Ahead games
Tanaka impresses, showing he’s further along than last spring
TAMPA — The splitter started at Chase Headley’s belt and seemingly vanished through a trap door. The cutter resembled Mariano Rivera’s signature pitch, and Headley did with it what so many hitters did against Rivera: fouled it off his shin.
Yes, it was a simulated game Thursday against Chris Carter, Brett Gardner and Headley — who have been in camp four days — and means nothing other than another step in getting ready for a season. Still, a year ago the Yankees babied Masahiro Tanaka at the beginning of spring training since he had a bone spur removed from the right elbow the previous October.
The difference in a year is very clear, even in bullpen sessions when his fastball has life on it and loudly pops the catcher’s glove.
“Last year at this time he wasn’t as far ahead as now,’’ pitching coach Larry Rothschild said. “He is built up well and I hope it stays that way.’’
In order for the Yankees to contend in the AL East, a lot has to go right, and a strong season from Tanaka is near the top of the list. For Tanaka, who is coming off his best year in three seasons as a Yankee, a strong year could lead to the right-hander opting out of the final three years of a seven-year contract worth $155 million he signed in 2014. Should Tanaka opt out, he would be walking away from $67 million because the contract calls for the 28-year-old to make $22 million in 2018 and 2019 and $23 million in 2020.
“Overall I feel the condition of my body is better than last year at the same time,’’ Tanaka said through a translator. “I feel a little bit ahead. I started training a little bit earlier than the previous year.’’
Considering Tanaka went 14-4 with a 3.07 ERA in 31 starts and worked 199²/₃ innings last season, taking it slow in spring training paid off and the Yankees would likely sign up for a repeat.
Standing out for Rothschild were the splitter and slider. Tanaka threw 30 pitches against hitters and 44 in the pen before the action at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
“Those pitches need to be there and right now they are in a good spot,’’ Rothschild said of Tanaka, who will start on Opening Day for the third straight year. “Make sure it stays that way.’’
Standing behind a screen, Joe Girardi had the best view of Tanaka’s pitches and said he was pleased.
“Really good, I thought he was really good,’’ Girardi said.
Headley, who had a welt on the right shin, praised Tanaka.
“He was really crisp, he looked like himself and the ball was coming out of his hand [good],” Headley said, “and that is what you hope for this time of the year.’’
CC Sabathia showed last year, when he posted a 9-12 record with a 3.91 ERA, he can compete with the stuff he has, and Michael Pineda’s stuff is far better than his 6-12 record and 4.82 ERA showed. After Tanaka, Sabathia and Pineda, the Yankees’ final two rotation spots are wide open, which leaves questions to be answered.
And of course, there has always been a question concerning Tanaka’s right ulnar collateral ligament since he suffered a small tear it in 2014 and rehabbed it instead of having Tommy John surgery.
Yet, Thursday morning the Yankees’ ace presented encouragement he could pitch like one this season.