The LoHud Yankees Blog

Phil Hughes returns to Orange County today succeeding in a role he did not envision but is enjoying. He and the Yankees swept the Twins yesterday.

The Yankees bid farewell to the Metrodome. This notebook also has updates on Joba Chamberlain, David Cone, Johnny Damon, Mark Melancon and Brett Gardner.

There is a sure-fire method to assure the Yankees will make a move: Go to the movies and shut off your phone.

The movie — Public Enemies — was tremendous (as most Michael Mann films are) and when I turned on my iPhone afterward, there were several messages saying Mark Melancon had been recalled from Triple-A Scranton.

No word as of yet who will be optioned out. I would guess either Jonathan Albaladejo or Dave Robertson. Through Alfredo Aceves will be be available until after the break, once a player is sent down he must remain in the minors for 10 days unless another player goes on the disabled list.

So sending Aceves down would mean losing him for the first three games after the break. I’m not sure he’s the No. 5 starter moving forward. There seems to be a lot of Sergio Mitre love out there.

Meanwhile, the Yankees are tied for first place with the Red Sox as the All-Star Game approaches. Let’s get ready to rumble. Nothing better in baseball than a summer-long pennant race.

Few tears will be shed when the Twins leave the Metrodome for a new ballpark next spring. It’s a quirky baseball stadium with a centerfield fence that appears to be made of blue plastic garbage bags, folded up football seats in right field and artificial turf that sends balls bouncing at odd angles.

But as a baseball writer, I’ll miss the place.

The view from the press box, as this photo shows, was one of the best in baseball. It also was a convenient place to work. The clubhouses were only two flights of stairs down and a dugout another few flights further down from there. A few years ago, some of the beat writers ran a contest to see if somebody could make it from their seat in the press box to the field in less than 60 seconds. As I recall, it was doable if you hustled.

The people are nice here, too, and that won’t hopefully won’t change at the new yard. The old-timer security guard outside the visiting team clubhouse always had a few kinds words for “my friends from New York” and the same kindly woman in the press box has been in charge of the soda machine every since I started coming here.

Plus Twins mascot T.C. the Bear shows up in the press box from time to time and once shook my hand. Outside of Billy The Marlin and the Rally Monkey, T.C. is the best mascot in baseball. I also get a kick out of the small-market Twins introducing winning Little League teams before games or recognizing the state cop with the most DUI convictions.

I’m sure the new park will be great, most of them are. But the Metrodome wasn’t so bad.

Joe Girardi indicated the Yankees would consider calling up a reliever for the Anaheim series after using Alfredo Aceves for 3.1 innings today. He will not be available until after the break.

Mark Melancon would seem like a possibility, or perhaps Edwar Ramirez,

The Angels may not have Vlad Guerrero and Torii Hunter as both are nursing injuries.

More on the bullpen situation when (or if) the news becomes available.

One of our readers, Rob, tipped me off to this story on Politico.com about the witnesses that will testify at the Senate Judicary Committee confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor next week.

David Cone is a majority witness. Cone was a powerful member of the MLBPA in 1995 when Judge Sotomayor issued a ruling that helped end the strike.

My story on tomorrow will be on the bullpen, specifically the ease with which Phil Hughes has assumed that late-inning role. It’s not a stretch to say that is one of the most important developments of the season to date.

Give a listen to Mariano Rivera here:

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He says about six times how much he loves the work Hughes is doing and how confident he looks. The veteran players are impressed with how Hughes has handled himself since he was taken out of the rotation. He has pitched in any role, done his job and not called any attention to himself.

I never got riled up about Joba Chamberlain pumping his fist. But it is nice to see a 23-year-old act like a veteran out there.

In talking to Hughes, he thinks the biggest thing is that he is staying healthy and getting out big league hitters consistently. He has never been able to do that before.

Here is Hughes, talking about his new role:

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The Yankees have won eight straight on the road for the first time since 1998. We all know what happened that year.

This team isn’t going to win 114. But they’re 51-34 after 85 games. That’s six games better than last season.

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Since you asked: Jonathan Albaladejo was awarded the belt by commissioner Johnny Damon. This is the first time Albie has held the title. It’s funny how fired up the guys are about that.

Nick Swisher had on a beige pinstriped suit with a black shirt. He looked like an extra in The Untouchables.

