TAMPA — Time always tells, especially when the palm trees and bright sun are replaced by third decks and major league lights.
Yet the Yankees are encouraged by Joba Chamberlain’s first two spring outings, because his velocity is ahead of where it has been in past Marches and the location is improved.
“I think it has to do with how he is breaking his hands,” Joe Girardi said of the right-handed reliever who has lowered his hands from the chest to the belt and increased his arm speed with the process. “To be fair to all the pitchers, you expect them not to be as sharp as they are going to be in the next three weeks.”
Chamberlain gave up two hits but no runs in one frame yesterday.
“It was nice to get runners, work out of the stretch and be able to be down in the zone and get a ground ball,” Chamberlain said. “I continue to pitch off the heater, that will be the best thing.”
* Brian Cashman met with Zack Greinke under the radar during the winter meetings, the GM confirmed. According to SI.com, Greinke told Cashman he was interested in pitching for the Yankees.
Cashman believed he was sincere in his desire, but there were concerns that Greinke in New York wouldn’t be a good fit.
“I asked Kansas City permission to talk to the player and that’s as far as it went,” Cashman said.
Greinke eventually was dealt to the Brewers.
* After answering questions for two days about the changes with his left foot while hitting, Derek Jeter went 1-for-3 with a single.
“He hit two line drives, not everyone is concerned today,” Girardi said.
* The Yankees committed three errors and the Astros made two in a very sloppy 6-5 Yankees victory. The Yankees scored five runs in the ninth when the visitors committed the errors. Outfield prospect Melky Mesa tied the score, 5-5, with a two-run single.
Sergio Mitre, a fringe candidate for a rotation spot, worked a scoreless inning in relief and will start Monday.
* Freddy Garcia makes his first start of the spring today against the Rays in Port Charlotte.
* Mark Teixeira is the latest high-profile Yankee to split from agent Scott Boras.
Teixeira, who is in the third year of an eight-year, $180 million deal, announced yesterday he has ended his relationship with Boras. Alex Rodriguez did the same during the offseason.
“When I hired Scott at 18, it was to help me with my career. From the time I was a rookie people started talking about my free-agent contract,” Teixeira said. “Unfortunately, it took away from a lot of the things I did on the field. At times, I was Mark Teixeira, Scott Boras’ client, instead of Mark Teixeira, baseball player. Now that the contract is over with, I don’t want to be Scott Boras’ client, I want to be Mark Teixeira baseball player.
Teixeira, who has other organizations handling his charity work, will have to pay Boras a percentage of what he earns each year until the contract ends.
“We had a great relationship, and he gave me everything I asked for. I love it here in New York but at the same time the next six years of my career aren’t going to be about a contract,” Teixeira said.
Teixeira hasn’t hired a new agent.