Yankees baseball blog

Jeter says injury is well in hand

Derek Jeter left yesterday's game in the fifth inning with what Joe Torre called a "mild sprain" of his right hand. The manager wouldn't rule out the possibility that Jeter could sit out tonight's game against the Tigers, but added that it's "more probable that he'll play." Jeter, as he's done after virtually every injury he's ever had, said he expects to be in the lineup. He lobbied with Torre to remain in yesterday's game but admitted, "I didn't win that one."

The Yankees initially announced that the captain had hurt his hand while sliding into second base on Gary Sheffield's inning-ending grounder in the third, but Jeter said he had no idea when the injury occurred. He came up to hit one more time - and tried to bunt - then was replaced by Miguel Cairo in the bottom of the fifth. Continue

Posada passes test behind plate

Catcher Jorge Posada returned to the lineup yesterday after missing the previous four games due to a torn left hamstring tendon. "Today will tell us how long we need to keep a third catcher," Joe Torre said before Posada went 2-for-4 in the Yankees' 4-0 blanking of the Tigers.

Posada went the distance and looked good enough that the Yankees made plans to designate Koyie Hill, the third catcher, for assignment and promote right-handed pitcher Darrell Rasner from Triple-A Columbus. Rasner, who has pitched well as a starter for the Clippers, will be used in the bullpen and give Torre a 12th pitcher. Continue

Big Unit shuts down Tigers

In the grand scheme of Randy Johnson's career, Monday's win over the Tigers will be nothing more than one of his 300 or so victories. For the 2006 Yankees, however, it may be a turning point in the 42-year-old's season. After getting hit for four or more runs in each of his last six starts, Johnson threw six shutout innings against the Tigers, who entered the game with the best record in the Majors.

The Yankees came away with a 4-0 win at Comerica Park, as New York won its third consecutive game and five of the last six. "He set the tone today," said manager Joe Torre. "He went out there, threw a lot of strikes and got a lot of people out early. I think he felt pretty good about himself." Continue

Giambi stays designated as first baseman

The Yankees should consider themselves lucky. Even after all of the injuries they have had, they have yet to suffer the one that really could hurt. Jason Giambi is still standing. He had another hiccup yesterday - a back cramp compelled Joe Torre to substitute for him in the top of the seventh - but it appeared to be nothing major. "Nothing that will keep him from playing (today)," Torre said after the Yankees' 6-5 victory over the Royals at the Stadium.

Every time the Yankees start him at first base, though, they are playing with fire. Giambi's importance at the plate cannot be overstated. Perhaps the Bombers can overcome the long-term loss of Hideki Matsui (wrist), but even this lineup would suffer without the league's on-base percentage leader (.461). Continue

Giambi stays designated as first baseman

The Yankees should consider themselves lucky. Even after all of the injuries they have had, they have yet to suffer the one that really could hurt. Jason Giambi is still standing. He had another hiccup yesterday - a back cramp compelled Joe Torre to substitute for him in the top of the seventh - but it appeared to be nothing major. "Nothing that will keep him from playing (today)," Torre said after the Yankees' 6-5 victory over the Royals at the Stadium.

Every time the Yankees start him at first base, though, they are playing with fire. Giambi's importance at the plate cannot be overstated. Perhaps the Bombers can overcome the long-term loss of Hideki Matsui (wrist), but even this lineup would suffer without the league's on-base percentage leader (.461). Continue

Yankees jump in front, hold on for win

Jaret Wright enjoyed the outburst and then retired back into his shell in an attempt not to get carried away with his sudden good fortune. Wright, coming off a start in which he suffered a slight strain in his right groin area, had the benefit of a five-run outburst from the powerful Yankees offense and was in control with a six-run lead by the end of the second inning on Sunday. Turns out Wright and the Yankees needed all of those runs against a Kansas City team that clawed back before losing a 6-5 decision in front of a sellout crowd of 53,372 at Yankee Stadium. Continue

Is he May-Rod?

And so it seems, with each passing big series, whether it is against the Red Sox, the Mets or in the live-or-die postseason, Alex Rodriguez is destined to find himself facing the same question: Is he a big-time clutch hitter, worthy of his $25 million per year paycheck?

The A-Rod debate raged mightily last week after he stranded 11 baserunners in the Mets series at Shea, but came back to hit what this newspaper described as a "cosmetic" two-run ninth-inning homer against the Red Sox in a 9-5 Yankee loss in Boston. Then, the next night, he hit a three-run, seventh-inning homer that turned a 4-1 game into a 7-1 game and wound up being the deciding blow in the eventual Yankee win. Continue

Yankees strike early, often in romp

Sometimes the best song in a show is sung by the chorus and while one of the stars sparkled at Yankee Stadium on Saturday, the unknowns stole the day. Alex Rodriguez, the shining star, drove in three runs with a pair of homers, scored four runs and walked twice to help the Yankees pound Kansas City, 15-4, before a sellout crowd of 54,216.

But it was the bottom third of the order -- second baseman Miguel Cairo, left fielder Melky Cabrera and catcher Kelly Stinnett -- who combined to go 9-for-13, drive in 10 runs, score five runs, and slam three doubles and a homer to help their team avenge a tough loss to the sinking Royals on Friday night. Continue

Derek takes achievement in stride

Yeah, it was a cheap hit and could have easily been called an error, but Derek Jeter won't ever give back the dribbler he turned into a single last night for his 2,000th career hit. "A hit's a hit," he said. Jeter reached base to lead off the fourth inning with a swinging bunt for his milestone hit. It was his second trip to the plate in last night's rain-delayed 7-6 loss to the Royals at the Stadium.

