September call-ups

Chad Jennings brings us the list of the Yankees' September call-ups. They are:

• Francisco Cervelli
• Ramiro Pena
• Mark Melancon
• Edwar Ramirez
• Mike Dunn (pictured)
  

The new name here is Dunn, a 24-year-old left-handed reliever, who has appeared in 73 1/3 innings between Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. In 20 innings with the latter club, he struck out 23 and walked 14, allowing five earned runs.

How about that Mariano Rivera?

Mariano Rivera is special, but I don’t need to tell you that.

The dude hasn’t pitched in eight days, and he comes in and strikes out all four batters he faces tonight.  And he even batted in the ninth inning, hitting a hard fly ball to center.

The Yankees needed a win in the worst way, and after being shut out for 14 innings, the Yankees exploded for eight runs in the final four innings of tonight’s game.  Joba Chamberlain looked solid throwing to Francisco Cervelli and the offense put together some timely hits toward the end.

They’ll look to take the rubber game tomorrow evening.

Tex, big first inning lead Yanks to sweep

Mark Teixeira hit home runs from both sides of the plate and the Yankees scored six runs in the first inning to complete a four-game sweep of the Minnesota Twins tonight at Yankee Stadium as the Yankees won 7-6.

With Andy Pettitte on the mound, the Yankees fell behind 2-0 after the top of the first inning.  However, they forced Twins starter Glen Perkins out of the game after retiring only two batters.

Teixeira started the scoring with a three-run home run after both Derek Jeter and Johnny Damon reached with singles.  Alex Rodriguez followed with a solo home run and Melky Cabrera and Francisco Cervelli added RBI singles as well.

Pettitte wasn’t great by any stretch of the imagination, but he essentially pitched to the scoreboard.  Up 6-2, he gave up 12 hits over 6 2/3 innings.  The Twins would score runs in the fourth and sixth innings off Pettitte before he was relieved by Jose Veras.  Veras walked a batter in the seventh to load the bases but got Carlos Gomez to fly out.

Up 6-4, Teixeira hit a solo home run in the seventh to extend the lead to three.  That would end up being huge.

Edwar Ramirez began the eighth inning and gave up a one-out home run to Denard Span.  After a two-out walk, Phil Coke was brought in.  Because Mariano Rivera had pitched three innings in two days, Coke stayed on for the ninth inning.

Coke walked two batters and gave up a run on a groundout, but because of Teixeira’s home run, the Yankees were up by two going into the inning.  Coke got Mike Redmond to ground out to second to end the threat and the game.

The Yankees are now on a six-game winning streak and will begin a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles tomorrow night with CC Sabathia on the mound.  The Yankees have won eight of their last 10 games.

Another day, another walk-off

Today was Johnny Damon’s turn.  He hit a walk-off home run to right field in the 10th inning.  This was the Yankees’ third straight win in such fashion and fifth straight overall, as they improve to 20-17.

Alex Rodriguez also added a solo home run to first get the Yankees on the board after falling behind 2-0.

A.J. Burnett struck out seven and walked six in 6 2/3 innings in the no decision.  Jonathan Albaladejo got out of a jam Burnett created, and Brett Tomko got out of a jam Albaladejo created.

And how about that play by Joe Mauer?  That was unbelievable.  With Brett Gardner at second with one out in the ninth inning, Francisco Cervelli hit a ball off the pitcher that Mauer fielder in front of the plate.  He then pump-faked a throw to first and tagged out the running Gardner at home.

But the day belonged to Damon and the Yankees.  Melky Cabrera won the game Friday night and Rodriguez won it yesterday.  If this doesn’t set the Yankees off, nothing will.

Andy Pettitte goes for the four-game sweep tomorrow night.

Sabathia, Matsui lead Yankees to victory

CC Sabathia worked into and out of trouble all night, especially  in the seventh inning.  With runners on first and third with one out and the game tied at 2, Sabathia struck out John McDonald and eventually induced a fielder’s choice groundout to end the threat.

Hideki Matsui rewarded Sabathia with a leadoff solo home run in the top of the eighth to give the Yankees a 3-2 lead.  Sabathia improves to 3-3 on the season and Mariano Rivera recorded his seventh save.

Sabathia struck out five and walked four, but he gave the Yankees eight innings when he didn’t exactly have his best stuff.  He threw 111 pitches.

