The LoHud Yankees Blog

YANKEES (13-11)
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Matsui DH
Posada C
Cano 2B
Cabrera RF
Berroa 3B
Gardner CF

Pitching: RHP Phil Hughes (1-0, 0.00).

ANGELS (10-13)
Lineup TBA

Pitching: LHP Joe Saunders (2-1, 3.51)

TIME/TV: First pitch at 1:05. The game is on YES.

WEATHER: It’s raining in the Bronx at the moment. I have no idea whether they can get the game in or not or what their plans would be for a rainout. Given the the Angels aren’t back here again this season, they’ll wait a while to try and play.

SERIES FINALE: The Yankees won two of the first three games in the four-game series. They were beaten 8-4 yesterday as CC Sabathia fell to 1-3.

HUGHES PART TWO: Phil Hughes returned to the team in Detroit on Tuesday and threw six scoreless innings. This will be his second start.

NO LEAD SAFE: The Yankees have had at least a one-run lead in seven of their 11 losses.

LEADING THE LEAGUE: The Yankees’ 5.93 ERA is the worst in baseball.

OFF THE MARK: Mark Teixeira is 2 for 27 (.074) in his last eight games. He has not driven in a run since April 24. His batting average has gone from a bad .240 to an atrocious .182. Teixeira said his sore left wrist has improved enough in the last week to allow him to start again working in the cage before games and he is hopeful his production will increase. His eye remains sharp as he has 11 walks during his slump.

JOSE CAN YOU GET AN OUT: The last four games for Jose Veras: 2.2 innings, 5 hits, 5 runs, 4 walks, 1 strikeout.

THE KEY: The Yankees are 11-3 when they don’t make an error, 2-8 when they do.

DISAPPEARING DAMO: LHP Damaso Marte hasn’t pitched since April 25 in Boston. He has gone unused for seven games. That probably means he has some sort of injury. Although it’s possible Joe Girardi has figured out that the best role for Marte is no role at all.

HIT-DEKI: Hideki Matsui has hit in 12 straight at 17 of 46 (.370) with six extra-base hits and nine RBI.

MELKY’S THE MAN: Melky Cabrera has hit in seven straight at 10 of 27.

HOME COOKING: The Yankees are 6-3 at the new Stadium.

Back with more later.

UPDATE, 10:12 a.m.: RHP Anthony Claggett is here. No word on who is out.

UPDATE, 10:23 a.m.: Just spoke to Damaso Marte, who said his shoulder has bothered him for a week. He’ll be seeing a doctor, he said.

Perhaps he is headed for the DL.

“It’s not that bad, but it hurts,” he said. “I did it in Boston.”

UPDATE, 10:59 a.m.: Marte is in fact on the DL.

UPDATE, 11:28 a.m.: Girardi is 30 minutes to his pre-game press conference and no lineup is posted. Something is up.

UPDATE, 11:57 a.m.: The delay involved meeting with Marte. They also determined that Swisher would be available only to DH.

Meanwhile, when asked about MLB’s investigation about Alex Rodriguez, Girardi spoke out against Selena Roberts’ book on Rodriguez. He questioned the release date of the book and her motives.

It came out of left field and Girardi grew pretty emotional. You need to listen to this:

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UPDATE, 12:02 p.m.: It’s raining here and the tarp is down. There is next-to-no chance that the game starts on time unless it stops raining in the next five minutes.

The weather report is not good for today, or tomorrow for that matter.

Meanwhile, Girardi they wanted Berroa in there against a lefty.

UPDATE, 12:29 p.m.: Here are some of Girardi’s comments:

“I don’t want this Alex thing to be a target. I have some issues with it. It’s interesting how the book (publication) date got moved up now. I get tired of answering these questions. I don’t understand why someone would write a book like this anyway. You know what, some people may not care to hear that, but I don’t understand it.

“Just going into someone’s life. I have three small kids and there are things in my life that I probably wish I could have a re-do on. I wouldn’t want those dragged through the mud and I’m sure you wouldn’t, either.

“I think sometimes, things are written about that none of us are proud of There are things in my life I’m not proud of that I’ve done. I wouldn’t want my kids to have to deal with that. I tell my kids that daddy makes mistakes, I do. And I apologize for them. I say, ‘Daddy’s not perfect.’

