Good riddance, Veras

Jose Veras has been traded to the Cleveland Indians for cash considerations.

That’s a plus.  I would’ve accepted a couple of bats in return for him.

Update – 7:08 p.m.: Angel Berroa was designated for assignment, as Cody Ransom has been activated.

Yankees win battle of comebacks

The Yankees scored six runs in the final two innings to come back from a 9-4 deficit.  Jorge Posada came through with the big hit with no outs and the bases loaded in the ninth.  The Yankees are now 13-10 and are carrying a four-game winning streak.

The Yankees scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning, after Hideki Matsui hit a sacrifice fly, Robinson Cano hit a single and Jorge Posada hit a two-run home run.

Andy Pettitte held that lead until the top of the sixth when he fell apart.  With two outs, the Angels scored six runs (five charged to Pettitte) to take a 6-4 lead.  They would score three more in the seventh against Jose Veras and Edwar Ramirez.  Gary Matthews Jr. had four RBI in the two innings, including a three-run triple.

However, the Yankees put together a rally themselves in the bottom of the eighth.  Melky Cabrera had an RBI single and Ramiro Pena followed with a two-run single.  Derek Jeter then hit an RBI groundout to cut the Angels’ lead to 9-8.

They were then able to fully come back against Angels’ closer Brian Fuentes.  Mark Teixeira led off with a walk.  Hideki Matsui and Cano’s consecutive singles loaded the bases with no outs for Posada.  He then laced a single to left-center to drive in Teixeira and pinch-runner Angel Berroa to end the game in walk-off fashion.

CC Sabathia will look to keep the line moving tomorrow afternoon at 1:05 p.m.  Matt Palmer will oppose him.

Berroa called up

As expected, Angel Berroa has been called up to replace the injured Cody Ransom, according to Chad Jennings.  Berroa is not on the 40-man roster, so the Yankees still need to make another move.  While no move has yet been announced, Jennings suggested moving Xavier Nady to the 60-day DL.

Berroa, 31, is batting .316/.365/.491 with two home runs and 13 RBI in 57 at-bats for Scranton.

It was said last night that David Robertson was called up to take Chien-Ming Wang’s spot.

Pena added to 40-man roster

Peter Abraham reported on the Yankees' roster moves following this afternoon's exhibition game against the Chicago Cubs.

The team added Ramiro Pena to the 40-man roster, sent Angel Berroa to the minor-league camp and designated Dan Giese for assignment.

Pena has opened up some eyes this spring, so it'll be nice to have him around until Alex Rodriguez comes off of the disabled list.

Yankees win 3-1

Andy Pettitte was stellar in the Yankees' 3-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays this afternoon.

The lefty gave up one earned run over 6 2/3 innings, striking out seven, walking none and scattering five hits.

Mark Teixeira added to his hot spring with a 2-for-3 day, including his sixth double in Grapefruit League play and two RBI. Derek Jeter and Angel Berroa also hit doubles.

Damaso Marte, Jose Veras and Edwar Ramirez each had scoreless outings to help close out the game.

Joba Chamberlain will start for the Yankees tomorrow afternoon against the Cincinnati Reds.

Harper: CC's workload could be a concern

Well, this didn't take long. CC Sabathia had a bad start yesterday, and the alarmists - particularly John Harper of the Daily News - are out.

Still, Wednesday was a reminder that there are at least a couple of reasons to keep an eye on the $161 million man as he adjusts to life as a Yankee: he's a laid-back Californian who admittedly would have preferred the West Coast, and he's pitched a ton of innings the last two seasons.

Yes, if Yankee fans feel any need to worry about Sabathia, the numbers that matter aren't the six hits and five runs he gave up in 1-2/3 innings here against the Tigers. Instead it's the total of 512 innings, including postseason, that Sabathia pitched over the last two seasons, by far the most of any pitcher in baseball.

Add the stress of pitching on three days' rest in September and October for the Brewers last season, and Sabathia has the potential for a hangover effect that at least some people in baseball believe is inevitable. In fact, according to one Yankee person, Sabathia's workload was a source of some internal discussion before it was decided the combination of talent and toughness was worth investing huge money in him over seven years.

Mr. Harper: relax. It's March 12. Kevin Cash is batting .385. Does that mean he should start at catcher? Angel Berroa is batting .417. Let's cut Derek Jeter!

If there's any reason to be concerned about Sabathia, it should be about his October performances - a 7.92 ERA in 25 innings pitched (small sample size, obviously). A bad spring training outing in mid-March shouldn't throw up any red flags.

Let's all remain calm here, please.

Yankees win 12-3

A.J. Burnett, Phil Hughes and Angel Berroa stole the show Sunday afternoon against the Tigers. The two pitchers combined for five scoreless innings, and Berroa drove in four runs in the Yankees' 12-3 victory.

Burnett needed just 18 pitches to get through his two innings, and Hughes followed with three no-hit innings, striking out four and walking two.

Berroa went 2-for-3 with a double, home run and four RBI. Cody Ransom, on the day it was announced that Alex Rodriguez would have surgery, went 2-for-2 with a double and two runs scored. The Yankees drew 10 walks as a team, with Nick Swisher drawing three of them. Xavier Nady added a solo home run in the fifth inning.

Brian Bruney and Andrew Brackman gave up the Tigers' three runs. Bruney allowed a two-run home run to Will Rhymes.

The Yankees return to Tampa tomorrow to face the Blue Jays at 1:15 p.m. Andy Pettitte will start.

Yankees tie Astros 5-5

There's no tying in baseball!

Chien-Ming Wang pitched two scoreless innings and Melky Cabrera had two hits in the Yankees' 5-5 tie against the Astros.

Wang gave up two hits in his two innings of work and didn't strike out or walk a batter. The Yankees' bullpen didn't fare as well, as George Kontos was charged with three earned runs in a 1/3 of an inning.

Cabrera tripled an drove in two runs in his three at-bats. Angel Berroa hit a solo home run in the fourth inning as part of a 2-for-3 day.

The Yankees will play Team USA tomorrow afternoon in Tampa at 1:15 p.m on YES. Derek Jeter will be suiting up against the Yankees. Phil Hughes will start for the Yankees, while Roy Oswalt starts for Team USA.

AP Photo

Numbers update

Peter Abraham has all the numbers news we love.

Nick Swisher has 33. Brian Bruney has 38. Angel Berroa has 14. 19 for Kevin Cash. Phil Hughes went back to 65.

I wonder what Swisher traded Bruney for No. 33.

Yankees invite 20 to spring training

The Yankees announced 20 spring training invitees in a press release today. Some names we already knew from minor-league signing this offseason: Angel Berroa, Kevin Cash, Sergio Mitre and John Rodriguez. Other notables are Shelley Duncan, Kei Igawa, Austin Jackson and Jesus Montero.

In addition to the players on the 40-man roster, this brings the total number of players scheduled to report to 60. Chad Jennings notes that some names not included were J.B. Cox, Alan Horne and Eric Duncan.

Click the above link to read the entire release.

Yankees sign Angel Berroa

Wow, the Yankees really are buying championships. First Jason Johnson, then John Rodriguez. Now they have signed Angel Berroa, according to Ken Rosenthal.

Remember the uproar when he won the Rookie of the Year award over Hideki Matsui in 2003? Boy, has his career really fallen off.

Rosenthal said Berroa is expected to compete with Cody Ranson for the utility infielder job.