The LoHud Yankees Blog

1. Jeter DH
2. Granderson CF
3. Teixeira 1B
4. Rodriguez 3B
5. Cano 2B (pending doctor approval)
6. Swisher RF
7. Gardner LF
8. Nunez SS
9. Cervelli C
Nova P

First, a huge thanks to Brian for covering last night’s game. It was a beast and that had to be a long, long night.

Second, with the Red Sox coming to town this weekend, I’m going to do a chat here on the blog beginning Friday at noon. Stop by and jump into the conversation. See you all then.

Derek Jeter was riding a three-game streak of multiple hits and a seven-game hitting streak overall, but he was back to struggling in the Yankees’ 4-3, 11-inning loss to the Royals Wednesday night, going 0 for 6. His average dropped from .283 to .271.

Before the game, Joe Girardi couldn’t say who the real Jeter is at this point.

“He had a good month of September,” Girardi said. “He had an OK April. And his May has been outstanding. So if you want to ask which guy you’re going to get the whole year, none of us truly know.

“But we started to see in Detroit where the ball started jumping off his bat. It looked like the Derek that we’re used to seeing, and that’s what I’m seeing now, driving the ball to right field, hitting the ball with authority up the middle. He’s never been a guy who has pulled a lot of balls, so I don’t really worry too much about that.

“I think when guys are cold and guys are really hot, they’re always somewhere in between there, and that’s what you think you’re probably going to get.”

The Yankees went 2 for 16 with runners in scoring position and stranded 15 overall. So it was little wonder they fell 4-3 in 11 to the Royals.

They wasted A.J. Burnett’s one-run, one-hit work over seven, although he did walk five and hit one.

The bats continue to be a problem.

“The bottom line is we’re better than this, and right now we’re struggling offensively,” Joe Girardi said. “You’ve just got to keep going at it. You’ve got to keep putting guys on and eventually you know it’s going to turn.”

Robinson Cano went for a CT scan after Nathan Adcock drilled him in the helmet in the fifth inning. It came back negative, and Cano is day to day.

Burnett came back the next inning and drilled Jeff Francoeur in the back, but he pleaded innocent to any charges of retaliation. It did put the potential tying run in scoring position.

“The thing of it is I know Jeff, too, so that’s even worse,” Burnett said. “You know somebody and end up hitting them. But balls get away. I had five, six walks tonight, so I wasn’t exactly pinpoint.”

Royals manager Ned Yost wasn’t buying it. Asked if he thought Burnett threw at Francoeur on purpose, Yost said, “Of course. We didn’t hit their guy on purpose. Ours was an accident. That’s just the way the game goes.”

Burnett lowered his ERA to 3.38 after holding a team to three earned runs or less for the sixth time in eight starts in what could be a bounce-back year, although he got off to a decent beginning last season as well.

Eric Hosmer, who was named the top Royals prospect and the fifth-best in baseball coming into the season, hit his first big-league homer off him in the fourth.

“He’s going to hit a lot of them,” Yost said. “The first one had to be somewhere. I guess it’s good that it was here.”

David Robertson was frustrated with himself after walking two and letting the tying run score on an RBI single by Wilson Betemit in the eighth.

“The last thing I want to do is blow the game for A.J.,” Robertson said. “He dealt tonight, kept us right there in the ballgame, gave us the ball in the eighth with a one-run lead. I’ve got to be better than that. I’ve got to be able to get those three outs.”

 This was the Yankees’ first extra-inning loss to the Royals since 1999.

The Yankees starters have a 2.88 ERA to show for their last 22 games.

Jorge Posada broke a season-high seven game streak of no RBI.

In the series finale Thursday night, Ivan Nova and Sean O’Sullivan will be the starters.

