[Kitty]

3/11/08

Jorge Posada and Alex Rodriguez returned to their positions Monday night against the Reds, after missing nearly a week in the field because of soreness below the right armpit. A-Rod made a throwing error on his first play. Posada said he wasn't 100 percent, but "it's fine."
Hideki Matsui had singles in his first two at-bats. Joba Chamberlain pitched a scoreless 2 1/3 innings and allowed two hits. Mariano Rivera threw a scoreless inning, with one strikeout.
Briefs

Chien-Ming Wang starts against the Blue Jays today at Legends Field. In his previous start, Wang allowed six earned runs and didn't make it out of the first inning against Cincinnati. Between starts, he worked on lengthening his stride.
Johnny Damon started in center field for the first time this spring. He doesn't figure to play his old position much this season.

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[Kitty]

3/12/08

Bay battle

Manager Joe Girardi said he didn't feel the need to speak with Rays manager Joe Maddon before today's game against Tampa Bay, but stands by his opinion that Elliot Johnson's shoulder-lowering crash into catcher Francisco Cervelli last week was "uncalled for." Today, Cervelli will undergo surgery in New York on his fractured right wrist. His recovery time is 8-10 weeks.

Maddon and Don Zimmer felt it was just a hard baseball play. "You just tell your catchers to protect yourself," said Girardi, who will start Jorge Posada at catcher today.
Damon hobblingAn MRI and X-rays on Johnny Damon's bruised right foot proved negative. "It might be a couple of days [before he plays]," Girardi said. During Monday night's game against Cincinnati, Damon fouled a ball off his foot -- the same foot that had a fractured sesamoid bone in 2006.

A-Rod's hits, talksAlex Rodriguez told WFAN that the triggering of his opt out by agent Scott Boras during World Series Game 4 was "one of the classless things I've ever seen in sports," but, "I'm responsible for it, and I'm ashamed for it."He also told Mike and the Mad Dog that his relationship with Derek Jeter has never been better. "We're on the honeymoon again." Tuesday, A-Rod hit his second spring homer, a two-run shot off Gustavo Chacin, and kept his batting average at .500 (7-for-14).

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3/13/08

Mike Mussina's five perfect innings against in the New York Yankees' 5-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates this afternoon was overshadowed just a bit.The biggest ovation from the 10,705 fans at Legends Field went to actor Billy Crystal, who was in the Yankees' starting lineup as the leadoff batter and designated hitter.New York gave Crystal, the longtime Yankees" fan who turns 60 tomorrow, the opportunity to play as a reward for his ambassador-like role for baseball."It was unbelievable," Crystal said.

Crystal went down swinging in his only plate appearance in the first against Pirates left-hander Paul Maholm. He waved toward the fans when returning to the dugout."Billy got out there, we had some fun," Mussina said. "The crowd had some fun. You don't have days like this during the season. The season is all business."Johnny Damon, who had sat out the past couple days with a bruised toe, pinch hit for Crystal in the third.Mussina struck out two during a 64-pitch outing.
"The results were easy," Mussina said. "I didn't feel like I had unbelievable stuff. I got the ball where I wanted to most of the time. Before I knew it, it was the sixth inning."

Maholm gave up one hit in four scoreless innings. He had three strikeouts. New York closer Mariano Rivera allowed two singles in the sixth, but worked out of the jam by inducing an inning-ending double play grounder by Nyjer Morgan. The right-hander hasn't allowed a run in three innings overall.Jorge Velandia had a two-run single during the Pirates four-run eighth. Steve Pearce and Doug Mientkiewicz added RBI singles.

Cody Ransom had a solo shot and Robinson Cano hit a two-run homer for New York.
Yankees outfielder Hideki Matsui started in left, the first time he has played in the field since undergoing right knee surgery last November. He had been the designated hitter in three games this spring."No problems. I felt fine," Matsui said through a translator. "Definitely playing defense means you're at 100 percent."New York first baseman Jason Giambi missed his second consecutive game due to back stiffness. He is expected to play on Saturday."I'm feeling a ton better," Giambi said.

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[Kitty]

3/14/08

Hughes roughed up
In his first three spring outings, Phil Hughes hadn't allowed a run or hit over six innings. But he couldn't get through Friday's third inning at rainy Sarasota, Fla., charged with four runs on nine hits in 2 2/3 innings in a 7-7 tie with a Cincinnati split squad."That's a good example of what happens when you don't command the fastball," Hughes said.

"I think I felt too good. I was really overthrowing. ... it was frustrating." His curveball was missing, too, but, "I had a really good change-up."

Andy's ready

His face beaded with sweat after a 42-pitch bullpen session, Andy Pettitte said he felt "real good," and expects to make his scheduled start Monday against the Red Sox at Legends Field.
Pettitte was skipped over his last start because of mild tendinitis near his left elbow. But at this stage of his career, "I'm not concerned about my elbow.

"I'm going to pitch, unless it tears again. I'm tired of worrying about it," said Pettitte, who had no problems loosening up. Thanks, mate

Catcher Francisco Cervelli, who had two screws inserted to help heal his fractured right wrist, said a nurse in New York told him of the Shelley Duncan incident while he was coming out of anesthesia.Cervelli appreciated the effort. "You can see who's a real teammate," Cervelli said. "Everybody helped me. Support. I like that."

Briefs
Alex-Rodriguez hit a three-run homer and Jason Lane had a two-run single against the Reds.
Talk show host Jerry Springer, a former mayor of Cincinnati, was in a seat behind home plate, wearing a Yankees cap. When a fan chastised Springer, he replied: "It's rented."

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