Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira, tags out Ben Francisco during the fourth inning. (AP)
CLEARWATER, Fla. — Mark Teixeira didn’t appreciate Ben Francisco making contact with him on a grounder to first base yesterday.
The Phillies outfielder, instead of pulling up and being tagged out with the play in front of him, initiated contact with Teixeira. The Yankees first baseman, who was annoyed at the action, looked at Francisco and shook his head after the play was over.
“That’s not a hustle play, there is no reason for it,” Teixeira said. “He could hurt me or hurt himself. That’s not baseball.”
Teixeira hit his first homer of the spring in the Yankees’ 8-1 win.
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Ivan Nova would have to shatter his chin on the pavement to not get a spot in the back end of Joe Girardi‘s rotation.
Nevertheless, the manager refuses to anoint the 24-year-old right-hander as a member of the rotation even though Nova has a 1-0 record and a 1.29 ERA in four games (three starts).
“Let it all play out. He has pitched well but I think it’s important that people earn things,” Girardi said. “He had some starts last year [seven], but that doesn’t guarantee it.”
If Nova has one spot behind CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Phil Hughes, that leaves Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia for the final opening. Colon starts tonight against the Rays and Garcia will work a minor league game Thursday because there isn’t a major league game scheduled.
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Yogi Berra returned to Bright House Field yesterday. The last time Berra was at the park, on March 10, he lost his balance while eating hot soup in the clubhouse, fell and was taken to the hospital for tests.
Berra watched yesterday’s game from the first-base dugout. The Hall of Famer and guest instructor will leave camp tomorrow.
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Hughes’ reaction to being named Girardi’s No. 3 starter behind Burnett was as expected from the easy-going right-hander.
“I just roll with it. I have no input into the decision. My job is to pitch every five days and help win a ballgame,” Hughes said. “Whether it’s one or five, it really doesn’t matter to me.”
Nor to Girardi.
“You can’t get caught up in the numbers, your job is to pitch every fifth day,” Girardi said. “You are the No. 1 guy that day.”
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Andruw Jones was on the original travel list yesterday, but was scratched. Instead the outfielder went to the minor league complex to get at-bats in a game.
“You will see a couple of guys do it [today],” said Girardi, whose club travels to Port Charlotte, Fla., for a game tonight against the Rays.
“I have been happy with him against lefties,” Girardi said of Jones, who is batting .207 (6-for-29) overall. “His at-bats have been good. He will be productive when in there.”
Jones, a 10-time Gold Glove center fielder, will back up in right and left.
“He has more experience in right, that’s why we are playing him more in left,” Girardi said.
Although Girardi anticipates using the 33-year-old Jones, he isn’t locked into a routine.
“It’s a way to keep everybody fresh,” Girardi said. “Let’s see how the season is going. I don’t have an exact schedule.”
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Joba Chamberlain and Pedro Feliciano didn’t report any problems after bullpen sessions Saturday. Chamberlain is dealing with a rib-cage problem and Feliciano had a sore arm. . . . Sergio Mitre will pitch tomorrow against the Orioles in Sarasota, Fla. He also has been bothered by a rib-cage problem.