Yankees lineup

1. Derek Jeter SS

2. Curtis Granderson CF

3. Mark Teixeira 1B

4. Alex Rodriguez 3B

5. Robinson Cano 2B

6. Nick Swisher RF

7. Jorge Posada DH

8. Russell Martin C

9. Brett Gardner LF

A.J. Burnett P

Royals lineup

1. Jarrod Dyson CF

2. Melky Cabrera LF

3. Eric Hosmer 1B

4. Billy Butler DH

5. Jeff Francoeur RF

6. Wilson Betemit 3B

7. Brayan Pena C

8. Chris Getz 2B

9. Alcides Escobar SS

Vin Mazzaro P

Time/TV: 7:08/YES

Weather: Partly Cloudy, 65 degrees

Umpires: Ed Rapuano HP, Brian O’Nora 1B, Alfonso Marquez 2B, Ed Hickox 3B

3,000 watch: Derek Jeter needs one hit to tie Sam Crawford for 29th on the all-time list with 2,963 hits. Jeter owns a seven-game hitting streak.

Not exactly road warriors: The Royals have lost seven straight away from home. Their schedule has them playing 41 of their first 64 in Kansas City.

Taking a walk: The Yankees have walked 132 times, tied for third in the majors. They have allowed 103 walks, the fourth fewest in the majors. But the 29-walk positive differential is the largest spread in the majors.

Closing them out: A.J. Burnett has given up just one hit in 18 at-bats with runners on base and two outs.

Update, 7:15: 1-2-3 first for Burnett with two Ks.

Update, 7:27: A-Rod hasn’t truly snapped out of it yet, grounding into that double play to end the first.

Update, 7:37: Two walks, but Burnett works his way out of it in the second.

Update, 7:45: That had to feel good for Posada, got around on a fastball and grounded it hard into right for an RBI single. Robinson Cano just appeared to get his left hand on the plate. Three straight singles to start the inning off Mazzaro, just up from Triple-A to take the start for the injured Bruce Chen.

Update, 8:00: Burnett gets an error, couldn’t pick up the dribbler in front of the plate. But the Royals are still hitless with one gone in the third.

Update, 8:04: The Royals want to be aggressive, but it hasn’t worked so far in this series. Russell Martin throws out another runner to end the inning.

Update, 8:08: Curis Granderson drives the ball to left-center, a solo shot in the third, and it’s 2-0. That’s 12 homers already.

Update, 8:20: Bases loaded, two outs in the third for Martin, who’s been in a slump.

Update, 8:21: Still in a slump, 6-4 force, side retired.

Update, 8:26: Wow, what a shot by the Royals’ hot prospect Eric Hosmer, turning on a fastball and sending it to the second deck in right to start the fourth, his first big-league homer. Fortunately, the fans don’t want opposition homers, so it was thrown back on the field and he can keep it. I had an extensive 1-on-1 chat with Hosmer before the game for a story coming out Friday. His grandparents are from Cold Spring, N.Y. He has his parents here for the game as well. He didn’t seem to be feeling any pressure to be the savior of the franchise when I spoke with him. He got called up last week when he was batting .439 in AAA.

Update, 8:35: Lousy percentage on stealing for Brett Gardner so far. He just got thrown out for the fifth time in 10 tries, following a bunt single.

Update, 8:49: Four walks now for Burnett, two on with two out in the fifth.

Update, 8:50: But he gets out of it. Mazzaro is out after four. Nathan Adcock is pitching. Also, there’s an ESPN.com report out right now that the Yankees won’t be talking to CC Sabathia about his opt-out clause while the season is going on. Brian Cashman says in the report that he expects Sabathia to back.

Update, 8:57: Cano just took a fastball to the helmet. You could hear it up here. But he’s up and smiling and heading to first. But he’s not staying at first. He’s leaving the game. Eduardo Nunez is running for him.

Update, 9:08: Burnett just apparently paid back the Royals, sailing a fastball into Jeff Francoeur’s back. Both teams have been warned now by plate ump Ed Rapuano. First and second, one out.

Update, 9:14: Burnett is out of trouble again. He has a one-hitter through six.

Update, 9:16: Two hits now for Posada, another single.

Update, 9:26: First and second, two outs in the sixth. Tim Collins is coming on for the Royals.

