Yanks' Martin looking fine physically
Catcher Russell Martin, right, speaks with Jorge Posada, left, during spring training. (Feb. 16, 2011) Credit: Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara
TAMPA, Fla. - So far, so good for Russell Martin's right knee. As well as his right hip.
Martin, who caught in the crouch for the first time this offseason last week at the Yankees' minor-league complex, went through a second straight day of drills with bench coach Tony Peña. Manager Joe Girardi watched closely yesterday morning, jumping in for hands-on instruction several times.
Girardi said Martin, who is coming off surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee, looked fine. A right hip injury last Aug. 3 cost him the rest of the 2010 season. "He has had no issues," Girardi said.
The plan is for Martin to catch 110 to 125 games. Said Girardi, "He has not really shown me anything physically right now that won't allow us to play him every day."
No worries
Girardi isn't worried about Phil Hughes' rough second half, in which he went 7-6 with a 4.90 ERA, after going 11-2, 3.65 in the first half. "I don't really have a whole lot of concern about that," he said. "I think part of it maybe was the increased innings. I saw what he did his last few starts; they were pretty good. The start against Boston [Sept. 26], the start against Minnesota [Game 3 of the ALDS], those were pretty good starts. He seemed to bounce back."
Extra bases
Girardi said Yogi Berra, a longtime spring training presence, will be at camp "sometime next week." . . . Jorge Posada was in the indoor cage just after 8 a.m. - dress time for players was 10:15 - working with hitting coach Kevin Long . . . CC Sabathia was the most recent starter to throw an early-morning bullpen, at 8:30 a.m. He threw 35 pitches, watched by pitching coach Larry Rothschild . . . Derek Jeter, Nick Swisher, Curtis Granderson, Andruw Jones, Greg Golson and Colin Curtis were among those who hit and worked out at the minor-league complex. Position players report Saturday.
