Roster changes

As a result of yesterday's acquisition of Ivan Rodriguez, the Yankees designated Chad Moeller for assignment. They also called up Chris Britton to replace Kyle Farnsworth's roster spot.

The Yankees also traded infielder Alberto Gonzalez to the Nationals for Double-A RHP Jhonny Nunez. What's with people spelling "Johnny" as "Jhonny"? Anyway, strange trade for the Yankees. Gonzalez seemed to be a better infield option than Wilson Betemit is.

By the way, Rodriguez will wear No. 12.

Duncan optioned

The Yankees finally realized that Shelley Duncan isn't cutting it, and optioned him out to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, according to Peter Abraham.

Utility man Alberto Gonzalez was called up to take Duncan's roster spot.

Duncan has 10 hits in 57 at-bats this year and has made three errors at first base in limited playing time.

Gonzalez has played third base, second base and shortstop during his 21-game stint with the Yankees earlier this season.

Betemit back

My favorite player, Wilson Betemit, has been activated. He had been on the disabled list with a hamstring injury. In three rehab games for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre, he had three hits in 10 at-bats, with one home run and three RBI.

Alberto Gonzalez has been optioned back to Scranton, meaning that Morgan Ensberg is safe for the time being.

Cano hits in front of Cabrera, goes 4-4

As we all know, Robinson Cano has had a dismal start to the season. Before last night's game, he had a .183 batting average in 142 at-bats.

Since Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada have been out, the bottom of the lineup is not providing much protection. Cano has had to hit in front of Alberto Gonzalez, Morgan Ensberg and Jose Molina.

While Gonzalez is batting .290, the sample size is rather small, and pitchers would easily rather face him than face Cano. Ensberg is batting .224 with a .268 OBP. Molina has also been awful. Since April 13, Molina is batting .071 (3-42) with one RBI.

Obviously, whoever is batting eighth is not providing much protection for the seven-place hitter (usually Cano).

This was until last night when Joe Girardi put Cano in the six-hole and dropped Melky Cabrera to seventh. Cabrera has developed more power this year, slugging six home runs and driving in 18.

While Cano has been showing improvement - 9-29 with two home runs and four RBI between May 4 and May 13 - he was still below the Mendoza Line.

However, last night Cano's bat showed up. He went 4-4 with an RBI while hitting in front of Cabrera, propelling his average to .205. Cabrera had the misfortune of hitting in front of Ensberg, and went 0-4 as a result. He has been a slide of his own lately, going five for his last 31 with one RBI.

Hopefully this seemingly minor lineup adjustment will jump-start Cano. With Rodriguez and Posada remaining out of the lineup, any help they can get is huge.

(AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Hank speaks, and I don't really care

Mt. Hank Steinbrenner blew following last night's rough loss to the first-place (!) Tampa Bay Rays last night.

Kevin Kernan of the Post had all of the quotes.

Let's try to tackle this piece-by-piece.

"We've got to forget about all the injuries and start playing our butts off," Steinbrenner told The Post. The Yankees were buried by the Rays on Monday. These are difficult days for Joe Girardi's club.

"The bottom line is that the team is not playing the way it is capable of playing," Steinbrenner said. "These players are being paid a lot of money and they had better decide for themselves to earn that money."

Well, with guys like Jose Molina, Morgan Ensberg and Alberto Gonzalez playing every night, I believe the team is playing the way it is capable of playing. There is a reason why they were expected to be role players and not everyday players. There is also a reason why Alex Rodriguez is being paid $275 million over 10 years and why Jorge Posada got a huge contract.

"We have good professional hitters and I have a lot of faith in them," Steinbrenner said from Tampa. As for the team in general, he noted, "I'm not saying they are not giving the effort, but they need to be playing harder."

Again, two of the best and professional hitters have been out since April. Also, Jason Giambi and Robinson Cano, while showing signs of coming out of their respective slumps, have been dreadful. I also don't doubt that the team is playing hard. They are failing in the clutch, but that is not because they don't care.

"There's no question we need to turn it around and we have the talent to turn it around. We've got the team in place, and now they just have to go out and do it.

"This is going to get turned around," Steinbrenner said. "If it's not turned around this year, then it will be turned around next year, by force if we have too."

This is my favorite part. I'd actually like to see him use force next year, because I'm curious as to what he means.

His next quote is about Joba Chamberlain, but that issue is so ridiculous that it doesn't need to be mentioned in this space.

"We'll add whoever we have to add," he said. "We're missing two big pieces, but this is basically the same lineup as last year. I have great faith in all of them."

Yes, it's the same lineup as last year when Posada and Rodriguez are playing. However, when Giambi is playing everyday and Cano is still inept, the lineup is much worse than it was last year. It's also a problem that this is the same lineup last year. At least last year they'd bully bad pitchers. So far this year, they can't hit anyone.


Regarding the Rays: "I'm happy for them, but I wish they were in the National League. They only had 13,000 there (Monday) night," Steinbrenner said. "That place should be packed. They're an exciting young team."

This I actually agree with. I know Florida Marlins' fans always jumped on the bandwagon, but the Rays have a legitimate good, young team that should be around for years.

Steinbrenner needs to just be quiet and let the players play. Does he really think speaking to some reporter from the Post will motivate the team? There is a reason why he was never involved with the team until this past off-season. They are only 40 games into the season and are remarkably only two games under .500. If things get much worse from here, then you can speak. Until then, just keep your mouth shut, please.

Love the Raz

Darrell Rasner pitched his second straight quality start, allowing only two earned runs over six innings against the Detroit Tigers Saturday afternoon. He is now 2-0 on the season after going 4-0 for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

As for the hitters, Derek Jeter hit his first home run of the year.

Don't look now, but Robinson Cano has hit in six straight games to raise his batting average to .185. He has eight hits in his last 22 at-bats.

Meanwhile, Wilson Betemit will go on the disabled list with a hamstring injury. Alberto Gonzalez will be recalled.

Andy Pettitte will start tomorrow in hopes of taking the road series against the Tigers.

(AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Lots of pregame news

I have been out of the room since around 5:00, so I missed the news before the game. Apparently a lot happened.

Firstly, Jorge Posada and Derek Jeter have not been placed on the disabled list. Shelley Duncan was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Alberto Gonzalez, wearing No. 12, will start at shortstop while Jeter is hurt.

Ian Kennedy was also scratched due to rain in the forecast - not an injury. The infield looks like it's in horrible shape so I'm shocked they're still playing. Brian Bruney started in his place and pitched two scoreless innings.

I'll be back later with the game recap.

Gonzalez is in Kansas City

Alberto Gonzalez has flown to Kansas City, meaning that Derek Jeter and/or Jorge Posada will be put on the disabled list before tonight's game, according to Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News.

Gonzalez is known for his defense and not his bat, so one would think that the Yankees would have called up a catcher if Posada were to be placed on the disabled list.

No decision has been made as of yet, but the team was hopeful that Jeter would be able to play this weekend against the Boston Red Sox. But calling up an infielder doesn't exactly bode well for Jeter at this point.