UPDATE, 12:28 p.m.: More from Girardi:

“From the excerpts that I have read, there are negative things about his lifestyle. I’m a firm believer that what we do off the field is our personal life. Some people aren’t going to agree with my faith. Some people aren’t going to agree with all the things I do with my life. But I don’t necessarily know why it has to be in a book. It’s something I’ve never understood, whether it’s a book about Alex or other people. Whether it’s a book about a president or a book about whoever. I just don’t understand it. Maybe that’s a short-sighting on my part, but I don’t understand.

“My parents always taught me that talk about the good. Be positive. That might be, you know, that might be me being somewhat short-sighted. But my Mom and Dad always taught me and I love them to death.”

————

The response came to a question about MLB’s investigation into Alex, which is certainly a concern for the Yankees. It’s hard to fault any manager for defending his player.

But if somebody becomes the president or the best player in baseball, people are going to be interested in their lives. That’s just how it works. If you won’t want somebody to be interested in your life, don’t go into public life. It’s really not that complicated.

I’m also not sure why Girardi brought up religion. As far as I know, nobody has ever mentioned his religion or anybody else’s in relation to the Yankees.

However well-intentioned Girardi may have been today, his comments will only serve to continue the story.

UPDATE, 12:44 p.m.: Still raining. The start of the game will be delayed, that’s for sure. No word on what the team plans.

The Yankees were beaten by the Angels yesterday and CC Sabathia wasn’t very happy about it.

Alex Rodriguez moved closer to the majors. This notebook also has updates on Chien-Ming Wang, Derek Jeter, Nick Swisher and others.

The Sunday Baseball Beat looks at the impending return of A-Rod.

The New York Times is reporting that MLB is investigating Alex Rodriguez’s use of PEDs to determine the truthfulness of his claims.

Selena Roberts, who has a book coming out about Rodriguez, was asked to cooperate with the investigation and refused.

This news comes amid reports that commissioner Bud Selig has not yet decided whether baseball will investigate whether Rodriguez tipped pitches to friends on other teams the hope that they would do the same for him.

During his time with the Texas Rangers, Rodriguez often was allowed to call pitches from his position at shortstop. That would have easily enabled him to tip off opponents.

YANKEES (13-10)
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Matsui DH
Cano 2B
Cabrera RF
Molina C
Pena 3B
Gardner CF

Pitching: LHP CC Sabathia (1-2, 4.73).

ANGELS (9-13)
Figgins DH
Matthews RF
Kendrick 2B
Hunter CF
Napoli C
Morales 1B
Rivera LF
Wood 3B
Aybar SS

Pitching: RHP Matt Palmer (1-0, 6.00).

TIME/TV: First pitch at 1:05. The game is on YES.

ON A ROLL: The Yankees have won four straight, their longest streak of the season. They have not won five straight since last Sept. 17-24 when they won seven straight.

HOME COOKING: The Yanks are 6-2 at home and have won five straight.

STREAKING ON: Robinson Cano has an 18-game hitting streak, matching his career high. He has hit safely in 23 of the 24 games this season.

SLUMPING: Mark Teixeira is 2 of 24 and his batting average has dropped to .189. But he has drawn 10 walks in the last seven games. His leadoff walk in the bottom of the ninth helped get last night’s game-winning rally starter.

MINOR MATTERS: Casey Fossum, who was signed yesterday, will start today for Scranton. The team is short on starters with Ian Kennedy (right hand) out for another few days and Jason Johnson (shoulder) on the DL. They were beaten 14-7 last night by Norfolk despite Shelley Duncan going 2 for 4 with two doubles and one RBI. Shelley is hitting .378/.446/.768 with nine homers and 28 RBI. … Trenton lost 9-7 at home against New Britain. Big Jorge Vazquez, the Mexican League veteran, has two homers and eight RBI in eight games. One of my friends, Joe D’Ambrosio, calls New Britain games and said Vasquez “hit an absolute bomb of a home run to center field” last night. He then fouled a ball off his foot in the fifth inning and left the game. The always rehabbing Alan Horne pitches today for the Thunder. … Jesus Montero homered again for Tampa. He has five on the season and is hitting .333. Dellin Betances (5 5 3 3 4 5) had a rough night.

Back later with much more.

