The LoHud Yankees Blog

Every game between the Yankees and Red Sox seems to be about the bigger picture. It’s about the rivalry, and it’s about the division standings, and it’s about trying to win another championship. Winning is the only thing matters in these matchups.

Looking for a smaller picture, though, this game has a lot to do with Phil Hughes.

After last year’s breakout season, Hughes opened this season with a sloppy start at Yankee Stadium. His velocity wasn’t quite as high as expected, his command wasn’t especially good and he lasted only four innings against the Tigers.

“He struggled his last start, there’s no secret about that,” Joe Girardi said. “Just get him back on track… Command (is the key). Just getting on track and getting to where he was throwing the ball like he was last year.”

Hughes has said he felt good in his between-starts bullpen sessions. That’s a positive sign, but it doesn’t mean much if he can’t take it to the mound this afternoon.

“I think it gives you a good feeling going into the start,” Girardi said. “When you feel good and you feel like you’re able to do your work and do it well in between, I think it gives you a confidence going into the start. But once the game starts, you have to make those pitches.”

• The fact the Red Sox have yet to win a game doesn’t mean much to the Yankees. “There’s only 156 games to go. I’m not really looking at whole a lot of things except how we’re doing,” Girardi said.

• Girardi wouldn’t commit to using his regulars in every game this series, but clearly the rain out gave everyone a bit of a breather and seemingly gave the Yankees the option of using everyone all weekend. Girardi was planning to use that rained out game to rest some guys anyway. “You want to be able to play your regulars, and it just kind of worked out,” Girardi said. “That was the day you could split it up.”

• This will be the Yankees first regular-season look at the new Red Sox lineup. “I don’t think Crawford’s really going to change a whole lot from last year to this year except he’s in a different uniform,” Girardi said. “We know what type of player he is. As far as Adrian Gonzalez — who hits the ball extremely well the other way – this park should play right into a lot of his strengths, and you would expect that he would be a very productive player over here.”

• Jorge Posada is one hit away from tying Phil Rizzuto for 14th place on the Yankees all-time hits list. He’s eight runs from tying Rizzuto for 17th on the team’s all-time runs scored list.

• Nick Swisher has 499 RBI, one away from reaching 500 for his career.

• The Red Sox added two pitchers before today’s game. As expected, Alfredo Aceves was called up to replace Matt Albers. The team also activated lefty Felix Doubront from the disabled list and designated Dennys Reyes for assignment. Reyes allowed four runs in 1.2 innings for Boston.

RED SOX
Carl Crawford LF
Dustin Pedroia 2B
Adrian Gonzalez 1B
Kevin Youkilis 3B
David Ortiz DH
J.D. Drew RF
Jarrod Saltalamacchia C
Jacoby Ellsbury CF
Marco Scutaro SS

Associated Press photo

With the Yankees and Red Sox about to open up the 2011 version of the greatest rivalry in sports, what better time could there be for a live chat? Send your questions now and I’ll get to as many as I can!

We’ll start the chat at 12:30 p.m.

Derek Jeter said too much attention is paid to the first week of the season, and he’s probably right.

He was talking about the Red Sox’s 0-6 record, but one week is also way too early to make any judgments on The Captain, whether any mechanical adjustments will help him have a bounce-back year from his career-worst season, or that last year was the start of the inevitable decline and he’s just heading downhill from here at age 36.

His numbers aren’t great so far, but then again, it hasn’t exactly been great hitting weather, trying to swing away in the cold. Jeter is batting .238 with six hits in 21 at-bats, plus four walks. He has just one RBI.

Jeter finally picked up his first extra-base hit in Thursday’s 4-3 win over the Twins, a hard-hit double past the third-base bag leading off the first against Francisco Liriano. It was one of his two hits in three at-bats, the other being an infield single. He also drew a walk, one of his four so far.

“I felt good a couple of days ago,” Jeter said after the game. “I just want to feel comfortable. Sometimes you’re comfortable and the results aren’t there. Sometimes you’re uncomfortable and you have results. Today was a little bit of both.”

Jeter, barring injury, is going to become Mr. 3,000 in the coming months. He passed Rogers Hornsby and Jake Beckley for 33rd on the all-time hits list during the game. Barry Bonds is 32nd, just four hits in front. Jeter is 69 hits away from the magic number.

So is that on his mind?

“No,” Jeter said. “I’m trying to get one hit at a time.”

