The LoHud Yankees Blog

The Yankees will announce their plans to sell off seats and other memorabilia from the old Stadium tomorrow. There will be a press conference with Steiner Sports, which is organizing the sale.

The items being sold include seats, sod, dirt and bricks from Monument Park. They’re going to sell everything they can from the old place, bank on that. Bank being the key word.

From what I’ve been told by several e-mailers who were already contacted by Steiner, seats will be $1,500 a pair and there will be assorted other packages. I’m sure the Steiner Sports web site will have more details this week.

UPDATE, 6:01 p.m.: This from the AP:

New York City will receive $11.5 million from the Yankees in exchange for giving the team rights to sell off seats, signs and other memorabilia from their old ballpark.

OK, so the city gets $11.5 million. If the Yankees sell 40,000 seats at $750 a pop ($1,500 a pair is the price), that’s $30 million. Then add in whatever they get for bricks, dirt, signs, etc.

Do you think Yankee execs wear masks and carry guns to these negotiations? They’re going to score big on this one. They’ll sell every single piece of that place, from the flagpoles on top down to the last brick on the bottom.

But you know what? Good for them. They’re selling it only because there’s a market for it.

The Fist Pump Controversy is really, really silly.

• Does anybody really care what the Baltimore Orioles and Aubrey Huff think about Joba? It’s a perennial last-place team and a journeyman DH. That they are so concerned about Joba pretty much explains why they are in last place. Memo to the O’s: You lost the game.

• Joba didn’t care. He was more annoyed at the questions about it. His biggest concern is trying to figure out how to stop getting rocked in the first inning.

• Jonathan Papelbon does it. Francisco Rodriguez does it. Yet for some reason there is no controversy about them. Why is that?

• This is a perfect ESPN/WFAN story in that it creates something out of nothing and gets people riled up.

You know what is important about Joba? He’s 5-2, 3.15 in 18 career starts. In 100 innings as a starter, he has allowed 97 hits and struck out 108. Once he gets that first-inning thing fixed — and he will — the Yankees are going to have a 23-year-old ace on their hands.

If that’s the case, Yankee fans shouldn’t care if Joba does handstands on the mound.

One of our readers, David, asked me to share this with you. I met David and his sons at our Scranton outing last year and he is a very nice guy.

Green Chimneys of Brewster, N.Y., is raffling off a luxury suite at the Stadium for the July 4 game against the Blue Jays.

You can find the information here. Tickets are $100 and you could win a suite for 16, parking for three cars and all the food and beverages you can handle.

Green Chimneys is a nationally renowned, non-profit organization with a mission of restoring possibilities and creating futures for children with emotional, behavioral, social and learning challenges.

So if you have the money and are feeling lucky, give it a shot.

Tuesday: RHP A.J. Burnett (2-0, 5.26) vs. RHP Roy Halladay (6-1, 3.29) 7:07, MY9

Wednesday: LHP Andy Pettitte (2-0, 5.26) vs. RHP Scott Richmond (4-1, 3.29) 7:07, YES

Thursday: LHP CC Sabathia (2-3, 3.94) vs. LHP Brian Tallet (2-1, 4.95) 7:07, YES

I’m spending the off day in New York after driving back tonight. Most of the players were headed to Toronto tonight, although some will spend tomorrow elsewhere.

A.J. Burnett will face Roy Halladay on Tuesday in what should be a fun game to watch.

Check back on the blog tomorrow. I spoke to Francisco Cervelli and Brett Tomko about some of the prospects they were playing with down in the minors and both guys had some interesting thoughts.

Thanks to everybody for reading this weekend.

Chien-Ming Wang will start Tuesday for Triple-A Scranton against Charlotte. He is cleared for 100 pitches.

If he pitches well, Wang could earn his return to the majors. Joe Girardi indicated that he is close.

———–

Funny story from Johnny Damon after the game. Johnny said that his son Jackson must be pleased with the home run because when he had the first pick in a fantasy league, he selected his dad.

“First? He could have had me in the 10th round,” Damon said. “I asked him what he was thinking.”

Johnny has six jacks in the last 10 games. Maybe Jackson knew what he was doing all along. His pop is in a contract year, after all.

Joba Chamberlain said he didn’t see Aubrey Huff celebrate his first-inning home run. But he didn’t have a problem with it.

“Good for him,” he said. “He’s paid to hit home runs.”