UPDATE 12:03 p.m.: Talked to Brian Cashman about a few subects:

The bullpen: “It’s inconsistent. We know what they’re capable of and we’ve seen what they’ve done on the past. Having Bruney down makes it worse. Either it’ll right itself or I’ll have to right it for us. We got out of sort early on because of the Wang starts. But lately we’ve had some quality starts. It’s something we have to watch, no doubt about it. But at this time of the year, even if you want to do something, it’s not easy. We’ll ride it out for now and hope it corrects itself.

On the team being 13-10 despite its issues: “The pythagorean theorem would throw us out the door right now. We’re thankful that between the injuries and the inconsistencies that no one has run away from us.”

On Wang: “I was on the phone with Mark Lindsay (the rehab specialist) last night. He’s doing such hard-core physical therapy work from the ankles up to the hips so his pitch count will be kept low so we don’t interfere with that. He’ll throw 50 in extended spring today and see where we go from that.”

Cashman said Wang would now pitch every five days. “He feels good that he’s made a lot of progress. But it takes time.”

On A-Rod’s timetable: “We’re giving him tomorrow off regardless and then we’ll kind of see how this goes. We do have an idea of when we might be having him here. But it’s too easy to say whether that is a realistic idea.”

Cashman would not reveal that date other than to say it would not be on this homestand.

UPDATE, 12:30 p.m.: They’re playing the great Billy Joel tune Scenes From An Italian Restaurant at the Stadium and the close caption board in right field is keeping up including the “Oh, Oh Oh” parts. Kind of funny to watch the lyrics streaming by.

UPDATE, 1:19 p.m.: CC looked good in the first inning, striking out two guys. … Meanwhiile, people booed Angels starter Matt Palmer when he hit Jeter to start the bottom of the inning. Do you think he really wanted to do that?

Meanwhile, Jeter stole second and the throw from Mike Napoli hit him in the helmet then deflected into the face of Erick Aybar. He is leaving the game.

UPDATE, 1:26 p.m.: That’s a 12-game hitting streak and now 11 RBI for Hideki Matsui. He has looked pretty healthy for about two weeks now.

UPDATE, 1:42 p.m.: The Yankees have had a “seat upgrade” announcement twice already. Given all the empty seats, they might as well keep going.

UPDATE, 1:44 p.m.: Here’s the latest from Tampa:

The extended spring training team played the Pirates. A-Rod was 0 for 6 with two strikeouts and played five innings at 3B. Chien-Ming Wang threw four hitless innings. He walked two and struck out three. 52 pitches / 33 strikes.

A-Rod is 2 for 18 in three extended spring training games.

UPDATE, 2:12 p.m.: Ramiro Pena is sure fun to watch in the field. What’s amazing is that he was a Double-A shortstop with limited experience at third base. He has been working his tail off with Mick Kelliher and it’s paying off.

The Yankees should keep him around when A-Rod comes back for a lot of reasons: He can play 3B when A-Rod needs a day off. He can run. He can play SS and 2B and he’s got a decent bat. Interesting young player.

Meanwhile, the Yankees have let Matt Palmer settle in. I figured for sure they would knock him around.

UPDATE, 2:35 p.m.: Props to Matt Palmer. He has allowed one hit through five innings and has retired 14 straight. Why do the Yankees always struggle against these sorts of pitchers?

UPDATE, 2:51 p.m.: Jeter’s throwing error leads to an unearned run. This will surely lead to the inevitable “Jeter is no good” comments. Probably a story or two in the media as well. Never mind that the defensive metrics show that he has been one of the best shortstops in the game this season.

1-1, brand new game. Yankees need to generate something against Palmer.

UPDATE, 2:56 p.m.: Plus, you know, Jeter gets a lot of hits like that double to dead center he just crushed.

UPDATE, 2:59 p.m.: Tex pops up to center with a runner on third and one out. The crowd booed him. He is now in a 2-for-26 slump.

If Swisher were healthy, giving him a day off wouldn’t be a bad idea.

UPDATE, 3:04 p.m.: Bad, bad baseball there as Jeter doubles to lead off the inning and doesn’t score. … Meanwhile, pretty funny that the close caption board has the lyrics to YMCA as the grounds crew goes through their routine. Do you think the Yankee suits have any idea what that song is about? I’m sure they don’t.

UPDATE, 3:07 p.m.: Angels have first and second and nobody out. Bet they figure out a way to score. Mike Scoscia’s teams handle these situations well.

UPDATE, 3:14 p.m.: Bunt and an infield field. 2-1 Angels. This team may be struggling but they’re fundamentally solid.

