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: --3B Alex Rodriguez might be ready to take another step in his rehab from hip surgery. Joe Girardi told reporters before the Yankees' 4-1 victory over the Royals on Friday that Rodriguez is scheduled to arrive Monday at the Yankees' minor league complex in Tampa, where he will resume baseball activities. "We expect him to be there on Monday and doing all baseball stuff -- hitting, throwing, running, just continuing his rehab," Girardi said. "So far, it's went very well and you just hope there's no setbacks and he continues to progress." The Yankees don't expect Rodriguez to return before mid-May.
--2B Robinson Cano is certainly playing like someone who doesn't want to endure a repeat of 2008. Cano, who never really recovered from a deep early season slump last season, was the only Yankees player with two hits Friday. Cano, who raised his average to .571 (8-for-14), has a hit in all four games this season and has at least two hits in each of his last three games. Cano hit .151 last April and finished with a career-low .271 average.
--RHP Brian Bruney struck out two in a perfect eighth inning Friday. It was the second straight day in which Bruney struck out two batters in a perfect inning. His clean frame Friday extended the streak of hitless innings by Yankees relievers to nine, dating to Wednesday night against the Orioles. The "no-hitter" ended when RHP Mariano Rivera gave up a hit in the ninth inning.
--OF Nick Swisher had his second straight impressive game as he went 1-for-4 with an RBI double Friday. Swisher, who was the starting right fielder for the second consecutive day, already has three doubles this season in 10 at-bats. OF Xavier Nady, who typically starts in right field and who started at designated hitter Thursday, sat for the first time this season Friday.
--DH Hideki Matsui continued to struggle in the early going as he went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts as the Yankees' cleanup hitter Friday. Matsui, who has made all three of his starts at designated hitter, is 1-for-14, including 0-for-10 since he hit a two-run homer in the opener Monday.
MEDICAL WATCH:
3B Alex Rodriguez (arthroscopic right hip surgery in March 2009) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. He is scheduled to resume baseball activities April 13 and 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
