After a spring training circus that featured a seemingly endless streak of headlines that had little to do with baseball and everything to do with Alex Rodriguez, the Yankees should be grateful to simply play ball. The good news is newcomers CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeira all seemed to fit in extremely well with their new club, with Sabathia and Burnett helping build a strong camaraderie among the starters. The bad news? Rodriguez will be out until at least late April because of hip surgery, but that might not stop the headlines around his numerous off-the-field exploits, beginning with his performance-enhancing drug use and stretching to reports of his dalliances with the madam of an escort agency. If the Yankees can keep their focus on the field, get Rodriguez back and stay healthy, they can open their new Yankee Stadium in style. If the age of the roster and vulnerability of some veterans hurts them, manager Joe Girardi could be looking for a new job.
PLAYER NEWS: --RHP Mariano Rivera made his first appearance of the season Thursday and threw a perfect ninth inning to cap a brilliant day for the Yankees bullpen, which tossed 3 2/3 innings of perfect relief. Rivera, who underwent right shoulder surgery in October, threw 15 pitches. "To see Rivera get his first inning, that's always an awesome feeling," Joe Girardi said.
--C Jose Molina made his first start of the season and went 1-for-3 with an RBI. Molina was starting a day game after a night game in place of C Jorge Posada, whose season-long shoulder woes last season allowed Molina to record a career-high 268 at-bats.
--OF Brett Gardner made his third start in as many games but batted eighth for the first time as C Jose Molina, who spelled Jorge Posada, batted ninth. Gardner went 2-for-4 with his first stolen base of the season. Gardner, who won the center field job over Melky Cabrera in spring training, swiped 13 bases in 14 attempts in just 42 games last year.
--OF Nick Swisher made his first start of the season in right field one to remember as he went 3-for-5 with a homer, five RBIs and two runs. Swisher started in right field, while Xavier Nady went 1-for-5 with a run as the DH. "We want to keep (Swisher) involved because he's really an everyday player -- we have like 10 everyday players on this team -- and sometimes you have to share the at-bats," manager Joe Girardi said. "We just felt he looked good in his at-bats and we wanted to get him in there."
MEDICAL WATCH:
3B Alex Rodriguez (arthroscopic right hip surgery in March 2009) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. He could be back as soon as late April. He will have more extensive surgery during the offseason.
DH Hideki Matsui (left knee surgery in September 2008) won't play in the field before June.
ROTATION:
1. LHP CC Sabathia
2. RHP Chien-Ming Wang
3. RHP A.J. Burnett
4. LHP Andy Pettitte
5. RHP Joba Chamberlain
BULLPEN:
RHP Mariano Rivera (closer)
RHP Brian Bruney
LHP Damaso Marte
LHP Phil Coke
RHP Edwar Ramirez
RHP Jose Veras
RHP Jonathan Albaladejo
LINEUP:
1. SS Derek Jeter
2. LF Johnny Damon
3. 1B Mark Teixeira
4. DH Hideki Matsui
5. C Jorge Posada
6. 2B Robinson Cano
7. RF Xavier Nady
8. 3B Cody Ransom
9. CF Brett Gardner
RESERVES:
C Jose Molina
OF/1B Nick Swisher
OF Melky Cabrera
INF Ramiro Pena
