The LoHud Yankees Blog

Jorge Posada said his sore right calf is still stiff. He’s out of the lineup as more than a precaution — he’s back to emergency catcher status the next few days — but he’s hopeful that he’ll be back in the lineup on Friday.

“They want me off my feet today,” Posada said. “Just treat it. Make it less stiff.”

Joe Girardi said the Yankees have enough confidence in Posada’s ability to catch in a pinch that they don’t think a catcher call-up will be necessary. For now, the team does not expect Posada to go on the disabled list, but he will basically be reevaluated on Thursday.

Posada felt “a little grab” on his way to first base during his second at-bat yesterday. He said that for now, the most difficult thing would be running. Someone suggested that he should just hit the ball over the fence any time he comes to the plate.

“It’s that easy,” Posada said.

• Mariano Rivera was unavailable yesterday because of a sore left side. He’s going to throw a bullpen today, and if he comes through that fine, he could be available tonight. “A lot of guys will throw a little short side and then pitch that day if they haven’t pitched in a while,” Girardi said. “That’s not totally unnormal. If we could, I’d like to stay away from him another day because, if a player deems himself ready, if you can give him an extra day, I don’t think it hurts him. But we’ll see.”

• Chan Ho Park has been playing catch in Tampa and he feels better. Park will throw off a half mound on Wednesday, then the Yankees plan to have him throw a full bullpen session on Friday. If that goes well, Park could make a rehab appearance next week. It’s still unclear how many rehab outings he would need, but Girardi said, “I don’t think one extended spring game is going to be enough.”

• Greg Golson said he thought a call-up was possible when Curtis Granderson went on the disabled list over the weekend, but when Mark Melancon got the call, “We all assumed that was the move,” Golson said. “Then after the game yesterday, they called me in and said I was coming to New York.” Golson still didn’t have a name plate above his locker when he got here this afternoon.

• Girardi said he might start Golson against some lefties. There was some consideration given to playing Golson today, “but I felt it was more important to DH Jeet,” Girardi said.

• Melancon has been optioned back to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

• Javier Vazquez said he still wishes he weren’t being skipped next time around, but he understands why it’s happening. Asked whether the success of the other four starters adds or takes away pressure on Vazquez, Girardi said, ““I think he wants to join the party, but even if they weren’t throwing well, he might feel more pressure.”

• No Jeter injury, Girardi just wanted to give him a day off after so many days in a row. He said to expect more days like this as the team plays more and more days in a row.

• Girardi visited a fire station in the city this morning. He brought his ring for he firefighters to see. “It was the first time I really wore my ring,” Girardi said. I think some guys see this sort of thing as a chore, but Girardi seems to love it. The station got one call while he was there, and Girardi was amazed at how quickly everyone was out the door. He also put on the gear at one point. “It’s hot and it’s heavy, and it’s not even summertime,” Girardi said. “And I’m not in a burning building.”

• Random tidbit about Park throwing off the half mound: The Yankees use the half mound a lot, but I didn’t hear much about half mounds when I was covering the Phillies. Girardi said he had no idea what it meant when the Yankees told him Park would be throwing off a half mound tomorrow. “I didn’t know what half mound meant at first,” he said. “But I do now.”

UPDATE, 6:12 p.m.: Rivera said he felt good after a 10 or 15 pitch bullpen session. He thinks he could pitch if necessary, but he hasn’t been told whether he’ll be available. “It’s early in the season and we have to make smart decisions,” he said.

Orioles lineup

Adam Jones CF
Nick Markakis RF
Matt Wieters C
Miguel Tejada 3B
Ty Wigginton 2B
Luke Scott LF
Garrett Atkins DH
Rhyne Hughes 1B
Cesar Izturis SS

LHP Brian Matusz

Greg Golson is here, Derek Jeter is at DH and Nick Johnson is on the bench.

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

RHP A.J. Burnett

Center fielder Greg Golson is not in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees lineup this afternoon against Norfolk. It’s curious that he’s getting a day off because the team doesn’t have another natural center fielder on its roster. Can’t help wondering if he might be in New York tonight.

Jesus Montero is also out of the Triple-A lineup, but it’s a day game after a night game, so keeping the starting catcher on the bench makes sense.

Without Golson in the lineup, Kevin Russo is getting his first outfield start of the season in center.

UPDATE, 12:37 p.m.: Donnie Collins is reporting that Golson is in New York waiting to be activated. My guess is that he’ll take the place of Mark Melancon, but no move has been announced.

• Jorge Posada is day-to-day with a mild calf strain.

• Mariano Rivera was out today with some tightness in his left side.

• Alex Rodriguez is healthy enough to play after a bit of concern about his right leg.

• Chan Ho Park is stuck in Tampa with a strained hamstring.

• Curtis Granderson is on the disabled list with a strained groin.

• Javier Vazquez is healthy but skipping his next start because he’s been ineffective.

Some of the older Yankees are hurting. Mariano Rivera has tightness in his left side, although he hopes to be available for Tuesday night’s game. Jorge Posada has a mild right calf strain and is day to day. A-Rod returned for Monday night’s game after resting Sunday because of stiffness behind his right knee and fatigue. Joe Girardi said he will have to be careful and give the older players days off whether they want them or not.

Joba Chamberlain enjoyed playing the part of Rivera and did a nice job in recording his second career save, his first since Sept. 23, 2007.  He walked one and fanned one. He found out during batting practice that he might be needed for this. Rivera said he would’ve pitched if it were October. He will throw off a mound before Tuesday night’s game to see if he’s ready. He has felt this problem since Saturday.