Off a mighty hack at starter Scott Elarton's 1-1 pitch, Jeter didn't quite get all of it and the ball dribbled and died just inside the infield grass near the third base line. Bill Shannon, the official scorer, determined he reached first and then took second on a throwing error charged to catcher Paul Bako, who overthrew first by Chuck Knoblauch-like proportions. The ball went into the stands behind first and later was presented to Jeter during the 110-minute rain delay. Continue

Yanks see chances slip away vs. Royals

The Yankees had their chances, yet they couldn't finish the deal to put a happy ending on the night their shortstop, Derek Jeter, collected the 2,000th hit of his brilliant career. "We had some opportunities, we just let a couple get away," Jeter said after his team was upended, 7-6, at Yankee Stadium by a Kansas City team that had lost 14 straight games in this famous ballyard and brought a 13-game overall losing streak to the Big Apple.

"Those guys have been scuffling, but they don't give up," Jeter said. "Percentages were on their side to win." New York got one run back in the eighth, but left two runners on base, then scored once more before leaving a runner on when Jason Giambi grounded into a double play to end the game. Continue

Deal Yanks in for a starter

Before Randy Johnson morphed into a cross between Ed Yarnall and Randy Keisler, the Yankees' top priority was upgrading the pitching staff. Now, with Johnson on a six-game bender and showing no signs of being able to find the pitching equivalent of a Bloody Mary, the Yankees have their eyes on adding a starting pitcher. The Yankees are following what happens with Dontrelle Willis, Livan Hernandez, Kelvim Escobar, Tim Hudson and Jason Schmidt.

According to an Arizona source, the Yankees inquired about Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez before he was dealt to the Mets, but the interest was lukewarm and the Yankees didn't have the major league arm the Diamondbacks wanted in return. They took the struggling Jorge Julio from the Mets. Continue

Big hit

Derek Jeter is on the verge of becoming just the eighth Yankee to reach 2,000 hits so it seemed only reasonable to ask him which one stood out above the rest. His initial response was revealing - though hardly surprising. "Well, the playoff ones don't count, right?" he said, as if those were the only ones that mattered. Told that he was correct, Jeter frowned for a moment and pondered. "I guess the first one," he said finally, nodding.

Like most major leaguers, that memory will always be fresh and ready, and it did not take much prompting to get the story about the first time Jeter delivered for the Yankees. It was May 30, 1995 in Seattle and Jeter had been called up from Columbus after Tony Fernandez was injured. Continue

Unit's cheap win

The Yankees called up Matt Smith yesterday from Columbus, instantly making Randy Johnson the fourth best left-hander currently on the staff. The only factor preventing Johnson from descending another notch is that the Yanks cannot locate Donovan Osborne.

In another time, under the screaming demands of George Steinbrenner, Johnson would have been ordered to Tampa to work with Billy Connors. But the last we heard of Connors, he was still trying to fix Jose Contreras. The Yanks are on their own with Johnson, and so Joe Torre tried a personal intervention yesterday when the big lefty looked as if he might blow yet another lead. Continue

Jorge to have MRI and more time off

Jorge Posada had a bulky wrap on his left leg early yesterday and he'll have a MRI today to find out exactly what's wrong with his hamstring. Posada said the area just above his knee is what's ailing him and added that he and trainer Gene Monahan currently believe the catcher will have to miss "a couple of days - three or four days" because of the injury.

Originally, Posada thought he was suffering from an injury he'd experienced earlier in his career, but now he's not so sure. Joe Torre said he's concerned about Posada and is anxious to see what today's test shows. He hoped Posada might be able to play tomorrow night, but admitted he wouldn't feel comfortable until he sees the MRI results. Continue

Cabrera's big night leads Yanks to win

When Joe Torre decided to rest Johnny Damon and insert Melky Cabrera into the leadoff spot on Wednesday night, the Yankees manager had no idea what to expect from the 21-year-old outfielder. Cabrera responded with his finest night as a Major Leaguer, driving in four runs in the Yankees' 8-6 win over the Red Sox.

"I didn't really know, batting him leadoff, emotionally what it was going to do to him," Torre said. "He looked very comfortable there. He's playing at a level he's capable of playing at." The Yankees' offense posted a pair of four-run innings against Matt Clement, giving the still-struggling Randy Johnson a lift after the Big Unit allowed five runs in five innings. Continue

Big Unit's issues not physical

If Joe Torre could pinpoint why Randy Johnson has struggled, he would fix it. But the one constant out of Torre's mouth relating to his 42-year-old hurler is that the problems don't stem from an injury Johnson is hiding. "I don't think anything physical is keeping him from doing what he wants," Torre said of Johnson, who drags a 5-4 record and a bloated 5.62 ERA to the Fenway Park mound tonight in the finale of a three-game series against the Red Sox.

Most alarming is opposing hitters raking at a .340 (17-for-50) clip with runners in scoring position. Johnson hasn't won since May 4 vs. the Devil Rays. After going 5-0 against the Red Sox last year, Johnson was spanked by the Red Sox on May 9 at Yankee Stadium. In 32/3 innings he gave up seven runs (two earned) and five hits. Continue

A-Rod offers a powerful case

If you're going to hammer Alex Rodriguez every time he fails to deliver in the clutch, or even when he hits too-late-to-matter home runs, you have to give him his due for taking Tim Wakefield out of the ballpark last night. Was it a high-drama situation? No. But it was the Red Sox. It was a game the Yankees needed badly.

