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Yankees camp report
TAMPA, Fla. -- Five things to know about the New York Yankees:
1. You may have heard that the Yankees have a new manager this season. Welcome to Year I of the Joe Girardi regime and, so far, so good. His adjustment from a rookie-laden Florida Marlins team two years ago to the conglomerate of 25 individual corporations that make up the Yankees seems to have gone seamlessly in these early days of camp. It's a long season, with a lot of time left both in the spring and in the regular season (not to mention October, if the Yanks get there), but one thing already is clear: "He's the most fit guy in the clubhouse," reliever LaTroy Hawkins says of the 43-year-old Girardi. "How many teams can you say that their manager is the fittest guy on the team?"
2. Most of the everyday lineup is set, but for first base. And though it's difficult to imagine hulking Jason Giambi playing there every day -- if his glove isn't iron enough, his throwing is worse -- it's harder still to imagine his bat not in the lineup. But Melky Cabrera will play center field, moving weak-throwing Johnny Damon over to left, pushing Hideki Matsui into the designated hitter spot and, barring a trade, Giambi, 37, to first. As of now, other candidates to play first include Shelley Duncan, Wilson Betemit and journeyman Morgan Ensberg, the former third baseman. "He's (Ensberg) hungry to re-start his career," Girardi says. "He's very excited at the opportunity to play first base. Obviously, he can play third if we need him to, but he's very excited to get his stroke back and prove that, you know what, he's a good big league player."
3. Girardi on Cabrera's move to center: "I'm sure Melky looked up to Bernie Williams as he was going through the organization. I'm sure he considers it a privilege and, as he gets older, he'll appreciate it more."
4. If all goes as planned this spring, Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy would open in the rotation and Joba Chamberlain in the bullpen. The Yankees still see Chamberlain as a starter eventually, but the plan is to be smart and build each pitcher's innings total up gradually. Partly because of a hamstring pull last year, Hughes only worked 110 1/3 innings with the Yankees and at three minor league locales. "You can't tax him to the point where you assume he would have thrown 175 innings last year," Girardi says of being cautious with Hughes this year and not allowing him to approach the 200-inning mark. "You can't make that assumption." Chamberlain worked 112 1/3.
5. General manager Brian Cashman enters the final season of his contract. It's expected to be extended if he wishes, though in the Bronx, probably only after the usual heavy breathing and controversy. Senior vice-president Hank Steinbrenner says he and Cashman both are focused on the team right now and have not had any contract discussions. Does Hank want to retain Cashman? "I have no idea yet," he says. "We haven't talked. We'll talk about it during the season." Steinbrenner adds: "It'll happen when it happens. The big thing with Brian is the organization he's put in place. It won't be based on one decision. He put Damon Oppenheimer in place as chief of scouting, and obviously, that's paid off (with Hughes, Kennedy and Chamberlain in the organization)."