Another cold day of baseball. I had 5 layers on to fight the cold, but I still got to see a great game. Doc Halladay vs. CC in a World Series matchup. They both looked real good, almost everyone looked good. It was the first day out for Cano, Swisher and Posada while guys like Jeter and Granderson sat out. If you didn’t know, it’s a major league rule that a team must play 4 starters when they have a road game.

I saw a bunch of real good kids out there. We threw a kid named Ivan Nova, a big 6′5″ hurler and he looked wonderful out there. Jesus Montero started the ninth with a nice hit and then Greg Golson pinch ran and stole second. Romine then hit him over to third. When you see the young kids doing what they’re supposed to do, getting runners over, mastering the basics of the game it means your minor league system is doing well. I could see the looks on the faces of Joe Girardi & hitting coach Kevin Long and they were smiling…big smiles. Brandon Laird looked good as well, his brother is the catcher over in Detroit. Colin Curtis & Reegie Corona both have shown good things so far. You can really see these minor league guys professing and it makes me feel really good. We’re doing the right thing in our minor league system.

Nice little game out there today. It’s always nice to win the first game of the season whether it be in the regular season or spring training. It’s also always nice to see the World Series Trophy, the way the players did today. The Boss was at the stadium watching the game with us. I thought Gaudin & Mitre threw well, as did Aceves. Nick Johnson looked real good at the bat. He’s always been a hitter & if he stays healthy this season he’ll be really big for us.

CC will be throwing tomorrow against the Phillies and I think Halladay is throwing his first game against us. Should make for a great matchup.

Yet another cold, rainy, tough day for baseball here in Tampa. But nevertheless, it’s time for the first spring training game against Pittsburgh. Today we have the 5th starter group going. Gaudin, Mitre, Aceves, the guys fighting for that spot. I’m going to be announcing the guys from the Yankees past who are in attendance before the game. Tino is here, so is Bernie, so that will be a real nice kick for the fans here.

I’m having a blast down here with Teixiera, Jeter and Alex. We all had lunch together today and laughed until we all ached in our sides. We had a great talk about how when struggling at the plate, you have to keep on acting like nothing is wrong to get back in the groove.

We’ve got about 60 guys here at camp and there is so much confidence riding through them. Cashman had been here for about 20 years and he knows what it takes to repeat. Girardi repeated as a player, he’s not a newbie when it comes to the situation. Same with Derek. Jorge, Mariano & Andy. I got a chance to speak with Javi Vazquez this morning. I remember how uncomfortable he was his 1st time here and I told him he looked a lot more comfortable and confident this time around. Vazquez told me it was true, he did feel much better and looser.

Almost game-time, I’ll write back-in afterwards.

More rain today, but lucky for us it was a scheduled off-day with the first game of the spring coming tomorrow. Today was a day meant for the players to spend some casual time together. Everyone went over to an arcade here in Tampa, and the players were playing video games, playing skeetball, going on rides, and just having a good time together. The place was only open for them, so it was the perfect place to bond. I was with them for about an hour, but I just snuck out. On my way to have lunch with the Boss. I’m bringing him a tuna melt sandwich with French fries.

First game of the season tomorrow. I’ll be writing in beforehand to give a little preview.

It’s definitely not baseball weather down here at spring training. Low 40’s, cold, rain, all-in-all it’s miserable weather for playing baseball. We did have some great meetings on Saturday with the players all talking out loud about winning again and how they need to go about that. Being supportive, being prepared, playing sound fundamental baseball. Those are three of the necessary keys if a team wants to repeat.

The players did have a great workout in the gym on Saturday since the bad weather kept them inside. A day like Saturday (with the weather being bad) is perfect for a great gym workout with good calisthenics. The players also got in some good action in the cages under the stadium. No running on the field with the weather conditions they were.

That’s your typical spring training day in the rain. A short day that’s not a lot of fun, but the guys still get to work out and get a sweat in. I’m looking forward to some better weather as the week progresses.