The home run was a three-run shot that turned a 4-1 lead into 7-1 in the seventh inning, and it proved to be just enough cushion in a 7-5 victory on a night when the Yankee bullpen was shaky in relief of Jaret Wright. And as A-Rod himself said, "In this ballpark, 4-1 is like 2-1. So I felt it was huge." Continue

A-Rod sticks it to Sox

Alex Rodriguez took a lot of criticism after his ninth-inning home run on Monday night, which came at a time when the game was all but over. Tuesday, Rodriguez blasted another monstrous home run, but this one was anything but meaningless. A-Rod's seventh-inning homer turned out to be the difference for the Yankees, who handed the Red Sox a 7-5 loss in front of a capacity crowd at Fenway Park.

"I could care less; in my career, I've been hearing it for a long time," Rodriguez said of the criticism. "It will never stop until you win five or six World Series in a row and hit a Joe Carter home run. I've done a lot of special things in this game, and for none of that to be considered clutch, it's an injustice." Continue

Sheff: I'm Boston-bound

Gary Sheffield's wagging, violent swing may be back in the battered Yankee lineup as soon as tonight at Fenway Park. "I feel great. I'm headed to Boston," Sheffield said through a Yankee spokesman after going 1-for-3 with an RBI in his rehab start last night with the Double-A Trenton Thunder agagainst the New Britain Rock Cats. He jumped in his car during the eighth inning and headed north. Yankees GM Brian Cashman, who attended the game, said Sheffield would be activated today if his left wrist showed no ill effects.

Sheffield had to test the wrist, which he hurt almost a month ago against Toronto. After 36 swings in the batting cage, Sheffield faced live pitching for the first time since May 5 and his wrist appeared fine. Batting in the No.3 spot as the Thunder DH, Sheffield (wearing No. 25) smacked a sharp single to center on the first pitch he saw from righty Adam Harben in the first. Harben had to get out of the way for fear of being leveled. Sheffield later smoked a liner to left for a sacrifice fly. He then whiffed and grounded out. Continue

If it doesn't count, count on A-Rod

Oh, A-Rod. Even when you do something right, it seems so wrong.Of course, Alex Rodriguez smoked the first pitch he saw from Keith Foulke last night well over the Green Monster, the embodiment of a garbage-time home run. His two-run blast pulled the Yankees from down eight to down six in the ninth inning, and things grew mildly intriguing before the Red Sox's former closer settled down to conclude a 9-5 Yankees' loss.

Joe Torre, of course, saw the positive in that ninth inning. "These guys are playing their tails off," the Yankees' manager said afterward. But experience dictates that if Rodriguez's 439th homer will be recalled at all by the fan base, it will be done so derisively. Continue

Boston trio socks it to Yankees

The Yankees were looking to Chien-Ming Wang to continue his recent string of success on Monday night at Fenway Park. Instead, the Red Sox continued their recent success against the Bombers, handing New York a 9-5 loss. Wang, who had allowed two earned runs over 16 innings in his last two starts, was rocked for seven runs in six-plus innings. The Red Sox collected nine hits against the right-hander, handing him his first loss since April 21.

Curt Schilling tossed eight superb innings for Boston, allowing one run on five hits while striking out six. "He made a lot better pitches than we did," said manager Joe Torre. "When you look up there and he's throwing 70 percent strikes, that's pretty impressive." Continue

Switch pulled on A-Rod

There was nothing to it other than by-the-book National League managing. The last batter to make an out usually gets removed when a double switch is executed, to preserve that team's bullpen. Still, there almost was something fitting seeing Alex Rodriguez on the Yankees' bench in the bottom of the eighth inning of last night's 4-3 Mets win, if only because A-Rod had bounced into a broken-bat double play to short against Duaner Sanchez with the go-ahead runs on base to end the top half. Continue

Chacon DL-bound with bruised shin

Another day. Another Yankee on the disabled list. Following last night's Subway Series loss to the Mets at Shea Stadium, the Yankees put right-hander Shawn Chacon on the shelf with a bruised left shin. "It's not good right now," Joe Torre said. "One trouble spot is still there. If we expect him to start Friday or Saturday, he has to throw a bullpen [session] or two this week." Chacon was slated to start last night, but watched Aaron Small face the Mets in the Yanks' 4-3 loss. Small will fill in for Chacon this weekend. Continue

Yanks drop Subway Series to Mets

With the number of opportunities the Yankees were getting on offense throughout Sunday night's game against the Mets, it seemed like it was just a matter of time before the Bombers completed another come-from-behind victory.

But it wasn't meant to be, as Tom Glavine and three Mets relievers bent but wouldn't break, leading the home team to a 4-3 win in the rubber game of the Subway Series' first round. The Yankees were 2-for-17 with runners in scoring position, leaving 15 men on base in the loss. "It's always frustrating when we can't come through," said Johnny Damon. "They pitched well with guys on base, so you have to give them some credit." Continue

Mariano closes door on Mets and doubters

Three batters were all it took to salt away 18 hours of concern. Mariano Rivera struck out the side in order in the 11th inning yesterday to cap the Yankees' 5-4 comeback win over the Mets and any doubts that lingered from the night before were gone. The rest of baseball can stop wondering if this is finally the year that the Greatest Closer on Earth finally stops being out of this world.

