--RHP Mark Melancon was optioned to Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to make room for C Kevin Cash. Melancon had a 5.40 ERA and walked five batters in 3 1/3 innings over four appearances.
--RHP Chien-Ming Wang, who is on the disabled list with hip weakness, is working with the same rehab therapist that helped Alex Rodriguez make a quicker-than-expected return from hip surgery. Rodriguez told reporters Friday he wouldn't have returned for another month without the work of Dr. Mark Lindsay and that Wang is "...a lot stronger and his legs are better. He's going to get back and he's going to be fine." Wang is 0-3 with a 34.50 ERA in three starts. --Selena Roberts' book "A-Rod: The Many Lives of Alex Rodriguez" was released. Along with reporting on his admitted steroid use, Roberts also claims though unnamed sources that Rodriguez tipped opposing hitters to pitchers in the hopes they would do the same for him while in Texas and may have used steroids as early as high school. Major League Baseball is investigating the timeline of Rodriguez's performance-enhancing drug use, according to the New York Times.
BY THE NUMBERS: 30th -- Where the Yankees' star-studded pitching staff -- and its 5.93 team ERA -- ranked out of 30 teams after the season's first 24 games.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I don't want this Alex thing to be a target. I have some issues with it. That it's interesting how the book date got moved up now. And I get tired of answering these questions." -- Joe Girardi, on "A-Rod: The Many Lives of Alex Rodriguez" which was released on May 4, shortly before Rodriguez's expected return to the Yankees.
