The LoHud Yankees Blog

All spring, much of the discussion in Yankees camp has centered on the fifth-starter competition. It’s easily the biggest story in camp, which is pretty amazing considering these are the Yankees and we’re talking about the last spot in the rotation.

“I think people are interested, that’s why,” Joe Girardi said. “Because once that’s set then you iron out your bullpen from there. There’s a lot kind of up in the air because you don’t know who’s in your bullpen because of the fifth-starter spot. I’m not really surprised (by the attention).”

Some of the focus on the back of the rotation might be because the other big competition in camp is for literally the last spot on the roster, and neither leading candidate is playing especially well. Marcus Thames went 0-for-3 today. He struck out twice and saw his average dip to .107. Jamie Hoffmann came off the bench and went 0-for-1, lowing his average to .130.

“We still have time with that,” Girardi said. “That (decision) we’re not in such a big hurry to make.”

Here’s Girardi’s postgame media session. He talks a lot about the fifth-starter situation, but gets into a few other things toward the end.

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• The picture up top isn’t of either fifth-outfielder candidate, but it is a cool AP shot of Robinson Cano, who hit his first home run of the spring.

• A.J. Burnett will start on Sunday, with Phil Hughes pitching in relief. Joba Chamberlain will start on Monday, with Andy Pettitte pitching in a minor league game.

• Brett Gardner had a bunt single and a triple, both off Brett Myers, to raise his average to .281. Girardi wasn’t especially bothered by the fact Gardner was picked off first base. “I would rather see him find out what he can get now, and be more aggressive now,” Girardi said. “Then we can tone it back as opposed to being passive.”

• Another base hit for Kevin Russo, another base hit for Jon Weber and another base hit for Greg Golson, all of whom have looked really good this spring and are hitting better than .300. Reid Gorecki is hitting just .143, but he can really run. He tripled today and was flying around the bases.

• Boone Logan pitched a scoreless inning, but he did allow a hit to the only lefty he faced.

• Apparently the Yankees have been asked to speed up their games. Sounds good to me, but I’m kind of with Girardi on this one. Sometimes baseball takes a long time. I wish that weren’t the case, but that’s the way it is.

Alfredo Aceves rarely has a whole lot to say. Good or bad, he’s a man of few words, and today he needed only a few words to sum up his first rocky outing of the spring.

“I just missed pitches,” he said.

Although Aceves went through the order fairly easily the first three innings, there were several hard-hit balls, and manager Joe Girardi said he could tell from the beginning that Aceves didn’t have his best stuff.

I didn’t think he was as sharp as he’s been,” Girardi said. “But he knows how to change speeds and knows how to expand the zone.”

That was enough for a while, but the Astros caught up to Aceves with two runs in the fourth and three runs in the fifth (plus a fourth run charged to Mark Melancon). Aceves saw his spring ERA reach 3.77, which is still a fine number, but it’s now middle-of-the-pack among fifth-starter candidates. Phil Hughes has the lowest at 2.08, and if Hughes was in fact the favorite heading into camp, the race might be his to lose. Girardi, though, said he still doesn’t have a fifth starter decided in his mind.

“We could talk for hours and we might still not come out and have the decision,” he said. “But obviously we’re getting to the point where we’re going to have to make one in the next week or so.”

The picture is from the AP.

YANKEES
Brett Gardner CF
Nick Johnson DH
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Marcus Thames LF
Jon Weber RF
Ramiro Pena SS
Mike Rivera C

RHP Alfredo Aceves

ASTROS
Jason Bourgeois CF
Kaz Matsui 2B
Hunter Pence RF
Carlos Lee LF
Chris Johnson 3B
Cory Sullivan DH
Chris Shelton 1B
Tommy Manzella SS
Humberto Quintero C

RHP Brett Myers

TIME: 1:05 p.m.

WEATHER: This might be the nicest day yet. Perfectly blue sky. Temperatures in the 70s. Light breeze blowing out to right.

UMPIRES: HP Larry Vanover, 1B Mike Reilly, 2B Jeff Nelson, 3B Laz Diaz

ON THE LINE: Alfredo Aceves is making another spring start, trying to build on a terrific start to spring training… Marcus Thames is in the lineup again, trying to put up some numbers to win the last spot on the Yankees bench… Obviously the Yankees have to find out whether they can play a spring game without Marty Foster umpiring.

UPDATE, 1:08 p.m.: First-pitch bunt single from Gardner. Perfectly placed down the third-base line. That’s his third bunt hit of the spring.

UPDATE, 1:09 p.m.: And just like that, Gardner is picked off first. Snap throw from the catcher.

