TAMPA – Eventually, every player in pinstripes gets a taste of the craziness that often smothers the Yankees’ universe. However, it’s rare that it comes as quickly as it is about to for CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeira.
When the Yankees dropped $432.5 million on the trio of free agents, they didn’t know Alex Rodriguez would need to hold a press conference to discuss his testing positive for a banned substance before the first full-squad workout.
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Yet, this afternoon on the grounds of George M. Steinbrenner Field, Rodriguez will do that. And the three newcomers will be among the crowd of teammates in the audience supporting the third baseman.
“It’s good to see it early,” said Sabathia, who has been in camp since Friday and was not prepared for what he will experience today from his days pitching in Cleveland and Milwaukee. “I am glad it’s not my first day, I would be shook up. It’s good that I have been here a couple of days.”
Burnett, who has hurled for Florida and Toronto, understood intense situations would surface when he signed.
“Either way, you deal with it,” Burnett said. “You put it aside and play ball.”
Andy Pettitte, who lockers next to Burnett, suggested it would be a good idea for Burnett to attend today’s press conference even though Burnett admitted he doesn’t know Rodriguez.
“I am part of the team now, and we are family,” Burnett said.
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Teixeira said he learned at a young age that drugs and alcohol weren’t tolerated by his parents.
“I grew up in a zero-tolerance household,” Teixeira said. “Drugs weren’t an option.”
Still, he isn’t ready to knock Rodriguez or anybody else for using steroids.
“I am not going to judge anybody; I am not perfect,” said Teixeira, a Texas teammate of Rodriguez’s in 2003, the final year A-Rod said he used a banned substance. “I am disappointed guys use steroids, but the union has made big strides.”
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Pettitte and Joba Chamberlain were among the pitchers who threw bullpen sessions yesterday. . . . Robinson Cano worked out with Derek Jeter at the minor league complex. Position players report today and take physicals. The first full-squad workout is tomorrow. . . . Catching prospect Francisco Cervelli was sent home with an upper-respiratory infection.