--RHP Mariano Rivera experienced no problems with his surgically repaired shoulder after his first mound session of the spring on March 5, although he didn't throw at 100 percent. He said he expects to be ready for Opening Day.

--C Jorge Posada was scratched from the lineup because of minor soreness in his surgically repaired right shoulder. Posada was to serve as the designated hitter and said he doesn't feel any pain when he hits, but team officials decided to play it safe.

--3B Alex Rodriguez joined the Dominican Republic team for the start of the World Baseball Classic tournament along with 2B Robinson Cano and LHP Damaso Marte. SS Derek Jeter will play for the U.S. The absence of Rodriguez might give the Yankees' spring training clubhouse a little more of a baseball focus without having to worry about another blip from A-Rod's performance-enhancing drug use. After hitting a home run in the Yankees' first exhibition game, Rodriguez still drew some negative attention. He allowed his cousin and driver Yuri Sucart -- who has been identified as the cousin A-Rod said provided him with performance-enhancing drugs -- to pick him up in a private area of Toronto's spring training facility. Rodriguez, met with Major League Baseball investigators on March 1, reportedly was told by the Yankees to ban his cousin from private areas of the club's grounds.

--RHP Chien-Ming Wang was an excellent choice to be the Yankees' No. 2 starter, as named by manager Joe Girardi recently. Girardi liked the idea of putting Wang between ace C.C. Sabathia and fellow free agent fireballer A.J. Burnett so he could show hitters a little different look with the sinkerball pitcher. In addition to breaking up the rotation a little, Wang has earned the spot after winning 38 games for the club in 2006 and 2007. He's been progressing well after missing much of last season because of a foot injury. Girardi said Burnett was fine with the move and would take the ball whenever asked.

--C Jorge Posada tested himself as early as possible in his return from rotator cuff surgery and passed with the ball flying off of his bat. Posada hit a home run on the first pitch he saw this spring and followed that up with a ground-rule double in his first exhibition game. Several Yankees including manager Joe Girardi were impressed that the Yankees catcher looked much better than he did last season, when injuries limited him to 51 games and he hit .268. "I couldn't load up (my swing)," Posada said of last season's problems. "It was pretty much a still swing because I couldn't get my arm to move the right way."

--RHP Joba Chamberlain is expected to throw about 150-180 innings this season if he stays healthy, manager Joe Girardi said in a spring training press briefing. Chamberlain should be the club's fifth starter and would be scheduled to open the new Yankee Stadium. The team has been protective of its young star's arm with innings limits in the past and cringed when he spent time on the disabled list last year because of rotator cuff tendinitis. Manager Joe Girardi said he would pull him after five innings in some games when the Yankees have a sizable lead. "... It's tempting to want to leave him in because he has the ability to shut people down," Girardi said. "But you understand that this is a long-term project."

--RHP Edwar Ramirez was diagnosed with mild bursitis in his throwing shoulder recently and the Yankees planned to rest him for a few days. He is scheduled to throw off a mound on March 5. Ramirez and fellow reliever Jose Veras passed on joining several teammates who left camp to play for the Dominican Republic team in the World Baseball Classic tournament. While stars like 3B Alex Rodriguez and 2B Robinson Cano departed, Veras and Ramirez were more practical. "I don't have a spot, so I'm going to have to fight for a spot," Veras told reporters. Veras went 5-3 with a 3.59 ERA last year while Ramirez was 5-1 with a 3.90.

BY THE NUMBERS: 5 -- Number in dollars the Yankees will sell a select number of bleacher seats for after it was learned their view would be obstructed by a restaurant in center field in the new Yankee Stadium.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Health is the only thing that I want. If I'm healthy, hopefully I'm able to help the team out. That's all I want." -- C Jorge Posada on his goals for the 2009 season after shoulder injuries limited him to 51 games last year.