One last time at the Metrodome …

YANKEES (50-34)
Jeter SS,
Swisher RF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez DH
Posada C
Cano 2B
Cabrera LF
Ransom 3B
Gardner CF

Pitching: RHP Alfredo Aceves (5-1, 2.02).

TWINS (43-42)
Span CF
Tolbert 2B
Mauer DH
Morneau 1B
Kubel LF
Cuddyer RF
Buscher 3B
Redmond C
Punto SS

Pitching: LHP Francisco Liriano (4-8, 5.49).

TIME/TV: 1:10 p.m., YES.

STATE OF THE ‘STRIPES: The Yankees have won two straight, five of six and 12 of 14 as they try for the series sweep. They trail the Red Sox by a game in the AL East but have the third-best record in baseball.

TWIN PEAKS: The Yankees are 6-0 against the Twins this season, outscoring them 35-21. They have won 17 of 23 against the Twins dating back to the start of the 2007 season.

FEELING MINNESOTA: The Yankees are 76-64 at the Metrodome. This is the final time they will play here in the regular season as the Twins are set to open a new, open-air (gulp) downtown ballpark in April.

DOME RANGER: Alex Rodriguez has hit .367 at the Metrodome (86 of 234) with 21 homers and 54 RBI.

MINNY MAULERS: Mark Teixeira is 13 of 25 with 10 RBI against the Twins this season. Derek Jeter is 44 of 118 (.373) with 26 runs scored and 14 extra-base hits in his 28 games against the Twins dating back to the start of the 2006 season.

ACE ON THE HILL: Aceves is starting for the first time in the majors since last Sept. 28 at Boston, a game the Yankees won 19-8. He is 1-0, 2,74 in four career starts. As a reliever, he was 2-0, 0.96 with a save in his last 11 appearances. He faced the Twins twice this season out of the bullpen, pitching two perfect innings and getting two victories.

ROAD WARRIORS: The Yankees are 24-18 away from the Bronx this season. They have won seven straight on the road and have not trailed in their last 58 innings on the road dating back to June 24.

G.O.A.T: Mariano Rivera’s last 12 appearances (starting June 7) have been insane. 12.2 innings, 3 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, 15 strikeouts. That’s an 0.71 ERA as opponents are hitting .071.

PHIL OF THE FUTURE: Phil Hughes has made 11 appearances in relief this season. His line: 15.2 innings, 7 hits, 2 runs, 3 walks, 16 strikeouts.

TEAM TRENDS: The Yankees are 34-7 when they score first. … 33-1 when leading after six innings. … 12-10 in one-run games.

GRITTY AND GUTTY (AND GREAT?): Brett Gardner is hitting .333 (36 of 108) in his last 44 games with 13 RBI. He is 4-9 with four RBI in this series.

THIS TIME LAST SEASON: The Yankees were 45-40 and 7.5 games back after 85 games last season.

THEY’RE HOT: Hideki Matsui is 11 of his last 25 with six extra-base hits and 11 RBI. … Jorge Posada is 9 of his last 19 with five RBI. … Nick Swisher is 6 of his last 16 with five RBI.

LEFTY LOVERS: The Yankees are 16-9 against left-handed starters this season. They are hitting .295 (second in the majors) against LHPs with a .380 OBP and a .503 SLG.

NO WHIFFS: The Yankees did not strike out on Wednesday night. That is the first time that has happened since last July 2 against Texas.

DAMASO MARTE UPDATE: Word is he will throw batting practice in Tampa on Saturday. He has been there for roughly two months with a sore shoulder.

Back with more later.

UPDATE, 12:00 p.m.: Johnny Damon (knee, calf) is getting a day off. … Yes, Posada is catching a noon game after a night game. Girardi said he would get one day off in Anaheim. Betcha anything it’s tomorrow when Joba starts. … Neither team took BP today. … A-Rod will DH today then start at third over the weekend against the Angels.

UPDATE, 12:04 p.m.: Here is Joe Girardi’s pre-game press conference. He talked about Aceves, the center fielders and assorted other stuff. It’s about seven minutes long:

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UPDATE, 12:34 p.m.: Just took a little walk around the Metrodome. Got the hand-carved turkey sandwich and Caesar salad combo (a bargain at $7.25) and marveled at how many Yankees fans I saw. So many people in Jeter jerseys and NY caps. Even in Minnesota.

