When is a spring training game more than a spring training game? Just ask the Yankees about Wednesday's contest. Let's let a pair of box-score images tell the story ...
And ...
In the first visual example, you'll note that team cap'n, Derek Jeter, who's battling his way back from the fractured ankle that he suffered in the ALCS, manned shortstop for the first time this spring. Jeter had one chance in the field in four defensive innings of work (he fielded it cleanly for a 6-4 fielder's choice) and afterward reported no problems.
In the second visual example, you'll note stalwarts Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera both pitched against the Phillies on Wednesday. It was the spring debut for the 40-year-old Pettitte. As you can see above, it wasn't a vintage outing for the veteran lefty, but the encouraging news is that, per Joel Sherman, Pettitte's fastball was clocked at 91 mph, which is above his established norms. For an aging hurler coming up against his first full season since 2010, that's good news.
As for Rivera, the future Hall of Famer is, of course, working his way back from a season-ending knee injury. After Wednesday's appearance, he's yet to allow a base runner in two Grapefruit League appearances.
Needless to say, if the 2013 Yankees are going to overcome the loss of all that power and abide all those injuries, then these three warhorses will need to be in vintage form. On that front, consider Wednesday's box score to be a positive, if small, step forward.
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