The LoHud Yankees Blog

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

RHP Phil Hughes

It’s hard to blame this one on Javier Vazquez. In his return to the Yankees rotation, the struggling Vazquez pitched seven strong innings but got absolutely no help from his offense. Two runs in the sixth inning were too many for the Yankees, who were shutout in a 2-0 loss at Comerica Park. It was their third straight loss. They’ll have a chance to end the losing streak in a few hours when they play today’s second game.

Associated Press photo

YANKEES (21-10)
Derek Jeter SS
Brett Gardner CF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez DH
Robinson Cano 2B
Jorge Posada C
Nick Swisher RF
Randy Winn LF
Ramiro Pena 3B

RHP Javier Vazquez (1-3, 9.78)
Career vs. Tigers

TIGERS (18-14)
Austin Jackson CF
Johnny Damon LF
Magglio Ordonez DH
Miguel Cabrera 1B
Brennan Boesch RF
Brandon Inge 3B
Ramon Santiago 2B
Gerald Laird C
Adam Everett SS

RHP Rick Porcello (2-3, 7.50)
Career vs. Yankees

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

UMPIRES: HP Hunter Wendelstedt, 1B Dan Billino, 2B Mike Estabrook, 3B Mike Winters

WEATHER: It still looks a little rainy outside, but it looks like we’ll at least get the first game in.

HAND GRENADES AND SLOW DANCING: Close doesn’t count for much in baseball, and after last night’s loss, the Yankees are 0-3 in one-run games this season. More fun with records: The Yankees are 18-4 when they don’t make an error, 3-6 when they do.

20 THROUGH 30: Entering this series the Yankees had played 30 games and already had five players with 20 or more RBI (Swisher-24, Cano-22, Jeter-22, Rodriguez-20, Teixeira-20). The last Yankees team to have five or more players with at least 20 RBI through the season’s first 30 games was in 1926 (Babe Ruth-44, Joe Dugan-27, Bob Meusel-27, Tony Lazzeri-26, Lou Gehrig-20) according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The Phillies did it last year.

WITH HONORS: This morning New York University held its 178th commencement ceremony at Yankee Stadium. It’s the third consecutive year the school has used the stadium for graduation, and NYU alum Alec Baldwin was scheduled to address the graduates. To quote the great Liz Lemon, I want to go to there.

UPDATE, 1:30 p.m.: One inning down for Vazquez. Made some mistakes to Jackson in the first but got through the at-bat. Now he’s started the second inning with a ground out on a nice play by Jeter.

UPDATE, 1:34 p.m.: My bad on the Tigers’ lineup. The order is the same but Damon’s in left, Boesch is in right and Ordonez is the DH.

UPDATE, 1:36 p.m.: There’s two scoreless for Vazquez.

UPDATE, 2:06 p.m.: Ramiro Pena is here for his glove, not his bat, but it would have been nice to score on one his first two at-bats.

UPDATE, 2:45 p.m.: Four singles and two runs have put the Tigers in front 2-0 after six. For the most part, Vazquez got balls on the ground that inning, but some of them found holes. Whatever the result, Vazquez has clearly done his part up to this point. It’s on the offense to score some runs now.

UPDATE, 2:50 p.m.: Brutal day at the plate for Ramiro Pena. He’s 0-for-3 and every one of his at-bats has ended an inning with a runner on base.

UPDATE, 3:01 p.m.: Right now he’s losing this game, but Javier Vazquez showed significant improvement this afternoon. He’s given the Yankees a chance, and he’s pitched through the seventh inning to save the bullpen for this afternoon’s second game. Even if he takes the loss, this has been a good start for him.

UPDATE, 3:09 p.m.: Here’s Boone Logan. Vazquez is out after seven innings.

Despite on-going speculation that Juan Miranda was on his way to Detroit, it was Greg Golson who walked through the clubhouse doors this morning. He’s here for Alfredo Aceves, who went on the disabled list.

“We’ve been short on outfielders,” Joe Girardi said. “And we felt we were covered pitching-wise.”

That doesn’t mean Miranda has been ruled out. For now the Yankees want the expanded depth, not the lefty designated hitter, but Girardi hinted that another move could be in the works in the coming days.

“Eventually we’ll probably, possibly, make a move,” he said.

• Golson got the final seat on a direct flight from Scranton to Detroit. The airline lost his personal bag, but the duffle bag with his baseball gear arrived on time. “It could have been worse,” he said.

• Sounds like Jonathan Albaladejo is waiting in a hotel room here in Detroit. Girardi smiled and said “possibly” when asked if he had a pitcher on standby. The Yankees are allowed to make a player move between games today, and they could add Albaladejo if their bullpen is burned out in the first game. Mark Melancon’s 10 days haven’t passed, so it couldn’t be him.

• Sergio Mitre is a possibility to start Sunday’s game in New York. The Yankees don’t have a starter for that game because of today’s doubleheader, but then again, “it’s supposed to rain all day tomorrow,” Girardi said.

• Golson will be active for both games, “unless something happens to him,” Girardi said.

• Girardi would be hesitant to use any of his right-handed pitchers in both games. That includes closer Mariano Rivera. “Unfortunately, Mo’s not 25 any more,” Girardi said.

• Girardi already has a lineup in mind for the second game. He said Alex Rodriguez will likely play the field, but he didn’t give any other details. He didn’t rule out the idea of using Jorge Posada as a designated hitter, but I’ll be surprised if that’s the way he goes.