The Mets got to Rivera on Friday, scoring the winning run in the ninth on David Wright's single to center. It gave him three losses and a blown save in 18 appearances, uncharacteristic enough to make some worry - but not Joe Torre, who said before yesterday's game he was confident Rivera's pitch placement would sharpen. And that's exactly what he got. Rivera came on to start the 10th inning and pitched around a one-out single by Kaz Matsui to give the Yankees the chance to win the game in the 11th. Continue

Sheff on back burner

The Yankees can forget about the most optimistic scenario for getting Gary Sheffield back into the lineup quickly. The slugging right fielder was cleared to begin swinging a bat on Friday morning, but had to cut short his first workout that afternoon when he felt pain in his injured left wrist while hitting off a tee.

"He took one (swing), it sort of rolled (the wrist) over and got real sore on him," Joe Torre said. "I don't think it's a setback, we just may have to wait a little longer." Sheffield, whom Torre described as "discouraged," took no swings of any kind yesterday and GM Brian Cashman said he wasn't sure when the slugger will make another attempt. Continue

Yankees rally to win on Phillips' hit

In their first look at Billy Wagner this season, the Yankees went down without a fight, striking out three times in the ninth inning on Friday night. Wagner couldn't replicate those results on Saturday, as the Yankees touched him for four runs in the ninth, sending the game to extra innings and, eventually, an unlikely 5-4 win for the Bombers. Andy Phillips provided the game-winner for the Yankees, singling in Miguel Cairo in the 11th against Jorge Julio.

"We've had two memorable games here in a week's time," said manager Joe Torre, referring to Tuesday's 14-13 win against Texas, in which the Yankees overcame an early 10-1 deficit. "This one may have been less likely than the one the other day when we were losing by nine runs. We really didn't smell anything the whole game." Continue

Yanks add injuries to injuries

If you're scoring at home, three more key Yankees - Jorge Posada, Bernie Williams and Kyle Farnsworth - trudged out of last night's 7-6 loss to the Mets with injuries that bear watching. The most notable casualty appears be Posada, who had to be replaced by Kelly Stinnett when his back stiffened up after he had caught just one inning of Randy Johnson's latest masterpiece.

"I knew when I couldn't throw the ball down to second (base) during warmups before the second," Posada said. "We'll see how it is in the morning." Joe Torre called the injury a "slight spasm," and GM Brian Cashman said there was no immediate plan to call up another catcher before today's game. Continue

Nay-Rod slipshod once again

While Randy Johnson's night consisted of him flushing a four-run lead and Mariano Rivera gave up the game-winning hit in the Mets' 7-6 victory over the Yankees, Alex Rodriguez's performance was almost as frustrating. Even when Rodriguez did something good, it turned out wrong.

Rodriguez drove in a run off Jeremi Gonzalez with a single past third base in the four-run first inning. However, when Rodriguez attempted to stretch a single into a double, he was called out by umpire Tom Hallion, who ruled second baseman Kaz Matsui applied the tag after taking Jose Valentin's perfect throw. Rodriguez argued long enough that Joe Torre hustled from the dugout to carry on the discussion and make sure Hallion didn't eject the Yankees third baseman. Continue

Mister Big reveals little

Joe Torre approached Randy Johnson a few days ago and told him that he planned to give him the ball every five days, adding, "Whatever it looks like is what it is." What it looked like once again last night was nothing more than a 42-year-old former ace still without the slightest of answers. But at least the Big Unit finally bared his soul after he'd blown a four-run lead - and left a 6-all game after five more mediocre innings - as the Mets eventually won, 7-6, in the ninth at Shea.

"I'm not going to (B.S.) you guys, I'm too old, I've been around too long, and I'm not going to (B.S.) you," Johnson said near the end of his postgame press briefing. "I'm not too old, and my stuff's not that bad. . . . Just go and ask the Mets players. Continue

Unit, Rivera struggle as Yanks fall short

Round 1 of the Subway Series resembled a heavyweight fight, as the Yankees and Mets started out fast and furious, then slowed things down, measuring each other while looking for the knockout punch. The Mets delivered that final blow against Mariano Rivera in the ninth inning, as David Wright's walk-off RBI single plated Paul Lo Duca from second base, giving the Mets a 7-6 victory over the Yankees in front of a bi-partisan crowd of 56,289.

While Rivera was the official loser of the game, it was Randy Johnson who was the topic of conversation when all was said and done. Johnson continued to struggle with inconsistency, giving up six runs on eight hits in five innings, getting a no-decision. In his last five starts, Johnson is 2-2 with a 7.87 ERA, while his ERA for the season has shot up from 3.72 to 5.62 in that stretch. Continue

Take the 'Z' train

They will play the games to win and catch a contact buzz from the electricity flowing from loud voices in the seats at Shea Stadium. Yet to the Yankees, the Mets might as well be the Royals. No matter how much it is hyped, the Yankees aren't buying into the Subway Series. Yes, Shea will be jammed and raucous for three games between teams that vie for fans and their entertainment dollars. But to the Yankees, it's simply three tilts in a 162-game season.

"It's just another game, all of this is just for the fans," Mariano Rivera said of the hoopla surrounding the first of six games between the Mets and Yankees. Surely, facing Pedro Martinez tomorrow puts a charge in Mike Mussina's blood? "Everybody is trying to make a big deal out of this, but we always play the Mets and we always play the Red Sox," Mussina said when asked about the duel with Martinez. Continue

Yankee tunnel never darker

This is supposed to be the year in which the Subway Series is actually a fair fight, but the Yankees have bigger problems to worry about this weekend than the Mets. Bigger problems such as a woefully depleted group of outfielders. Bigger problems such as another injured starter. Bigger problems such as the Big Unit. So while this very well may be the season in which the Mets — the so-called little brothers in this rivalry — have grown up and can stand on level terms with the Yanks, the series is not exactly the Bombers' focus.

