TAMPA — Yankees legend Andy Pettitte has been talking to Masahiro Tanaka about using the cut fastball, and manager Aaron Boone couldn’t be more pleased.
“Anytime those two are having conversations about pitching, that is a good thing. I think it is great. Andy is obviously revered by a lot of guys in our clubhouse and to see him taking more and more of an active role he is able to have a profound impact on guys. To see him and Masa clicking is a great thing,’’ Boone said.
It turned out to be a case of miscommunication, but when Tanaka’s name vanished from the pitching schedule, the immediate question centered on Tanaka’s health because he had a bone spur removed from the right elbow after last season. Tanaka said his elbow is fine and he is scheduled to throw a simulated game Friday.
Nobody knows if Miguel Andujar can progress to the point where he can play the outfield if needed this season, but one tool was on display Wednesday when Andujar showed he had enough arm strength to make throws from right field toward second base.
Using an easy motion Andujar’s throws had carry and velocity, which was a good sign after he had season-ending surgery on his right shoulder last May. Andujar is also working at first base and third base, his original position.
Before a two-inning stint throwing live batting practice on Field 2 on Wednesday, Gerrit Cole asked a staffer for a bottle of fluid that had electrolytes in it because there was only water in the dugouts. It was Cole’s second live BP session and he displayed the same intensity as in the first session.
Thursday’s will be the second-to-last full-squad workout before the Yankees open the exhibition season against the Blue Jays on Saturday. It follows Photo Day, which will take place early in the morning.