Pinstripe Posts

It's Joba's world again

 Five scoreless innings, and then - fanfare - Joba Chamberlain made it to the sixth, but only retired one bater (Chris Dickerson strikeout). He gave up two wlks, and RBI hits to Jay Bruce and Ramon Hernandez, and he was done - 86 pitches.

There's work to be done, but he was better. Better velocity on the fastball. Good slider. Worked on the change. If he has to be removed before the sixth inning in the regular season, "I'm going to look 'em in the eye and say I don't like it,'' he said, but he understands - innings limits and all. Maybe 160?

You still wouldn't be surprised to see him in the pen come August or September if the pitch counts get too unruly.

Anyway, other stuff: Brett Tomko said he would've adapted to a short role if that's what the Yanks wanted, but understands that Jon Albaladejo pitched his way onto the club - which is essentially what Cashman said later in the morning.

Ramiro Pena, playing second base, made a diving stop to start a DP for Joba in the fourth. He's legitimately in the mix, Cash repeated, but wouldn't the Yanks benefit more from Berroa's bat (in A-Rod's absence) -- and wouldn't Pena benefit more by playing every day at Class AAA?

But Pena's speed is a great weapon, and he is batting .305. Berroa (2-for-4, 1 RBI, double) is up to .379. He was also picked off today.

Melky Cabrera dropped a fly in right for an error, and made an ill-advised dive on a double by speedy Chris Dickerson, but he had a double and three RBI and is now hitting .351, with just two Ks this year in 59 ABs. His trade value is inching upward.

Chamberlain pitches against Reds

Albaladejo is in

Jonathan Albaladejo has made the club.Brett Tomko, Alfredo Aceves and Dan Giese were just sent down and Tomko wasn't happy - but he was completely professional. "I'm extremely disappointed because I felt like I pitched my way onto this team," he said. So, the last battle in camp is Berroa vs. Pena for the utility spot. Meanwhile, A-Rod has begun throwing in Vail, and has expectations of returning sooner than mid May, though Brian Cashman said that May 15 remains the target date.

And, in the center of it all...

  ...well, of course, it's the Milford Plaza. But we're referring to Brett Gardner, pride of Holly Hill, S.C., starting center fielder of the New York Yankees.

 "I'm really excited, but the hard work has just begun. Whatever I've done in spring training doesn't matter anymore. I've still got to get off to a good start in the regular season, and do the little things I'm capable of doing to help this team win,'' Gardner said this morning.

Gardner was so focued on winning the job, and not taking anything for granted, that he has no idea where he's going to live in New York. We'll check the Milford Plaza rates.

Anyway, as we mentioned in today's main story, the last time the Yankees had three different starting center fielders for opening day was 1979-81, with Mickey Rivers, Ruppert Jones and Jerry Mumphrey. You gotta love Mickey, but the other two fellows weren't exactly Willie and the Duke.

So, greetings from Dunedin, where Andy Pettitte faces the Blue Jays. Toronto lefty David Purcey will face this lineup: Jeter, Johnny, Tex, Matsui, Swisher (RF), Cano, Ransom, Molina, Gardner.

Hang in there -- opening day is a week from today. Incidentallly, the Yankees are taking a train to Baltimore from New York on Sunday morning (or at least they were up until yesterday. Joe Girardi has called a 1:20 p.m. workout Sunday afternoon).

It's Brett, by George

  Brett Gardner, at long last, is officially the New York Yankees opening day center fielder. Gardner was told before the game by manager Joe Girardi, who called Gardner and Melky Cabrera into his office separately this morning.

"I'm going to be ready for anything they need me for, I just want to be a part of this team,'' Cabrera said, through an interpreter. Girardi said the plan is to take Cabrera north (he is out of options). It's possible he could be traded at some point, but later than sooner seems to make more sense -- when/if there's a pressing need. The Gardner-Melky stats are as follows after today's 9-8 win over Pittsburgh:

GARDNER: .385 (20-for-52), 2 doubles, 2 triples, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 5-for-7 in SB attempts, .448 OBP.

