .217 batting average in 11 outings before being promoted to Columbus in June. In 17 starts with the Clippers, White went 4-9 with a 4.71 ERA. Originally selected by the Yankees in the fourth round of the 2003 First-Year Player Draft out of Baylor University, White was previously ranked among the Yankees' best prospects by Baseball America.

FULL NELSON

I never thought of Jeff Nelson in the same terms as like Thurman Munson or Paul O'Neill but what Jeff did yesterday shows me a whole other side of Jeff Nelson.

There are players and there are players. Some players play for the fame and money and others like O'Neill play with heart and the love of game. Nelson was a big part of the 90s championship teams, but I always felt he could have been so much better. I felt he never had enough confidence in his fast ball and use to try tp pick on the corners too much. When it worked it was awsome, but when it didn't it was shower time.

What Jeff did on Friday made me realize that he understands the meaning of Pinstripe Pride. Nelson accepted an invitation to spiring training and yesterday announced his retirement just so he could be retired as a Yankee. For this Jeff Nelson I salute you!! What is in store for you future, I really don't know. We wish you luck in whatever it may be.