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Legends of the spring
Posted: Friday February 16, 2001 4:47 PM
Updated: Friday February 16, 2001 5:09 PM
Throughout spring training, CNNSI.com will feature regular dispatches from
Sports Illustrated staffers assigned to scout camps in the Grapefruit and Cactus
leagues.
By Jeff Pearlman, Sports Illustrated
TEAM: New York
Yankees
SITE: Tampa,
Fla.
WEATHER: Hot, hot, hot. Mid 80s, with direct sun and a slight
breeze.
PLAYER I SAW WHOM I REALLY LIKED: Chuck Knoblauch. For 10 minutes,
I sat in the Yankees' dugout watching Knoblauch throw to first. I was an easy
target -- right in his line of fire. I have no cranial dents. Neither eye is
black and blue. My ribs are in one piece. Yeah, it was just infield practice.
But his throws were
fine.
AROUND THE HORN:
Today was the first day of workouts and the 200 or so spectators at Legends
Field were in for a treat. In a fenced-off area to the side of the field,
Orlando Hernandez, Dwight Gooden, Mike Mussina, Andy Pettitte and
Roger Clemens threw side by side by side by side by side. Surely, it can be
argued that in baseball's storied history (not counting All-Star games) never
have five more golden pitchers tossed in one location. It was something magical.
Fans followed the quintet from place to place; reporters tagged along, more for
enjoyment than a
scoop.
George Steinbrenner made his first appearance a doozy. After being
greeted by a swarm of reporters, he snapped at Joel Sherman of The New
York Post. Big Stein was angered by one of Sherman's offseason pieces, and
let the world know
it.
Knoblauch interrupted an interview to give a big hug to Bernie Williams,
who was making his first appearance of the spring. Chuck looked his pal up and
down, then noticed the center fielder's slightly puffed afro. "What are you
doing?" Knoblauch asked. "Going with the
Kobe?"
Fans applauded several Yankees as they emerged from the clubhouse, but an
especially loud greeting was reserved for pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre, who missed much of last season with blood plasma cancer (now in
remission). Stottlemyre seemed to genuinely appreciate the
affection.
Sports Illustrated senior writer Jeff Pearlman will check in periodically
with reports from his tour of spring camps.
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