The LoHud Yankees Blog

New lineup

Gardner LF
Jeter SS
Teixeira 1B
Cano 2B
Thames RF
Berkman DH
Granderson CF
Nunez 3B
Cervelli C

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

After playing long toss — basically home plate to medium-depth right field — Alex Rodriguez is now taking ground balls at third base. He started with sharp grounders in on the grass, then moved to regular depth, and now he’s taking grounders near the line and throwing to Mick Kelleher covering second as if starting a double play. Rob Thomson is doing the hitting.

I tried to take an iPhone picture from the press box, but unless you like tiny dots on a baseball diamond, it wasn’t going to do you any good.

This feels like the calm before the storm, just some routine fielding drills before Rodriguez faces Andy Pettitte in a simulated game that will quite obviously be the pregame main event here at Yankee Stadium.

UPDATE, 9:40 a.m.: No lineup in the clubhouse, and Joe Girardi is now on the field so I doubt there will be a lineup posted any time soon.

Rodriguez wrapped up his fielding drills by taking some bunts, and he’s now moved into the cage for some early BP. Chad Moeller has joined the group wearing shin guards. I’m guessing he’ll be catching the sim game.

If any other Yankee is looking for some coaching, they’re probably out of luck. Pretty sure every member of the staff is out here, including Dave Eiland who’s in the bullpen with Pettitte, who’s getting loose. This really does feel like a big event.

UPDATE, 9:50 a.m.: Word from my inside source — Greg Golson himself — is that Pettitte will be facing a lineup of Rodriguez, Golson and Ramiro Pena. Still no sign of Pena. Moeller is catching.

UPDATE, 10:03 a.m.: First inning for Pettitte lasted 15 pitches, eight strikes. Golson had one loopy single to right. Rodriguez had one at bat and grounded to second. Golson got three of the four first-inning at-bats. Pena just arrived in time for round two.

By the way, calling balls and strikes is umpire Reggie Jackson.

UPDATE, 10:15 a.m.: Second inning, Pettitte got three outs on 12 pitches, so he threw three extra to Pena before sitting down after another 15 pitch “inning.” Rodriguez hit twice. He grounded to second and lined a clean single to center. Pena and Golson each struck out.

Pena, by the way, is batting left handed to give Pettitte a look at a lefty.

UPDATE, 10:30 a.m.: Looks like that’s the game. After a 20-pitch third inning, Pettitte is now taking ground balls. He got two strikeouts in the inning, allowed two singles and had a 2-2 count on Greg Golson when the inning ended. No sign of injury. Rodriguez struck out and singled in the third inning.

Today’s win felt pretty routine, which is kind of amazing given the players who were not involved. Alex Rodriguez is still on the disabled list, Nick Swisher is dealing with a sore knee, Derek Jeter had the day off and the Yankees starting pitcher didn’t pitch out of the fifth inning.

All should be cause for concern, but the Yankees are used to filling holes, and they’ve come to trust the bullpen completely.

“There’s a lot of talent on this club,” Joe Girardi said. “Guys are stepping up and playing well. Our team is deep and guys are finding a way just to get it done.”

Brett Gardner and Curtis Granderson filled in at the top of the order, and they combined for four runs and four RBI. Ramiro Pena and Eduardo Nunez filled the spots at the bottom of the order, and they each had two hits. Mark Teixeira, the guy who was so awful through the first two months, collected his 99th RBI.

After Ivan Nova was lifted with two outs in the fifth, Boone Logan, Dave Robertson, Kerry Wood and Mariano Rivera got the Yankees through the final 4.1 without allowing a hit. Logan has been up and down from Triple-A, Robertson struggled earlier this season and Wood was with Cleveland six weeks ago.

“Mo was Mo,” Girardi said.

But all of it felt routine, just another day in a seven-game winning streak when the Yankees have learned to depend on different people on different days.

“We were in a little funk a few weeks ago,” Gardner said. “The last week or so, we’ve been hitting the ball pretty well and scoring some runs. That’s what we’re supposed to do.”

• Girardi said the decision to lift Nova had nothing to do with the weather – it seemed he might have been expecting a rain-shortened game and wanted to make sure they were leading after five – and instead had everything to do with the situation. “Sometimes a game can hinge a little bit earlier than the seventh, eighth or ninth inning,” Girardi said. “I just felt it was time to go to Booney there… Whether it’s a veteran (starter) or not, I still might make the move.”

• Nova seemed disappointed in himself more than Girardi. Obviously he wanted to stay in long enough for the win, but his stuff wasn’t as sharp today and he knew it. He said he had trouble working inside.

• After a two-homer game yesterday, Granderson had two RBI doubles today. He must be feeling pretty good at the plate, right? “Not at all,” Granderson said. “That’s the thing. Part of hitting is being lucky at times and being able to put the ball in play and see what’s going to happen. That’s what’s been happening for the last couple of games now.”

