River Avenue Blues

Scranton Yanks still on pace to go 140-0

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Turns out that neither Kevin Russo or Austin Jackson were lifted in the middle of the game today due to an imminent call-up. Jackson took a pitch to the elbow and is day-to-day, while Russo left with an unspecified injury

Triple-A Scranton (4-3 win over Buffalo)
Kevin Russo: 0 for 2
Doug Bernier: 0 for 3, 2 K – replaced Russo, who was playing short
John Rodriguez: 2 for 5, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 3 K
Angel Berroa: 2 for 3, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 BB – picked off second
Shelley Duncan: 0 for 4
Juan Miranda, Todd Linden & Justin Leone: all 1 for 3 – Miranda hit a solo homered, scored a pair of runs & walked … Leone drew a walk, K’ed & committed a fielding error
Austin Jackson: 0 for 0, 1 HBP
Eric Duncan: 1 for 4, 1 RBI, 1 K
Ian Kennedy: 6 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 1 WP, 6-7 GB/FB – 63 of 94 pitches were strikes (67.0%)
Anthony Claggett: 1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 2-0 GB/FB – 11 of 24 pitches were strikes (45.8%) … just one of those days
Brett Tomko: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 2-2 GB/FB – 14 of 22 pitches were strikes (63.6%) … check out Brett Tomko with the six out save

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Yogi to throw out first pitch

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Can’t really say it’s a surprise, but Yogi Berra will throw out the ceremonial first pitch during tomorrow’s home opener. The pitching rubber and home plate for tomorrow’s game will be the same set used in the final game at the Old Stadium, and will be put into the Yankee Museum in the park after the game. As you probably suspect, there will be a small army of Yankee alumni on hand for the pre-game ceremonies tomorrow. Click the link for a list.

Jackson, Russo not heading to New York

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There was quite a bit of speculation going on after we learned that Kevin Russo and Austin Jackson were both lifted from Triple-A Scranton’s game in the third inning this afternoon, but Chad Jennings says that both players were lifted due to injury. Jackson was hit by a pitch on the elbow and is listed as day-to-day, while Russo is out with an unspecified injury. Hopefully neither is serious.

I’m thinking that Juan Miranda will get the call to replace Nady, serving as the backup first baseman and primary pinch hitter. They don’t need to call up another outfielder, they already have four on their roster, all of whom can play center at least adequately. In an emergency you could run Matsui or even Cody Ransom out to a corner spot. Plus no 40-man move would be required.

Game 9: Game Thread II

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Discussion of the Yanks/Rays rubber game continues here. A third run would be nice, but don’t expect more from Pettitte. This is what he is right now, and if he can give up the hits while limiting the damage and going innings, the Yanks will take it.

Game 9: First rubber match of the season

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Today determines whether the Yanks finish their season-opening road trip with a winning or losing record. (It’s also Jackie Robinson Day, so everyone’s wearing No. 42.) They’ll finish up their three-game series with the Rays in a rubber match. The game’s at four, giving the Yanks a kind-of getaway day as they head back north tonight to prepare for tomorrow’s home opener. We might be looking forward to the festivities, but don’t let that take away from the importance of today’s game.

During the Yanks’ rocky start, we’ve preached patience. Eight games does not make a season — Boston Globe writer Adam Kilgore put it best when he noted that if this were an NFL season “they would be about halfway through the third quarter of the first game.” It’s way, way early, and the Yanks have looked good other than a few hiccups. Yet a game against the Rays should never be taken lightly, even in the early goings. At least one of the Sox, Ray, and Yanks won’t make the playoffs, so winning those head-to-head match-ups is pretty important. Sure, they’ll meet 15 more times this season, but taking this one with a favorable pitching matchup and the Rays best hitter out of the lineup would be a big.

The Yanks have absolutely hammered Andy Sonnanstine over his career, scoring 17 runs (16 earned) over 23.2 innings. Strangely, they’ve only worked two walks off Sonnanstine in those innings, but they have hit six homers, more than any other team. In two starts last year the Yanks scored 11 runs in just 9.1 innings. Andy Pettitte has a 3.63 career ERA against the Rays in 146.1 innings (just a slightly better sample than Sonnanstine). In four starts last year Pettitte went 2-2 with a 4.12 ERA over 24 innings. His last outing against them came on July 8, in which he pitched eight shutout innings.

