The LoHud Yankees Blog

Looks like A.J. Burnett and Jorge Posada can get along after all. This afternoon, Burnett did not have his curveball working, but he was still able to go 6.2 strong innings and get his first spring win against the Tigers.

“I was relaxed and confident because my catcher was,” Burnett said.

This is the second start in a row in which Burnett has gone out of his way to heap praise on Posada. They’ve been working together this spring and it seems their comfort with one another has grown. Burnett acknowledged that things got “a little bit destructive” last season, but they seem to have put that behind them.

“It’s been good,” Joe Girardi said. “Obviously the numbers show it today. They’ve worked hard and we’ve worked hard. Sometimes it’s just getting comfortable with a guy, seeing them as much as you can.”

Here’s the audio from Burnett, who admitted to not throwing a single changeup today because he wanted to work on getting his curveball fixed.

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• Check it out, it’s Phil Coke. That’s an Associated Press photo of the former Yankees reliever chatting with Girardi pregame. That’s obviously an AP photo of Burnett up top.

• Girardi on Joba Chamberlain’s outing: “I thought he attacked. He was ahead. For him I thought it was positive and we’ll get him back out there soon.”

• Chan Ho Park seems to really be making an impression down here. He pitched another scoreless inning today.

• Two more hits from Curtis Granderson — including a double off a lefty — raised his spring average to .297. He’s finally gotten going. Of course, he’s nowhere close to Jon Weber, who’s hitting .583 after his 1-for-1 afternoon.

• Girardi called Marcus Thames’ home run, “the difference in the game.” I guess it’s difficult to argue with that considering it put the Yankees in the lead.

• Girardi on Curtis Granderson and Brett Gardner working together in the outfield: “A lot of times when you see two center fielders in one outfield, the one that’s playing left is used to taking charge and he’s going to call balls, but I haven’t seen any issues.”

• The Yankees still haven’t made an announcement, and the players don’t know anything about it, but TMZ is reporting that the Yankees ring ceremony will be before the home opener on April 13th. Of course, TMZ previously reported the ceremony would be on the 14th, so who knows?

• Upcoming Yankees starters:
Sunday: Andy Pettitte
Monday: Javier Vazquez
Tuesday (ss): CC Sabathia on the road, Sergio Mitre at home
Wednesday: Phil Hughes

• Austin Jackson said he has no negative thoughts about the Yankees, but the Tigers have embraced him as if he came up through their system. “I’m just more comfortable this year and being allowed to do stuff that feels more comfortable to me, instead of trying to hit like somebody else or hit for more power,” Jackson said. “Just play your game. That’s why I like hitting in the lead-off because I think it plays into what I do.”

Joba Chamberlain pitched well in his first relief outing since losing the fifth-starter competition. Chamberlain closed today’s 2-1 Yankees win with a scoreless ninth inning.

Maybe he’s now battling for the closer’s role.

“There’s somebody in front of me I think you might have heard of,” he said. “I’m going with the intent that I’m probably going to lose that one.”

Chamberlain threw all fastballs and sliders, with his four-seamer sitting at 93-94 mph. He allowed a lead-off single on a 2-2 slider, but his very next pitch was a double play. He struck out Scott Sizemore to end the game, throwing a 94-mph fastball to setup a last-pitch slider.

“You don’t want to give up the lead for sure and lose the game,” Chamberlain said. “It was a good position to be in for my first one.”

Here’s the Chamberlain audio.

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That is, of course, an Associated Press photo.

YANKEES
Brett Gardner LF
Nick Johnson 1B
Jorge Posada C
Marcus Thames DH
Curtis Granderson CF
Randy Winn RF
Ramiro Pena SS
Kevin Russo 2B
Brandon Laird 3B

RHP A.J. Burnett

TIGERS
Austin Jackson CF
Johnny Damon LF
Magglio Ordonez RF
Miguel Cabrera 1B
Carlos Guillen DH
Brandon Inge 3B
Gerald Laird C
Scott Sizemore 2B
Adam Everett SS

LHP Nate Robertson

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

WEATHER: Close your eyes and imagine Florida. That’s exactly what the weather is like today.

UMPIRES: HP Jerry Layne, 1B Mark Wegner, 2B Chad Fairchild, 3B Damien Beal

ON THE LINE: Another chance for Marcus Thames to prove himself against a left-handed pitcher… This will be Joba Chamberlain’s first spring appearance as a one-inning reliever… Nick Johnson is making his second start at first base.

UPDATE, 1:19 p.m.: With two outs in the first, Posada doubled and Thames drew a walk in his first AB against Robertson. That brought Granderson to the plate, and the Tigers crowd gave him a pretty significant cheer. They still love him here.

UPDATE, 1:21 p.m.: Granderson doubles to right — off a lefty! — and it’s 1-0 Yankees.

UPDATE, 1:43 p.m.: Brandon Laird just caught a pop up to retire Gerald Laird. Ah, family.