Meanwhile, my pal Anthony McCarron is doing some blogging for the News over on Blogging The Bombers. Check that out if you get a chance.

UPDATE, 3:18 p.m.: CC Sabathia was furious as he left the mound, shouting something into his glove. He then fired his glove and cap into the bench and stalked off to the clubhouse.

He has not won a game since April 11 and he won’t win today. The Yankees will be 2-4 in his starts if they lose today. Unacceptable.

UPDATE, 3:36 p.m.: If Jeter hits a ball in the gap here, Gardner will be running up Molina’s back.

UPDATE, 3:38 p.m.: Jose Veras? What does Dave Robertson need to do to get into a game? This game could get ugly fast.

UPDATE, 3:41 p.m.: The Angels must be running to the bat rack as Morales hits a rifle shot over the wall in right center off Veras.

Veras is just brutal. 6-1 Angels.

UPDATE, 3:49 p.m.: A home run and two walks by Veras so far in this inning. I realize he had success at times last season. But these middle relief types run hot and cold. When the time is up, it’s up. He’s of very little use on this roster now.

UPDATE, 3:57 p.m.: Hey, Dave Robertson. Surprised he could find his glove.

Bet he strikes two guys out.

UPDATE, 4:07: See, he did strike two guys out. But Robertson also walked two and allowed a single. What a mess.

The good news is the Yankees have allowed only six earned runs. That’ll increase their ERA from only 5.9321 to 5.9349. Progress!

UPDATE, 4:13 p.m.: The hit streak ends at 18 for Cano.

Back later with reaction from the clubhouse.

UPDATE, 4:27 p.m.: Boy, this is some kind of bad game. Up 8-1, the Angels walk two in the ninth and commit a hideous error to allow the Yankees to score three runs.

The Yankees rallied from way back to beat the Angels last night. But there are some serious issues with the pitching staff.

Alex Rodriguez will play some third base today down in Florida. This notebookalso has updates on Nick Swisher, Brian Bruney, Robinson Cano and Ramiro Pena.

Joe Girardi was late to his postgame media session because he was meeting with Brian Cashman. That usually indicates something is up. No moves were announced, but it would not be a surprise if there was a roster change tomorrow in the bullpen.

If not, there should be.

Edwar Ramirez has put 21 people on base in 10 innings and Jose Veras has a 7.94 ERA. They are at best unreliable at this point. You could make the case that they’re useless.

Juan Miranda was pulled out of the game in Scranton. But that may have only been a precaution in case Nick Swisher was seriously injured. Swisher has a lot of swelling and is doubtful for tomorrow. But he believes it’s a day-to-day thing.

Best line of the night was from Andy Pettitte: “I was in a pretty bad mood before and now I’m in a good mood.”

YANKEES (12-10)
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Matsui DH
Cano 2B
Posada C
Swisher RF
Cabrera CF
Pena 3B

Pitching: LHP Andy Pettitte (2-1, 2.96).

ANGELS (9-12)
Figgins 3B
Matthews RF
Abreu LF
Hunter CF
Napoli DH
Kendrick 2B
Quinlan 1B
Mathis C
Aybar SS

Pitching: RHP Jered Weaver (2-1, 2.45).

GAME TWO: The Yankees have won three straight and scored 26 runs, their best three-game streatch of the season. The Yankees have hit .308 with five doubles, five homers and 19 walks.

DREAM WEAVER: Weaver gave up three hits in seven innings in an 8-0 victory over Seattle on Sunday. He is 3-1 against the Yankees in his career but with a 6.14 ERA.

LEFTY’S SUCCESS: Andy Pettitte owns Torii Hunter (6 for 28, 11 strikeouts) and Bobby Abreu (2 for 12, 4 Ks).

COKE IS IT: Phil Cokes last seven outings: 6 innings, 1 hit, 0 runs, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts.

HE’S HAPPY IT’S MAY: Mark Teixeira is 2 of his last 20 and doesn’t have an RBI in six games. He does have nine walks, however.

GODZILLA ON A RAMPAGE: Hideki Matsui is 15 of his last 28 with six extra-base hits, seven RBI and six runs scored. He has a 10-game hit streak.

CANO KEEPING ON: Robbie Cano has a 17-game hit streak, one away from matching his career high.

SWISHALICIOUS: Nick Swisher is 6 of his last 14 with three homers and six RBI. He had reached base via hit or walk in all but game this season.

