The LoHud Yankees Blog

As I type this, Alex Rodriguez is at third base taking ground balls during batting practice. I believe these are the first fielding drills he’s done since the calf injury. Looks good to me, but I’m hardly an expert.

For now, the plan is for Rodriguez to return to the lineup at designated hitter. He told Joe Girardi that his calf feels strong enough to play, but Girardi wants to check with A-Rod after BP before he finalizes the lineup.

“He wanted to give it a try today,” Girardi said. “I talked to with the trainers and they’re good with it. If he feels something during BP, then we’ll shut it down.”

So far, so good.

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

Tonight
RHP A.J. Burnett (9-10, 4.66)
vs.
RHP Felix Hernandez (8-10, 2.62)
7:05 p.m., YES Network

Saturday
RHP Javier Vazquez (9-9, 4.89)
vs.
LHP Jason Vargas (9-5, 3.15)
1:05 p.m., YES Network

Sunday
LHP CC Sabathia (16-5, 3.12)
vs.
LHP Luke French (2-3, 4.02)
1:05 p.m., YES Network

Felix Hernandez is very good. This is hardly new information, but the guy has faced the Yankees twice this season, and he’s pitched a complete game each time. The last time he pitched at Yankee Stadium, he allowed two hits, one of them by Colin Curtis who’s no longer with the Yankees. Point being, tonight might not be an easy one… Better matchup on Saturday and Sunday. The way Marcus Thames and Austin Kearns are hitting, the Yankees suddenly matchup well against left-handed starters. And frankly, almost anything is better than King Felix.

Associated Press photo of Burnett during yesterday’s HOPE Week event

On this Friday of HOPE Week, the Yankees are reaching out to the Arias sisters – Johanna and Melida – who have worked through hardships and homelessness to make their lives better through education and hard work. Alex Rodriguez, Robinson Cano, Ramiro Pena, Francisco Cervelli, Sergio Mitre, David Robertson and Tony Pena surprised Melida at her job at Wendy’s this morning, and the group will take both sisters on a surprise shopping spree at DKNY in Manhattan to outfit Melida for her freshman year of college and Johanna for future professional opportunities.

This one’s a pretty powerful. From the Yankees, here’s Johanna and Melida’s story:

For 16 years, the Arias women traveled from boardinghouse to rented room to homeless shelter and back again. While they never had much during that time, they always had each other.

Melida Arias, her older sister, Johanna, and her mother, Maria, were inseparable, pooling their change to put food on whatever makeshift dinner table was in front of them. They never went hungry, even if it meant tuna fish and rice every day for a week at a time.

Despite the obvious hardship of their situation, the sisters’ dedication to academics did not waver, and they remained committed to creating a better life for themselves someday. For many homeless teens, college is a fairy tale in a book kept on a shelf. For Melida and Johanna, it was a fixed object in the distance, becoming clearer and closer every day. If they continued to apply themselves, they would become the first members of their family to go to college.

As a freshman in high school, Melida confided the intimate details regarding her homelessness to fellow classmates, who then posted her personal secrets for the world to read online. Shamed by the gossip of her peers and angered at such a cruel betrayal, Melida decided to rise above the bullying and intimidation. Rather than letting the talk of others steal her self-worth, she left her school and transferred to Bronx Leadership Academy High School, where she immediately thrived in accepting and supportive new surroundings.

With the assistance of the organization Women in Need, the Arias women finally found housing during Melida’s junior year. Ever since, the scars of their experience fade by the day. But their triumph has not come without sacrifice. Soon after Johanna was accepted to Syracuse University two years ago, her mother became physically unable to continue her job as a cab driver. So instead of embarking on what is often described as the best four years of a person’s life, Johanna began working at McDonald’s in a job she still has today.

In June, Melida graduated in the top third of her class at the Bronx Leadership Academy, and she begins the next step of her education next spring with her freshman year at highly regarded Baruch College in Manhattan.

