New York Yankees Rotation Shows Off Chemistry

From Joel Sherman of the NY Post:

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“Andy Pettitte warmed up early yesterday afternoon and—as has been the case all spring when the Yankees are at home—he was not alone.

On a suggestion from A.J. Burnett before a Feb. 28 game at Steinbrenner Field, the members of the Yankees’ projected rotation went to watch Joba Chamberlain warm up. And a habit was born.

“We have Five Musketeers,” manager Joe Girardi said.

One for all, all for one.

The fraternity in the Yankees clubhouse has been noticeably stronger this spring, and no place has that been more overt than among this re-shuffled rotation. The five starters have committed to each other in a variety of ways, including going to watch each other’s pre-game warm-ups.

Most days all four non-starters will attend the bullpen session of that day’s starter. Only Chamberlain and CC Sabathia made it yesterday (Chien-Ming Wang continues to battle a cold and Burnett had a family issue), but this has become the in thing and about seven young pitchers, including David Robertson and Phil Coke, stood on the side to offer support. At the conclusion of the warm-up, Pettitte was surrounded by fellow pitchers giving him fist bumps. This is now routine for that day’s starter: fist-bumping unity.”

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The surprise is that this was all started by AJ Burnett, who has a slight reputation of not being a team player going back to the 2003 season with the Florida Marlins. So far with the Yankees he has actually been as good a teammate as they come, at least publicly and by all accounts in the clubhouse as well.

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“His reputation was as prickly and different. However, he has belied that, so far. He has opened up his boat on nearby Lake Tarpon to teammates for fishing jaunts, and is planning to rent a second boat this week for a full-out bass fishing competition for any Yankee who wants to participate.”

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