The LoHud Yankees Blog

The Yankees have a day/night doubleheader on Monday against Tampa Bay.

The gates will open for the first game at 10 a.m. Once that game is over, fans will be ushered out with cattle prods, fire hoses and vicious dogs. Gates for the second game will open at 5 p.m. for the 7:05 p.m. start.

This info from the Yankees:

The second game is the rescheduled game from June 5. Fans holding paid tickets, purchased directly through the Yankees, www.yankees.com or Ticketmaster, for the June 5 postponed game may use them for the rescheduled game between the Yankees and Rays or exchange their paid tickets for any regular season game at Yankee Stadium within 12 months from June 5, 2009 (subject to availability).

Tickets for the postponed June 5 game will only be valid for the rescheduled 7:05 p.m. game on September 7, not the regularly scheduled 1:05 p.m. game.

Tonight: RHP Chad Gaudin (1-0, 3.21) vs. LHP Ricky Romero (11-6, 3.95), 7:07, YES

Friday: RHP Joba Chamberlain (8-4, 4.38) vs. RHP Roy Halladay (13-8, 3.13), 7:07, YES

Saturday: LHP Andy Pettitte (12-6, 4.03) vs. LHP Brett Cecil (6-3, 5.42), 1:07, YES

Sunday: RHP Sergio Mitre (3-1, 5.65) vs. LHP Brian Tallet (5-9, 5.17), 1:07, YES

Well, almost. I’m actually at the Continental Presidents Club at Newark Airport. We’re waiting on a flight to Toronto.

I’m sure several months ago there were valid reasons for booking a flight that left Baltimore-Washington at 6:05 a.m. and connected through Newark. But I can’t really recall what they were. Wait, I remember. I was saving the paper lots of money.

(Memo to the editors: Lots of money.)

The Toronto series could be interesting. With Chad Gaudin, Joba Chamberlain and Sergio Mitre starting three of the games, I figure we’re guaranteed to see every relief pitcher (except Mo) at least once. Edwar Ramirez, Mark Melancon, Mike Dunn, come on down!

I also think it will be interesting to see how Joe Girardi handles the final 29 games in terms of resting his regulars and the key members of the rotation. The Yankees are 5-17 at Angel Stadium in the last four years and 11-12 against them at home. Home field really could matter if those two teams meet in the ALCS, far more than would be the case in a Boston-New York matchup.

What’s more important, resting the players so they’re fresh for October or pushing to gain home field? It’s a good question. Sweeny Murti and I were discussing this last night. Let’s say home field is in play during the final week of the season, do prioritize lining up your starters and tapering them off a little or plowing ahead to get home field?

I think you need to make sure you have CC for Game 1 and Andy Pettitte for Game 2 regardless of where those games might be. If you’re not a good enough team to win on the road in the ALCS, then you’re not deserving of being a champion.

OK, time to head to the gate. Check back later for more from Canada.

Alex Rodriguez started his season in Baltimore and last night, he and CC Sabathia helped the Yankees their hot streak.

Mariano Rivera will rest a few days because of a sore groin. This notebook also has updates on Brett Gardner, Mark Teixeira, Sergio Mitre, A.J. Burnett and Ian Kennedy.

The Yankees are 12-3 against Baltimore with three games to go back in the Bronx. They have won 10 straight against the Birds for the first time since 1955.

Nick Swisher is 27 of 56 at Camden Yards in his career with 29 RBI over 27 games. “Can I stay here and play for the next time team that comes through?” he said. “I’ll DH if they want.”

With the Red Sox losing, the Yankees now lead the division by 7.5 games with 29 to play. They lead the Angels by 6.5 games in the race for home field. Of the 29 games left, only 14 are against contenders.

Meanwhile, Camden Yards has become essentially a second home park for the Yankees and Red Sox.

Baltimore averaged 31,556 fans for nine games against the Yankees and 39,083 for six games against Boston. In their other 53 home games, the Orioles have averaged only 21,443 fans. This used to be a great baseball town, too. For the sake of the people here, hopefully the rebuilding plan starts to work soon.

Thanks for reading tonight. Traveling to Toronto tomorrow morning but we’ll get some blog posts up.

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The Big G beat the Mets tonight with a two-run pinch single in the eighth inning. He has three RBI in two games for the Rockies. Colorado leads the NL wild card by a game.

If they remember to keep him from playing in the field, Jason will held the Rockies plenty down the stretch.

He first felt “tightness” in his left groin on Aug. 15 in Seattle. It went away and came back on Tuesday night.

Were this the playoffs, Rivera said, he would be pitching. But the Yankees have the luxury of a large lead, expanded roster and Phil Hughes. So for the next few days — maybe until Monday — Rivera could get some time off.

Mo said he wasn’t concerned. But when a pitcher is 39 and has a groin issue, it’s not something you can dismiss.

Back in a bit with some Mo audio.

UPDATE, 11:23 p.m.: Here is what Girardi said:

“He’s OK. He’s got a little groin thing going on. He’s had it a little bit earlier and it went away and it just was a little stiff last night after the game so we thought we weren’t going

“It’s a concern. If we were to run him out there, we don’t want to hurt him. Probably give him a few days off.

