Yankees add another player to their crowded camp

The Yankees signed Billy Crystal to a one-day contract with an invitation to spring training tonight. He will work out with the team on Wednesday and play in Thursday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Commissioner Bud Selig had to sign off on this deal.

“I’ve been waiting 50 years for this call,” Crystal exclaimed. “I’m overwhelmed by the generosity of the Yankees and Commissioner Selig. I know this’ll be tougher than the Broadway Softball League, but I’m looking forward to helping the younger players…which, by the way, is all of them. Oops, I have to go, Scott Boras is on the phone.”
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“The Yankees are excited to welcome the newest member of our team known for his humor and wit as well as his undying love for the Yankees,” said Lonn Trost, Yankees Chief Operating Officer. “The Yankees are very grateful to the Commissioner’s office for allowing us to extend this special invitation to Mr. Crystal.”

Stranger things have happened, I guess. Crystal, who will turn 60 on March 14, will wear No. 60.

Crystal hit .348 as a senior for his high school baseball team in Long Beach, N.Y. I bet Crystal at age 59 is a better hitter than Wil Nieves is.

Chamberlain in Scranton

Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes weren't called up together, as I had predicted.

Chamberlain pitched in his third appearance as a reliever Saturday night for AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

In two innings, he struck out five (struck out the side in the eighth inning) and gave up only one hit. He threw 27 pitches for 17 strikes. The batter that reached on a hit was quickly retired trying to steal second base. He was thrown out by none other than Wil Nieves.

Here is Chad Jennings' report from the SWB Yankees Blog:

At this point, you have to wonder whether Jason Giambi or Joba Chamberlain will get to New York quicker.

Chamberlain pitched two innings of relief on Saturday and struck out five. He routinely hit 98 mph and touched 99. He mixed his offspeed stuff well and, frankly, dominated again. He gave up one single, but that runner was eliminated by a caught stealing.

Nardi Contreras said Chamberlain will rest for two days before pitching again. When I started to ask if he was happy with what he's seeing, Nardi and I both started laughing. (Source)

On July 30, he struck out the side in only one inning of work for Scranton.

On August 1, he struck out two batters in one inning for Trenton.

In total, he has struck out 10 batters in four innings.

Molina is already paying dividends

In two games as a Yankee, Jose Molina has thrown out two runners. He is also 2-4 with a double and a sacrifice bunt.

Meanwhile, Wil Nieves is 2-8 with two doubles for AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in two games. We'll probably be reacquainted with Nieves in September when the roster expands.

Yankees trade for Jose Molina

Looking to bolster their bench, the New York Yankees acquired catcher Jose Molina from the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday night for minor league reliever Jeff Kennard.

Molina, a defensive specialist, was batting .228 with no homers and 10 RBIs in 123 at-bats for the AL West-leading Angels, who have a surplus of catchers (source).

Wil Nieves will be with the team until Molina arrives. He will then be designated for assignment. It'll be very awkward if Nieves has to play tomorrow.

It's funny that Nieves went 2-3 with two RBIs tonight.

Posada will play first base tonight; centerfield situation

Because of the dynamic duo of Mike Mussina and Wil Nieves, Jorge Posada will start at first base tonight because there is no DH in the National League.

Torre also plans to use catcher Jorge Posada at first base tonight in place of Miguel Cairo. Mussina has had success pitching to backup catcher Wil Nieves, and Torre wants to keep that combination intact. To keep Posada's bat in the lineup, he will play first (source).

Posada has played 17 games at first base in his career. He is 16-39 with one home run and seven RBIs. He has only committed one error.

From the same article, Joe Torre has a feeling on who will be his center fielder tonight.

He is leaning toward using Melky Cabrera in center field because he covers more ground than Johnny Damon.