Here’s what Huff had to say:

“He’s done it a couple of times to me when he’s struck me out. For me, it’s just in good fun. I always told the guys that if I get him, I’m going to give him a nice fist pump. For me, it wasn’t really showing anybody up. I was just trying to have some fun with it. He does it all the time and I figured you know what, why not?”

Is he worried about retribution?

“Why would he hit me? If he’s going to do that all the time, he’s got to understand that guys are going to be gunning for him you would think. If you want to do that stuff, you got to expect the hitters to get you, too.”

I’m sure some people will get all worked up about. But to me it’s not a big deal. If Joba wants to pump his fist, than he can’t be offended if somebody else does. I think baseball could use more emotion and guys enjoying their success instead of the staid “don’t show anybody up” code.

I’ve never understood why it’s OK for players in the NBA and NFL to celebrate but it’s not OK in baseball.

YANKEES (14-16)
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Swisher RF
Cano 2B
Cabrera CF
Cervelli C

Pitching: RHP Joba Chamberlain (1-1, 3.77).

Chamberlain vs. the Baltimore hitters.

ORIOLES (13-18)
Roberts 2B
Jones CF
Markakis RF
Huff 1B
Mora 3B
Scott DH
Zaun C
Pie LF
Andino SS

Pitching: RHP Koji Uehara (2-3, 4.42).

Uehara vs. the New York hitters.

TIME/TV: 1:35 p.m., YES.

STATE OF THE PINSTRIPES: The Yankees have lost six of seven and are 5-10 in their last 15 games. They are tied for third place in the AL East, 5.5 games out. This the rubber game of a three-game series. They are 2-3 against the Orioles this season.

STAT OF THE DAY: The Yankees have a run differential of -23. Only five teams in baseball are worse — the Padres (-31). Nationals (-27), Orioles (-26), Indians (-25) and Diamondbacks (-24). The team with the best run differential are the 20-8 Dodgers, who are at +59. Hmm, the Dodgers. Interesting.

OTHER STATS OF NOTE: The Yankees are a grim 4-11 against teams in the AL East. … They are 2-12 when they commit an error. … The Yankees are 2-6 in May. … They have had a lead in nine of the previous 59 innings. … They have allowed 190 runs, the most in baseball. … The have scored 167 runs, the fifth-most in baseball.

WHO’S HOT: Johnny Damon is 11 of his last 21 with seven extra-base hits and 10 RBI. … Melky Cabrera has hit safely in 12 of the last 13 games.

WHO’S NOT: Robinson Cano is 3 of his last 30 over six games. His batting average is down to .315He has one RBI and three runs scored over the last 10 games. … Brett Gardner had had three ABs in the last six games.

ANGEL BERROA UPDATE: Berroa was called up on April 21. He has had 12 at-bats and played in seven of the 17 games. He has appeared in one of the last six games. Wouldn’t John Rodriguez or Shelley Duncan be more useful as a pinch hitter?

CAPTAIN SPEED: Derek Jeter has stolen seven bases. He stole 11 all of last season.

Back with much more later on.

UPDATE, 10:12 a.m.: Joba will pitch despite the burst blood vessel in his thumb. … This is the same lineup three days in a row. … Nice day here in Baltimore.

UPDATE, 12:31 p.m.: Mark Teixeira (20 of 102) is in pretty much the worse slump of his career. But Girardi has hit him third in 27 of the 28 games he has started. The manager said its because that’s where he “envisions” Teixeira hitting.

UPDATE, 12:35 p.m.: These are the pink cleats Puma sent Johnny Damon to wear today. He wanted black with a pink stripe so he may not wear them. But he will sign them and give them to MLB to auction off for charity.

Johnny and all the players have on pink wristbands and ribbons today to raise awareness of breast cancer. Some of the guys will use a pink bat as well. We all have a mom and we all probably know somebody who has battled with cancer. So do your part and if you’re interesting in purchasing any of the signed memorabilia, check out MLB.com.

UPDATE, 1:44 p.m.: Teixeira now has seven homers. Maybe that is the shot that gets him going. He’s over .200 at least.

UPDATE, 1:56 p.m.: That right there shows you what the Orioles think of Joba. After Huff crossed the plate, he turned to the dugout and pumped his fist. He was obviously mocking Joba.

The joke in the Baltimore clubhouse this morning was that Joba hurt his thumb pumping his fist.

