A.J. Looks good in final tuneup

The New York Yankees defeated the Toronto Blue Jays by the score of 5-2 today. A.J. Burnett made his final tuneup start before the regular season. He looked pretty good pitching 4 2/3 innings giving up 5 hits and 2 runs. He walked 2 and also struck out 2. Royce Ring struck out the only batter he faced as he is trying to make the team as a second lefty. It is a fierce battle between him and Boone Logan. Chan Ho Park pitched another perfect inning with a strikeout and Dave Robertson pitched a scoreless inning giving up a hit. Joba Chamberlain pitched a scoreless inning with a walk and 2 strikeouts. Curtis Granderson had 2 hits off of lefties today, it looks like he has worked out some of his issues this spring against lefties and is ready for the season. Brett Gardner had a hit, Nick Johnson had a hit, rbi and walk. Mark Teixeira had a couple of hits and Robinson Cano was 2-2 with 2 rbi. I guess the 5th spot is agreeing with him as he has been tearing it up all spring. Nick Swisher was 2-3 and Ramiro Pena had a double and rbi. The Yankees appear to be ready for Opening Night in Boston on Sunday. The Yankees will take on the Baltimore Orioles tomorrow afternoon at 1:00PM on the yes network and ESPN and then have their final tuneup on Saturday afternoon against the Yankees minor leaguers.

Grapefruit League Game 10 and 11-Yankees at Detroit and Orioles at Yankees

The New York Yankees are playing split squad games today. They have been rained out 2 days in a row and this is what they decided to do. The Yankees brought some of the minor leaguers up today just in case although one is scheduled to play. Edwar Gonzalez is scheduled to play. Here are a few quick notes and then I will have the lineups and reserve players for today.

• Kevin Russo will get to play shortstop today, he is trying to make a run at the major league utility job. I am still betting on Ramiro Pena getting that job but you never know what could happen.
• A.J. Burnett, Mark Melancon and Phil Hughes are each scheduled to throw side sessions today.
• Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira and Nick Swisher will all go on back to back roadtrips. They are going to Lakeland today and Bradenton tomorrow.

Yankees Lineup(Home Game)

Gardner(CF)

Johnson(DH)

Posada(C)

Cano(2B)

Granderson(LF)

Winn(RF)

Miranda(1B)

Laird(3B)

Pena(SS)

Yanks Lineup(Road Game)

Jeter(SS)

Swisher(RF)

Teixeira(1B)

Rodriguez(3B)

Thames(LF)

Cervelli(C)

Hoffman(CF)

Winfree(DH)

Nunez(2B)

Chad Gaudin will start this game and Javier Vazquez starts the home game.

Recap of todays Yankees game and some Notes

The New York Yankees took it on the chin today losing to the Toronto Blue Jays by the score of 9-1. The story of the game though wasn't the final outcome it was Francisco Cervelli getting beaned in the head and leaving the game. He did seem ok on the field and was helped off of it but did get up under his own power. He was taken to a local hospital for precautionary testing which included a CT scan. The tests were negative and he said he was feeling a little dizzy and had a headache but he should be back in a couple of days. The story of the game on the field would be A.J. Burnett making his first start. He wasn't great but he was happy that he got his work in and did what he wanted to do. He was throwing only a fastball and changeup and as Joe Girardi said, his out pitch is the curveball and if you take that away, it is a different pitcher. He wasn't concerned with the results, just that he got his work in and starts to feel good about his changeup. His line on the day was 1 2/3 innings, 5 hits, 2 runs and 1 walk. He guessed that he threw 10 changeups on the day. Here is what Jorge Posada said about his outing "He's starting it down, that's the big thing. He's finishing it well. There was one of them that was up, hit off the end of the bat, but I thought he did a great job." Boone Logan was very impressive again, in his debut he retired all 4 batters he faced and 3 were lefties. Today he pitched 2 perfect innings with 2 strikeouts. I know it is early but he is really making a case to be the second lefty if the yankees carry one. Jonathan Albaladejo on the flip side was just awful, it was actually painful to watch. He got torched for 7 hits and 5 runs in 1/3 of an inning. He also walked a batter. That is his second bad outing, I don't think he will be making the team out of spring training this year. Mark Melancon continues to impress, the Yankees still have high hopes for him. He pitched 1 2/3 innings giving up 0 runs on 1 hit and had a strikeout. Andrew Brackman who really struggled last year after coming back from Tommy John surgery but has looked better in bullpens was bad today also. He pitched 1 inning giving up 3 hits and 2 runs. The other guys who pitched were Romulo Sanchez who pitched an inning giving up a hit and walk but 0 runs and Jason Hirsch who pitched a perfect inning with a strikeout. The offense didn't do much at all. Reegie Corona, Brandon Laird, Colin Curtis,Austin Romine, Juan Miranda and Kevin Russo all had a hit. If you notice these are all minor league guys. Colin Curtis has been impressive so far this spring and Reegie Corona is a guy they like, he has been known for his defense. Austin Romine is right behind Jesus Montero as top catching prospect and Juan Miranda has had big numbers in AAA and Kevin Russo is a super utility type guy who has a outside chance of making the team. The lone RBI was a groundout off the bat of Ramiro Pena who is the frontrunner to be the utility guy again this year. Francisco Cervelli obviously will not make the trip tomorrow, Mike Rivera will take his place. Amaury Sanit will also not make the trip after appearing in todays game. Dave Eiland confirmed today that Mariano Rivera, Damaso Marte and Chan Ho Park will all throw a batting practice session on Monday. They are the only pitchers who have yet to face live batters. Andy Pettitte is pitching a 2 inning simulated game tomorrow and will move forward as if it was a real game. This will count as his first outing Dave Eiland said. Nick Johnson took batting practice today and felt good afterward. He said "I took a few swings in the cage, felt loose." Kei Igawa pitched well yesterday and Joe Girardi didn't rule out the idea of him creating a place for himself as a lefty reliever. I would bet against him ever pitching for the Yankees again though but you never know. The Yankees will play the Twins tomorrow afternoon in Fort Myers.