This post is from Brian Heyman

Brett Gardner LF
Derek Jeter SS
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Nick Swisher RF
Jorge Posada DH
Curtis Granderson CF
Russell Martin C

RHP Phil Hughes

Here we go again. The Yankees first road trip of the season begins this afternoon in Boston with the first game of a three-game set against the Red Sox. The Yankees just won two out of three in back-to-back series at home. The Red Sox were just swept in back-to-back series on the road.

Boston is 0-6 for the first time since 1945.

“We’re frustrated, because we never thought we’d be here, but we are here,” Kevin Youkilis told MLB.com.

I doubt even the most hardened Yankees fan would have predicted this sort of start for the Red Sox. Of course, I’m not sure records mean a whole lot at this point, and they certainly don’t mean much when these two teams play one another.

One small bit of pregame news: The Red Sox will call-up former Yankees long reliever Alfredo Aceves before today’s game. He’s taking the place of Matt Albers, who’s heading to the disabled list.

Also, don’t forget Sam is hosting a chat this afternoon at 12:30. I’ll try to jump in if and when I can.

Associated Press photo of Derek Jeter

Sweeny Murti and I shared a ride to Boston this afternoon. As you might have heard, the Yankees begin a weekend series against the Red Sox tomorrow, playing back-to-back day games before settling into ESPN’s Sunday night game.

Our friend Sam Borden is — I believe — leaving very early tomorrow morning. While I’m in the clubhouse, Sam will be hosting a quick chat from the Fenway press box. Stop by at 12:30 p.m. tomorrow to talk to Sam leading into the game.

Here are the pitching matchups for the weekend.

Friday
RHP Phil Hughes (0-1, 11.25)
vs.
RHP John Lackey (0-1, 22.09)
2:05 p.m., YES

Saturday
RHP Ivan Nova (1-0, 4.50)
vs.
RHP Clay Buchholz (0-1, 5.68)
1:10 p.m., FOX

Sunday
LHP CC Sabathia (0-0, 1.38)
vs.
RHP Josh Beckett (0-1, 5.40)
8:05 p.m., ESPN

Nick Swisher expressed remorse after the Yankees’ 4-3 win over the Twins.

“It’s sad,” Swisher said. “I didn’t mean to do that.”

He injured Minnesota’s new second baseman, Tsuyoshi Nishioka, with a hard take-out slide to the inside of the bag in the seventh. Swisher broke up the double play, but he also fractured Nishioka’s left fibula. Before Nishioka left Yankee Stadium, Swisher visited with him and told him that he was sorry.

“I’m glad I got a chance to talk to him,” Swisher said. “It definitely eased my mind. He told me, ‘It’s not your fault. Don’t feel bad.’ I know I play hard, but you don’t ever want to go in there trying to hurt somebody.”

Ron Gardenhire gave Swisher a pass.

“It was a good slide,” the Minnesota manager said. “Swisher is a clean player.”

A.J. Burnett was healthier than during his first start when he was plagued by sinus and throat infections, yet the result was the same. He won again. But he has been Mr. April for the Yankees, now 7-0 with a 3.91 ERA in 12 starts during this month in three seasons here. He knows he needs to find the consistency in the rest of the months.

Still, his changeup has been effective for him so far.

“I’ve said all along it’s a big pitch for me,” Burnett said. “Hopefully this year the stubbornness is gone and I can use it more like I did today.”

Joe Girardi likes what he has seen so far. Burnett has tweaked his delivery slightly since last season.

“I’ve seen a difference in his stuff,” Girardi said. “His breaking ball is totally different from last year. It had more of the downward (movement) that we were accustomed to seeing in 2009 and that I watched so much on tape in 2008, when I watched him pitch against us.”

Rafael Soriano pitched a one-hit eighth and certainly had better command than Tuesday night when he walked a career-high-tying three and was charged with a career-high-tying four runs in the 5-4, 10-inning loss. He said his arm was looser in this appearance.

“I felt better today,” Soriano said. Yes, he did meet with the media, unlike after the previous outing.

So now it’s Yankees-Red Sox. The three-game series starts Friday at 2:05 with the Phil Hughes and John Lackey as the starters. The Yankees, as they should, are still expecting Boston to be formidable despite its surprising 0-6 start. This will be the Red Sox’s home opener. 

“They know they’re a very good club and we know that as well,” Girardi said. “They have veterans. I’m sure there’s no panic in that room.”

It will be interesting to check out the mood outside that room, specifically with the fans in the stands.

“There are 156 games left,” Derek Jeter said. “I’m pretty sure they’ll win their share of games. I think a lot of times people pay too much attention to the first week of the season.”