“I don’t even know if I would call it a strain. It was just a little tight (Tuesday) night. So you just kind of give him a few days and see if he can get rid of it. We’ll get it right, get him healthy and make sure it’s 100 percent.”

UPDATE, 11:28 p.m.: Keep in mind that the left side is not Mo’s push off side, which lessens the impact this injury could have on him.

UPDATE, 11:41 p.m.: Here is what Mo said:

“I feel good. I feel good. There is soreness in the groin. We’re just taking precautions but I’m OK.

“I felt it a little bit yesterday therefore I wasn’t able to pitch today. But I wasn’t going to pitch today anyway. But like I said, everything is going to be fine. Nothing to worry about.

When will he pitch again? “We’re going day-by-day, hopefully as soon as possible. … We have a lot of time and I don’t want to push it and make it worse. We have time.”

Mariano Rivera was out tonight with a “slight” groin strain.

He could miss a few days.

More to come.

YANKEES (84-48)
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Swisher 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Cano 2B
Cabrera CF
Hinske RF
Molina C

Pitching: LHP CC Sabathia (15-7, 3.56).

ORIOLES (54-79)
Roberts 2B
Izturis SS
Reimold LF
Markakis RF
Mora 3B
Wieters C
Scott DH
Wigginton 1B
Pie CF

Pitching: RHP Jason Berken (4-11, 6.33).

TIME/TV: 7:05, YES.

STATE OF THE STRIPES: The Yankees have won five straight, six of seven and lead the AL East by 6.5 games over Boston. They lead the Angels by 5.5 games in the race for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

CC IN SEPTEMBER: CC Sabathia is 5-0 with a 2.64 ERA in his last six starts. He is 2-1 with a 3.10 ERA in three starts against the Orioles this season.

ROBBIE ROCKS ‘EM: Robinson Cano is 25 of 52 with 13 extra-base hits — seven of them home runs — and 17 RBI against Baltimore this season.

ROBBIE REALLY ROCKS ‘EM, PART II: Cano has seven extra-base hits and 12 RBI in his last eight games overall.

CLUTCH-ROD: Of Alex Rodriguez’s 71 RBI, 35 have either tied the score or given the Yankees the lead.

And now a Special Celebrity Jeopardy Edition section of pre-game notes

CATCH THESE MEN: Derek Jeter has 298 stolen bases.

JAPAN-U.S. RELATIONS: Hideki Matsui, who had last night off, is 3 of his last 19 with only one RBI.

S-WORDS: Nick Swisher is 26 of 85 (.306) at Camden Yards in his career with 13 homers and 29 RBI over 26 games.

THE PEN IS MIGHTIER: Over the last five games, Yankees relievers have allowed one run on eight hits over 16.1 innings.

FAMOUS TITLES: Jeter needs 10 more hits to pass Lou Gehrig for the most hits in franchise history. Gehrig had 2,721 hits, Jeter has 2,712.

THERAPISTS: With the help of physical therapy, Alex Rodriguez has helped the Yankees go 71-33 since he came off the disabled list following hip surgery.

AN ALBUM COVER: This has nothing whatsoever to do with that title, but Damaso Marte has thrown 3.1 hitless innings since coming off the disabled list.

OK, that’s enough fun for me. Back with more later.

UPDATE, 3:38 p.m.: Bet nobody guessed that lineup.

UPDATE, 4:11 p.m.: Brett Gardner set to join Triple-A Scranton tomorrow. Hopes to be back on the big leagues by Monday.

UPDATE, 4:49 p.m.: Just a regular day off for Tex. Posada gets that regular day off that just so happens to fall on the day CC pitches.

UPDATE, 5:30 p.m.: Mitre will start on Sunday in Toronto and Burnett in one of the DH games on Monday. So Burnett gets an extra day of rest.

UPDATE, 5:45 p.m.: Here is Joe Girardi’s pre-game interview session. He touched on assorted topics, including his desire to give the regulars time off down the stretch:

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.

If you listen closely, you can hear the Ting Tings doing That’s Not My Name in the background.

UPDATE, 6:46 p.m.: Just met two blog readers, Ian and Sean, on the concourse behind the plate. Sean is in a wheelchair and let me tell you, he has more energy that Brett Gardner and Nick Swisher put together. We had a great talk about the Yankees.

Hey Sean, hope you had a great time.

UPDATE, 7:07 p.m.: We are underway in Baltimore. It’s 74 degrees and perfect baseball weather again. It’s usually brutally humid in Baltimore and I end up feeling like Sidney Greenstreet in Casablanca. But it has been just right for this series.

Hope you enjoy the game.

UPDATE, 7:11 p.m.: That no-good A-Rod has some nerve hitting a rocket at the third baseman.

UPDATE, 7:34 p.m.: Isn’t this supposed to be some sort of mismatch? So far the guy with the 15-7 record is getting out-pitched by the guy who is 4-11.

CC has the bases loaded and one out in the second inning down 1-0. He needs to wiggle out of this.