Update, 9:31: 2-1, heading to the seventh.

Update, 9:34: Burnett is out for the seventh, but Luis Ayala and Boone Logan are warming.

Update, 9:40: That should be it for Burnett, one run, one hit, five walks and one hit batter through seven. I believe he’s at 115 pitches. Much better than the last four months of last season, that’s for sure. If he wins, he’ll be 5-2 in eight starts. Aaron Crow will pitch the seventh for the Royals.

Update, 9:44: David Robertson is warming.

Update, 9:56: Bases loaded, two outs for Martin.

Update, 9:58: Bouncer to short, side retired. Good thing for the Yankees the pitching has been good. They’re leaving guys on the bases right and left.  Wonder when this team is going to hit consistently. I’m sure it’s coming. Robertson is on for the eighth.

Update, 10:07: Robertson has walked two here in the eighth, one out.

Update, 10:24: Bad bunt by Jeter and a double-play ball from Granderson to kill the eighth after Gardner’s leadoff single. Mariano Rivera is on for the ninth.

Update, 10:30: 1-2-3 for Mariano.

Update, 10:38: First and second, two outs, and it’s up to Posada.

Update, 10:43: Posada fans, extra innings. Buddy Carlyle is on for the 10th. The Yankees have two runs on 11 hits.

Update, 10:47: By my count, the Yankees have left 15 on base.

Update, 10:58: Francoeur gets some payback of his own, lining an RBI double to the right-center gap — 3-2, Royals.

Update, 11:05: Four-pitch walk to Russell Martin by Joakim Soria to start the 10th.

Update, 11:12: Granderson comes through with the two-out RBI single to tie it.

Update, 11:18: Joba is resting tonight. Luis Ayala is warming now that Carlyle has walked the leadoff batter in the 11th. Actually, Ayala is now coming in.

Update, 11:26: Infield hit, intentional walk. So the bases are loaded with one out for Hosmer.

Update, 11:35: After Hosmer’s sac fly, Louis Coleman will try to close it out for the Royals.

Update, 11:42: Yankees lose, 4-3.

Gene Monahan just had an emotional press conference to explain why he’s retiring at the end of the season when he will be 67. He has seen it all, being the longest tenured person in the organization at 49 years, and has been a Yankees trainer since 1973, the year George Steinbrenner became the principal owner. Monahan broke the news to the players yesterday. But the decision was made last November. 

It had a lot to do with his cancer diagnosis.

“I had a big wake-up call a year ago,” Monahan said. “It affected me. Who wouldn’t it affect? … I realized there are some other things in life I need to do.”

So he’s moving to North Carolina where he has purchased a house and where he can follow his beloved NASCAR. He wants to get a pickup truck and a retriever. The Yankees have invited him to help out at spring training, but he isn’t sure yet whether he will.

He said he tried to not to get too close to players, but he did mention a few who were special to him, including the late Bobby Murcer, Thurman Munson and Catfish Hunter. The mention of Hunter’s name choked him up.

“I’ll wait to see him a little later,” Monahan said.

Rafael Soriano’s elbow trouble has been a recurring theme for him. He had Tommy John surgery in 2004 and another operation in 2008.  Joe Girardi isn’t going to worry yet, especially since there is just a little inflammation, according to today’s MRI. The hope is he’ll be back in a few days.

“If it’s a recurring thing, we’ll start to get more concerned about it,” Girardi said.

For now, Girardi indicated he would go with last night’s setup combo of David Robertson in the seventh and Joba Chamberlain in the eighth, unless one of them needs a rest.

The Yankees did add a more experienced arm to the bullpen, activating Luis Ayala from his rehab assignment and optioning Lance Pendleton back to AAA.  

Girardi also praised Russell Martin for his defense, especially for his ability to block balls in the dirt and handle the staff. “I’ve been impressed,” Girardi said.

Rafael Soriano had an MRI and it showed a little inflammation in the right elbow. He’s day to day. The Yankees hope to have him back during the coming Boston series.

