SARASOTA, Fla. — Joe Girardi said the way the Yankees handled Joba Chamberlain the last two seasons was worthwhile, despite the fact the righty will begin the year in the bullpen and his future starting plans are unclear.
“I don’t think it’s wasted,” Girardi said yesterday. “Because there were things that we wanted to look at. We won a World Series. He was helpful. He stepped up and was our fourth starter. You look at his first four months, he pitched pretty well. He really did.”
Chamberlain, who almost certainly will be Mariano Rivera’s setup man, will make his next appearance tomorrow.
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The Yankees released Chad Gaudin yesterday because he wasn’t going to be on the roster and they couldn’t find a trade for him.
Gaudin, who allowed nine earned runs in 9 1/3 innings this spring, said, “I’m sure I’ll end up on my feet, helping some ballclub win games. It’s not about how many times you get knocked down, it’s how many times you get back up.”
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Facing Triple-A players from the Phillies, CC Sabathia was rocked yesterday in a minor-league game, shelled for seven runs on seven hits in 3 2/3 innings. Sabathia gave up two homers, hit a batter, walked one and struck out four.
He threw 88 pitches then worked up to 100 afterward by throwing 12 in the bullpen. Sabathia, who’s starting the season opener, is to make his final spring start next Tuesday.
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The Yankees were blasted 8-0 by the Orioles, managing five hits. Alfredo Aceves served up six runs (five earned) in two innings.
Cashman said he’d rather carry two lefty relievers but doesn’t want them to be situational only, which probably rules out either Boone Logan or Royce Ring making the team to pair with Damaso Marte.