The Yankees struck first when Nick Swisher walked with the bases loaded in the top of the first inning.  The Yankees held that lead until the bottom of the fourth when Alex Rios hit a solo home run off Sabathia.  They would score again in the next inning on a Rod Barajas double to take a 2-1 lead.

The bottom of the fifth inning could have been worse for Sabathia and the Yankees.  After Barajas’ RBI double, McDonald singled to center.  However, Brett Gardner fired a one-hopper home that nabbed Barajas.  Sabathia was then able to record the third and final out to escape further trouble.

The young players on the Yankees started the team’s rally in the top of the seventh.  Gardner led off with a single and advanced to third on Francisco Cervelli’s single.  That ended Jays’ starter Brian Tallet’s night.  Jason Frasor entered and promptly gave up a game-tying single to Derek Jeter.  Matsui homered in the next inning.

The Yankees are now 17-17 and have won two series in a row after the five-game losing streak.  They will begin a four-game series against the Minnesota Twins at Yankee Stadium tomorrow night.  This begins a 10-game homestand.

AP Photo

CC, A-Rod power Yankees to victory

When Alex Rodriguez hit a three-run home run on the first pitch he saw since coming back from the disabled list, I thought he would be the story of the night.  However, that’s why they play nine innings.

And that’s exactly what CC Sabathia did tonight.

Yup, he pitched a complete game shutout, striking out the side in the ninth inning and throwing 112 pitches, in the Yankees’ 4-0 victory that snapped their five-game losing streak.  He struck out eight and allowed four hits (with two of those coming in the ninth inning).  He also retired 16 batters in a row at one point.  Oh yeah, Sabathia was throwing to Francisco Cervelli, who was making his first start. 

Sabathia gave the Yankees exactly what they needed, and then some.  The bullpen’s performance has been nonexistent for the better part of this season, so he did his best to make them even more nonexistent tonight.  This is why he’s the highest-paid pitcher in the game.

John Sterling called Rodriguez’s first-inning home run a “phenomenal sports moment.”  Relax, pal.

The Yankees, now 14-15, send Phil Hughes to the mound tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m.

AP Photo

Cervelli called up

The Yankees have called up Double-A catcher Francisco Cervelli to replace Jorge Posada, according to Peter Abraham.

Cervelli is batting .190 with two home runs and seven RBI in 58 at-bats for the Thunder.  Cervelli went 0-5 in three games with the Yankees at the end of last year.

Yankees sign remaining 0-3 players

0-3 players are players who have between zero to three years of service time. The Yankees have signed all 20 of these players, including Joba Chamberlain.

According to Bryan Hoch, Chamberlain will make $432,575 if he spends the entire season with the big club.

In addition to Chamberlain, the Yankees agreed to terms on 2009 contracts with the following players: Alfredo Aceves, Jonathan Albaladejo, Francisco Cervelli, Anthony Claggett, Phil Coke, Wilkin De La Rosa, Christian Garcia, Brett Gardner, Dan Giese, Eric Hacker, Phil Hughes, Steven Jackson, Ian Kennedy, Edwar Ramirez, Cody Ransom, Dave Robertson, Humberto Sanchez and Jose Veras.

The team didn't have to "renew" any contracts, meaning this year the team and the players all came to terms on a contract,

Veras, Ramirez drop out of WBC

According to Bryan Hoch, Edwar Ramirez and Jose Veras have decided against participating in the World Baseball Classic.

"I don't think it's a good idea to go over there right now," Ramirez said. "I've got to stay here. I've got my mind-set here with the Yankees."

Ramirez and Veras are both Dominican nationals. Another Dominican, Damaso Marte is undecided on playing, mainly due to stiffness in his legs. Although he would like to play, he said he would need time to determine if he could actually pitch.

Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Robinson Cano and Francisco Cervelli are the only four Yankees on the active roster who are already committed.

WBC provisional rosters

The following Yankees have been named to their respective countries' provisional rosters:

Alfredo Aceves - Mexico
Melky Cabrera - Dominican Republic
Robinson Cano - Dominican Republic
Francisco Cervelli - Italy
Derek Jeter - United States of America
Kai Liu - China
Damaso Marte - Dominican Republic
Edwar Ramirez - Dominican Republic
Alex Rodriguez - Dominican Republic
Jahdiel Santamaria - Panama
Jorge Vazquez - Mexico
Jose Veras - Dominican Republic
Zhenwang Zhang - China

Ex-Yankees Bobby Abreu (Venezuela) and Ivan Rodriguez (Puerto Rico) were also named. Bernie Williams was given a spot on the Puerto Rican team, but he suffered a leg injury in Winter Ball at the end of December.