1. Jeter SS
2. Granderson CF
3. Teixeira 1B
4. Rodriguez 3B
5. Cano 2B
6. Swisher RF
7. Posada DH
8. Martin C
9. Gardner LF
Burnett P

The Yankees just sent this announcement.

The New York Yankees announced today that Head Athletic Trainer Gene Monahan, who is the longest-tenured employee in the Yankees organization, will retire at the conclusion of the 2011 season after 49 years of continuous service.

Monahan is the longest-tenured Head Athletic Trainer in the Major Leagues, having worked in that capacity for the last 39 years. In December, he was honored along with longtime Assistant Athletic Trainer Steve Donohue as the “Best Athletic Trainers” in Major League Baseball in 2010 by the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainer Society (PBATS). Other recent commendations include the 2009 “Distinguished Athletic Trainer” Award from the National Athletic Trainers Association and induction into the New York State Athletic Trainers’ Association Hall of Fame in 2007. Monahan and Donohue were also honored with Major League Baseball’s “Athletic Training Staff of the Year” Award in 1990.

“Gene Monahan embodies all the very best virtues that this organization strives to uphold,” said New York Yankees Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner. “His devotion to his craft, passion for the game of baseball and tireless work ethic are only a few of the qualities that have made him a bedrock within this franchise for nearly 50 years. Gene has made a lifetime’s worth of sacrifices and contributions in order to best serve the Yankees, and our entire organization will always be grateful.”

Mr. Monahan first worked for the Yankees organization in 1962, serving as a bat boy and clubhouse attendant during spring training while in his senior year at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Ft. Lauderdale. He began his athletic training career with the Yankees’ Class-D Ft. Lauderdale affiliate in 1963, and was promoted just two years later in 1965 to Double-A, where he served as head trainer for Columbus (Ga.) and Binghamton (N.Y.). In 1969, he made the jump to Triple-A Syracuse, where he worked through 1972 before heading the Yankees’ Major League training staff in 1973.

David Robertson certainly has the material to work out of traffic jams on the bases. He did it again Tuesday night in the Yankees’ 3-1 win over Kansas City.

Joe Girardi brought in this asset after Freddy Garcia allowed the first two Royals to reach in the seventh. Robertson loaded the bases with a one-out walk, then got Alcides Escobar to chase a wicked curve and got Chris Getz trying to check his swing on a low-and-in curve.

So what specifically is it about the 26-year-old righty that allows him to excel after being dropped into those trouble-all-around-him situations?

“Maybe because I do it so often to him,” Girardi said, laughing. “The kid’s got good stuff. He’s got late movement on his fastball and he’s got a very good curveball. He just has the ability to do that because he’s a strikeout guy. He’s been a strikeout guy since he came up, and he just continues to do it for us.”

He isn’t always perfect in these situations, having allowed six inherited runners to score. But he has stranded the other 11.

“It’s fun to get out of them, but it’s not fun when you don’t,” Robertson said.

His own numbers are glittering so far at 1-0 with a 1.35 ERA across 15 outings. He has fanned 18 in 13 1/3 innings.

Robertson has learned how to compose himself in the middle of the chaos..

“If I’m stepping off, it’s usually because the crowds are loud,” Robertson said. “I need to calm myself down because I don’t want to become erratic. I’ve had situations where I’ve gotten too amped and made a pitch that cost me a passed ball or a wild pitch, something you don’t want to do in that situation. If you see me to step off, I’m trying to just take a second, catch my breath and get ready to deliver the pitch.”

There’s much to like about this bullpen, especially with what Robertson is doing, with Joba Chamberlain throwing consistently harder and with Mariano Rivera already owning 13 saves in 15 tries. That 13th save came in this latest game, beating by one day the earliest he had reached that mark in his Cooperstown-bound career.

Rafael Soriano, though, has hit a few bumps along the way in the eighth. Today the Yankees will see what the MRI machine reveals about his two-time surgically repaired right elbow after he reported a little soreness in it Tuesday and was unavailable.