April 7

Yankees lineup

1. Derek Jeter SS

2. Nick Swisher RF

3. Mark Teixeira 1B

4. Alex Rodriguez 3B

5. Robinson Cano 2B

6. Jorge Posada DH

7. Andruw Jones LF

8. Russell Martin C

9. Brett Gardner CF

A.J. Burnett P

Twins lineup

1. Denard Span CF

2. Tsuyoshi Nishioka 2B

3. Joe Mauer C

4. Justin Morneau 1B

5. Jim Thome DH

6. Michael Cuddyer RF

7. Jason Kupel LF

8. Danny Valencia 3B

9. Alexi Casilla SS

Francisco Liriano P

Umpires: Larry Vanover HP, Tony Randazzo 1B, Dan Bellino 2B, Brian Gorman 3B

TV/Radio: YES/WCBS 880

Weather: Cold; 45 degrees (38 windchill), cloudy

Mr. April: A.J. Burnett has never lost a start as a Yankee — in April. He’s 6-0 in 11 starts heading into today’s game.

Tex’s start: Mark Teixeira is just the fourth Yankee to hit four homers through the first five games, joining Mickey Mantle (1956), Moose Skowron (1957) and A-Rod (2007). He’s also only the fourth since 1920 with at least 10 RBI in this opening span.

Boston blues: The Red Sox are 0-5 heading into today’s game at Cleveland. Only one team has ever made the playoffs with that kind of start since they started handing out wild cards, the 1995 Reds. Credit the NY Times for that stat. The Yankees play at Fenway tomorrow in the start of a three-game series.

Update, 1:16: Good beginning for Burnett, fanned Joe Mauer on a curve to end the 1-2-3 first.

Update, 1:20: Congrats to the Captain. Derek Jeter just tied Rogers Hornsby and Jake Beckley for 33th on the all-time hits list with 2,930. Leadoff double vs. Liriano.

Update, 1:25: It didn’t look like a fastball, but that had to sting Mark Teixeira, with Liriano hitting him just above the right knee.

Update, 1:29: Robinson Cano has been fairly quiet so far, just flied to center to strand two and end the first.

Update, 1:36: Two walks by Burnett to start the second.

Update, 1:43: Another good job by Burnett to keep his focus and not fall apart; retires three straight to get out of it.

Update, 1:50: it’s 0-0, heading for the third. Liriano has three strikeouts.

Update, 1:54: Oh well, there goes Burnett’s no-hitter, one-out double by Denard Span.

Update, 2:00: Burnett strands Span at third, getting Joe Mauer looking at a 91 mph fastball at the knees.

Update, 2:07: Jeter moves Gardner to third with a grounder after the walk and steal. So Jeter remains five hits behind Barry Bonds on the all-time list. One out.

Update, 2:09: 1-0, Yankees, here in the third. Nick Swisher sac fly to the track in right.

Update, 2:14: Letting the leadoff guys get on could cost Burnett at some point. Justin Morneau just opened the fourth with a double.

Update, 2:16: It just cost him. Jim Thome powered a ball off the center-field fence for an RBI double, 1-1.

Update, 2:21: Burnett is getting hit now. Jason Kubel ripped a double past Teixeira’s glove and down the right-field line, and the Twins are up 2-1.

Update, 2:25: It’s 2-1 heading for the bottom of the fourth.

Update, 2:30: A walk to A-Rod and a single by Cano to start the inning.

Update, 2:36: Good early returns from Andruw Jones. Homer in his first PA the other day and now he rips an RBI double to left – 2-2. Second and third, one out.

Update, 2:39: 3-2, Yankees. Russell Martin gets the RBI grounder to first.

Update, 2:42: 4-2, Yankees. Brett Gardner delivers the bloop RBI single to right. And can you believe the Red Sox will be 0-6 if they don’t rally in the ninth at Cleveland? They’re down 1-0.

Update, 2:45: Can you believe the alleged favorites in the East are 0-6? Sox lose, 1-0, Swept in Cleveland.

Update, 2:58: One infield hit and that was it for the Twins in the fifth. It’s still 4-2.

Update, 3:10: Nice play by Jones, running in a long way and then making a sliding catch off a Jim Thome ball here in the sixth.  

Update, 3:11: May be the last inning for Burnett. He’s near 100 pitches. He’s allowed just two runs and five hits and two walks, and he fanned five in six innings. Liriano is done after five. Jeff Manship is coming in to pitch.

Update, 3:19: Burnett is done, Joba is in for the seventh.

Update, 3:26: The Twins have a runner on third with one out after Chamberlain hit Casilla, Casilla stole second and Russell Martin’s throw went into center.