Instead, they'll worry about whether Bubba Crosby will join Hideki Matsui and Gary Sheffield on the disabled list today with a pulled hamstring; or whether they'll be able to muster enough runs against Pedro Martinez tomorrow and Tom Glavine on Sunday; or whether Randy Johnson will rediscover his inner ace in tonight's series opener. Continue

Rangers, injury bug bite Yanks

With two big series against the Mets and Red Sox looming over the next six days, the Yankees were hoping to finish off their four-game series on a positive note, stay healthy and get ready for the hyped-up weekend that awaits them at Shea Stadium. Unfortunately for the Bombers, they dropped the series finale, 6-2, and lost yet another outfielder in the process, forcing them to limp into the first half of this year's Subway Series.

Bubba Crosby, starting in left field, strained his right hamstring while attempting a diving catch in the fifth inning, becoming the third New York outfielder to suffer an injury in less than three weeks. "It feels like an epidemic," Crosby said. "I finally get an opportunity to help the team out and end up hurting myself. It's just unfortunate. ... The team needed someone like myself to step up and do the best to pick them up. The last thing we needed was another injury." Continue

That's Mo like it!

After Mariano Rivera's perfect ninth inning last night, his dominant eighth save of the year, Joe Torre quipped that the Yankee closer was the Comeback Player of the Year. Such has the seven-time All-Star's dominance been that what he'd been doing this year - falling from nearly perfect to merely good - passes for a slump.

If last night were any indicator, the slump may be over. A night after allowing Texas a run in the ninth, he put the Rangers down in order to close out a 4-3 win. He got Kevin Mench to pop up with 96 mph heat, and got back to the unhittable form that the Yanks are used to seeing. Continue

Painful turn for Pavano

Joe Torre gave a terse, "It's disappointing" when asked about the latest setback for pitcher Carl Pavano. Brace yourselves, Yankee fans: Pavano may never return to the Bomber rotation this year at this rate. The righthander, who signed a four-year, $39.95 million contract before the 2005 season, left last night's rehab start with the Double-A Trenton Thunder after just one inning when he reported tightness in his right triceps.

If you're keeping track, Pavano has about as many injured body parts as he does games started in pinstripes. The Yankees' PR staff made the announcement in the middle of the Yankees' victory over the Rangers last night. Pavano is slated for an evaluation by team physician Dr.Stuart Hershon today at the Stadium. Continue

Chacon could miss next start

Shawn Chacon's start against the Mets Sunday night could be in jeopardy because the hematoma just below his left knee is still painful and doesn't seem to be getting better. "It's just pretty bad," he said. "They said they hadn't seen one this bad before, as far as hematoma goes. For the pressure to be so much still, they're a little [concerned]."

Chacon, who was bruised a week ago on a comebacker hit by Boston's Mark Loretta, will meet with team physician Stuart Hershon this morning. Chacon expects to take a Doppler ultrasound test to see how well the blood is circulating. He said they have discussed draining blood from the bruise. Continue

Wang rescues Yanks again

In each of Chien-Ming Wang's last two starts, he has pitched one night after the Yankees had endured grueling four-hour games. Last Friday, Wang responded with eight shutout innings against the A's. Wednesday, he didn't hold the Rangers off the scoreboard, but his eight solid innings were enough to lead the Yankees to a 4-3 win over Texas.

Wang (4-1) overcame three Yankees errors to hold the Rangers to three runs (two earned) on six hits, winning his third straight start. "He's feeling pretty good about himself right now," said manager Joe Torre. "We could have helped him, defensively, a bit more than we did tonight, but we got through it." Continue

For ailing Johnny, it's trouble afoot

Johnny Damon's right foot injury isn't bad enough to keep him out of the lineup, but he knows he has to be careful. He went for an MRI on his foot "a few weeks ago," and he said the test showed that he's got a slight break in one of the bones along the edge of his foot. "It's just a crack," he told the Daily News yesterday, pointing to the area behind his big toe. Damon said he went for the MRI because the foot hadn't improved. Asked how he felt currently, Damon said, "It's not great at all."

The foot has bothered him since he made three acrobatic catches during the Yanks' April 18 game in Toronto. "It doesn't feel very good right now - it definitely hurts," Damon said. "But there's not much you can do for it except rest it." And Damon doesn't necessarily want much of that. If Hideki Matsui (broken left wrist) and Gary Sheffield (sprained left wrist) weren't already on the disabled list, Damon admitted he might be more apt to try to baby the injury. Continue

Jeter never gives up

You never know. With a nine-run deficit in the second inning, a depleted lineup from the start and no hope in sight, you just never know what might happen. "To be honest with you," Derek Jeter said, "I always thought we had a chance."That explains why he played as if it were a tie game when the score was 10-1. It explains why he stole third when the Yankees were behind 10-2 in the third inning.

It explains why the Yankees really did have a chance, because they still had him. "Once it got to 10-5, it was pretty close," he said. And after it was 10-5, he hit a three-run shot in the six-run sixth that made it 10-8, and made everything really seem possible, which turned out to be true in the Yankees' 14-13 win over the Rangers at Yankee Stadium. Continue

Posada walk-off caps comeback

Yogi Berra would have loved this one. Following the theme of "It ain't over 'til it's over," the Yankees and Rangers engaged in a slugfest in the Bronx on Tuesday night, with New York emerging victorious by a 14-13 final. Appropriately, it was the Yankees' catcher that provided the final blow, as Jorge Posada blasted a two-run walk-off home run against Rangers closer Akinori Otsuka with two outs in the ninth.