UPDATE, 7:38 p.m.: Two strikeouts. That works.

UPDATE, 7:43 p.m.: Hinske with your best shot! Love it. My greatest accomplishment is helping John come up with a call via our readers. We should all be proud.

UPDATE, 8:21 p.m.: I wish I had more updates for you. This game has been sort of nondescript. CC has it going and you get the sense the Yankees will get to Berken eventually.

CC has retired eight straight and we go to the fifth inning at 1-1.

UPDATE, 8:27 p.m.: Jeter is 2 of his last 11. We has been led to believe that was not possible.

UPDATE, 8:30 p.m.: Yankees 0 for 3 with RISP and have left seven men on base. They have seven hits and two walks and not much to show for it.

That last single was the 2,500th hit for Alex Rodriguez. To celebrate, he’s going to give the first 40,000 fans at Monday’s game $2,500 each. Make sure you show up early. Specify if you want $20s or $100s.

UPDATE, 8:50 p.m.: Kam Mickolio warming up for Baltimore. Here’s a recent photo of him:

UPDATE, 8:53 p.m.: Mickolio coming in to pitch. Have to love Dave Trembley playing matchups in the sixth inning of 1-1 game against Eric Hinske and Jose Molina. Is there an Overmanager of the Year award?

UPDATE, 8:58 p.m.: And Molina walks. Serves him right.

UPDATE, 9:00 p.m.: And Jeter can’t drive in the run, either. Now 2 of his last 12. The Iron Horse rests easy.

UPDATE, 9:05 p.m.: Angels losing and Red Sox losing. The Yankees could gets some more distance with a win tonight. CC is doing his part.

UPDATE, 9:13 p.m.: Second and third, nobody out and Alex up. They’re in business here in the seventh. Nice base-running by Johnny and Swish.

UPDATE, 9:14 p.m.: Clutch-Rod, two-run single. 36 of his 73 RBI have either tied the score or given the Yankees the lead. Yankees 3-1 and still nobody out.

UPDATE, 9:28 p.m.: How about CC? 14 earned runs in his last 51.1 innings. Seven walks and 58 strikeouts. He has been the man.

UPDATE, 9:34 p.m.: CC is done. Here comes Bruney for some reason. Hughes has not pitched since Sunday. Today is Wednesday. Not sure I get this.

UPDATE, 9:39 p.m.: Reimold homer, Bruney is out. Aceves or Robertson would have made much more sense. Now it’s 3-2 and they still need to get five outs. Will Mo pitch a third night in a row or is Hughes the closer tonight?

With the Angels losing and the Red Sox down, this is a game to nail down.

UPDATE, 9:43 p.m.: Hughes in. I have to assume he is here to get four outs.

UPDATE, 9:51 p.m.: Mo watching. This is for Hughes to finish. It would be his second save of the season.

UPDATE, 9:55 p.m.: Swish 2 for 3 with two walks in the third hole tonight. That’s nice work.

UPDATE, 9:59 p.m.: Yankees blow it open, now up 6-2. A-Rod is 3 for 5 with four RBI. This team shows no signs of stopping, does it?

The 17 Baltimore fans here are leaving.

UPDATE, 10:19 p.m.: Big night for run differential. The Yankees have scored seven runs here in the ninth inning are are about to send their 12th man to the plate. The Baltimore bullpen has been awful for years but this bunch … yikes.

Back later with reaction. Looks like a win. Red Sox down 5-4 in the 8th. AL East baseball, the games that never end.

When A.J. Burnett allowed a home run by light-hitting Felix Pie in the first inning yesterday, he turned around and shouted some unkind words in the direction of the Baltimore outfielder.

The words weren’t necessarily at Pie, they were more an expression of frustration. My desire to remain gainfully employed prohibits repeating them here.

The Orioles, as you might imagine, weren’t thrilled.

“A lot of our guys thought Burnett made some gestures to Pie when he hit the home run. I don’t know why. Pie didn’t do anything,” manager Dave Trembley said.

Bench coach Dave Jauss yelled at Burnett from the dugout. Burnett later claimed he did not yell anything at Pie, which isn’t exactly true.

“I didn’t know they were yelling at me,” he said. “I might have done something different. That’s bush league.”

Then in the eighth inning, Nick Swisher struck out looking at a pitch that appeared outside. He stood at the plate with an incredulous look that prompted Orioles pitcher Matt Albers to suggest out loud that Swisher should have swung the bat.

Swisher responded with a few words you won’t hear in church. Orioles pitching coach Rick Kranitz then screamed at Swisher. Now Swisher is looking forward to his next at-bat against Albers and/or charging the mound.

This has nothing to do with CC Sabathia and Jason Berken, who start tonight. But baseball being baseball, don’t be surprised if somebody gets hit. If you’re the Orioles, what else do you have to get excited about?

Back later with the game post.

UPDATE, 3;12 p.m.: Jay from Fack Youk provided a screen shot of the angry O’s. Good blog, by the way. You should check it out.

I’m going to be on WFAN in a few minutes with Adam The Bull and Jon Heyman.