Update, 3:30: 4-3, RBI bouncer to first by Span.

Update, 3:40: 3,000 watch: Jeter is now 69 away. Just beat out an infield hit to third here in the seventh. No. 2,931. He has sole possession of 33rd place. Sorry Jake Beckley and Rogers Hornsby. Barry Bonds, you’re next. Just four from tying. Jose Mijares is coming in to pitch.

Update, 3:48: Hard take-out slide by Swisher at second to break up a potential double play, but second baseman Tsuyoshi Nishioka is hurt. Swisher’s legs took him out as he tried to throw. Nishioka is putting hardly any weight on his left leg, his arms around two guys helping him off.

Update, 3:52: Swisher may not get up again in this game, so we may not immediately know what the Twins thought of his slide with legs extended to the inside of the base. Rafael Soriano will now try to put his struggles in the last game fully behind him. He’s on to pitch the eighth. Maybe Soriano will even talk about it after the game.

Update, 4:02: Good inning for Soriano, just a leadoff single. Mariano will be on for the ninth.

Update, 4:13: Yankees win, 4-3. Rivera has saved all four victories so far.

Hey everyone, just wanted to check in really quickly because the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees just announced their Opening Day roster. It’s pretty much as expected, except that Ryan Pope is going to start the season on the disabled list. I’m not sure why, but I’m sure Donnie Collins will have it covered.

Rotation: David Phelps, Hector Noesi, Adam Warren, D.J. Mitchell, Andrew Brackman

Bullpen: Kevin Whelan, Buddy Carlyle, George Kontos, Lance Pendleton, Amaury Sanit, Andy Sisco, Eric Wordekemper

Catchers: Jesus Montero, Jose Gil

Infielders: Doug Bernier, Brandon Laird, Ramiro Pena, Kevin Russo, Jorge Vazquez

Outfielders: Dan Brewer, Chris Dickerson, Greg Golson, Justin Maxwell, Jordan Parraz

Disabled list: RHP Warner Madrigal, LHP Jose Ortegano, RHP Ryan Pope, RHP Josh Schmidt, C Ryan Baker, C P.J. Pilittere, INF Luis Nunez

Long-time Yankees minor league catcher Pilittere was signed earlier this week. He was not in spring training with the Yankees. As usual, the Triple-A roster has a lot of guys on the DL, some of which are probably phantom injuries meant to open roster spots.

Brian Heyman here for Twins-Yankees. Welcome to Target Field in Minneapolis. Oh wait, we’re at a Yankee Stadium, Bronx, N.Y. It just feels like Minnesota, 38 degrees with the windchill at the moment and 43 overall. It isn’t good typing weather. How do these guys hit in these conditions or get a feel of the ball pitching? Got to give them credit.

Or to some discredit. Can you believe the Red Sox are 0-5 heading into today’s game at Cleveland? No team has ever rebounded to win the World Series after that kind of start. Somehow, though, I wouldn’t be writing Boston off just yet. The Yankees will get a firsthand look tomorrow at Fenway in the start of the three-game series.

“It doesn’t take much for a team to turn it around, especially when you’re as talented as they are,” Joe Girardi said. “We know that. It’s not probable that teams are going to lose five games in a row very often over the course of the season. It’s just happened to them in the beginning of the year. But we’ll have a tremendous amount of respect for what they can do.”

Phil Hughes was holding court this morning, since he will face the Red Sox in the opener, and because he didn’t have his good velocity in his first start, just around 89-90. He said it’s frustrating that it’s not there right now, but he’s confident that it will come around, just like it did last year. He thinks it’s a matter of building arm strength and fixing mechanics. He was encouraged by his recent side sessions, so we’ll see.

Pedro Feliciano didn’t start his throwing program yesterday and won’t today. Now he says he won’t play catch until possibly Tuesday, under the advisement of the Yankees’ medical people. Feliciano said they don’t want to rush it with that left shoulder.

“We don’t want to have a set back,” Feliciano said.

The good news is that he says he’s progressing and is “about 90 percent.” He said the strain is in a muscle outside of his rotator cuff, not in the rotator cuff itself.

Freddy Garcia is available out of the bullpen today after his Yankees debut start got rained out Wednesday night. He’s now supposed to go 16 days between starts. Girardi said last night that he’s looking at April 15 here against Texas.

“We told him we’d like to try to get him to face some hitters if possible, if the situation arises,” Girardi said. “If it doesn’t, we have to find a way to keep him sharp. It’s unfortunate for him that his start got rained out, but it’s hard to fight Mother Nature.”