UPDATE, 2:02 p.m.: Randy Winn made an on-target throw to the plate, but Johnny Damon beat the throw by a step. It’s 1-0 Tigers.

UPDATE, 2:04 p.m.: Solo home run by Marcus Thames.

UPDATE, 2:37 p.m.: Joel Zumaya just hit 100 mph on the gun here in Lakeland. Not bad for spring training.

UPDATE, 2:40 p.m.: Ramiro Pena just went down on 101 mph from Zumaya.

Austin Jackson and Johnny Damon will be the Tigers first two hitters this afternoon, and Phil Coke is scheduled to pitch out of the bullpen.

After Nate Robertson starts for Detroit, Coke, Joel Zumaya, Ryan Perry, Brad Thomas and Robbie Weinhardt are scheduled to pith. Thomas and Coke are lefties.

Here’s the Tigers lineup

Austin Jackson CF
Johnny Damon LF
Magglio Ordonez RF
Miguel Cabrera 1B
Carlos Guillen DH
Brandon Inge 3B
Gerald Laird C
Scott Sizemore 2B
Adam Everett SS

And just to clear up some confusion from the previous post… Kevin Russo hasn’t shown up in minor league camp because he’s been needed in big league camp. He was sent down a few days ago, but he literally has yet to step foot on a minor league field.

Joe Girardi has said time and again that his relievers have to earn their spots and that no job is guaranteed. But he established this morning that he expects Joba Chamberlain to be in his bullpen. He might not be absolutely ruling out Triple-A, but that’s not the plan.

“The assumption is that he’s going to pitch at a high level and earn his spot,” Girardi said. “I expect him to be on this team.

As for a role, Girardi is still not committing to Chamberlain in the eighth inning. Last spring it would have been difficult to predict that Phil Hughes would take that setup job.

“You’d like to see someone lock it down,” Girardi said. “There are a lot of quality arms down there that could do it.”

Chamberlain is scheduled for one inning this afternoon. The Yankees might get him in back-to-back games before the end of spring training, but Girardi said that’s not a necessity.

• Girardi is not overly concerned by his team’s losing record this spring. “If you’re getting the pitching, then to me, that hitting is going to come,” he said.

• Still no decision on whether Curtis Granderson opens the season in center field or left field. “That’s a decision that I haven’t put a lot of thought into,” Girardi said. “I’ve pretty much just observed.”

• Another start for Marcus Thames against a left-handed pitcher. Nate Roberston is pitching for the Tigers.

• Pitchers available for the Yankees: A.J. Burnett, Joba Chamberlain, Chan Ho Park, Dave Robertson, Boone Logan, Eric Wordekemper and Wilkins Arias.

• Available to play off the bench: P.J. Pilittere, Neall French, Jon Weber, Justin Snyder, David Winfree, Austin Krum and Abraham Almonte. No positions were given, but Weber might be at first considering he was listed among the infielders.

• Since he was sent down, second baseman Kevin Russo has yet to go to the minor league complex.

Brett Gardner LF
Nick Johnson 1B
Jorge Posada C
Marcus Thames DH
Curtis Granderson CF
Randy Winn RF
Ramiro Pena SS
Kevin Russo 2B
Brandon Laird 3B

RHP A.J. Burnett

Having lost the competition to be the Yankees fifth starter, Joba Chamberlain is once again in the bullpen, uncertain whether his future is as a reliever or a starter. It’s the same debate we’ve been having for the past three years. “I think when they stop talking about me is when I probably should worry,” Chamberlain said.

On Friday, the Yankees played the Phillies in an exhibition game and Alex Rodriguez was a surprise clean-up hitter, having not met with federal investigators after all. Phil Hughes made his first start since being added to the rotation, Marcus Thames got a hit off Jamie Moyer, Jon Weber raised his average and Amaury Sanit was sent to minor league camp.

Phil Hughes got the start tonight, but much of the attention this afternoon was on Joba Chamberlain, who is once again shifting roles to move back into the bullpen.

“I can say I’m happy with myself because I gave it everything I’ve got,” he said. “Hughes just beat me. That’s it, the long and the short of it.”

Chamberlain said he expects to go back to using primarily his fastball and slider, and the Yankees seem optimistic that his velocity will again climb into the upper 90s.

“I can’t think about being a starter at this point,” Chamberlain said. “For me to help this team right now, its being in the bullpen and trying to get guys out there. It’s unfair to my team to think about something else.”

Brian Cashman said this afternoon that the team discussed using both Hughes and Chamberlain in the bullpen this season, but they ultimately thought Hughes was their best No. 5 starter. He once again called Chamberlain a “starter pitching out of the pen.”

“I think we finished off his development plan, and we have choices with him now,” Cashman said. “He can start if we need him to start, he can relieve if we need him to relieve. I don’t feel it’s a waste at all. I think we completed the mission on him and what will be, will be.”

• The Associated Press is reporting that Alex Rodriguez was in fact supposed to met with investigators today, but the meeting was postponed “by mutual consent.”