• Speed at the top of the lineup really helped the Yankees today, especially Gardner who tripled in a run and scored from first on a fairly routine double. “To score from first base on the ball that I hit down the line,” Granderson said. “There’s not too many people in the game that could do it, and he did it with a pretty good-throwing right fielder out there.”

• Alex Rodriguez should be back in two days, but the Yankees have gotten solid contributions from Nunez and Pena while he’s been out. “They’ve really come up with some big hits, and some two-out RBIs too,” Gardner said.

• Wood has made a huge difference in the bullpen. Girardi said he didn’t want to use Joba Chamberlain today, but he still had two legitimate setup men to turn to in Wood and Robertson. “It allows you to use two of the three every day, usually,” Girardi said.

• Girardi remains optimistic that Rodriguez will be ready on Sunday, despite Rodriguez’s more cautious optimism. “The last time in a live situation, ran out of the box and he felt it,” Girardi said. “I understand him being cautious, but I feel pretty good about how the rehab went. We’ll find out a lot more tomorrow.”

• Wood has allowed one run in 15 innings and got his second win with the Yankees. He has a 0.60 ERA since coming to New York.

• Gardner has now walked in eight consecutive games in which he’s had a plate appearance. According to Elias, that’s the longest streak by a Yankee since Johnny Damon in 2007.

• Pena has a hit in nine of his past 12 starts, batting .282 with six RBI in those games. He’s started against Toronto three times this season and has multiple hits every time.

Associated Press photos of Rivera with Posada, Nova and Granderson

Nick Swisher said he was available to pinch hit this afternoon, but his stiff left knee is still keeping him from moving 100 percent.

“I want to be able to run full speed,” he said. “Even if I can get it up there to 80 or 90 (percent), I’ll be happy with that.”

Joe Girardi waited to speak with Swisher before posting today lineup, and Swisher said he’s hopeful the full day off — and a full day of treatment — will make a difference. “As long as the wins keep coming, you’re able to relax a little more,” he said.

As for tomorrow, it seems possible Swisher will be back in the lineup. Facing a lefty, though — and given Brett Gardner’s and Curtis Granderson’s success — the Yankees could give Austin Kearns another start in right.

“He told me he felt better today,” Girardi said. “We just gave him a day and we’ll see how he is tomorrow.”

The Yankees have matched the longest winning streak of the season, taking their seventh in a row with a 7-3 win against the Blue Jays this afternoon. Ivan Nova was pulled after just 4.2 innings, but he pitched pretty well and would have gotten the win had he gotten one more out. Instead, Kerry Wood will be given the decision. Without Derek Jeter or Nick Swisher in the lineup, Brett Gardner and Curtis Granderson hit first and second and combined for four RBI and four runs. At the bottom of the lineup, Ramiro Pena and Eduardo Nunez each had two hits.

Associated Press photo of Brett Gardner

YANKEES (84-50)
Brett Gardner LF
Curtis Granderson CF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Robinson Cano 2B
Jorge Posada C
Lance Berkman DH
Austin Kearns RF
Ramiro Pena 3B
Eduardo Nunez SS

RHP Ivan Nova (1-0, 1.93)
Nova vs. Blue Jays

BLUE JAYS (69-64)
Mike McCoy SS
Travis Snider LF
Jose Bautista RF
Vernon Wells CF
Lyle Overbay 1B
Aaron Hill 2B
Adam Lind DH
John McDonald 3B
Jose Molina C

RHP Brandon Morrow (10-6, 4.27)
Morrow vs. Yankees

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

UMPIRES: HP Gary Cederstrom, 1B Ed Hickox, 2B Fieldin Culbreth, 3B Jim Wolf

WEATHER: Clouds are starting to roll in, but still no rain and no tarp. Wind is blowing in pretty hard.

NO SECOND CHANCES: Last time Ivan Nova faced the Blue Jays, one hitter finished with two hits off the Yankees rookie. That was Yunel Escobar, who’s not in the lineup this afternoon.

WELCOME TO THE BRONX: Although Brandon Morrow has had considerable success against the Yankees in Toronto, he’s been hit in two starts at Yankee Stadium. His line in those two starts: 11.1 IP, 16 H, 10 R, 10 ER, 3 BB, 16 K.

THE YANKEES ACE: After yesterday’s win, CC Sabathia is now undefeated in 21 straight starts at Yankee Stadium. According to Elias, that matches the Whitey Ford for the longest undefeated streak at home by a Yankee. Ford went 21 games without a loss from August 8, 1964 to August 18, 1965.

UPDATE, 1:11 p.m.: After a routine grounder to short, Ivan Nova’s first pitch to Travis Snider was a solo home run for a 1-0 Blue Jays lead.

UPDATE, 1:30 p.m.: Curtis Granderson might have caught up to every other Yankee on that play, but Brett Gardner’s fast enough to stay a few steps ahead and score on Mark Teixeira’s double. Granderson scored one batter later to make it 2-1 Yankees.

