Yanks/Pirates Game Day

Notes from today's Yankees/Pirates exhibition game from Tampa:

• David Cone has made an impressive debut as an analyst at YES, watching a game and learning at the same time from a literate former player adds a lot to the experience, hopefully this catches on.
• Today's Coney Corner: He details how Girardi has been on Mussina to pitch inside, not just show a pitch but throw strikes. As the game unfolds Jose Molina consistently sets up inside, driving home the message. Moose delivers and pitches 5 shutout innings, Girardi had a reputation as a great handler of pitchers when he was behind the plate, we are seeing dividends already.
• Paul O'Neill gives a hitters perspective and says "concern about pitching inside at Yankee Stadium, to a left handed hitter is a fallacy, as a hitter it's hard to keep the ball fair."(paraphrased)
• More from Coney's Corner: "The pitcher has the ball in his hand and a feel for the pitch, he should have the power to select what pitch to call." (paraphrased) This is an interesting concept in the context of the Yank's young pitchers and the veteran catchers. (As I wrote this I remembered Joba shaking off Posada on several occasions) It will be interesting to see how much rope Girardi gives the young guns.
• Former Bomber bust, Jaret Wright take the mound. He's coming off a season that was injury riddled and featured a bloated ERA--go figure.
• Byung-Hyun Kim takes the mound, Bombers Cody Ransom (who is this guy) and Cano go deep, Yogi watches from the dugout--Deja Vu all over again as Kim has Diamondback flashbacks.
• More player perspective from Cone as he relates how important it is to read an opponents body language and take advantage of any weakness. As he communicates this idea the camera shows a crumpled Kim on the mound. O'Neill mentions he can recall Cone screaming from the opponents dugout, when one of his teammates showed weakness.
• The run of excellent Yankees pitching this spring ends when Moose leaves and Karstens/Traber blow a lead. As the season draws closer, the Yanks would be wise to keep Pirate lefty Damaso Marte on their radar (there have been rumors of interest.--Hat tip My Baseball Bias) He pitched an inning today, featured nasty stuff and would add a proven presence to a vital pen.