Yankees/Twins Recap and other Yankee Notes

The New York Yankees defeated the Minnesota Twins this afternoon at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa. This was a nice quick game with Andy Pettitte getting the start and Jorge Posada behind the plate. Pettitte pitched 3 innings giving up 0 runs, 2 hits and 1k. Phil Coke also pitched 3 innings giving up 3 hits, 1 run, 1 walk and 2ks. Jose Veras, Anthony Claggett and Steven Jackson all pitched scoreless innings. The important thing was Jorge Posada did catch 4 innings, he didn't have a chance to try and throw a runner out but was throwing in between innings and Pettitte said he looked the same. He also had 2 more hits so he continues to be right on schedule to start the season. The offense had Damon and Swisher going 1-3. Big Tex was 0-2 but had a sac fly, Shelly Duncan went 1-1 and Melky Cabrera went 1-2. Angel Berroa continued his hot hitting going 1-2 with 2 rbi and Pena went 2-3 with a rbi. News and Notes: There were some guys cut today and reassigned to minor league camp and they are Jesus Montero, Mark Melancon, Christian Garcia, Kevin Russo, Ian Kennedy and Kyle Anson. The only suprise if you want to call it that is Mark Melancon who many thought might make it out of spring training including me, but I am sure he will be up with the Yankees at some point this season. Jesus Montero defintely showed off to the Yankees in the time he had in big league camp. Ian Kennedy is hoping to have a bounce back year but I am sure Phil Hughes is ahead of him so we may not see him at the big league level this year. Wang was working with pitching coach Dave Eiland on his arm slot in the bullpen today. Cashman had a lot of quotes today on some of the guys. This is what he had to say about Marte and Cano " There's a yellow flag, Hopefully it's just rest and recovery. Until we see the MRIS we just don't know, i hope there is no bad news. Ian Kennedy- " I just know that he went home and processed what took place last year. It was the first time in his career that he failed. He went to winter ball, made some adjustments and came out with the confidence. He came to camp in a great frame of mind and he heads to Scranton the same way. " Because he had so much success early, he didn't finish off some things he needed to work on and now he's back on track. I think he's going to have a big year, I really do. It will be a different Ian Kennedy for this franchise in 2009 then there was in 2008." Phil Hughes- " You're seeing that curveball and change more and more and to me that's a very good sign. He's becoming more complete." Mark Melancon- "He's somebody we're excited about. He's got ability, he works hard and he wants it. That's a good recipe right there." Jorge Posada-" It's good that we got to this day. Not this specific day, but we thought we wouldn't be ready to catch until Mid-March to catch in games and here we are. So we go from this point, that's an important first step of many more. These next few weeks, we'll really see it. " I guarantee and this is just me thinking, knowing how injuries are that in the back of his mind he doesn't trust it yet. Until he gets to the point where it's instinct and it just happens and he says, Wow, I didn't think about that. That's where he will work through the final phase of this thing. " I need Matsuis knees to be fine and I need Posada to be a catcher. That gives our lineup length and depth, with guys with plate discipline, guys with the ability to give professional at bats. Those guys know what they are doing. If these guys aren't available it changes the lineup radically, especially 6-9. I don't want to be in that position, honestly. " Jorge Posada is feisty, hungry and he wants to win. He doesn't get enough credit for the leadership he brings to that clubhouse. He is intense and sometimes that intensity can carry into some emotional outbursts that aren't always a bad thing. We missed him both on that field and in that clubhouse last year. Losing Wang and the way our pitching went last year was devastating. But our biggest loss was Jorge Posada."