"I was just hoping it was out of the park so we wouldn't have to keep playing," Posada said. "I didn't want to play anymore. It was a long game." Posada's homer capped the wild, three-hour, 49-minute game which featured 34 hits, 11 walks, two hit batsmen and two errors. The Yankees overcame an early 10-1 deficit, tying the franchise record for the largest comeback in a game. Continue

Giambi hoping neck gets better

When Jason Giambi left Yankee Stadium last night, he walked like he had an iron board nailed to his back. With Hideki Matsui gone for at least three months and nobody knowing when Gary Sheffield will return, the Yankees have their fingers crossed that tests on Giambi's wrenched neck this morning don't uncover a serious problem.

While Johnny Damon labeled it a "major concern," Giambi said he didn't think it was anything serious. However, Joe Torre took Giambi out of a 2-2 game in the eighth inning last night. Giambi suffered a jammed neck making a diving stop on Michael Young's infield single in the third. He tried to make it to the end, but couldn't. Continue

Sturtze's year could be over

Scott Proctor could tell something was wrong. Before the Yankees' 4-2 loss last night to the Texas Rangers, he saw fellow reliever Tanyon Sturtze emerge from Joe Torre's office with a look on his face that made it clear he needed to be alone. So Proctor kept his distance. "There are times to approach guys and times not to," said Proctor.

Sturtze now will have more alone time than he could ever want. The righthander found out yesterday that he has a small tear in his rotator cuff, as well as bursitis in his right shoulder. The tear is the more serious of the two issues and could require surgery to repair. Sturtze had an MRI yesterday and was examined by team physician Dr. Stuart Hershon. The Yankees are sending him to Birmingham, Ala., to get a second opinion from noted orthropedist Dr. James Andrews. Continue

Yanks edged by Rangers

When Jason Giambi watched teammate Derek Jeter line a hard, two-out single into center after two were out in the eighth inning on Monday night, the Yankees first baseman wished he'd been on-deck at the time instead of Andy Phillips.

Texas had scored two runs in the top of the inning to take a 4-2 lead. But Giambi, who at least for one day joined a rapidly growing list of injured Yankees, had strained his neck diving for a ground ball in the third inning. The neck stiffened as the game wore on and Phillips took over at first base in the top of the eighth inning. Continue

Randy, you deserve every bit of the abuse

The toppling of a giant is never a pretty sight, unless, of course, the giant has been as arrogant, as condescending and as thoroughly unpleasant as Randy Johnson has in his 17 months as a Yankee. Then, it gets to be kind of fun.He came in like a wise guy, bullying a cameraman on the street, warning reporters not to get in his face, mocking questions, scowling and pointing fingers, another big-ticket free agent come to lead the Yankees to further glory. At the time, he seemed pretty intimidating.

Now he just seems, well, rather pitiful. But that's what happens when your game is gone and all you've got left is your bully-boy act. That act doesn't go over quite so powerfully when it is obvious, as it was yesterday, that the guys you are supposed to be scaring - the opposing hitters - are digging in the way David Wells digs into a buffet table. Continue

Yanks must do better in arms race

He was hardly intimidating or, for that matter, particularly overpowering, and to be perfectly honest about this, we probably aren't ever going to be seeing that Randy Johnson again except perhaps on very fleeting flashback occasions. But other than the painful-to-watch, 36-pitch, three-run first inning yesterday, Johnson was at least able to do what Joe Torre has said from the get-go this season would be entirely acceptable from his 42-year-old erstwhile ace, and that was to keep the Yankees in the game. Continue

Long balls bite Johnson, Yankees

Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter cautioned that there probably has never been a baseball player who hasn't suffered through the indignity of a slump. Hall of Fame-bound left-hander Randy Johnson, Jeter said, will have to find a way out of his.

Johnson had one bad inning on Sunday -- the first -- and it was enough to saddle him with a loss. That's because A's starter Dan Haren pitched Oakland's first complete game of the season, a six-hit, 6-1 victory over the Yankees before a crowd of 52,587 at Yankee Stadium. "Everybody struggles," Jeter said emphatically, after Johnson slogged through his fifth consecutive difficult start to drop to 5-4 this season. Continue

Bernie, Joe on same page

There is a warmth and respect in the relationship that exists between Bernie Williams and Joe Torre that resembles the comfort of an elderly couple still holding hands in their golden years. Torre is in his 11th season as the Yankees manager and Williams has been in pinstripes for every one of them. "Bernie, he gets all of his information from me," Torre said yesterday before the Yankees beat the A's 4-3 at the Stadium. "He'll come in before the game, 'What am I doing today?' The other players come in and look at the lineup."

Williams went to Torre when he saw the baby pink bats many of the Yankees will use today as part of MLB's "Go to Bat Against Breast Cancer" campaign. Williams, a classical and jazz guitarist, has never been a macho seam head, but even he was taken aback by his pink Louisville Slugger. Continue

Pen looks mighty, but Sturtze is hurt

While Scott Proctor continued his meteoric rise through the bullpen ranks with another solid outing, and Kyle Farnsworth filled in for Mariano Rivera to earn his first save as a Yankee, both relievers were somewhat tempered in their postgame enthusiasm as the Bombers dealt with yet another player heading for the disabled list.

