The Yankees certainly absorbed their share of embarrassing moments during a week in which they went 4-3 against the Rays and Indians. The Yankees' three losses were by a combined margin of 47-11 and were "highlighted" by Nick Swisher's mound debut in a 15-5 loss to the Rays, a 12-2 drubbing by the Indians in the first game at the new Yankee Stadium and a 22-4 rout by the Indians two days later in which the Yankees gave up a team-record 14 runs in the second inning. There are plenty of concerns about Chien-Ming Wang, who was the losing pitcher in two of the routs, as well as the bullpen leading up to set-up man Brian Bruney and closer extraordinaire Mariano Rivera. But A.J. Burnett displayed dominant stuff in a pair of starts and the Yankees are averaging 5.4 runs per game even though the likes of Mark Teixeira (.206) and Hideki Matsui (.194) have started slow.
PLAYER NEWS: --OF Xavier Nady learned he would not yet need season-ending Tommy John surgery on his injured right elbow. Nady, who was hurt while throwing the ball a week ago against the Rays, will spend the next three weeks rehabbing his arm before he begins hitting. If Nady encounters no hiccups, he'll return to the lineup as the designated hitter to minimize the stress on his elbow. Nady underwent Tommy John surgery at the end of the 2001 season.
--DH Hideki Matsui had fluid drained from his troublesome left knee Thursday. Matsui, who underwent surgery on the left knee following last season, was out of the starting lineup for five straight games last week but is back.
--RHP Brian Bruney's run of perfection ended when he gave up a run on two hits in the eighth inning of the Yankees' 5-3 win over the Athletics. Entering the game, Bruney had retired 20 consecutive batters in his last seven appearances, including 12 by strikeout.
MEDICAL WATCH:
OF Xavier Nady (sore right elbow) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 15. He will try to rehab the injury without 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 A.J. Burnett
LHP Andy Pettitte
RHP Joba Chamberlain
RHP Chien-Ming Wang
BULLPEN:
RHP Mariano Rivera (closer)
RHP Brian Bruney
LHP Damaso Marte
LHP Phil Coke
RHP Edwar Ramirez
RHP Jose Veras
RHP Jonathan Albaladejo
RHP Steven Jackson
CATCHERS:
Jorge Posada
Jose Molina
INFIELDERS:
1B Mark Teixeira
2B Robinson Cano
SS Derek Jeter
3B Cody Ransom
INF Ramiro Pena
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Johnny Damon
CF Brett Gardner
RF Nick Swisher
DH Hideki Matsui
OF Melky Cabrera