Just a quick note before we get to the lineups. Team president Randy Levine addressed Hal Steinbrenner’s comments about ticket prices, wherein the new boss said that “if anybody in any business had known where the economy was going to go, they would have done things differently.” Levine clarified the matter, saying Hal was talking about “maybe 150 to 200 seats.” He adds that tickets are selling well (like he’d say otherwise), and that while there are no plans to reduce ticket prices in the future, the team will not rule it out.

Looks like Matsui gets another day on the bench and Jorge will DH again. I wonder if this is more a Matsui not hitting thing, or a giving Posada some rest thing. The good news, though, is that Ramiro Pena gets another start at third. With the possibility that Nady misses the season, the Yanks could make a number of moves over the next few weeks. Putting Nady on the 60-day DL would open up a 40-man spot for John Rodriguez if that’s who the Yanks want as a replacement. The other option is Juan Miranda, who is already on the 40-man but can’t play the outfield. His only position is pretty covered by Swisher and Teixeira, so I think that J-Rod is the way to go. Once A-Rod comes back, the Yanks could DFA Cody Ransom, which would open up a 40-man spot for Mark Melancon.

(Mike also mentioned that the Yanks could sign Frank Catalanotto. That wouldn’t be a bad idea.)

Oh, and while Nick Swisher isn’t busy spinning the earth with a swing of his bat, he’s up to some other pretty awesome stuff. Is there anything not to like about this guy?

Lineup:

1. Derek Jeter, SS
2. Johnny Damon, LF
3. Mark Teixeira, 1B
4. Nick Swisher, RF
5. Jorge Posada, DH
6. Robinson Cano, 2B
7. Brett Gardner, CF
8. Ramiro Pena, 3B
9. Jose Molina, C

And on the mound, number forty-six forty-two, Andy Pettitte.

Report: Nady may need surgery

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There’s no official word yet, but PeteAbe is reporting that Xavier Nady will need surgery on his elbow and be out the rest of the season. Nady hurt himself during last night’s game, saying he felt a sharp pain in his elbow after making a throw. This would obviously be a major blow to Yanks’ offense and depth. More as it comes.

Update by Ben (1:58 p.m.): The beat writers say that Nady just spoke with them, and he’s not saying much. He’s going to talk to doctors in New York tomorrow when the team returns home. Nady however said that the MRI showed a tear that will probably need surgery. How much time he misses is up in the air.

Update by Mike (2:03 p.m.): Pete Caldera is reporting that Nady said he will be placed on the DL. Not sure if this will happen before this afternoon’s game, and who will replace him on the roster.


Update by Mike (2:08 p.m.): Not sure if it means anything, but Austin Jackson was lifted from Triple-A Scranton’s game this afternoon in the third inning. He was hit by a pitch in the second inning, but stayed in the game to run for himself and play another inning in center.

Update by Mike (2:12 p.m.): Kevin Russo was also pulled from the Triple-A game. He might be on his way up to play some third base. If A-Jax is in fact on his way up, he better play every single day.

A-rod a-head of schedule

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With apologies for the groan-inducing headline, let’s get to the worst-kept secret in Yankee baseball. According to his doctor, Alex Rodriguez is responding well to treatment and should return ahead of schedule. “We don’t want to rush too much,” Dr. Mark Philippon told reporters this week, “but according to Alex, his coordination, his motions, his muscle memory is coming back really fast. He told me yesterday that he felt better than he felt earlier at Spring Training, when he got started. We’re five weeks out, and I think it’s on schedule – actually, slightly ahead of schedule.”

While Philippon noted that A-Rod’s hip could face some inherent dangers, particularly on sliding plays, this season, he told Tyler Kepner that A-Rod may not even need the second surgery. While that’s certainly getting ahead of ourselves, A-Rod is likely to return earlier than May 15th. No word yet on the corresponding move from Selena Roberts’ publishers.