Girardi: Pen could be better than in '09

TAMPA, Fla. -- Joe Girardi looks at the arms he's likely to have at his disposal in this year's bullpen and thinks back to 2009.

This group, he believes, has the potential to be superior to the unit -- which included Phil Hughes, David Robertson, Joba Chamberlain, Damaso Marte, Alfredo Aceves and Mariano Rivera -- that helped the Yankees win the World Series.

"Our bullpen in 2009 was pretty special, with Hughsie down there and Marte back, Robertson, the strides he made, Joba, Ace," Girardi said before last night's 4-2 exhibition victory over the Pirates. "That was pretty good. I think this bullpen has a chance to be better."

One scout, noting the addition of setup man Rafael Soriano -- who made his spring debut against the Pirates and allowed one hit in a scoreless inning -- said simply: "On paper they have the best bullpen in baseball."

Not surprisingly, general manager Brian Cashman sounded a cautionary note.

"It has a chance to be," he said. "But I've had my heart broken before. I know bullpens can be volatile, but in terms of the names and the history of the games they've served in in the past, yeah, it has the potential to be very good."

One thing that would separate this year's group from the '09 pen would be the addition of a second lefthander.

Girardi said the plan is for the Yankees to take two lefties on the Opening Day roster -- Pedro Feliciano and Boone Logan -- though he said in regard to the entire unit: "They all have to earn their spots."

The other presumed members when camp breaks are Robertson, Chamberlain, Rivera and one of the losers from the four-man competition for the Nos. 4 and 5 rotation spots as the long man.

"It's probably going to go to one of those four guys," Girardi said of Bartolo Colon, Freddy Garcia, Ivan Nova and Sergio Mitre, who filled the long-man role last season.

Cashman said Colon, who started Wednesday night, is willing to be the long man should he not make the rotation; Cashman said that being the long man had not been discussed with Garcia's representatives. Both Garcia and Colon have out clauses at the end of the spring.

With Soriano's appearance Wednesday night, that leaves Rivera as the lone bullpen member not to pitch so far. Rivera threw live batting practice Wednesday afternoon -- to 21-year-old Jesus Montero, something the catcher said he hopes repeats itself in April in the regular season -- and likely will throw another such session before appearing in a game.

"If it's up to me, I would say Sunday," Rivera said of when he'll make his spring debut.

But Girardi said next Wednesday against the Orioles was the more probable date.

Regardless, Rivera said, "oh, yeah," when asked if he's eager to get in a game.

"It was good, real good," Rivera said. "I hit my spots and moved the ball around the zone."

But never out of it, Montero said, shaking his head.

"He was amazing as always," said Montero, who caught Rivera only one other time, in camp three years ago. "Amazing because he can do it every time. Every time hit the spot he wants to."