TAMPA, Fla. -- Donovan Osborne considered becoming a minor
league pitching coach last year after he was cut during spring
training. This spring, he might wind up as the New York Yankees'
fifth starter.
Osborne will take injured right-hander Jon Lieber's slot,
starting Friday in a split-squad game. Injured for all of 2000 and
2001, he was cut in spring training by the New York Mets last year
and did not pitch in the majors
On Sunday, the Yankees said Lieber won't pitch for at least two
weeks because of an injured right groin.
"That will hurt the rotation," Osborne said. "I'll do the job
until he comes back. It's a good opportunity for sure."
Osborne, 34, is 2-0 this spring with a 3.24 ERA in three games
and would be the Yankees' only left-handed starter. He used to
pitch for St. Louis when Joe Torre was the Cardinals' manager.
"He's the one with experience," said Torre, who has been with
the Yankees since 1996. "He was one of the few guys I knew. Being
left-handed doesn't hurt."
Osborne spent last year with his wife, who had twins in
November. He was asked about becoming a minor league instructor,
but opted instead to pitch in Puerto Rico during the winter.
After he took part in a tryout camp that also included Orlando
"El Duque" Hernandez in January, the Yankees offered Osborne a
contract. New York had just found out that left-hander David Wells
agreed to sign with San Diego.
"I said, 'Where's the paper? I'll sign it,''' Osborne said.
``It's unbelievable to pitch for the Yankees, especially after last
year, when I didn't pitch."
The Yankees also signed Hernandez, who is coming off shoulder
surgery. He is not expected to be ready to pitch in the majors for
another couple months.
"Pitching is the game," Torre said. "The baseball season is
long, and pitchers take the brunt of it."
Osborne last pitched in the majors in 2002, making 11 relief
appearances for the Chicago Cubs before going on the disabled list
May 9 because of a strained right oblique muscle.
"Everything is good, and I'm healthy," Osborne said.
Between 1997 and 1999, Osborne had a groin and shoulder injuries
that limited him to 34 major league appearances.
"He's a pretty good story, that he's throwing as well as he had
to this particular point," Yankees pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre
said. "He appears to be 100 percent. Occasionally, you see a guy
that thinks he's done and he resurfaces. It appears it was a good
decision for him.''
Game notes
Yankees C Jorge Posada (stomach virus) missed his second
straight game Monday. He might play Tuesday against Tampa Bay. ...
All the Yankees' position players, except CF Bernie Williams, are
making the trip for the game against the Devil Rays. Yankees owner
George Steinbrenner lives Tampa. ``We always play our regulars
there,'' Torre said. ... Tuesday's game will be the first time the
Yankees will see former bench coach Don Zimmer, who joined the
Devil Rays during the offseason as a senior adviser. "I hear he's
having a good time, which is nice," Torre said. Zimmer left the
Yankees because of a strained relationship with Steinbrenner.