Right-Handed First Base Battle

Andy Phillips just returned to Yankee camp today after spending the last week with his very injured mother (car accident).

He is of course battling Josh Phelps for a roster spot to be the right-handed first base option. With Phillips being out of camp, Torre was of course asked how it will impact his chances. Torre then said it won't.

He said Phillips is in the lead right now, and they have enough information on Phillips (since he was with the big-league club all last year), that they will use that versus how Phelps does this spring.

Despite Torre saying Phillips is in the lead, that could be good news for Phelps. It's really all in his hands, even if he has an uphill climb.

Right now he's climbing the hill. He got an at bat in the 10th inning today, in which he drove in the winning run. It also upped his spring OPS to 1.750.

That's the great thing about Spring Training if you're competing for a job, your trying your hardest while other people are just trying to get ready for the season. If gives the player battling a huge advantage.