New York Yankees Saturday notes

The New York Yankees are mourning the loss of Carmen Berra.  She is Yogi Berra's wife and she

passed away on Thursday night after complications from a stroke.  Here is the official

announcement from the Yankees.  "On behalf of the entire New York Yankees organization, we offer

our deepest condolences to the Berra family,"  Hal Steinbrenner said in a statement.  "Having

known Yogi and Carmen for so long, it is almost impossible to imagine two people who

complemented each other better then they did.  We will always remember Carmen's smile and

sense of humor, and her kindness and genrosisty will be dearly missed."

Vidal Nuno last started a game on Sunday, he threw a simulated game on Friday.  There aren't as many starts as there used to be and he eventually will get sent down to minor league camp.  He will make a start though when half of the team is in Panama for the legends series honoring Mariano Rivera. 

It looks like the travel squad for Panama is starting to take shape.  Dean Anna said he has been asked to go.  We know Derek Jeter is going, Dave Robertson said on Friday that he is going.  CC Sabathia, Brian McCann, Brett Gardner, Carlos Beltran and Alfonso Soriano are all going also apparently.  We should find out the full travel roster this week. 

Mark Teixeira didn't take live BP on Friday but he is scheduled to play in the game on Saturday.  Adam Warren and Matt Daley each threw bullpens on Friday.  Michael Pineda came out of the bullpen to pitch his first two real innings of the spring.  He looked really impressive last night giving up a hit and striking out four.  The scouts had him at 91-93 with a good sharp slider.  He looked confident and really healthy according to the reports.  This is a great sign for the Yankees and if he is their fifth starter that is a huge plus for them. 

Brendan Ryan is being shut down for about a week.  He has soreness in his oblique, the tests came back clean but the Yankees just want to be cautious.  The first spring cuts are probably going to come a little later this year.  Girardi said the Yankees will probably wait until after the trip to Panama.  There are a bunch of split squads in a row so they want those guys to be in camp in Tampa to get through those games while the other half of the team is playing in Panama. 

Adam Warren and CC Sabathia will start the two games in Panama.  Jeter was 2-2 with a walk in Friday nights game.  He has now reached base in five straight plate appearances.  Tanaka next game will be a simulated game on Tuesday.  Nova will pitch on Saturday, Sunday will be Phelps, off day on Monday, Tanaka sim game on Tuesday with CC pitching the real game.  Kuroda will pitch Wednesday, Pineda at home on Thursday and Nova on the road.  Phelps Friday, Nuno Saturday at home and Warren in Panama with Tanaka in Florida on Saturday and CC in Panama. 

Kuroda allowed one hit, one walk and struck out five in his second spring start.  It looked pretty good to me but he wasn't happy with it.  "I struggled with my precise control today, so that caused a high pitch count."  He said "I think I was too cautious and trying to get both corners, but it didn't really work."  He threw 52 pitches and 30 for strikes.  He only lasted 2 2/3 innings. 

David Robertson was working on his changeup on Friday night.  He threw two of them and said he would like to incorporate that pitch a little more this season.  He always had it and used it more in 2012 then last season.  Alfonso Soriano played right field for the first time in his career last night.  The first ball that was put in play was of course at him.  He caught it and also hit a deep fly ball to left in his first at-bat.  He was 0-3 but this time only had one strikeout.