TAMPA – Jason Giambi’s beefy hands didn’t touch wood all winter. So when the next great Yankee stepped into a Legends Field batting cage yesterday against coach Willie Randolph, Giambi was hacking for the first time since Game 5 of the ALDS on Oct. 15 at Yankee Stadium, when he had four singles in four at-bats.
Much has changed in Giambi’s life since that night the Yankees eliminated the A’s. He is $120 million richer, and he is a Yankee. But one thing stayed the same: Giambi’s ability to punish baseballs.
In his first pinstriped workout, Giambi thrilled a crowd and caught the attention of manager Joe Torre and teammates with an impressive longball batting practice display that highlighted the Yankees’ initial full-squad workout.
Flexing the muscles and bat speed the Yankees got him for, Giambi reminded people of Darryl Strawberry, who used to drive baseballs onto Dale Mabry, the street behind the right-field fence.
“I like putting on a show,” said Giambi, who hammered a half-dozen home runs through a stiff breeze blowing in from right. “It was very exciting.”
Giambi has been around the Yankee universe for two days and everything about him is exciting. His eyes dance when he talks, and the way he talks his retinas will need a break. During the end of a lap around Legends to start the workout, a fan yelled, “Jason, good decision.” Giambi responded by saluting the fan.
On a team that includes All-Stars Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams, Roger Clemens, Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada, all eyes were on Giambi, who talked briefly with George Steinbrenner before the workout.
Sitting behind the cage with coaches Don Zimmer and Yogi Berra, Torre watched Giambi’s powerful swing and immediately started thinking about how it will look in Yankee Stadium.
“One thing Jason is going to be able to do is rake the ball to right field,” said Torre, who doesn’t know where he is going to bat Giambi in the order.
“That’s going to be pretty regular stuff for him. That’s a swing that’s tough to teach, to cover the ball and just yank it down the right-field line. He has a pretty friendly right-field line in our ballpark. I am anxious to see when we start playing the games. The only thing I hope he doesn’t expect too much of himself early on, that’s the only caution I have given him.”
Giambi, of course, is just one of several new Yankee faces. No longer do Paul O’Neill and Tino Martinez dress to Derek Jeter’s right. Scott Brosius is gone from his left.
“It’s a new start and things are a little weird,” Jeter said. “Some of the guys we are used to seeing are not here. Tino and O’Neill are guys that have been here my whole career.”
Bernie Williams also was aware of the Giambi show.
“He has got the power, and he will probably fill the role real well,” said Williams.