UPDATE, 1:27 p.m.: A few notes from this afternoon’s session with Joe Girardi:

• Phil Hughes will pitch in relief of A.J. Burnett on Sunday. Joba Chamberlain will start on Monday.

• Girardi didn’t have much to say about the decision to start Weber over Hoffmann: “Web’s been playing well,” Girardi said. “Hoffmann is going to play today.”

• Girardi said Kevin Russo wouldn’t need a full season at shortstop to convince the Yankees he can play there, but they would like him to keep playing the position occasionally: “We want to see him play shortstop more,” Girardi said. “We know that he can do second and third, but we’re just trying to get a look at him at short.”

• The Yankees have not eliminated anyone from the fifth-starter competition after last night. “We haven’t had a chance to talk about,” Girardi said. “We’re going to sit down and talk in the next couple of days, decide what the next plan of action is.”

UPDATE, 1:40 p.m.: How often do you see a guy triple to left? Gardner just did it, right down the line in the third inning. He’s at third with one out and the Yankees leading 1-0 on a second-inning homer by Robinson Cano.

UPDATE, 1:49 p.m.: Rodriguez drives in two more and the Yankees are up 3-0.

UPDATE, 2:04 p.m.: Back-to-back two-out doubles from the bottom of the order, one from Ramiro Pena and one from Mike Rivera, have given the Yankees a 4-0 lead in the fourth. The Yankees have six hits off Brett Myers: Five extra-base hits and Gardner’s bunt single.

UPDATE, 2:14 p.m.: Hit batter, stolen base and an RBI double have put Houston on the board. That’s the second run Aceves has allowed this spring.

UPDATE, 2:16 p.m.: RBI single by Hunter Pence makes it 4-2. He’s allowed two runs and this is already the worst outing of the spring for Aceves.

UPDATE, 2:25 p.m.: After his second double of the game, Rodriguez is out of the game for pinch runner David Winfree.

UPDATE, 2:31 p.m.: The Yankees have made all of their changes except at catcher and right field. Melancon getting loose in the pen.

UPDATE, 2:32 p.m.: Sorry, Ramiro Pena is still out there too. Russo went out to play second instead of short.

UPDATE, 2:40 p.m.: An infield single has loaded the bases and chased Aceves from the game with one out in the fifth. It’s still 4-2 Yankees. Mark Melancon is in to try to escape.

UPDATE, 2:42 p.m.: Melancon got a ground ball to short, but the Yankees couldn’t turn two and a run scored on the fielder’s choice.

UPDATE, 2:46 p.m.: Aceves’ line is complete: 4.1 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 HBP. He threw 74 pitches, 48 strikes. By far his worst start of the spring. Meanwhile, Melancon is also struggling, having allowed back-to-back, two-out base hits that led to three runs and a 6-4 Astros lead.

UPDATE, 3:00 p.m.: The rest of the Yankees changes: Russo moves to short, Nunez in to play second, Cervelli at catcher and Gorecki in right.

Curtis Granderson’s hand is fine. His status report was all of three words.

“It’s all good.”

When he was hit by a pitch last night in Port Charlotte — the AP even got a picture of it — the ball hit the bottom of his hand and the knob of the bat.

“I could have stayed in,” he said. “Joe decided, for precautionary (reasons) to get some ice on it early.”

• Alfredo Aceves gets the start for the Yankees this afternoon. He’ll be followed by Dustin Moseley, Boone Logan and Mark Melancon.

• Three pitchers were also brought up from minor league camp to be available: John Van Benschoten, Jonathan Ortiz and Craig Heyer.

• Scheduled to play off the bench: C Francisco Cervelli, 1B David Winfree, 2B Eduardo Nunez, SS Kevin Russo, 3B Jorge Vazquez, LF Colin Curtis, CF Greg Golson, RF Reid Gorecki, DH Jamie Hoffmann

• Another turn at shortstop for Kevin Russo. I believe his past three games have all been at short.

• Interesting that Jon Weber got the start in a game when Jamie Hoffmann is on the trip.

Jon Weber’s strong spring is being rewarded with a start in right field this afternoon.

Brett Gardner CF
Nick Johnson DH
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Marcus Thames LF
Jon Weber RF
Ramiro Pena SS
Mike Rivera C

RHP Alfredo Aceves

Ramiro Pena was a late addition to the trip. Mark Melancon was also added in place of Damaso Marte.

Alfredo Aceves is making another start this afternoon. After a six-year career in Mexico, he has been the best and the least likely of all the Yankees fifth starter candidates. His ultimate destination might be the bullpen, but Aceves has already been a terrific find for the Yankees scouting department.

