A flurry of injuries and an embarrassing three-game sweep at the hands of the rival Red Sox derailed the club just when it thought it was starting to straighten itself out. The Yankees took a 6-2 streak into Fenway Park the last weekend of April and left with three players added to the disabled list along with a string of demoralizing losses in which the bullpen blew leads. Of the players to be placed on the DL (Chien-Ming Wang, Brian Bruney and Cody Ransom), only Bruney will be missed as far as performance. The Yankees now have to hope rookie RHP Mark Melancon can show a flash of the talent after getting called up to help out in the bullpen and 3B Alex Rodriguez continues to progress in his rehab to give the offense a needed boost soon.
PLAYER NEWS: --RHP Steven Jackson was optioned to Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to make room for RHP Phil Hughes on the 25-man roster. Jackson did not appear in a game during his eight days in the majors.
--3B Alex Rodriguez appears on pace to play in an extended spring training game this week. Rodriguez, who had right hip surgery March 9, slid for the first time Tuesday and also got 15 at-bats in a simulated game at the Yankees' minor league complex in Tampa, Fla.
--RHP Chien-Ming Wang may pitch in an extended spring training game this week, according to The Journal News. Wang, who went 0-3 with a 34.50 ERA in his first three starts before he went on the disabled list with what the Yankees termed hip weakness, threw 50 pitches Tuesday at the Yankees' minor league complex in Tampa, Fla.
MEDICAL WATCH:
RHP Brian Bruney (sore right elbow) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 22.
RHP Chien-Ming Wang (hip weakness) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 19 with an ailment connected to the season-ending Lisfranc foot injury he suffered last year. He might pitch in an extended spring training game in late April or early May.
3B Cody Ransom (right quadriceps strain) went on the 60-day disabled list April 26.
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 might play an extended spring training game in late April or early May. He is expected to return to the Yankees by mid-May.
ROTATION:
LHP CC Sabathia
RHP A.J. Burnett
LHP Andy Pettitte
RHP Joba Chamberlain
RHP Phil Hughes
BULLPEN:
RHP Mariano Rivera (closer)
LHP Damaso Marte
LHP Phil Coke
RHP Edwar Ramirez
RHP Jose Veras
RHP Jonathan Albaladejo
RHP David Robertson
RHP Mark Melancon
CATCHERS:
Jorge Posada
Jose Molina
INFIELDERS:
1B Mark Teixeira
2B Robinson Cano
SS Derek Jeter
3B Angel Berroa
INF Ramiro Pena
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Johnny Damon
CF Brett Gardner
RF Nick Swisher
DH Hideki Matsui
OF Melky Cabrera
