You may have heard that the Yankees, who beat the Phillies today 8-5, finished their spring training schedule with the Grapefruit League’s best record. That’s not terribly meaningful, but it is pretty cool. Save for Alex Rodriguez’s hip and assorted other off-field issues, there was nothing but good news out of Yankee camp this March. Here’s hoping things go as well in the regular season.

Lineup:

R – Derek Jeter (SS)
L – Johnny Damon (LF)
S – Mark Teixeira (1B)
L – Hideki Matsui (DH)
S – Jorge Posada (C)
L – Robinson Cano (2B)
S – Nick Swisher (RF)
R – Cody Ransom (3B)
L – Brett Gardner (CF)

Subs: Shelley Duncan (1B), Angel Berroa (2B), Ramiro Peña (SS), Justin Leone (3B), Jose Molina (C), Todd Linden (RF), Melky Cabrera (LF-CF), John Rodriguez (LF), Kevin Cash (DH)

Pitchers: CC Sabathia, Jose Veras, Damaso Marte, Phil Coke, Brian Bruney, Jay Stephens, Steven Jackson

Opposition: The Phillies’ B-team

Big Hits:

Two-run homers by Mark Teixeira (3-for-3) and Hideki Matsui (2-for-3), a triple by Robinson Cano (1-for-2, BB), and a double by Nick Swisher (1-for-1).

Who Pitched Well:

Jose Veras, Damaso Marte, Phil Coke, Brian Bruney, and Steven Jackson combined for 4 2/3 scoreless innings allowing just one hit (off Veras), and two walks (by Veras and Marte). CC Sabathia allowed two runs on six hits in his 3 2/3 innings (one on a Jayson Werth homer), but he also struck out five against just one walk. For an abreviated warm-up start, that’s just fine.

Who Didn’t:

Poor Jay Stephens, who was a swing-man in A-ball last year and was brought over to major league camp for this game only, was in over his head and it showed as he gave up three runs on three singles and two walks while getting just two outs.

Battles:

Angel Berroa and Ramiro Peña combined to go 0-for-3, but Berroa scored a run as a pinch-runner, while Peña was caught stealing in his stint as a pinch-runner.

Don’t read anything into Nick Swisher starting over Xavier Nady in what otherwise looks like the Opening Day lineup. Nady was hit in the elbow with a pitch on Tuesday and was held out of the game as a precaution. He’s fine and will start on Monday.

Camp Leaders:

Games: Ramiro Peña (30)
Hits: Brett Gardner (26)
Doubles: Angel Berroa (8)
Triples: Brett Gardner, Xavier Nady (2)
Home Runs: Brett Gardner, Mark Teixeira, Hideki Matsui, Robinson Cano, Austin Jackson (3)
Total Bases: Brett Gardner (42)
Runs: Cody Ransom (14)
RBI: Nick Swisher (14)
Walks: Nick Swisher (15)
Strikeouts: Cody Ransom (15)
Stolen Bases: Brett Gardner (6)
Caught Stealing: Brett Gardner, Johnny Damon, Ramiro Peña (3)
SB % (min. 4 attempts): Cody Ransom (83%: 5-for-6)
Average*: Mark Teixeira (.444)
On-Base Percentage*: Mark Teixeira (.500)
Slugging Percentage*: Mark Teixeira (.741)

*not including the games against the WBC teams from Canada and the USA, minimum 10 at-bats

Mark Teixeira had a huge spring and nobody noticed. I’m delighted by both of those facts. As for the pitchers:

Games: Brian Bruney, Jose Veras (12)
Starts: Joba Chamberlain (7)
Innings: Joba Chamberlain (20)
Wins: Joba Chamberlain (4)
Losses: Chien-Ming Wang, Ian Kennedy (2)
HR allowed: Dan Giese (5)
Walks: A.J. Burnett, Kei Igawa (8)
Strikeouts: CC Sabathia (21)
ERA (min 5 IP)*: Mariano Rivera (0.00)
ERA (min 10 IP)*: Kei Igawa (0.73)
ERA (min 15 IP)*: Brett Tomko (1.17)
Worst ERA (min 5 IP)*: Mark Melancon (7.94)
Worst ERA (min 10 IP)*: Dan Giese (6.84)

*not including USA & Canada games; none of the stats above include performance in minor league games