Sergio Mitre took his turn on Friday and tossed a gem against the Rays. While Mitre shined, Chad Guadin struggled. The notebook also has items on CC Sabathia, Alex Rodriguez, Damaso Marte and the latest spring training cuts.

This was pretty much the real Rays lineup tonight in Port Charlotte, and Sergio Mitre went through it for five innings, allowing two hits and one walk. He struck out seven, which would have been the highest single-game total of the spring if not for CC Sabathia’s eight strikeouts this afternoon.

“He threw the ball really well tonight,” Joe Girardi said. “Command of his fastball. He had good sink tonight. His curveball and changeup were very good tonight.”

If Mitre doesn’t win a spot in the rotation, Girardi said he wouldn’t rule out using Mitre as a reliever.

“I think Serge could do anything we ask him,” Girardi said. “Last year I think it would have been harder just because, a guy coming off surgery, it’s hard to go back-to-back days. You don’t want to rush him. But I think he’s more equipped to do that this year.”

Here’s Mitre talking about his night.

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And here’s Jorge Posada talking about Mitre’s night.

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And here’s Chad Gaudin talking about his night. “The line is worse than how he pitched,” Girardi said. “He didn’t give up a lot of hard hit balls. Defense wasn’t great behind him, (but) he wasn’t as sharp as I’ve seen him.”

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• Curtis Granderson was hit by a pitch and taken out of the game. “It was more precautionary than anything,” Girardi said. “I think it kind of grazed his hand and the knob.” Granderson wasn’t scheduled to play tomorrow anyway. He’ll be back in the lineup Sunday.

• Girardi on making fifth starter decisions: “It’s something we’re going to have to talk over in the next few days and probably make some decisions fairly quickly.”

• More good work from Amaury Sanit. Two-thirds of an inning, no hits, one strikeout.

• The Seattle Mariners seem happy with Rule 5 pick Kanekoa Texeira.

• Nick Swisher extended his hitting streak to seven games.

YANKEES
Brett Gardner CF
Curtis Granderson LF
Nick Swisher DH
Jorge Posada C
Randy Winn RF
Juan Miranda 1B
Ramiro Pena 2B
Brandon Laird 3B
Eduardo Nunez SS

RHP Sergio Mitre

RAYS
Jason Bartlett SS
Carl Crawford LF
Evan Longoria 3B
Carlos Pena DH
Ben Zobrist 2B
Pat Burrell RF
B.J. Upton CF
Hank Blalock 1B
Kelly Shoppach C

RHP Dan Wheeler

TIME/TV: 7:05 p.m., MLB Network

WEATHER: Should be about the same as it was this afternoon in Tampa. Temperatures in the high 60s. Forecast says no chance of rain.

UMPIRES: HP Marvin Hudson, 1B Brian O’Nora, 2B Fieldin Culbreth, 3B Toby Basner

ON THE LINE: Sergio Mitre and Chad Gaudin will be pitching for the right to stay in the fifth starter competition, and they might very well be pitching for the right to stay with the team at all given the Yankees crowded bullpen… Curtis Granderson is getting another turn in left field as the Yankees are still trying to determine how he and Brett Gardner will line up on Opening Day.

ON MY WAY: If everything went as planned, this post should have gone live at 6:40. I had to drive to Port Charlotte after the game in Tampa, so I won’t be able to update with lineups and umpires until I finally get there. If you need that information right away, yankees.com is probably your best bet.

UPDATE, 7:47 p.m.: Finally got here in the top of the third inning. Mitre has a no-hitter going, Granderson singled earlier in the game and Gardner just singled up the middle. Dan Wheeler than hit Granderson. As it stands it’s 0-0, two outs in the top of the third, runners at first and second for Swisher.

UPDATE, 7:49 p.m.: Make that 1-0 Yankees. Swisher singled to right and Gardner scored from second.

UPDATE, 7:59 p.m.: Just got an email saying this game actually is on television. Apparently MLB Network has it, assuming it’s not blacked out. Sorry about that.

UPDATE, 8:37 p.m.: Gaudin is getting loose in the pen. Corona is in at third, Curtis is in left. Corona was listed as a shortstop replacement, but there he is at the corner.

UPDATE, 8:42 p.m.: That’s seven strikeouts for Mitre, who has been awesome tonight. He’s facing a legitimate Tampa Bay lineup and he’s allowed two hits. Pretty impressive stuff.

UPDATE, 9:10 p.m.: With two outs in the sixth, Chad Gaudin just broke Carlos Pena’s bat on a ground ball into the shift… but it went for an infield single. That’s just terrible luck. The next guy singled in a run and now it’s 3-2 Rays.

