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: --1B Mark Teixeira recorded the 1,000th hit of his career Friday with a third-inning single off Red Sox starter Jon Lester. Teixeira is a career .289 hitter in a seven-season big-league career.
--RHP Mariano Rivera was charged with his first blown save Friday since Aug. 12, when he gave up the tying run in a 9-6 win over the Twins. That was the only blown save of 2008 for Rivera, who converted his final 11 chances last season and his first four opportunities this year.
--3B Alex Rodriguez is nearing a minor league rehab assignment, according to manager Joe Girardi. Rodriguez underwent right hip surgery March 9 and has been participating in baseball activities at the Yankees' minor league complex in Tampa for almost two weeks.
MEDICAL WATCH:
RHP Brian Bruney (sore right elbow) was unavailable on April 24, but may pitch on April 25.
RHP Chien-Ming Wang (hip) will be placed on the disabled list with a hip ailment connected to the season-ending Lisfranc injury he suffered last year. General manager Brian Cashman told reporters in Boston that Wang will spend two weeks in physical therapy.
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
