Damon Jump Starts Spring Training

Johnny Damon didn't waste any time bringing excitement to Legends Field this spring. On the first pitch Twins starter Carlos Silva threw, Damon homered to right field to give the Yankees a 1-0 lead. Coming off a career high 24 homeruns a season ago, the Yankees lead off man showed the long ball will continue to be in his repertoire. The following inning Jason Giambi took a Silva pitch over the right centerfield wall as the Yankees piled on five runs in the first two innings. Cather Jorge Posada and second baseman Robinson Cano also notched RBI in the early innings.

The Yankees also have to be encouraged by the outing of Chien Ming-Wang. He worked two efficient innings and five of the six batters he faced grounded out. For the next inning and a third, the future of the Yankee rotation Phil Hughes showed shaky control. There's no doubt this kid will be special, but his first outing of the spring featured more walks than strikeouts (two to one). Out of his 34 pitches, only 18 were thrown in the strike zone. Hughes hung a curve to Michael Cuddyer that he ripped in to the left centerfield gap for a double. On a positive note, he ended his day by striking out reigning AL MVP Justin Morneau. The players have had rave reviews about the young righthander during team workouts, so there's no reason for concern. During Spring Training games pitchers will often be victimized because they're not throwing their full arsenal. It's more like a glorified bullpen session, so their performances are basically rendered irrelevant. YES network commentators raved about Hughes' compact delivery and it did look eerily reminiscent of Roger Clemens motion. Everyone should hold off on the "Baby Rocket" monikers, but it's exciting to have a player of his caliber waiting in the wings.

Right now the Yankees are holding to a 5-1 lead, the lone run charged to Hughes as Cuddyer came around to score later in the inning. Newly acquired Ross Ohlendorf (in the Randy Johnson deal) is on the mound and features a hard sinking fastball a la Chien Ming Wang. The Yanks have received some tremendous defense, including a sliding catch by Hideki Matsui. It's nice to see that the devastating wrist injury he suffered last season has not intimidated him.