Joe Girardi

Well, we’re twenty games into the college baseball season, and the TCU Horned Frogs are now No. 4 in the nation.  I was watching them sweep Texas Tech last weekend shredding on a nice mid 70’s Tejas spring day with my bud Mexican Joe, and we agreed that the scene was quite idyllic.

'Cept for the dang ping of those stupid aluminum bats.

Brett Gardner started in centerfield for the second straight day for the New York Yankees. Today, Gardner also hit leadoff as the Yankees lost to the Phillies 6-2.

Gardner had a great game, with two hits in three times at bat, including a triple. He also scored a run. He raised his average for the spring to .240. He also stole one base.

In yesterday's game against the Astros, Gardner started in center and hit in the nine hole. He went 1-for-3 at the plate

The Big Three; Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and manager Joe Girardi, it appears, will have to wait until the end of the 2010 campaign to restructure their contracts.

"People just have to understand that everybody does business in a different way,” Steinbrenner said to reporters following Tuesday’s news conference to announce the details of the inaugural Pinstripe Bowl.

The Joba Chamberlain-Phil Hughes beauty contest now playing out in the media and sports blogs everywhere is as fine a sham reality show as has ever been produced anywhere on network television. In the end, when the pre-scripted outcome is revealed, everyone who has voiced an opinion or weighed in on it will be forced to tip their cap to this magnificent charade concocted by Joe Girardi and his staff, and I would like to be the first here to do so.

I have read a boatload of preview articles for the 2010 season, plus many articles on the 2010 Derek Jeter-led New York Yankees and their attempt to be the first team to repeat as World Series Champions since, well...the Jeter-led Yankees of a decade ago.

Most pundits agree that the New York Yankees have the best team in baseball and, coming off a 103-win, 2009 regular season and a World Series title, it is hard to argue.

Spring Training is finally getting under way for Major League Baseball.

And already, as the manager of the defending World Series Champions, Joe Girardi has a major decision to make.

Well, I guess you can call it a "major decision." Some might not see it as that.

But for the careers of Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain, it is a major decision.

That decision is who will win the fifth and final spot in the Yankees starting rotation and who goes to the bullpen as the setup man.

By Patrick Read

Washington, DC

In the wee hours of Monday morning, 36-year-old former Philadelphia Phillies starter Chan Ho Park agreed to terms with the New York Yankees.

The deal is for one year and $1.2 million guaranteed, plus another $300K in incentives for a possible total of $1.5 million.

The Yankees' pitchers and catchers officially reported to Tampa, Florida today to begin spring training. The Mets will begin camp tomorrow when pitchers and catchers report in Port St. Lucie.

The Yankees come in to spring training as the defending World Series champions. As they look to repeat, some changes have been made this offseason. Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui, and Melky Cabrera are out. Curtis Granderson Nick Johnson are in. And Javier Vasquez is back.

Washington DC

By Patrick Read

Work has kept me away from Bleacher Report for a couple weeks now, and I do apologize for that. But I am back with another topic for the Yankee section to talk about and discuss.

It was reported recently that Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman was not going to talk contract extensions with Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Joe Girardi before the season starts in 2010.

Relax, this is nothing new from the team. If anything, it's a good thing.