PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — Sensing the Yankees might have bullpen depth, the Rangers are following Joba Chamberlain.
Don Welke, a senior special assistant to Texas general manager Jon Daniels, was at Steinbrenner Field on Monday specifically to watch Chamberlain pitch an inning against St. Louis.
Chamberlain gave up a hit but not a run. Nor did he walk or strike out a batter. His fastball was clocked at 92-95 mph.
PHOTOS: YANKEES SPRING TRAINING
In five spring outings, Chamberlain has thrown five innings, given up four hits, walked two and whiffed three.
The only poor outing came March 1 against the Phillies at home when Chamberlain gave up two runs, two hits and walked two. It was his first appearance since Feb. 26, when after a scoreless inning in Clearwater in which he allowed a hit and fanned two, Chamberlain talked openly about being a starter or closer.
Manager Joe Girardi and general manager Brian Cashman were not thrilled when they heard those remarks.
A healthy Chamberlain would deepen the Yankees’ bullpen, but they have options in David Aardsma and Shawn Kelley to use in front of setup man David Robertson.
* Derek Jeter said he expects to play shortstop for the first time tonight against the Phillies at Steinbrenner Field. Jeter was the DH in his first two games.
“He is supposed to,’’ Girardi said. “I will check.’’
Andy Pettitte will face another team for the first time this spring after being limited to simulated games.
* If Girardi selects his starting catcher based on defense, Francisco Cervelli impressed Tuesday. Twice he blocked balls and threw out runners attempting to advance from first to second.
“He has worked real hard,” Girardi said of Cervelli, who is poised to turn back Chris Stewart in the competition for the starting catcher’s job after losing the backup gig to Stewart last spring. “Today, blocking the baseball and coming up and making two throws. He didn’t try to do too much and the throws were right on the bag. I like what he has done.”
Cervelli said it’s too early to think about him being the starting catcher.
“Not yet,” he said. “I come every day to work and let them decide what’s going to happen.”
* When the Rays scored a run in the eighth, it stopped a streak of 25 straight scoreless innings by Yankees pitchers.
* Outfielder Ben Francisco arrived in camp and said he believes there are enough exhibition games to show he deserves a roster spot.
“They know me pretty well. I have enough time to play and hopefully well enough to win a job,’’ said Francisco, who asked for his release from the Indians on Monday and was signed by the Yankees.
Francisco, 31, had a chance to sign with the Yankees in the offseason, but chose the Indians because he thought there was a better chance of playing in Cleveland. Then the Tribe signed Michael Bourn, and Francisco knew he would be on the move again. Curtis Granderson’s fractured forearm created a void in the outfield for the Yankees.
Having played for the Blue Jays, Astros and Rays last year, when he batted a combined .240 in 82 games, Francisco knows about moving around.
“Last year was a rough year, getting traded twice and the DL,” Francisco said. “I was hoping for one team this year, but that didn’t go well. But hopefully I will be here a while.”