Woodward released, Henn DL'd

Chris Woodward was released after today's game, cutting the total number of players left in camp to 42, according to Peter Abraham.

This leaves the Yankees with Wilson Betemit as the only utility infielder on the Major League roster, which is a rather scary thought.

Sean Henn was also put on the 15-day disabled list with tendinitis. He is out of options and Billy Traber has pretty much won the left-handed specialist job, so it'll be interesting to see what happens with Henn when he recovers. If Traber is successful, I would guess that the Yankees would put Henn through waivers.

Ensberg's big day

Non-roster invitee Morgan Ensberg went 2-3 with the only extra-base hit in today's intrasquad game. He also walked and scored three runs.

The "Geese" beat the "Gators" 6-2 on a chilly, wet day in Tampa.

Mike Mussina gave up four hits and one earned run over two innings, while walking one and striking out one. Sean Henn didn't help himself out in the bullpen competition, as he walked three batters and gave up two earned runs in 2/3 innings of work.

Hughes to wear No. 34

Last week, Phil Hughes wrote that he was planning on changing his number.

Today, he let us know that he will be taking Sean Henn's No. 34 jersey. Hughes agreed to take Henn out for dinner at Fleming's in Tampa.

Hughes explained in the comments section that No. 7 (3 + 4) is his mom's favorite number and Nolan Ryan, his favorite pitcher, also wore that number.

I would've liked to see him wear No. 22, but I can't complain with No. 34. That's a pretty good number as well.

34 days until pitchers and catchers

Taking one for the team

Poor Sean Henn

His line tonight: 2.2 IP, 8 H, 9 R, 7 ER, 5 BB, 4 K, 79 pitches for 42 strikes

It's amazing that someone could actually pitch worse than Mike Mussina did tonight.

He has given up 16 earned runs in his last 6 2-3 innings pitched.

Bruney's back

From Peter Abraham:

Just confirmed that right-handed reliever Brian Bruney will rejoin the team for the Tigers series.

Bruney was optioned to Class AAA Scranton on Aug. 7. He appeared in four games there, none since Sunday. His line in those games: 6 5 4 4 2 5.

Bruney was 2-1 with a 3.40 ERA in 50 appearances for the Yankees. It was uncertain as of last night whose spot in the bullpen Bruney would be taking. My guess would be Sean Henn or Ron Villone. (Source)

I still don't understand why Chris Britton hasn't been given a legitimate shot with the big club yet. It's not like he was terrible with the Yankees this season: one earned run and two strikeouts in five innings. He also has 57 strikeouts and only eight walks in 56 innings for AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre with an ERA of 2.41 in 36 games.

As for who will be sent down for Bruney, my guess is Henn simply because he has options.

Henn up, DeSalvo down

Peter Abraham is reporting the LHP Sean Henn has been called up and Matt DeSalvo was demoted after starting the second game of today's doubleheader.

This season, Henn is 2-0 with a 4.66 ERA in 17 relief appearances. He has struck out 13 and walked 13 in 19 1-3 innings. In AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Henn is 1-2 with a 3.00 ERA. In 27 innings, he has struck out 21 and walked seven.

Apparently Chris Britton is on the Minor League disabled list.

Roster moves

Just because Roger Clemens gets to skip road trips doesn't mean the Yankees can carry more than 25 players on the active roster.

In calling up Clemens from AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, the Yankees sent down reliever Chris "Great" Britton. To make room for Clemens on the 40-man roster, they moved pitcher Phil Hughes from the 15-day DL to the 60-day DL (source).

"That was a tough decision," manager Joe Torre said. "We just felt Sean Henn seems to be improving. He's probably closer to the long man that we want."

I can understand Torre wanting a long man, but Great Britton has been effective this year in an extremely small sample size. He deserves a shot to prove himself as a viable option out of the bullpen. He is certainly better than Kyle Farnsworth or Luis Vizcaino, and his numbers in AAA prove it (23 innings, 20 H, 2 ER, 9 BB, 26 K, 0.78 ERA), but I digress.

It's really a shame about Hughes. With Chien-Ming Wang, Andy Pettitte, Mike Mussina, Clemens, and Tyler Clippard, the Yankees have the best rotation they've had in years. However, I would have loved to have seen what Hughes could really do this year. His hamstring injury was very sad and painful to watch. Hopefully it doesn't set back his development.