• “I think I worry more about a split doubleheader on a hot, hot day than on a cold day,” Girardi said.

• And finally, happy 85th birthday to Yogi Berra. Girardi joked that the doubleheader was his gift because Yogi can watch the first game, go to dinner around 4, then watch the second.

Greg Golson, not Juan Miranda, is listed on the lineup card as a player on the bench. So far it looks like that’s the move for Alfredo Aceves.

Derek Jeter SS
Brett Gardner CF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez DH
Robinson Cano 2B
Jorge Posada C
Nick Swisher RF
Randy Winn LF
Ramiro Pena 3B

RHP Javier Vazquez

UPDATE, 11:13 a.m.: Golson has arrived. We’re still waiting to talk to Girardi about the move. I haven’t seen any other new players and the only player who seems to be missing is Aceves.

Still no lineup posted in the Yankees clubhouse. For now, two links from today’s newspaper.

Alfredo Aceves will go on the disabled list today as the latest in a string of injuries that have hit the Yankees roster. The Yankees were optimistic that Aceves would return to the bullpen yesterday, but his back bothered him during a throwing session and he’ll got to New York for tests.

The Yankees will play two games today, with Javier Vazquez returning to the rotation for the opener of the doubleheader. The notebook also has items on Chan Ho Park and the team’s reaction to Jose Valverde’s on-field antics.

Rain just kept falling today in Detroit. It was raining in the morning, it was positively pouring while I was eating lunch and it’s been falling slowly but steadily tonight.

With the rain out, the Yankees will play two games tomorrow. Javier Vazquez will start the first and Phil Hughes will start the second.

There will also be a minor change to the roster. Alfredo Aceves will go on the disabled list and the Yankees will call-up … someone. Joe Girardi said the move won’t necessarily be for a pitcher. It sounds like the move could be for Juan Miranda, moving the Yankees back to a 12-man bullpen.

Two years ago, the Yankees played a day-night doubleheader against the Mets and had Kei Igawa on standby just in case a move had to be made between games. Girardi said the Yankees could so something similar tomorrow: Bring a pitcher to Detroit but not put him on the roster, just have him ready in case they need another arm for the second game.

• The Yankees will not recall Romulo Sanchez. Although they could bring him back, they won’t because he’s not ready to pitch again.

• Girardi said he would have to check with his individual relievers to determine whether he could use any of his pitchers in both games. He’d rather not do it, but there could be situations where a pitcher doesn’t throw much in the first game and remains available for the second.

• Every active reliever will be available tomorrow.

• To keep his position players fresh, Girardi said he will likely switch around his designated hitters, letting certain players play the field one game and DH the other. The Yankees have to then play a day game on Thursday, so you could see another everyday player shifted to DH for that one.

• The pitching matchups have not changed. Vazquez will face Rick Porcello in the first game. Hughes will face Jeremy Bonderman in the second.

• Both games will be on YES.

Tonight’s game has been postponed because of rain.

Two games tomorrow. First one at 1:05 p.m. Second at 7:05.

Until yesterday, the Yankees were optimistic about Alfredo Aceves and his sore back. Aceves said he felt much better, and manager Joe Girardi thought Aceves was a day or two away from returning to the bullpen.

Then Aceves tried to throw yesterday and he felt his back pinch. He was fine during warmups, but when he tried to really throw with force, he felt the same pain two pitches in a row.

“I’m trying to play,” he said. “But it’s not in my hands.”

The Yankees expect to put Aceves on the disabled list tomorrow. Aceves said he’s been told he has a bulging disc and he wants to take his time now that he’s going on the DL.

Who the Yankees call-up to take his place could depend on tonight’s game.

“The bullpen moves we make right now, a lot of it depends on what happens that day,” Girardi said.

• Girardi would not comment on today’s reports of a Juan Miranda call-up, but indications are that the move could still be made, just not today.

• There is still rain and thunder at Comerica Park. Still no word on whether the game will be called, but it sounds like a double header will happen tomorrow if the game is rained out. “I’d prefer to play,” Girardi said. “Split double headers aren’t very good for a club.”

• Chan Ho Park will almost certainly make one rehab appearance on Wednesday and another on Friday before rejoining the major league bullpen.

• The earliest Sergio Mitre would be available out of the bullpen would be Friday.

• Dave Robertson is not available tonight and Joba Chamberlain is limited to one inning. Girardi said Ivan Nova could be used for something other than long relief because his right-handed options are limited.

• Girardi on Mariano Rivera not yet pitching this month: “I wouldn’t imagine we’d go much longer.”

• Nick Swisher said he wasn’t upset at the antics of Jose Valverde, who did a lot of fist pumping after his three straight strikeouts last night. “I’m an emotional guy,” Swisher said. “I probably do some things in the heat of the moment.”

• Just to be clear, there were no player moves today. The roster is the same today as it was yesterday with Aceves active — but not available — and a bench consisting of Pena, Russo and Cervelli. No word on why they haven’t made a move yet, but I suspect it has a lot to do with today’s weather. The Yankees need to know what exactly they’re dealing with before they start making changes.

UPDATE, 6:13 p.m.: Folks here in Detroit seem to be more optimistic that the game is going to be played. It’s still raining pretty steady, but I guess it’s possible. Here’s the Tigers’ lineup.

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

RHP Rick Porcello

Associated Press photo

Joe Girardi just announced that he expects Alfredo Aceves to go on the disabled list because of his back.

There will be a move tomorrow.