Tanyon Sturtze, who endured yet another rough outing in the Yankees' 4-3 win over Oakland yesterday, was placed on the 15-day DL with what Joe Torre described as "soreness in the front of his right shoulder." Sturtze heads for the DL with an unsightly 7.59 ERA after facing three batters yesterday and allowing two hits. After the game, the Yankees purchased the contract of veteran righthander Scott Erickson from Triple-A Columbus to replace Sturtze. Continue

A-Rod's homer propels Yanks to victory

Jaret Wright, a half-hour after all was said and done on Saturday, could breathe a large sigh of relief. "It's been a while," the Yankees' fifth starter said, after finally recording his first win of the season on Saturday. "The first one seems like it's hard to get. Hopefully, I can keep throwing like that." Wright's first victory wasn't without its thrills and ups-and-downs.

The right-hander had to catch his breath after giving up a ground-rule double to the first batter he faced, but he got some big-time offensive support from Alex Rodriguez in the bottom of the first inning and Derek Jeter in the third, and the bullpen behind him sparkled in a 4-3 victory over Oakland before a crowd of 53,907 at Yankee Stadium. Continue

Zito looks good enough to acquire

Barry Zito looked good pitching in the Bronx last night. But will he look good pitching there, or in Queens, later this season? Zito, who allowed just one run over six innings in the A's 2-0 loss to the Yankees, conceivably could be headed to the Yankees or the Mets - or any other team - before the trading deadline in July. The lefty will be a free agent after the season and Oakland general manager Billy Beane has always preferred to try to get something back for a talented player instead of simply letting him walk away.

Beane did it with Mark Mulder and Tim Hudson. Will he do the same with Zito? Only time will tell. But Zito did well if he was auditioning for a role on the Yankees' staff last night, scattering five hits over his six innings, though he also issued four walks. His one mistake was a changeup to Alex Rodriguez in the sixth that resulted in a long home run over the left-center-field wall that made it 1-0. Continue

Achy Damon hanging in

Johnny Damon estimated that he undergoes about an hour of treatment before each game. And after Thursday night's collision with the outfield wall, his left shoulder and right foot were banged up. But Damon said he's capable of playing, and he led off last night's 2-0 victory over Oakland at the Stadium. "I just need to learn to be a little more graceful," he joked. The Yankees' injury situation is no laughing matter, with Gary Sheffield and Hideki Matsui currently on the disabled list.

Joe Torre called Damon "a tough customer" and it's clear that anything short of a break probably won't sideline the center fielder. Damon's foot was taped, and he planned to wear a pad to protect it as he did earlier this season. But he guessed that his shoulder is probably the worse of the two maladies. Continue

Wang shines as Yanks blank A's

With Hideki Matsui and Gary Sheffield sidelined by injury, the Yankees' offense was missing two of its most important cogs on Friday night. The way Chien-Ming Wang pitched against the A's, it didn't make much of a difference. Wang shut Oakland out over eight innings, while Alex Rodriguez gave the right-hander all the run support he would need, drilling a solo home run.

The end result was a 2-0 win for the Yankees, who bounced back with a crisp game after losing a tough one to the Red Sox on Thursday. "It was nice to bounce back," Rodriguez said. "Wang was the star of the day. He threw the ball incredibly; the best he's thrown all year. It was refreshing to have a well-played game on both sides." Continue

All eyes on Cashman now

Gentlemen, start your Alfonso Soriano rumors. There is no particularly good time to lose the hitter who has driven in the 10th most runs in the majors the past three years. But a particularly bad time is when you already are minus the guy who has driven in the third most in that timeframe.

Those 1,000-run dreams for this Yankee offense are dimming one damaged wrist at a time. Hideki Matsui proved to be more man than iron last night when he fractured his left wrist in a sprawling attempt to catch a flyball in the first inning of a 5-3 loss to Boston. He will have surgery today and Joe Torre said he expects his left fielder to miss three months, but GM Brian Cashman said, "it could be the whole season." Gary Sheffield already is out with a left wrist contusion and cannot come back until May 21, but his return seems to depend on his fickle mood as much as his damaged wrist. Continue

Costly loss for Bombers

The Yankees lost much more than a game on Thursday night. New York dropped a 5-3 decision to Boston in the rubber match of the three-game set, but the Yankees also lost Hideki Matsui to a severe wrist injury that could keep him out for several months. "You don't wish this on any team, and it's happened to us," Johnny Damon said. "We'll be all right. We just have to figure out what needs to be done."

The Yankees are 19-13, just one game behind the Red Sox for first place in the American League East. But with Matsui on the shelf for at least three months -- or possibly the season -- and Gary Sheffield still on the disabled list with a wrist injury of his own, the pressure now falls to the rest of New York's lineup to make up for their absence. Continue

Gentle George makes A-mends

Bluster, bombast and bombshells have always been a part of George Steinbrenner's considerable vocal repertoire, but the Boss apparently has added a decidedly mellower approach to dealing with his employees: the clarification. The morning after taking a shot at Alex Rodriguez and the rest of the Yankees for their horrible play in Tuesday's humiliating 14-3 loss to Boston, Steinbrenner called Joe Torre to try to smooth any ruffles. Perhaps it's part of their improving relationship, which once had deteriorated so badly it threatened Torre's future as Yankee manager.

