Garcia knows the deal

TAMPA, Fla.

Freddy Garcia has never put much stock in spring training results.

"You never see a baseball card with spring training numbers, you have to pitch good during the regular season," Garcia said Friday morning. 

In that respect, Garcia is hardly alone. CC Sabathia for years has said he doesn't pay attention to results during the spring, the case with many starters. 

But in a competition for a rotation spot, the 34-year-old Garcia understands this spring has to be different. 

"Hopefully this year I pitch better than I used to in spring training," he said. "[I'm fighting] for the fifth spot."

It's a competition Garcia expects to win.

"That’s why I’m here," he said. "If you don’t think that way, don’t be here."