Wangs Day updated

Chien-Ming Wang threw seven innings giving up nine hits, five runs, four of which were earned. I said earlier he had no walks and eleven strikeouts and threw 91 pitches, 70 for strikes. The question is what does all of this mean, really nothing as it is hard to judge a guy when we didn't see him pitch, also he was pitching to minor leaguers with minor leaguers fielding behind him. The best thing for him is that he got up to ninety-one pitches as he needs to build that arm strength, with him averaging ninety-one that is still down from his normal and although he is expected to rejoin the team in Boston tomorrow I would expect to see Phil Hughes pitching Tuesday in Detroit. I think he needs to make at least a couple of more starts down there getting his pitch count up to the 100s and getting his velocity back and then he will be ready to rejoin the rotation. The question of course is if Phil Hughes is pitching well how do you swap out Hughes for Wang, well I don't think you would then, you would probably use Wang as the long man for now and see how it all plays out. Phil Hughes has looked good but that is AAA and he still has to prove it consistantly at the major league level. I am a big fan of Hughes and I think this is a good second chance for him if he gets it, he is healthy and as long as he stays healthy he is poised for a big year.

Yankees Minor league wrap

The AAA Scranton Yankees won again tonight by the score of 11-0. They are now 9-0, will they ever lose a game. Phil Hughes got the start pitching five and two thirds innings allowing no runs on five hits and six strikeouts. Steven Jackson pitched two scoreless innings giving up three hits with one walk and three strikeouts. Brett Tomko finished it off with one and a third scoreless innings with one hit, walk and strikeout. Phil Hughes is 2-0 with a 2.31 era on this young season. The offense had a big day led by Angel Berroa who was four for five with two homeruns and five rbis. Doug Bernier had two hits and a walk, Todd Linden had two hits and rbis. Shelly Duncan had two hits, a walk and rbi. Eric Duncan had a hit and walk. The AA Trenton Thunder won tonight by a score of 5-4. Zach McAllister got the start pitching five and a third giving up three runs, only two were earned on four hits with three walks and strikeouts. Mike Dunn got the win pitching two and two third scoreless innings giving up two hits one walk and three strikeouts. A Tampa won by the score of 10-1. Jeremy Bleich who was the second pick for the Yankees last year started going six innings giving up six hits, one run on one walk and strikeout. The offense was paced by Jesus Montero who went four for five with two rbis. Damon Sublett went one for three and Austin Romine went one for five. A Charleston lost 5-4. Manny Banuelos started going three and two thirds giving up eight hits, four runs and three walks with three strikeouts.

CC Pitches and Brings the Heat

Here is CC Sabathia with Jorge Posada after throwing his first live batting practice. He threw to a few minor leaguers, throwing 30 pitches of which only 4 were put into play. He was throwing some heat and when he did miss he was missing low which is a good sign. He also said today that he will pitch in his first game March 6 which will line him up for the opener on April 6 in Baltimore.

Pitchers throwing Bullpens today

Peter Abraham has a list on his site http://yankees.lhblogs.com AJ Burnett is throwing to Molina Joba is throwing to Kevin Cash IPK is throwing to Austine Romine CC is throwing to Jorge Posada The other guys throwing today are Giese,Bruney,Albaladejo,Igawa(who let him on the field),Veras,Robertson,Cox,Dunn,Garcia,Kontos. Wang and Pettitte threw yesterday. I am sure most of you are saying who are some of the guys on the end of the list. If you want to know comment me or email me and I will discuss them more, but they are minor leaguers.

3 more joining Big League Camp

The Yankees said today that three more minor leaguers will be added to big league camp. Pitchers J.B. Cox,George Kontos,Kanekoa Texeira. J.B. Cox has always been a highly regarded relief prospect and is coming off of some injuries but is still a guy to watch. George Kontos is a guy that the Yanks drafted out of Northwestern a couple of years ago and is a starting pitcher who may be in AAA this year. Texeira was the other guy inclued in the Nick Swisher trade and is another relief guy to add to the mix. It will be interesting to see some of these younger guys especially when the regulars are out to the WBC.