Yankees Happenings for Week of 02/05/2017

Spring Training is so close you can almost taste it! Here are a few Yankees notes to hold you over until pitchers and catchers report to Tampa on Feb. 13.

Finally, the 63 Yankees reporting to Spring Training were announced this week. It breaks down to the entire 40-man roster and 23 non-roster invitees — 11 of which were free agent signees this winter. If you missed some of the debate as to the prospects who missed the cut, you can catch up by reading this.

The Yankees’ Clubhouse Staff Prepares for Florida

It’s a little over 1100 miles from Yankee Stadium in the Bronx to the organization’s Spring Training facility in Tampa. But for longtime clubhouse manager Lou Cucuzza Jr. and his crew, it’s a walk in the park.

Brian Hoch of MLB.com recently interviewed the 38-year team employee, who’s helped load trucks headed south since 1996.

"“We’ve got it down to a science. … We know what we’ve got to do; we do it every year. As long as the weather cooperates, it’s easy to work. It’s a little chilly, but it’s not rocket science. It’s just a normal load for us.”"

As if Cucuzza Jr.’s job of making sure all team equipment arrives in one piece wasn’t stressful enough, the Yankees now allow players, coaches, staff, and select media members to drop their personal belongings off at the stadium to save on airline fees.

"“It’s changed in the sense that the players have more variety,” Cucuzza said. “There’s cage jackets, there’s fleeces, there’s so much more equipment in terms of what guys can wear on the field. Back in the day, guys would just travel with a small little foot locker, and that was it.”"

The all-important equipment truck is scheduled to arrive in Tampa today.

CC Sabathia Sees Big Upside for Team

That’s if key members of the team can stay healthy for the majority of the 162-game regular season schedule. Participating in the first annual Blue Jacket Fashion Show in Manhattan on Wednesday night, Sabathia modeled a dark blue John Varvatos jacket along 13 other male models from the worlds of sports, media, entertainment, health, and fashion, all to benefit the Prostate Cancer Foundation.

Sabathia spoke to Newsday about his belief that this Yankees team can and will surprise some people.

"“I think we have a tremendous amount of talent in the room. We are very young, but I think we have a chance to be able to open up some eyes and kind of surprise some people, I guess. … If we can stay healthy, we’ve got the arms and the talent in there to be a really good staff.”"

When asked about the arthroscopic knee surgery he underwent last October, Sabathia replied:

"“I won’t throw a bullpen before I get down there, but I’ll be ready to go right when we get down there. … I feel great right now. My arm feels good. So I’m excited. … I pitched healthy last year and I had good results. So if I can stay healthy again this year, I’ll look to have a good year and see what happens after that.”"

Derek Jeter Is Taking a Stand

Alongside Broncos linebacker Von Miller, NASCAR driver Danica Patrick, T’Wolves center Karl-Anthony Towns, and recently retired Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, ‘The Captain’ and his flourishing media enterprise have launched an initiative to “STAND UP” against hate speech.

As stated on The Players’ Tribune:

"The STAND UP campaign harnesses the power of the biggest names in sports in support of the ideals of unity, togetherness and love. In this video, Derek Jeter, Von Miller, Danica Patrick, Michael Phelps and Karl-Anthony Towns speak out against hate and bigotry, while also discussing how they have dealt with their worst detractors. “I think the way that you can quietly stand up,” says Patrick, “is that you don’t let it affect you — because that’s what they want.”"

In the 2:48 video (that has some NSFW language) Jeter says, “We know what it’s like to be bullied or trolled.”

Next: Darvish Would Look Good In Pinstripes

The site says it plans to release more videos in the coming weeks of other athletes sharing their stories of how anonymous individuals have viciously attacked them through social media. Those scheduled to appear include Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall, Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith, 76ers center Joel Embiid, Bucks forward Jabari Parker, soccer player Abby Wambach, and tennis star Caroline Wozniacki.

This is a wonderful cause, one that I as a sportswriter know many other writers can get behind. Bravo, Jeter, and company.

Spring Training is so close you can almost taste it! Here are a few Yankees notes to hold you over until pitchers and catchers report to Tampa on Feb. 13.

The Yankees’ Clubhouse Staff Prepares for Florida

CC Sabathia Sees Big Upside for Team

Derek Jeter Is Taking a Stand

Schedule