YANKEE NOTES
TAMPA – Step 2 was better than Step 1 for Tanyon Sturtze yesterday at Legends Field.
The veteran right-hander, whom Joe Torre is relying on to team with Kyle Farnsworth to build a solid bridge from the starters to Mariano Rivera, threw off a bullpen mound for the second time this spring.
In order to save wear and tear on Sturtze’s shoulder, the Yankees are going slowly with him at the beginning of camp.
“My shoulder has felt great both times,” said Sturtze, who suffered from a tired wing during the second half of last season. “I actually hit a couple of spots and I reached the plate. It was nice.”
In his first bullpen session on Wednesday, Sturtze was unable to hit spots and bounced several pitches short of the dish.
Sturtze threw for 10 minutes and all but two pitches were fastballs. He gave into temptation and tossed two splitters.
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Rivera and Farnsworth threw in the bullpen instead of live batting practice with the other relievers.
“We decided to go slow,” Torre said. “Those guys will get their share of work during the season. “[Ron] Villone tried to overthrow a bit, otherwise the batting practice was good. [Scott] Erickson was good and [Al] Leiter was good.”
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Instead of the customary two intra-squad games, the Yankees will play one nine-inning game Tuesday at Legends Field.
And Mike Mussina will make a rare appearance in a game in which pitchers with no chance of making the team are featured.
“He wants to pitch,” Torre said of his projected No. 2 starter.
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Infielder Felix Escalona missed the third straight day of full-squad workouts. According to GM Brian Cashman, Escalona was “supposed to be on a flight [yesterday].”
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The Yankees yesterday donated $20,000 to the recently burglarized Greater Universal Baptist Church in The Bronx. The robbery had forced the church to close its soup kitchen indefinitely until the stolen funds were replaced. The Yankees’ donation allows the soup kitchen to reopen.