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: --DH Hideki Matsui, who had fluid drained from his surgically repaired left knee April 16, continued to warm up Wednesday, when he had two hits for the second consecutive game in the Yankees' 9-7 win over the Athletics. Matsui has a four-game hitting streak during which he is batting .429 (6-for-14) with one homer, two RBIs and two doubles. Matsui had a hit in just four of the first eight games in which he collected an at-bat.
--RHP Steven Jackson, whom the Yankees recalled from Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Sunday, was set to make his major league debut Wednesday before Melky Cabrera hit the game-winning homer in the bottom of the 14th inning. Jackson had a 2.84 ERA in four appearances for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
--RHP Chien-Ming Wang, who has a 34.50 ERA through three starts, threw against Phillies minor-leaguers in an extended spring training game Thursday at the Yankees' minor league complex. Wang reportedly threw 91 pitches in the exhibition and struck out 11 while giving up five runs (four earned) on nine hits. Yankees minor league pitching coordinator Nardi Contreras told reporters Wang does not have the same arm strength he did last season, which may allow the Yankees to place Wang on the disabled list as he continues to work through his early-season funk.
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 he could be back as soon as May 8.
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