• Hughes walked four in his three-plus innings, but both Hughes and Girardi seemed happy with his outing. “(He was missing) just a little bit,” Girardi said. “I thought he threw the ball well.”

• Amaury Sanit was reassigned to minor league camp.

• Francisco Cervelli will be out of camp the next two days to attend a personal matter.

• Marcus Thames had a single off Jamie Moyer. It was one of only four Yankees hits in the game. Of course, one of the hits was from Jon Weber, who raised his spring average to .565.

• Mike Rivera still has a sore hamstring. He felt it running to first during the intrasquad game a few days ago. He’ll take batting practice on Monday.

• Hughes next outing is Wednesday against Minnesota. Sergio Mitre will start one of the split squad games on Tuesday.

• Pitchers for tomorrow’s game at Lakeland: A.J. Burnett, Joba Chamberlain, Boone Logan, Chan Ho Park and Dave Robertson.

• Position players not going to Lakeland: Francisco Cervelli, Mike Rivera, Robinson Cano, Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira and Nick Swisher. The entire usual infield has the game off, so you’ll see a lot of minor leaguers.

Those are Associated Press photos.

YANKEES
Derek Jeter SS
Marcus Thames DH
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Nick Swisher RF
Curtis Granderson LF
Brett Gardner CF
Francisco Cervelli C

RHP Phil Hughes

PHILLIES
Jimmy Rollins SS
Placido Polanco 3B
Chase Utley 2B
Ryan Howard 1B
Jayson Werth RF
Raul Ibanez LF
Shane Victorino CF
Ross Gload DH
Carlos Ruiz C

LHP Jamie Moyer

TIME/TV: 7:05 p.m./None

WEATHER: I honestly can’t see a single cloud in the sky. My weather report says 69 degrees. Beautiful day.

UMPIRES: HP Eric Cooper, 1B Marty Foster, 2B Andy Fletcher, 3B Vic Carapazza

ON THE LINE: Marcus Thames needs to show the Yankees something, and he could get as many as three at-bats against Jamie Moyer. Today and tomorrow seem to be big days for Thames to prove he belongs on this roster.

UPDATE, 7:23 p.m.: Phil Hughes struck out Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard in the first inning. Is that good? Marcus Thames singled in his first at-bat against Moyer.

UPDATE, 8:49 p.m.: Night games in spring training are a bit rough when it comes to hitting early deadlines. Sorry for the lack of updates. If you aren’t following at home, the Yankees are down 1-0, Mariano Rivera just pitched a 1-2-3 sixth inning and that first-inning single from Thames has been the Yankees only hit.

Alex Rodriguez said he was not in Buffalo today. He stayed in Tampa last night and he’s here now.

“There was no meeting,” Rodriguez said. “No meeting today.”

Joe Girardi had previously indicated that he didn’t expect Rodriguez to be available for tonight’s game, and earlier this week — when reports of a Friday meeting broke — Rodriguez committed only to playing Thursday, not Friday. Rodriguez said he never read reports of a Friday meeting, so he couldn’t comment on whether they were false.

“What I can tell you is nothing has changed,” Rodriguez said. “We’re going to continue to work together. We’re going to cooperate and we’re going to talk with the feds and Major League Baseball shortly.”

Rodriguez said he’s meeting with Major League Baseball just because the league wants to hear what he has to say. He doesn’t know when or where that meeting will take place, and “they’re still working on it” to figure out when and where his meeting with federal investigators will take place.

“Whether I talk to them today or next week, it will be done,” Rodriguez said. “And hopefully it will be done before Opening Day and we can move on.”

UPDATE, 5:52 p.m.: Actually, in the name of absolute accuracy… Upon a second listen to the brief audio, Rodriguez never specifically said whether he was in Buffalo today. He explicitly said he was in Tampa last night and that there was never a meeting scheduled today. I suppose it’s possible that he made a quick trip to Buffalo to buy a Bills t-shirt.

UPDATE, 6:07 p.m.: A few notes from this afternoon.

• Phil Hughes is scheduled for five innings or 75 pitches. Still no decision on when he’ll make his regular season debut.

• Marcus Thames is hitting second to get at-bats against lefty Jamie Moyer. He’ll start again tomorrow to face lefty Nate Robertson.

• Both Mariano Rivera and Damaso Marte are scheduled to pitch out of the bullpen tonight.

• Joba Chamberlain is scheduled to pitch out of the bullpen tomorrow. He said he will continue to throw his changeup and curveball in his bullpen sessions, but he plans to go back to primarily a fastball-slider combination as a reliever. “I think Joba can do both, I really do,” Girardi said. “I think he can start, and I think he can relieve. And I think he can be successful at both. Right now we need him in the bullpen.”

• With the late lineup posted, I don’t have a today’s scheduled bench players or the complete list of available pitchers. I can tell you that Kevin Russo, Jorge Vazquez and Eduardo Nunez were brought back from minor league camp for the day.

• Also up from minor league camp to serve as insurance: C Mitch Abeita, INF Jose Pirela and OF Melky Mesa.