01-20-2020, 06:55 AM
TAMPA, Fla. -- Joe Girardi found out about Derek Jeters retirement announcement the same way almost everyone else did: when the New York Yankees captain posted a letter to the world on his Facebook page this week. Girardi left snowy New York on Friday and arrived at spring training for his seventh year as Yankees manager, and he spent the first eight minutes of his 20-minute opening news conference discussing Jeters decision to retire after this season. "I think we were probably all a little bit taken aback by it," Girardi said. "Youre never sure how someones going to do it, but I had no inkling that thats what he was thinking." After missing the playoffs for just the second time in 19 years, the Yankees were back in business when pitchers and catchers reported ahead of Saturdays opening workout. Alex Rodriguezs locker was empty following his season-long suspension. Masahiro Tanaka inherited Mariano Riveras locker and Shawn Kelley got Andy Pettittes stall. Scott Sizemore, attending camp on a minor league contract, was assigned Robinson Canos jersey No. 24. Position players report next Wednesday, when Jeter holds a news conference at Steinbrenner Field to explain his decision. Girardi has exchanged texts with the 39-year-old shortstop but has not spoken with him. "This is going to be a guy thats hard to replace in your clubhouse and on your club," he said. "Its the nature of the business where people age and they move on and they go and do different things in their life, and in our life its a little bit quicker than some of the other working people of this world." Jeter was limited to 17 games last year after fracturing his left ankle in the 2012 playoffs and breaking it again last spring during his rehabilitation. Girardi said Jeter always told him "I feel great," but that he could sense frustration. After working out Friday with Brian Roberts at the Yankees minor league complex, Jeter demurred discussing his decision. "It makes no sense to do it here and then do it again over there, so Ill do it all over there one time," he said. And so now Jeter will go on a valedictory tour, much like Mariano Rivera did last year. Jeter is not the type to call attention to himself, making his public announcement before spring training all the more surprising. "It could have been just watching how Mo did it, and how much fun everyone seemed to have with it with Mo," Girardi said. "He might have said, you know, its a pretty good way to go out." Jeter has won five World Series titles with the Yankees but none since 2009, and his final lap of the major leagues figures to set the theme as New York tries for title No. 28. His teammates looked forward to speaking with him after he reports. "Not really surprised, saddened I guess that hes not going to be around," ace pitcher CC Sabathia said. "You want a guy like that to play forever." Having witnessed Chipper Jones final season with the Atlanta Braves in 2012, new Yankees catcher Brian McCann is looking forward to Jeters last go-round. "Hes been the face of baseball since he broke in," McCann said. "I went through it with one Hall of Famer. Im going to go through it with another." David Robertson, inheriting the closers role from Rivera, hadnt thought Jeter would make his plans known before the seasons end. "But Im really glad he did," he said. "I think its going to give the fans a chance to come out this year and see him in his final season in pinstripes." Robertsons new job is one of many changes for the Yankees, who spent $471 million on free agents, including a $20 million payment to Tanakas old club in Japan. McCann and outfielders Jacoby Ellsbury and Carlos Beltran are among the many newcomers, and first baseman Mark Teixeira is returning from a wrist injury that sidelined him most of last season. Cano -- the Yankees top hitter -- left for a $240 million, 10-year deal with Seattle. Girardi predicted for the April 1 opener at Houston that Yankees players at every position other than pitcher will be different from opening day last year. The only time thats happened in franchise history was 1947, according to STATS. "I think it is probably the biggest transition Ive been through," Girardi said. "I need to learn a lot of new faces fairly quickly." Jerry Rice Super Bowl Jersey . He made the comment at a media availability Saturday prior to Game 2 of the Boston-Montreal playoff series when a Quebec reporter said there is sentiment in Quebec that the NHL looks more favourably on Seattle than Quebec City when it comes to future expansion. Mike McGlinchey Super Bowl Jersey . Greece was on the wrong end of a 3-0 rout to Colombia in its first game of the tournament. They surrendered a goal in just the sixth minute of the contest, and despite some promising attacking play, failed to crawl back into the match. Japan, on the other hand, struck first in its match with Ivory Coast, with Keisuke Honda putting his side into the lead in the 16th minute. http://www.authenticsf49erspro.com/Mitch...rs-jersey/ . Leaning forward with both hands on his knees, Buffon appeared to be resting or somehow trying to withstand the rain. Or perhaps the 36-year-old goalkeeper and Italy captain was reflecting on this: He is only the third player in history to be part of five World Cup squads, along with Germany great Lothar Matthaus and former Mexico goalkeeper Antonio Carbajal. Garrett Celek Super Bowl Jersey . Weise will have his hearing with the NHL head office over the phone, while the league has requested an in-person hearing with Kassian. Oilers centre Sam Gagner suffered a broken jaw after getting hit with a high stick from Kassian in Edmontons 5-2 win. Marquise Goodwin Super Bowl Jersey . Ending a nine-game losing streak? That gave the Milwaukee Bucks veteran forward a reason to smile.MALMO, Sweden - Markus Rosenberg scored twice as Malmo beat Olympiakos 2-0 on Wednesday for its first Champions League victory.The Malmo captain capitalized on slack defending to put his team ahead four minutes before halftime in the Group A match and sealed it with a strike in the 82nd minute.I didnt hit it right but it went in anyway, Rosenberg said of his second goal. Were strong at home and were not afraid. Weve believed in this since the very start.Malmo reached the final in 1979 when the competition was known as the European Cup, but this year is the first time the Swedish club has reached the group stage since it became the Champions League in 1992.All four clubs in the group now have three points from two games, with Atletico beating Juventus 1-0 in the other match.Olympiakos controlled possession but couldnt beat Malmo goalkeeper Robin Olsen, who didnt concede a single goal at home in the qualifying rounds.Luka Milivojevic and Giannis Maniatis had good chances for Olympiakos in the first half but saw their side fall behind in the 42nd after Alberto Botia failed to contain Rosenberg.The 32-year-old striker snatched the ball from Botias feet, poked itt at Olympiakos goalkeeper Roberto and then slotted the rebound into an open goal.ddddddddddddOlympiakos wanted a penalty 10 minutes into the second half but referee Sergei Karasev booked Maniatis for diving after a clash with a Malmo defender in the area.The Greek side pressed for an equalizer and came close with attempts from Kostas Mitroglou, Maniatis and second-half substitute Jimmy Durmaz, a former Malmo player.Meanwhile they looked vulnerable to Malmos counterattacks and could have gone down 2-0 down when Isaac Kiese Thelin headed Magnus Erikssons cross straight onto Roberto and then failed to get the rebound on target.Malmo clinched the win after Thelin flicked the ball to Pawel Cibicki, who found Rosenberg in the area. The Malmo striker didnt get a clean shot away a€” but the ball still found its way into the far corner via the post.Three points in the group stage here in the Champions League, thats huge, Rosenberg said. Even if they had the ball a lot, it was mostly in their own half. In our half, they didnt have a lot of possession.Malmo lost its opening match 2-0 away to Juventus while Olympiakos beat Atletico Madrid 3-2 at home. ' ' '