Here is the United States' provisional roster. I like the infield and catching spots, but the pitching and outfield definitely could have been better. If the U.S. medals, I'll be happy.

Rookies dress up as Village People

Update - 6:55 p.m.: Cervelli, Miranda, Sanchez, Aceves

The Yankees hazed their rookies after today's scheduled game was rained out. They made them dress up as the Village People on the way back to the team hotel, according to Bryan Hoch.

Brett Gardner donned a construction vest and jeans, Alfredo Aceves became a screaming Indian chief and Francisco Cervelli was the leather-clad biker. Juan Miranda (police officer) and Humberto Sanchez (sailor) found different uniforms, and David Robertson was a cowboy -- six-shooter and all.

It doesn't seem like the Yankees tortured their rookies as much as the White Sox tortured Lance Broadway, for example.

I haven't found any pictures yet, but I'll add them to this post once I do.

AP Photo

Cox begins throwing

Injured reliever J.B. Cox began throwing Monday, according to Chad Jennings who received an email from Nardi Contreras.

He is recovering from a tired shoulder and was placed on the seven-day disabled list last week.

Once he returns, he could be an option for the Major League bullpen.

Jennings also notes that Francisco Cervelli returned to Class-A Tampa Monday. You may remember that Cervelli was injured in a collision at home plate during Spring Training, setting off a brawl later on in March.

Phillips ejected for "retaliating"

The Yankees are playing the Tampa Bay Rays for the first time since the Francisco Cervelli incident on Saturday. Many people expected some sort of retaliation from the Yankees today.

Heath Phillips, starting in place of Andy Pettitte, had already given up two runs and had two runners on before nicking Evan Longoria with a pitch. He was immediately ejected by home plate umpire Chad Fairchild.

The pitch "barely brushed across the chest," according to Peter Abraham on the scene.

Cervelli to have surgery on broken wrist

Francisco Cervelli will have surgery on his broken right wrist tomorrow. The timetable for recovery still stands at eight to 10 weeks.

Ironically enough, the Yankees face the Tampa Bay Rays tomorrow afternoon. Will the Yankees retaliate? Only time will tell.

Yankees sign Moeller

Instead of recalling Austin Romine or Jesus Montero to replace Francisco Cervelli, the Yankees signed Chad Moeller to a minor-league contract, according to Peter Abraham. They have also invited him to spring training.

Moeller was released by Washington on Sunday. In 37 games between Cincinnati and Los Angeles last season, he hit .161 in 56 at-bats.

Update - 3:50 p.m.: According to Bryan Hoch, Moeller said that he's been told he'll be the starting catcher at AAA Scranton/Wilkes Barre. He is also wearing No. 65 in camp.

Even more reassignments

According to Peter Abraham, Alan Horne, Jeff Marquez and Chase Wright were all assigned to the minor league camp after pitching in today's game.

They join:

Daniel McCutchen, Steven Jackson, Steven White, Scott Strickland, Mark Melancon, Eric Duncan, Jesus Montero, Marcos Vechionacchi and Austin Romine.

Due to the Francisco Cervelli injury, a catcher (either Montero or Romine) will be brought back from the minor league camp.

Cervelli has a broken wrist

Minor league catcher Francisco Cervelli was injured during a plate collision involving Tampa Bay Rays infielder Elliot Johnson. X-rays revealed that Cervelli had a broken wrist and was placed in a cast.

Naturally, Joe Girardi was upset.

“I think it’s uncalled for in spring training. You get people hurt and that’s what we got, we got Cervelli hurt,” Girardi said.
...

“I’ve always known that you don’t do it. I know kids play aggressive and play hard. That’s how you want them to play. But maybe if it happens too much you should mention something,” he said.
...

“It’s one thing to get hit by a pitch that gets away or twist an ankle running the bases. I don’t understand it,” said Girardi, who felt Johnson should have simply slid into the plate. “I don’t understand it. During the season I’m all for. It happens in the season, I understand it. In spring training, I don’t really.”

Johnson defended it by saying he was just trying to score a run. Carl Crawford was involved in a similar play on Wednesday, where he rolled over a Houston Astro catcher.

I didn't see the play, so I don't know if it appeared to be dirty. If anyone could describe it for me, I'd appreciate it.

The Yankees next play the Rays on Wednesday, so it should be interesting to see if the Yankees retaliate in any way.