After this afternoon’s game, manager Joe Girardi was asked which was more impressive: CC Sabathia’s start or Alex Rodriguez’s monster home run over the scoreboard in left field.

“I really liked what CC did today,” Girardi said. “His last two starts he has been extremely efficient, and he had command all day today. Outstanding changeup. Very good breaking ball. Pace was great. It’s pretty much what CC is.”

But that home run? Girardi just smiled.

“Alex’s ball was pretty impressive,” he said.

Here’s Sabathia talking about his outing. He was happy with just about everything, but said he still wants to work on burying the ball inside against right-handers. ”Felt a lot better today,” he said. “Offspeed pitches were good. Changeup was really good. Got some swing and misses on my cutter, so I was pleased with today.”

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• How did Rodriguez feel about the home run? “That one felt really good,” he said. “Because it wasn’t an everyday home run.”

• It felt good, but as you might expect, Rodriguez wasn’t too worked up over his first home run.  ”My emphasis the first part of spring training is to go out and make sure I get my work done, and that goes way early in the morning,” he said. “As you get closer to opening day, obviously you want to make sure you hone in on your swing, and so far so good. I had a really good session with Kevin Long and Butchie (Wynegar) on one of the back fields a couple of days ago, and we’re on schedule.”

• Mariano Rivera threw only 10 pitches today, but that was enough. He didn’t throw any more in the bullpen and he’s scheduled to pitch again on Sunday.

• Damaso Marte has been pushed back to Sunday. “We’re just going to give him an extra day,” Girardi said. Marte said his back feels better, but not 100 percent. “Outside it’s fine,” he said. “Inside I still feel it.”

• I know he’s one of the smallest names in camp, but minor league veteran Jon Weber had two more hits today and has a .588 average. Girardi acknowledged that Weber is probably going to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, but it’s “very possible” that he would be in the big league mix if he were a right-handed hitter instead of a lefty.

• Girardi once again backed up Marcus Thames, who went 0-for-3 and has a .120 spring average. “He’s had some good at-bats,” Girardi said. “He’s had some line outs. I’m OK with where he’s at.”

• Alfredo Aceves, Boone Logan and Dustin Moseley are scheduled to pitch on the road tomorrow. Marte was originally scheduled for the trip, but obviously he’s no longer going. I assume they’ll add a fourth pitcher between now and tomorrow.

• Position players not going on tomorrow’s road trip: Jesus Montero, Jorge Posada, Derek Jeter, Juan Miranda, Ramiro Pena, Brett Gardner, Curtis Granderson, Nick Swisher and Randy Winn.

Both pictures are from The Associated Press.

UPDATE, 4:50 p.m.: The Yankees just optioned Romulo Sanchez to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and reassigned Ryan Pope to minor league camp. 

YANKEES
Derek Jeter SS
Nick Johnson DH
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Marcus Thames LF
Jamie Hoffmann CF
Francisco Cervelli C
Greg Golson RF

LHP CC Sabathia

TIGERS
Austin Jackson, CF
Clete Thomas RF
Brandon Inge 3B
Miguel Cabrera 1B
Carlos Guillen DH
Gerald Laird C
Wilkin Ramirez LF
Brent Dlugach 2B
Ramon Santiago SS

RHP Rick Porcello

TIME/TV: 1:05 p.m., YES Network

WEATHER: A few clouds, but still sunny and nice. Temperatures in the upper 60s, creeping into the 70s.

UMPIRES: HP Andy Fletcher, 1B Eric Cooper, 2B Marty Foster, 3B Mark Carlson

ON THE LINE: Back-to-back in the Yankees lineup are Marcus Thames and Jamie Hoffmann, the top candidates for the last spot on the bench. Neither has hit especially well this spring. It would be best if those two were still in the game when the Tigers left-handed relievers get on the mound.

UPDATE, 1:37 p.m.: Wow. Marcus Thames just broke his bat at the handle and sent the bulk of it into shallow left field. The ball didn’t get past third base. Most of the bat wound up in the outfield. It was a foul ball, and Thames struck out on the next pitch, smacking his bat into the bottom of his shoe when strike three was called.

UPDATE, 1:51 p.m.: Great play by Francisco Cervelli. And he gets a tap on the head from CC.

UPDATE, 2:00 p.m.: Alex Rodriguez crushed that ball. Yowza.

UPDATE, 256 p.m.: After walking Miguel Cabrera here in the sixth, CC Sabathia is out and Jonathan Albaladejo is in. Sabathia leaves with two men on base, but he looked good this afternoon.