New York Yankees notes as they head to final day in Tampa

The New York Yankees are giving Lyle Overbay a three day tryout. It isn’t a lot of time to see if he can be the first baseman but either he will be or they will waive him. They aren’t going to have him go to the minor leagues. He started out well with a two hit night last night and he has always had a good glove. My guess is that he will make the team and that Juan Rivera probably will also but won’t be playing as much as he may have thought. 
The Yankees will head to Washington D.C. to take on the Nationals tomorrow and then West Point on Saturday, they have an off day Sunday and then Monday is the season opener against the Red Sox. Ronnier Mustelier was scratched last night due to soreness in his knee, I really didn’t think he was going to make the team anyway but who knows if the injury will affect that.

The Yankees have said that Vernon Wells will be there everyday left fielder until Curtis Granderson comes back. It will be interesting to see if both Brennan Boesch and Juan Rivera make the team, Ben Francisco is also there but they can’t all make it and it is possible for them to go to the minors. Wells can not so that is why he is on the team.

Eduardo Nunez who is the starting shortstop until Derek Jeter gets back which is anyone’s guess had a good night. He played error free ball again and went 2-3 and now his average is up to 293. There is no doubt from me or the Yankees that he will hit and can create some things on the base paths but his defense is the question. He has worked hard this spring though and has shown some real improvement. If he can play solid defense then he could be a huge player for them going forward.

David Phelps finished up his spring, it was a good one for him and it looks like he will be making a start the first time through the rotation. He will most likely become the long man when Phil Hughes comes back. He will be valuable to the team no matter what though. If Nova struggles again he can be plugged right into the rotation and there are always injuries so I think everyone will be able to pitch enough.

The Yankees also have Chien-Ming Wang stashed in AAA as depth, he has looked good this spring mostly pitching in the WBC. The Yankees have a lot of guys in the minors too that have looked good this spring and could possibly make an impact. They aren’t hurting on the pitching front and that is the most important thing.

Jeter won’t play in a game until Monday at the earliest, he will stay back in Tampa when the team leaves. They are just trying to rest the ankle and get the pain to go away. I don’t think this will be a long term thing but something he has to deal with as he comes back from major ankle surgery. I would expect to see him by the middle of April but you really just don’t know. If Nunez is playing well they can take their time with him and have him come back slower and be ready to go for the rest of the season.