Or perhaps it's a sign of Torre's power in the relationship between the men - maybe the Boss doesn't want to irk his manager anymore. "He just called me to basically let me know, sure he's unhappy about the game, but there's nothing going on as far as being angry at someone," Torre said. "I didn't expect the call." Continue

Unit's MRI reveals nothing

Pitching coach Ron Guidry said Randy Johnson looks like "a lost little boy," and the Yankees' search to find answers took the Big Unit through an MRI tube yesterday morning. Under the advice of the organization, the Yankees' ostensible ace underwent an MRI for his left shoulder. According to Joe Torre, the results showed nothing abnormal. Although that's great for the 42-year-old's health and peace of mind, it doesn't explain his recent terrible starts.

"We're trying to get the checklist going here," Torre said before last night's game with Boston. With Johnson coming off his fourth poor start in five turns, Guidry was cornered near the clubhouse bathroom for about 12 minutes by a throng of reporters. The first-year pitching coach didn't have any answers. Continue

Clean machine

Jason Giambi went into the bleachers yesterday, which was a heck of lot better place than he was a year to the day earlier.On May 10, 2005, Giambi was summoned to his manager's office as a humiliated failure, and certain elements of the Yankees organization hoped he would leave that room a Columbus Clipper. The Yanks broached the idea to the deflated slugger of going to Triple-A to cleanse his mind and fix his swing. But, behind the scenes, they had considered more drastic measures, including trying to void the remaining $80 million on his contract due to his steroid involvement. Continue

Bombers blast off vs. Schilling

All it took was one swing for Alex Rodriguez to get back in the good graces of Yankees fans. A-Rod's solo home run off Curt Schilling in the fifth inning gave the Bombers a lead they wouldn't relinquish, lifting the Yankees to a 7-3 win over the rival Red Sox on Wednesday night.

Rodriguez's homer started a three-run inning, as Jorge Posada added a two-run shot just minutes later. After falling behind, 3-0, in the second inning, the Yankees scored seven unanswered runs, belting three homers against Schilling. Mike Mussina overcame some early problems, improving to 6-1 after allowing three runs on seven hits over 6 2/3 innings. Continue

Angry boss takes shot at A-Rod

A livid George Steinbrenner stormed out of Yankee Stadium last night before the top of the eighth inning in the Yankees' ugly 14-3 loss to the Red Sox. He was clearly peeved at the team that got pushed around last night, and Alex Rodriguez, in particular, drew his wrath. When asked what he thought of the game, an angry Steinbrenner stopped in his tracks and said, "What did you think of the game?'' Then, jabbing his finger at reporters to emphasize his point, he said, "What did you think?''

Clearly, The Boss didn't think much of the Yanks, who came into last night's game in a virtual first-place tie with Boston. He had a chance to take a shot at his 42-year-old supposed ace, Randy Johnson, who coughed up seven runs and five walks in just 3 2/3 innings. Continue

Sheffield placed on disabled list

Gary Sheffield was officially placed on the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday, having gotten a second opinion on his injured left wrist from a hand specialist Monday. The official diagnosis remains a sprained left wrist, though general manager Brian Cashman said that Sheffield had also suffered a bone bruise in his hand during his April 29 collision with Toronto first baseman Shea Hillenbrand. Continue

Yanks errors lead to loss against Sox

The Randy Johnson vs. Josh Beckett matchup lived up to its pregame hype for about 10 minutes. Beckett looked shaky in the first, but it was Johnson who fell apart, as the Red Sox hammered the Yankees, 14-3, in the opener of the three-game series at Yankee Stadium.

Johnson was hit for seven runs -- though five of them were unearned -- in 3 2/3 innings, giving up five hits and five walks. After going 5-0 against Boston last season, Johnson suffered his shortest outing against the Red Sox since 1991. "He certainly wasn't pitching the way we expected him to -- or he expected himself to," said manager Joe Torre. "It was ugly. It wasn't just him though, everything was ugly." Continue

It's about time the bombers drop David

The Yankees have to droppy Papi. They need to brush the beast back. They need to pick out one of David Ortiz' chins and let a little music dance across the whiskers. And they need to do this immediately. Across the next three days, Randy Johnson, Mike Mussina and Shawn Chacon will each get three or four shots to put Ortiz on notice that, on behalf of the entire Yankee pitching staff, they are mad as hell. And they aren't going to take it any more.

It's been three-plus years now, and it's time. Look, Ortiz has battered and butchered American League pitching of every stripe, rank and pedigree, despite the 1 for his last 20 funk that he brings to Yankee Stadium tonight. He has emerged, for now and for the foreseeable future, as one of the four or five elite hitters on the planet, a scourge at any time, an absolute nightmare with men on base, and a calamity waiting to happen in the late innings of a close game. Continue

Joe, Bombers count on Unit

There are those who believe Randy Johnson would be best served by lowering his expectations and that it is no longer reasonable to expect him to be the dominant pitcher he has been in the past. Johnson does not agree and offers this promise to those who are ready to say he no longer is among the elite: As soon as he truly believes he has fallen to mediocrity, he will simply retire.

"I would," he said an animated interview over the weekend. "I'd walk away. Because then I would be a pitcher that I wouldn't want to be. And then I would be complacent, I wouldn't work as hard, I wouldn't be driven as much." Continue

Torre attains prime number

Joe Torre was introduced at Yankee Stadium on Nov. 2, 1995, and he was the 21st manager to work under George Steinbrenner during The Boss' 22 years of ownership. Clearly, longevity was not one of the reasons he took the job.

But yesterday - 3,839 days later - Torre stashed a dirt-streaked baseball in his tan leather travel bag before boarding the bus to the airport. He does not do it often, but Torre wanted a memento from this game; the Bombers' 8-5 victory over the Rangers was his 1,000th win as Yankee skipper. Continue