The LoHud Yankees Blog

My first day back in Tampa, and it’s an early morning getting ready for a road game across the state. Sam is taking off this morning, and on his last day in town, he took a look at the way pitchers learn from one another. No surprise that veterans Mariano Rivera and Mike Mussina have been popular targets for pitchers looking to pick up a thing or two.

His notebook focused on Francisco Cervelli’s new helmet, and also has items on the flu bug that forced Derek Jeter out of the lineup, Mariano Rivera’s adjusted schedule and A.J. Burnett’s simulated game.

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Marc Carig and I are heading out in a half an hour for the Nationals spring training home in Viera. The weather might not work out, but we’re hoping to know soon whether the game will be played. I’ll update the blog if it’s cancelled.

Not much activity at Steinbrenner Field today, as rain got in the way of the much-anticipated return of Eric Hinske. Joe Girardi said, “we all get to go to bed a little earlier than we thought” and that’s probably a good thing, especially with the long ride across the state set for early tomorrow morning. Weather-permitting, another dramatic reunion will occur in Melbourne, as the Yankees will get to see old friends like Chien-Ming Wang and Brian Bruney.

Word is that rain is in the forecast for the east coast of Florida tomorrow, and the Yankees are expecting to hear something from the Nationals by 7:30 a.m. if the game is going to be canceled. If you’re planning to go to the game, check the blog early and often and I’m sure Chad – welcome back! – will be updating.

As for those folks who sat around in the rain (or never came out in the first place), here’s the ticket information on the rainout, via the Yankees. My understanding is that this game will NOT be rescheduled:

Season & Group Ticket Holders – If the game is rescheduled, the tickets for the rained out game can be used for the rescheduled game. In the event that the game is not rescheduled, the rained out game tickets will automatically be credited to the season ticket holder’s account. Group tickets will be refunded directly to the Group Leader. The tickets have no cash value and are null and void.

Tickets Purchased through Ticketmaster – If the game is rescheduled, the tickets for the rained out game can be used for the rescheduled game. In the event that the game is not rescheduled, a complete refund may be obtained by returning tickets to the original point of purchase. Ticketmaster, Internet and telephone orders will automatically be credited back to the purchaser’s credit card. Call the Ticketmaster Customer Service extension at 800-745-3000 for more information.

Tickets purchased at the Steinbrenner Field Box Office (1 Steinbrenner Drive, Tampa, FL 33614) – If the game is rescheduled, the tickets for the rained out game can be used for the rescheduled game. In the event the game is not rescheduled, a complete refund may be obtained by returning the tickets to the STEINBRENNER FIELD BOX OFFICE on any NON-game day from 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. or by mailing the tickets to the Steinbrenner Field Ticket Office at the address below. When mailing in canceled game tickets, please include your name, address, day and evening phone numbers and e-mail address. The New York Yankees recommend using a traceable source when sending your tickets back (e.g., certified mail). Please remember that your tickets have a cash value and should be treated as such. The New York Yankees Ticket Department is not responsible for tickets lost or destroyed via mail. Tickets purchased via credit card, which are returned by mail, must be accompanied with the credit card information in order to obtain a refund.

Headed down to talk to Joe Girardi. A.J. Burnett will likely throw a simulated game inside to get his work in.

UPDATE, 8:11 p.m.: Yup, simulated game for Burnett. He’ll throw three “innings” of 18, 17 and 15 pitches, with rest in between each one (though there will be no hitters). Girardi and Dave Eiland also tweaked the travel roster for tomorrow to allow some of the guys who were supposed to pitch tonight the chance to throw. Dave Robertson, Royce Ring and Jonathan Albaladejo will now go on the trip; Wilkins Arias, Christian Garcia, D.J. Mitchell and Zack Segovia were taken off the travel list.

*** THE GAME IS BEING DELAYED; FIRST PITCH WON’T BE UNTIL 7:30 P.M., AT THE EARLIEST ***

YANKEES
Randy Winn DH
Nick Swisher RF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Jorge Posada C
Marcus Thames LF
Jamie Hoffmann CF
Ramiro Pena SS
Reegie Corona 2B

Pitching: RHP A.J. Burnett (13-9, 4.04 ERA in 2009)

BRAVES
Nate McClouth CF
Martin Prado 2B
Jason Heyward RF
Troy Glaus 1B
Brian McCann C
Yunel Escobar SS
Eric Hinske DH
Matt Diaz LF
Omar Infante 3B

Pitching: RHP Jair Jurrjens (14-10, 2.60 ERA in 2009)

TIME/TV/RADIO: 7:05 p.m., YES/WCBS

WEATHER: Not good. It’s raining on and off and the forecast is for more.

UMPIRES: HP Dan Iassogna, 1B Eric Cooper, 2B Marty Foster, 3B Andy Fletcher

NOTES: This is the first of six night games for the Yankees this spring. … Burnett allowed two runs on five hits in 1 2/3 innings in his first spring start. … Welcome back, Eric Hinske. Melky Cabrera is not on the Braves travel roster. … Mariano Rivera is officially scheduled to pitch in his first game next Tuesday.

Joe Girardi wouldn’t order Francisco Cervelli to wear the extra-padded helmet that David Wright made famous, but after hearing a pretty strong suggestion from his manager Cervelli will give the plus-sized headgear a try. With two concussions in the past few months and an estimated 10 head injuries in his life, Cervelli knows he can’t afford to take any chances.

“It’s not about how I look,” Cervelli said. “I’ve got to take care. If it’s for my health, I’ve got to do it.”

