That’s the Yankees’ final spring record after going 0-1-1 against the Tigers in their final two exhibition games. Since the 25-man roster was set in advance of those games (posted again below the fold for those who missed it), I won’t bother with my usual game wrap, instead, here are some items of interest from the final two days of Yankee camp:
- Kei Igawa allowed three runs on six hits and no walks (though he did hit a batter) while striking out three and needing just 72 pitches to get through six innings in his final start of the spring yesterday.
- Andy Pettitte threw 66 pitches over four innings against the Blue Jays’ double-A team on Friday allowing four runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out three. Pettitte said he was “good and gassed” at the end of the outing, his first game action in two weeks. Pettitte hasn’t had any continuing back pain, but team trainers have told him not to run between starts just yet, which, in addition to a simple lack of work, is partially to blame for his lack of stamina. He’ll likely pitch no more than five innings on Wednesday, though with Tuesday’s off-day, he’ll yield to a fully-rested bullpen.
- Mike Mussina needed just 71 pitches to hold the Blue Jays’ triple-A squad scoreless over seven innings on Friday. He allowed just four hits and struck out five.
- Kyle Farnsworth, Scott Proctor, Luis Vizcaino, and Mariano Rivera each threw a scoreless inning. Farnsworth allowed the only hit, Rivera the only walk, each struck out one save for Rivera who struck out two.
- After finding out he had made the team, Brian Bruney went out and gave up three runs on three hits in his lone inning of work on Friday (though he didn’t walk anyone either).
- In yesterday’s game, Johnny Damon went 2 for 2 with a triple, Josh Phelps hit his fourth home run of the spring, and Wil Nieves went 2 for 2 with a pair of singles.
- Andy Phillips has cleared waivers and will open the season with triple-A Scranton. He played all of Friday’s game at second base going 1 for 4 with a run scored.
- No decision yet from Ron Villone regarding accepting a minor league assignment from the Yankees. If he does accept, he’ll have another opportunity to opt out of his contract if he is not called up by the end of April.
- Humberto Sanchez and Jose Veras have both been placed on the major league 15-day disabled list. Sanchez will stay in extended spring training to continue his rehab from the elbow soreness that kept him out of action all spring. Veras is recovering from surgery to have a bone spur removed from his pitching elbow and is expected to miss two to three months.
25-man Roster:
1B Doug Mientkiewicz (L)
2B Robinson Cano (L)
SS Derek Jeter (R)
3B Alex Rodriguez (R)
C Jorge Posada (S)
RF Bobby Abreu (L)
CF Johnny Damon (L)
LF Hideki Matsui (L)
DH Jason Giambi (L)
Bench:
R Josh Phelps (1B)
S Melky Cabrera (OF)
R Miguel Cairo (IF)
R Wil Nieves (C)
Rotation:
R Carl Pavano
L Andy Pettitte
R Mike Mussina
L Kei Igawa
R Darrell Rasner
Bullpen:
R Mariano Rivera
R Kyle Farnsworth
R Scott Proctor
R Luis Vizcaino
L Mike Myers
L Sean Henn
R – Brian Bruney
DL: R Chien-Ming Wang, R Jeff Karstens, R Humberto Sanchez, R Jose Veras