The LoHud Yankees Blog

CC Sabathia was back in form as the Yankees beat the Royals.

Mark Teixiera was out with a sore left wrist. This notebook also has information on Joba Chamberlain, Alex Rodriguez and Hal Steinbrenner.

The Sunday Baseball Beat looks at the class system at the new Yankee Stadium.

Nick Swisher through five games:

.538/.625/1.385.

“I’m loving it,” he said. “It’s like I almost don’t want to wake up. I don’t want to soak it in right now. I want to keep that fire and keep that passion and keep that attitude going right now. I know in this game you’re going to go through ups and downs. But right now it’s going pretty well.”

Yeah, a 2.010 OPS would qualify as “going pretty well.” Getting into numbers now is silly, obviously. But what these first five games have shown is that the Yankees have options they didn’t have before.

That have scored 31 runs in five games without A-Rod is tremendous as every day they they find a way is another day closer to his return.

Meanwhile, the last three starters have allowed three runs over 20 innings.

“Just like we drew it up,” Joe Girardi said.

Because he is quickly becoming your favorite, here is some Swisher postgame audio:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Thanks for reading tonight. Back at it tomorrow, weather permitting.

Diagnosis is tendinitis. Plan is to start him tomorrow.

YANKEES (2-2)
Jeter SS
Swisher LF Damon LF
Teixeira 1B Swisher 1B
Matsui DH
Posada C
Cano 2B
Nady RF
Ransom 3B
Gardner CF

Pitching: LHP CC Sabathia.

ROYALS (2-2)
Crisp CF
Callaspo 2B
DeJesus LF
Butler DH
Gordon 3B
Aviles SS
Jacobs 1B
Olivio C
Bloomquist RF

Pitching: LHP Horacio Ramirez.

CC Sabathia (0-1, 12.46) vs. the Kansas City hitters.

Horacio Ramirez (1-4, 4.34 in 2008) vs. the New York hitters.

WILL THE REAL CC SABATHIA PLEASE STAND UP, PLEASE STAND UP: Sabathia was, well, dreadful in his first start as he allowed six runs on eight hits over 4.1 innings against Baltimore on Monday. He walked five without a strikeout.

Sabathia and pitching coach Dave Eiland worked on a mechanical flaw when he threw in the bullpen on Friday. Sabathia’s footwork, specifically how quickly he landed on his front foot, was to blame. He was taking too long a stride and it threw off his mechanics. Watch his fastball command in the first inning or two. If he has that, it’ll be a good night.

OLD BUDDIES: CC is 14-10, 3.40 vs. Kansas City over 31 starts, the most he had made against any team.

THAT’S A RELIEF: The bullpen in the last three games: 10 innings, 1 hit, 0 runs, 3 walks, 12 strikeouts.

YER OUT!: Yankee pitchers have struck out 22 in the last two games.

DON’T YOU KNOW: Robinson Cano is 8 of 14 with six runs, two extra-base hits, four walks and a stolen base. He is 45 of 129 (.349) against Kansas City in his career, his best mark against any team. He also has a 15-game hitting streak and is 4 for 6 against Ramirez in his career.

LEADERS IN THEIR FIELD: The Yankees are the only team in the major without an error this season. Of course they should have been charged with two yesterday.

WHAT DO YOU GET A MAN WHO WILL MAKE $180 MILLION?: Mark Teixeira turns 29 today.

CATCH AS CATCH CAN: Jorge Posada has caught at least one game for 15 straight years. The last man to accomplish that with the same was Johnny Bench with the Reds from 1967-83. Thanks to the Elias Sports Bureau for that one.

THE DISH ON SWISH: When Nick Swisher drove in five runs against Baltimore on Thursday, he was the first Yankee to drive in four or more runs in his first start with the team since Roger Maris drove in four runs on April 19, 1960. Thanks to the Elias Sports Bureau for this one, too.

Back with more later on.

UPDATE, 5:52 p.m.: Reggie Jackson is in town. He told a funny story about Austin Jackson sending him a text message last night as he was watching Game 6 in 1977 on ESPN Classic. Mr. October, of course, was thrilled. “I told him, ‘I told you I was bad.,’ ” he said.

UPDATE, 5:58 p.m.: Nice nights for some minor-league pitchers yesterday:

Ian Kennedy: 6 4 1 1 0 11

Zach McAllister: 5 4 3 1 2 2

Dellin Betances: 6 3 1 1 2 7

D.J. Mitchell: 6 1 1 0 0 6

UPDATE, 6:25 p.m.: Mark Teixeira (sore left wrist) was scratched. Swisher will play first and Johnny Damon left field.

UPDATE, 6:49 p.m.: Just spoke to Teixeira outside the clubhouse. He said his left-handed swing is fine but that his wrist bothers him when he swings right-handed. He’s going to get checked out by one of the Royals doctors shortly.