Her compassion is reflected in her course load as she embarks on the road to becoming a school psychologist. Her dream is to help children who are growing up under challenging circumstances, similar to herself.

The Yankees scored nine runs in an inning yesterday. It’s HOPE Week, the team has three straight wins and the Yankees are all alone in first place again. Everyone can breathe easy for at least a few more hours. Seems like a good time for some links that have been piling up. We’ll start with this one…

Earlier this week, my old friend Mike Ashmore posted a massive piece about life in the minor leagues. If you’ve been even slightly curious about life in the lower levels, Ashmore’s story goes into the money, the food, the travel and the difficulty of finding a good bat. The post also digs into what makes the Yankees a different sort of organization.

“I think overall, the Yankees just make everything so much better for you,” minor league veteran Richie Robnett said. “Other teams, like the Cubs, if you’re in Double-A, you’re a Tennessee Smokie, that’s what you are. If you’re in Double-A with the A’s, you’re a Midland Rockhound, that’s what you are. When you’re in Double-A with the Yankees, you’re a Yankee. You’re not a Trenton Thunder, you’re a Yankee. If you’re in Triple-A, you’re a Yankee. If you’re in A-Ball, you’re a Yankee. That’s what I like. You’re a part of the organization, and they always want to make it known to you that you represent us.”

—

• The Times wonders whether Lou Gehrig actually had Lou Gehrig’s disease. It’s a fascinating question and a terrific story.

• Frankie Piliere came away impressed after watching Manny Banuelos. “If he can remain healthy and keep his shorter frame in check,” Piliere wrote, “he is a true front-of-the-rotation type pitcher.”

• Piliere has also had some kind words for Andrew Brackman and Dellin Betances.

• A cool comeback story is in the works in the Mariners minor league system. I really enjoy stories about second chances. This one comes from Geoff Baker, with Buster Olney pointing my way to the link.

• Add Jerrod Saltalamacchia to the list of injured Red Sox.

Associated Press photo of Alex Rodriguez. He’s a big fan of posts with links.

According to the Yankees press release, eight players were supposed to be on the field for this afternoon’s game with kids from the Beautiful People program, which gets disabled and special needs kids into team sports. Andy Pettitte, Jorge Posada, A.J. Burnett, Phil Hughes, Lance Berkman, Javier Vazquez, Boone Logan and Austin Kearns were supposed to be there along with Yankees coaches Dave Eiland, Mick Kelleher and Rob Thomson and former Yankee David Cone.

Joe Girardi was also there. So was Alex Rodriguez. Joba Chamberlain was running around having more fun than anyone. There were probably others who I missed. The Yankees seemed to be having a great time, and it was all happening while the writers were finishing their stories in the press box. It was really great to watch the Yankees help — and sometimes be told not to help — these kids play baseball.

Here are some Associated Press photos along with three AP photos from yesterday’s HOPE Week event with Mohamed Kamara at the United Nations.

Jorge Posada, A.J. Burnett, Andy Pettitte and Joba Chamberlain participating in today’s HOPE Week baseball game.

Derek Jeter and Curtis Granderson at the UN podium,  group shot of the Yankees with Fatmata Kamara, left, Mohamed Kamara, center, and Sierra Leone’s ambassador to the United Nations Shekou M. Touray

As the Yankees flew out of Kansas City on Sunday, Joe Girardi made it clear that he was not satisfied. The Yankees had not won a series since late July, and splitting in Kansas City was not going to be enough to win the American League East. The Yankees needed to start winning series, and they needed to that soon.

They did that today.

“Lately we’ve been tying a lot of series,” Girardi said. “As we know, in our division, you need to win series because we’re in an extremely tough division. After losing the first (game), kind of a heartbreaker, it was really good to see.”

After losing the series opener against Detroit, the Yankees weren’t in a particularly good spot. Their offense was struggling even before Alex Rodriguez went down with a calf injury. Add the lingering injury that would eventually land Lance Berkman on the disabled list, and they weren’t in a great spot to finally get a series win.

