Iwakuma 00740314

02/17/2008 4:22 PM ET
Notes: The Boss makes presence felt
Girardi enjoys first meeting with Steinbrenner since hiring
By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com







TAMPA, Fla. -- George Steinbrenner walked through the glass doors of a building to be renamed in his honor, wearing a blue windbreaker and glad-handing old friends on the way up to his fourth-floor office.
The Boss was in the house on Sunday. And though he may have stepped back in terms of the day-to-day operations of the Yankees, the 77-year-old Steinbrenner still represents a presence at Legends Field.

He was also in the mood for some company. Shortly after getting settled, Steinbrenner sent for manager Joe Girardi to head up to the office, bringing along Ron Guidry, Goose Gossage and bench coach Rob Thomson.

"It was great to see him," Girardi said. "He was doing well. We were joking a little bit and laughing, so it was good. He's just encouraging us to do what we always do here. Mr. Steinbrenner was great."

The last time Girardi met with Steinbrenner, it was November and the former's job was still, officially, as an on-air personality for the YES Network.

Saying that he expects to keep in contact with The Boss for the entire season, Girardi acknowledged that he would love to provide Steinbrenner with a championship-caliber season, given so many circumstances of revelry.

Not only is the Yankees' spring home soon to be renamed George M. Steinbrenner Field, but 2008 also marks the final season of the current Yankee Stadium.

"It'd be wonderful, because I'm thankful for what he allowed me to do -- not just sitting in this [manager's] chair, but as a player, as a broadcaster, as a coach," Girardi said. "Obviously you'd love to be able to repay him for what he's done for my life."

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, who was also in the meeting, said that Steinbrenner quizzed Girardi on his "G.I. Joe" Marine-style appearance. He also took the opportunity to share a few laughs and old stories with his guest instructors.

"It was a good where-are-you-at [meeting]," Cashman said. "He's been in the offices and had a chance to catch up with Goose and Gator, and congratulate Goose on the Hall of Fame. He talked about the club and how the first few days have gone."

Steinbrenner, the principal owner of the Yankees since 1973, recently ceded control of the club's day-to-day operations to his sons, Hank and Hal Steinbrenner. The Yankees have not set an official date for the Legends Field renaming, but expect it to occur sometime in March.

Where better to learn? Edwar Ramirez's changeup transported him from the independent baseball outpost of Edinburg, Texas, all the way to Yankee Stadium last year. But he'll need to hone his other pitches if he hopes to hang around the Bronx.

Ramirez received that advice this winter from the owner of one the world's most dominant changeups, working out with Pedro Martinez in the Dominican Republic.

Ramirez said that numerous Major Leaguers worked out together, including Yankees teammates Melky Cabrera, Robinson Cano and Jose Veras. But Martinez took special interest in Ramirez after seeing him experience mixed results after his big league debut in July, even teaching him his own version of the cutter and tweaking his slider.

"He said that I have a very, very good changeup, and that he doesn't see too many changeups like that," Ramirez said. "But I have to throw my other pitches, because everybody knows that I have that changeup."

Power of the 'pen: The first few days of Girardi's camp have brought noticeable differences from Joe Torre's regular way of doing business. For one thing, Girardi's desk at Legends Field has a laptop computer, something Torre never had much use for.

But Girardi's attention to detail has also come through in mundane exercises like the first bullpen sessions, where pitchers are throwing with minimal effort and essentially just trying to get loose. Girardi has been in the "six-pack" watching groups of hurlers filter through, paying attention and catching up with his coaches whenever possible.

"I've been impressed with the arms, the location," Girardi said. "Location, to me, comes down to good mechanics and concentration. The whole group today was excellent. I was like, 'Wow. I just watched 16 pitchers who are pretty good.' That's a great thing."

The Yankees are also taking strides to specially accommodate Japanese left-hander Kei Igawa, who met with Girardi and Cashman on Saturday in hopes of better acclimating. Igawa arrived early at Legends Field on Sunday and threw a longer bullpen session.

Bombers bits: Andy Pettitte will address reporters on Monday at 3 p.m. ET, but will not work out until Tuesday. ... Girardi said that infielder Morgan Ensberg has reported to camp. ... Andrew Brackman, the Yankees' first-round selection in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft, has increased his throwing to 95 feet. Brackman is slated to miss all of 2008 following Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery.

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.