That doesn’t mean he likes it. Cervelli admitted he looked in the mirror plenty of times after receiving his new helmet – he originally thought it was a joke when he was called to the trainer’s room to pick it up – and when asked what he thought of the look, Cervelli shrugged. “It’s ugly,” he said.

Still, he’s good-natured about it. Jorge Posada was the first person to call him Gazoo — “What a guy,” Cervelli said, laughing — and Cervelli knows he’ll get plenty of digs from his teammates. As long as he’s playing in the majors, he’ll deal with it. “I just want to be here,” he said. “I can handle it if I’m here.”

(For what it’s worth, I felt the helmet – it’s definitely heavier, but not as much as you might think. The biggest obstacle, I would think, is just that it may throw off the balanced feel of a hitter’s head as he looks out at the pitcher. After a few weeks, I’d imagine that unusual sensation would fade. Cervelli says he won’t wear the helmet behind the plate or on the bases – only at-bat.)

UPDATE, 5:59 p.m.: It just started pouring here at The Boss. I’ll keep you updated on the plan for later as soon as we hear anything.

The Yankees have just handed out new lineups for tonight with Derek Jeter no longer hitting leadoff. There’s no further word on what happened, and the Yankees clubhouse is closed since the team is working out. Just speculation, but there has been a bad cold going around the Yankees clubhouse – it hit Tony Pena, Dave Eiland and Joe Girardi (to a lesser degree) – so perhaps Jeter picked up the bug. As soon as we hear something I’ll update the post.

Here’s the new lineup:

Winn DH
Swisher RF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Posada C
Thames LF
Hoffmann CF
Pena SS
Corona 2B

UPDATE, 3:53 p.m.: Yankees just announced that Jeter is out with the flu. Apparently the bug is picking up steam.

UPDATE, 4:34 p.m.: Yankees trainers sent Jeter home so he wouldn’t pass on his illness to anyone else, and Girardi said he hopes Jeter will play Saturday. For those wondering, here’s the travel roster for tomorrow’s looooong bus ride to Viera to play the Nationals:

Pitchers: Pettitte, Garcia, Logan, Mitre, Mitchell, Segovia
Catchers: Cervelli, Gil, Montero, Pilittere, Rivera
Infielders: Cano, Corona, Nick Johnson, Laird, Miranda, Nunez, Pena, Russo, Vazquez
Outfielders: Gardner, Curtis, Gorecki, Granderson, Hoffmann, Weber, Winfree, Winn

The bus is supposed to leave at 7:45 a.m. and Girardi said that, with an awful forecast for the east side of Florida, the Yankees expect to hear from the Nationals by 7:30 a.m. if the game will be played. If it isn’t, Pettitte will probably throw a simulated game in Tampa or the Yankees may play an intra-squad game.

In other news, Girardi said that he has encouraged Francisco Cervelli to consider wearing the extra-padded batting helmet that David Wright tried at one point last year. Also, Hal Steinbrenner was in the house today for meetings but Girardi said that wasn’t uncommon.

Here’s Girardi’s audio:

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It’s not a particularly pretty day here in Tampa, and the tarp is still down on Steinbrenner Field. The Yankees are scheduled to go through a workout before the game with the Braves tonight at 7, but it sure does feel like thunderstorm weather – thick and windy. I’ll keep you posted on any developments.

If there is baseball tonight, the Yankees will likely see Braves wunderkind Jason Heyward but not, unfortunately, Melky Cabrera (who isn’t on the travel roster. Eric Hinske is, though). Listed as Yankees reserves tonight are, among others, Austin Romine, Jesus Montero, Colin Curtis, Mark Melancon and Dave Robertson.

While you’re waiting for the clouds to clear up, how about taking a look at this video of a piece of the upper deck at old Yankee Stadium coming down? Thanks to reader Jennifer for passing it on. It’s still hard to believe that, sooner than later, that stadium is going to be completely gone.

Yankees vs. Braves

Jeter SS
Swisher RF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Posada C
Thames LF
Winn DH
Hoffmann CF
Corona 2B

Pitching: A.J. Burnett

Most fans at Steinbrenner Field are there to see – obviously – the Yankees. But there may well be someone else worth watching tonight.

Braves prospect Jason Heyward has gotten more hype than just about anyone this spring, and as far as I can see most of it has been deserved. Did you see this home run he hit the other day? Heyward hurt his back running into the wall on Tuesday and so he missed yesterday’s game, but is expected to travel from Orlando and play tonight.

Could he end up flaming out? Sure. Any prospect could. But this kid sure seems like the real deal and, as Darryl Strawberry said when he saw him, “If he stays focused and plays hard, he will be very special.”

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Yankees clubhouse opens around 1:30 p.m. for – weather permitting – tonight’s game. I’ll have the lineup posted as soon as it’s available.

Some of you may have seen the viral video making the rounds on the internet featuring a ridiculous Cuban baseball brawl (involving, I kid you not, two bats). If you haven’t – or even if you have – check out this tidy wrap-up by good buddy Big League Stew, who compiles just what precipitated the entire thing and also embedded the clip.

If you’re like me, watching the clip quickly brings to mine this classic exchange in the movie “Anchorman”:

Ron Burgundy: Boy, that escalated quickly… I mean, that really got out of hand fast.
Champ Kind: It jumped up a notch.
Ron Burgundy: It did, didn’t it?
Brick Tamland: Yeah, I stabbed a man in the heart.
Ron Burgundy: I saw that. Brick killed a guy. … Did you throw a trident?
Brick Tamland: Yeah, there were horses, and a man on fire, and I killed a guy with a trident.
Ron Burgundy (calmly): Brick, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that. You should find yourself a safehouse or a relative close by. Lay low for a while, because you’re probably wanted for murder.