I'm Going To Be Buried In These Pinstripes

That's what Mark Teixeira told reporters this morning. His popularity meter just went off the charts, though his usual slow April could mess that up a bit.


If you're going to go in Pinstripes, you might as well have a custom coffin too.

Starting Rotation and Bullpen your Biggest Concerns

Sorry for the lack of posts the last couple of days. We've been laid up with a bug again and threw our back out to top it off. In the meantime our poll has expired, and we thank the 69 of you who responded.

Not surprisingly, pitching is your biggest worry, both starting and the bullpen. 43% of you said the starting rotation was your biggest concern. While another 39% of you felt the lack of solid relief would be the Yankees undoing.

The Smörgåsbord at 1st Base received 7% of the vote, while defense (4%), Mariano Rivera (3%) and Joe Girardi (3%) rounded at the voting.

Stayed tuned for more polls and thanks again for participating.

Starting Rotation and Bullpen your Biggest Concerns

Sorry for the lack of posts the last couple of days. We've been laid up with a bug again and threw our back out to top it off. In the meantime our poll has expired, and we thank the 69 of you who responded.

Not surprisingly, pitching is your biggest worry, both starting and the bullpen. 43% of you said the starting rotation was your biggest concern. While another 39% of you felt the lack of solid relief would be the Yankees undoing.

The Smörgåsbord at 1st Base received 7% of the vote, while defense (4%), Mariano Rivera (3%) and Joe Girardi (3%) rounded at the voting.

Stayed tuned for more polls and thanks again for participating.

The Bamtino

Tino Martinez started his new role as a spring training instructor today, working with Shelley Duncan on his skills at 1st Base. In addition to helping out the Yankees in spring training and at times during the season, Tino will soon be starting his 2nd season as a volunteer assistant coach for his brother-in-law, Lelo Prado, at the University of South Florida.

"Probably, eventually, down the line," Martinez said. "I didn't know how much I would enjoy coaching in college last year, and I really enjoyed it. Right now, I'm just very content with the role I have."

Tino's also excited about his chance to work with the MLB team he loved so much.

"It's awesome," Martinez said. "I really enjoy this, the opportunity to come out and coach and help these guys get better, especially the young guys."

The Yankees have everyone but the kitchen sink trying to win the 1st Base job this season. In addition to Duncan, Jason Giambi, Wilson Betemit, Jason Lane, and Morgan Ensberg will all be looking for playing time at the non-hot corner. Since Giambi is the only one of them to have spent extensive time there, Tino should be kept quite busy instructing the newbies. Duncan has already left him with a good impression.

"He's got soft hands," Martinez said. "He's a tall, lanky guy who is a great target at first base."

It had to seem a bit odd for Tino when his good buddies, and former teammates, Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada took BP today.

"I'm used to coming in here geared up for spring training, trying to find my swing," Martinez said. "It's nice to come out here and really enjoy the part of being a coach and helping the players get better, and not worrying so much about what I have to do to get ready for spring training."

Always good to have a Tino in the house.

Source

The Bamtino

Tino Martinez started his new role as a spring training instructor today, working with Shelley Duncan on his skills at 1st Base. In addition to helping out the Yankees in spring training and at times during the season, Tino will soon be starting his 2nd season as a volunteer assistant coach for his brother-in-law, Lelo Prado, at the University of South Florida.

"Probably, eventually, down the line," Martinez said. "I didn't know how much I would enjoy coaching in college last year, and I really enjoyed it. Right now, I'm just very content with the role I have."

Tino's also excited about his chance to work with the MLB team he loved so much.

"It's awesome," Martinez said. "I really enjoy this, the opportunity to come out and coach and help these guys get better, especially the young guys."

The Yankees have everyone but the kitchen sink trying to win the 1st Base job this season. In addition to Duncan, Jason Giambi, Wilson Betemit, Jason Lane, and Morgan Ensberg will all be looking for playing time at the non-hot corner. Since Giambi is the only one of them to have spent extensive time there, Tino should be kept quite busy instructing the newbies. Duncan has already left him with a good impression.

"He's got soft hands," Martinez said. "He's a tall, lanky guy who is a great target at first base."

It had to seem a bit odd for Tino when his good buddies, and former teammates, Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada took BP today.

"I'm used to coming in here geared up for spring training, trying to find my swing," Martinez said. "It's nice to come out here and really enjoy the part of being a coach and helping the players get better, and not worrying so much about what I have to do to get ready for spring training."

Always good to have a Tino in the house.

Source

Life in the Jason Lane

Despite the contention that the Yankees are content with their 1st Base options - Jason Giambi, Shelley Duncan, and Wilson Betemit - one more name may be added to the mix. Jason Lane has been an outfielder for the majority of his career, but the Yankees are interested in bringing him in with a move to 1st Base.

Lane, once a prized prospect in the Astros organization, was non-tendered in December after a poor showing with the Padres. The 31-yr old hit just .178 with 8 HR and 27 RBI in 71 games. He had his best season for the Astros in 2005 when he hit .267-26-78.

Lane turned heads at Single- and Double-A levels in 2000 and 2001, when he hit .299-23-104 and .316-38-124. But that success has not translated to the majors.

UPDATE 8:19 EST - According to Peter Abraham, Brian Cashman mentioned on YES' Hot Stove show that the team did indeed sign Jason Lane to a minor league deal.

Source

Life in the Jason Lane

Despite the contention that the Yankees are content with their 1st Base options - Jason Giambi, Shelley Duncan, and Wilson Betemit - one more name may be added to the mix. Jason Lane has been an outfielder for the majority of his career, but the Yankees are interested in bringing him in with a move to 1st Base.

Lane, once a prized prospect in the Astros organization, was non-tendered in December after a poor showing with the Padres. The 31-yr old hit just .178 with 8 HR and 27 RBI in 71 games. He had his best season for the Astros in 2005 when he hit .267-26-78.

Lane turned heads at Single- and Double-A levels in 2000 and 2001, when he hit .299-23-104 and .316-38-124. But that success has not translated to the majors.

UPDATE 8:19 EST - According to Peter Abraham, Brian Cashman mentioned on YES' Hot Stove show that the team did indeed sign Jason Lane to a minor league deal.

Source