But Robinson Cano hit a home run in three straight games as the cleanup hitter. Austin Kearns had a two-run double tonight and is hitting .355 since coming to the Yankees. Curtis Granderson drove in the trying run and is rolling with his new mechanics.

“You can’t look too much into it,” Kearns said. “You’re in there, no matter who you are. If you’re filling in for the day, I think everybody has confidence in whoever it is to step in and be able to get it done.”

• Girardi refused to comment on the Roger Clemens situation, but Berkman and Jorge Posada each expressed support for their former teammate. “I don’t care what happens, I love the guy,” Berkman said. “I just feel bad for him and for his family. He’s a big boy. He’ll face up to whatever it is, but it doesn’t change my opinion of him at all.”

• Posada on passing Thurman Munson on the Yankees all-time hits list: “I really got to know him as I got here. I really enjoy the way he played and I really look up to him, especially playing the position that he played. The way he played (and) his leadership, it means a lot to me.”

• Cano had three home runs in the past three games. Miguel Cabrera had four home runs in the four game series. If I had an MVP vote this season — I’m voting ROY — I’d probably be leaning toward Josh Hamilton right now, but those two have been incredible. “It seems like home run and Cabrera kind of go hand-in-hand right now,” Girardi said.

• Speaking of the Cabrera home run, it came on the first curveball of the at-bat. “A 3-2 curveball in the first inning, I thought it was a decent pitch,” Phil Hughes said. “Just shows you how he’s swinging the bat.”

• When he was taken out of the game, Hughes had retired 11 in a row and 15 of the past 16 hitters.

• Girardi on the Granderson’s great catch in the fourth inning: “When Gardy came in the dugout I said, ‘Nice catch Gardy.’ He said, ‘I didn’t catch it, Grandy did.’ So I had to take it back and tell Grandy nice catch.”

• Hughes and CC Sabathia each have 15 wins. It’s the first time since 2006 the Yankees have had two 15-game winners before September. In ’06 it was Randy Johnson and Chien-Ming Wang.

• This is the first time Cano has homered in three straight games.

• Sergio Mitre pitched the final three innings, meaning he picked up his first career save.

• The Yankees lead baseball with 39 come-from-behind wins. That includes 12 of their past 19 wins.

Associated Press photos of Jeter, Cano and Daniel Fratto, who handled the public address announcing for the Yankees two-run fourth inning and did play-by-play during the HOPE Week game afterward. The kid was awesome. It wasn’t even a situation where it was cute that he was trying it. He was just good at it.

Phil Hughes played catch during the Yankees nine-run sixth inning and was prepared to go back into the game until pitching coach Dave Eiland told him late in the inning that he was done.

“It probably takes an inning away from him is what we’re able to do there,” manager Joe Girardi said.

Hughes’ innings limit, though, played no part in the decision, Eiland said. The bottom of the sixth took 34 minutes, and the Yankees didn’t want Hughes to go back after that much time on the bench.

But at some point, Hughes innings limit will come into play, and that could happen fairly soon.

“We have a plan in place, and we’re going to bear down on it here in the next few days,” Eiland said. “When Joe’s ready to announce it, he’ll announce it.”

Even Hughes doesn’t know what his limit is, but the general thinking is that it’s probably around 180 innings. Hughes is at 140.2 innings, and Eiland said Hughes would make “roughly” eight starts if he were to make every scheduled start the rest of the way. Figuring six innings per start, that puts Hughes on track for about 188 innings for the season. That’s not too crazy, and it’s not as if Hughes is about to reach that number next week.

“I’m not anywhere creeping into the 180, 190 range,” he said.

Andy Pettitte’s injury and Javier Vazquez’s struggles will have no impact on the plan for Hughes, Eiland said. Neither will the Yankees pennant race.

“You’ve got to put his career first,” Eiland said. “That’s what this whole thing is about.”