The Yankees still have 13 pitchers, so they will probably cut back by one soon and bring up an outfielder or a possibly a catcher.

Nick Swisher is no longer struggling at Yankee Stadium. He’s 8 for his last 12 over three games, including this 3-for-3 night.

Robinson Cano was named the AL’s Player of the Month for April after batting a major-league-best .400 with eight homers and 18 RBI in 22 games.

And that’s it for tonight.

Update, 8:00: Well, so far Jeremy Guthrie hasn’t hit anybody. The Yankees are struggling to hit him, just a single by Nick Swisher in the second. Matt Wieters solo shot off CC Sabathia is holding up through three.

Update, 8:19: Finally a couple of well-struck hits off Guthrie in the fourth. Alex Rodriguez lined that hard single to left, and Nick Swisher hit that two-out rocket off the right-field wall to make it 1-1.

Update, 8:21: Make that one more well-struck hit, Randy Winn’s three-run shot to the Yankees’ pen, his first in pinstripes. That makes it 4-1 and snaps a 491 at-bat streak with no homers for him. His last one came April 25, 2009, for the Giants at Arizona.

Update, 8:38: Perhaps Jorge Posada is having more trouble with the knee Guthrie hit last Wednesday. Francisco Cervelli is coming in to catch here for the top of the sixth. I’m sure we’ll get a report in a little while.

Update, 9:00: OK, it’s not Posada’s knee. He left with tightness in his right calf. He’s headed for New York Presbyterian for an MRI.

Update: 9:09: Sabathia was not happy with plate ump Bill Hohn in the seventh during Lou Montanez’s at-bat before issuing a walk. But he pitched out of it. He has allowed one run and six hits through 6 1/2, really much sharper than he was the last two times out.

Update, 9:26: Sabathia is done, one run and six hits over eight. Joba Chamberlain will try to close it out.

Update, 9:39: Chamberlain gets the save. Yankees win 4-1.

Update, 10:16: The reason Joba closed was because Rivera was unavailable. It was revealed that he had tightness in his left side since Saturday. He played catch today, felt good but didn’t want to push it. He will try to throw tomorrow to see if he can go. He said he wasn’t worried, that if this were October, he would’ve been out there.

Update, 12:07: The MRI results are back on Posada. He has a mild strain of the right calf and is day to day.

Brian Heyman here again at Yankee Stadium today. Joe Girardi just announced at his pregame press conference that Javier Vazquez will not take his regular turn Friday night at Fenway. Instead he will take two bullpen sessions, tomorrow and Friday, and then start Monday’s series opener in Detroit. Phil Hughes will pitch on normal rest Friday night because of Thursday’s off day.

This all seemed logical at this point. Vazquez is 1-3 with a 9.78 ERA in five starts. Girardi indicated he probably would have done this even if the Red Sox were not the opponent and Boston were not the setting, because of the off day and because it was time to do something different. “I think he could use a little time to catch his breath,” Girardi said.

So what do you guys think?

OK, as for the Yankees’ lineup, Alex Rodriguez is back in it. He sat out yesterday and said he might have had a little cramping problem in his right leg, reportedly behind the knee, although he wouldn’t be specific. He came out for a pinch runner in the ninth inning on Saturday against the White Sox.

1. Derek Jeter SS

2. Nick Johnson DH

3. Mark Teixeira 1B

4. Alex Rodriguez 3B

5. Robinson Cano 2B

6. Jorge Posada C

7. Nick Swisher RF

8. Brett Gardner CF

9. Randy Winn LF

CC Sabathia P

Orioles

1. Adam Jones CF

2. Nick Markakis RF

3. Ty Wigginton 2B

4. Miguel Tejada 3B

5. Matt Wieters C

6. Garrett Atkins 1B

7. Nolan Reimold DH

8. Lou Montanez LF

9. Cesar Izturis SS

Jeremy Guthrie P

Small note from the Yankees.

Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira will receive their Gold Gloves during a pregame ceremony that begins tonight at 6:50. Jeter has won the award four times (2004-06, ’09) and Teixeira three times (2005-06, ’09).

Just got this email. Sounds like a good opportunity to get some tickets and support a good cause.

UMPS CARE Charities is the official charity of Major League Baseball (MLB) Umpires. Through their BLUE Crew Tickets program, umpires treat children awaiting adoption to special experiences at ballparks across the country. Each experience includes game tickets, a goody bag of treats, and the opportunity to step onto the field for a souvenir baseball and photo.

To cover youth program expenses, UMPS CARE Charities will post Yankees tickets at face value to select games. Here are links to UMPS CARE Charities to learn more:

Web: www.UmpsCare.com

Purchase Yankees tickets: http://www.UmpsCare.com/Buy-Now_80e7362342e8.html

About BLUE Crew Tickets: http://www.umpscare.com/BLUE-Crew-Tickets_8c3929597cf7f8.html

• A completely unrelated note, it looks like the Yankees have signed a young right-hander out of the Dominican Prospect League.

Tonight
LHP CC Sabathia (3-1, 3.12)
vs.
RHP Jeremy Guthrie (0-3, 4.70)
7:05 p.m., YES Network

Tuesday
RHP A.J. Burnett (3-0, 2.43)
vs.
LHP Brian Matusz (2-1, 4.40)
7:05 p.m., YES Network

Wednesday
LHP Andy Pettitte (3-0, 2.12)
vs.
RHP David Hernandez (0-3, 4.55)
1:05 p.m., YES Network

Associated Press photo