Pinstripe Posts

Plenty of Hope

 That's Bob Hope, on the left. He was once a minority owner of the Cleveland Indians, at the same time Bing Crosby had a piece of the Pittsburgh Pirates. If there's any chance to get a Hope-Crosby reference in, I'm all for it.

Meanwhile, here at chilly Progressive Field, there's plenty of hope for Phil Hughes, whose chances of staying in the rotation look better and better. Andy Pettitte is still expected to start Wednesday, so if Chien-Ming Wang doesn't appear in relief today he would throw a bullpen session, Joe Girardi said.

Looks good for Melky to start tomorrow. Posada will also catch Joba tomorrow night here. Maybe that lefty from the University of Texas should've been under the old Joba Rules. Did you see hear about that 25-inning game between Texas and BC?

Austin Wood, a side-winding lefty for Texas threw 169 pitches, after tossing 30 the day before. That's more than Carl Pavano tossed it, what, his last three seasons as a Yankee? Despite whether he's a prospect or not, if that were his son, Girardi said, "I'd have a problem with that...that'd be a concern.''

Incidentally, Pavano is going for his sixth win in May, and he looks pretty good through the first three innings. And, not surprisingly, he's been throwing strikes.

The post-game show, from muggy, buggy Cleveland

 They say these are a cross between those Lake Erie midges that devoured Joba in '07 and mosquitoes. Whatever they are, they're all over the press box window - hundreds of them. On the field, it's a seagull party. Before the locusts hatch, here's some post-game stuff.

Jose Veras has now allowed the first batter to reach base exactly half the time (11 out of 22). This time, it was a homer by Choo. Veras gave up two runs and Girardi was about a batter away from getting Mo Rivera hot. Scranton must be calling next.

Anyway, CC got four wins today. Two in RBI Baseball, one vs. the Indians, and he won the coveted "Wrestling Belt,'' after Alfredo Aceves had it the night before.

How 'bout that defense? Mark Teixeira saved a double in the ninth, another rocket via Veras. He also saved a throwing error by Jeter Friday night, and he's the principal figure in the 16-straight games without an error, the best run in franchise history and a game shy of matching the '06 Red Sox' record. Who'd have figured that?

"We're having fun, we're relaxed, it's a good feeling,'' A-Rod said, adding that Tex was "a combination of Tino Martinez and Paul O'Neill.'' Maybe Tino-Keith Hernandez, with more power, is better. Anyway, life sure is beautiful when you're winning.

 "We're looking forward to every day,'' said Jorge Posada, who had been calling for a few ace starters since '07 "We know we have a chance every day.''

Fun and games

 How did CC Sabathia relax before tonight's first-ever start in Cleveland as an Indians' opponent? By whipping Brian Bruney in RBI Baseball -- the old Nintendo game, circa 1987.

The visiting clubhouse in Cleveland doubles as one of the biggest game rooms in the AL. Kyle Farnsworth's initials are still among the high scores on the "Big Buck Hunter'' game (which he liked so much, he bought one). Johnny Damon, Francisco Cervelli and Ramiro Pena were blasting away today.

On the other side of the room, Jose Veras and Angel Berroa were facing off on the "Golden Tee '08'' golf game, and down near the dugout, A.J. Burnett and Brett Tomko seemed to be teamed against Nick Swisher and Phil Coke in a horseshoe-type game played with bean bags. Fittingly, one of the clubhouse TVs was tuned to Nickolodeon's "Sponge Bob,'' though no one was watching.

In fact, more than a few players were watching Sabathia's '86 Tigers beat Bruney's '86 Angels, 2-0, with Doyle Alexander outdueling Don Sutton. In the nightcap, CC's '86 Red Sox were drubbing Bruney's '86 Mets. Of course, when I went over to the Cleveland clubhouse, they were playing RBI Baseball too.

Back to baseball, on a gorgeous night in Cleveland. Posada will catch Sabathia tonight, not Cervelli, who has caught his last three wins. Posada will rest Sunday. Andy Pettitte says his back is improved, and Girardi agreed that it looks good for him to start as scheduled Wednesday vs. Texas.

1st place, Ace, and Andy & Mo erase (a previous record)

 As Kim Jones mentioned in tonight's post-game, this is indeed the first night the Yankees have owned sole possession of first place since the last day of the 2006 season. How about that?

Anyway, Andy Pettitte said he wouldn't miss his next start, though his back needs to be monitored (or else Wednesday would turn into Wang's day). Pettitte said his back locked up during workouts on Monday at Texas, and he skipped his normal between-starts bullpen session.

