Is Bernie Just Here To Promote "Moving Forward"?

Bernie Williams made big news yesterday when he showed up at the Yankees' spring training complex for the first time since retiring in 2006.

He’s supposedly there to work out as he prepares for the World Baseball Classic, and he says he hasn’t ruled out playing in 2009. What I think he’s really there for is to promote his upcoming album, Moving Forward, which will be released April 14.

Think about it: Bernie Williams has been out of the game for two years, and before that, he was already in steep decline. How much could he really help Team Puerto Rico?

Speaking of Team Puerto Rico, do they really need him? Alex Rios and Carlos Beltran are already penciled in for the outfield. I also feel like that younger guys, like Lou Montanez, are more likely to get the third outfield spot over him. Williams will likely be carried just as a favor.

There's no certainty that Bernie's body can even hold up to the games. After just three starts while playing in the winter leagues, he suffered a serious leg injury that cost him the rest of the winter. At the time, Peter Abraham predicted that the injury would cost him his shot at the WBC, and so far there has been nothing to make us believe he’s wrong.

And yet he shows up at the Yankees spring training facility anyways. To which the Yankees probably say, "why not?"

Maybe he can teach Austin Jackson a thing or two.

But my overall feeling is that, from a baseball standpoint, there really is no reason for Bernie to be at the Yankees' camp or on the playing field for Team Puerto Rico.

I can’t help but think about his album's April 14 release date.

It’s just in time to cash in on any publicity he would get from participating in either the WBC or the Yankees' season. After all, if he can't create some interest, who's really going to buy his album?

Last time I checked, Puerto Rican neighborhoods aren’t exactly known for their affinity to smooth jazz.