MELKY: .340 (18-for-53), 3 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 2-for-3 in SB attempts, .417 OBP.

"Gardy finished up strong (last season), and had a great camp, and we're just going to go with Gardy,'' Girardi said.

Meanwhile, A.J. Burnett served up three home runs, charged with 6 earned runs on 10 hits and three walks in 4.1 innings, and blamed sloppy mechanics. He said he knows what to fix, and isn't concerned.

Jeter is in the lineup

His pinkie is OK. This wasn't exactly keeping the manager up at night, but last evening's thunderstorms might have. Should be okay weather for today's game with Pittsburgh. Teixeira has the day off, Swisher at 1B today.

Gone with the wind?

  And today's battle between the trio of long-relief candidates accomplished...maybe nothing. Brett Tomko (3 IP, 0 ER), Alfredo Aceves (3 IP, 1 ER), and Dan Giese (2.1 IP, 1 ER) were all good, but Tomko was better - and he's been better all spring.

But after the game, Joe Girardi mentioned that neither of the three could make the cut, and hinted that Jonathan Albaladejo (0.93 ERA) and Edwar Ramirez (1.27) could both make the cut. Tomko revealed today that his opt-out is not until June, so he could end up in the minors, along with Giese and Aceves.

 Tomko, who turns 36 the day after the Yankee opener, gave a small example of what it's like living on the bubble: ."Dave Eiland was looking for me, and he's yelling, 'Anybody seen Tomko? And it was for something minor. And I was like, 'Dude, you can't do that to me!' ''

 

ALSO: Derek Jeter (0-for-3) came out of today's game with a bruised left pinkie, suffered in a first-base collision with Greg Norton, but Girardi said he expected his captain to play tomorrow. It happened on the first play of the game, and the Yankees went on for a 6-4 victory.

 

Mark Teixeira and Robinson Cano homered, and the winds were blowing at 20 mph to start. In the utility infield battle, Ramiro Pena (1-for-2, .320) made one spectacular play at short, made an error that led to two runs, stole a base and was caught stealing. Angel Berroa went 0-for-2 and is batting .365. 

Gone with the wind?

  And today's battle between the trio of long-relief candidates accomplished...maybe nothing.

Saturday morning at Lake Buena Vista

  It was a Nat "King'' Cole morning. "The Billy May Sessions'' was today's musical choice on the CD player for the 70 minute ride to Disney's Wide, Wide, World of Sports complex.

Back to baseball. Jeter, Damon, Tex, Nady, Cano, Melky, Ransom, Kevin Cash and Brett Tomko represent today's NYY lineup vs. Atlanta's Jair Jurrjens. Chien-Ming Wang is back in Tampa, pitching vs. Pirates minor leaguers, with Posada catching and Matsui DH-ing.

After Tomko comes Alfredo Aceves, then Dan Giese, as the thrilling battle for the long relief spot comes toward the finish line. Joe Girardi said that the battle could continue beyond today, "But we have to make a decision pretty quick.''

Already, the Yankees (17-10-1) have had their winningest spring since 2002, when they went 20-14.

Two sharp

  Here at GMS Field, CC Sabathia walked off the mound in the 8th inning to a standing ovation, after his extremely sharp 93-pitch outing tonight. The line: 7.2 innings, 4 hits, 1 earned run, 0 walks, 6 strikeouts.

"I've still got a couple things to work on...but I'm feeling pretty good,'' Sabathia said.

Command-wise, the slider is always the last pitch he perfects before opening day. Sabathia's next outing should be a scaled-back version, and then he'll take the mound on April 6, opening day at Baltimore.

You think Mariano Rivera's ready? Mo dismissed the Cincinnati Reds on five pitches, including a strikeout. Here's Rivera this spring: 5 games, 5 innings, 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 walks, 7 Ks.