YankeesGround.com | New York Yankees News, yankees Scores, Game Recaps & Commentary - <div> --INF Ramiro Pena entered the final weekend before the regular season with a shot at a roster spot but, more interestingly, there was talk that he could replace iconic SS Derek Jeter at the position as early as next season. Pena, 23, impressed the Yankees in camp when 3B Alex Rodriguez went out because of hip surgery. He has always impressed scouts with his defensive play, but he hit as well this spring, prompting New York Daily News columnist Bill Madden to wonder if Pena could move Jeter to the outfield as early as 2010. With Jeter's range decreasing and Pena's emergence, Madden wrote, it's no longer out of the realm of possibility.</div>--RHP Jonathan Albaladejo secured the final spot in the Yankees bullpen at the expense of RHP Brett Tomko, the veteran who thought he had done enough after posting a 1.17 ERA in spring training. Instead, he was sent to Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Pa.) and Albaladejo, who sported a 1.54 ERA in camp, snagged the spot. Albaladejo, 26, also impressed the Yankees last spring to earn a spot. "He's tough, we've seen it before and we like everything about him," Yankees GM Brian Cashman told reporters. "It was a tough decision." Tomko acknowledged his disappointment. "It's a little bit of a shock," the 12-year vet told reporters. "It's tough. ... But when it comes down to it, the only way you're going to make it work is to pitch good wherever you're at, whether it's here, New York or Scranton." --CF Brett Gardner had about as good a spring as you can when you're battling for a job -- winning the coveted spot in center field to open the new Yankee Stadium and then taking home the Dawson award as the club's outstanding rookie in camp. "Whatever I've done in spring training doesn't matter anymore," Gardner told reporters as he prepared to start the season as the club's No. 9 hitter. "I've still got to get off to a good start in the regular season." The Yankees are eager to see Gardner use his speed at the bottom of the lineup to set up the top. --PA announcer Bob Sheppard refuted a report he had decided to officially retire at 98, but the club did announce the legendary voice of the old Yankee Stadium would not be there to open the new one. Sheppard, who introduced his first lineup in 1951, was out most of last year, and it isn't certain when or if he'll return this season. But he will still announce SS Derek Jeter, who uses a taped announcement from Sheppard when he comes to the plate and says he will continue to do that for the rest of his career as a Yankee. --INF Reegie Corona, a Rule 5 draft selection for Seattle, was returned to the Yankees after failing to make the Mariners' major league roster. Corona, 22, batted .281 in 26 games this spring for Seattle. --SS Derek Jeter was selected as the Yankees' leadoff hitter, and he has said he won't do anything differently in that role. "It makes no difference," said Jeter, a career .316 hitter who has batted .315 in 448 games in the leadoff spot. Despite OF Johnny Damon's vast experience as a leadoff hitter, manager Joe Girardi decided to start "toying with the idea" as a way of moving runners over with Damon, who pulls the ball as a left-handed hitter. Damon said he was fine with the move if it helps the team. --RHP Joba Chamberlain pleaded guilty to a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol, and he received probation and a fine. He said he was pleased to put the legal matter behind him. --3B Alex Rodriguez could be working out at the Yankees' minor league complex in Tampa by mid-April, and he could be back with the big-league club in mid-May, GM Brian Cashman said March 31. According to the GM, Rodriguez has made good progress since having arthroscopic surgery on his right hip on March 9. --RHP Ivan Nova, who was chosen by the Padres in the Rule 5 draft during the offseason, was returned to the Yankees after failing to make San Diego's roster. Nova appeared in eight games for the Padres this spring, allowing 11 runs (eight earned) in 8 2/3 innings. --LHP CC Sabathia will be given the chance to start earning his mega-deal immediately. Manager Joe Girardi announced the new ace will pitch the season opener on April 5 and the home opener at the new Yankee Stadium on April 16. "It feels good," Sabathia said after hearing the news. "You have to earn that. It took me awhile to get that with Cleveland. It feels good to come in here, get the ball and try to set the tone for us." Sabathia will get the ball three times in the Yankees' first 10 games as Girardi will take advantage of days off and tweak the rotation by pushing No. 5 starter Joba Chamberlain back a day. --3B Alex Rodriguez was "doing well" and doing "a lot of work," general manager Brian Cashman recently reported regarding Rodriguez's rehab from his hip surgery. A-Rod, of course, has not fared as well off the field, where it's been a seemingly non-stop parade of negative headlines that began with the revelation of his past performance-enhancing drug use. The latest flap came from a New York Daily News report that said Rodriguez dated the madam of an escort agency. A report on SI.com recently said Yankees co-owners Hal and Hank Steinbrenner spoke with Rodriguez sometime during spring training to stress the need to focusing on baseball and avoid off-the-field distractions. --OF/1B Nick Swisher wasn't thrilled about learning he would start the season on the bench but promised to do what he could to adjust and help the team. Manager Joe Girardi recently announced Xavier Nady had won the job in right field and the versatile Swisher would earn time in a variety of roles. "Coming over here, that was the biggest thing: I want to win; but I also want to be a part," a dejected Swisher told reporters after hearing the news. " ... I think there's going to be a lot of at-bats out there for me." Swisher can spell Nady, LF Johnny Damon and 1B Mark Teixeira and also could slip into center field occasionally. BY THE NUMBERS: 2 -- Number of openers new Yankees ace CC Sabathia will pitch to start the season -- the season opener and the opening of the new Yankee Stadium. QUOTE TO NOTE: "It feels good to come in here, get the ball and try to set the tone for us." -- CC Sabathia on pitching the Yankees' season opener and home opener.<div class="spacer10"></div><div class="gray_dots"></div><div id="body_footer_link">Play FOX Fantasy Baseball today </div><div class="gray

--INF Ramiro Pena entered the final weekend before the regular season with a shot at a roster spot but, more interestingly, there was talk that he could replace iconic SS Derek Jeter at the position as early as next season. Pena, 23, impressed the Yankees in camp when 3B Alex Rodriguez went out because of hip surgery. He has always impressed scouts with his defensive play, but he hit as well this spring, prompting New York Daily News columnist Bill Madden to wonder if Pena could move Jeter to the outfield as early as 2010. With Jeter's range decreasing and Pena's emergence, Madden wrote, it's no longer out of the realm of possibility.

