The LoHud Yankees Blog

Ian Kennedy had surgery at Roosevelt Hospital in New York today. Dr. George Todd repaired the aneurysm in his right shoulder. Todd performed similar surgery on David Cone in 1996.

It will be 6-8 weeks before Kennedy can start throwing again.

Good luck to Ian.

The Yankees have a big crowd for their early workout at the Rogers Centre.

A-Rod, Swisher, Pena, Teixeira, Cano, Cabrera, Cash, Cervelli, Berroa, Gardner, Nady. Joba and Veras are shagging flies, too.

Swisher got himself a brutal haircut. Like he head-butted a lawnmower. I’m one to talk, I know. But still.

According to several e-mailers, there are the packages the Yankee and Steiner Sports will be offering that include seats. They range in price from $1,500 to $1,950.

Each packages includes “a generic pair of Yankee Stadium seats.” The add-ons include autographed items from Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Yogi Berra, a collage, a $100 gift certificate and a “Yankee Stadium free gift.”

There also is going to be an on-line auction of “unique items.”

Meanwhile, Lonn Trost says the Stadium is fine and no changes are planned for this year. Sam Borden has the story up on LoHud.com.

On the issue of allowing regular fans and kids to watch batting practice from the field level, here is what Trost had to say: “If you purchased a suite, do you want people in your suite? If you purchased a house, do you want people in your house?”

Wow. That’s pretty much all the evidence you need about the caste system at the new Stadium. There is a Stadium for the wealthy and there is a Stadium for everybody else.

You know what is really sad about the whole thing? None of those people even watch BP. The entire area is largely empty before the game.

Roger Clemens was on ESPN Radio this morning and again contended that he didn’t do PEDs.

“(Brian McNamee) never injected me with HGH or steroids,” Clemens said.

He also repeated that Andy Pettitte “misremembers” details of his HGH use. Clemens said that while he has not spoken to Pettitte often, he still considers him a friend.

Without a positive drug test that can be used against him, Clemens seems intent on denying everything and painting McNamee as a liar. Perhaps the only way this is ever settled is if federal prosecutors seek perjury charges against Clemens.

Here we are, back at lovely LaGuardia Airport waiting for a flight to Canada. I’m not a big fan of the dreary Rogers Centre, but tonight’s Burnett-Halladay matchup should be an interesting one.

With A.J., it could be a 2-1 game or he could be down 5-1 in the fourth inning. You’re never really sure. He has a 6.66 ERA over his last four starts and needs to show up in a big spot like CC Sabathia did in Baltimore on Friday night.

I apparently was doing a lot of hallucinogenic drugs in spring training when I booked all these flights. There was a 6 a.m. to Detroit on the last trip and now an 8 a.m. to Toronto. Presumably there was a reason, but it can’t be worth getting up so early so often.

The Yankees will be in Toronto but there will be a press conference at Yankee Stadium today to announce the details of the yard sale across the street. The Yankees will be selling seats, dirt, grass, bricks and everything else out of the old Stadium.

Yankees COO Lonn Trost will be on hand. I’m hoping the reporters there ask him some detailed questions about the issues with the new Stadium. The new park was Trost’s responsibility and obviously there are many problems.

The problems have solutions. The Yankees need to …

• Fix the dimensions in right field

• Take out the row of seats directly behind the wall so fans cannot interfere with play.

• Allow fans to watch batting practice from the field seats up to an hour before the game.

• Move Monument Park to a suitable location.

• Paint that prison-wall concrete in the outfield blue.

I’m there there is stuff I’m forgetting. If the Yankees think these issues will go away, they’re mistaken. Many fans are upset with the policies of the new Stadium and the players are concerned that they’re playing in Coors Field East.

Well, they’re calling the flight. Check back later for the lineups and other news from Toronto.

A.J. Burnett returns to Toronto tonight and he’ll be facing his old mentor and friend, Roy Halladay.

Sam Borden was over at Citi Field last night and wrote a column about Johan Santana and the lack of support he has received from the Mets.

I was not in favor of the Yankees trading for Santana, which now seems kind of foolish given that Ian Kennedy struggled last season and will undergo surgery that is likely to end his season today. You also have to wonder if Santana wishes he had gone to the Bronx instead of Queens. He is 4-2 and did not give up an earned run in either loss. That has to be maddening.