UPDATE, 1:52 p.m.: I remember being a little kid and thinking the only trick to running fast was to hold my hands perfectly flat. Apparently I was a big believer in wind resistance. How flat would my hands have to be to run as fast as Brett Gardner? It must be a lot of fun to go from Point A to Point B that quickly. It’s now 4-1 Yankees as Gardner scores from first on a double by Granderson. It’s 4-1 Yankees.

UPDATE, 2:14 p.m.: How many times do you see it, the guy who was just the Name That Baby Bomber comes up in the next inning and gets a big two-out RBI single? This time it was Ramiro Pena who’s baby photo was shown after the second inning, and who drove in a run in the third. It’s 5-1 Yankees.

UPDATE, 2:36 p.m.: Heading into the top of the fifth with the score 5-3. Nova gave up a couple in the fourth and the Yankees went down in order.

UPDATE, 2:42 p.m.: Wonder if Joe Girardi is anticipating rain. Nova has been pretty solid this afternoon, but with two on and two out in the fifth, Boone Logan is in to face Lyle Overbay. It’s still 5-3.

UPDATE, 3:15 p.m.: Brett Gardner has an RBI triple to the right-center gap and it’s a 6-3 Yankees lead… Make that a 7-3 lead on Granderson’s second RBI double of the game.

UPDATE, 4:12 p.m.: After 1.2 strong innings from Kerry Wood — which will probably earn him the win — here’s Mariano Rivera to close it with a four-run lead. Sergio Mitre was also getting loose, but Girardi’s not messing around.

Joe Girardi believes he’ll have Alex Rodriguez back in the lineup on Sunday. “Everything has gone good so far,” Girardi said. “I believe we’ve got a good shot of having him.”

Rodriguez seems more cautiously optimistic. “I’m going to wait and see,” he said. “Today was a good day. Tomorrow’s a big test. I’m hoping that Sunday, Monday or Tuesday I’ll be ready.”

Rodriguez did tee and toss work this morning. He took 37 ground balls at third base — why 37, I have no idea — and turned a few double plays. During full batting practice on the field, he ran to first base and guessed he was running at about 70 percent.

Tomorrow will be a far more significant test as he’ll go head-to-head against Andy Pettitte. Rodriguez will wear regular metal spikes — he wore turf shoes today — and said he’s going to “push much harder” through all of his drills, which will include going first to third and second to home. He also wants to do some bunt drills at third base.

“I won’t want to over-promise and under-deliver,” he said. “I’d much rather go the other way. Sunday’s a possibility, without question.”

• Running as if he had just singled, Rodriguez rounded first base a little bit this morning, then went back to the bag. That’s when he went through the full Nick Swisher routine of tapping his chest and pointing to the sky. The hitters and coaches were rolling.

• Girardi expects Rodriguez to return to his No. 4 spot in the lineup. “That’s what I anticipate doing,” Girardi said. “There hasn’t been anything that’s really changed my mind.”

• Girardi assured everyone that there’s “nothing physical going on” with Derek Jeter. He’s just getting a routine day off. As for his lower-than-usual numbers: “At times his mechanics get a little out of whack,” Girardi said. “It happens to hitters. He’s played a lot of baseball for us. Maybe that has a little something to do with it.”

• Batting practice was optional today. The group I saw hitting: Greg Golson, Eduardo Nunez, Ramiro Pena, Chad Moeller, Francisco Cervelli, Brett Gardner, Curtis Granderson and Lance Berkman.

• Dave Robertson stretched with the hitters for some reason, then went out to shag fly balls left handed, which he always does.

• Rodriguez on his split from agent Scott Boras: “Scott and I had a good run. Nothing drastic happened it’s just that, at this point in my career, my goal is to finish as a New York Yankee (and) to be a world champion again. Some of the things I needed 20 years ago I really don’t need now.”

UPDATE, 12:35 p.m.: Blue Jays lineup
Mike McCoy SS
Travis Snider LF
Jose Bautista RF
Vernon Wells CF
Lyle Overbay 1B
Aaron Hill 2B
Adam Lind DH
John McDonald 3B
Jose Molina C

Associated Press photo of Rodriguez

Brett Gardner LF
Curtis Granderson CF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Robinson Cano 2B
Jorge Posada C
Lance Berkman DH
Austin Kearns RF
Ramiro Pena 3B
Eduardo Nunez SS

Despite what Joe Girardi said pregame, the posted lineup has Pena at third and Nunez at short.

When Andy Pettitte faces hitters tomorrow, it won’t be simply a string of minor leaguers going head-to-head against the veteran.

Alex Rodriguez will take BP against Pettitte in what Rodriguez is hoping will be his final test before returning to the lineup on Sunday. Rodriguez wouldn’t promise a return on Sunday, but it seems at least possible. He took swings, fielded ground balls and ran the bases with no problems this morning, but he has yet to test himself 100 percent. That’s what the Pettitte matchup is about.