Associated Press photo

Having chipped away to tie it in the fourth, the Yankees broke away with a nine-run sixth inning in this afternoon’s series finale against the Tigers. Robinson Cano — who already had a hit and a run in the game — had two hits, two runs and three RBI in the onslaught sixth. It was enough for an 11-5 win that was the Yankees third straight. Phil Hughes got his 15th win and was lifted after just 84 pitches, presumably to limit his workload.

Associated Press photo of Cano with Derek Jeter

YANKEES (74-46)
Brett Gardner LF
Derek Jeter SS
Mark Teixeira 1B
Robinson Cano 2B
Nick Swisher RF
Jorge Posada C
Curtis Granderson CF
Austin Kearns DH
Ramiro Pena 3B

RHP Phil Hughes (14-5, 3.94)
Hughes vs. Tigers

TIGERS (58-69)
Austin Jackson CF
Will Rhymes 2B
Ryan Raburn RF
Miguel Cabrera 1B
Johnny Damon DH
Jhonny Peralta SS
Brandon Inge 3B
Alex Avila C
Don Kelly LF

RHP Rick Porcello (5-10, 5.53)
Porcello vs. Yankees

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

UMPIRES: HP Chad Fairchild, 1B Todd Tichenor, 2B Bill Miller, 3B Eric Cooper

WEATHER: Little bit of a breeze blowing out. Not a could in sight.

GOOD START: The Yankees have scored at least two runs in the first innings of six of their past 10 games at Yankee Stadium. They’ve hit a first-inning home run in five of those games.

KERRY WITH A K: When he struck out Ramon Santiago last night, Kerry Wood reached 1,500 strikeouts for his career. He reached the mark after just 1,303 innings, the fewest for any 1,500 strikeout pitcher in baseball history. According to Elias, the previous record for reaching that strikeout milestone was 1,337 innings by Pedro Martinez.

HOPE WEEK CONTINUES: After today’s game, HOPE Week will continue with the Yankees reaching out to the children and supporters of “You Are Beautiful People,” an organization who reaches out of children and families with special needs to make them feel more a part of the community through participation in sports. The group is in attendance for today’s game, and afterward, they will play a game on the field with members of the Yankees.

UPDATE, 1:20 p.m.: Can’t make a mistake to Miguel Cabrera. Just can’t do it. Two-run home run into the bullpen has given the Tigers a 2-0 lead.

UPDATE, 1:35 p.m.: The Washington Post is reporting that Roger Clemens will be indicted for lying to Congress.

UPDATE, 2:12 p.m.: There’s a kid from that Beautiful People group announcing the Yankees as they come to the plate this inning, and he’s really doing an incredible job. Meanwhile, the Yankees have two straight hits under his watch.Of the first three players he announced the only one who didn’t get a hit was Derek Jeter. Maybe it’s best to stick to Bob Sheppard for The Captain.

UPDATE, 2:20 p.m.: Must be the kid announcer. The Yankees just got three straight one-out hits to pull within 2-1, then Curtis Granderson got a two-out single to tie the game at 2.

UPDATE, 2:42 p.m.: Yankees take the lead on an RBI double by Cano. It’s a 3-2 Yankees advantage still with no outs in the bottom of the sixth.

UPDATE, 2:48 p.m.: With an RBI single, Posada has passed Thurman Munson on the Yankees’ all-time hits list. The Yankees now lead 4-2 and the Tigers are going to the pen.

UPDATE, 3:13 p.m.: Robinson Cano now has two hits, two runs and three RBI in the seventh inning alone. His two-run homer has given the Yankees an 11-2 lead, with nine of those runs coming here in the sixth.

UPDATE, 3:15 p.m.: After the nine-run sixth, the Yankees are getting Hughes and Jeter out of the game. Sergio Mitre is in to pitch the seventh, and Eduardo Nunez is making his major league debut at shortstop.

UPDATE, 3:49 p.m.: Mitre has allowed three runs. It’s still a lopsided Yankees lead.