Thanks also to all the blog readers who have stopped by the press box to say hello. Awfully nice of you.

UPDATE, 1:00 p.m.: The Twins just had five fans dressed as fish race around the faces. Team mascot T.C. The Bear (“the natural enemy of fish”) knocked down a few of the participants. Gotta love the Twins.

UPDATE, 1:09 p.m.: Liriano warming up to Vertigo by U2.

UPDATE, 1:10 p.m.: We are underway, right on time at 1:10 p.m. Good-sized crowd here with a lot of camp groups. Hope you can listen or watch wherever you are.

Lots of update love today.

UPDATE, 1:22 p.m.: The people here love their local hero, Joe Mauer. That single puts him at .391.

UPDATE, 1:35 p.m.: Based loaded and no outs for Clutchy Cabrera. Liriano has lost the strike zone.

UPDATE, 1:39 p.m.: The Melkman pops to right. But Cody Ransom walks (Chris Russo voice: “You can’t be walking Cody Ransom in that spot!) Meanwhile Liriano is closing in on 50 pitches already.

UPDATE, 1:45 p.m.: Gardner did what he needed to do and hit the ball on the ground. 2-0 Yankees.

Then Jeter makes it hurt with a bloop RBI single. 3-0 and the Twins must be wondering what they need to do to beat this team.

UPDATE, 1:47 p.m.: Once Jeter got picked off there, Gardner had to go to the plate. I wonder if they did that on purpose?

That goes as a caught stealing for Brett.

UPDATE, 1:52 p.m.: Um, Ace, an 0-2 home run and a walk is not how you pitch with a 3-0 lead.

UPDATE, 1:58 p.m.: In the end, he’s Cody Ransom. No excuse whatsoever with the backup catcher chugging down the line. Ransom appeared to have trouble getting the ball out of his glove.

3-2 as the Twins have been invited right back into the game.

UPDATE, 2:18 p.m.: Another knock for Posada. He’s 11 of his last 21.

UPDATE, 2:19 p.m.: Cano is 29 of 65 (.446) when he connects on the first pitch. How crazy is that?

UPDATE, 2:22 p.m.: OK, quit whining about Ransom. That’s two RBI.

UPDATE, 2:25 p.m.: GGBG is 5 of 11 with six RBI in the series.

By the way, good people, witness the downfall of Liriano and know well the Verducci Effect. This is what happens when you abuse young pitchers. They need surgery and then they stink.

UPDATE, 2:35 p.m.: They said Aceves could go 65 and that’s what he gave them on the button.

He leaves with a 5-2 lead but with the bases loaded and one out. David Robertson has some work to do here.

UPDATE, 2:42 p.m.: Robertson fans Punto and then walks Span on four pitches. Do not let Joe Mauer get to the plate.

UPDATE, 2:44 p.m.: Repeat, do not let Joe Mauer get to the plate.

UPDATE, 2:44 p.m.: Now you’ve done it. Tolbert walks on five pitches. Another run in. 5-4 Yankees and Mauer at the dish with the bases loaded.

This is trouble with a capital T.

My Dave Robertson faith is being tested here.

UPDATE, 2:46 p.m.: You knew Mauer would take a strike. 2-1 count. Go time now.

UPDATE, 2:48 p.m.: So you walk Span and Tolbert and throw strikes to Mauer? Nonetheless, 5-4 Yankees.

The line for Aceves: 3.1 4 4 3 1 2.

UPDATE, 2:53 p.m.: I don’t believe what I just saw … Mark Teixeira homered.

OK, we kid. But that did snap a career-long streak of 95 ABs without a dinger. Our long national nightmare is over.

UPDATE, 3:10 p.m.: Only one of the last 10 Minnesota batters has put the ball in play. HBP, 4 Ks, 4 BBs, one 4-3.

UPDATE, 3:16 p.m.: That’s it for the Ghost of Francisco Liriano. 5.1 innings, 7 hits, 6 runs, 3 earned runs, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts. 105 pitches, 62 strikes and he’s responsible for Cabrera at second base.

A loss today would leave him at 4-9. His ERA is at 5.47.

UPDATE, 3:28 p.m.: Nice work by Albaladejo. Were I the official scorer, I’d give him the win instead of Robertson. Yanks 3-2 as we go to the seventh.

