In his first taste of major league life, Will Warren had a sour taste of Old-Timers’ Day. Last year, he was the day’s starting pitcher — and was knocked around by the Rockies — on an afternoon during which he “didn’t get to meet anyone,” Warren said. Pitchers are busy on the day of their start.
So this season, Warren was happy to see the event fall on a mere workout day for him. On Saturday, he threw a bullpen session and rushed over to the home dugout, where he could soak up the atmosphere and converse with Yankees legends of yesterday.
Part of the allure of the day involves players such as Warren — a 26-year-old rookie still figuring out his way in the majors — chatting with greats such as Ron Guidry, Andy Pettitte, Bernie Williams and Roger Clemens.
He had met them all during spring training — and Pettitte is around all the time as an adviser — but hanging out with the Yankees icons and simply watching them play was an experience he enjoyed.
“To actually watch them play, it was cool because I’m like: The fact that Gator can get on a mound and throw,” Warren said Sunday of the 74-year-old Guidry. “I’m like, ‘No way. I want to be able to do that when I’m his age.’ That’s cool.
“I was just looking around, like, ‘This is crazy.’ ”
Guidry, Clemens, Pettitte and David Cone pitched in the exhibition. The atmosphere had more of an effect on Warren than any bits of advice, but there were plenty of words of encouragement from the greats such as, “Keep going, I’m doing great, things like that,” Warren said.
Will a 70-year-old Warren be an Old-Timer one day?
“For sure, if they let me,” Warren said with a smile.
The afternoon was a success with one large exception: the torn Achilles that befell Mariano Rivera.
A hobbling Rivera did stick around to shake hands with some of the Old-Timers and Yankees, but he will require surgery next week.
“Brutal,” manager Aaron Boone said of his former teammate. “I didn’t see him after, but I know he was in Mo-like spirits. Excited for rehab.”
<