The slippery mound didn't help, as Pettitte said he slipped 4-5 times. But his back didn't feel any worse in the 6th than it did in the 4th. "A little bit of old age, I guess,'' he said. Enter Aceves, and three must-have scoreless innings. Posada said his stuff and guts remind him of El Duque. "That's the first time I ever caught him,'' Posada said. "He isn't afraid.''

Afterward, Pettitte and Mariano Rivera became linked as the first starter/closer tandem to combine on 58 wins/saves, besting Bob Welch and Dennis Eckersley - who was here tonight for TBS. What does it mean? "Means we're old,'' Rivera said.

Pettitte couldn't remember exactly when he first met Rivera, but guessed it had to be in the '91 instructional league. They were both starters then, and Pettitte remembered thinking, "This guy's going to have to come up wtih another pitch or he's not going to stick around here.

"And here we are, all these years later, and he's the greatest closer of all time.''

Joba jabber

 Quickly, here's what Joe Girardi said when asked about the possibility of Joba Chamberlain heading to the bullpen to accomodate Chien-Ming Wang: "That is not something we've talked about.''

That doesn't mean it won't happen this year. It's just not happening any time soon. (And it was nice of the Lake Erie midges to make an appearance, swirling around the damp press box as we talk Joba).

Anyway, if you've read a few posts, you know where I stand on Joba. I'd rather see him as the 8th inning guy, in the second half. If Bruney is gone for a significant amount of time, then the decision should basically be made for the Yankees; Chamberlain goes to the pen and Wang goes into the rotation.

I believe the Yankees still don't know what the plan is for Wang, beyond leaving him in the pen. For now. If he's able to build some arm strength as a reliever, and build confidence vs. big-league hitters, so much the better.

"I don't think there's an exact science to this,'' Girardi said. I buy that. And I buy that it's unfair to make every Phil Hughes start an epic battle for his survival in the rotation. So, this is it. For now.

"That's why Presidential debates are better,'' Girardi said with a smile. "They end.''

Back in the order

Posada is back in the lineup and batting sixth, with Cano fifth. Kevin Cash seems to be on his way out, based on Posada's pre-game chat. So, Cervelli stays and Angel Berroa lives to see another day in Yankeeland.

Yanks, Indians open Cleveland series at Progressive Field

Quick shots from Cleveland

 As we speak, CC Sabathia is leading a bunch of Yankees teammates - including Joba Chamberlain and Brett Tomko - into the arena for Game 5 of the Cavaliers-Magic series here in rainy, cool Cleveland.

Yeah, he's tight with LeBron, but CC got the seats on his own. And he knows he's going to get shown on the JumboTron and get booed, but that's life post-Cleveland. But it's amazing how many Ohio connections the Yanks have, from Nick Swisher to media relations man Jason Zillo.

And then there's Brett Tomko, born in Euclid, whose father actually named the Cavaliers - winning a newspaper contest. He moved to Southern California at a very young age. "I was a closet Cavs fan,'' Tomko said, but he was more of a Showtime Lakers fan.

Tomko's dad also drew the original logo, saber and all. Now, the right-hander has been working behind the scenes to try to get his dad a token of championship hardware if the Cavaliers win it all. Why not? It's a great name, and a great story.

Anyway, Pettitte vs. Lee tomorrow; CC vs. Fausto (whatever happened to Fausto Carmona) Carmona on Saturday, Hughes vs. CARL PAVANO on Sunday and Joba going in Monday's wrap-around game.

Posada is ready

Jorge Posada is headed to Cleveland and he'll be activated for tomorrow night's game, according to GM Brian Cashman. For the first time this year, Joe Girardi gets to write A-Rod, Tex and Posada in the same order. Also, there's better news on Melky Cabrera, dianosed as day to day with his brised right shoulder. He is not expected to start this weekend, though he is available in reserve.

Mr. Wang-derful

 After four Yankee homers - two by Matsui - and A.J.'s first win since Tax Day eve, Joe Girardi took Chien-Ming Wang's two scoreless innings as his MVM (Most Valuable Moment) tonight.

Based on his velocity (91-92 mph) and the action on his sinker, "We were somewhat excited about what he did in tihs game,'' Girardi said after Wang retired all six hitters to close out the 9-2 win here at Texas.

Wang's control stood out for Girardi. "That's a huge building block.'' When can he build on it? Who knows. Unless Phil Hughes is on a start-by-start proposition, which he might be, Wang is a reluctant reliever.

But he was encouraged tonight in Texas. "Very important for (my) mind,'' he said, pointing to his forehead. Though he had to warm up somewhat quickly (something he's not sure he can do effectively), those six outs did a lot for his confidence.

"(My) sinker was running, moving a lot,'' Wang said. He believes he can get his velocity up to 93-94 mph, but he threw harder than his last outing on Friday - and it was good enough to get outs. What's next? Good question.