TAMPA — Buck Showalter watched film of Masahiro Tanaka in the offseason before the righty was even officially declared a free agent and loved what he saw. Nothing he has heard from his scouts has dimmed that opinion.
“He’s outstanding,” the Orioles manager said Thursday. “He is going to be a big difference-maker.”
“There’s not a lot of secrets in the AL East. But that is a little bit of a mystery,” Showalter said of Tanaka, who is not scheduled to face a division rival in spring.
Tanaka had a bullpen session Thursday morning, when he worked on his fastball command.
“Given the simulated game the other day, I wanted to work on that,’’ Tanaka said. “I’m working on the pitch form to get that right.’’
The Yankees have had Tanaka twice pitch in simulated games, which helps keep him shrouded in mystery for opponents, and Tanaka is going with the program.
“I’m going to throw in games where my manager puts me,’’ Tanaka said. “Anywhere he puts me, I’m going to try my best.’’
Tanaka is trying to get comfortable with the five-day pitching routine.
“Gradually I’m getting used to it, but it’s hard to say because the number of pitches I’m throwing is very limited. I think I’ll get a better idea once I throw in games with a lot more pitches,’’ he said. Asked if it makes it more difficult to prepare because his pitch count is limited with the Yankees, Tanaka said, “I think I shouldn’t be comparing anything to Japan right now.’’
As Tanaka spoke he was putting on a pair of thick batting gloves in preparation to lift weights. Asked if he could hit, Tanaka said flatly, “No.’’
Derek Jeter was hitless in four at-bats in the 6-0 win over the Orioles and is 4-for-24 (.167) this spring. Manager Joe Girardi said “his timing is messed up.” Girardi mentioned how many balls Jeter is pulling, which is “unusual.” He said a fairer assessment, after Jeter missed so much time last year, would come in the final week of spring training.
Jacoby Ellsbury hit his first home run of the spring in the 6-2 loss to the Phillies. The low-profile center fielder noted that even though he is with the Yankees after all those years in Boston: “It feels pretty normal. When you bring in all the guys we did and with [Derek] Jeter retiring, it kinds of divides up the attention.’’
Ivan Nova’s confidence is in midseason form even though he has surrendered 17 hits over his past two outings (nine innings). Nova gave up nine hits (eight singles) and three runs to the Phillies. “I was throwing strikes,’’ Nova said. “I feel good. I make good pitches, the base hits weren’t too hard. I threw a lot of good fastballs, changeups and curveballs.’’
Francisco Cervelli threw out attempted base-stealer Tyson Gillies from his knees in the sixth. He also made a terrific tag to nail Domonic Brown at home in the third. Runners racing home seem confused by the new rules, and catchers are taking advantage. Brown did not slide directly into home, giving Cervelli ample time to tag him.
Regarding the Yankees two-game trip this weekend to Panama, Girardi said he talked to Mariano Rivera and noted: “I joked with him about playing an inning in center field but it really hasn’t got too far. I think [the trip] is really special for Mo and his country. If I was ever able to bring the Yankees to East Peoria, Ill., that would be a huge deal for me and that’s in the same country, so it is a huge deal.’’
RHPs Jose Campos and Bryan Mitchell were sent to Class-A Tampa. Campos was the second piece the Yankees received in the Jesus Montero-Michael Pineda deal. … Catcher Brian McCann will not make the trip to Panama and will stay back to work with Hiroki Kuroda and Tanaka.