MELKY’S THE MAN: Melky Cabrera is 11 of his last 32 with five RBI and six runs scored.

ITS HIS SPOT (FOR NOW): Ramiro Pena, in addition to shining in the field, is 5 of his last 13.

THANKS VERY MUCH: This blog had 2,239,992 page views in April, a new record. Thanks to everybody for reading and for contributing their comments. The community we have here is terrific. If you ever have any ideas for the blog, please e-mail.

I’m getting close to announcing another reader Q&A. To keep an eye out for that.

Back with much more later.

UPDATE, 3;57 p.m.: Brian Bruney just played catch for the first time since he was shut down. He felt fine.

Check out StubHub. Heard premium seats are going 30 cents on the dollar tonight.

UPDATE, 4:23 p.m.: A-Rod was 1 for 6 with a walk today in Bradenton against the Pirates. He is set to play 3B for five innings tomorrow.

UPDATE, 5:49 p.m.: The tarp is down but it’s not raining at the moment and the gates are open.

UPDATE, 6:00 p.m.: Here is the AP report on A-Rod’s day:

Rodriguez hit a ground single between third base and shortstop in his final at-bat Friday, finishing 1 for 6 with a walk as a designated hitter for the second straight day.

The rehabbing third baseman, who has yet to play in the field, was 1 for 6 with a homer and two walks in an extended spring intrasquad game in Tampa on Thursday. He has been recovering from hip surgery since March.

“I felt pretty good. I’m looking forward to getting back on the field,” said Rodriguez, who did not take questions before jogging away from a small group of reporters and photographers at Pirate City.

The three-time AL MVP worked out on an adjacent field before the game, taking grounders and doing some running and agility drills before moving indoors to take swings in a batting cage. He batted third in every inning, except the first, when he didn’t go to the plate after finishing his indoor work.

Rodriguez, who left the game after his eighth-inning single off Brandon Holden, took a third called strike from right-hander Edgar Gutierrez in the third. He was 0 for 3 against righty Ryan Kelly, who retired him on two routine fly balls to the outfield and a grounder to short.

Rodriguez ran less than full speed to first base on the grounder, and jogged all the way to third after he flied to right field to make the final out of the fourth inning.

UPDATE, 6:26 p.m.: They started taking the tarp off and then it started raining again (funny how that works). Now the tarp is down.

Before you ask, I have no idea whether they can get the game in or not or when it would be rescheduled for.

UPDATE, 6:53 p.m.: Tarp off. Skies clearing. Play ball!

UPDATE, 7:07 p.m.: Andy warming up to The Boys of Summer by The Ataris. Nice choice.

Meanwhile it’s 7:07 and there are literally two people in the front row between the dugouts. Two.

UPDATE, 7:21 p.m.: That was Andy’s 95th pickoff. He now has the major league record. The stat has been kept since 1974. He had been tied with Kenny Rogers.

UPDATE, 7:31 p.m.: Not much good will come of two walks to start an inning. Matsui delivers a sac fly and Cano an RBI single to extend his hitting streak to 18 games, matching his career high.

Posada just followed with a home to — where else? — right field. Yankees lead 4-0.

UPDATE, 7:37 p.m.: The Angels just turned a double play to end the inning. Even though they had two outs. Pretty embarrassing.

UPDATE, 7:47 p.m.: Ramiro Pena bunts his way on to start the second inning. Nice play. Here’s hoping they keep him around when A-Rod gets back. Pena is a much more versatile player than Berroa. He has been working diligently with Mick Kelliher at third base, too.

UPDATE, 7:55 p.m.: Tex is now 2 for 22. Yikes.

The scoreboard just showed Jerry Springer. Is he still a celebrity? Is that the best the Yankees can do, Jerry Springer? Erik Estrada couldn’t make it?

UPDATE, 8:00 p.m.: Swisher is out of the game. Gardner now in center and Melky in right. Swisher got hit in the elbow in the first inning by Weaver. No report yet from the Yankees.

UPDATE, 8:01 p.m.: Aybar is way down the line at third. Posada just walked out a few feet and pointed at the runner to make sure Pettitte is paying attention.

UPDATE, 8:03 p.m.: Andy is all messed up with this. Teams are going to torment him all season. Girardi out to the mound now to settle him down.

UPDATE, 8:06 p.m.: Wow, that was bad. Andy got rattled and walked Abreu to load the bases.