--RHP Jonathan Albaladejo secured the final spot in the Yankees bullpen at the expense of RHP Brett Tomko, the veteran who thought he had done enough after posting a 1.17 ERA in spring training. Instead, he was sent to Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Pa.) and Albaladejo, who sported a 1.54 ERA in camp, snagged the spot. Albaladejo, 26, also impressed the Yankees last spring to earn a spot. "He's tough, we've seen it before and we like everything about him," Yankees GM Brian Cashman told reporters. "It was a tough decision." Tomko acknowledged his disappointment. "It's a little bit of a shock," the 12-year vet told reporters. "It's tough. ... But when it comes down to it, the only way you're going to make it work is to pitch good wherever you're at, whether it's here, New York or Scranton."

--CF Brett Gardner had about as good a spring as you can when you're battling for a job -- winning the coveted spot in center field to open the new Yankee Stadium and then taking home the Dawson award as the club's outstanding rookie in camp. "Whatever I've done in spring training doesn't matter anymore," Gardner told reporters as he prepared to start the season as the club's No. 9 hitter. "I've still got to get off to a good start in the regular season." The Yankees are eager to see Gardner use his speed at the bottom of the lineup to set up the top.

--PA announcer Bob Sheppard refuted a report he had decided to officially retire at 98, but the club did announce the legendary voice of the old Yankee Stadium would not be there to open the new one. Sheppard, who introduced his first lineup in 1951, was out most of last year, and it isn't certain when or if he'll return this season. But he will still announce SS Derek Jeter, who uses a taped announcement from Sheppard when he comes to the plate and says he will continue to do that for the rest of his career as a Yankee.

--INF Reegie Corona, a Rule 5 draft selection for Seattle, was returned to the Yankees after failing to make the Mariners' major league roster. Corona, 22, batted .281 in 26 games this spring for Seattle.

--SS Derek Jeter was selected as the Yankees' leadoff hitter, and he has said he won't do anything differently in that role. "It makes no difference," said Jeter, a career .316 hitter who has batted .315 in 448 games in the leadoff spot.

Despite OF Johnny Damon's vast experience as a leadoff hitter, manager Joe Girardi decided to start "toying with the idea" as a way of moving runners over with Damon, who pulls the ball as a left-handed hitter. Damon said he was fine with the move if it helps the team.

--RHP Joba Chamberlain pleaded guilty to a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol, and he received probation and a fine. He said he was pleased to put the legal matter behind him.

--3B Alex Rodriguez could be working out at the Yankees' minor league complex in Tampa by mid-April, and he could be back with the big-league club in mid-May, GM Brian Cashman said March 31. According to the GM, Rodriguez has made good progress since having arthroscopic surgery on his right hip on March 9.

--RHP Ivan Nova, who was chosen by the Padres in the Rule 5 draft during the offseason, was returned to the Yankees after failing to make San Diego's roster. Nova appeared in eight games for the Padres this spring, allowing 11 runs (eight earned) in 8 2/3 innings.

--LHP CC Sabathia will be given the chance to start earning his mega-deal immediately. Manager Joe Girardi announced the new ace will pitch the season opener on April 5 and the home opener at the new Yankee Stadium on April 16. "It feels good," Sabathia said after hearing the news. "You have to earn that. It took me awhile to get that with Cleveland. It feels good to come in here, get the ball and try to set the tone for us." Sabathia will get the ball three times in the Yankees' first 10 games as Girardi will take advantage of days off and tweak the rotation by pushing No. 5 starter Joba Chamberlain back a day.

--3B Alex Rodriguez was "doing well" and doing "a lot of work," general manager Brian Cashman recently reported regarding Rodriguez's rehab from his hip surgery. A-Rod, of course, has not fared as well off the field, where it's been a seemingly non-stop parade of negative headlines that began with the revelation of his past performance-enhancing drug use. The latest flap came from a New York Daily News report that said Rodriguez dated the madam of an escort agency. A report on SI.com recently said Yankees co-owners Hal and Hank Steinbrenner spoke with Rodriguez sometime during spring training to stress the need to focusing on baseball and avoid off-the-field distractions.

--OF/1B Nick Swisher wasn't thrilled about learning he would start the season on the bench but promised to do what he could to adjust and help the team. Manager Joe Girardi recently announced Xavier Nady had won the job in right field and the versatile Swisher would earn time in a variety of roles. "Coming over here, that was the biggest thing: I want to win; but I also want to be a part," a dejected Swisher told reporters after hearing the news. " ... I think there's going to be a lot of at-bats out there for me." Swisher can spell Nady, LF Johnny Damon and 1B Mark Teixeira and also could slip into center field occasionally.

BY THE NUMBERS: 2 -- Number of openers new Yankees ace CC Sabathia will pitch to start the season -- the season opener and the opening of the new Yankee Stadium.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "It feels good to come in here, get the ball and try to set the tone for us." -- CC Sabathia on pitching the Yankees' season opener and home opener.

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