Mike McCann's Field of Fotos

  ...you share it with Aroldis Chapman .  The Cuban expat will begin his 16th big league season in a Boston uniform.  Known for his 100 mile an hour fastball, he broke in with the Reds, is best known as the Yankees closer -- but won his two World Series rings with the Cubs and Rangers.  While his accuracy has slipped this decade, Chapman's numbers are still impressive: 335 career saves, 55 victories and a remarkable k-rate of 1.63 per inning (1246 strikeouts in 760 innings). My images of Chapman are from 2019 with the Yankees and 2013 with the Reds.

We're not even a full week into the Grapefruit League schedule and already the Mets are down three players expected to contribute. Sean Manaea (above), who went 12-6 as the club's defacto ace last summer -- and earned a three-year $75 million extension — will miss opening day with a right oblique strain.  That further thins a rotation also saw   Frankie Montas shelved with a lat strain - which  the former Yankee, Red and Atheltic confirmed will sidelined him through Mid-April. (Below:)  Former Cubs infielder Nick Madrigal , who joined the Mets over the winter as the likely successor to Jose Iglesias, will be out for months -- if not all of 2025 -- after fracturing his left shoulder in Sunday's exhibition against Washington.  Fortunately, if there's one area the Mets have an abundance, its in the infield.  Top prospects Luisangel Acuña, Ronny Maurico, Jett Williams or Brett Baty could step into the void.  And Jose Iglesias, who became a fan favori...

  ...you share it with Hall of Fame shortstop  Alan Trammell .  The six-time All Star teamed with Lou Whitaker for one of the best and most durable middle infield combos since World War II.  A  career. 285 hitter with 185 home runs plus four Gold Gloves, Trammell later managed Detroit for three seasons (2003-2005), without posting a winning record.  Now a special assistant in Detroit's front office, I last saw him in spring training 2015, coaching 1st base in an exhibition game.

With camps open and the first exhibition games just a few days away, it's a good time to spotlight players with big opportunities to win jobs and impress their organizations over the next six weeks.  Catcher  Kyle Teel  (above) was the best of the prospects the Red Sox sent to the White Sox for Garrett Crochet.  When I saw him last June with AA Portland, he was tearing the cover off the ball -- leading to his promotion to AAA Worcester in July.  Now the New Jersey native and U of Virginia product gets the chance to start for the team that wants a clean start after a disastrous 121-loss season in 2024. (Below:) Roman Anthony , Teel's Portland teammate a year ago, was labeled untouchable during the trade season.  Now, rated the #1 prospect across baseball, the power-hitting outfielder could make his Fenway sometime this summer.  Mike Brosseau spent all of 2024 in the minors, belting five previous years of big league experience to Syracuse after taking o...

...you share it with Yankee voices -- past and present.  In an incredibly cool coincidence, Dave Sims , who takes over from John Sterling on radio play-by-play, shares February 14th with the legendary Mel Allen .   After 18 years of calling Mariners games, 2025 marks a homecoming for the former WFAN and WNBC radio talk show host, CBS 2 sports anchor and New York Daily News columnist.   Immediate familiarity, combined with experience, energy and insight, means that Yankees fans will be well served by Dave Sims on radio -- a new chapter in a broadcast story spanning the past 85 seasons. Having Dave Sims and Mel Allen share Valentine’s Day for their birthdays, how could you not reply with Mel’s enduring catchphrase: “How about that?”  

The Super Bowl was played Sunday night; we spent Monday reviewing the results.  And today, the season changes in the sports world.  Football quick fades from the spotlight making room for the beginning of the buildup to baseball.  Players report to camps; some are there already and working out with opening day just over six weeks away. Today, let's zoom in on a couple of young Yankees.  Above, it's infielder Oswald Peraza .  The onetime top prospect lost out to Anthony Volpe in the 2023 spring shortstop battle.  Two years later -- and out of minor league options -- he's trying to win the competition to become the Yankees 3rd baseman.   And below, a look at Ben Rice , who got off to a fast start filling in for the injured Anthony Rizzo, but didn't homer after July 29th. He's got a chance to stick as the backup to Austin Wells and Paul Goldschmidt, but might benefit more from playing every day in AAA. Below: after injuries limited utility player Jon...