Yanks bring hope to VT
Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and the rest of the New York Yankees stood on the third-base line, caps over their hearts while they gazed toward the outfield.
As 32 oversized orange balloons were released into the air, the storied team in its famous pinstripes watched right along with Virginia Tech players, fans and family members of victims from last year’s campus massacre.
When the national anthem was finished and the players headed for their dugouts, it was time to play a game that was less about baseball than it was about healing.
During batting practice, the Yankees wore caps in the Hokies’ orange and maroon, their ‘NY’ emblem on the front and a ‘VT’ logo on the side. Those were also the caps worn by Virginia Tech, while the Yankees switched to a Navy blue for the game, still with both emblems.
Rodriguez batted in the first with the bases loaded, and hit the first pitch for a sacrifice fly to right. When Hokies starter Andrew Wells got Jason Giambi to ground into an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play, the Hokies bench emptied to greet him.
Rodriguez and Jeter and most of the starters came out in the fourth inning, and Rodriguez strolled across the field with two bats and sat with the Hokies in their dugout.
Jeff Karstens pitched four innings for the Yankees in their 11-0 victory, allowing both Virginia Tech hits and striking out two. Nine Hokies pitchers combined to walk 10 batters and allow 10 hits, but the score meant nothing.
“I think it was just the sort of thing we were looking for,” said Virginia Tech pitcher Rob Waskiewicz.
Second baseman Matt Hacker agreed.
“It was everything everybody wanted it to be,” he said.
•Yankees pitchers Mariano Rivera and Mike Mussina sailed through minor league starts in Tampa, Fla.
Rivera worked two perfect innings, striking out four, in a Double-A game. The closer threw 16 of his 23 pitches for strikes.
“I feel good,” Rivera said. “I was just working the strike zone.”
Rivera didn’t rule out another two-inning stint before spring training ends.
Mussina gave up three runs – two in his final inning – and seven hits over six innings in a Triple-A game. The right-hander threw 53 strikes in 72 pitches.
T-shirts cause fuss
A Web site selling “Obama” T-shirts using the typefaces of Major League Baseball teams closed after drawing attention from the sport’s lawyers.
“We sent a cease-and-desist letter for violating our trademark,” baseball spokesman Rich Levin said.
Morris Levin, a supporter of Barack Obama’s presidential campaign, operated www.obamaofdreams.com and said he shut down the site March 4. He said he stopped sales on that date.
Union takes notice
The lack of offers to Barry Bonds will be examined by the baseball players’ association as part of its annual review of the free-agent market.
Less than two weeks before opening day, the 43-year-old home run king remains unsigned.
“He’s in playing shape right now. He just hasn’t hit off live pitching,” Bonds’ agent, Jeff Borris, said. “I’ve had conversations with Barry. It would probably take him about two weeks to get ready.”
Affeldt moved to bullpen
It’s back to the bullpen for Jeremy Affeldt (Northwest Christian High).
The 28-year-old left-hander signed with the Cincinnati Reds for a shot at their starting rotation. But after a rough spring as a starter, Affeldt is looking at a role similar to last year with the N.L. champion Colorado Rockies – late-inning lefty in relief.
To win a starter’s job, he needed to add a changeup, build stamina and relearn pitching from a windup. After four games and 112/3 innings, the Reds decided that Affeldt is best suited for the bullpen.
Pitcher Purkey dies
Bob Purkey, who pitched in three All-Star games and one World Series with the Cincinnati Reds, has died. He was 78.
Purkey died Sunday in Bethel Park, Pa.