When batting right-handed, his left-hand would be his bottom hand, which generates the power. When he hits lefty, his left hand is more of a guide.

Tex didn’t seem to think it was a major issue.

Here’s the audio of the interview:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

UPDATE, 6:53 p.m.: Here’s Joe Girardi’s pre-game interview. He talks mainly about CC and his adjustment he made. This was prior to Tex being scratched.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

UPDATE, 7:10 p.m.: We’re underway. It’s 54 degrees in Kansas City. Enjoy the game. I have some newspaper work to do but we’ll update here from time to time.

UPDATE, 7:26 p.m: CC is filthy. K’d Crisp on a 96-mph heater and just hit 97 against DeJesus. It would appear the adjustment has been made. 11 pitches / 7 strikes / Seven were 95 or better.

It’s going to be a long night for the Royals. Those two runs might be all the Yankees need.

UPDATE, 7:49 p.m.: Nick Swisher, once again, is the man. His little bloop became an RBI triple. Then Posada doubles again and it’s a 4-0 lead for CC.

UPDATE, 8:25 p.m.: Nick Swisher would appear to be the greatest Yankee ever. His two-run bomb into the Yankee bullpen made it 6-0.

Swish had nine RBI and two HRs in five games.

He has a triple and a HR. Can he get the cycle?

UPDATE, 9:14 p.m.: Sabathia’s line so far: 6 5 0 0 0 5 along with two HBP. He’s at 87 pitches and there is nobody warming up, so I assume he’s going back out there.

UPDATE, 9:19 p.m.: Swisher has 15 plate appearances and has been on base 10 times. He also has five extra-base hits.

If Tex is back tomorrow against the right-handed Gil Meche, maybe Swish plays left and Damon sits. How can you sit Nick down at this point?

UPDATE, 9:43 p.m.: CC is back on the mound despite having thrown 98 pitches. It’s also 6-0. Save a few bullets, no?

UPDATE, 9:49 p.m.: Two outs and CC is done. 7.2 6 0 0 0 6. Jose Veras in to face Butler.

Going to Thursday’s home opener at the new Yankee Stadium? If you’re from Westchester, Rockland or Putnam counties, Kevin Devaney of The Journal News would like to hear from you.

He’s writing an article on what fans are anxious to see, do, eat, and buy at the new stadium. E-mailhim at kdevaney@lohud.com if you’re interested in sharing.

According to the gossip pages of the Miami Herald, Alex Rodriguez was in Miami on Thursday evening at a mall eatery with his kids.

The Yankees have been circumspect with the 411 on A-Rod. But it makes sense that he would spend a few days at home in Miami before reporting to Tampa on Monday to begin the next phase of his rehab.

Given that’s it’s April 11, he’s going to be back a lot sooner than that May 15 date the Yankees keep mentioning. A week of workouts and a week of games? That sounds about right.

<div><iframe height=”339″ width=”425″ src=”http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/30078065#30078065″ frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”no”></iframe><p style=”font-size:11px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #999; margin-top: 5px; background: transparent; text-align: center; width: 425px;”>Visit msnbc.com for <a style=”text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;” href=”http://www.msnbc.msn.com”>Breaking News</a>, <a href=”http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032507″ style=”text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;”>World News</a>, and <a href=”http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032072″ style=”text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;”>News about the Economy</a></p></div>

Keith Olbermann of MSNBC put together a great tribute to his late mother this week. Marie Olbermann, as you may remember, was the Yankees fan who was conked by a wayward throw from Chuck Knoblauch back in 2000.

Please, no political comments here. This blog is about baseball.

————

Thanks to Neil Best of Newsday’s fine Watchdog blog as that is where I saw this video first.

Andy Pettitte pitched seven strong innings as the Yankees beat the Royals.

CC Sabathia is ready for his second start — and a big improvement. This notebook also has updates on Robbie Cano, a new look in Kansas City and Hideki Matsui.

Yankees-Royals tonight at 7:10. Check back later for the lineups.

Hideki Matsui is 1 for 14. That one hit was a home run, but still.

I know it’s only four games, but is this a concern? He’s also running to first base like he needs a walker.

Meanwhile Alex Rodriguez will be in Tampa on Monday and according to Joe Girardi, he’ll be swinging a bat after swinging a broomstick while rehabbing in Colorado.

How’s that for a No. 4 starter?

Andy Pettitte dominated the Royals, dropping his curveball over the plate time after time to lift the Yankees to a 4-1 victory.

“We throw a very good starter out there every night,” Joe Girardi said.

Meanwhile, did you notice how those shadows changed the game? The teams were 5 for 34 with 16 strikeouts over the final five innings. That 4-1 lead was about as secure as it gets.

“It was impossible to hit,” Johnny Damon said. “I’m glad we had the lead.”

The bullpen over the last three games: 10 innings 1 hit, 0 runs, 3 walks, 12 strikeouts.