New York Yankees news and notes

The New York Yankees resume action on Tuesday night in Tampa.  They had their first off day on Monday and it will be a big night as CC Sabathia makes his spring debut.  Alex Rodriguez will be playing third base and Jacoby Ellsbury is curiously out of the lineup and not on the travel roster for Wednesday either.  It may end up being nothing or it could be something, we will have to see later on. 

Andrew Bailey who most of us have probably forgot is even in camp will make his spring debut Wednesday in Disney against the Braves.  He hasn't made an appearance in 20 months.   Brendan Ryan who has been hurt since early in camp is listed for both infield drills and normal batting practice on Tuesday.  Bryan Mitchell and Andrew Miller are throwing simulated games. 

The Yankees have about three weeks before opening day and they have only played a couple of weeks of spring games.  They begin tonight though with a few less guys as they were reassigned to minor league camp.  That will continue to happen until all the regulars are only playing the last week or so of camp.  We should start to see more of the regulars now as the minor league guys are starting to leave.  I think you will get a better idea on the hitters now and really the last couple of weeks of spring before they break camp. 

There have been a couple of things we have learned in spring.  It appears pretty obvious that Joe Girardi intends to have Ellsbury, Brett Gardner and Carlos Beltran as his first three in the order and then some combo of Teixeira, McCann, Rodriguez and Headley in the middle with Drew and Gregorius at the bottom.  That could change with injury and of course with certain guys like Chris Young and Garrett Jones in the lineup but the regular lineup will feature the three at the top and two at the bottom with the others in the middle. 

I think the Yankees will like to have Adam Warren as the fifth starter with Esmil Rogers as a long man but I also could see Chase Whitley making the team.  I think they will keep Bryan Mitchell in AAA as a starter and the same with Scott Baker as depth and Kyle Davies if they are still around after camp ends. 

Ellsbury was scratched on Tuesday and he will also sit out Wednesday with a slight abdominal injury.  Girardi said it isn't serious and they will reevaluate him on Thursday.  Brendan Ryan appears to be just about ready to get in a game.  He has been going through drills the last couple of days.