Mr. Hughes, Mr. Coke, duty calls.

UPDATE, 3:41 p.m.: Just remember, Brian Bruney is the Eight Inning Guy. … If it’s 8-0 maybe.

Girardi has used Coke and Hughes, playing the matchup game effectively. Yankees need to get seven outs for a sweep. Mr. Rivera tossed only 11 pitches last night, so he should be good to go.

UPDATE, 3:47 p.m.: They were playing Livin’ On A Prayer between innings and T.C. The Bear was pumping his fist and acting like he was singing along. Funny stuff.

Ty Kepner of the Times just got a photo snapped with T.C.

Classic.

UPDATE, 4:03 p.m.: It’ll be Phil Franchise in the eighth inning. Mo just standing there for now.

UPDATE, 4:08 p.m.: Phil Franchise, four more outs in relief. 17 innings, 2 runs, 18 Ks. Can’t beat that.

Bullpen so far today: 4.2 innings, 1 hit, 0 runs, 4 walks, 7 strikeouts.

Going 7-0 against the Twins would be very impressive.

UPDATE, 4:22 p.m.: We go to the ninth and Rivera.

UPDATE, 4:26 p.m.: Hmm, Mo vs. Mauer with a runner on in a 6-4 game. Very interesting.

UPDATE, 4:29 p.m.: Or not so interesting as he grounds to first. Yankees win 6-4. Save No. 23 for the Sandman and a sweep for the Pinstripes. Albaladejo rightfully declared the winner.

Back later with some reaction. 5.2 scoreless innings for the bullpen. Prime time stuff.

I’m sure we have some Rangers fans among the blog populace. Today at 1 p.m., head over to ProTalkLive page for a live video chat with LoHud.com’s hockey guy, Rick Carpiniello.

Carp is one of the top hockey writers in the country. So check him out and come with questions.

Our chat series is sponsored by Friedrich Air Conditioning.

A.J. Burnett had to battle but he and the Yankees beat the Twins.

Jose Molina is back and Francisco Cervelli was optioned out, a job well done. This notebook also has updates on Derek Jeter, Xavier Nady and a schedule switch for soggy Triple-A Scranton.

Alfredo Aceves is realizing his dream with the Yankees.

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Dave Cameron at Fangraphs has a lot of love for Brett Gardner.

As a champion of GGBG going back to last season, it’s good to see the metrics support that. Gardner obviously has his limitations offensively. But as baseball changes, players with speed and defensive skills will become more and more valuable. Gardner is an elite defensive player in terms of the ground he covers.

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There were 2,547 comments on the blog yesterday and 90,000 page views. Aren’t you people supposed to be on vacation? As always, we appreciate the support.

On his best nights, A.J. Burnett is a three-pitch pitcher: four-seam fastball, that tight, chew-the-air curveball and an occasional change-up.

He had only his fastball tonight. But Burnett pitched into the seventh inning and allowed two runs against one of the more opportunistic teams in the league.

“Battle mode all the time,” he called it.

Give Jorge Posada a nod for this one. It’s easy to focus on those wild pitches that skipped by Posada. But if you were paying attention, Posada was able to cajole the curveballs Burnett used to strike out Michael Cuddyer to end the fifth inning with the bases loaded and Denard Span with two on and two out in the sixth.

“That’s what he’s capable of doing, that’s how good he is,” Posada said. “Even through he doesn’t have it, in the back of my mind that’s the pitch I want to go to and he made the pitch.”

The Yankees have a 2.86 ERA in their last 22 games and Posada has caught 17 of those games. All those who think he’s not a championship catcher, slap on a dunce cap and sit in the back of the class.

Here is Burnett talking about his night:

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A few other observations:

• Interesting that Joe Girardi used Melky Cabrera in left field in the ninth inning tonight and not in right. Swisher is no Roberto Clemente out in right but Damon has been staggering around in left like Fred G. Sanford.

• Joe Mauer now qualifies for the AL batting lead. He’s at .388.

• Brett Gardner is 4 for 9 with four RBI in the series. The Yankees are getting .287/.356/.441 out of their center fielders this season along with 38 RBI and 24 extra-base hits. That’s more than anybody had a right to expect in March.

Day game tomorrow, Metrodome finale for the Yankees. Come back for more.