I personally think it’s fine to show some emotion and that many baseball players are too sensitive. But if Joba is going to do that, he has to back it up and so far this season, he has not.

UPDATE, 2:14 p.m.: Opponents are hitting 13 of 27 (.481) against Joba in the first inning, 20 of 85 (.235) after that. To me, that’s on the coaching staff. Somebody need to figure out why that is and fix it.

UPDATE, 2:21 p.m.: To further the Joba point:

First inning: 6 innings, 13 hits, 9 earned runs, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts, 3 HR. 13.50 ERA

All other innings: 29.2 innings, 23 hits, 6 earned runs, 14 walks, 17 strikeouts, 1 HR. 1.82 ERA.

UPDATE, 3:01 p.m.: What is Melky thinking? He makes a silly, late throw to third base to try and get Wigginton which allows Pie to take second and take the double play out of the mix. Melky is not a good outfielder. He has a good arm but that’s really all he brings to the position.

Meanwhile, that Jeter doesn’t even get a glove on that ball is just grim.

UPDATE, 3:32 p.m.: A moribund effort by the offense so far. Uehara has allowed two runs in 11 innings against the Yankees. He has allowed 17 earned runs in 31.2 innings in his other five starts.

Meanwhile, Joba is three outs away from an acceptable start. He has thrown too many pitches (94 through five innings) but he kept his head in the game and gave them a chance to win.

UPDATE, 3:56 p.m.: Johnny Damon is again the man. 12 for 25, 8 extra-base hits, 13 RBI. Just killing it.

Yankees lead 5-3.

UPDATE, 4:01 p.m.: All that started when Trembley called in a right-hander just to face Francisco Cervelli, who was hitting a .190 in the Eastern League last week. Classic case of over-managing. But they all do it.

Now it’s Phil Coke, hold on for dear life and a sketchy Mo to try and get nine outs in Camden Yards. I’m guessing this doesn’t end 5-3. The Baltimore pen isn’t very good, either.

UPDATE, 4:17 p.m.: So much for Veras, Ramirez, Albaladejo and rest of the firestarters. Girardi is high on Coke.

OK, that’s didn’t come out right. But you get the idea.

UPDATE, 4:20 p.m.: Great job by Coke. 5-3 to the ninth.

UPDATE, 4:25 p.m.: Wow, Melky keeps rocking with the bat. He is 26 of his last 74 and has hit safely in 18 of his last 19 starts. He has run with his second chance. You have to give him credit for doing that.

UPDATE, 4:33 p.m.: It seems strange to say it, but this is a big outing for Mariano Rivera. He needs to quiet some fears here.

UPDATE, 4:37 p.m.: Walking Felix Pie? That’s not quieting the fears, Mo. First walk of the season for Rivera.

UPDATE, 4:40 p.m.: That was the first walk for Rivera since Aug. 24, a stretch of 24 innings. The batter he walked then was Brian Roberts, who is up now with two outs.

UPDATE, 4:41 p.m.: All is well in Yankeeland as Mo slams the door for the save. Yankees win 5-3.

Back later with a report from the clubhouse.

Phil Hughes and the Yankees were rocked by the Orioles last night.

Joba Chamberlain suffered an unusual injury but is expected to pitch today. This notebook also has updates on A-Rod, Brett Tomko, Brian Bruney and Chien-Ming Wang.

————

Happy Mother’s Day to my Mom. My first job as a sportswriter was a part-timer for my hometown paper when I was 16 and my mom dutifully drove me to high school games or picked me up when I worked late answering phones.

When I started covering UConn basketball out of college, she watched the Huskies games on television just to get a sense of what I was doing and even now, she pays attention to the Yanks and will surprise me with questions about when Chien-Ming Wang is coming back or how Johnny Damon is doing.

So thanks, Mom.

Meanwhile, if you haven’t called your Mom yet you know what you need to do.

Look for the players using pink bats today in support of breast cancer awareness and research.

The Yankees are 1-4 and have been outscored 59-30 on Saturday this season. That doesn’t mean anything, necessarily. It’s just sort of strange.

Here’s how the worst day of the week has gone:

April 11: Beat Kansas City 6-1

April 18: Lost 22-4 against Cleveland

April 25: Lost 16-11 at Boston

May 2: Lost 8-4 against Los Angeles

May 9: Lost 12-5 at Baltimore

Coming next Saturday: Twins at Yankees, 1:05 p.m.