Forget to mention this before. Johnny Damon was named the AL Player of the Week. This from the MLB release:

In seven games last week, Damon led the Majors with five home runs, 15 RBI and 32 total bases, hitting .419 (13-31). Johnny posted A.L.-best totals with 13 hits and a 1.032 slugging percentage. He also collected four doubles, seven runs and a .455 on-base percentage. Yesterday, Johnny hit a three-run go-ahead homer in the seventh inning of an A.L. East matchup at Baltimore’s Camden Yards.

The game-winning home run was his ninth long ball of the season and his fifth in seven games while also marking his seventh straight game with at least one extra-base hit. This marks Johnny’s second career weekly award (previous: 8/21/2006).

You know what is interesting? Johnny is at .288/.363/.459 with an OPS+ of 114 as a Yankee. He was .295/.362/.441 with a 108 for the Red Sox.

He’ll be an interesting free agent because he can still play. His defense in left is pretty good, too.

Via David Pinto (who got it via Alyssa Milano, of all people), here is the best new t-shirt of the day:

This site has the details.

Now that the “Joba Rules” t-shirts are old news, the Yankees could use a cool new t-shirt. Of course, that would involve somebody on the team doing something cool first.

Good get for ESPN Radio and the Mike & Mike Show.

Roger Clemens will appear on their show at 8:25 a.m. tomorrow. It’s on ESPN Radio 1050 in New York and simulcast on ESPN2.

Not coincidentally, The Daily News is about to publish a book about Clemens. American Icon: The Fall of Roger Clemens and the Rise of Steroids in America’s Pastime comes out tomorrow.

The book is by the award-winning investigative unit of the News.

Presumably, there are no pre-conditions to the interview on ESPN. If so, here is what needs to be asked:

• Do you still deny having used PEDs?

• If so, can you prove that what Andy Pettitte and Brian McNamee have said is wrong?

• Now that Alex Rodriguez and Manny Ramirez have been caught used PEDs, how do you view the era during which you played?

• Was the incident when you threw the bat at Mike Piazza fueled by “roid rage?”

• Is there any chance you can still pitch? Because the Yankees need bullpen help.

When Francisco Cervelli and Brett Tomko showed up, I asked them to break down a few prospects. Here is what they had to say:

Tomko on Austin Jackson: “He’s going to be a good one. He hits with power the other way, which as a pitcher is tough thing because that takes away from what you’re trying to do. He’s a good center fielder but he really hasn’t to make many great plays down there yet. I think part of it is because he gets to everything on the run. He doesn’t have to dive. From what they were saying, he came a long way last year and he seems to have picked up right where he left off. I like him. I think he can play center up here and be good.”

Cervelli on Zach McAllister: “He’s going to be in the majors. He throws harder than he used to and he can use four pitches. He knows how to pitch. He changes speeds and sets guys up. I liked working with him. He’s 91-92-93 with his fastball and it moves pretty well. I think he can get to Scranton this year.”

Cervelli on Amaury Sanit: “Oh, our Cuban? He’s not a big guy but he pitches to contact and he gets people out. He has good control and he puts it where you want. He’s interesting. I’d keep an eye on him.”

When I asked Cervelli who else is liked, he was quick to bring up Ivan Nova. He’s the 6-4 RHP who was taken in the Rule 5 draft then returned to the Yankees. Nova is 2-1, 3.86 for Trenton in four starts. “His stats aren’t great but he is pitching better,” Cervelli said. “I think he’ll improve.”

Both Tomko and Cervelli mentioned how good their respective mangers were. Tomko said Dave Miley has created a great culture with Scranton. No matter how many transactions they endure, the team is ready to play every night. Cervelli said that Trenton manager Tony Franklin “is perfect” for the players at that level because he demands professionalism from them.

Cervelli won the game for the Yankees yesterday by legging out that infield single. CC Sabathia was raving about him, too. The Yankees certainly seem to have good depth at that position in the minors. It’ll be interesting to see where Cervelli, Jesus Montero, Austin Romine and the rest of those backstops will be in three years.