Das Gästebuch » es final season with the Atlanta Braves in 2012,

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." Zach Allen Youth Jersey . At least 90 players who had college eligibility remaining are expected to enter the draft, shattering last years record number of 73. "Its a humongous number, so the first reaction is it makes you step back a little bit," said NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah, a former scout with the Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles. Andy Isabella Womens Jersey . He just didnt expect them to be this good. Darrun Hilliard scored 19 points to lead No. 6 Villanova to a dominating 77-59 victory over Georgetown on Saturday, preserving the Wildcats hopes of a No. http://www.thecardinalsshoponline.com/by...nals-jersey-en/. A veteran of 16 NHL seasons, Prospals career was highlighted by him ranking fourth in points scored, third in assists and sixth in games played among all Czech Republic born players in NHL history. Arizona Cardinals Jerseys .ca presents its latest weekly power rankings for the 2013-14 Barclays Premier League season. Byron Murphy Cardinals Jersey . Burkes Flames are one of several teams involved in heavy trade speculation going into next Wednesdays 3pm et deadline, with the most prominent name in play being forward Michael Cammalleri.Brooklyn, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Prince William and Duchess Kate Middleton were in Brooklyn to take in their first NBA game, and Dion Waiters, Tristan Thompson and Clevelands supporting cast stole the show at Barclays Center. Waiters and Thompson combined for 40 points and sparked a critical run late in the third quarter that fueled the Cavaliers 110-88 victory over the Nets on Monday. LeBron James was his usual productive self, totaling 18 points, seven assists and three steals, and made headlines during warmups by wearing a black I Cant Breathe T-shirt in reference to Eric Garner, the New York man who died earlier this year while being placed in a chokehold as he was being arrested. It was more of a notion to the family more than anything, James said of the gesture. As a society we have to be better for one another, no matter what race you are. James teammate, Kyrie Irving, along with Brooklyns Kevin Garnett and Deron Williams wore the same shirt, but when the ball was tipped, it was business as usual for the Cavs, who rolled to their seventh straight win behind its bench. Waiters scored 26 points, Thompson finished with 14 points and 12 rebounds and fellow reserve James Jones chipped in 12 points. Kevin Love posted a quiet double-double of 19 points and 14 rebounds for the victors. Garnett netted a team-high 14 points, while Williams checked in with 13 points and 11 assists for Brooklyn, which suffered its second straight lopsided loss. The Nets announced before the game they will be without center Brook Lopez for at least one week becausee of a back injury.dddddddddddd Cleveland took advantage of the 7- footers absence with a 55-33 rebounding advantage, with 20 of their boards coming on the offensive glass. Brooklyn surprisingly controlled the paint early on, scoring 16 points inside en route to a 25-22 lead heading into the second quarter. James and Love combined for all of Clevelands points in the opening frame, and the Cavs bench got in on the act in the second. Waiters scored 13 points, Jones added nine on three 3-pointers and the visitors went into the break holding a slim 50-49 edge. It was a 61-61 game before Cleveland made it a blowout using a 24-6 run over the final 6 1/2 minutes of the third. Five of James assists came during the flurry, which featured eight points from Thompson and six from Waiters. LeBron got aggressive, Williams said. It was a bad third quarter for us. It was a snowball effect. A Thompson bucket, fittingly off an offensive rebound, gave the Cavs a healthy 85-67 cushion after three, and the difference grew to 26 points at one point in the fourth. Game Notes Former NBA All-Star Dikembe Mutombo sat next to the British royals throughout the game ... This was Clevelands first win in five trips to Barclays Center .... The Nets were also without star guard Joe Johnson because of the flu ... Brooklyn lost to the Hawks by 23 points last Friday ... The Nets had won five straight meetings ... Nets forward Mirza Teletovic needed five stitches for a facial laceration he suffered in the third quarter. ' ' '