NICK OF TIME: Nick Swisher gets playful with fans will signing autographs Friday in Tampa. The steroid chatter calmed down some yesterday, allowing players to get back to baseball.

Last updated: 7:27 am
February 22, 2009
Posted: 4:05 am
February 22, 2009

TAMPA - OK. So you say you're tired of hearing about boli and testosterone and human growth hormone, you're worn out by what Alex Rodriguez may or may not have done, how he may or may not react to all the distractions swirling around him, how the Yankees may or may not react to having him in their midst every day, reacting to all those swirling distractions.

Baseball, you say. Give me baseball.

Tell me about blue Florida skies and green infield grass and a sun that blazes hot all morning long. Tell me how CC and A.J. are chucking it, how Teixeira and Damon are stroking it, how Jeter and Cano look turning two.

Tell me about the surreal sight of seeing Mickey Rivers running a drill with a small group of outfielders which, on the record, is a drill where they all try to reach over the wall and bring home runs back with their gloves like the young Junior Griffey . . . but in reality looks like Mick the Quick trying to see how many shoulders he can separate in the space of 15 minutes.

"You get into the rhythms of the baseball season pretty quickly, especially when you realize, like we do, that there's no margin for mistakes," Johnny Damon said yesterday, changing from running shoes back into baseball shoes so he could do a little extra hitting. "We got a brutal division and a lot of work to be able to win baseball games, so it's good to be able to lose yourself in work. The other stuff is ... well, other stuff. We're here for the baseball now."

That is music to your ears, isn't it? You have been looking for an A-Rod-free zone, and yesterday provided as clear a flying day as we've had so far this spring. His finances aren't frozen, as other Scott Boras clients' have been, so there's no news there. He hasn't gotten a date set yet with baseball investigators; nothing to talk about there.

Just baseball today. Making it a splendid baseball day.

Last updated: 7:31 am
February 22, 2009
Posted: 2:30 am
February 22, 2009

TAMPA -Pitcher Jason Johnson has been limited to indoor work due to being diagnosed with cancer of the retina in the right eye shortly before reporting to camp.

COMPLETE YANKEES COVERAGE

YANKEES BLOG

"I went to the eye doctor to get a new pair of contacts and they found it," said Johnson, who is in camp on a minor league deal and competing for the long-reliever role. "They sent me to the Wills Eye Institute in Philly. It's supposed to be the best in the world. Only 2,000 people a year get it. They put a radiation plaque on my eye for four days. They told me it has a 98-percent success rate. I can't pitch outside for two weeks. I can see, but not real well."

Johnson, 35, has pitched for eight major league teams and was the first pitcher granted permission to wear an insulin pump on his belt to battle diabetes. He was 1-2 with a 5.22 ERA for the Dodgers last season, and is 56-100 with a 4.99 ERA in 255 big league games.

"We expect him to get back on the field in March," manager Joe Girardi said. "I never heard of anyone having it. It was a scary moment [hearing about the cancer]."

*

CC Sabathia arrived at George M. Steinbrenner Field yesterday with a shaky stomach. Though he insisted he was good enough to throw batting practice, Sabathia vomited while warming up in the Field 2 bullpen and was scratched.

"This one comes from the house. He says his kid has it," said Girardi, who has the staff ace slated to throw batting practice today if he isn't dehydrated.

Bernie Williams, who is preparing to play for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic, wasn't in camp yesterday and won't be today.

A.J. Burnett threw batting practice for the first time and demonstrated to Girardi that he no longer has to throw balls through walls.

"He was free and easy," Girardi said. "He understands his body and knows what pace to go at."

*

Joba Chamberlain's second batting-practice stint included two parts. He threw 20 pitches, sat down while George Kontos threw 20 and returned to the mound for 20 more.

"For Feb. 21, I feel all right," Chamberlain said.

Hideki Matsui will begin a light running program tomorrow and isn't expected to be the designated hitter when the exhibition season opens Wednesday against the Blue Jays in Dunedin.

Last updated: 3:25 am
February 21, 2009
Posted: 2:42 am
February 21, 2009

TAMPA - When Jorge Posada began a throwing program to rehabilitate his surgically repaired right shoulder, the baseball had the velocity of a ping pong ball going into a blo-wer.

Yesterday, the catcher's throws from 220 feet to coach Tony Pena at George M. Steinbrenner Field were strong from start to finish. His shorter throws had zip to them.

"Wow," Pena said after the session was complete.

The key to the Yankees' season is Posada, their switch-hitting catcher. He has to be healthy and productive.

"It feels good," Posada said of the hinge that has been pain-free. "Today was good."

Because manager Joe Girardi isn't going to use Posada behind the plate until March 15, there is no need to rush. And because Posada is a veteran who understands what he means to the team, Girardi said he isn't worried about backing him off.

"We told him to take it slow, to remember it's spring training," Girardi said. "He used to come out throwing bullets the first day. He has been pretty good about it."

*

Girardi said he doesn't feel a need to talk to Alex Rodriguez every time there's news of his third baseman's steroid troubles.

"I am not going to talk to him about everything that comes up," Girardi said. "I will talk to him like the other guys. I thought [that] today his pulse was good. Each day it gets a little more back to normal. I was happy with what I saw today."

*

Chien-Ming Wang was the only starter to throw live batting practice yesterday. He faced Derek Jeter, former Yankee Bernie Williams and Robinson Cano.

"I threw everything," said Wang, who has been throwing off a mound since October after suffering a season-ending foot injury in June.

Williams, who is in camp to get into shape to play for Puerto Rico in next month's WBC, received an ovation for hitting a batting practice pitch into the right-field seats. It wasn't against Wang.

A.J. Burnett and Andy Pettitte haven't thrown batting practice yet. Pettitte threw a bullpen session.