TAMPA — It’s almost St. Patrick’s Day and the Yankees still have not received a spring training start from each of the projected members of the rotation.
Nevertheless, that list is down to Phil Hughes after staff ace and Opening Day starter CC Sabathia worked five innings yesterday against the Marlins at George M. Steinbrenner Field in his exhibition season debut.
“I felt good,’’ said Sabathia, who allowed two runs in the first inning and none across the next four of a 7-3 victory while giving up eight hits, walking one and fanning two. “The changeup was good and the fastball command could have been a little better. I started using a back-door cutter.’’
Discussing the range of motion he has in his surgically repaired left elbow, Sabathia recently said he was encouraged the removal of a bone spur would enable him to push speed guns higher than the 88 mph they registered at the end of last season.
Yesterday, his fastball stayed steady at 90 mph, but Sabathia said he was not concerned.
PHOTOS: YANKEES SPRING TRAINING
“That’s about right for me in spring training,’’ said Sabathia, who worked simulated games instead of jumping into the fray earlier. “It might be a little harder for me, 88 to 90. If I can throw 90 [in a spring debut], that’s good.’’
Without Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira and Curtis Granderson at the start of the season, the Yankees will lean on pitching and defense to make up for the production lost via injury and offseason departures.
In the pitching department, a big load always falls on Sabathia’s broad shoulders. The staff stud makes the most money ($23 million) and sets a big example by accepting the responsibility that comes with it.
“I let it go early, and there were no problems,’’ Sabathia said of the 64-pitch effort. “I will keep building in the bullpen and go from there.’’
Admitting Sabathia struggled with his fastball in the early going, catcher Francisco Cervelli said he was encouraged by what he saw.
“The last inning, the fastball command was good and the slider amazing,’’ said Cervelli, who went 1-for-3 with a homer and RBI. “For the first time, he was amazing.’’
Earlier this week, the talk was about how important it was to have Derek Jeter at shortstop after being the designated hitter for two games. Yesterday, Jeter was on the other side of the discussion concerning a key component returning to the Yankees.
“It’s always good when you’ve got guys coming back from injuries to know that they feel good,’’ Jeter said. “I don’t care who we have in the lineup, it’s still comforting when you know that he is healthy and can go out there and pitch because you win with pitching. Everyone knows how important CC is to our team.’’
Manager Joe Girardi watched Sabathia give up three hits and a walk in the first and then straighten out.
“He got better as the day went on, which I am pleased with,’’ Girardi said. “The changeup, the slider and the fastball — everything got better.’’
Hughes, who was slowed early in camp with an upper back disk problem, has not pitched in a game yet and it is unknown when he will. There is a chance he misses the first turn through the rotation, but the Yankees aren’t ready to concede that.
“It’s nice to see our starters out there for a change,’’ Girardi said. “Our relievers are throwing more. It’s nice to see. You see them building up and that’s nice, too.’’