TAMPA, Fla. -- The Yankees stashed their gloves and bats on Tuesday in favor of a series of team-building exercises, with manager Joe Girardi seeking an opportunity for his players to get to know each other a little bit better off the field.
On the eve of the club's Grapefruit League opener, the practice fields were empty so that the Yankees could gather in a conference room at George M. Steinbrenner Field for activities led by Steve Shenbaum, founder of the "game on" program.
"Today was fun. We laughed a lot," Alex Rodriguez said. "I'm one who believes we swing too much anyway.