The first week of the season ended better than it began for the Yankees, though hopes of a sweep of the Royals disappeared with a furious eighth inning rally by Kansas City in its 6-4 win Sunday. Top two starters CC Sabathia and Chien-Ming Wang failed to record a strikeout in a combined eight innings as the Orioles won the first two games of the season, but Sabathia quieted concerns with 7 2/3 dominant scoreless innings against the Royals in his subsequent start. Nick Swisher didn't arrive with the fanfare of Sabathia or Mark Teixeira, but Swisher hit .438 (7-for-16) in starting the final four games of the week -- including the last two at first base in place of the injured Mark Teixeira (sore left wrist) -- as he helped the
Yankees to a 3-1 record in that span. PLAYER NEWS:
--OF Melky Cabrera got off the bench due to the Yankees' series of outfield injuries and made the most of his time with a home run. Relegated to a reserve role after Brett Gardner beat him out for the center field spot, Cabrera could have an opportunity for more playing time with injuries to Xavier Nady and Hideki Matsui.
--RHP Joba Chamberlain struggled in his second start of the season, yielding five runs on six hits and five walks. Chamberlain was let off the hook though as the Yankees offense and bullpen picked him up.
--RHP Brian Bruney continued to entrench himself in the eighth-inning setup role with another dominant performance. Since starting off with a bad outing in his first appearance, Bruney has shut down opposing hitters -- and tried to shut down questions about whether he could handle the role vacated by Joba Chamberlain's move to the rotation. Bruney has struck out 12 batters in his last six outings, going 5 2/3 innings without yielding a hit or a walk.
--RF Xavier Nady was scheduled for a second MRI on Saturday to check his right elbow after tests Friday revealed bone and ligament damage. A first MRI as well as a CT scan showed the damage, but the Yankees want a second MRI to clarify if the damage is new or old since Nady has already had surgery on his injured elbow in the past. Nady was placed on the disabled list and is facing the possibility of season-ending surgery, but the Yankees are exploring every option to see if it can be avoided.
MEDICAL WATCH:
OF Xavier Nady (sore right elbow) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 15. He might need a second Tommy John surgery.
DH Hideki Matsui (left knee surgery in September 2008) won't play in the field before June.
3B Alex Rodriguez (arthroscopic right hip surgery in March 2009) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. He resumed baseball activities April 13 and could be back as soon as late April. He could have more extensive surgery during the offseason, although he is indicating that might not be necessary.
ROTATION:
LHP CC Sabathia
RHP Chien-Ming Wang
RHP A.J. Burnett
LHP Andy Pettitte
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
CATCHERS:
Jorge Posada
Jose Molina
INFIELDERS:
1B Mark Teixeira
2B Robinson Cano
SS Derek Jeter
3B Cody Ransom
INF Ramiro Pena
INF Juan Miranda
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Johnny Damon
CF Brett Gardner
RF Nick Swisher
DH Hideki Matsui
OF Melky Cabrera
