Position Players Arrive At Yankees Spring Training
TAMPA, Fla. (CBSNewYork) -- So much for sunny Tampa, Florida.
Everyone in Yankee land was looking forward to Wednesday, when position players joined the pitchers and catchers at spring training. But Mother Nature threw a curve ball.
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But as CBS2's Otis Livingston reported, not even the morning downpour could dampen the spirits of the Bronx Bombers.
"It's always fun coming back the first couple of days and getting to see everybody, but this is where it starts," said third baseman Chase Headley. "Our goal is to win a World Series, and when you get down here, there's all the excitement, everybody comes back in great shape, and we're ready to get started."
There was an Alex Rodriguez sighting. The slugger showed up at 8:22 a.m. and was later seen taking batting practice indoors. He didn't speak to reporters – he's scheduled to do that Thursday -- but he did check in with manager Joe Girardi.
"He's doing what he loves to do, and he's back, and there's not all the questions that he had to answer last year," Girardi said. "I though he came in and he looked really relaxed. Looked good, too."
And so does pitcher CC Sabathia, who recently said he'll rely on his teammates as he battles alcohol addiction, which sidelined him late last season.
His fellow Yankees say they have his back.
"As a teammate, I just have to support him and be next to him," outfielder Carlos Beltran said. "And hopefully the moment that he went through, I believe he don't want to go through again because it was a tough moment for him and his family."
"Everybody's pulling for C. … Excited to see him in the clubhouse, see that smile on his face, and we're looking forward to playing behind him," added Jacoby Ellsbury.
"Really just caring about each other as more than just a teammate, but as a friend," Headley said. "CC is the model for that, and he's done that for his entire career, so it's time for us to pick him up a little bit."