UPDATE, 8:25 p.m.: It’s hard to defend Brett Gardner when he looks at three called strikes like that. His patience, a virtue in the minors, hurts him in the majors because teams are willing to challenge him and have the pitchers who can do that.

Anyway, 4-0 Yankees in the bottom of the fourth as some light rain falls. Three outs away from an official ballgame.

UPDATE, 8:35 p.m.: Report on Nick Swisher:

He has a bruised right elbow. X-rays were negative. He is day to day.

UPDATE, 8:48 p.m.: It’s not raining heavily. More like a determined mist that is getting more determined by the minute.

The Yankee are getting outhit 6-4 but lead 4-0 as we start the sixth inning.

UPDATE, 8:50 p.m.: Juan Miranda just got pulled from the Scranton game for no apparent reason according to Chad Jennings.

With Swisher hurt, perhaps they’ll dump one of the spare relievers (Albaladejo?) and bring up the big first baseman as a spare bat.

It’s starting to rain pretty good. The rich folk are fleeing for the restaurant. The regular folk are standing in the open concourses.

UPDATE, 9:04 p.m.: That’s it for Andy. He has allowed nine hits and walked four but only two runs so far.

Big spot for Melancon here with two outs and the bases loaded.

UPDATE, 9:06 p.m.: Disaster as Matthews lines a three-run triple to the gap in right. Angels lead 5-4.

UPDATE, 9:11 p.m.: This is ugly as the Angels score six runs to take a 6-4 lead.

UPDATE, 10:12 p.m.: It’s too bad this team doesn’t have a decent pitching staff. Because even without A-Rod and Mark Teixeira unable to do anything, they can score.

Maybe Tex will get his shot to change all that in this inning as the Yankees cut the lead to 9-8.

That Alex Rodriguez may have used PEDs in high school and while a member of the Yankees are the biggest headlines being generated by the impending release of the book written by Selena Roberts.

But it has already been established that Rodriguez used PEDs. He admitted so himself in February after Roberts reported on his having failed a drug test. These latest reports are not exactly startling.

Besides, Major League Baseball has made it clear that players will not be punished for drug use that took place before the testing program was put in place in 2006. Presumably, Rodriguez has not tested positive since then or he would have been suspended.

But what of the allegation that Rodriguez tipped off pitches to opposing players he was friendly with in the hopes that they would do the same for him? There is no statute of limitations for that.

Such actions directly threaten the integrity of the game. Commissioner Bud Selig and MLB’s investigations department have little choice but to determine whether that charge is valid.

Defenders of Rodriguez are quick to point out — and correctly so — that many players were using PEDs during what we now call the Steroids Era. It is unfair to make him the face of baseball’s drug problem.

But not even Barry Bonds or Mark McGwire would have told the opposition what was coming. If A-Rod is found to have put his own meaningless statistics ahead of the legitimacy of the game, even his most ardent supporters would have trouble excusing that.

UPDATE, 12:58 p.m.: I stand corrected. A-Rod’s supporters apparently have no trouble whatsoever defending anything he does based on the comments to this post. It’s amazing how everything he did is either somebody else’s fault or simply shouldn’t have been reported in the first place.

• Third base coach Rob Thomson has done a great job. By this time last season, Bobby Meacham sent at least three runners to their doom at the plate. Thomson knows what he’s doing out there.

• We’re 22 games into the season and Joe Girardi has continued to be as candid and forthcoming as he was in spring training. Given the ups and downs of this season already, that is a good sign that the changes he promised to make are permanent.

• The Yankees were 12-10 in April. It was their best April since 2006.

• Mariano Rivera has not issued a walk in 21 appearances (and 21.2 innings) dating back to last season. But he has allowed 11 hits over his last 6.2 innings. Thats not normal for him.

• It shouldn’t matter if a lefty is pitching or not. Ramiro Pena belongs at third base until A-Rod gets back. Pena is a first-class defender and offense should not be a factor. Angel Berroa is not going to add a significant boost at the plate.

————————

Speaking of Berroa, here’s further proof that he’s not 31 as the Yankees claim. He’s actually the late singer Lou Rawls! No wonder he can’t pick up a groundball.

Melky Cabrera, the comeback kid, helped the Yankees beat the Angels last night. Kevin Devaney has the story.

Controversy will follow Alex Rodriguez as he returns to New York. He and the Yankees are trying to move on. Kevin has that story as well.